Week of Meetings 04 5 New Things in John 14: — James K. Boswell

Jesus’ Comfort in John 14

John chapter 14, the Cozy Corner chapter. I call this the Cozy Corner chapter because a dear friend of ours from Wales called Thomas, we were ministering together at a convention back at Swanwick in England some years ago.

He was then 84 years of age and was giving the Bible readings in the morning from John 14, 15, 16 and 17. And he said the right order is starting at John 15 and going back to John 14 then continuing into 16.

But no, he called this the Cozy Corner chapter and the way that dear saintly man expounded the word of God, he just felt as if the Lord himself was right there in our heart, just as he did last night.

We're just so conjured the Lord's presence with us and I'm sure we're realizing the very same thing right now. But when he came down to verse number three, these words, I will come again, he said, you know, if we all wait till the Lord comes and we all go up together, he said there'll be such a crush.

He said, I would far rather pass through the altar of death and have a personal interview with the Lord before the crowd comes home. Now isn't that precious? Can you look upon death just like that? He said he would rather pass through the altar of death than to wait for the Lord to come.

He said there'd be such a crush that we all wait till then, eh? And he called it the Cozy Corner chapter. Now remember the Lord Jesus as his own gathered around him, as he always liked to do, and he starts off having told them he's going away from them.

They're not very happy about that. In fact, they're upset about it. The great big men, their breasts are heaving, their hearts are at breaking point. Why? They thought he was going to set up his kingdom.

One wanted to sit on the right hand, the other on the left hand. But now he talks about going to the cross. He talks about being killed on the third day, arising again from the dead. They couldn't understand that.

And they're really troubled in their heart. Now isn't this just like the Lord Jesus? He says here in verse number one, let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me. Now he might have said, for I am God, but no.

He just says, you believe in God, believe also in me. I like that, you know. Maybe tonight they're very upset with a little talk. I'm not going to preach. We're just going to have a little heart-to-heart talk.

And this evening, there may be a heart here that's really troubled. And deep down underneath that very beautiful exterior, there's a heart that's all topsy-turvy. Completely at which end corner, and you don't know what to do.

In a word, you're at your tethered end. Is that true? Now the Lord is drawing very near to you right now, and he's saying to you, let not your heart be troubled. Why? Because you believe in God. Believe also in me.

God’s Relationship With His Redeemed People

We back in the book of Isaiah, chapter forty-three, we read these words in verse number one. Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by name, thou art mine. Now, I've written against that word in the margin of my Bible, the word relationship.

Fear not. And there are three hundred and sixty-five fear nots in the Bible. There's a fear not for each and every day of the year in the Bible. I said that one time at a conference, a Hebrew Christian came up and said, Mr. Boswell, you made a mistake this afternoon.

I said, just one? Well, he said you made one. When was that? When you said there are three hundred and sixty-five fear nots in the Bible, that is a mistake. Look, you know, I said, well, how many are there, brother?

He said there are three hundred and sixty-six. So I said, if you find one for the leap year, we can still rejoice together. And the Lord is saying to you tonight, fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by name, thou art mine.

Now, we are redeemed not for such things as silver and gold. We are redeemed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus. He's called us by name. He calls His own sheep by name. They know Him and they follow Him.

He called Mary, Mary. Martha, He called Martha. Thomas, He called Thomas. Philip, He called Philip. Peter, He called Peter. You heard Him calling you by your own special name. He calls His own sheep by name.

They know Him and they follow Him. When we were in Palestine some time ago, I was greatly amused and interested in the way the shepherd went on before the sheep, and how the sheep followed the shepherd.

Now, remember this particular day, a company of shepherds were just standing, talking together, while their sheep were intermingling one with another. This particular shepherd is going to move on to another pasture.

So he goes, he calls something like this, Queen, Queen. Now, the sheep belonging to that shepherd knew that shepherd's voice. They came out from all the other sheep and they came to where that shepherd was standing.

I must have stood there all day crying, Queen. They wouldn't have listened to my voice. They didn't know my voice, but they knew the voice of the shepherd. And that's the very same thought here. I have redeemed thee.

You're mine. You belong to me. I've called you by name. And He says, you're mine. Isn't that French in the very same verse? You're mine. And the thought here is the thought of relationship. We belong.

Men and women of young people like to know that they belong. They're accepted. Well, you belong and you're accepted because you are in Christ Jesus. Isn't that just wonderful? Now, notice again. Fear not, for I have redeemed thee.

I have called thee by name. Now, he comes closer. Thou art mine. I like that. A young boy yonder in Scotland had a knife given to him for a birthday gift from his uncle from Africa. He's showing it off at school.

One boy says, look, it's got a silver handle. It's a beauty. It's got five blades. He says, look, it's got a corkscrew. It's got a candle up there. It's got a screwdriver. The little boy says, ah, but best of all, it's mine.

Now, I can stand here all night till midnight, and I'd just love to do it, but I won't do it, so don't worry. I'll try and tell you what the Lord Jesus means to me. The little half of you tonight say, Jim, that's all right, but best of all, I know he's mine.

Do you know that tonight? Is he yours? Can you truthfully say I found a friend, O such a friend? He loved me ere I knew him. He drew me with a cordial love, and thus he bound me to him. Round my heart so closely twine those ties which not can sever.

For I am his, and he is mine. And do you know something? Say it. It's forever and forever mine. Something real about that. Something precious about it. We're his, and we're his forever. Verse number 44, by the way.

Verse number one is relationship. Verse number two is responsibility. Now, I want you to get that. Say, because you're mine, when you pass through the waters, I will be with thee. The flood shall not overflow thee, for because thou passest through the fire, the flame will not kindle upon thee.

Fear not, for I have redeemed thee. I love this with all my heart. When thou passest through the waters, and that refers to the Red Sea, the children of Israel have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

And the very same night were redeemed the left of land of Egypt. Then they come face to face to the Red Sea. Beside them mighty rocks, mighty mountains. Behind, there is Pharaoh and all his mighty hordes.

And they're hurling on, hurling on after them. Then they're completely hemmed in. They're at wit's end corner. Maybe tonight I'm talking to someone, you too are having a Red Sea experience in your life.

Yes, you're redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Yes, you too have left your land of Egypt. But now there you are completely hemmed in. You don't know which way to go. The Red Sea before you, mountains either side.

There's a pursuing enemy. You're completely hemmed in. What are you going to do? And you're right at wit's end corner. What happened? Remember how Moses said, Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.

What did Jehovah say through Moses? He said, See the children of Israel go forward. And beloved, as they moved forward, the Red Sea opened before them. And the waters rolled back and they came congealed like two great walls of crystal.

God sent a strong east wind that dried up the bed of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel go right through on dry ground. Isn't that lovely? Isn't that lovely? Some of you who have been reading Dr. Johan's Daily Brave will remember the little story there about the scientists at school, the geology teacher and biology teacher was teaching them something about the children of Israel going through the Red Sea.

They say that was numerical. Numerical at all. It was just because there's no depth of sea there, just about six inches. Just about six inches of water there, you see. So there was no numerical rock. So the bright boy there, brought up in the assembly of course, he saw there a discrepancy in the teacher's enunciation.

And so he stopped her and said, Pleaseness. Yes, Johnny? You know, is there only six inches of water there at the Red Sea? I think it was a tremendous miracle because Pharaoh and all his mighty horsemen were drowned in six inches of water.

Isn't that just wonderful? There it is. And our beloved God sent that strong east wind and there was that drying up and they went through on dry ground. Now I like this. The Egyptians whom you've seen today, you'll see them again no more forever.

I tell young people to study the no mores of scripture. They bring wonderful joy and wonderful dividends just to take time and study the no mores. There's one of them. The Egyptians whom you've seen today, you'll see them again no more forever.

And the children of Israel are going right through on dry ground. And there Pharaoh and all his mighty horsemen. Pharaoh said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will destroy, I will divide the spoil. They come hurling on down the bed of the Red Sea.

Children of Israel are coming up now on the other side. Ah, beloved. And as Pharaoh and all his mighty horsemen are in the bed of the Red Sea, God allows the water to come back and they are drowned. They are drowned.

I love this with all my heart. You know why? That great big capital I. I will pursue, I will overtake, I will destroy, I will divide the spoil. And what did God do? He just sent a little puff of wind.

Just a wee puff of wind. That was all. And Pharaoh and all his mighty horsemen go down a glade into the Red Sea. Then the first song in the Bible is Exodus 15. Then sang the children of Israel, the Lord has triumphed gloriously.

The heart from the rider is cast to deck the sea. Thy right hand become glorious in power. Thy right hand is dashed in peace to the enemy. Ah, beloved. This is the God you've come to know, isn't it? This is the omnipotent God who is your God.

And the lovely Lord Jesus says, you believe in God? Believe also in me. I like that. But then you come down now. The water shall not overflow thee. And there you got the River Jordan. The River Jordan.

First of all you got the Red Sea. And what a glorious throat of triumph there. He goes through with you, through with you. And you come to the other side and the Lord has triumphed gloriously. Not we have triumphed, but the Lord.

He is all the glory. You know, the first song in the Bible is in Exodus 15. The last song in the Bible is in Revelation 15. And you know what they are going to sing? And you are going to join them. The song of Moses and the Lamb.

Isn't that precious? Ah, that means so much to me. And then the water shall not overflow thee as the River Jordan. Then you come down and say, should you recall the passion of the fire? The flame will not kindle upon thee.

Fear not, for I am with thee. Ah, beloved. Three young fellows, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. First college boy went home from Sunday school one day. His father said, what have you got in Sunday school today, son?

Have you got a new chorus? Yes, it was something about Shack the bed, and Mack the bed, and in the bed we go. What was it? Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, you see. But there we have it. And my friend there, there are three young fellows, about 15 years of age, face up the terrific challenge.

Are they going to bow down the King's decree? Are they going to bow down the King's image? Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, is your God able to deliver you? They said, we are not worried, we are not careful, we are not perturbed about it.

Our God is well able, but if not, that's where faith comes in. Eh? But if not, we will not bow down the King's image. Beloved furnace heated seven times more than usual. Three young fellows were bound with their own clothing, thrown alive in that burning fiery furnace.

But my friend, the King could not sleep. Going down there, looking in, three? No, four. I like this. Four. And one like this, son of God. And they're walking up and down in the middle of that burning fiery furnace.

The band had all been untied. And there they are in perfect liberty, in perfect sweetness of fellowship with the Lord, right there in the middle of that burning fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego come forth.

And they go forth, not even the smell of stinging, not even the hair burned. Beloved, notice this. God did not exempt them from going into the burning fiery furnace. He goes right in with them. Maybe you've been wondering why you've been having a time of testing, fiery indignation journeys, particular days.

You wonder why. He has not exempted you from it, has He? But haven't you been aware of His presence with you? Have you been very conscious of the Lord's presence with you, right in the very midst of that trial, that difficulty, that time of affliction?

Yes, your value of baca, that value of weeping, has been a reality to you. You've been realizing the Lord's presence with you in a very vital way, the way you never knew in the days of prosperity. And in those days of adversity, you're proving the Lord's sufficient every moment of every day.

Isn't that true? I love that, don't you? And when you go down to verse number four, the word there is reason. The first word is relationship in verse one. The second word is responsibility. Because we are His, it's His responsibility to preserve us and protect us and to provide for us every moment of every day.

And notice He never fails in His responsibility and fulfilling His obligation. He never fails. And the reason is found in verse number four, because you're precious. Because you're precious. That reminds me, we didn't sing that chorus tonight, did we?

Well, we'll leave it to another night. But remember, we often sing to you who believe He is precious, and it's true. But do you realize how precious you are to Him? Do you realize how precious you are to Him, as a sinner saved by Max's grave and cleansed by the efficacy of His own precious blood?

Oh, yes. The reason is because you're precious. Same thought drawn out in Psalm 18, verse number 19, where it says, I delivered you because I delighted in you. No other reason. I delivered you because I delighted in you.

I preserved you because you're precious to me. The word Deuteronomy, how do you pronounce it here? Deuteronomy? Well, how do you pronounce the whole book of the Bible? Is it Deuteronomy or Deuteronomy?

How do you pronounce the whole book of the Bible? Deuteronomy or Deuteronomy. I was down in Arizona some time ago, and I was very struck with this, because I was teaching at the Bible College there, just outside Phoenix, and Dr. O. Trogay, who was said to pronounce his name O. Trogay, he's a Jewish brother, a very lovely fellow, but he said before the whole student body, so Mr. Boswell, how do you pronounce the full book of the Bible?

Do you pronounce it juderonomy or juderonomy? I said juderonomy, Dr. O. Trogay, how do you? Know what he said? Numbers. So, in the book juderonomy, and we come down to the 7th chapter, you know what it says in verse number 7?

It says, I love you just because I love you. Now, I want you to get that tonight, dear children of God, sometimes you're finding things somewhat texting, but he says to your heart tonight, I love you just because I love you.

Do you believe that? Someone said to me the other day, only a mother could love you, and I said, I thank God I had a mother who loved me, and I'm here because she loved me so much to pray for me, and because of her prayers I was brought into the kingdom.

I'm so glad about that, aren't you? He that knows the worst about me is the one who loves me best of all. There's only one who loves like this, and Jesus is his name, his wonderful name. And he says, I love you just because I love you.

Even when we're unlovely and unlovable, I love you just because I love you. And he says, I delivered you because I delighted in you. And he says, I preserved you because you're precious to me. Now, John Nelson Darby wrote in the fly leaf of his Bible these words, Thou should find delight in me, and be the God thou art.

It's darkness to my intellect, but it's sunshine in my heart. Isn't that precious? May I repeat these words? Thou should find delight in me, and be the God thou art. It's darkness to my intellect, but it's sunshine in my heart.

And I love that with all my heart. Now listen, the Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Lord Jesus of the New Testament, and who is saying these words? In verses 1, 2, and 4 of Isaiah 43, he now comes to John 14 and says, Your heart was my heart, let not your heart be troubled.

Why? You believe in God. Believe also in me. I think of Paul's words in Acts 27, when that terrible storm had broken out, and the boards were coming asunder. He says, Sirs, be of good cheer. I believe God.

There is a little I, so impotent, so puny, linked together to the omnipotent God by the little word, I believe God. Is that where your belief is centered? Is that where your faith is centered tonight?

Have faith in God, said Christ. And tonight he's saying to you, and he's saying to me, let not your heart be troubled. Amen? You believe in God. Believe also in me. Now why I'm laboring this, I simply don't know.

But there's some heart here that knows. And the Lord is saying to you right now. Do you believe it? Will you take him at his word? He's saying to your heart in a way he's never said it before, but let not your heart be troubled.

Why are you troubled? Have faith in God. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there you may be also.

The New Revelation: Christ’s Return

I want to speak to you tonight on five new things, and that's the first one, a new revelation. The old commandment letter R, so you can very well remember them. The first is a new revelation. He says, if I go, I will come again.

Beloved, he's gone away, but not to stay, he's coming back again. Three hundred and eighteen times in the New Testament, you have a reference to coming again of our lovely Lord Jesus. Once in every twenty-five verses.

Now, baptism and the Lord's Supper together only come about twelve times. And what a fuss we make about these two ordinances, and correctly so. But here's the truth. It comes three hundred and eighteen times, once in every twenty-five verses, and a little do we hear today about the coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It's the devil's masterpiece to keep our mouths zipped up concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus. But remember, his coming is very near. I can almost hear his footfall on the threshold of the door, and my soul is longing to be with him evermore.

In picture and in parable and in prophecy, and now he comes up with this glorious new revelation, if I go, I will come again. The Lord Jesus gave a free promise without any precept. There's something like three thousand promises in the word of God according to A .T. Pearson.

But you know, each one, if so, then I will. But he gave a free promise without any precept at all. And the first one is found in the fourteenth chapter of John, which says, I will pray the Father, and he shall send you another comforter.

Then it's found in Matthew sixteen sixteen, I will build my church. I will build my church. That's in the present. And now this one before us now, I will come again in the future, and it may take place tonight.

It may take place tonight. O beloved, it may be that tonight the lifting sky is now dumb. But hear the braggart's voice saying, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away far above the clouds. I wonder, does your heart with my heart say right now, Even so come, Lord Jesus, even so come today.

Even so come, Lord Jesus, catch up thy bride away. O how my heart is yearning, longing for thy returning. Even so come, Lord Jesus, even so come today. Remember the heavenly messenger in Acts one eleven, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?

The same Jesus. I am so glad he's not going to send Gabriel, nor Michael, nor any of the angelic hosts. He's coming himself. The same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as you see him go.

Who saw him go? His own. Who is he coming for? His own. And who are they? They have my spirit. They said he are mine. And just as still responds to the magnet, so will have his spirit rise to meet him in that coming day.

Such a glorious prospect is ours as the children of God. Once the Lord is formed, the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shock. The voice of the archangel, the trump of God, our loved ones who have fallen asleep in Jesus, will be raised first.

We shall be changed, reunited, and caught up together to meet the Lord in the air. No wonder Paul says, wherefore comfort one another with these words. Oh, aren't you glad my friend is coming? His coming is so very, very near.

It may be tonight. He'll burst the clouds and say, rise up, my love. My prayer will then come away. Does your heart say right now, even so come, Lord Jesus? Oh, friend, he's coming. He's on the way. I love that, you know.

There is a new revelation. If I go, I will come again. Things I thought forty years ago as a boy, a school back yonder in Scotland, I saw fulfilled before my very eyes in Palestine. Prophecies brought to their fulfillment right there before my eyes.

The Bible began to lift to me. Became a new book I sought through eastern windows. The rose of wilderness blossomed like the rose. The fruit trees bring forth two or three crops annually. Oh, those are wonderful moments.

God said, the generation, see, the things begin to come to pass, the very generation is coming in. Friend, his coming is very near. Do you realize that? Has it gripped your heart tonight? I'm so happy about that.

He is coming. A young boy was born blind. When this boy was about fifteen years of age, his father took him home from work one day. He found his wife absolutely despondent, really down the dumps. He said, what's the matter, dear?

She said, oh, it's all right. He said, no, there's something troubling. What is it? She said, I tell you, I'm all right. Leave me alone. Have you ever heard that before? Well, she said, look, there's something troubling.

I wonder what it is. I tell you, I'm all right. Just leave me alone. But if it holds, I want to know. And she began to cry. You women are funny things, aren't you? How you try to hide things from us. We're not quite so dumb as you think we are.

And she said, you know, it's getting to me. The very child whom we brought into the world, whom we cared for all these fifteen years, I will never see the mother nor the father done all these things for him.

It's getting me. It's getting me down. He went back to his office, somewhat distracted. He confronted one of his colleagues who told him that the Harvest Street Specialists back in London, England, have been performing wonderful operations.

Some born blind were even receiving their sight. An interview was arranged. They took the boy all the way across to England. The doctor examined his eyes and said, there's very little hope. I'll operate.

I'll do my best. I can do no more. They agreed to the operation. Some days after, the father and mother were sent for. And in the room, the company of medical students, doctors and nurses, cursed the boy and the father and mother.

A nurse undid the bandages, removed the bed and wool. And after some time, he looked up at the ceiling. They looked down at the floor. He looked up there and they saw a table in front of him. He looked up and they saw his hand moving for the very first time.

He saw his mummy and he saw his daddy for the very first time. Someone said, aren't you now happy, you can see? He said, I'm extremely happy, but please, I want to see the man to open my eyes. The professor was just next door waiting for the results.

They brought him in. The boy clasped his father's hand and looked up and said, thank you, sir, for opening my eyes. Beloved, do you realize it may be tonight, this very night, that we too shall be ushered right into the immediate presence of that lovely man who opened our eyes, and we're going to thank him face to face.

Won't that just be wonderful, eh? I'd love to develop that, but time won't allow it. Let's look down, please, to verse number six. The Lord Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the light. Now, here is a new road.

The New Road: Christ as the Only Way

First of all, there's a new revelation, I will come again. And now there's a new road, I am not a way, but I am the way. I am the truth. I am the light. And he's emphasizing the point here, I am the way to those in a place of distance, I am the truth to those in a place of deception, and I am the light to those in a place of death.

But he says, I am the way. A new road. The way to God's presence was once closed as a result of sin. The door stands open wide now in the ground of sacrifice, and is open of a new and living way on the ground of his own precious shed blood.

Isn't that wonderful? And as a way back to God from the dark paths of sin, that the door is open and all may go in. At Calvary's cross is where you begin, where you come as a sinner to Jesus. No man or woman or boy or girl will ever go down to lost eternity, but who goes down past the center of that cross and says, no, I will have my own way, Isaiah 53, 6.

Oh, it will be like she would have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way. And Christ said, I am the way, I am the only way. And no man or woman will ever be beyond the glory, but who first comes to that cross, ignores the Lord Jesus, their very own Lord and Savior.

They bore the penalty against the sin, and they come from before the cross to behind the cross, and let their backs toward the cross and their faces are toward the glory. The little thing I hear the young people saying these days about following Jesus, I will follow Jesus, the cross before me, the world behind me, I will follow Jesus.

Now, that's a little catchy little thing, but it's not good theology. The cross is not before the Christian, the cross is behind the Christian. In Galatians 6 .14, by the cross I am crucified to the world, and by the cross the world is crucified to me, and tonight my back is toward the cross, and if I am going to go back to my old haunt, I must go back past the center of that cross.

How dare I crucify the Son of God afresh? The children of Israel came up to the land of Egypt, and a very pristine night they applied the blood that left the land of Egypt, and now we find the Red Sea flowing before them, and there they are, separated from their old haunt, their old fears by the Red Sea, from their old enemies by the Red Sea.

And so it is the cross before the Lord Jesus for the believer, Galatians 1 .3 says, who gave himself to bear away our sin and to deliver us from this present evil world. Praying tonight, we're on the right side of the cross, we'll be raised up together, and we're on the right side of the cross with the Lord Jesus, all the reliance is more and more, by the cross I am crucified to the world, and by the cross the world is crucified to me.

Ministering at a young people's convention in Washington, D .C. some little while ago, looking around at vast crowds of dear young people, I said, we're something like these girls, I don't mind you wearing a cross around your neck, I don't mind that at all, as long as there's no image on it.

If there's an image, I would object to it, but if there's no image, I don't mind, but please girls, be scriptural and wear it at your back, because your back was the cross, you see. Now that very day, I didn't see a cross on any girl's neck that particular day, but five crosses were picked up from that auditorium, along with many other things.

Those young people were willing to do a business with God and lay it all upon the altar for Christ that particular day. One cross, and came solid gold, and Chuck Coleman, who was the chairman, he held him up at the other station and said, look, who do these belong to, as far as I know, they've never been claimed.

Never been claimed, because young people were willing to do business with God. They recognized, I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ now lives in me, and they're alive unto God, who Jesus Christ, are wonderful.

And there's a new way, and Christ said, I am the way. I wonder, as we think of the two ways, the broad way and the narrow way, on which way are you here tonight? There's a way that seems right unto a man, but the ends are off on the ways of day.

Haggai says, consider your way, and consider your letter in. As a Christian, it's good for us to take stock sometime, and consider our way, and consider the day when we're going to stand before the judgments of Christ.

And all we've done by means of the body shall be on display in that coming day. Meet me yours, meet me mine, here in thanks and lovingly. Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into joy of thy Lord.

The New Relationship With the Father

It's a new way. I like that, don't you? And there's something more. There's a new relationship in the very same verse. It says, no man cometh unto the Father but by me. A new relationship unto the Father.

But are we all God's children? Are all men and women God's children? No, beloved, we are not. God is the creator of all mankind. He's the Father of only those who believe on his Son. Chapter and verse, Galatians 3, verse 26.

Now are ye the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. John 1, verse number 12. But as many as are stated, the name gave me power to become a time when we were not. To become the sons of God, even to then believe on his name.