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Author: Stephen Weller
694 words, 4 minutes read time

Peace Given to Replace Fear

Scripture: John 14:27-28

In the previous lesson we saw the benefits of loving Jesus. In this lesson we will learn about peace that Jesus wants to give.

^{Jn 14:27} Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. ²⁸ You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

With Jesus stressing his soon departure, the disciples have been displaying some anxiety over being left alone. They are unsure of what this meant for them and what the future would be like without the close companionship and leadership of Jesus in their lives. Jesus tells them that he will leave peace with them to quiet their troubled hearts.

The footnote for verse 27, in the ESV Study Bible, explains that “The expression peace (Hb. Shalom) had a much richer connotation than the English word does since it conveyed not merely the absence of conflict and turmoil but also the notion of positive blessing, especially in terms of a right relationship with God.” This is seen in such texts as Numbers 6:24 – 26 ESV: ²⁴ “The Lord bless you and keep you; ²⁵ the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; ²⁶ the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”; and Psalm 29:11 ESV: “May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace.”

When I listen to those who have suffered under persecution share their experience, again and again I hear them tell about peace they experience during their time of suffering. These understand what Jesus meant when he said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” They express being afraid of the unknown but once they are immersed in their suffering, their fear and troubled hearts begin to take on the quality of peace and they see it as an honor to suffer for their faith.

Jesus reminds the disciples that he has told them that he is going away but that he will soon return only to leave again and go to his Father. He informs them that if they loved him they would rejoice over this, but there is much they don’t yet understand and won’t until Jesus rises from the dead and ascends to the Father and send to them the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Jesus makes the comment that the Father is greater than he. However, Jesus has claimed equality with the Father by saying they are one, so how is it that the Father is greater than the Son? The Father is seen as greater in that he was the one who sent Jesus and gives commands in what to do. Thus, in sending and giving commands, the Father is greater in authority and leadership. This does not imply that Jesus is inferior in his being and essence to the Father. John points this out in John 1:1 (ESV) by saying, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” There is no distinction of difference here between the Father and the Son, as we see in in John 10:30 ESV: “I and the Father are one [in being and essence].”

Conclusion

How often have you felt anxious over the unknown? We all have experienced and will continue to experience troubled hearts as the disciples did, but we have been given further instruction by Paul concerning what to do when we do experience anxiety. He said, ⁶ “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6 – 7 ESV).