I hate the recent tone of this world, one of fear and threats. “More bad times will come if we don’t act now.” “Hurry up, or even worse will befall us.” “We must act now, or everything we know will come to an end.”
You cannot read a paper, turn on a TV or radio without being threatened and made fearful about what is happening with our economy, with jobs, and inflation or deflation, or unemployment, or terrorism. There are few rational voices. There is little hope. There is only turmoil and confusion and uproar.
I find comfort, however, in the Gospel of John as Jesus prepared His disciples for his death. Jesus’ disciples were facing the unthinkable. He was soon to die. Every hope, every dream was about to come crashing to their feet. Fear would soon be the emotion of the day.
So as Jesus began to comfort them that night before the cross, He reminded them of this: “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 14:27]
I love what Matthew Henry wrote in his commentary on this verse. He said that as Jesus was about to leave this world He made His final will and testament. He bequeathed His Spirit to God, his body to Joseph to be buried, and his mother to the care of John.
What he gave to His disciples and to all who would believe in Him through their message was His peace. He left His peace in possession of His disciples. This isn’t just a blessing of peace; it is a legacy of peace. The world can’t give it, and can’t influence it. The world can’t steal it or take it from us.
But we can give it away. Jesus began this comfort, “Do not let your hearts be trouble.”? He ends it the same way, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Whatever this world is selling right now, I will not trade my legacy of peace to accept its misery.
