John 14:27
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 14:27 NIV]
Remember that these are the closing words of the Son of God to his own followers. He is speaking about his legacy and his personal gift to them. He is not promising them riches or prosperity nor is he promising them health and happiness. He is not promising them fame or success. He is promising them something that is of infinite value and is a rare commodity in this world of increasing tension and anxiety. I have often puzzled why Jesus seems to repeat the clause with only a minor change in the wording. Is he wanting to make some distinction between the first phrase and the second
Peace I leave with you
My peace I give to you.
Is it possible that the first statement is more general and more objective. Before going back to heaven, Jesus had to face crucifixion which the Bible portrays as having deep spiritual significance. He was going to achieve a work of reconciliation between a holy, sinless God and sinful humanity. His death would pay the price for the sin that had banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. So it was a work of peace - a legacy he was leaving to all those who would trust him. Here are some verses from the writings of Paul the apostle, which help us to understand more about this peace
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [Romans 5:1 NIV] This verse tells us that if we trust in the death of the Lord Jesus we experience peace with God. We are sinners who have found forgiveness because God's Son shed his blood on the cross for us and we are depending on that for the future.
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. [Colossians 1:19-20 NIV]
These are difficult verses but they tell us that the death of Jesus on the cross achieved an amazing work of reconciliation - this is where all the harmful effects of the first sin are cancelled and annulled by the death of the Lord Jesus. This is still to be fully demonstrated - but the cross of Calvary was not a defeat. It was a victory and the way to God is now open to mankind through faith in the Son of God.
Let us look at one last verse to grapple with the legacy of the death of Jesus on the cross.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, [Ephesians 2:13-14 NIV]
This time Paul is talking about the barriers that existed between the Jews, God's chosen people and the rest of the nations, the Gentiles (which includes us). The division and the hostility has been broken down because of the death of Jesus and the blood of Christ allows us Gentiles to come near to God.
But Jesus also spoke about a personal gift. He said, "My peace I give to you." This is the peace which he experienced and we can know it subjectively and personally in our own hearts and lives. He repeats the statement he has made at the beginning of the chapter, "Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." He does not want his followers to have hearts that are troubled. He does not want his disciples to suffer from fear and anxiety. He is wanting us to experience his peace in our everyday troubled lives. This is a gift which we can enjoy regardless of our circumstances. We don't need to be wealthy to experience his peace. We don't need to be prosperous to enjoy this gift from the Son of God. How sad it is that many of us do not enjoy this blessing as we should. Notice that the world cannot give this peace to us. This is a special gift only available from the risen Son of God. Here is how Paul spoke about this personal gift of peace
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:6-7 NIV]
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