Study the Bible
      with Pastor Gregory
      ByronBible Home

      Would you like to ask Pastor Gregory a question?



      "True Peace"
      John 14:27-31
      Theme: The peace of God comes from having peace with God.

        1. It Results from One’s Certainty of the Presence of Christ – 14:27-28a

          1. The Gift of Peace – v. 27

            1. The context of this passage is Jesus impending death and separation from the disciples.
            2. He is explaining that His presence will continue with them as the Holy Spirit – the "paraklete" is given to them by the Father after Jesus ascends victoriously into Heaven.
            3. In light of His continued presence with them, He promises that they will know peace – "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you."
              1. "Peace I leave with you …"
                1. The peace Jesus refers to is first considered to be a inheritance that Jesus leaves with them – a sort of treasure that He enjoyed in His relationship with God that He is going to leave behind for them to enjoy.
                2. This may be a reference to the peace of God that the disciples witnessed throughout Christ’s ministry – that perfect harmony prevailed as there was never a point of friction between the Son and the Father.
                3. Clearly this is something achieved through the work of the Holy Spirit – even called the "fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5:22
              2. "My peace I give to you"
                1. The peace Jesus refers to here is also considered to be a give that Jesus gives to them - most likely referring to another aspect of peace - the peace with God
                2. This is something that is given as a gift – cp. Romans 5:1
                3. Essentially the ability to be reconciled with God and thereby to have peace with God is something that centers in the person of Christ – cp. Ephesians 2:13-16.
              3. This peace is something unlike anything that the world has to offer – they cannot affect either the absence of conflict or the presence of Harmony with God – "not as the world give do I give to you."
              4. Experiencing the peace of God because we enjoy peace with God through the abiding presence of Christ produces a certainty of heart as we face difficulties and distresses – "Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid."
                1. Again, Jesus is here attempting to brace the disciples for the tremendous trauma they would be facing in a matter of hours from when Jesus was speaking.
                2. Essentially, He is telling them that their spiritual composure is something that is not derived by circumstances around us – but is rather derived from our relationship with God – therefore, keep your eyes on Him.

          2. The Guarantee of Peace – v. 28a

            1. Jesus clarifies this by assuring the disciples that even in the midst of His suffering, they can be assured of His continued presence with them – "You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you’."
            2. Here is looking beyond the immediate trauma and addressing the permanent ability of the disciples to know peace – He who is our peace would personally come so that we might know peace through Him
            3. This idea necessarily continues the concept of His abiding presence in and through His Spirit – cp. vv. 16-20
            4. Notice however, Jesus concern for the sustained faith of the disciples during His passion & suffering – cp. John 17:11-12 – He asks the Father to "keep" them while He is making atonement for them.

        2. It Results from One’s Confidence in the Plan of God – 14:28b-29

          1. The Confidence in Christ’s Proficiency – v. 28b

            1. In this section, we have Jesus admonishing the disciples because of an apparent lack of confidence that will threaten their "peace."
            2. He identifies that the disciples fail to possess confidence that Jesus mission of redemption will actually succeed – and that He will triumph over death.
            3. Jesus states: "If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I."
            4. Jesus point here is that after His suffering and death, Jesus will emerge triumphant and will be restored to the glory that He possessed before His incarnation – cp. John 17:5; John 1:1; Philippians 2:9-11
            5. Because of the joy and honor of His being restored to glory, Jesus states that if they truly loved Him they would have rejoice for Him – but instead they were completely self-interested and concerned about what they would lose.
            6. Essentially it addresses their awareness of who He really is and His competence to accomplish reconciliation with God for them
            7. The concept of "the Father [being] greater than I" is a reference not to essence or substance – merely to role and position – a situation to be corrected as Jesus is restored to the glory He surrendered upon His humiliation.

          2. The Confidence in Christ’s Promise – v. 29

            1. Jesus indicates here that if we would just believe Him and His Word, we would be able to enjoy undisrupted peace – "Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe."
            2. Again, Jesus is attempting to provide the disciples with everything they need to remain true throughout the coming ordeal – which He did so that they were without excuse.
            3. We too, have been given the Word of God to prepare us to face the various trials and distresses of life with confidence in the ability of God to fulfill His promises.

        3. It Results from One’s Comprehension of the Powerlessness of Satan – 14:30-31

          1. The Dominance by Christ – v. 30

            1. Jesus indicates that His time of instruction is coming to a close – that He has shared with them everything they need to remain steadfast – "I will not speak much more with you."
            2. Again, we see here not a victim who is at the mercy of more powerful forces, but a Sovereign who purposefully faces His work of atonement.
            3. Jesus states that His ability to speak further with them is being curtailed "for the ruler of the world is coming …" – clearly a reference to Satan who had control of Judas as he began to lead the Roman cohort to arrest Jesus.
            4. However, Satan’s plans will not prevail because of Christ’s invincibility – "… and he has nothing in Me."
              1. There was no weak point in Christ – no place where Christ was under Satan’s power.
              2. Essentially Jesus is saying here that death has no power over Him – cp. Hebrews 2:14
            5. Thus, instead of Satan having authority over Christ to take His life, Christ Jesus willingly and sovereignly laid it down – cp. John 10:17-18.

          2. The Determination of Christ – v. 31

            1. The commandment of the Father that Christ Jesus lay down His life was Christ’s great passion – He would indeed willingly die.
            2. He states that one of the reasons is because of the tremendous love that He possesses for the Father – "but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commands."
              1. This is the only time that Jesus refers to His personal love for the Father
              2. He enables us to see that it is consistent with what He requires of His own disciples that we obey to show our love.
              3. It is easy to talk and sing of love for God – but Jesus rarely did so – but proved it by doing "exactly as the Father commands."
            3. Thus, it is the authority of God that drove Christ to the cross, not the authority of Satan.
            4. Jesus initiates the journey to the cross by departing for the Garden where He would place Himself into the hands of sinners – "Get up, let us go from here."

        BCBC Home Page