JESUS IS THE PEACE FOR OUR TROUBLE HEARTS
SCRIPTURE:
“If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:15—27)
OBSERVATION:
Jesus is on his way to the cross but wanted to assure his disciples that they will not be left as orphans. An orphan is a child who has been abandoned and neglected by their parents who were unable to care for them. Jesus promised three things to his disciples in this very emotional time with them. He promised an ADVOCATE, the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, who will help them and be with them forever. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. It is by faith in Jesus WORDS that dwells in a believer that they will be the only one who KNOWS the Spirit of truth. Furthermore, the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, LIVES WITH THE BELIEVER, AND IN THE BELIEVER. Jesus said, even when I am no longer visible to the world because he is going to die, He will still be visible to us through the eyes of the SPIRIT OF TRUTH. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
The second thing he promised is HIS WORD. Whoever has my COMMANDS AND KEEPS THEM is the one who loves me. God’s word is Christ. For anyone to say that they love God’s words but not Jesus’ words, they are confused. Jesus said earlier that everything he said, was from the Father. And anyone who loves Jesus will OBEY his teachings. And consequently, anyone who does not love Jesus will not obey his teachings as well. Because, Jesus said, THESE WORDS YOU HEAR ARE NOT MY OWN, THEY BELONG TO THE FATHER WHO SENT ME. Jesus encouraged his disciples to heed his word, for they are not his own but from the Father who sent him.
The third truth Jesus shared with his disciples is, HIS PEACE. Jesus said, PEACE I leave with you; MY PEACE I give to you. The world has to negotiate peace between fighting parties. When there is troubles between nations and communities’ leaders seeks negotiation to bring peace. But Christ peace is Christ himself who through the Spirit of Truth lives with us and in us. Jesus gives himself as a gift. His peace brings comfort, understanding, calmness when many problems and troubles in life assailed our sanity. Jesus’ peace is with us at all times. His advocate, the Spirit of truth, His word, and his peace is with us always. Therefore, we have no need to be fearful and afraid when things happens in our lives.
APPLICATION:
At times I am afraid, I learn always to rely on the Spirit of truth that is with me and within me. I know that often times I forget this powerful truth when life troubles assails my peace. I have lost two first cousins I grew up with in the space of two and half weeks. I know how I needed to rely on the Holy Spirit, Jesus words and his peace to carry me in this time of sudden sadness and trials. I will continue to make God’s peace, his presence and his words to guide and comfort me in this season.
PRAYER:
Jesus, your words are a comfort to a trouble soul like mine. I am grateful that your word speaks to me at all seasons that I face. I am forever grateful for the power and truth that is in your word. I am grateful for the reminder that you never leaves us as orphans. Thank you that you never neglect me in my times of need. Thank you for being with me and most of all for living in me. I love you Lord for who you are, my comforter, my peace and the truth that guides me in days of troubles. Amen!
