"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
Part 2
Yesterday: Jesus’ Last Meeting with His Disciples, before His Cross
“These things I have spoken unto you.”
Jesus has given His disciples valuable information about himself and insights into their lives as well. They have been spending their time together celebrating the Passover this evening. Jesus has instituted the Lord’s supper for His children to help them remember what He is doing to purchase their salvation. Tomorrow He goes to the cross, but tonight, He is speaking comfort to the disciples. He reminds them that victory is coming.
Today: The Only Place to Find Peace Is…
“That in me ye might have peace.”
Jesus’ words to the disciples are precise. Peace may only be found in one person. That is —
“In Me”
Earlier in the evening, Jesus said to them,
“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).
And once again, He reminds them that they may find peace in Him.
Jesus tells them “of ‘dwelling in Him’ as the prerogative and the duty of every Christian. We are in Him as in an atmosphere. In Him, our true lives are rooted as a tree in the soil. We are in Him as a branch in the vine, in Him as the members in a body, in Him as the residents in a house. We are in Him by simple faith, by the trust that rests all upon Him, by the love that finds all in Him, by the obedience that does all for Him. And it is only when we are ‘in Christ’ that we rest and realize peace. All else brings distraction”[1] (MacLaren).
Friend, are you “in Him?”
Jesus never made a promise He could not keep, including this promise of peace. Think of it; Judas was arranging with evil men for Jesus’ capture at that very moment. In a few hours, in the garden where He will go to pray, Jesus will be hauled away to illegal trials through the night that will ultimately condemn Him to death. His own people have rejected Him. Add to that His humiliation, torture, and mocking that are all leading to His voluntary sacrifice, as He takes the sin of the world upon His shoulders, as the Lamb of God. Jesus needs comfort, and yet He is offering His disciples peace “in me.”
It was just days ago at the triumphal entry, the people were shouting,
“Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest” (Luke 19:38).
But in the morning, the fickle people will be demanding His crucifixion. These were not peaceful times for Jesus, but still, He offers peace in Him.
“In Me, You Might Have Peace,” “You May Have Peace,” “You Can Have Peace.”[2]
Jesus Christ is the only source of peace. Without Him, there is no real peace, none. Look what He has provided for His child.
In Jesus, we can have peace with God.
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2).
“And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” (Colossians 1:20).
No human can “make peace with God,” but Jesus has provided it for us.
In Jesus, we can have peace with one another (people).
“For He himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near” (Ephesians 2:14-17, ESV[3]).
Only Jesus can make peace between enemies where there was none. When both parties look to Jesus and trust in Him first, they may have peace with Jesus and with each other.
In Jesus, we can have peace during our trials and tribulations.
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
“Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).
Jesus Christ is the “Prince of Peace!” “In Christ,” we have peace, “out in the world,” there is no peace.
“Jesus did not promise peace; He offered it. He said, ‘you may have peace.’ People may follow Jesus yet deny themselves this peace. We gain the peace Jesus offered by finding it in Him. Jesus said, ‘that in Me you may have peace.’ We won’t find real peace anywhere else other than in Jesus”[4] (Guzik).
Dear friend, do you have peace now as you read these words? If not, you need to ask Jesus to be your Savior and forgive your sin. One of the many benefits of knowing Jesus personally is that He will give you peace. Friend, you may find peace in Jesus Christ today.
Since we have peace only in Jesus Christ, please come back tomorrow and see what we can find in the world.
Quote: “Peace is not the absence of affliction, but the presence of God”[5] (Anon).
“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).
[1] Alexander MacLaren. Expositions of Holy Scriptures, the electronic version in eSword. John 16:33.
[2] Depending on which study Bible you are using…
[3] ESV is the English Standard Version.
[4] The Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword. John 16:33. The emphasis is his.
[5] Quote Downloaded: Wednesday, August 18, 2021. From: https://www.dailyinspirationalquotes.