I Leave You My Peace

God’s gift to His Children

There are so many remarkable things going on in Jesus’ ministry that we often overlook the profound message that is propelling every miracle, parable, teaching and practice. Perhaps, that is why Jesus set aside time with His disciples to break things down for them. He was constantly reminding them in their time together of the Kingdom of God, what it really looked like, and how it would exist after Christ had left them. One of the most powerful moments that Jesus took to draw the disciples into the reality of His mission was recorded in John 14.

Linking Jesus to His mission

Before we get there let’s stop and think about what Jesus had been doing prior to what we will discover in John 14. The Gospel of John along with the other Gospels is packed with some of the most exciting imagery of Christ that unveils His true purpose on earth. These stories were linked to historical Jewish eschatology (the study of the coming of the Messiah). They were also linked to Old Testament wisdom literature, prophecies, and poems in order that we see Jesus rightly aligned with the historical understanding of God. So when Jesus heals a blind man, it’s more than a miracle. It’s a fulfillment of character that the Son of God was understood to have.

“I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. (Isaiah 42:6–7 ESV)

So with that foundation, let me introduce another concept of Hebrew thinking that impacts our understanding of the gift that Christ brings to His children. Cosmology is a study within ancient literature that captures an awareness of human and natural chaos that ancient authors wrote about within their poems and stories. In the Bible, this is made clear through metaphoric terms like “darkness” and “the deep” that appear in Genesis 1:2. These terms are used in order to convey a sense of chaos and disarray that illustrates the scene of the universe that God moved over and maneuvered into planets, stars, galaxies and so on. Other such cosmological phrasing is used throughout the Old Testament, specifically for the purpose of displaying Sovereign God’s power over the uncontrolled and terrifying context of chaos and fear. For biblical writers and for the ancient religions in general, only the divine and true God had the power over the cosmological powers in the universe.

You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.

(Psalm 89:9 ESV)

John uses this understanding when He tells a story in John 6:16–21 where Jesus walks on water during a terrific storm that blew up over the Sea of Galilee. The Gospel of Mark records another like story where Jesus is in the bottom of a boat sleeping when a storm rolls in and terrifies the other disciples. Jesus arises and rebukes the storm and it immediately responds in obedience to the Lord’s command. These stories are not used to merely dazzle the reader with Jesus’ miracles. Rather, they serve the purpose of ascribing His person with the character of God. If Jesus has the power to still the cosmic forces of the universe, then we must conclude that Jesus is the Sovereign Lord of the Universe. That was why Jesus executed such power in front of His followers. He wanted to reveal an unquestionable divinity that only the Son of God could possess over the forces that could not be harnessed by human power. However, that is not all that Jesus wants us to walk away with when we read these stories.

God’s Gift to His Children

In John 14, Jesus begins to tell His disciples that He is about to leave them. There is no missing the amount of confusion and disturbance that this update was rendering on His disciples. I can only imagine the questions that must have flooded their minds. “Jesus has only been with us for 3 years! Why is He abandoning us?” “Surely this can’t be right!” “How’s He supposed to take over the world with a political kingdom?” “How are we supposed to rule the world with Him if He’s gone?” “What was it all for if He’s leaving us alone?” Yet, Jesus senses their discomfort. Hence, Jesus responds with something that not only leverages the unique beauty of His Kingdom, but what will forever articulate the character of His followers.

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. -(John 14:27 ESV)

The gift that Jesus leaves His children is peace. Peace that cannot be found in ourselves, but is found in the only person that can speak peace over storms. This peace is a gift given through the Holy Spirit. It rises above the chaos of life. It overcomes the most painful moments of trials. It is Christ’s gift of comfort for any and every situation in our walk.

The Children of God have, through the Holy Spirit, an understanding of who walks with them, and it is in that understanding that we find solace in all things. Our God has command over the cosmic forces of the universe, therefore we can rest in the peace that He provides when that chaos crashes over our lives. As He spoke His rebuke to a storm recorded in Mark, “Peace be still” is what He speaks in our hearts in every troubled moment that we encounter. When we believe in Jesus, he returns our faith with peace.

This peace marks the true walk of a believer. As my friend Ross Boone stated, “I think we can just do our best with what he puts on our plate each day, and trust him to cover the rest.” (How Belief Helps You Pick Up Girls) Children of God can face the toughest time with the deepest solace because of this gift.

Talking to two people

So as we encounter this Jesus who rules over all of His creation with supreme power, we must figure out what we are going to do with Him. There are people who are going to read this and realize that they are controlled by their circumstances. They are slaves to their emotions, their problems and their remedy for healing. There are also people who know Jesus but don’t believe in Him with every moment of their life. Therefore, you suffer with anxiety and fear of which Christ still offers you peace. My prayer is that both of you will consider believing in a God that offers you an eternity of rest. He opens His arms wide and bids us to come “all you weary and heavy” souls. Find your rest in the loving embrace of the Savior.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — (Psalm 46:10 ESV)