Jesus' Parting Gift

Alcohol consumption is up over 50%. Suicides, domestic violence and crisis calls are also on the rise. Last weekend I was driving through a residential neighborhood in Torrington and heard two separate domestic disturbances that had spilled out the door into front yards. Around another corner I saw police officers with a combative person flattened down on the ground face down with their knees in his back. The longer folks endure this COVID trial, the shorter fuses seem to be getting.

I must confess that I have had some dark moods this week as well. As I was praying for the right message to share with you this week during these troubled times, the Holy Spirit directed me to our text for this morning. In John chapter 14, Jesus was preparing His disciples for the events of Calvary and beyond. In the midst of conflict and uncertainty, Jesus left a parting gift for His disciples, and leaves that same gift for believers today. The gift of peace.

John 14:27 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.

Peace - The Absence of Conflict.

john 14 27

King James Version Chapter 14

Peace I leave with you,

No more conflict with God over our Sin.

Romans 8:6–7 KJV

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Romans 5:1 KJV

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

No more condemnation of the Law.

Ephesians 2:15 KJV

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

The message of the Gospel is peace.

Ephesians 6:15 KJV

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Peace - The Presence of Tranquility.

Jesus gives HIS peace.

King James Version Chapter 14

my peace I give unto you:

The legacy of legacies:—The Earl of Dundonald fought with his solitary ship a line of formidable forts in South America, whose fire proved so raking that his men could not be got to stand to their guns. Calling his wife, he asked her to fire one of the guns, and show these men how to do their duty. She did so. Instantly they returned, burning with shame, to their posts, and soon the victory was theirs. The lady, in rehearsing the circumstance, said that the thing that was felt by her to be the most terrible, was not the din of battle, not the raking fire, but the awful calmness that sat fixed on her husband’s countenance, as it seemed to carry in itself the sure presage of victory. This we can all understand. Every moral nature feels that settled calmness in the face of dangers and deaths is the loftiest example of the sublime. Of this we have one peerless example in the man Christ Jesus, who, on the eve of His agony, utters these words.1

1 Joseph S. Exell, The Biblical Illustrator: St. John, vol. 2 (London: James Nisbet & Co., n.d.), 584.

Jesus’ peace is genuine, not just a distraction like the World gives.

King James Version Chapter 14

my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you

Not as the world. 1st. Not as the objects which men commonly pursue—pleasure, fame, wealth. They leave care, anxiety, remorse. They do not meet the desires of the immortal mind, and they are incapable of affording that peace which the soul needs. 2d. Not as the men of the world give. They salute you with empty and flattering words, but their professed friendship is often feigned and has no sincerity. You cannot be sure that they are sincere, but I am. 3d. Not as systems of philosophy and false religion give. They profess to give peace, but it is not real. It does not still the voice of conscience; it does not take away sin; it does not reconcile the soul to God. 4th. My peace is such as meets all the wants of the soul, silences the alarms of conscience, is fixed and sure amid all external changes, and will abide in the hour of death and for ever. How desirable, in a world of anxiety and care, to possess this peace! and how should all who have it not, seek that which the world can neither give nor take away!1

1 Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Luke & John, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885), 334.

Peace- Protection from Trouble and Fear.

King James Version Chapter 14

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

John 14:1–2 KJV

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

When I was a struggling new student pastor, one night I was too stressed to sleep. I got up and went to watch dairy farmer Hall Phillips milk his dairy herd. There in the barn at 4:30 AM, that brand new Christian gave me help getting through the various crises causing stress in my life. Hall commented, "Leo, Stress is when we try to control, what we should let God control."

Do you tremble over what will happen next? Jesus has offered a parting gift to be used in times of trouble. He has offered Peace: An Absence of conflict, The Presence of Tranquility in the midst of a storm, and the protection from Trouble.