John 14:23-29
23Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25″All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace 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.
28″You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.
When Jesus was born the angels sang: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (see Luke 2:14). When Jesus was nearing the end of his ministry on earth he reassured Believers of this peace by promising to pour out the Holy Spirit on the world. We read of this assurance of peace in today’s Scripture passage: “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.” (v.27).
The peace Jesus is talking about is not something that is temporarily available and then disappears, but a peace that never ends. The peace the world offers us is an unstable, hard fought and hard-earned peace. The peace that Jesus gives us is a committed, easily gained and unearned peace, one given through God’s grace. When we accept the peace that Jesus offers we receive a wonderful gift. And Jesus makes a beautiful point in this passage: not only is he us leaving his peace, he is giving us his peace. He gives us this peace and maintains it through the Holy Spirit, our Counselor, Comforter and Encourager.
Philippians 4:6-7 says: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (New Living Translation). So what happens when we stop worrying and start praying? We experience God’s peace.
What kind of peace do you have? Do you have the kind of peace that wears off when you have a bad day or face conflict? That is the weak peace of the world. Or do you have the kind of peace that calms you down, protects you from harm and never ends? This is the peace that Jesus offers and is sustained by the Holy Spirit.
Youth Department