More Promises 

John 14 

These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrances all that I said to you.  

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. 

If elected, I promise…every four years in America, we hear this phrase over and over. 

In 1960, Gabriel Green, founder of the Amalgamated Flying Saucer Clubs of American, announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States, promoting himself as “your write-in space-age candidate.” Green claimed contact with “space people” and promised he would usher in “The World of Tomorrow and Utopia now.” He later withdrew stating that “not enough Americans have yet seen flying saucers or talked to out of space people to vote for him.” He endorsed John F. Kennedy. (thoughtco.com) 

Ok, I thought I’d get your attention this morning with some meaningless trivia. Now back to the real promise-keeper who also knows a thing or two about space travel. 

We are still in the upper room with Jesus. It is a few hours until His betrayal.  Jesus is pouring His final words, his very heart and soul, into these 11 men. They will carry on without His physical presence. 

The first promise was Jesus will live within you. Jesus says to them, We (the Trinity) will make our home within you who love Us. In verse 20, Jesus says, In that day you will know that I am IN My Father, and you IN Me, and I IN you. Three times we see “in” used. There is no “outside”. What does this intimacy mean to the disciples? Jesus provide a couple of pretty spectacular promises: 

1. The Helper, the Holy Spirit. In this promise, the Spirit will have a particular role for the disciples. He will teach you all things and will bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Up until now, the disciples have been dull of hearing, lame-brained and mostly clueless. After Jesus’ resurrection, the Spirit will come upon them in a fresh and full way and they will be transformed. Their minds will be super-charged; they will have clarity; they will REMEMBER! (at my age, the gift of “remembering” would be a great Christmas present for me). They will preach with clarity and they will write and record scripture with brilliant minds and clear memories. This is the work of the Spirit in their lives. This particular promise, it seems to me because of the context, is a special promise to the disciples because of the ministry they are about to embark upon. There are plenty of other scriptures that describe the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives today. This promise of “remembering what Jesus said” obviously doesn’t apply to us. But it is critical to the apostles. 
2. My Peace (Jesus’ peace) I give to you. I’m especially drawn close to Jesus’ words, Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you, verse 27. He doesn’t give us a form of peace or human peace but He gives “MY” peace. God exists within a state of perfect peace. He doesn’t worry or fret or wonder? He doesn’t lose sleep or ponder over “what if’s”. Why? BECAUSE HE’S GOD! He lives in perfect peace because He is God. Without Jesus, I would live in conditional peace that is dependent on my human situation. Jesus says I give you MY peace. Jesus is transferring HIS own peace to the disciples. This peace, His peace, is ours as well. 

Consider Philippians 4:6,7; 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and you minds in Christ Jesus. 

Lord Jesus and precious Father, may I live in the Spirit today and in your Presence always. I cling to your promise of perfect peace that you have given freely. Now that I have it, steady my mind on it; upon YOUR perfect peace. Amen