Experiencing God’s Peace

John 14:8-17 (25-27)

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If in my name you ask me[e] for anything, I will do it.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

15“If you love me, you will keep[f] my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,[g] to be with you forever. 17This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in[h] you.

25“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26But the Advocate,[i] the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to 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.

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I can only hope every church includes verses 26 and 27 because they underscore the beginning of the passage. The Advocate is the Holy Spirit, as we know. God gives his peace through the Holy Spirit, who will be among God’s people. The world does not know this Spirit and it does not give this Spirit because it cannot. The world only gives what the world knows, which is sin – not just false desires and hatred, but also apathy and indifference, all of which can lead to fear and division. But we are given God’s peace, in which fear and apathy are turned into peace and truth. We are then, turning more broadly, called out into the world to preach the Gospel through word and action. We are to be a sign of peace to the world because the Spirit is with us, defending us against the powers of death.

• When do you feel most at peace?
• How can we cultivate a presence of peace while in the world?