John 14:1-4 Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.… There was a poor man who had been a long while burdened in spirit. One night he dreamed that he stood at the gates of heaven, longing to enter; but he are not, and could not, for sin had shut him out. At length he saw approaching the pearly gates a company of men who came on singing, dressed in white robes. So he stepped up to one of them, and said, "Who are you?" And they replied, "We are the goodly fellowship of the prophets." He said, "Alas! I cannot enter with you." And he watched them until they had passed the gates, and he heard outside the voice of song as they were received with welcome. Cast down and troubled, he watched until he saw another company approach, and they came with music and rejoicing. He said to them, "Who are you?" and they replied, "We are the noble army of martyrs." He said, "I cannot go with you; and when he heard the shouts a second time ascending from within the gates, his heart was heavy within him at the thought that it was not possible for him to enter there. Then came a third company, and he detected in the van the apostles, and after them there came mighty preachers and confessors of the Word. He said in his heart, "Alas! I cannot go with you, for I am no preacher, and I have done nothing for my Master." His heart was ready to break, for they entered and were lost to his sight; and he heard the triumphant acclamations as the Master said, "Well done, enter into the joy of your Lord." But as he waited, he saw a greater company approaching. He marked in the forefront Saul of Tarsus, Mary Magdalene, the thief that died upon the cross; and they came streaming on. So he said to one of them, "Who are ye?" And they replied, "We are a company of sinners whom no man can number, saved by blood, through the rich, free, sovereign grace of God." Indeed, all the companies might have said the same, and the dream would have been more complete. But as this poor man, with the tears in his eyes, heard this word, he said, "Thank God, I can go with you, for I am a sinner like you, and like you I will trust in the merit of Him that died on Calvary." So he joined their ranks, and was about to enter, but he said in his heart, "When we come there shall be no songs; they will admit us, but it will be in silence, for we bring no honour to God; we have done nothing for Him." But to his surprise the acclaim was louder, the music was more melodious, and the shouts of acclamation were louder far, while they said, "Here are they who come to complete the number of the host whom Jesus bought with blood." (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.WEB: "Don't let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. |