John 14:27-28
"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 fearful.
Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you.
If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I."
This is the perfect time to consider Peace. A time of great trouble, when people are still working and suffering. Where Facebook shows people of Florida are praying and closing until next Wednesday. A time to really Pray.
The Disciples rarely experienced Peace. They had awe. Political ambition. Love. Loyalty. Fear.
Mark 10:32
They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.
Jesus never fired the Disciples.
Jesus never stood up and said, don't have fear. Now, from time to time. Jesus said, with stern voice, "Have Faith."
Jesus is not known to flout Peace. Jesus never, never, never ever said, "I have Peace, where is yours?"
Jesus had something to say for castigating others.
Matthew 23:27
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean."
It's not a good idea to add on to what Jesus says and make Peace a Spiritual Litmus Test.
During a time of Spiritual perfection - Acts of the Apostles - the newly devoted Christians were told to share the meal. To make sure all were fed and not overfed. To make sure people did not go home hungry from the meal.
When we really examine the lives of those Closest to God represented by His Son - we find they had fear. We find they fell down in the water looking at God. We find Peter never tried to walk on water again. We find they told Jesus to hush about fearful death. We find they chased off children to make Jesus' time more scheduled cleanly and effectively. We find them questioning each other on basic logistics in the face of Jesus Christ God - feeding the multitudes. We find them, cowering, not wanting to ask Jesus about the bread, for fear this amount of Godly perfection was going to turn to them and say, "YOU FORGOT THE BREAD??? PETER, MATTHEW, JOHN, JAMES?"
We find the man healed by the Pool of Bethsaida, after 38 years, used his healing as an opportunity to rub elbows with the higher ups. We find the 10 lepers were healed and one gave thanks. These are people who fell down on the job of real Peace. Lack of gratitude for prior events. Lord Jesus help us!!!
We cannot say if we are well employed, in health, blessed, well housed, have an inheritance, were always parented well, well educated and covered in life - "I have peace... where is your's?" We are not walking in that person's shoes. Instead we are cutting off their process of Peace. God's incredible Peace. We need to affirm and sponsor what Peace is. Mercy. God has always said He desires Mercy over sacrifice.
We cannot say to those with chronic Anxiety - buck up. You ain't got Jesus.
In the face of flood and hurricane and recovery. Jesus would not preach mandatory Peace.
And if you look at Peter and at Paul - as their life got ready to close - with suffering. They said people ran out on them. And people stayed and they were hurt about who ran out. The Bible is very, very honest and Father God has us discuss personal flaws a lot. A great deal. And at their death, these men discover - The Narrow Path. Peace.
Which entirely and completely brings us back to John 14. Where Jesus says clearly that if He says something is true - in the first few verses of John 14 - then really - what we have is the True Word of God. What is Jesus saying here?
"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 fearful.
Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you.
If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I."
Time and Processing Life
So - in these verses - what is Jesus preaching about Jesus' Peace?
Jesus is saying something of vast worth - we need to hold on to. Hold on to your truths. Jesus is saying this - when we lose someone we Love - we will have grief. And probably for two years of fierce grief. Jesus is saying - when life is dark, bleak, sad, the stories around you are sad, when problems reoccur, when we feel pressed flat to the earth, - we have a portion of the Holy Spirit telling us - we are going to survive.
When we lose someone we love - we - KNOW - they do not want us to suffer. Jesus is telling us to find that part - that glimpse of Light - telling us - this is surmountable.
Isaiah 40:31
Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Father, we pray Jesus to lead us here.
Jesus is telling us that glimmer of Hope is Peace. This is the Peace of God This glimmer of peace is the Father seeing you at a distance and beginning to run to you. And when we are Able - CLING to that Peace. God is Helping is.
This is Him Advocating for you.
Remember the Prodigal Son.
~Time the Father had to swallow his pride and sell what was of value to him. Time to arrange the sale. Suffering.
~ Time to watch the son walk off - knowing this was not good.
~ Time to wonder where the son was - knowing this was not good. And yet rejoicing the older son is with him and shares all that is with the Father.
~ Time while the son was working a poor job and starving. The Father was doing life - and probably praying a lot. Time.
~ Time to see the son in the distance and know rejoicing was at hand.
~ Time. Finding Peace. The Way, the Truth, The Life with Jesus Christ.
Jesus knew the disciples were not going to be overjoyed Jesus was dead, alive and taken to Heaven in front of them. Jesus was telling them they would be allowed to have Peace.
What does this PEACE enable, strengthen, establish, build in us?
To hope. To get over events like loosing a still born daughter. Many will tell you - you never recover. You do when you have Peace to believe she is alive in Heaven. You will know her and the hills and highways of Heaven. Isaiah 49.
To believe. On the days we have too much to do and no energy. Small hope. To have the Peace to decide we can do a few things today and wait for tomorrow and renewed mercies to strengthen us to do more - tomorrow.
In days where our mood just won't be brightened. No reason. Life was good yesterday. Is horrible today. And back to being good tomorrow. Then we have the Peace to know not to make major decisions today. Same as when you have the Flu or Strep Throat. The Peace to decide God will decide and we will Rest on His Peace and His timing and His Love.
Sometimes Peace is allowing this day to be the less wonderful day. Rest in God more good days will be another day.
Is God's Peace Miraculous. YES. Sometimes. YES.
Peace. When we see loved ones in Jesus Christ go on to Heaven. With utter and complete Peace. We are seeing the work of God in Heavenly Proportions. They are teaching us Belief in a Major Capacity. Life Changing Witness of Jesus Christ and His Peace and Faith. Utter God Given Peace. The Peace that passes understanding. Taught by those we love most. Profound witness to Jesus. God blessing us in the Narrow Gate.
Even if we employ God's Peace in small, minute times. We find Father God has really built a steel frame bridge covering troubled waters and, in small steps, we find the Bridge holds. Life is sustained. We can believe this today.
And at the end of our life - we will look back - astonished, amazed, awed Father God has carried us so many, many times over troubled waters in a ho-hum day, Because we found a small, little bit of Peace of God creating a Marvelous, Huge, Bridge of our Lives Carrying Us Over Trouble Waters. Because that day, we just held on the Holy Spirit and let the Holy Spirit be Comforter to us.
The Peace of God is exactly like the Light of Jesus Christ. The Light shines over the darkness and the darkness did not overcome and we - hardly knew - The Comforter, The Teacher was urging us on and giving us Hope, Faith and LOVE.
You say, "Do I know the Peace of God? "
Yes, you will be Thanking God for the times your little faith was flamed on in God's Tender Grace. We have to look at with eyes of Faith.
The things we will see -
with our eyes enlightened by Jesus Christ - in His Heavenly Kingdom
- we will laugh with delight for the times Jesus held our hand
- and enabled us to have Hope, Faith and Love.
Abba, our Abba,
You are Daddy. You are filled with tender Love for us.
When You cover us in the Name of Jesus our prayers go amazingly far. When we ask Jesus to go with us in prayer as our Mediator and Advocate.
We pray for families of Jesus Christ to be filled with Love. We pray for our Loved ones to have the Comfort You bring every day. We thank You for Your mercies Daily.
We come fully with confidence and honestly for the things we need.
We with abundant and filled Thanks Bless You for Your Answers all our Life.
We pray not only for the people You have given us - but for the people we are hearing about in the news - in some very difficult troubles. Please carry burdens for them. Help us to Help Others. We ask for Your miracles over these things under Your feet.
We fully and with Love thank You that Your Plans are for a Hope and Future. We ask for the fulfilling of Your Word bringing Good News. Praying to see soon how all things work together for Good for those who Love the Lord God and work according to His Purpose.
Jesus be praised for His Mercy, Grace, Forgiveness, Wisdom and Joy. You are a God we can look to with Great Pleasure in Your Love and Goodness.
Thank You Jesus. Thank You Abba. Amen and Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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