Today's Reading: John 16:23-33
Daily Lectionary: Numbers 3:1-16, 39-48; Luke 14:25-15:10
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
You’ve probably seen the bumper sticker or church sign which reads, No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace. Pithy, but it does make a point. In Jesus you have peace. But what exactly is peace? Jesus lets you know exactly what His peace is all about. And it’s not what the world thinks...
There are TV and radio preachers, a dime a dozen, who get this whole notion completely wrong. They will tell you that if you have Jesus, then everything in your life will be just peachy. They preach that God only wants good things for you in this world, never suffering. Then they imply that your sufferings are because don’t give enough!
Jesus tells you exactly the opposite--that you will have tribulation while you remain in this world. Pain, ills, hurts and anguish are part of the suffering Jesus promises to all the faithful. But when you suffer for His Name or for His Truth’s sake, consider it all joy, because your reward in heaven is far greater than anything this world can hope to offer.
You have a wonderful peace in Christ Jesus, but not one the world understands. In fact it is a peace that surpasses all of your own comprehension. But it is a peace which safeguards your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, your Savior. His peace is given not as the world gives, temporarily and with strings attached. His peace is a free gift of grace.
For Jesus, the God-man was the only one who could broker peace between sinful people and His holy, righteous Father in heaven. As God, He could forgive, redeem, save, and bestow everlasting life. As man He could suffer in your place, die your death, and experience the forsakenness you deserve.
So, while you live a while longer as strangers and pilgrims on this earth, you will have no horizontal peace with the troubles, trials and tribulations of this world. But Christ has overcome the world for you, and gives you His everlasting, heavenly peace in His Word and in His sacraments.
O God our Father, from whom all good things do come, grant to us, Your humble servants, that by Your holy inspiration we may think those things that be right and by Your merciful guiding may perform them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.