John 14:25-31
I often quote verse 27 at the beginning of funerals. I’ve just seen a new significance in bringing these words to that human context filled with every kind of thought and emotion.
It has to do with clinging and releasing. Jesus promises peace to the disciples as he is leaving, which would be really tough even though he is promising to return. At that moment, and until they experience him resurrected, they would be just overflowing with fear and perplexity. The natural reaction in that experience is to cling to something. But here Jesus says their peace is necessarily connected with his leaving, because only in leaving will he fulfill his purpose, and it is in taking up his mission, in fulfilling that purpose, that the disciples will truly know peace. The Counselor/Spirit comes not just to comfort but to empower them (see John 20:21). “I do not give to you as the world give,” he says. It is the world’s approach to peace to acquire, to medicate, to cling – and it goes nowhere good.
The prince of this world, the world that clings, has no hold on him! So neither does the prince of this world have any hold on those who are united with Jesus, and live and breathe with the Spirit of truth.
Peace is release and release is peace. But no one says it’s easy.
Prayer:
God, you are so wise in your ways I hesitate to say so for fear it sounds like I’m evaluating you. You define wisdom, you are love, you alone bring peace. I only perceive these things in and from you because they come from you in the first place. If at some moment I appear wise may it be your wisdom that is acknowledged and lived. Thank you for the peace that comes with it. In Jesus. Amen.
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3 comments:
Hello Jim, I am Evangelist: Chuck Gibson and you can access my blog @http://singingevangelists.blogspot.com I appreciated your blog on The Peace of God! Truly it is the Peace that surpasses all our understanding, a joy unspeakable and full of glory! It is a peace the world cannot give and the world can never take away! Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. God bless and keep you is our prayer.
Thanks, Chuck, I'll see you at your blog.
In Him,
Peace is release and release is peace. But no one says it’s easy.
Easy it is not. We can see and feel the things we cling to, and have to have faith to beleive in the promise of peace.
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