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John 14:27 - Jesus: A Peace Like No Other!

John 14:27 - Jesus: A Peace Like No Other!

John 14:27 (NKJV) 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. 

John 14:27 (NLT) "I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and 
heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't 
be troubled or afraid. 

John 14:27 (EAV) Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now 
give and bequeath to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  
Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.  
[Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not 
permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and 
unsettled.] 

John 14:27 (CWR) I want you to have the same inner peace that I 
have - not the kind of peace that the world gives, but that abiding 
peace with the Father that only I can give.  Don't be afraid of Him, 
because He loves you. 

INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

   A tender and intimate scene unfolds in John 14. The disciples 
did not understand everything that was going on, but they knew that 
something big was about to happen. They knew that Jesus would be leaving 
them. Their teacher, their mentor, their friend for the last three 
years was highlighting his most important instructions as though he 
was trying to squeeze in some "last words," and their hearts were 
crushed with the burden.  
   Jesus spoke encouraging words to them. Their hearts should 
not be troubled; he was going to prepare a place for them; and he 
would come again to get them. And in the meantime the Father would 
send them the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to help them and teach them. 
In his hour of greatest turmoil, he was trying to relieve theirs. 
[NIV Once A Day Bible] 

WORD STUDY

Peace . . . my peace. A common Hebrew greeting, which Jesus uses 
here in an unusual way. The term speaks, in effect, of the salvation 
that Christ's redemptive work will achieve for his disciples--total 
well-being and inner rest of spirit, in fellowship with God. All true peace 
is his gift, which the repetition emphasizes. ... In its greetings of 
peace the world can only express a longing or wish. But Jesus' peace 
is real and present. [NIV SB] 

Here Jesus speaks of inward peace of soul such as comes to him 
who is "justified by faith" (Rom. 5:1), whose sense of guilt has 
been laid at the foot of the cross, and whose anxieties about the 
future have been swallowed up in his implicit trust in God (Phil. 4:6, 
7). Such a peace Jesus terms "my peace." Such a peace the world 
cannot bestow. Compare John 16:33. [SDA Bible Commentary] 

Peace is the calming of internal conflict. Sin, fear, 
uncertainty, doubt, and numerous other forces are at war within us. The peace 
of God moves into our heart and life to restrain these hostile 
forces and offer comfort in place of conflict. Jesus says he will give 
us that peace if we are willing to accept it from him. [Life 
Application SB] 

At best the world knows an uneasy peace, for the world's peace 
depends on circumstances. An earthquake, an outbreak of war, the loss of 
a job, a sickness--these are just a few of the things that destroy 
the world's peace. In contrast Christ's peace is independent of 
circumstances. It is rooted in the knowledge that God is our Father, Christ our 
Saviour, and heaven our home. Nothing that happens in this world can 
affect these realities. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary] 

Peace is resting in God's sovereignty. The end result of the 
Holy Spirit's work in our life is deep and lasting peace. Unlike 
worldly peace, which is usually defined as the absence of conflict, this 
peace is confident assurance in any circumstance. With Christ's peace, 
we have no need to fear the present or the future. If your life is 
full of stress, allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with Christ's peace 
(see Philippians 4:6-7 for more on experiencing God's peace). [Life 
Application SB] 

COMMENTARY 

   Jesus knew that as long as we live on planet Earth, there 
will be things that can disturb our peace and cause us to be troubled 
or afraid. All we have to do is turn on the news or open a 
newspaper to see countless reasons for us to be troubled. Remember the 
scares related to Y2K, and UFOs, and mad-cow disease? violence, 
terrorism, and the threat of biochemical warfare? The hormones doctors 
thought would protect women's hearts have been shown not to do so. Food 
is tainted with pesticides. It's easy to see that this world and 
its circumstances won't give us the peace our hearts long for. But 
we don't have to live in a state of despair. Jesus has left us with 
a great gift - peace of mind and heart right in the middle of this 
troubled world. It doesn't come from positive thinking or repeating 
affirming mantras but from the person of Jesus Christ, who said, "Here on 
earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I 
have overcome the world" (John 16:33). We can enter into his peace 
because he has already provided a way through the Cross.  
   Jesus thank you for the peace of mind and heart that you 
provide for me. In the midst of my circumstances, I want to receive your 
peace for my Life. I love you for overcoming the world through your 
work on the cross. Help me to keep my eyed fixed firmly on you and to 
enter into your peace. [Praying Through The Bible By Fuller] 

   One of Jesus' favorite classrooms was the storm-tossed Sea of 
Galilee. Once He was asleep in the back of the boat when a storm raged 
and His friends panicked, but He calmly woke up and told the storm 
to be quiet - and it obeyed. On another occasion, He sent the 
disciples across the lake ahead of Him, and when they were being tossed 
around in a dangerous storm, He came to them walking on the water. In 
both cases, His Presence changed the nature of the crisis. And in 
both cases, He taught foundational lessons about fear and faith.  
   This is not an unusual dynamic. Jesus still allows storms in 
our lives, He continues to teach lessons about fear and faith, and 
His Presence still changes the nature of the crisis. He comes to us 
in the midst of a storm - often after He has allowed us to reach a 
point of panic - and calms us, the storm, or both. He reminds us that 
faith is the key to overcoming, that fear undermines faith, and that 
keeping our focus on Him destroys fear and builds faith. He teaches and 
strengthens us best not when the weather is calm but when the waves are 
about to overwhelm us.  
   If you're going through a crisis, remember that this is 
normal for the Kingdom of God. Nothing is unusual about His children 
experiencing storms. What would be unusual is if He never showed up in them 
or let them go on longer than necessary. In your crisis, trust that 
He is aware, He has already timed His entrance, and He will calm it 
at the perfect time. Meanwhile, trust Him. The storm is designed to 
teach you how.  
   Jesus, I hate the storms, but I'm so grateful that You meet 
me in them. Please don't delay. Strengthen my faith and calm my 
fears. [The One Year Experiencing God's Presence Devotional by Chris 
Tiegreen] 

   Receive My Peace. This is still your deepest need and I, your 
Prince of Peace, long to pour Myself into your neediness. My abundance 
and your emptiness are a perfect match. I designed you to have no 
sufficiency of your own. I created you as a jar of clay, set apart for 
sacred use. I want you to be filled with My very Being, permeated 
through and through with Peace. 
   Thank Me for My peaceful Presence, regardless of your 
feelings. Whisper My Name in loving tenderness. My Peace, which lives 
continually in your spirit, will gradually work its way through your entire 
being. (Isa. 9:6; 2 Cor. 4:7; John 14:26) [Jesus Calling by Sarah 
Young] 

A great many people are trying to make peace, but that has 
already been done. God has not left it for us to do; all we have to do 
is to enter into it. D. L. Moody (1837-1899)  

ILLUSTRATIONS

Hope In Trouble
   Ed Dobson tells about the time his cat climbed into the dryer 
and onto the top of some warm clothes. Dobson's wife didn't know the 
cat was in there and closed the dryer door. Then she pushed the 
start button. When she suddenly heard terrible noises coming from the 
dryer as it tumbled, she opened the door. The cat staggered out with 
hair sticking out in every direction and a totally dazed look on its 
face.  
   Dobson compares the way his cat felt at that moment to what 
happened to him in a doctor's office when he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou 
Gehrig's disease). Before that moment, he says, he felt warm and 
comfortable, like the cat in the dryer. After he heard the terrible news that 
he had a terminal disease, he was staggered and dazed.  
   He draws another parallel to being dazed like that - the 
feelings of Jesus' disciples the evening before their Master's death. 
Jesus told them that, despite his leaving them, they should not be 
troubled. Not troubled? There they were, facing disaster.  
   Medical diagnoses. Accidents. Profound losses of all sorts. 
Everyone experiences disasters in this life - or we fear disasters that 
may come. How can we not feel troubled? Here is what Jesus said to 
his dazed disciples when he was soon to leave them: "Don't let your 
hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more 
than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I 
have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?" (John 
14:1-2, NLT).  
   Although, like the disciples, we may face grim circumstances 
and disappointments, our ultimate hope is for the life to come. We 
are given many promises of God's faithfulness to us in this life, 
including Jesus' promise that the Holy Spirit would be our comforter and 
lead us into truth. Yet our ultimate hope is in what is being 
prepared for us beyond this world.  
   "Even though Jesus has gone back to the Father," Dobson says, 
"he has not forgotten about us."  
   Lord, I do trust in you. Please increase my faith when 
troubles come, and enable me to live in hope of all you are preparing. 
When I hear news that scares me, please grant me your courage and 
calm. [The One Year Book of Encouragement by Harold Myra] 

Joy in Tragedy
   Nancy Guthrie, whose daughter, Hope, had been born with a 
metabolic disorder and lived for just six months, now found herself 
pregnant again. Might this new baby, just eight weeks past conception, 
have the same problem? She wrote in her journal that, despite her 
sinking feelings about getting the prenatal testing results, she wanted 
to say yes to whatever God had for her and her husband, David.  
   She writes, "If someone had asked me when I was pregnant with 
Hope if I wanted to experience what we did with her, I'm sure I would 
have said no. And yet it was the most profound experience of blessing 
we've ever had. She brought us so much joy."  
   Those who have not lived through such an experience may find 
it hard to imagine how it could be a blessing and a source of joy. 
Yet the Guthries are not the only ones to report the profound 
enrichment that can come from bearing and nurturing a child with severe 
limitations and a shortened life. So much depends on how one receives and 
loves the child and lives in faith.  
   Does that mean the fear and discomfort for Nancy and David 
were gone? Not at all! Yet they were determined to trust God each day 
- even after they learned that this new baby, too, had the 
disorder and they would take him home to die.  
   They named the new baby Gabriel. They put the future in God's 
hands. They continued their journey of faith, continually choosing to 
make a new commitment to trust the Lord and to see blessings where 
others might see only tragedy.  
   Father in heaven, it's sometimes so difficult to see 
blessings in tragic experiences. Help me to see beyond the disappointments 
to your grace and the bountiful ways you are at work in my life. 
[The One Year Book of Encouragement by Harold Myra] 

  NO JESUS - NO PEACE
KNOW JESUS - KNOW PEACE

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC:

RE: John 16:33 (NKJV) These things I have spoken to you, that in 
Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but 
be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2010/20100527-1052.html

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2012/20120605-0919.html

RE: Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in 
everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests 
be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all 
understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2008/20081027-2333.html

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2010/20100812-1202.html

RE: Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose 
mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.  

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2012/20121031-1710.html

EXCELLENT VIDEO SERIES ON EXPERIENCING GOD:


http://sda.biggytv.com/watch/Revive!_-_Dwight_Nelson:_Experiencing_Gods_Grace/revive/ 

BIBLE PROPHECY SERIES ON REVELATION: 

http://revelationtodaylive.com/live

ONLINE BIBLE STUDIES: THUNDER IN THE HOLY LAND 

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