Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
(John 14:27)
Not as the world gives, do I give to you.
Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
We live in a broken world. It’s fair to say that we are all facing something daily. Worry, anxiety, negative thoughts, relational issues, brokenness, and questions you wish you had the answers to.
And that’s the thing. Jesus is the answer.
Nowadays that may seem cliche and impractical to hear, but I can’t emphasize enough on how true this point is.
When looking at this verse in John, actually this entire chapter, you’ll see Jesus’ compassion in a different light.
He knows and sees the brokenness. He acknowledges it.
But he doesn’t stay there. He sees right through it and offers us his peace, which leads to wholeness.
The kind of peace that surpasses all understanding and brings you to a place of compassion for yourself and those around you. It motivates you to take action to help bring it about, to extend his love to others with no strings attached, and to become a conduit of his life.
Peace doesn’t come to those who refuse it. It comes to those who gladly receive it. It must be given to receive or refuse at all. And we must receive it to experience it.
Jesus gives it to you. And not like the world would, but only how he could.
In the next few minutes, I want to talk to you about this peace, (his shalom). We will acknowledge the peace of Christ by recognizing its importance and quality of it. Along with acknowledging, or admitting, the existence of the world’s offer to you.
The differences are vast! But Christ’s peace will always supersede the world’s, and it’s our choice to go beyond acknowledging it by completely accepting and fully embracing this promise despite the troubles we face.
His Personal Peace
My peace I give to you
The first part of this verse almost seems like a common thing to say at departure. Kind of like, Godspeed. But Jesus takes it to the next level and extends his peace to his disciples.
After talking about the Holy Spirit and seeing the Father because they saw him (note the trinity here), he brings in an aspect of peace that the disciples have never imagined before. This isn’t just a goodbye but a gift that can transform any believer’s life.
Colossians 3:15 says, and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
This peace, or shalom, is more like a wholeness. And to let it rule in your heart means to let it be the base, the motive, for your discernment to make decisions.
Jesus gave his peace to us. Not just a piece, but peace in his entirety. The transformation comes when we let the Holy Spirit [in us] permeate every part of our hearts and lives.
You are called to live within this peace that brings about a wholeness that only comes from a relationship with him. His peace brings a wholeness that cannot break.
When Jesus gave it, it was an invitation to walk hand in hand with him through everything; every part of life.
His Powerful Peace
Not as the world gives
He doesn’t give like the world gives.
The second part of this verse reveals the power of Christ’s peace given to us. The world can only offer temporary peace and pleasure. It will never satisfy us deeper than the surface level.
Jesus offers peace that came straight from the throne room of God. An eternal peace that is present throughout our entire life.
Where anxiety, depression, fear, and hopelessness reigns, we can choose to let the peace of Christ rule and take over our hearts and minds. To fully accept and embrace it means to walk hand-in-hand with the Holy Spirit, our Helper, the One who leads us into all truth (John 14:16, 26).
In giving us his peace, Jesus doesn’t even give it in the way the world would. For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and pride of life – is not from the Father but is from the world (1 John 2:15-17). And what the world offers is temporary.
His Perfect Peace
Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Isaiah 26:3 says that he keeps him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
The beauty of the last part of John 14:27 is that it invites us to meet Jesus halfway. He provides the peace, but He lets you choose to trust him in it. Whose mind is stayed on You.
Jesus encourages his disciples to let not their hearts be troubled or in fear, knowing that that is in their control; part of their decision about how they behave and react.
It’s tempting to blame the situations and circumstances of your life for making you behave a certain way. But you’re the one behaving. So there is a decision factor taking place from only your end. When you choose Christ’s peace, you have the option to let that lead and affect your behavior despite what your circumstances look like.
He carefully described the peace as ‘My peace.’ His peace was a heart untroubled and unfearful in spite of all the suffering and conflict ahead of Him.
(Morgan)
Like the verse in Isaiah, there’s a contingency of keeping your mind on Christ and fully trusting Him. It’s your choice.
So when any issues arise in life, it’s important to take the peace of Christ – His personal, powerful, and perfect peace – and let it rule in your heart. Because what you let to rule in your heart will flow out of your life.
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Proverbs 4:23
Within every believer is a shalom (which means not only “peace” but also “health, wholeness, integrity”) that comes from God Himself. It is not a self-satisfied peace that ignores suffering, but a compassionate peace that longs for God’s shalom to be present with everyone and motivates action to help bring it about.
(David H. Stern)
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