This morning I want to focus on just three verses of our gospel reading for today (John 14:23-29). Jesus was about to leave this world and that meant lots of trouble lay ahead for his disciples. He spoke these words to his disciples to comfort them and assure them that they would not have to fight the battle on their own and even when they face extreme adversity, his peace would always be with them. This assurance is also for you my friends so listen carefully. In vs 25 and 26 Jesus says:
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.
The quest for peace is as old as recorded history. Wealthy men like Andrew Carnegie, Alfred Nobel, and others donated fortunes to support peace movements. The gruesome and mass loss of life in both World War I & II led nations of the world to think more in terms of peace and preservation of life. Thus was formed the United Nations.
Every year a Nobel peace prize is given. Although the UN was formed primarily as a peace keeping organization, it was the UN that sanctioned the use of force during the US lead allied forces in Iraq. Today, we know they have no solution as far as Ukraine and Russia. I am sure you will agree that we just do not have the ability to bring about lasting peace among nations.
The dictionary describes peace as the absence of war or other hostilities. It is a sort of harmony from disagreements and potential loss of lives. In other words as the world looks at it, peace is the absence of conflict but that is not the kind of peace Jesus was talking about. He is talking about our shalom; our inner personal peace. As the Apostle Paul phrases it, “it is a peace that passes human understanding” that came through the death and resurrection of our Lord.
The same one who calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee can bring calm to our lives as well. Jesus who is also known as the Prince of Peace gives to us his peace. In other words, he is giving us a part of himself. It is a gift from God to us that can be fully felt and understood only when we accept it in faith. This kind of peace does not mean that we will not have tribulations but it does mean that even in the midst of the worst of life’s storms, we will still be able to lift our heads up and clap our hands for joy because in Him and trough Him we more than conquerors through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christians will always find themselves in a continuous conflict with demonic powers and their enablers. Some choose to fight in their own strength but they are no match for the evil one. In vs. 25 Jesus says:
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.
Our fight is against principalities and powers in dark places but that should never discourage us because God has given us his comforter, the Holy Spirit to fight for us. It is not by might or by power but by my Spirit says the Lord!
For a frustrated or Godless person, the world offers options too. Prozac and Paxil is one of the most prescribed drugs in America. These are anxiety or antidepressant drugs that numb our thoughts for a while but it is not a permanent fix.
Others hit the bottle, use opioids or other street drugs but in reality it is downward spiral from there. Once again, the world has no solutions for inner peace. My friends, listen to Jesus. He loves you immensely and is both your Savior and friend. He says. “My Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Therefore, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Rather than quoting a lot of scripture let me share with you a real life story that illustrates this kind of peace so very well.
I am sure most of you may not be familiar with the name of Horatio Spafford. You can read about his story on the internet. He was both a successful attorney and real estate investor who lost a fortune in the great Chicago fire of 1871. And it was not just about the monetary stuff. Around the same time he lost his four year old son from scarlet fever.
But his real credentials were that Horatio was a prominent Christian man who along with his wife were devoted and faithful followers of Jesus Christ. One of his closet friends was none other than the world famous Evangelist D.L. Moody. So you would think that his faith in the Lord would have caused God to plant a protective hedge around this family to keep them insulated from every type of harm and danger. The answer is both yes and no as you will soon find out.
Thinking a vacation would do his family some good, he sent his wife and four daughters (all below the age of 11) on a ship to England. Being a very busy man he could not accompany them but planned to join them shortly after. Unfortunately while crossing the Atlantic the ship collided with another vessel and sunk. More than 300 died that day including all four of Horatio’s daughters. His wife Anna was miraculously saved. Back in the day I do not know if there were phones but a heart broken Anna sent Horatio a telegram from England saying “Saved alone. What shall I do?”
Horatio caught the next ship for England. At one point during his voyage, the captain of the ship, aware of the tragedy that had struck the Spafford family, told Horatio they were passing the very spot where the shipwreck had occurred. I am sure a deep sense of indescribable grief filled the heart of Horatio. But instead of being filled with grief a deep sense of comfort and peace filled his heart. He took a pen and a piece of paper and wrote down these words which we all now know is one of the most beloved hymns of our day. It goes like this:
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to know
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Vs.2
Though Satan should buffet though trials should come
Let this blessed assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate
And has shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well with my soul.
Horatio later wrote to Anna’s half-sister, saying “On Thursday last, we passed over the very spot where she went down, the waters were three miles deep. But I do not think of our dear ones as being there. They are safe and secure with an Almighty God.”
My friends, if Satan had a chance he would love to drown all of us. But be thankful that greater is the one who is in us that the one who is in this world. In the ups and downs of life we must learn to place our hands in His and trust Him fully to see us through.
The once happy family was torn apart and separated by death. But that was not the end of them. Horatio and his wife Anna were completely at peace and moved to Jerusalem where they continued to work in the mission field helping the poor, the needy and homeless children. It is easy to rejoice when things are going well with us but what happens when tragedy strikes? One of Anna’s friends put it this way. She said “It’s easy to be grateful and good when you have so much, but take care that you are not a fair-weather friend to Jesus.”
I do not know what you may be going through today my friends but I can tell you this. Our God has you in the palm of his hands and he has given us the comforter, His precious Holy Spirit to live within us so that even when the road is rough, we can still rejoice in the Lord always. The battle is already won and the victory is ours. So though Satan may buffet you and trials come, keep on plowing and keep on fighting because God has got this and it is not over until He says it is over.
Like the Apostle Paul said elsewhere, “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition and with thanksgiving present your requests to God and then the peace of God which passes all understanding with keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge of God and of his son Jesus Christ our Lord. God is in the business of turning our ashes into a thing of beauty.
Friend if you have not found Jesus already; seek him and you will find him. Take the first step my friends. Faith is about taking the first step even when you do not see the entire staircase. I hope none of us have to face what the Spafford family went through but there will always be storms to face, and sometimes there will also be tragedies. But with faith in a loving God and with trust in His divine help, we can all confidently say, “It is well, it is well with my soul.”
Today’s reading teaches us that God is giving us something the world cannot give us. He offers us his peace. Peace with God and peace of God, is the only peace that is guaranteed. It is a gift that the possessor, Jesus Christ gives to every true believer. Two chapters later in John 16:33 Jesus says, I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation but remember, I have overcome the world.
Never underestimate the awesome power of God my friends. Life is hard especially for a Christian but our God never fails. When things seem to weigh you down, cast your cares upon Him because he cares for you. Lay everything at the feet of Jesus and pick up His forgiveness and peace. The same one who breathed life into you is now filling you with his peace. It is a perfect and everlasting peace that has no boundaries. It is a peace that comes straight from God’s heart to ours. I hope you receive it and be filled with His peace now and always. AMEN.
