Friendship with God Week 8 notes -- The Peace of Jesus

Intro/Welcome

Acknowledge challenge? — Call to fix our eyes on Jesus

To Worship Him as a Body

Series

We are in a series called “Freindship with God” where we are walking verse by verse through John ch’s 13-17

Today we come to the end of the first section as we close out John 14.

Jesus is going to be talking about the Peace that He gives us.

This is on the Eve of Jesus arrest and execution

The disciples are about to have their whole worlds turned upside down

Jesus, knowing this, is leaving them with perhaps His most important teaching.

He’s equipping them to not only survive as his followers,

but to thrive and start what would become a worldwide movement even into our own day

where a few billion people worship Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Today

Today we are going to be talking about the Peace of Jesus

The Peace that he gives us.

Is there anything we want more than peace?

This word has rich OT roots and means more than just tranquil feelings.

The Hebrew Word is Shaloam — welfare, well being, wholeness, peace

But a sense of Wholeness, harmony and connection with God

This is what Jesus offers us

And the peace of Jesus will carry us through even the most trying times.

because of everything he is teaching us in this section.

We need peace in a broken and fallen world.

When tribulation and affliction come and find us.

Structure

It’s interesting to me that Jesus begins and ends his teaching with a similar them.

John 14:1 (ESV)

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

John 16:33 (ESV)

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Trouble, affliction tribulation are sure to come.

But Jesus has overcome.

Jesus is the center point, the source of power, the one we trust and worship.

Jesus is the only reason any of us are here today.

Bible

We will be in John 14:27-31 Today.

Go there in your bibles

Follow along

Let’s Pray

Pray

Lord bring your peace.

The peace that passes understanding.

Philippians 4:7 (ESV)

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:14 (ESV)

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

Colossians 3:15 (ESV)

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

TEXT

Last Time

Last Time we talked about what Union with Christ looks like

We saw that God, himself, dwells insdie of us through the Holy Spirit.

We saw that to experiecne more of this reality meant loving Jesus and doing what he says.

We ended last time with these verses.

John 14:25–26 (ESV)

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Today

Today we pick it up in v. 27

Let me just read the entire passage and we will walk through it.

John 14:27–31 (ESV)

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. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

1. The Peace of Jesus

John 14:27 (ESV)

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.

A. Not the World’s Peace

Not the peace of the world

What is the peace of the World?

1. Everything will be fine — God will not judge

In our own day a denial of a day of reckoning of Judgment.

False Propehts in our day — same as in OT Israel

God will not Judge, Judgment is not coming.

It is, that is why we need peace!

Jeremiah 6:13–15 (ESV)

13 “For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. 14 They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.

15 Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,” says the Lord.

2. The Pax Romana

Roman Peace— Peace by the Sword — by violence and conquest

The Peace of Christ is of sacrifice and a laying down of one’s life

B. The Peace of Jesus = “my peace”

I give to you — the very peace that Jesus had

Heb - shaloam — wholeness, harmony, peace with God

The peace and harmony he has within the Trinity — he gives to us.

There is an initial an angoing fulfillment of this peace of Jesus.

1. Initial Peace

Peace = the cross - atonement for sin

Isaiah 53:5 (ESV)

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Through Jesus atoning sacrifice he made us right with God

This is the core of the gospel

this is the source of Peace — it is peace with God

But it also leads to an ongoing peace through relationship with God

2. Ongoing Peace

Peace = ongoing relationship with God

Now that we have been reconciled to God we enjoy a new relationship with Him

Which is what Jesus is describing in this whole teaching.

Romans 5:1–2 (ESV)

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3. Peace Greeting

So foundational is the peace that it became a greeting in the early church.

Almost All of the letters in the NT (except Heb, James, 1, 3 John) include this “grace and peace to you”

After the resurrection it is the first thing he says to his disciples:

Peace be with you (John 20:19,21,26)

Transition

So having this Peace of Jesus both initial and ongoing he goes on...

Illustration: Military

I enlisted in the navy — there was an initial point and then I enjoyed the relationship and benfits that come with being in the Military

Or take marriage for example

There is a Wedding day

And then we get to enjoy the benefits of being married.

This peace of God is the climax of this section it is how he ends it

then he ends where he began.

2. Troubled and Fearful Hearts

John 14:27 (ESV)

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.

Jesus says two things here:

Don’t let you hearts be troubled

Don’t be afraid

A. Let not your hearts be troubled

Jesus closes out this section the same way he began

John 14:1 (ESV)

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

“don’t be troubled” — why?

b/c you will have affliction and tribulation in this world.

b/c of all I have said to you.

I will be with you.

But now he adds and said niether be afraid.

B. Niether let them be Afraid

But Jesus adds this now, don’t be afraid

The word here is for cowardice — don’t be fearful

have courage — he will say later in John 16:33

John 16:33 (ESV)

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart (take courage); I have overcome the world.”

There will be tribulation and affliction, times of uncertainity and persecution.

He’s going to unpack this in John 15-16 — the “hatred of the World”

He says in the midst of all that will come

living in a broken world that is hostile to the things of God

don’t be troubled, don’t be afraid

How?

3. How?

He gives us two reasons

Understand where I am going

Trust in the Father’s Plan

A. Understand Where I am going (it is also where you are going)

John 14:28 (ESV)

28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

Jesus is contantly bringing them back to this reality.

He is going to the Father — Father is Greater

If you understood this — if you really loved me — you would rejoice for me

b/c it is far better to be with the Father.

1. Exursus on the Father being Greater

Not greater in the sense of Jesus being any less divine

Some take this to mean greater in the sense of Jesus in his incarnate state.

Most agree it is greater in the sense of The Sender being greater than the one being sent.

Greater in the sense that Jesus submits to the Father’s Plan

But it is a willing submission.

The Atonement

The Father Plans

The Son Accomplishes

The Spirit Applies

2. Being in the presence of God is Greater

I think of Paul’s Words in Phil 1:21

Philippians 1:21 (ESV)

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

ILL: Vacation

It is far better to be on Vacation than to be thinking about it or planning it.

There is anticipation — but far better to actually be there

It’s far greater to be in the presence of God

Not in a fallen and broken world.

3. We will be there also

Remember also, that where Christ is, one day we will be also.

John 14:3 (ESV)

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Jesus is saying, always have the endgame in mind. A glorious future is coming — that will help you to ‘not be troubled’ and to not be ‘fearful’

Having our eyes fixed on the New Heavens and the New Earth

on the glories that await us

This helps us not be troubled or afraid in the affliction and tribulations we will face.

Raising our eyes above our current circumstances and seeing the Divine Story that is playing out

This changes how we live.

ILL: Vacation

It is far better to be on Vacation than to be thinking about it or planning it.

There is anticipation — but far better to actually be there

B. Trust the Father’s Plan

How do we not be troubled?

How do we not be afraid?

Understand the Where we are going

Trust the Father’s Plan

John 14:29–31 (ESV)

29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.

30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

I’m telling you this now — so that when it takes place

“me going and coming to you”

You will ‘believe’ or ‘trust’

Trust Me — Trust God — Trust the Father

John 14:1 (ESV)

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

1. Satan is coming

He acknowledges that Satan is coming — via Judas

But he has no claim = lit ‘he has nothing in me or over me’

It’s not that Satan is in control’

Then he says ‘arise’ let us go from here.

You see I think Judas is on his way there with the army.

I think Jesus knows this and that is why it is time to leave

Jesus will continue his teaching on the way to the Garden of Gethsemmane.

It’s not that suffering/pain and uncertainty are in control

God is in control — and this is his plan

2. Jesus loves the Father

I am carrying out God’s plan b/c I love the Fahter

One commentator said this is the only place Jesus explicitily says he loves the father.

Jesus lives out exactly what he calls us to.

He loves the Father

He trusts the Father’s plan

He does as the Father commanded

namely going through the pain and suffering of the cross

3. The Father’s Plan

What is the Father’s Plan?

John 3:16 (ESV)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

The father’s plan is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Through the Cross — to the Resurrection

What this means is:

Death is never the end

After death comes resurrection

Jesus submits to the Father — he endures the cross for what?

the joy set before Him (Heb 12:3)

He goes before us

He is with us

C. Application

That is the great promise for us.

Whatever we are facing in life

b/c God is soveriegn we can trust his plan

We can trust that even if we face death — resurrection will follow.

this could be our physical lives of course

but also our desire, our plans, parts of our sin nature that need to die

The promise is always — resurrection after death.

greater blessings

Closing

Summary of Today

So Jesus is teaching his disciples on the eve of his death.

I have given you my peace

Don’t let your hearts be troubled, neither be afraid.

Understand where I am Going

Trust the father’s plan.

Application

This is a choice we can make.

Pray for and Receive the Peace of Jesus into you life.

Read the Word — meditate on the Destination

the new heavens and new earth

Let that wonderful reality fuel your lives now.

Trust in the Father’s Plan

after death comes resurrection

When we do this it leads to fruit bearing — which is the next section of John 15.

Summary

What have we seen in John 14?

SLIDE:

I am going to the Father via the Cross and Resurrection. (John 14:3,12,19,28)

I will come back to you and take you to be with me. (John 14:3,18,21,23,26,28)

Trusting me is the way to God because I am both God and man. (John 14:6,10,11)

Trusting me means:

Doing my works (John 14:12)

Praying in my name (John 14:13-14)

Loving me and doing what I say (John 14:15,21,23)

Live out of the reality of union with me through the Holy Spirit (John 14:16,17, 19,20,26)

Receive peace and courage by trusting in God’s plan demonstrated in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus (John 14:27-31)

This closes out this section of Jesus teachnig and leads us into the next: bearing fruit in a fallen and broken world in John 15.

Closing Prayer

Verses on Peace

Ephesians 2:14 (ESV)

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

Philippians 4:7 (ESV)

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:15 (ESV)

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 (ESV)

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

Hebrews 7:2 (ESV)

2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.