The Fight for Peace

There Jesus sat with his disciples in John 13, preparing to eat the last supper with them. Loving them the entire time he was in ministry with them, while knowing that this moment of conversation was everything. There was a pull to pour into them final instructions as he is preparing for his betrayal and death upon the cross. Yes, all of his disciples were there, including the one that would betray him and with ease, Jesus acknowledge him. Never once did John 13 say that he loved all of his disciples except for Judas. No Jesus had been in ministry with all of them and his love was not partial to those that "seemingly" had his back. He loved them all but here in this moment, there is an enemy that was very present...an enemy that was being used in that very moment to draw him closer to his destiny.

Yet in John 14, in the midst of acknowledging betrayal, Jesus declares to the disciples in verse 27 "I am leaving you with a gift -peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." I want you to see this picture. His betrayer was right there. Satan had already prompted Judas to betray Jesus, yet his response was to tell the disciples that their peace did not rest upon the troubles that take place in the world. Matter of fact in John 16:33 Jesus says "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows but take heart, because I have overcome the world."

Today I want you to understand that, though there is much going on in this hour and this time with Covid19...with social and racial unrest but God has you. Why? Because the very world that this suffering is present in, Christ has overcome. Your peace does not have to be sacrificed to live. Christ has given you HIs Peace and I want you to know that this PEACE is overcoming!

I pray this over you, as Jesus declared over us in John 17:

9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. 11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. 13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.