Gift of Peace

“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.” John 14:27

The New Living Translation reads as follows: “I am leaving you with a gift and peace of mind and heart.”

Can you imagine how Jesus must have felt as He looked around at these men He had loved and worked with.  There were so many things He wanted to share with them, but the time was growing short.  In the New Living Translation, in John 14:30, He said, “I don’t have much more time to talk to you.”

Over the three and a half years they had traveled together, He had tried to prepare them for the time when He would leave them, and they would be responsible to spread the message of His love to the world.  Earlier this night, by washing their feet, He had demonstrated the need for humility and that they should become as servants to one another.  As they sat around the supper table, He had revealed that one of them was a traitor and would soon betray Him to His enemies.

In John 13:34, He gave them a new commandment, “That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”  In Chapter 15 He reminded them that He was the Vine and they must abide in Him in order to bear fruit.  He also spoke of the Comforter which He would send to give them power for the work He wanted them to do.

He knew that they had not yet grasped the fact that He must die in order to bring redemption to the world.  In chapter 14, He reminded them that He was leaving, but that He was going to prepare a place for them and one day they would join Him there.  They questioned Him as to where He was going and once again, He spoke of going to the Father and that once He was gone, if they were to ask anything in His Name, it would be done.

In Chapter 17, Jesus prayed that they would never forget the things He had taught them, and that they would be faithful to fulfill the ministry for which He had prepared them.  He also prayed for all those who would listen to them and believe on Him through their word.

What a wonderful gift Jesus was leaving His disciples – peace of mind and heart.  That same gift is ours today if we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and accept the teachings of His Word.  His Spirit will fill our hearts and minds with peace.

Prayer:  Thank you Lord for the wonderful message you gave your disciples before you left them, and that the teachings also apply to our lives today.  Thank you for the gift of peace you gave them and have given us as well.

Devotion by Anne Johnston