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The Gospel of John, The Period of Conference, Conference With the Disciples, Part XXVII, John 14:27,28 - Lesson 135
Read Verses John 14:27 for review: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
So after instructing his disciples he admonishes them to not permit their heart to be troubled.
Do not permit yourself to be afraid he tells disciples....who are afraid.
Now Jesus Christ does not admonish unless he gives the wherewithal to comply with that admonishment.
Jesus Christ will not tell his disciples to not be troubled and neither be afraid unless he gives them that which they need to have an untroubled and fearless heart.
We have seen in this chapter how thoroughly Jesus Christ equips his own to have an untroubled heart and to be not afraid.
The answer is in believing his word.
Belief (faith and practice) in his word will bring an untroubled heart.
Belief (faith and practice) in his word will cause fear to fly away.
Isn't this what Isa 26:3 says to us: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
How do you keep your mind stayed on God?
How do you keep your mind stayed on Jesus Christ?
By sitting under a tree and meditating?
No! You keep your mind stayed on God's word and meditate on God's word and practice God's word and perfect peace comes.
Perfect peace and a troubled heart do not mix.
Perfect peace and fear do not co-exist.
1 John 4:18 says: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
And how do we love Jesus Christ? He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:
Again the answer is in his word.
Jesus Christ tells his disciples to believe his word and your troubled heart will go away.
And by keeping his word you will love Jesus Christ and perfect love casteth out fear.
So Jesus Christ perfectly equips his own for service to God.
But he is not finished instructing as we see in:
John 14:28: Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
Isn't this just like Jesus Christ?
Not only does he desire an untroubled heart in his disciples.
Not only does he want fearless disciples, but through all these trials he wants them to have a rejoicing heart.
His word also equips them for a rejoicing heart.
What a lesson here! What a high plain of living Christ offers his own.
He knew their love was not yet perfected.
He knew they were concentrating on their own loss at his departure.
He wanted a purer love from his disciples.
He wanted them to rejoice with him as he contemplated his return to the Father and the glories of his heavenly home.
Get your mind off of your own situation and get your eyes on me.
Get your mind on the cause of Christ and not on your own cause.
The cause of Christ is what is important and eternal!
I am completing my work here for the Father and am about to go unto the Father.
I am rejoicing and if I am rejoicing I want you to rejoice also.
He is saying that which Paul will later record in Rom 12:15, Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Would you have thought that in light of the crucifixion that would take place within hours that Jesus Christ would be rejoicing?
But Jesus Christ had the right perspective on the events to come.
Christ knew the conflict that he faced, he knew the battle that would take place with the powers of darkness.
He was rejoicing in his return to the Father because he knew it would take place upon completion of the Father's will.
He knew he would have victory over the prince of this world.
He looked forward to saying: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
He was going home!
This was indeed a time for rejoicing. |