The Gift of Peace

Zechariah 9:9-10                       1 Corinthians 15:3-8                  John 14:25-31

The Gift of Peace

How should we, as followers of a sovereign and omnipotent God, react to any impending crisis, whether global or local or personal? In our Gospel passage for today, Jesus addressed this question directly. Remember what he had just announced to his disciples. He was about to leave them. One of them would betray him. Peter would deny knowing him. But what they did not know yet is that they would soon see the one they had confessed as Messiah, the Son of the Living God, arrested, mocked, beaten, sentenced, and put to death as a common criminal, while never once raising a finger to defend himself. Everything they had believed…every dream, aspiration, hope…everything would be challenged, leaving them dumbfounded, perplexed, confused, dazed, and directionless…

A crisis such as they had never experienced before was about to engulf them. So, what did Jesus say would carry them through the storm? We have already heard him tell them not to be overly anxious as their position in the Father’s house was secure, that he would return to take them with him to where he would be, that he would not leave them alone but send them another helper like himself who would take up residence within them, that he and the Father would make their home with them…but in the passage we read from today he offered even more. The helper, the Holy Spirit, would not only live in them, but he would bring to remembrance and clarify everything Jesus had taught them. He would help them understand what at that moment they could neither contemplate nor comprehend. 

Now, before we move on, you need to remember that at this stage none of what we call the New Testament had been written yet. That would be for the disciples and other believers to record after the climax of all that had been written before had taken place. Many of the New Testament authors were eyewitnesses of the events they described and at some point they documented what they had heard Jesus preach and teach and what they had seen him do…being enabled (and this is important) to recall the works and the words accurately through the inspiration of the same Spirit who had previously moved the Old Testament authors to write what they had written as the very Word of God. 

For this reason, Jesus emphasized that the Holy Spirit would only bring to their minds what he had taught…the Holy Spirit is not, nor ever will be, an independent witness, and neither are we. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 

Witnesses…they were all witnesses to the great salvation event…and all of them testified to how that event was a culmination of all that had been written before. As Peter said in Acts 5:32, “…we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” As such they reported what they had seen and heard…nothing more, nothing less. Like the Old Testament authors, the New Testament authors spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). Nothing was open to their own interpretation or invention. Paul felt so strongly about this that he said in Galatians 1:8, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” 

So, when Jesus said in verse 26 that the Holy Spirit would teach them all things and bring to their remembrance all that he had said to them, he was telling them that he would help them regain perspective once they had emerged from the crisis that was about to consume them. 

But what about during the time of crisis? What would help them weather the storm while they were being battered and bruised by it? Hindsight is great, but how do you get to that point where you can look back? 

In verse 27 Jesus told them and us that what carries believers through times of calamity is his peace. “Peace I leave with you,” he said, “MY peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. (So) let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” 

Now, that sounds marvellous, but what does that mean?  The answer to that question, I believe, will help us know how to react during times of distress and disaster.

The key to understanding this peace that Jesus gives is to realise that it is not something the world can give us. This peace is not a cessation of hostility or catastrophe. That would be a flimsy and fleeting peace. Jesus said this was a personal peace…HIS PEACE… that he would give to them…a peace that would override anxiety or fear even in the midst of calamity. A peace that would be experienced in any given situation, good or bad. And as this is a personal peace – as this is Jesus’ peace – it is a peace that can only come from a real, vibrant, and growing relationship between the one giving the peace and the one receiving that peace. 

This is a peace that has carried innumerable believers through great difficulties and agonizing suffering because it is founded not on the circumstance or the situation but on the unchanging character of God as revealed to us in his Word. It is a peace that is grounded on the trustworthy track record of a God who repeatedly accomplished what he promised…despite the sometimes perilous predicaments faced by his people and, indeed that was faced by his own Son. As such, believing him and trusting him is central to experiencing his peace. Standing firmly on the Word of God guarantees a peace that nothing in all creation can shake or break.

Of course, this peace was secured through the suffering of Jesus on the cross. Because of sin, from Genesis 3 onward, there was no peace between God and humankind. Indeed, as this peace is founded on a proper relationship with God, there can be no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22, 57:21). The peace Jesus gives is primarily peace with God…a removal of the separating barrier erected by sin. So, there is only peace for those who put their faith and trust in Jesus. However, glorious as this may be, the peace of Jesus is still greater than this. 

In verse 28 Jesus told his disciples that he was going to the Father because the Father was greater than him. Now, obviously he was not referring to a superior versus inferior position within the Trinity as he had already declared himself one with and therefore equal to the Father (see also Philippians 2:6). 

So, what exactly did he mean? Well, I believe Jesus was referring to his current incarnate state prior to the cross…remember, it was because of his submission to the will of the Father and his subsequent obedient death on the cross that he was highly exalted and seated at the right hand of power (See Philippians 2:9). Once he had fulfilled the divine plan for the reconciliation of the world, dying as a man for humankind, Jesus would return to his former place in glory to rule and reign over all the world. And once he was seated on his throne, he would send his Holy Spirit to indwell all his people so that he could continue to exercise his rule on earth through his Church by the power of his Spirit. 

As such he would ensure that the peace he established through the cross would become an eternal legacy for all his heirs. His peace did not only come to his disciples in the first century, but through their faithful witness and the witness of countless believers down through the ages, that peace has come to us. Indeed, this peace is one of the signs that we live in the Messianic era. 

As the Lord spoke through the prophet Zechariah, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.”

Now, notice how Jesus himself dealt with the impending crisis in verses 30-31. He said, “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.” There are two important points here. The first has to do with Jesus’ relationship with the Father. It was a relationship based squarely on love demonstrated through humble submission and obedience. Because he knew the character of the Father, he could submit to his will even though he knew that that will would lead him to the cross. There was a trust and a conviction based on a proper relationship. The peace of the Son was founded on his knowledge of the nature of the Father. 

The second point has to do with Jesus’ relationship with the devil. When Jesus said that the “ruler of this world” was coming but he “had nothing” in him, or that he had “no claim” on him, what did he mean? Well, there are several things we need to understand about the nature of the devil. 

Firstly, as a flawed and fallen created being, the devil cannot be placed on the same level as God. He is neither omnipotent nor omniscient…he may be powerful, but he is finite. Secondly, he is only the “ruler of this world” because the first “ruler” relinquished his position of authority by submitting to the word of the devil instead of the word of God. When Adam rebelled against God, Satan ruled over him through disobedience…a rule broken through the obedient submission of the second Adam. 

That is why the ruler of this world had nothing in Jesus…Jesus had no sin. As the incarnate Son of God who took upon himself the form of a human, yet without sin, he was free from the dominion and power of the devil. The devil had no claim on him. And so, Jesus could bravely enter the crisis with a peace that transcends comprehension because he knew both the infiniteness of God as well as the finiteness of Satan. Even though the ruler of this world was coming, seeking to harm Jesus, his evil intentions would come to nothing because in the absence of sin he was powerless. Remember, he wanted Jesus to go to the cross. It was the devil that drove Judas to betray Jesus…but in his deluded arrogance, he failed to realise that at the cross his power would be nullified…at the cross he would be disarmed and defeated because he had no hold and no claim on Jesus.

And therein lies our peace. Through cancelling the effects of the disobedient actions of our first ancestors through his obedience, Jesus effectively became the new head of humanity…the 2nd Adam…and through his victory over sin, death, and the devil, he released us from spiritual slavery. Those who are in Jesus, stand cleared before the accuser of the brethren. Because of what Jesus did on our behalf on the cross, the ruler of this world has nothing in us either. So, Jesus’ peace is our peace. 

Jesus could face his crisis because he knew his position before God as well as his position before Satan. Despite appearances, the devil was never in control of any of the events surrounding the death of Jesus. God used the evil deeds of evil people to fulfil his righteous purposes (See Acts 4:27-28). For this reason, Jesus did not look at the circumstances performed by the wicked but at the certain outcome deliberately designed and devised and planned by God himself…a certain outcome that was thus solidly founded upon the Word of God. That is why he had peace…and that is why we who are in him can have peace too.

For us to face whatever crisis may come our way, we must believe what God says rather than what the devil would want us to believe. That is in essence the same choice presented to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Has God really said? It is for us to know his Word well enough that we can answer as clearly as Jesus did when he was tempted to compromise in the wilderness…or even when he was tempted to give in to fear in the Garden of Gethsemane. Remember Jesus said, “If you love me, obey my commandments.” Elsewhere he asked, “Why call me Lord if you refuse to do what I tell you to do?” 

We can face an uncertain future by relying on the one who has our future in his hands. If we are to have the peace Jesus has promised us, we must know and trust and have faith in what he has revealed about himself in his Word. 

We will not find peace in possessions. We will not find peace in plans. We will not find peace in people. Peace can only come through obedient trust in God’s Word…believing that he is who he said he is…believing that he will do what he promised to do…believing that he is with us through thick and through thin as he has assured us he is. That is central to receiving his gift of peace.

Shall we pray?

© Johannes W H van der Bijl 2024