"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."
John 14:27
Part 1
“Peace I leave with you.”
When Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, they were in the upper room after His last Passover. He had been giving them final words before the Cross. After this, their lives would forever be changed. This first mention of “peace” was in the Jewish form of hello and goodbye.”[1] One of His last discipleship sessions with His men was ending.
“It is the invocation of the blessings of peace and happiness. In this place, it was, however, much more than a mere form or an empty wish”[2] (Barnes).
“My peace I give unto you.”
Jesus is emphatic, He is gifting His peace to them. Far beyond a mere welcome or goodnight, He imparted to them the peace that only Jesus Christ has.
“It came from Him who had power to make peace and to confer it on all, Ephesians 2:15. It refers here particularly to the consolations which He gave to His disciples in view of His approaching death”[3] (Barnes).
“The Prince of Peace alone can give true peace”[4] (Bullinger).
This is why Jesus told His men, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace” (John 16:33a). This makes sense. The Prince of Peace provides peace like none-other, but only for His own children.
Jesus’ gift to believers is His peace. What does the world give? Come back tomorrow and let’s learn together.
Quote: “God is too good to be unkind, and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart”[5] (Spurgeon).
[1] Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[3] Barnes, ibid. “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances, make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace” (Ephesians 2:15).
[4] E.W. Bullinger, The Companion Bible, the electronic version in eSword. In this quote, Bullinger references this, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
[5] Spurgeon quote, Downloaded: Monday, June 29, 2020.
From: https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/inspiring-quotes/20-powerful-quotes-from-charles-spurgeon.html.