Deeper Peace
On the night of the Last Supper it became clear to the disciples that Jesus would not be with them forever. They were devastated.Jesus consoles them with the promise of rooms in His Father's house, but He also made it clear that this would not happen immediately. In fact, as we saw yesterday, He warns them that "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world." Then He promises them the help of the Holy Spirit, also known as the Helper, Comforter or Paraclete - the One "called alongside."
But Jesus also promises peace - peace that will sustain them in the waiting and in the hardship. This is not peace as the world gives - that kind of peace is simply the absence of trouble. Jesus promises a deeper peace.
One of the privileges I have is to be with families in times of terminal illness and bereavement. One of the things I convey in words, example and attitude is a simple phrase: "We can be sad, but we're not going to be afraid."
Death, and its henchmen - frailty, sickness and suffering - are bullies. They try to tell us that God isn't there - that our circumstances mean that God has left the building. When we buy their lies and threats, we start waiting for God to arrive. But He never left! He's not only in the building, but He is in our suffering. Jesus carried it on the cross - He is at the epic-centre of all human pain and heartache.
Although we don't always understand why, we sometimes have to drink the Gethsemane Cup.... When we do, we discover that there is another cup we drink: the cup that came to us with the words, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood..."
Our peace is not the peace of "absent trouble", but the peace of a "Present Saviour" who has seen the worst of trouble and overcame.
| 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. (John14:27) |
