Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.
– John 14:27
These are beautiful words from Jesus to his disciples as he prepares to go to the cross, he prepares to leave them. You think back to the words that the angels proclaimed when Jesus first came, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace among those with whom he is pleased.” That was the beginning of Jesus’ time in the world.
John 14:27 calls us to live in God’s peace through Jesus.
Now, at the end of his time in the world, he looks at his disciples who are troubled, not knowing what the days ahead hold. It’s how John 14 begins, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me.” Then, near the end of this chapter, he looks at them, and he says, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.”
I just want to encourage you to hear these words from Jesus to you today. Obviously, I don’t know what’s going on in your life, all the different circumstances, but I’m guessing that for many listening right now, there is at least temptation to worry or be anxious or be troubled about a variety of things that are going on in your life, in your family, in work, in relationships, and I just want to encourage you as a follower of Jesus, to hear these words from Jesus to you, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me. I leave you my peace. My peace I give to you.”
Just remember Isaiah 26:3, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you.” I just want to encourage you today amidst whatever’s going on in your life to hear Jesus saying, “I came to give you peace, when I left, I promised peace, and I will be your peace as you keep your mind fixed on me, your eyes focused on me.”
John 14:27 reminds us Jesus is our only source of perfect peace.
Oh God, I pray for your peace for what Philippians 4 describes as “peace that passes all understanding to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” God, we pray for the peace you promised, knowing that you will give us supernatural peace no matter what we’re walking through, that we have a source of peace that transcends circumstances in this world. Jesus, we praise you for the Holy Spirit, for your Spirit of Peace who dwells in us. We pray that you would help us to live in it.
We pray that, in light of Philippians 4, we would not be anxious about anything today, but in everything, with thanksgiving, to present our requests to you and to experience the peace that you promise will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. God, we pray for your peace amidst suffering, for your peace amidst hardship. We pray for your peace amidst tribulation and trial. We pray for your peace amidst confusion. God, we pray for your peace in our relationships with others.
God, we pray for peace among the nations. We pray for peace in Russia and Ukraine, and peace in the Middle East. God, we pray for the peace that you alone can give to our hearts… That you alone can bring to the world. Jesus, we praise you for coming, living a sinless life, dying on the cross for us, rising from the dead, so that we could have peace with God right now.
Help us to live in the peace you promised, and to spread this peace to others.
Prayer for the Doma People
God, we pray for those who are separated from you like the Doma in Zimbabwe.. Who’ve never heard the good news of your love, grace, mercy and peace in Jesus. God, we pray that the Doma people would be reached with the gospel. That your glory and the peace you provide would spread all over the earth… Just like the angels said in Luke 2… On earth, among all the peoples, may there be peace through Jesus.
We pray all of this according to your Word in John 14. In Jesus’ name, in the name of the Prince of Peace. Amen.
David Platt serves as a Lead Pastor for McLean Bible Church. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Radical, an organization that helps people follow Jesus and make him known in their neighborhood and all nations.
David received his B.A. from the University of Georgia and M.Div., Th.M., and Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Some of his published works include Radical, Radical Together, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, and Don’t Hold Back.
He lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area with his wife and children.
