“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. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe. “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.” John 14:27-31
Peace. This is what Jesus offers. Peace. Real, lasting, eternal. Not peace as the world leave but calming, assuring, resting peace.
I write this on a return trip to Israel. This is trip number five for me. Hard to believe I get to return to the place where Jesus walked, talked, lived and ministered. Today I will go to the place where he actually lived and did most of his ministry— Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee.
As I consider this peace that Jesus talks about, it is a deep abiding peace down in my Spirit. He tells us not to be troubled or afraid. Jesus had to go away so that he could return. He had to die upon the cross so that we could live. At this moment, he was was speaking these words, he was only hours away from suffering, death and persecution. I don’t know if he felt peace at this moment but he wanted us to. He wanted us to experience peace in this life while he faced death upon the cross.
Do we rejoice that he had to “go away” and that the “ruler of the world approached?” Certainly if it meant the resurrection. The very real advisory of the Lord is the devil, death and our sins. That is the ruler that approaches. But as Jesus said, “He has no power over me.” Jesus did that “what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father.” No power, only peace. Jesus went willingly to the cross out of obedience to God and love for us.
Why then do we worry? Why then do we not have peace? Why the restlessness of the soul? Calm, assurance and peace. There should be no fear or no trouble. When I doubt myself, it is not of Christ. For he calls me to have trust in him.
This is my mantra today as I walk the path of Jesus. As I gaze upon Gailee and walk through the waters of the Jordan River, I will be reminded of the peace that he gave so willingly upon the cross for my sins.
“O Lord God, you are good. In the midst of my troubles, I find rest in you. When I am afraid, you show me comfort. Come now, Holy Spirit, help me lead well for your glory. Help me give direction and point people to your love and your truth. I praise you Lord for this land which I has become like an old friend. An old friend of my Master who loved me enough to become human and walk its roads. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen