My Mother's Meatball Recipe 🍝 A Different Kind of Peace

^{A Different Kind of Peace   John 16:29-33}

²⁹ His disciples said, “See, now You are speaking plainly and are not using any figure of speech. ³⁰ Now we know that You know all things, and that You have no need for anyone to question You; this is why we believe that You came forth from God.” ³¹ Jesus replied to them, “Do you now believe? ³² Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. ³³ These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” 

First, I want to explain that the word “tribulation” in today’s verse, means “trouble and suffering.” The word “tribulation” was translated by taking two terms and combining them to make one meaning.

The security of these disciples rested on the ability they thought they had to understand what Jesus was saying to them.

They wanted to know… and then they thought they would feel at peace.

"Now we know," they said. "Now we understand."

You see, Jesus had been speaking to them in figures of speech and now in verse 29 the disciples seem to have a aha moment… for they say: “See, now You are speaking plainly and are not using any figure of speech. Now we know … and we believe that You came forth from God.”

They felt a sense of security because they thought they understood. 

This is so like us! We think that God has to explain what we're going through and then we'll feel secure.

Our peace wants to rest upon a certain knowledge of what is happening. But our Lord is very careful to point out that this kind of peace is very insecure. 

And then in verses 31-33 Jesus tells them (And I’m paraphrasing here)

"Within an hour you will be running like a bunch of frightened sheep. You say you know who I am. You say you understand that I came from God and that I know all things. Do you know that within an hour's time you will be so confused and so uncertain of what is happening you will run away and leave Me alone? Rather than trusting Me to work things out, you'll forsake Me and not want to be identified with Me. And yet I'll not be alone. My security won't be threatened in that hour, for the Father is with Me. And I say this to you in order that you might know the kind of peace I have. It is not based on what happens, or even on my understanding of what happens, but upon a trust in the One who controls what happens. I say this to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you're going to have nothing but trouble …trouble at work… trouble at school… trouble in your home… trouble in your family… trouble in your communities and in your country. You'll have nothing but trouble, because that is the way this world is. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."

Isn't that an encouraging word? We all have gone through times of great personal stress and deep sorrow… times of uncertainty and lack of understanding, not knowing what God was working out.

Sometime even perceiving Him to be working in ways that maybe we have thought were completely wrong. Where we may think and even question why He’s doing these things.

It is times like these where we have to rest back upon the Truth’s in His Word.

Jesus says, "You can have my peace, you can have My sense of security," for these things do not rest in circumstances, nor in the understanding of circumstances like we so crave. It rests in a confidence that the One who is guiding the circumstances knows what He is doing. That is where peace comes from.

Life happens, and I pray that the Lord will be your source of peace rather than seeking peace from your circumstances or even understanding your circumstances. For real peace can only be the result of trusting in the person of Jesus Christ.