25 These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Introduction: Where’s The Peace?
Pastor Dave Branon shared the following: More than 75 years ago, my father was wounded while fighting in World War II, a conflict that claimed at least 35 million lives. Millions of other people around the world carry with them the lifelong, tragic consequences of international conflict.
Each family that remembers a lost son or daughter, the casualty of war, and each veteran who must live with the physical and emotional scars of battle is a testament to mankind’s failure to achieve a lasting peace on earth (Luke 2:14). What went wrong? Why are we still seeing bombings and shootings and destruction of nations?
The men and women who fought for their country are to be honored with gratitude. We must also remember that any peace secured by guns can never be permanent. That can only come when the Prince of Peace rules the nations. But He must be enthroned in our heart now. He brings us an inner peace that comes from trust in God through Christ. It is a peace with God—something that even those who have faced the terrors of war can experience.
One day when Christ returns, there will be worldwide peace. But for now, peace on earth comes to one person at a time. Do you have that peace?
Oh, the peace I find in Jesus,
Peace no power on earth can shake,
Peace that makes the Lord so precious,
Peace that none from me can take. —Beck
True Peace Is Not The Absence Of War But The Presence Of God.
Source: Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread
I. Peace While The Savior Is Physically Present 25
25 These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.
A. The Context of Peace
1. We are dealing with what is known as the Upper Room Discourse 13-17
2. These are great and well know chapters but there context gives us clarity.
3. Chapter 13 – A Call to Service
a. John says this:
b. Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. (John 13:1 )
c. Jesus demonstrates His love for His disciples by washing their feet.
d. Jesus ends this chapter with three very important steps…
i. He identifies the traitor.
ii. He gives a new commandment.
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
—John 13:35
iii. He prophesies Peter’s denial and sets the stage for his reinstatement as an Apostle.
4. Chapter 14 – A Call to Peace
a. Jesus begins this chapter with a phrase that we also find in our text – Let not your hearts be troubled…
b. Jesus gives us his most famous I AM statement, I am THE WAY…
c. This chapter ends with Jesus leaving and giving us HIS peace.
5. Let me just mention the rest of the discourse…
a. Chapter 15 – The Challenge to Abide
b. Chapter 16 – The Challenge to Stand with the aid of the Holy Spirit
c. Chapter 17 – The Great High Priestly Prayer of Jesus
6. All the while, Jesus was suffering tremendous agony and pouring peace out on His followers.
B. The Definition Of Peace
1. A state of national tranquility – the absence of the rage and havoc of war
2. Harmony and concord peace between individuals
3. Security, safety and prosperity fostered by peace
4. The state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ
5. The state of the righteous after death
C. The Importance Of Peace
1. How importance is peace to the LORD Jesus Christ?
2. Looking at Scripture, we find the term peace in 26 of the 27 NT Books (1John is the only exception)
3. Jesus Christ Himself went to the cross in order to purchase a place in heaven for you and me with His own blood – so that we might have peace!
4. I would conclude that peace is of the utmost importance to the Savior!
D. Application To The Church
1. While Jesus was with them, the Apostles were able to find perfect peace.
2. It was only when they thought he was not with them that they panicked.
II. Peace Pending The Saviors Imminent Departure 26
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
A. Peace Embodied In The Person Of The Holy Spirit
1. Jesus has already introduced the Holy Spirit to the Apostles a little earlier in this chapter.
a. You can feel the mounting panic in the Apostles as Jesus announces…
i. His impending death
ii. His imminent departure
b. The Apostles are anything but peaceful
i. Peter asks
ii. Simon Peter said
Lord, where are You going? Jesus answered him, Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.
—John 13:36
iii. Thomas asks
Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?
—John 14:5
iv. Judas (not Iscariot) asks
Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?
—John 14:22
2. Does this sound like a group that is at peace with what is being said? NO!
B. Peace Education Through Total Recall
1. Jesus goes into the educator mode.
a. I am giving you a Helper.
b. Not just any old body, but the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD!!!!!!
c. The Father is sending Him to you IN MY NAME!!!!!!!!
2. Look at the Job Description of the Holy Spirit for the Apostles…
a. He will teach you all things!
b. He will bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
i. Do you know that exactly what happened?
ii. Do you realize that is exactly why we have the Bible?
Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
—John 2:22
C. Application To The Church
1. The Apostles did not do well at receiving the education Jesus was giving.
2. They scattered and scurried and hid until they heard.
3. Even when they heard, they were reluctant to believe and even more reluctant to receive the peace of God that passes all understanding.
4. But once they did, they church exploded on the world stage!
III. Peace While The Savior Is Physically Absent 27
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
A. Peace, Peace, Wonderful Peace!
1. Jesus is going away.
a. He is hours away from trial, crucifixion and death.
b. He is days away from His glorious resurrection.
c. He is about a month away from His ascension back to glory.
2. But of all the wonderful and miraculous things Jesus has done – he has one last benefit!
a. I’m leaving you in peace…
b. I’m giving you peace…
c. I’m giving you a peace the world knows nothing about.
d. It is not absence of war, it is peace with ME.
B. A Command for the Ages!
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
1. Bro David, you don’t know my situation!
2. I have plenty to fear and no peace in sight!
3. You’re right!
4. I don’t know your situation.
5. But Jesus does and please remember that it was He who gave us this command!
C. Application To The Church – the best way I know to have peace
1. God Loves Us
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
—John 3:16
2. We Are Sinful And Separated From God.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
—Romans 3:23
3. Jesus Christ Is Gods Only Provision For Our Sin.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
—Romans 5:8
4. We Must Individually Receive Jesus As Savior And Lord.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
—John 1:12
IV. Conclusion
