Key verse
John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Application
There is a difference between the peace the world gives and the peace that Jesus gives. In this world, there is a lack of peace because of Godlessness. People are trying to find “peace”, but true peace can only be realised through Jesus Christ. Instead, the world is looking in the wrong places. They seek it in drugs, alcohol, the lusts of this world, money, wealth, status, etc. None of this brings peace; instead, it does the very opposite. Some try to live good lives and give to charity and do other such acts, yet true peace cannot be found even there. The truth is that it can only be found in Jesus Christ. It is why Jesus says in John 14:27b says “Not as the world gives do I give to you.”
To understand this peace, we need to look at the context of this verse. In John 14:15-31, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit. This peace comes through the Holy Spirit. Let us break these verses down.
Firstly, this peace is available only to the disciples of Jesus Christ. John 14:15-16 says “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father , and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,” Only a disciple of Christ has the Holy Spirit. To be a disciple, you need to love Him, and when you do, you will keep His commandments. If you are not His disciple, then you do not have His Spirit. John 14:17 says “even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
Secondly, Jesus says in John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.” You now have a Father and a family. You have the great Shepherd who looks after His sheep. He will keep you and provide for you. You do not need to be anxious about anything for He is the one in whom you trust. Romans 8:14 says “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” What great peace this brings into your life.
Thirdly, you have great peace because you have the fullness of God dwelling in you. John 14:23 says “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” Love is the basis of our relationship with God. When you love Him and keep His commandments, you become the temple of the living God. It is when God dwells in your heart that you have peace and comfort. 1 John 4:4 says “for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Fourthly, we have peace because God has revealed Himself to us. John 14:29 says “And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.” Friends, God has now given us full revelation through His word. We know what our future is in Jesus Christ, we have knowledge of His sacrifice, and about the washing of our sins, we know about our relationship with God and that we are now sons and daughters of God. Our security and trust are in Christ alone, through His Spirit in us. This is a peace that passes all understanding.
Take a moment to examine if you have this peace in your life. If not, then why not? Have you fully understood your salvation and position in Jesus Christ? Do you know what the word of God has revealed to you, and what salvation means to you? Are you really saved?
When you do understand this, and that His Spirit dwells in you, then you can implement 1 Thessalonians 5:16-23 in your life. It says “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”
Conclusion
May the peace of Christ be in you as you recognise what it means to be a child of God and to be a temple of the Holy Spirit. His peace is not like the peace the world gives, but it is a peace that passes all understanding.
God bless.
