Jesus gave his peace to his disciples at the Last Supper. It’s a peace for us to pass on.
Here’s a transcript:
I’m thinking about the fourteenth chapter of John’s Gospel (John 14:23-29), a portion of what we call Jesus’ Farewell Address to his Disciples. John gave three full chapters of his book to instructions and encouragement that Jesus gave to his friends at the conclusion of the Last Supper before they went out to the Garden of Gethsemane.
In this, and let’s face it very brief, section of the much longer address, Jesus was trying to answer a question about why the entire world wasn’t hearing about him. And he said that the first things are for those who love him — love Jesus — and are dedicated to carrying on his work. Others (he didn’t say here but he said later) would need to learn about the message of salvation through them, through Jesus’ followers.
He also said something about what he was giving them in this section. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you… Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not let them be afraid.”
I nearly always read this section of John’s Gospel at a funeral because peace of the heart is so hard to find when we are in the midst of grief. But peace of the heart and soul is also hard to find in a lot of places, and it is essential that we recognize that our role is to bring that peace that Christ has given us. This is one of the ways that we know that we are loving Jesus. This is one of the ways that we know that we are following Christ. Are we bringing peace? And if others around us are looking at our actions — if we are coming with coercion or even with violence; if we are disregarding their welfare and their peace — then we are not loving Jesus. We are not following Christ.
“My peace I leave with you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid.”
That’s what I’m thinking. I’m curious to hear what you’re thinking. Leave me your thoughts in the comment section below. I’d love to hear from you.
