Peace

John 14:27-31

When you think of peace what comes to mind?

I think of when my granddaughter finally falls asleep, and there is this quiet comfort.

Most people think of peace as a lack of conflict. A situation where everyone gets along and is able to live together without fighting. The problem is that is a world that doesn’t exist.

The world we live in is one where everyone is out for themselves. We are surrounded by people, including ourselves, that are led by a sin nature. And our sin nature automatically produces conflict with others. We are seeking what we desire and they are seeking what they desire and sometimes the two can not co-exist.

James 4:1–3 “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

Because we are all led by our sin nature, any peace we have in this world is temporary. We only have peace when we get what we want. When we don’t get our way we become frustrated, afraid, or violent.

Sometimes we isolate ourselves and we seek peace and comfort from food, alcohol, or drugs. Some people become workaholics because it is the only thing they can control. We long to be in control and when things are out of our control, it robs us of peace.

The point is there is no real peace in this world. It’s all temporary. But Jesus offers us a peace that lasts forever. Jesus offers us peace in spite of the world, in spite of the conflict. He allows us an internal peace with God and ourselves, that allows us to look at the world differently.

We understand there is a sin nature inside of us and everyone around us, and we can see the world through the eyes of God. We can understand there is an enemy of all that is right and good who would steal our peace if he can.

Jesus teaches us in this passage how to have real peace. The peace of God that surpasses all understanding. A peace the world cannot have because it doesn’t know God.

What we learn from this passage is we can have peace in this world through love, faith and obedience to Christ.

John 14:27–31 KJV

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. 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. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

Background and Context

When is this taking place?

Who is Jesus talking to?

This is the final night Jesus will be with the disciples. He will appear to them on occasions for 40 days after the resurrection but, here He is teaching them and preparing them for what is about to happen.

Not only is He going to be arrested, crucified and rise again, but He will be ascending into heaven and will no longer be with them.

He has just promised the Holy Spirit to those who love Him and keep His commands. So, it is important we remember this passage is continuing that promise.

Even though the theme here is peace, and Jesus is going to teach us how to live in His peace, it is only through the Holy Spirit we can do that.

Without continuing to surrender to the Holy Spirit everyday, and learning to live for God, we will not have the peace that Christ offers us here.

What we learn from this passage is we can have peace in this world through love, faith and obedience to Christ.

I. The Promise of Peace Vs. 27

“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.”

What does Jesus promise to give to them?

What is different about this peace?

Notice that Christ’s peace is a gift. He says, “I leave with you, I give it to you.” He has just promised them the Holy Spirit and it will be through the Holy Spirit that the gift of peace is operated.

We know that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer and one of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to teach us how to live for God.

John 16:13–14 ““But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.”

(turn back to John 14)

Then notice there is a distinction made in Vs. 27 between the peace the world gives and the peace of Christ. The peace that Christ gives settles the heart and calms the fears. In spite of what is taking place in the world.

We see that at the end of Vs, 27 “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

For Jesus to say this to the disciples tells me, we can be believers in Christ and have the Holy Spirit and still be troubled and afraid. We can still live our lives focused on the things of the world, things we cannot control, instead of being focused on Jesus. It is still important that we don not let our hearts become troubled!!

It is important we understand the word “world” here is speaking of unbelievers. (the bible refers to the world in 3 ways. 1. the universe. 2. the world God so loves. 3. The world of opposition to God. Number 3 is what this passage is referring to; unbelievers.

When the unbeliever thinks of peace they think of the absence of conflict and that is why there is no peace in the world for the unbeliever.

There is always conflict. They are at conflict with God. They are at conflict with themselves (there own sin nature) and they are at conflict with everyone around them. An unreconciled heart will always be a troubled heart.

But Jesus offers us peace in spite of the conflict. The peace that Christ offers is two-fold. He offers us peace with God and peace with ourselves.

1. When we are reconciled to God are sins are forgiven. We are set free from the penalty and burden of sin. Our relationship with God has been restore and made right. We are saved.

2. We have peace with ourselves because we no longer live with the guilt and the shame over the mistakes we have made. We feel the forgiveness of God, and it gives us peace.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

When you are in Christ you don’t have to live the way you used to live. You are no longer in competition with the world. Christ offers us a peace of mind that settles the heart and satisfies the soul.

The word “peace” in the Greek is the “eirine” and it means to “set as one.” or to make something right. In Hebrew the word “Peace” is “Sholaom” and it speaks of the wholeness and wellness of a person.

It became a common greeting (you see that in the letters of Paul) but it means so much more. It means to have prosperity of your mind, body, and spirit. It is a peace that can only come from being right with God!!

So, the first thing we see in this passage is a promise of peace that is different from the world. Jesus goes on in these next few verses to teach us how to have this peace.

II. The Need for Love Vs. 28 “We need to love Christ completely to live in the peace He promises us.

“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.”

What have they heard Jesus say?

Why should they have rejoiced?

Notice the first phrase of Vs. 28, “Ye have heard how I said unto you” A better way to say this is, “remember what I told you.” I am going away, but I will come again.”

This is speaking of the cross and the resurrection. We know that because of what He says in Vs. 29. He says, “I am telling you this before it happens.” So, this talking about the cross.

But, notice what comes next in Vs. 28, “If ye loved me, ye would rejoice.” That tells us the disciples did not love Jesus to the extent that Jesus wanted them to.

We know they loved Him, but they didn’t love Him to the point they were rejoicing over His departure. Why?

Because all they could see was their own need. All they could see is they were going to be alone without Him.

They were not thinking about the will of God for Christ. They were only thinking of themselves. And when we are only thinking of ourselves we cannot love Christ or anyone else the way we should.

Notice the reason they should have been rejoicing. “ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father:” Remember it was not only the will of God that Christ go to the cross and die for the sin of the world, but it was the glory of God.

So, by not rejoicing (or being happy) over the will and the glory of God they are essentially saying we don’t like your method God. We have a better way. Just leave Jesus with us, He can be our personal Savior. We don’t care about the world, we only care about us.

Unfortunately, we can be just like the disciples today. (At Faith, when people started to come to the church the long time members were excited, until new people wanted to be involved)

The disciples were starting to have fear and doubt about who Jesus is, and what He is doing, and fear and doubt are the antithesis of peace. We can not have peace if we are living in fear and doubt.

1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”

What do you think perfect love is? Why would that cast out fear?

The way to live in the peace of Christ is to love Him completely. To love His plan for your life, because that is what casts out the fear. We can only truly love Christ completely when we accept His plan for our life even if we don’t understand it.

That is what the disciples were struggling with. They didn’t understand how the cross could be God’s pan for Christ. How could the death of this innocent man, who had love and compassion for everyone, and healed them of their sickness and disease be the plan of God? They didn’t want Him to leave, and they didn’t trust the plan of God because they were focused on themselves.

We do the same thing today. We don’t trust God’s plan because we don’t understand it, and we are focused on ourself. I’ll give you an example. We always want to negotiate with God’s Word. We don’t like what it says, so we refuse to obey and then we assume it doesn’t apply to us.

For example we are called to be witness to the world sharing our faith but because we don’t want to do to, that scripture doesn’t apply to me, I’m not an evangelist. It must be talking about someone else.

And we do that with the entire Bible. Remember John 14:15 ““If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

The final phrase of Vs. 28 is complicated, “for my Father is greater than I.”

This is a phrase that has been hyjacked by the cults of the world. The Jehovah Witnesses for example use this phrase to say Jesus is subordinate to the Father. But what Jesus is saying here is; the Father is greater in this moment because He is in glory, and I am in the world. The Father is in the glory of Heaven and that is where I am going.

Look at John 17:5 ““Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” When Jesus was in the world doing the work of redemption. Even though He was God in the flesh, He was obedient to the Father. Remember He said, “I came to do the will of Him who sent Me.” Today He is seated at the right hand of power. He is equal and essentially God. John 1.

So, in this verse we see the peace of Christ is connected to our loving Him completely. Setting our selfish nature aside and accepting the will of God for our lives.

III. The Need for Faith Vs. 29. We need to have faith in Christ to live in the peace He offers us.

“ And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.”

What has He told them before it comes to pass? He is going to the cross and on the third day He would rise again!!

Why does He tell them this? So when it happens they will believe.

This speaking of faith. Faith is essential to peace. The word “believe” is to trust and depend on. It is the very theme of the gospel of John. The whole purpose of John’s gospel is to produce faith in the life of a believer.

John 20:31 “but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

Also, notice Jesus is telling them this is prophecy that can be evaluated later. He says,” I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.” Why?

In the Old Testament, the way they knew a prophet was from God was when their prophecy came true. And that is what Jesus is saying here. “You will know that I am from God and speaking the truth when this happens!!

Today the Word of God is our prophecy. 2 Tim. 3:16 tells us that all scripture is God breathed and we can have confidence in it and believe it when we apply it to our lives and see it come to pass, when we see the difference living the Word of God makes.

Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” The word “hearing” assumes applying. James tells us not to be just hearer’s of the Word but be doer’s of the Word.

So, what does faith have to do with obedience? We cannot have the peace of Christ without faith in Christ. Believing in what Jesus said and did is critical to have peace.

Believing in the promise of eternity. Believing He is the Son of God who died so our sins can be forgiven. Believing He is our advocate with the Father, interceding for us when we make mistakes.

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

When you come to know the peace of Christ you realize you can not trust or depend on anything in this world. It is all temporary, but the peace of Christ lasts forever.

There is a woman I know, whose entire life was surrounded by turmoil. From a child her life was full of loss, betrayal, and disappointment. She would lay awake at night trembling in fear and anxiety.

After years of growing in her faith and being surrounded by the love of Christ, she has become rooted in peace. It is not only that she doesn’t face the fear and anxiety anymore but she herself has become a source of strength.

So, the third thing we learn from this passage is; we need faith to live in the peace of Christ.

IV. The Example of Obedience Vs. 30-31

Jesus sets the example for us by His obedience to the Father. We need to be obedient as well, to live in the peace Jesus promises.

“Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.”

Why would Jesus not speak much longer with them?

Who is the prince of this world? Eph. 2:2, John 12:31.

Jesus wouldn’t speak to them much more because the hour had come and His time was running out. The word “for” indicates reason and tells us why, “for the prince of this world cometh.”

Satan had already entered Judas and set out to alert the chief Priests of where Jesus was. Even though Satan is never present in the crucifixion of Jesus he serves as an underling theme for the cross and the resurrection. It is said that Christ claimed victory over hell and death when He died on the cross and rose again.

This phrase “he hath nothing in me.” Means he has no part of me, or he has no power over me. Jesus is talking about the separation between light and darkness. 1 John 1:5-7 asks, What fellowship does light have with darkness and the answer is none.

In the same way, Satan has no part of Christ, he should have no part of our life. We cannot have the peace of Christ and entertain our sinful nature at the same time. Sin will rob you of all peace.

Jesus was in complete control of all the events leading up to the cross, and why He was in complete control is evident by Vs. 31; He was obedient to the will of the Father. He sets the example for us for how to have perfect peace. We obey and live in the will of God.

Notice Vs. 31, “But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.”

The obedience of Christ is our example for how to have peace. Jesus teaches us how to have peace in spite of the turbulence of the world.

Just look at what Jesus was facing. He knew He would be arrested. He knew He would be put on a mock trial. He knew He would be beaten, crucified, and die for the sin of the world. Yet, He was at peace and embraced the plan of God instore for Him.

The same thing is true in our life. Perfect obedience brings perfect acceptance and brings perfect peace!!

Conclusion

This passage challenges us to examine our love for Christ and question, if we love Him completely why don’t we have the peace He promises? Are we not surrendering ourself to the Holy Spirit that will lead us in the path of peace.

Why is there so much conflict in the church and among believers? Is it because we do not love Christ correctly and the peace we are seeking is worldly peace?

The peace Jesus promises us is not automatic. He promises the disciples peace but then tells them not to be afraid. Therefore our love, faith, and obedience are how we obtain His peace.

This passage should inspire us to become commited to learning how to love Christ completely and grow in our faith and obedience to God so that, I can live in the peace of Christ.

When we are not living in obedience to the Holy Spirit as our guide we are not living for God and we have no peace.