JOHN 13:1 – “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”
JOHN 16:33 – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
THEME OF THE DAY: WE ARE SO LOVED, BE AT PEACE. Today’s scriptures are the first and last verses in what is known as Jesus’ Upper Room Discourse (John 13-16). It is the most intimate setting our Lord had with His disciples while on earth. His Gethsemane agony, betrayal, mockery of a trial, scourging, and crucifixion loom large. All are coming in clear view, and what is also clear before His very eyes are His afraid and anxious disciples. He seeks to encourage them. Take time this Passion Week and read John 13 through 17 prior to Good Friday. Then meditate on the day of our Lord’s crucifixion on Friday, and make sure early Sunday, we observe the empty tomb! Doing so will take us into a close communion with our Lord.
Jesus’ method of encouraging His fearful disciples is also the method He uses to encourage us when we are afraid and anxious. He begins the Upper Room Discourse affirming the unfathomable depth of love for them – “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” What follows is a modeling of this love by His humble service of washing His disciples’ feet. We enjoy no greater comfort than this love of Christ. It is steadfast, everlasting, sacrificial, and will never be removed from us. Eternity will be an unfolding of the experience of His love, always satisfying, and always flowing!
Another aspect of the method with which Jesus encourages His disciples is the promise of what calms our racing minds and puts at ease our anxious hearts – His peace – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” The basis of this peace we may enjoy from the Lord is His triumphal victory over all things in this world causing us fear and anxiety; the devil, other people, circumstances, dangers, our flesh, and all the other spiritual foes seeking to create turmoil in our hearts and minds. The cry from the pen of the Apostle Paul in the great resurrection chapter points us to Christ’s victory leading to our peace – “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:54-58).
We are so loved so be at peace. Christ is with us, for us, in us, and promises the result of His work and favor is a joy-filled life at peace in a world not knowing peace. Rejoice. He has overcome the world making us world overcomers as well!
PRAYER. Father, I praise You for Your many promises to me, and none more precious than Your love.
REFLECTION: Always loved are the two most comforting words in the Christian’s relationship with the Lord.