Pastor Montia Setzler
December 28, 2014
Series: Discovering the Life Changing Gospel
Christ’s Gift of Peace
John 14:27–31 (HCSB)
27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful. 28 You have heard Me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe. 30 I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over Me. 31 On the contrary, I am going away so that the world may know that I love the Father. Just as the Father commanded Me, so I do.” “Get up; let’s leave this place.”
- CHRIST CAME TO BRING US PEACE (14:27)
- As the Prince of Peace, Christ provides a way for us to have peace with God.
Romans 5:1 (HCSB)
1Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 4:7 (HCSB)
7And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
- He gives this peace to us without strings attached.
- He gives it to us to help us overcome fear.
- CHRIST’S ASCENSION COMES WITH A PROMISE TO RETURN (14:28-29)
- The incarnation of Christ is brought to its completion with His ascension.
- His promise to return to the Father is coupled with His promise to return to us.
- Jesus wanted His disciples to be fully informed.
- CHRIST’S CRUCIFIXION HAPPENED AS A PART OF GOD’S PLAN (14:30-31)
- Even though Satan was gathering his forces through Judas, he would have no stronghold over Jesus.
- Sin leads to death, Satan had no power over Jesus because He was without sin.
Hebrews 2:14–15 (HCSB)
14Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the Devil — 15and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.
- The Cross would be the ultimate sign of obedience to the Father.
Philippians 2:8 (HCSB)
8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.
As a parting gift, Jesus gives His disciples (and us by extension) the gift of peace. He does not want us to be troubled or surprised that the Cross is coming, and soon He will return to heaven.
