The Gospel of John Lesson 58 (01-05-14) John 14:27-9

The Gospel of John Lesson 58 (01-05-14)

Lesson 58 – John 14:27-9

In v. 27 Jesus continues His dialog with them again telling them things that would not normally be a part of a conversation such as this. Normally you would tell someone in this situation to toughen up, be strong, prepare for the worst…brace yourselves for what is coming. In the other Gospels and in the coming chapters of John’s Gospel He will do some of that, but here in v. 27 He tells them to recognize and not miss a very important and practical gift that He will leave behind with them…His Peace.

This is a Powerful attribute and is mentioned in Galatians in chapter 5 as one of the fruits of the Spirit and should not be underestimated. This Peace that He offers them here coupled with the perspective of faith that He has shared with them concerning His being One with the Father will sustain them through unimaginable situations and circumstances.

He shares this with them just before their departure to the Mount of Olives seemingly as His last thought before they leave the Upper Room. This was important for them to hear! It’s like sharing the last, but most important thing with them that He wants them to remember and count on. In essence He tells them that He is leaving behind or giving them a gift…something that they presently do not have and that it is a gift that originates from and with Him. It must be received from Him and it cannot be just willed by mere focus or human determination. This is a very special gift He is giving them.

In v. 27 He tells them that He is leaving this peace behind with them. It is the same peace and assurance based and founded on God’s truths and principles that comforted Jesus as He walked through this difficult, dark and unwelcoming world.

His peace was not just a presence. Yes, it is true that He was sending the very present Comforter to them who was in essence that peace, but there was more to understand than that. The peace that God would offer was something to be received by them, receiving and appropriating it by faith.

In this verse He promised that the same peace that comforted Him in difficult times would be left behind and given to them if…they would reckon upon it and receive it. That means that they would need to recognize it and receive it, resting in it to enjoy its true benefit. They would have to make a decision as stated in Galatians chapter 5 to receive and rest in the peace that His Spirit would offer them after He arrived, i.e. choosing between walking in His Spirit or trusting in their own self abilities and confidence that in the end would fail them.

This peace was different than the false or temporary peace that this world offers and promises. The world promises fulfillment, security and peace in things, but in reality it does not deliver. It promises peace telling us that we will find it when we buy something, having a certain produce or thing, or if we make or have enough money saved in the bank for the so called good life of retirement or enough to provide for our needs and wants. However, once obtained we find that in reality it offers only temporary satisfaction or security (peace) finding that once obtained the benefit of what we just worked so hard to get by our self efforts offers only marginal  support or fulfillment.

What this world has to offer seems to never be quite enough. In reality, the answers that this world offers always seems to have wrapped in it a piece of the solution, but also seems to contain another element or degree of difficulty coupled with it that must be also dealt with..i.e. cost, availability, breakage,  not quite the right fit or difficulty of application, etc.

In making this statement in v. 27 Jesus is actually saying that any and all that this world can offer, whatever it is, does not match what He is offering them here. This world will offer us peace in its devises such as wealth, relationships, success, achievements, intellect, and, of course pleasures, but when we get there it will not be quite what we thought it would be.

Those of this world will offer us the best that they have making promises to us that they cannot actually deliver on. Some in doing so will honestly mean well, but will not be able to give us what they are promising. They will repeat what they too have been told or promised, but have yet to obtain, having false hopes of fulfillment themselves.  

In doing so those that promise such things are not being totally honest with us. This world states such things as if it were fact when although there is some benefit to what is offered, those things gained in this world are in reality insufficient in the ability to meet our needs and satisfy us.

It may sound harsh, but the Bible tells us that in saying such things those that make such claims are promoting false claims in reality lying to us deceiving many. Jesus tells them here to beware of such claims. Solomon in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes also warned of such.

In saying this, it is important to say that the use of such things in and of themselves is not evil, but the false hope, putting trust in them is. In reality what this world offers and desires of us are complacency, contentment and compromise, a snare making us unfulfilled and ineffective in our mission for His Kingdom. Jesus was telling them to use the things of this world wisely using them only for what they are meant to be and not trusting in them more than we should.

What Jesus had to offer was real and would not let them down. His Peace was real and could be trusted. What is found here in John 14:27 is akin to something that Jesus said earlier found in Matthew’s Gospel in chapter 11 v. 29 where Jesus tells His followers to “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest in your souls.” This is what He is offering them…rest and peace, even in extremely difficult times or situations.

At the time that Jesus made this statement to them He knew that He was only hours away from being beaten and tortured and would be hung on a cross, and, yet, the peace that He offered them here was the same peace that He would experience while facing the difficulties just ahead of Him. He assured them that they would have the same peace as they faced the difficulties that were ahead of them also. This has proven to be true over the centuries since His departure.

In v. 28 He reminds them that they will even have this peace in His absence as He reminds them of His departure for a season. It is understandable that they would be troubled because of His leaving, but Jesus’ coming back to the Father is important. His doing so was for their/our benefit. In doing so it means that Jesus has completed His work and having done so the power of the Father would be unleashed protecting His purchased possession, the Church.

The power of the Father was great and Jesus was telling them that they have not seen anything yet, just wait, v.29. They would see the truth of Jesus’ words in reality and in action. More so than even what they had seen Him do. Remember, the power of the Father will be demonstrated in the establishment of Christ’s Bride, the Church. But, in saying so in v. 28-9, it appears that He is also telling them to be alert and watching that they don’t miss it. Pay attention!