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The Peace That Jesus Gives

(John14:25-31)

Mari Yoshino

Today we continue with the Gospel of John, reading from 14:25-31. This passage summarizes the teachings Jesus gave to His disciples, which began in chapter 13. One of the most memorable and well-known statements in today’s passage is Jesus’ words in verse 27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”

When we hear the word “peace,” we usually think of “ the absence of war.” But the peace Jesus gives us is not merely the absence of war. Even in the midst of war, even in the midst of any suffering, it is an unshakable hope and peace of mind—that is the peace Jesus gives us. It is not something we can create by our own strength; the help of the Holy Spirit is essential, and it can only be built upon the love of Jesus.

If you feel your inner hope fading now, leaving you restless and uneasy, it’s just proof that you’re human. Whether we have faith or not, as long as we are human, we are shaken by various circumstances and we despair. God does not blame us for this. But if we remember Jesus’ cross and seek the Holy Spirit’s help, God will surely help us, and give us sure hope and peace within our greatly shaken hearts.

Let’s begin reading. First, verses 25-26.

A. The peace that Jesus gives

1. It is to be taught by the Holy Spirit (25-26)

25 All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 

In the passage we read last time, Jesus also spoke about the Holy Spirit. This is because it is essential for the disciples to receive the Holy Spirit’s help in order to fully understand all of Jesus’ words and actions. Since the disciples were feeling unsettled, sensing that their separation from Jesus was near, Jesus encouraged them by saying, “It’s okay if you don’t understand now. The Holy Spirit will make sure you understand.”

We too need the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us everything about Jesus, about God, about God’s love, and about God’s will. It is the Holy Spirit who teaches us that Jesus died on the cross because God loves us, and that God desires us to love one another.

Therefore, when we doubt God’s love or find it hard to believe, all we need to do is ask the Holy Spirit for help. We can even call out to Jesus, to God, saying, “If you’re there, please answer me.” When we struggle desperately on our own strength, we sometimes forget to ask for help. There may even be times when we feel there’s no one we can turn to for help. But Jesus will always send the Holy Spirit to help us.

However, it is also important that as we seek the Holy Spirit’s help, we return to the fact of Jesus’ cross. Let’s read on to verses 27-28.

2. It is to live loved by God and loving God (27-28)

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 28 You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

It is unclear whether Jesus meant “I will come back” to refer to His resurrection from the cross or to His Second Coming at the end of the world. It may carry both meanings. In any case, I believe when Jesus said “I am going to the Father,” He was referring to the time after His resurrection when He ascended into heaven. So, what Jesus is saying here is, “Even if I am no longer here, the peace I give you will never be taken away.” What is noteworthy is that Jesus refers to this peace as “my peace.” What is Jesus’ peace? I believe it can be described as the relationship of trust between Jesus and God. Jesus always obeyed God’s will, and Jesus and God were one. While this was a relationship only possible for Jesus, who was both God and man, if we trust in Jesus, we can maintain a similar relationship with God. It is an attitude that says, “God is always with me, and I delight above all else in doing God’s will.” Jesus said, “I do not give to you as the world gives.” The peace the world gives, as I mentioned earlier, refers to what we might call the absence of war. Or perhaps a state where society is orderly and free from chaos, or peaceful, trouble-free days—in short, a state where “nothing bad happens.” But the peace Jesus gives is based on God’s love and is not swayed by surrounding circumstances. Even when society is in turmoil, even when our hearts are unsettled, it is something that never fades away. How did Jesus give us such an unshakable peace? The answer itself is the reason why that peace is unshakable. As I mentioned earlier, the peace Jesus gives is based on God’s love. It is God’s love proven by the unshakable foundation of Jesus’ death on the cross. Jesus’ cross proved to us that God loves us, forgives our weakness and sin, and desires us to live loving one another. Therefore, the peace Jesus gave us is the assurance that we are loved by God, and the joy of living in love for Him above all else. It is a peace that is always given to us when we return to the fact of Jesus’ cross, and seek the Holy Spirit’s help—regardless of our circumstances or state of heart. This peace is not the same as trying to convince ourselves without basis that “everything will surely be okay.” Even when no signs of improvement appear, it is trusting that “God will surely lead us to what is good” based on the foundation of God’s love revealed on the cross, and by the help of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, if we live trusting in Jesus, we can regain hope and peace in any situation.

　
Now, let’s read the final section for today. Verses 29-31.

B. Confronting “the prince of this world” (29-31)

29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. Come now; let us leave.

Jesus already knew at this time that He was destined to be arrested and killed, and He also knew that Judas’ betrayal would be the trigger for His arrest. Yet here, He refers to this event as “the prince of this world coming.” The “prince of this world” refers to Satan (the Satan). The Satan is an entity that opposes God, and in the Bible, he is called “the prince of this world.”

Last week’s message taught us that we can only choose to serve either God or the Satan. Many people think they don’t intend to serve either God or the Satan, believing they can simply walk their own path. But in reality, unless we consciously choose to live trusting in God, we unknowingly serve the Satan. This stems from the sinful tendency inherent in all humans; even after deciding to believe in God, this tendency persists throughout our lives. We choose what is more convenient for ourselves over what pleases God. It is easier to compete and take from one another than to love each other. The Satan rejoices in this tendency within us. Unless we repeatedly choose to walk the path of trusting God ourselves, we can automatically, without realizing it, fall under the Satan’s control and become his tools.

Returning to the topic, Jesus’ arrest and execution were also brought about by Satan exploiting human sin and weakness. Satan entered Judas’ heart, worked on his disappointment toward Jesus, and planted the thought of betraying Him. Furthermore, Satan exploited the jealousy and hatred the Jewish leaders harbored toward Jesus. The crowd’s cries of “Crucify him!” can also be seen as the Satan exploiting the cruelty of indifference toward a single human life.

Satan delights in exploiting our human weaknesses. His sole purpose is to tear our hearts away from God’s love. His aim is for us to torment one another, fall into despair, and perish.

But Jesus said, “the prince of this world is coming, but he has no hold over me.” And he said, “he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.” In other words, Jesus’ arrest and execution were by God’s will, not because Satan’s plan succeeded. At first glance, Jesus’ death might seem like God’s defeat and Satan’s victory. But the truth was the exact opposite. Jesus conquered even the power of death, proving that Satan’s power could never overcome God’s love.

Jesus’ final words today were, “Come now; let us leave.” There is no sense of tragedy or despair here. Jesus was to suffer crucifixion, and the disciples would be left with feelings of helplessness, regret, and despair at their failure to save Him. Yet Jesus encouraged them to step forward, trusting in God who was guiding them through it all.

Satan works through various events and people to make us doubt God’s love and fall into despair. Indeed, injustice and unfairness abound in this world, and it often feels as if Satan’s dominion is only expanding. Yet, the path to live trusting in God, transforming suffering into hope alongside Jesus, is always open before us. “Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid,” Jesus said. We have the peace Jesus gave us. With the Holy Spirit’s help, let us find hope and joy in that peace, no matter the circumstances. Let us share Jesus’ peace with those close to us and with the world.

(Prayer) Lord Jesus, may we stand on Your love and take up the work of bringing Your love to life, not relying on our own strength or the words of others. When we lose sight of You, send Your Spirit to help and guide us. There is no hope or joy that can replace Your love. Help us to trust in Your love, no matter what circumstances surround us, even in the midst of turmoil. And may we believe in hope even when it seems invisible, and find joy even in suffering. Lord Jesus, we pray in Your name. Amen.

Summary

The peace Jesus gives is not merely the absence of war. It refers to a heart that can trust and love God, no matter the circumstances, by receiving God’s love proven through Jesus’ cross. The Holy Spirit is always with us, helping us to have such a heart. While the various things happening in this world work to make us doubt God’s love and despair, if we live trusting in Jesus, we can regain hope and peace in any situation.

For Discussion

1) What is “my (Jesus’) peace” said by Jesus in verse 27?
2) What is “the prince of this world”? How does it relate to us?