Peace

Read: John 14.1-31

Jesus’ disciples had good reason to be troubled. They had just learned that one of them would betray Jesus and that another disciple, despite his repeated professions of loyalty, would deny Him three times. This is in addition to Jesus’ statement, “I will be with you only a little longer” (John 13.33). They must have felt that their world was beginning to come apart at the seams. How did Jesus reassure them? He instructed them to put their trust in Him. Although He would be leaving them soon, the purpose of His journey was to establish a place for them in His Father’s house and to return to take them to be with Him forever. Although Thomas interjected that the didn’t know either His destination or His travel route, Jesus made it clear: the way to the Father was through Him, and to know Him was to know the Father.

Anthony Casurella writes:

“…in what followed Jesus spoke of the reciprocal relationship between the believer and Himself. Just as He loved the Father and was in turn loved by Him, so there would be mutual love between Him and the believer. Such love is not a matter of mere emotions, though emotion is not ruled out. Rather, true love is expressed in obedience. As Jesus loved the Father and obeyed Him, so those who loved Jesus would in turn obey Him. And, for the disciples, that separation from His physical presence that they so dreaded would be replaced by a deeper spiritual presence…He would request the Father to send another Counselor, whose function would be to abide with them always…The Counselor, here expressly identified as the Holy Spirit, would make clear to them everything Jesus had taught them…The chapter ends as it began with Jesus comforting the disciples. He bequeathed to them a peace for their bereavement that was quite beyond anything earthly. And He reminded them again that His departure was really a matter of rejoicing, because he was going to the Father.”

Listen again to Jesus’ words about a peace “that was quite beyond anything earthly:”

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14.27).

May we abound in this peace today…and every day.