“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

It has been an eventful evening, as Jesus and the Disciples shared the Passover meal. Jesus has washed the Disciples’ feet, Judas has left to betray Jesus, He has given them a new commandment,  Peter has been told that He will deny Jesus three time before the rooster crows, they have been told of a place that Jesus will prepare for them, they have been taught if you love me you will obey me, they have been promised the Holy Spirit, and that the devil has no hold on Jesus because Jesus completely obeys the Father. In this midst of it all, Jesus offers them peace.

It is not just any peace Jesus offers them, it is His peace. It is the peace which will carry Jesus through the trials, the cross, the tomb, all the way to the resurrection and then the ascension. It is truly a peace that passes all of our understanding. We see this peace demonstrated through the book of Acts. It begins as Peter and John are brought before the Sanhedrin. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13) Their obedience to Jesus stood in contrast to the directions of the Sanhedrin, who had said they must stop speaking and teaching about Jesus. As they continued to tell about Jesus, they were again arrested and flogged. When they were released, Jesus’ peace was with them so much they rejoiced. “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” (Acts 5:41-42)

Christ’s peace is evident in Stephen as he is being stoned, “Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:59-60) Evidenced in Paul and Silas, after they had been beaten and thrown in jail. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:25)

While Jesus’ peace is seen in difficult days, it is to be evidenced in every day. Paul would tell the church in Colossae, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15) James would tell us in his book, “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” (James 3:18) Jesus in the Beatitudes would say, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) It is when we trust in the promise of our Savior, that we live in the peace from Him. Walking daily with the Living Word of God, we are not troubled by the difficulties around us and we are not to fear because we are held in the hands of Jesus and given His peace.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block