So That In Me You May Have Peace
Scripture Passage: John 16:25-33 (NASB)
25 “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. 28 I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.”
29 His disciples said, “Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. 30 Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
SUMMARY
As Jesus' final day is coming, instead of speaking in figurative language, Jesus finally gives a message that is plain for His disciples to understand easily. Jesus told the disciples that now they are to ask the Father in His name. Because of Jesus, the disciples (and us) have direct access to the Father who loves them because they loved Jesus, His only son. Even though the disciples now seem like they understand the message clearly, they do not know that they will fail again when Jesus is crucified. Jesus already knows their spiritual failures - they will be "scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me" (v. 32). However, Jesus encourages them again that even though they fail and go through tribulation, this would not be the end. Though they might have started with failure in the beginning, they would endure the battle by taking courage and through the peace that Jesus would provide them with.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
Jesus will never give up on me. He knows more about me than how much I think I know about myself. He even knows how I will react to any situation that I face even before I know how I will react. Disciples who were individually hand-selected by Jesus and followed Him through the entire ministry had failed multiple times in spite of warnings called out by Jesus. We are so small compared to the greatness of God yet, we are so, so loved by Him. He does not give up on us. His love continues and He will never let go of us. Jesus knows our struggles with consistent spiritual failures, but He does not give up on us. He does not want us to lose the whole spiritual war, so, the first thing He says to encourage us is, He says that we will always pray directly to God in Jesus’ name because we have come to love Jesus. Second, He promises that He will provide peace. Let us always hope in Christ for our spiritual growth.
APPLICATION
Peace comes to my heart not from my own performance, but when I surrender in all my weakness to Christ and confess my faith in the Lord. We cannot grow spiritually on our own, but only when we attach ourselves, as branches, to the Vine. I love how Jesus knows me in and out and yet He does not give up on me. The "peace" that I sought in my life was calculative and worldly. It was an outcome of when my desires/wishes/anxiety resulted in material successes. I want to seek the peace that Jesus provides. Instead of being a worrier, I want to be a warrior in Christ. I want to give my anxiety and worried state of my mind to God in prayer.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank You for loving me for who I am, not by my performance or my capabilities but just purely loving me as Your child. Today and everyday, I confess again that I have failed many times spiritually and I repent of my sins that I know and that I do not know I have done. I pray that You will continue to hold me in Your arms and provide me with the peace that You have promised. Thank You for giving me hope that even though I fail, Your love never fails me. Let me take courage as You said, and have peace in my heart. I pray that I will turn every worry or anxiety in prayer to You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
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