Jesus’ Parting Gift

Turn to John 14:23-29 and hear about the planning Jesus put into his love for us. Jesus says to his disciples, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”  This is a comforting reminder.  Believers are assured of God’s constant presence.  He is explaining to the disciples that love looks like obedience.  The truth is that obedience is hard.  God knew that and prepared for that.  We don’t always obey – we should, but we are flawed.  The good news is, like a parent, God takes the steps to help us obey.  He protects, equips, and guides us to do what is good and right.  God has given us the gift of the Spirit.  The Spirit is our safeguard to help, guide and assist us in our decisions.  Our comforter, interceder, and mediator, the Spirit gathers believers moving hearts toward Christ, drawing us in love and obedience.  Through the Holy Spirit, God empowers us to make more mature decisions and live more faithful lives. 

      We have heard the expression: “No Jesus, No Peace; Know Jesus, Know peace,” I think I speak for many when I say, during chaotic times, we long for peace, but without Jesus – the Prince of Peace, peace is elusive.  True peace is unable to be pinned down because it’s not something we capture; peace is produced by the Spirit.  Frankly, remaining in Christ’s peace can be a challenge – it requires a recentering, a moment to refocus on what’s truly important, a time of silence and deep breaths, a second to step away from the trigger, and of course prayer – focusing on God’s power.

     Still experiencing remnants of a pandemic, witnessing wars, and facing economic distress, with a list that goes on, there is little in the way of peace our world can offer.  We are in flux.  The fact is that the world cannot give what it does not have. The peace of the world is temporary and fleeting.   The peace of trusting and knowing God is the peace that will prevail.  When we experience earthly peace, we are appreciating the moments that are based on external factors, but God’s peace is different.  God’s peace is not the absence of trouble…but the presence of God in the midst of the troubles. This week’s news reported floods, fires, a knife attack, shooting, gang violence, talks ending, and limited food resources.  It feels like peace is what we're missing right now and that is precisely the point, we need to draw on the strength of the Spirit.  God will direct our steps when we take time to listen. 

      Jesus promised, an “Advocate, the Holy Spirit…” The Spirit is our teacher and our reminder of God’s words and life through Jesus. The Spirit is at work when we remember the ways and words of Christ. The Spirit intercedes, giving us words to pray when we cannot conjure up a thought, recalling scripture we did not even know we knew.  The Spirit gives us the strength to witness.  The Spirit reminds us of what we know.  But here’s the key…we cannot be reminded of what we do not know, so it is essential to immerse ourselves in daily devotional and meditative time with God and Scripture.  

     We will encounter tension; Jesus did. He did not remain quiet about what mattered but He modeled for us how to respond. He balanced conflict with grace and forgiveness, not shying away from injustice. He challenged opposition with respect.  He sought to bring people together while remaining connected to God in prayer.  Let’s do likewise.  Friends, when we find ourselves anxious, fearful, or worried, I believe it’s because we are not being attentive to the Spirit. The Spirit teaches us what God desires us to learn.  At times the process is slow and painful. The good news is God is patient! Through the Spirit, God empowers us to grow in faith, make more mature decisions and live more faithful lives. 

     The gift of God’s presence is peace. The peace in our heart’s spreads, and becomes peace in our homes, in our communities and is the foundation of peace in the world.  The peace we so desperately need is God’s peace and it is our responsibility to soak it up, share it, show it and live it.   Jesus never promised us a life without troubles, but he did promise the presence of the Spirit.  The Spirit propels us into faithful and active lives of discipleship. 

     Jesus wants his disciples and all believers to be well in the deepest sense of the word despite the events on the horizon.  He wants us to be at rest – fully confident in the greater matters; content, complete and in harmony--the full breath of shalom.  So, while obedience is what Jesus sought, it is God’s grace and not our obedience that gives believers this gift of the Spirit, unwarranted and undeserved.  We have the way to peace because we have knowledge, not living in unknowns but living in hope, assurance and guaranteed eternity through Christ.  Peace comes as we are in right relationship with God, ourselves, each other and all of creation.  Peace be with you as you trust in God and his promises, and all God’s people say, Amen!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Kerry

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