Jesus' Assurances and Care (John 14:21-31)

The assurances and the care that pulsed through Jesus’ last words to His disciples in the Upper Room show His love for them.  When I read John 14, I can really sense it.  Once again, His comfort pervades and permeates throughout the chapter, even in these few verses (vs 21-31).

 I’ve just read them through four or five times; a bit fast then at slower paces.  Verse 14 I read aloud 3x, phrase by phrase.  It almost makes me weep because of the background scene.  That is, Jesus knew what was coming, because He knows everything, and we know because it is history to us but the disciples themselves were in bewilderment as it was current events unfolding for them.

 In fact, in Jesus’ tender and kind statement in v. 29, He tells them,

“And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe” (KJV).

 I chose the KJV for this verse as I feel the pathos more.  Or maybe it had to do with having memorized this chapter as a teenager and in this version, so it feels ‘like home’.  Whatever, Jesus’ loving care is evidenced here, I believe.

 Then vs 27, sorry I’m flipping back and forth a bit, is a crowning jewel, and the one to read slowly a few times in a row …

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (ESV).

 Peace but

 “... not as the world gives.”

 In a war-torn world, people are constantly seeking peace.  Peace accords, peace treaties, and peace agreements that are easily broken the instant dry kindling is sparked; seemingly the order of the day.  It's short-lived, man made peace, sadly and devastatingly so!

 But the peace Jesus gives passes all understanding and can keep our hearts and minds in Him despite mammoth and miniscule disturbances of our circumstances (see Philippians 4:6 & 7).  And too, would it for the disciples who as yet did not realize the huge cement truck hurtling towards them (so to speak).

 Neither do we know what’s coming to us in our life.  We may have inklings and a sense of impending doom and troubles but mooring ourselves to the peace Jesus gives will keep us from having troubled hearts and from being afraid.

 Easier said than done, but let’s put these into our minds and hearts now before any monumental occurrences occur in our lives.  Let’s keep Jesus’ assurances and loving care in our hearts and be at peace.

 Father God, life on earth can be, well, earth-shattering.  But your children are glad and thankful for the peace that Jesus assures us of.  That’s Your peace You brokered through Jesus.  May we ever be conscious of this state of being we can have through Him as we navigate through the storms of life.  Only in You and Your Son Jesus can we have this steadying and sustaining peace anchoring our souls.  Thank You, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

                                                    ~  ERC  October 2025  ~

Based on John 14:21-31 KJV/ESV

Sing, Peace!  Peace!  Wonderful Peace, along with Vaigle Brothers.