With God all things are possible
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| It's not news that we live in a world that gives us much to worry about. We hear about terrorist and other tragedies almost instantly on the TV . Living in such a stressful world, we need a way to experience genuine joy and peace.
And joy and peace, which are fruits of the Spirit, should mark us as Christians. But our main reason for seeking joy and peace should not be because these qualities make life more pleasant, rather because we want our lives to glorify God. When people ask why we are so joyful and calm in this troubled world, our reply should point them the The Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord continues to give encouragement and comfort to the disciples just hours before His arrest and crucifixion. Their whole world would soon be turned upside down. Rather than being focused on Himself, the Lord's focus was on equipping them for trials that they would face. His words show us how to have His joy and peace in troubled times.
We can rejoice that Jesus returned to the Father, sent the Holy Spirit to teach us, and gave us His peace for our troubled times.
John 14:28 You heard that I said to you, I go away, and I will come to you. If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. Jesus did'nt mean that the disciples did not love Him at all, here He is exposing their self focus and their lack of understanding.
So why does Jesus tell the disciples here they should have rejoiced at the news of His departure, " for the Father is greater than I". In His incarnation, Jesus temporarily laid aside the glory that He shared with the a father from all eternity. John 17:5 He took on the form of servant and became obedient to death on the cross, after His resurrection, He would be restored to His glory with the Father, seated at His right hand over all authority in the universe. Ephesians 1:20-22 Philipians 2:5-11 and He would send the Holy Spirit to indwell them. If the disciples had understood all of this and if their focus had been on loving Jesus rather than on themselves, they would have rejoiced over His return to the Father.
John 10:30 Jesus plainly asserted, I and the Father are one. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all eternally and equally one God. Yet at the same time, the Son submits to the Father and the Spirit submits to the Father and the Son in order to carry out the divine plan.
The practical application for us is: if Jesus is the eternal, now sitting at the Father's right hand, then He is sovereign over all the troublesome events in this world and in your life. He has promised to work all these things together for good for those who love Him. Romans 8:28
John 14:30-31 Jeaus makes clear that He was also sovereign over Satan and over His own death. Although Satan was behind the events that culminated in the cross, Satan was not over Jesus. He had nothing on Jesus because Jesus was sinless. Rather, Jesus went to the cross to show the world that He loves the Father. he had authority to lay down His own life and to take it up again John 10:18. This means that Satan can only touch us to the extent that Jesus allow him to do. Luke 22:31 and Job 1:12
Also, Jesus repeats again John 14:28 He will come again to us. This could refer to His second coming John 14:3. To His resurrection appearance John 14:19 or to coming to us in the person of the Holy Spirit John 14:18-, 26 all three are a source of joy for us as we face troubling times. But in light of Jesus mentioning to His return to the Father, the reference here is probably to His promise to sent the Holy Spirit.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you: My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled,nor let it be fearful.
What a wonderful promise from our Lord!
Jesus peace is not the peace of that the world gives.
"Peace" comes from Hebrew " shalom" which refers to general well being or contendedness which comes from God.
All is well with my soul kind of peace.
For it is WITH God all things are possible
Have a BLESSED Thursday
Father God, guide me today to do all things that will bring glory and honor to You Amen 
We enjoy peace because Christ bore the penalty for our sins in the cross. Romans 5:1 Therefore , having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Edited by ladyjockey 2016-08-04 11:02 AM
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