No churn

John 14:1

One of my favourite phrases in the Gospels: Μὴ ταρασσέσθω ὑμῶν ἡ καρδία·

The third person imperative is shrinkingly rare in English (Wilfred E. Major and Michael Laughy’s excellent Ancient Greek for Everyone suggests “someone help him!” and “nobody move!” as examples) and is more usually rendered with “Let”, as in “Let not your hearts be troubled”. The problem with “let” is that it softens the force of the imperative. So what about,

“Your heart is not to be churned up!”

The rest of the verse can be read as 2nd person present indicative active or as 2nd person imperatives – or even a mix. But something like “You trust yourselves to God; so trust yourselves to me, also.” (Rendered for sense rather than word for word exactitude)

But that’s not the most telling thing about the passage (and yes, I love the next bit about the Father’s house being full of apartments, just as much as you do; but that isn’t it). It is the verse before “Your heart is not to be churned up” that gives us context.

If you are saying, but it is verse 1! then please remember, chapter breaks (and verses, themselves) are later additions. Jesus never said, “Okay – take this down: ‘ Verse one…'”

So what does the previous verse say?

Jesus is replying to Peter and says, “You will lay down your (singular, meaning Peter) life for me? I tell you the truth, the cock won’t crow until you will have disowned me three times. Your (plural, addressing all the disciples) heart is not to be churned up; you trust into God, and you must trust into me.”

Now what Jesus says to Peter is even more devastating than it appears at first glance. Remember that Jesus has just told the disciples, “one of you is going to betray Me.” They don’t know who He means (even though Judas has already been identified by Jesus), and now He tells Peter that before cockcrow he will have disowned Jesus three times. Peter must have been thinking, “No! I’m the one who is going to betray Him? No! No! Why? How… …but He knows everything…”

So here is the full force of Jesus’ words. Right at the point where Peter’s whole world is threatening to fall apart (and of course, things only get worse, before they get better); right there and then, Jesus commands Peter and the other ten (since Judas has already left) Your hearts are NOT to be troubled! You trust yourself to God, and you are going to trust me, too.

If you have ever doubted the power of Jesus’ grasp, such that He can say “and no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28), then hear Him now. How tough is the situation you are facing? Very tough? Worse than the one Peter faced?

Well I hope not, but even then, Jesus is still able to command you: “You are not going to be troubled, shaken or stirred, let alone churned up inside by this: I’ve got you.