Perfect Peace

John 14:22-27 New International Version (NIV)

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.

 Who are you going to for your peace? Are you looking towards the world (news, social media, friends), or are you going to Jesus and his words in the bible. 

Jesus is telling Judas a couple profoundly important points in this conversation. First, he is expressing the weight of our obedience. That if we love God we will obey what he says. Second, Jesus is explaining how vital the Holy Spirit is in our lives, that he will teach us all things and will remind us of Jesus's words that he spoke. This is crazy cool! Think about that for a second...when you memorize Gods word and in a time of trouble or rejoicing and that scripture comes to your mind, that is literally the HOLY SPIRIT alive in you reminding you of God’s living word. Third, and what is most heavy on my heart for all of you is when Jesus says “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.” 

He says “do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” This is a promise Jesus himself made to us. I have often struggled with fear but recently had a breakthrough when I cried out to God asking him for help. As I laid there sobbing, the Holy Spirit reminded me of a specific piece of scripture (psalm 27).  As I opened the pages my eyes fell to the exact words that I heard the Holy Spirit speak to me. I was awestruck by the power of God and that he hears my cry. That the God of the universe hears me and wants to speak to me! As I learn what it looks like to fully trust him and rely on him for everything I am no longer marked by fear but by his perfect peace which exceeds anything I can understand. 

We are either going to look to the world for our peace or to Jesus for our peace. Jesus is describing peace as "my peace" meaning the very nature of Jesus is peace. He later describes the enemy as the prince of the world. Peace is not something we can make up or find looking to social media, the news, or people. Perfect unshakable peace is found only in Jesus

Heavenly Father, I pray that you would give me a hunger for your word. A radical desire for it that does not go away but just grows the more I read it. I pray that I would rely on you for everything so that I will experience a relationship with you where I hear your voice. I want to hear your words and I want to be comforted by you. Teach me to cry out to you for everything I need. I pray for perfect peace that comes from your son Jesus. I ask that you would light a fire of obedience in my heart, and an understanding of the fear of the Lord. Teach me your ways so that my life will be marked by you. Allow me to lead others to you because of the way that I live, trust and rely fully on you. Amen.