God's Man | Her Race Is Over - Conclusion

Irene Butler Hebron

January 5, 1927 - February 23, 2012

We discussed how not only is God everywhere but he is with us in the moment.  Now to look at how this works itself out in our life.  Let's take a look at this exchange between Jesus and his disciples.

1 John 13:31-38
When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.  “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” 

Peter asked, “Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 

Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times! 

This passage, while starting at the beginning of a chapter, is actually the continuation of a discussion between Jesus and his disciples.  In the previous chapter Jesus had just admonished Proud Peter who boasted how he would lay down his life for Jesus.  Not only would he fail to stay with Jesus, by the time the rooster finished crowing he would deny Christ 3 times.  I am sure that during this discussion there was some disappointment and sadness.  I mean Jesus was telling them that he was leaving and that they would be unable to follow.  They had followed Him for 3 years.  They had lived with Him, walked with Him, had witnessed his miracles.  They had left father, mother, businesses to follow Him.  What did He mean?  But Jesus is not the author of confusion, He brings hope to those who are hurting.

1 John 14:1-6

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus lets them know that He going to prepare a place for them. He assures them that He is also going to be coming back for them. Then Thomas comes up with a question.  Thomas, who we call the Doubter, asks the best questions. The thing that I love about Thomas is that his life illustrates that we CAN ask questions and that He DOES answer.  But what does that answer mean?

Jesus, in two sentences, removes all the confusion from salvation.  It is right here where the hope lies.  It is right here where we can cling and be comforted that He will come again.  It is right here where our troubled hearts are calmed.  Aunt Irene knew this and it brought peace.  She wanted all of you to know this as well.  In the end she had one more lesson for all of her students.  In the end she had one more thing to share with her friends.  In the end she had one last thing to get across.  Aunt Irene died at home in her own room knowing, not only had a place had been prepared for her, but that he Savior would be coming to receive her.

I stand here today, her nephew, praying that her final lesson lands and that the hope that she had would be your as well.

God's Man