John 14:27

John 14:27

Let us take the word "Peace" in at least some of the senses which our Saviour would give to it, and which are on our part fulfilled.

I. There is peace within ourselves. Everyone knows what it is to be at peace with ourselves, or not at peace. We may be perfectly prosperous, and yet there is a secret pang which makes us ill at ease. There is a something of which we do not like to speak, of which we do not like to hear, and of which, if possible, we would rather not think. "Keep innocency," says the Psalmist, "and do the thing that is right, for that will bring a man peace at the last."

II. Peace with one another. Christ Himself was the great Peacemaker. In Him Jew and Gentile, Greek and Barbarian, came together and were one. We must differ. We cannot make all men to be of the same character, of the same pursuits, of the same tastes, and of the same opinions. But here, as in the natural world, we can and we ought to prevent any difference, except the difference of sin, from becoming a separation. Always open the door wide for repentance. Always make the return as easy and as pleasant as it is possible to be made. There are, no doubt, occasions when truth and justice must be preferred to peace, whether in nations, churches, or private life. There are, no doubt, differences which are widened instead of smoothed by saying, "Peace, peace, when there is no peace." But these are the exceptions, and we must be very careful not to multiply the exceptions lest we should make them the rule of life. The peace of the Holy Spirit of Christ is something much wider and deeper than outward diversities or likenesses. "Not as the world giveth," not as outward appearance giveth, not as the mere letter giveth, but as the Spirit, speaking to our inmost spirits, so is the peace which Christ gives to His disciples.

III. Peace with God. Dwell for a moment on the thought of God of God in His threefold essence as it were, completed for us. Think of God, the one Eternal Judge, perfectly just and perfectly merciful, who sees not as man sees, who knows whereof we are made, who knows our ignorance and our blindness, who sees us exactly as we are, and not as the unjust, capricious world sees us. That thought is the peace of God the Father. Truly in the Spirit of God is the everlasting peace which broods over the face of the waters, whether of chaos or of cosmos the peace which lies not on the ruffled outward outward surface, but in the silent depths below.

A. P. Stanley, Penny Pulpit, No. 154 (new series).

References: John 14:27 . Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. vi., No. 300; vol. v., No. 247; C. Stanford, Evening of our Lord's Ministry, p. 112; Clergyman's Magazine, vol. iii., p. 93; Preacher's Monthly, vol. v., p. 327; W. T. Bull, Christian World Pulpit, vol. iii., p. 133; R. A. Bertram, Ibid., vol. iv., p. 234; G. W. Conder, Ibid., vol. vii., p. 196; A. P. Peabody, Ibid., vol. xi., p. 358; J. Oswald Dykes, Ibid., vol. xxii., p. 11; Homiletic Quarterly, vol. ii., p. 394; vol. xviii., p. 127; J. Vaughan, Fifty Sermons, 2nd series, p. 181; W. G. Blaikie, Glimpses of the Inner Life of our Lord, p. 178; S. Baring Gould, Literary Churchman Sermons, p. 145; J. H. Thorn, Laws of Life after the Mind of Christ, 2nd series, p. 152; Homilist, 3rd series, vol. viii., p. 259.

I. These words imply (1) the possession of a power of control over our own hearts. (2) Responsibility as to the exercise of such control. (3) They do not require that we should harden our hearts against the due influences of grievous circumstances, or shut our eyes to danger or to threatening sorrow. (4) Fear is here distinctly and separately condemned.

II. The disciple of Christ has sources of joy counteractive of his sorrows, and he has no ground for fear. (1) The Christian disciple is in the keeping of the Saviour personally. The Saviour has charge of us individually. He has charge of the Church; but He takes care of the Church by taking care of us personally, and He takes as much care of us personally as though He had only one of us to look after. (2) Then, the Father in heaven loves the disciple of Christ. Christ tries to comfort His sorrowing ones by reminding them of this very love. He tells them, in the words that follow, "The Father Himself loveth you." (3) Again, a place is prepared in heaven as the eternal home of Christ's disciples, and they are moving to that place continually. (4) Farther, a Comforter is sent to the followers of Christ, to abide with them for ever. (5) Moreover, Jesus Christ gives peace to His disciples a sure and immoveable foundation of reliance; a trust and confidence which loving intercourse with the Almighty Father is calculated to give. To seek, then, and to cherish this peace, to yield ourselves to the ministrations of the Comforter to look up unto the heavenly home which the Saviour has in readiness for us to think of our Father in heaven as really loving us to realise the fact that we are in Christ's holy keeping is to prevent fear or to quench fear, and to reduce the stream of sorrow which flows through our souls, and prevent its overflowing its appointed channels and overwhelming our spirit.

S. Martin, Westminster Chapel Sermons, 3rd series, p. 91.