JESUS, THE PEACE GIVER
(John 16: 16-33)
By Pastor Paulus Budiono Lemah Putro, Sunday, October 4, 2020
Shalom,
From the song lyrics quoted from the Bible verses, we know, acknowledge and honor God who displays His work from creation, salvation, protection, preservation to perfection. Let’s get serious to serve and worship Him. Although we have shortcomings and weaknesses, hopefully we are enabled by Him through the work of the Holy Spirit in our heart. Then we become the vessels of the Word perceived in our utterances, thoughts, decisions and behaviours.
Since we are having online service nowadays, consequently we must prepare ourselves to be always ready in every service. The condition when Jesus spoke to His disciples is written in John 16:16-33, “ Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
The time when Jesus was talking with His disciples, He felt exhausted and it was before the Passover celebration. As Jews, Jesus and His disciples were also practising Passover tradition. On that occasion, they had to prepare an unblemished one-year-old ram, kept it for 14 days and then slaughtered it at dusk (Exodus 12:5-6). Jesus had so many activities during those days, and as a human being, He also felt tired because of lack of rest.
Jesus knew that He was about to depart from this world and return to His Father (John 13:1); that was why He washed the disciples’ feet to be their model (vv.14-15). He warned Judas Iscariot (v.21). He also reminded Peter that he would deny Him (v.38). Then He promised to send a Helper and Comforter namely the Holy Spirit (John 14:16,26). He proclaimed Himself as the True Vine (John 15). Then He prayed for His eleven disciples (John 17), because Judas Iscariot had left them.
Because Jesus did not have much time to be with His disciples any longer, Jesus prayed that none of them would perish (John 17:12), including us. He prayed that all the people, whether Jews or non- Jews, become one as Jesus and His Father is one. These were His last words and He didn’t speak to His disciples anymore afterwards. In fatigue and fear He prayed in Gethsemane, while three of His disciples fell asleep. An angel of heaven appeared and strengthened Him (Luke 22:43). At that same night, He was arrested with the kiss of betrayal from Judas Iscariot (vv. 47-48).
Introspection: How do we react upon those verses? Do they have impact in our lives or we merely forget those verses after we have read and heard them?
Jesus’ fatigue didn’t quench His desire to refresh His disciples because they would face:
- ‘Fake Peace’ that comes from this world. There is no true peace without Jesus.
Apostle Paul said that in this end time, people say that there will be peace and safety (1 Thessalonians 5:3). Is it true? What is happening with the world nowadays? The world is facing global difficulties in health, social and economy. That is why Paul reminds us not to love the world and everything in it (1 John 2:15). We do live in this world but we don’t belong to it (John 15:19) that is why the world hates us.
Jesus said ‘These things I have spoken unto you’ (John 16:1), that means all His Words are for us personally. We shouldn’t use it to attack others. Hence, we need to fully accept the Word, not to sort out any verses. We shall accept them with gratitude and respect upon hearing it.
All of these verses are given to us so that we may win against this world. If the world has not threatened us yet and we still have the freedom of worship, let us take advantage of it as much as possible. Let us not pursue what the world provides for us.
Along with the peace we also receive Him, the Peace Giver. If we believe all of His word, we will experience peace that the world will never give, because the world is destroying itself by rejecting Jesus the Lord Himself.
- Suffering and persecution
The world hates us and gives us suffering and persecution. The Christians who have become martyrs are increasing in number but Jesus reminds us to stay strong and find no other place of peace except in Him. We will win against this world, because He has defeated the world.
He prayed that His disciples would stay in unity and be protected from the evil (John 15:15, 20- 21). Without the Lord, there are so many sufferings and persecutions, but within Him, there will be peace.
Besides the suffering and persecution, the world would also try to entrap us with the lust of eyes, the lust of flesh and the pride of life; whereas all these things are perishing (1 John 2:16- 17). Peace, here, is not some kind of material blessings, physical health, free from problems and so on. They are merely the thoughts and snares of the world.
Apostle John promised us a guarantee that if we believe that Jesus is the Son of God and we live in Him, we will defeat the world and receive eternal life. (vv. 24-25). But we see that many Christians are defeated by this world by compromising with it and not fully accepting Jesus is the true Son of God. We need to remember that in the beginning of creation, everything was in peace. Remember, to live in Christ and to gain peace is way much better, though we have to suffer and face many challenges, because He promised us victory.
In His fatigue, Jesus advised His disciples ‘Strenghten your heart, I have conquered the world’. Before He said this, He wanted them to believe that He was sent from God even though at that time they didn’t understand yet that Jesus had to suffer on the cross. It was a consolation and comfort for Him that they eventually knew that He came from God (John 16:30).
Introspection: How do we respond the Word? Do we doubt it? Or do we believe that He is able to create, protect, preserve and do other good things? Whatever Word of God we recieve, whether it is a rebuke or a comforting one, His work upholds our life. He comforts us by saying that our grief is only temporary like a pain of a woman in labor. Because as soon as she gives birth, there will be no more pain but only abundant joy. And no one can take away the joy that we have (John 16:20-22).
Does the world give us hope? Though we are in this world, we are not of it. We are chosen by God to experience transformation from grief to joy that cannot be taken away. The same thing when Martha grumbled when she saw Mary doing nothing but sitting and listening to the Word of the Lord. Jesus defended Mary by saying, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her”. (Luke 10:41-42)
We need to know that the world could only provide a fake hope, unlike eternal joy Jesus gives us. Therefore, let us keep peace in our heart, not only in our logic, as David said, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). David said this because he was hurting the Lord when the Word was not in his heart.
When is the peace (Shalom/Irene) within us? Forever. For the Word is God Himself (John 1:1). He is the source of shalom, who was and is and is to come. When Jesus rose from death, His promise (John 14:27) was fulfilled by giving peace to His disciples who were terrified because of the Jewish people (John 20:19-21). The peace resulted from His bloody sacrifice is also taking place in our heart because of the Word of Christ. Therefore we are called to be one body (Colossians 3:15-17).
Thomas wasn’t there when Jesus breathed them peace. When Thomas finally came, Jesus also gave him peace (vv. 24, 26). Many people are looking for peace, they even bother to seek asylum in better countries. But the true peace is only within Him.
Application: Many times we lose our peace because we are far from Jesus. When Jesus gives His Word, He will fulfill His promise as long as we dwell in Him.
Actually, the Lord gives us peace as long as we think whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, praise-worthy. If we put all those things into practice, God, the source of happiness shall be with us (Philippians 4:7-9). Honestly, what is in our mind when we face uncertainty in economy and health? Remember that the Lord’s deliverance is more than anyone’s help.
As the chosen people of God who are holy and loved, we must put bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing and forgiving one another, then the peace of Christ will rule our heart (Colossians 3:12-5).
The coming of the Lord is like the thief at night and woman in labor pain (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 cf. Revelation 12:2). But to us, the children of light, the wrath of God will not fall upon us. On the contrary, the suffering will be replaced with the unspoken joy. And faith, hope, love shall protect us head to toe (1 Thessalonians 5:8) so that we will be able to fight against the power of darkness and our own flesh (vv. 4-11).
We shall not be lazy nor reluctant in reading the Bible so that we may not be swayed by the false gospel that mimics as the real ones. The Bible is final and sealed by the blood of the Lamb in its writings. Now what we need to do is to have faith so that our body, soul and spirit shall be refreshed and grow. Then the peace, which is God Himself, shall be with us forever. Amen.
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