I pulled the idea for this ministry from John 14:27, the verse reads \u201cPeace 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.\u201d (John 14:27, NIV). This is a compelling verse. On the surface, it seems very rudimentary or simple, but when we dive into the context of God\u2019s word and what Jesus is telling his disciples, we can see a very profound statement of God\u2019s love, hope, assurance, and truth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 11: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To understand this verse, we first need to take a step back to Chapter 11 of John, where in verses 45-57 it says- ‘Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. \u201cWhat are we accomplishing?\u201d they asked. \u201cHere is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.\u201d Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year, spoke up, \u201cYou know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.\u201d He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on, they plotted to take his life. Therefore, Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead, he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts, they asked one another, \u201cWhat do you think? Isn\u2019t he coming to the festival at all?\u201d But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I know this is a very long passage, so to summarize, Jesus has been actively pursuing his ministry, performing miracles, healing people, proclaiming to be the son of God, delivering sermons, speaking in parables, etc. But the thing that has pushed these Pharisees over the edge was after Jesus miraculously raised Lazarus from the dead. After that, many people came to Mary and believed in Jesus, that he truly was the son of God. Because of this, the Pharisees and primarily Caiaphas grew super anxious, worrying because they understood that if this were to continue, the entire nation would begin following Jesus. See the pharisees issue here is this, they are so self-centered and focused on their temple and nation, and the rules and restrictions to come from the Roman empire if people follow Jesus that despite the overwhelming evidence that Jesus is truly the son of God, even acknowledging the miracles themselves, they\u2019ve shut their eyes and hardened their hearts towards Christ, ultimately deciding that he must die to keep peace among Jew\u2019s and Romans, they must kill Jesus. These were the words of Ciaphas, but in verse 52, it also speaks about how this will bring together the scattered children of God. This is the lord speaking, turning Ciaphas\u2019s words into a prophecy of what Christ’s death will do. The response to this is that Christ would withdraw and lie low because if he were found, he would be brought in, and it wasn\u2019t his time just yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 12: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A couple of days later, we see in Chapter 12 that Jesus then went to Bethany to see Lazarus, where he was fed. At that time, when people heard about it, many sought to see them, while the Pharisees sought to kill them both. This sets up what the Bible calls the Triumphal Entry, Jesus rides a donkey in Jerusalem while crowds gather, chanting \u201cHosana, blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord, even the king of Israel\u201d. This was prophesied many years before and then brought into fruition here. You then had the voice of God from heaven speak, saying he will glorify his name again, Jesus declaring that the voice came for the people and not him. After that, he withdrew himself once more, and the people still did not believe. Jesus cried out these words ‘Then Jesus cried out, ‘Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. \u201cIf anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them on the last day. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.\u201d’ John 12:44-50<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To put this simply, Jesus is telling us he is not here on his own accord and rather to show God the Father to us, he has come to save the world through his perfect life, and to those who believe in him they are granted God\u2019s grace and to the one who doesn\u2019t they will be judged in accordance to the words of the father who have been spoken through him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 13: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 13 is a powerful picture of Christ’s sacrifice, cleansing us of our sins and providing forgiveness to us through the death of Jesus. The devil puts it in the heart of Judas to betray Jesus, and then Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. In Jewish customs, the washing of a person’s feet was not only a required thing given that they wore open-toed shoes, but also as a sign of respect that a host would wash the feet of their guests. Jesus is demonstrating selfless love and humble servanthood, while also pointing His disciples toward the greater act of service He was about to accomplish through His death on the cross. He was also teaching an important lesson to his disciples: the importance of remaining humble with a servant’s mindset, taking after the example he had just given. Following this, he reveals that Judas is the one who betrays him. After Satan enters Judas, Jesus tells him to do what he is going to do quickly, following that, proclaiming the new commandment. ‘ \u201cA new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ‘ John 13:34, finishing off this chapter, Jesus prophesies that Peter will deny him three times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 14: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We finally get to the chapter of the verse this entire ministry is centered around. A lot has happened over the course of these three chapters that we just read about, and all is important to set up the context of the verse within this ministry. Chapter 14 starts with the words of Jesus, who is telling the disciples not to let their hearts be troubled because there are many rooms in heaven for them, and now is the time that he must go to prepare a place for them. This truth hit the apostles like a punch to the gut. These men had left their jobs, homes, loved ones, had sacrificed years to serve the lord, and now, in the most difficult part of his entire ministry, Jesus announces that he must go. This leads to a very poetic remainder of the chapter, where we see the apostles question Jesus, concerned, and Jesus responds with love and compassion towards them. First Thomas, then Philip, then Judas (not the one who betrayed Jesus), all raised questions. Listen to Judas\u2019s question and the response of Jesus, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
John 14:22-27<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, \u201cBut, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?\u201d Jesus replied, \u201cAnyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. \u201cAll this I have spoken while still with you. 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. 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. ‘ John 14:22-27<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This right here is a powerful statement, Jesus is looking at worried, anxious, confused, and stressed men and telling them that his Peace is being left with them. Although Jesus spoke these words directly to His disciples on the night before His crucifixion, the truth of His peace continues to encourage believers today. And Jesus is calling us to entrust our anxieties and fears to Him rather than allowing them to rule over us. His peace doesn’t mean that we will never experience anxiety or trouble, but that we don’t have to face those things without trusting in Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I close this lesson, I just wish to compare the difference between the peace that God offers versus the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So in closing this mini lesson has just been a very small understanding of John 14:27 and what this ministry is, I pray that it will be used to inspire, counsel, and help you. My deepest desire and hope is that God will use me and this ministry to help guide the world to Christ. So with all of that being said, I pray that you all can leave here with peace thank you! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I pulled the idea for this ministry from John 14:27, the verse reads \u201cPeace 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.\u201d (John 14:27, NIV). This is a compelling verse. On the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-55","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-study-notes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/leavewithpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/leavewithpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/leavewithpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leavewithpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leavewithpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=55"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/leavewithpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":57,"href":"https:\/\/leavewithpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55\/revisions\/57"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/leavewithpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=55"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leavewithpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=55"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leavewithpeace.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=55"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}