PARTING PROMISES

Much of the Last Discourse (John 13-17) of Jesus is filled with promises for his followers then and now. One of my favorites is John 14:27: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (NLT) ‘Peace of mind and heart’ must be two of the most desired things that we can think about. Jesus said it ‘was a gift’ and truly it is that.

What is most difficult for me to settle in my mind is the fact ‘that the world cannot give me this gift.’ It just seems if we are mostly healthy, have enough money for our basic needs… plus some, have a sufficient place to live with green lawns and flower beds, good health and life insurance, a half-way decent pickup to drive and all the Cuban Coffee and Mexican food we want… and a red Queensland Healer, we pretty much have peace of mind and heart.

Another gift of Jesus is one verse before the one being commented on. John 14:26: “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” We may have a comfortable life to some standards but without the Holy Spirit to confirm our sonship/daughtership with the Father and have to ‘teach and remind’ us of everything the Lord taught… there would still be some empty space in ‘mind and heart’ that only the Father can fill. The Advocate has been sent, the promise has been fulfilled… we are left to claim it.

“And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” Jesus