Do Not Be Fearful, Walk in Peace

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27

The context of John 14 is that Jesus is preparing His disciples for when He will no longer be with them physically. He tells them in verse one to not let their hearts be troubled, believe in God and Christ. He comforts them by telling them that He is going to prepare a place for them. And that the only way to get there is through Jesus. He reminds them of the Father and through Christ they (we) can have oneness with Him.

When Jesus goes away He will not leave them without help, He will send the Spirit of God. In verse 23 Jesus says,  "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word ; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”

In verse 27 He tells them that He will leave them with peace, His peace. And since they have this peace of Christ their hearts do not need to be troubled or fearful which goes back to re-enforce what He said in verse one. “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”

The Greek word for peace in this verse is Eirene which means, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is the blessed state of devout and upright men after death.

So what Jesus wants the disciples to understand is that regardless of what happens in this life we can have peace knowing that our salvation is secure in the work of Jesus Christ.  We can live this life in peace and without fear when we believe in God and Christ. We must keep our focus on the truth of knowing Jesus is preparing a place for those who believe in Him. We can live in peace knowing that we have the help of the Spirit of God who reminds us of truth.

Oh Father help us to live in the peace of Christ, knowing that our salvation is secure. Help us to remember that you do not promise peace as this world promises peace, but we do not need to live in fear, or be troubled for we can react in the knowledge that Your are God, and we are Yours. Amen