A legacy of peace

“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

 Six days before the Jewish Passover, Jesus and His disciples came to Jerusalem. At the Passover meal, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples then opened His heart and talked with them.

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27 NKJV). Knowing that His time was short, He gave them a legacy of peace.

Jesus emphasized “My peace” and contrasted it with the kind the world offers. Jesus was the picture of tranquility even though he knew the storm was about to break. The day before Jesus met with the disciples, He had driven the money changers out of the temple, making enemies who wanted to kill Him.

He also knew that the disciples would flee in the face of danger and confrontation and that Judas would betray Him. Yet Jesus remained steadfast and resolute, displaying the opposite of panic – peace. And He stands with arms outstretched today with the same message to His own. “My peace,” He says, “I give to you.”

As we begin a new year, if there is one answered prayer that I might have, it would be for God to give our troubled world lasting peace, and for you as His child to know His peace - the kind that Scripture describes as going beyond human understanding (see Philippians 4:7).

In the Upper Room, Jesus gave you a legacy of peace. Find out about it. Discover this answer to your troubled heart that will help you survive any storm.

You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with corn.; they shout for joy and sing. Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.” Psalm 65:11-66:2