PEACE: Daily Reading Plan #7
John 14:23-27
Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
"All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 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.
The peace that Christ offers is not like that of the world. The best we can expect from the natural world is unfairness and death (Romans 8:20; James 4:14; Psalm 73:3). Even attempts to be moral, without God, lead only to frustration (2 Corinthians 7:10). Christ's "peace" here refers to a hope and reassurance that goes beyond what a fallen world can offer (Philippians 4:7). It is permanent, guaranteed, and eternal (Hebrews 6:18–19).
Here, Christ encourages His followers to keep their "hearts" from fear and trouble. This repeats the statement Jesus used to start this message (John 14:1), immediately after predicting Peter's cowardice (John 13:38).
Scholars suggest that Jesus is distinguishing between being troubled in one's "spirit," meaning pain and unhappiness, as opposed to being troubled in one's "heart," meaning fear and despair. Jesus was said to have a troubled spirit, at times (John 11:33; 13:21). What He calls for here is not for Christians to be stone-faced and inhuman. Rather, it's to acknowledge the reality of suffering while at the same time trusting in God to make good on His promises.
Reflection Questions
- What do these verses reveal about peace?
- What are you called to do as a result of recognizing the peace God gives His followers?
