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Peace I Leave With You, Wednesday Evening Service, 11 Sept 2013,
Today in our modern world of rapid communication it is easy to get discouraged when we see wars and hear of rumors of wars.
It does indeed seem the earth is being filled with violence and there will never be a time of peace.
But Jesus said when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars see that ye be not troubled for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Jesus Christ said be not troubled!
Jesus Christ taught on a higher plane than the plane of this world.
Jesus taught us to look at things through spiritual eyes, which is where eyes of faith are to look and to focus on things above, on things which are kingdom things.
So when he spoke of peace he knew we would think of wars which bring an absence of peace so he told us of another kind of peace and he called it His peace.
Jesus was near the point where he was to return to his Father and he knew the hearts of his disciples were troubled.
He had told about leaving them but he also had told them of the Comforter who would come in his place.
He had told the disciples that His Father would send them One who would instruct them as to the things He had said.
He will come in my name.
He will enlighten you as to what I have said.
He will come in my stead, in my interests, with my authority.
He shall speak of me.
Just as I have made known the Father he will make my words known to you.
Just as I have glorified the Father so will he glorify me.
And in addition he told them of the comforting thoughts of John 14:17 which reads:
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.
Peace I leave with you.
Because of Jesus Christ the disciples were to be at peace with God.
Because of Jesus Christ the war with God was to be over.
Because of Jesus Christ God's wrath will be stayed and will no longer be aimed at the disciples.
There is peace with God because of the atoning work of Christ to come.
Because of the work of Christ God will satisfied that the sin debt is paid.
Peace is now possible only because of Jesus Christ.
And therefore He can say, Peace I leave with you.
And then he says: My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
This is the peace of God that passes all understanding.
The peace that shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
The peace that is in the heart of a believer while the world tumbles down around him.
Wars and rumors of wars cannot disturb His peace.
For this is the peace that the world cannot understand!
This peace will be enjoyed through the indwelling Spirit of Truth, the Comforter that speaks of Christ.
The end of enmity with God brought one peace, the result of that peace with God is inner peace of the heart. Therefore Jesus Christ concludes with the admonition: Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
“Let not” means don’t permit it!
Now Jesus Christ does not command unless he gives the wherewithal to comply with that command.
Jesus Christ equips his own to have an untroubled heart and to not be afraid.
This is why he can say: Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Look back in chapter 14 and you will see how he equipped his disciples of old to obey such a command!
First He assured them that he was going to the Father's house.
And that He would make provision for their coming to join Him.
So when the necessary preparations were completed he would come and conduct them there.
He had opened the way for them, had made them acquainted with the way, and would give them the energy necessary to go along that way.
He would not withdraw from them the miraculous powers which he had conferred upon them, but would enable them to do greater things.
And whatever they needed to carry out the work to which he had called them, and upon asking God the Father in his name, they would certainly obtain from His hand.
And upon His leaving a divine person would be sent to take his place, to be their instructor, guide, protector, and consoler.
Promising to never leave them or forsake them, he would make them possessors of an endless life, not somewhere in the future but eternal from the day of salvation.
Promising them that they would be one with the father and with the Son.
Telling them He would show himself to those who kept his commandments.
Assuring them that He who kept his word would be loved by the Father.
And in order for all of us to know these things, He promised that the Holy Spirit would bring back to their remembrance all things Christ had said unto them.
That promise was for us so that we also may walk in His Peace.
So Peace he left with them.
His own peace he bequeathed unto them.
No wonder he could say, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid"!
For He had equipped his disciples with such a heart.
And he made it so that we too can have this heart, this heart of peace if we use those things which He has provided.
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