The Gift of Divine Peace

John 14:22-31

 

INTRO: Of all the words that fell from the precious lips of Jesus, one of the most far reaching and wonderful words is the word “Peace.”  “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (Vs 27).

The third stanza of Philip B. Bliss hymn, “Wonderful Words of Life,” say:

Sweetly echo the Gospel call,

Wonderful words of life;

Offer pardon and peace to all

Wonderful words of life.

Jesus only Saviour, sanctify forever;

Beautiful words, wonderful words.

Wonderful words of life.

One of the most wonderful words is the word peace.

 

I.        VS 22, JUDAS HAS A QUESTION

A.       The Judas who asks the question is not Judas Iscariot.  Iscariot has left the room and is on his way to betray Jesus.

1. John identifies this Judas to protect his name and the name of the others named Judas.

2. The Judas who asks the question is Judas Lebbaeus whose surname was Thaddaeus (probably meaning courageous, lion-hearted.).

B.       Judas and others had followed Jesus as the hope for Israel.  They wanted an earthly kingdom.

1. He and the other disciples had expected that Jesus would manifest Himself as King, and that all Israel and the world would see this.

2. What went wrong?

a. Judas is perplexed.

b. Judas and the others did not see the deep spiritual words of Jesus.

3. Our Lord’s kingdom today is spiritual, and only the saved can see it (Jn 3:3).

 

II.       VSS 23-25, THE TEST OF LOVE

A.       Vs 23, Once again obedience is brought forth as the true test of love (note vs 21).

1. Concerning this verse A. W. Pink says: “The Lord here repeats that God has fellowship only with those whose hearts welcome Him, who love Him, and whose love is manifested by submission to His Word.  Then He loves in return” (380).

2. To “keep” is to obey.

a. Christians desire to please God and keep His words.

b. The reason that many people do not keep the commandments is because they are not saved, and thus they do not love God.

c. “No evil person can ever receive the revelation of God. Such a person can be used by God, but can have not fellowship with him....Fellowship with God and the revelation of God is dependent on obedience.  The more we obey God, the more we understand him; and those who walk in his way inevitably walk with him” (Barclay 197).

3. “We will come unto him.”

a. “We”– the Father will, and the Son will abide with those who love the words of Jesus.

b. “Make our abode” means to “make our home.”

1- This means a close relationship.

2- God the Father and God the Son are always by the side of those who love their Lord; there to help, comfort, and cheer in and through the Spirit.

B.       Vs 24, To reject the precepts of Jesus Christ is a very serious thing.

1. No love for God means no obedience.  “Love is the only power that can draw a person to keep the Lord’s commandments” (Phillips 278).

2. Without obedience, your profession means nothing.  Without obedience, your talk is worthless.  Without obedience, your baptism and church membership are a sham.

3. Jesus was in complete obedience to the Father.

C.      Vs 25, Jesus had told them about His soon coming death, and they understood little about it.  When the Holy Spirit would come to teach them, they would better understand His sayings.

 

III.      VS 26, THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

A.       The Holy Spirit would supply their lack of understanding.  We are to continue to be learning day by day.  We should grow close to the Lord by increased faith.

B.       Through ministry of the paraclete, they would remember all things.  John as an old man wrote the Gospel of John by the working of the Holy Spirit.

1. This verse gives reference to the fact that our New Testament is inspired.

2. Believers have the Holy Spirit to help us.  Let us pray that God would help us through the Spirit as we witness, teach, preach, and live.  The Holy Spirit will direct us to live right.

3. Remember God will manifest Himself to those who love Him.

 

IV.      VS 27, THE GIFT OF PEACE

A.       Jesus is getting ready to leave this world and go home to the Father.  In His will, He leaves to His disciples the priceless treasure of peace.

B.       Note closely, the difference between the peace He left and the peace He gives.

1. The peace He gives He calls “my peace.”

a. He made peace with God for the believer through His shed blood on the cross (Rm 5:1).

b. Peace with God is the inheritance, the legacy of His death for all who trust in Him.

c. This peace is peace He made and which we cannot make or maintain on our own.

d. This peace is ours by the free gift of grace, a peace which cannot be undone– ever because the Spirit is ever with us (vs 16).

2. Not only is there a peace that He gives to us.  There is a peace that He leaves– a peace the world cannot know about: “The peace of God” (Phil 4:7).

a. Peace with God is a result of having received Christ as Savior.  The peace of God is the result of obedience to Him and fellowship with Him.

b. The peace of God helps us through our trials and tribulations.

c. This peace of God is the peace that allowed Jesus to sleep through the storm that was raging about Him and the disciples on the Sea of Galilee. In the courts of Caiaphas and in the judgment hall of Pilate, Jesus stood unmoved because He is God and had the peace of God.

d. The peace of God is that peace which God possesses in the serenity, the quiet of His being.

e. Deacon Stephen had this peace, a heavenly calmness in the midst of a shower of stones.

1- Peter had this peace as he slept peacefully in chains.

2- Paul and Silas possessed this peace of God, singing praises to God at midnight in jail.

3- The martyrs had the peace of God as they were burned at the stake or face the lions, praying and singing.

f. We too may have this peace, the peace of God, as we do His will and rest in Him.  The formula for this peace is found in Philippians 4:6-7.

 

V.       VSS 28-31, THE PROPHECY OF HIS DEPARTURE

A.       Vs 28, The disciples should rejoice because:

1. Jesus is going away.  He was going to the Father to represent them, to intercede for them in His presence.  Jesus is going home to the Father in heaven.  The disciples should be rejoicing; they should be glad that He is going to be released from the limitations of this world.  In the midst of the sorrow and pain that we have at the loss of a loved one, we should be glad that there is a heaven and that our loved one no longer faces the troubles of this old world, our loved one is in a better place.

2. He promised He would return and take them to the Father’s house with its many mansions (14:2-3).

3. “My Father is greater than I” means that Jesus became man.  He took the place of a servant, obedient unto death.

B.       Vs 29, Jesus had told them before what would take place.  He had told them He would die, be buried, and rise again the third day.  Seeing this come to pass would strengthen their faith.

C.      Vs 30, Here Jesus says that His enemy Satan was coming.