Peace
John 14:27
Just before he laid down his life for us,
the Lord Jesus said to his disciples, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I
give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto
you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." These
words of grace were addressed not to those early disciples alone, but to all
who live by faith in him. They are the words of Christ to you and me. There are
four things contained in these words for our instruction, edification and
peace.
1. A BLESSED LEGACY - "Peace leave I
with you." This is the gift of Christ to his church. As he was the
Fountain of peace to his disciples while he was upon the earth, he is the
Fountain of peace to us now. Knowing that trouble and tribulation must befall
us in this world, he left us peace to cheer and gladden our hearts. Indeed,
Christ is our peace (Eph.
2. A DIVINE GIFT - "My peace I give
unto you." The peace here spoken of is that peace which Christ himself
enjoyed as he lived upon this earth as the God-man, our Mediator. It is his
peace. But it is a peace that he freely and effectually gives to those who
trust him.
3. AN INSTRUCTIVE CONTRAST - "Not as
the world giveth, give I unto you." The world
does give peace to those who love it and follow it. And Christ gives peace to
those who love and follow him. But there is no similarity between the two.
Christ's peace reaches the conscience. The world's only soothes it. Christ's
peace is steady. The world's is wavering. Christ's peace is unconditional. The
world's is conditional. Christ's peace is everlasting. The world's is soon
ended.
4. A TENDER EXHORTATION - "Let not
your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Against all the
troubles of life in this world Christ has made provision for his people. And
the provision he has made is peace. He gives other bountiful supplies of grace
for our days of trial - strength, faith, hope. But peace is his special antidote
for trouble. If Christ is our peace, why should our hearts be troubled with
anxiety or afraid in the midst of impotent foes.
Blessed indeed are those men and women who have Christ and his peace to sustain
their hearts in a world of trouble.
Don Fortner