John 14:25–31

25These things I have spoken to you while I remain with you. 26But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, the One the Father has sent in My name, that one will teach you all things and will remind you of all things which I have said to you. 27Peace I leave to you;My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I Myself give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled nor be afraid.28You heard that I Myself have said to you, ‘I am going away and am coming for you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I am going away to the Father, for the Father is greater than Me. 29And now I have told you before it happens, in order that when it happens, you might believe. 30Not much longer will I speak with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. Indeed he does not have anything on Me whatsoever31but in order that the world might know that I love the Father, indeed I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Arise, let us leave this place.

  1. How would you define “peace”? Compare this to how others that you encounter define it and how Jesus defines it.
  2. The world often defines this as the absence of war or conflict. There have been many “peace movements” throughout our history. When we hear this, the picture of flowered-speckled Volkswagonvans might come to mind. Perhaps the tune of “Give Peace a Chance” pops in your head. Peace is a very popular concept but is it possible? We are commanded by Jesus to be “peacemakers” (Matthew 5) but what exactly is real peace?
  3. In First Century Palestine, Caesar Augustus had instituted what he called PaxRomana or “Roman Peace.” This was a peace brought about by force. The Romans crushed any rebellion so that there was a period of peace but it was not long-lived. We may go through periods of peace today but it does not last long and there is always conflict somewhere.
  4. Jesus is indicating that the peace He gives goes beyond what is going on around us. Even in the midst of conflict, we can have peace through our faith in Him. He has already told His disciples at the beginning of John 14 to not let their hearts be troubled because He is preparing a place for them. He tells them not to let their hearts be troubled again in v. 27. Both of these appearances of this command are centered on Jesus going away but on the work He would accomplish and the preparations He would make by joining the Father. Ultimately, Jesus has made peace between the Father’s wrath and us by satisfying that wrath on the cross. This will be fully realized when Jesus returns and crushes the enemies of God once and for all, resulting in a peace that will never end (Revelation 21).
  5. Who is the “ruler of this world” and why does He have nothing on Jesus? What does that mean for us?
  6. Jesus knows that His arrest is coming soon that will lead to His execution. The “ruler of this world” (Luke 10:18; John 12:31; 16:11; 2 Cor 4:4; 6:15; Eph 2:2; 6:12) is clearly identified as Satan, the enemy of God. For a period of time, God has allowed him to wreak havoc on this world (see the book of Job). The “ruler of this world” is described as coming, which could mean that he is working through Judas Iscariot in the betrayal of Jesus. However, it is more likely that he is coming to tempt Jesus one last time in providing a way out so that He would not go to the cross (see Jesus’ prayerful agony in the Garden of Gethsemane).
  7. Jesus emphatically indicates that the “ruler of this world” has nothing on Him. Since Satan is known as the Accuser (book of Job), Jesus is probably referring to the fact that Satan has no legal claim on Him. In other words, Jesus is sinless and innocent before God. Satan cannot accuse Him of anything. This is what makes Jesus the only eligible sacrifice for us before God. He totally met the standard of perfection set by God during His life on earth, being tempted but never sinning (Heb 4:15). He then died as the perfect sacrifice on our behalf to restore our relationship with God the Father.