Peace
This week's blog is based on the gospel of John 14: 23-29.
I don’t know about you all, but I am in need of some peace. When there is arguing among people, I need some peace. When there is arguing among nations, I need some peace.
In the midst of the hatred of the world, I need some peace.
There is pain. There is suffering. There is inequality. There is fear. There is violence.
We need peace — and peace is exactly what Jesus is bringing to the table.
In the Bible passage for Sunday, Jesus is preparing to leave his disciples, but he is not going to leave them alone. No, he promises to leave them an "Advocate" — the Holy Spirit.
Interestingly enough, the disciples are hearing this at a time when peace doesn’t seem likely. Under Roman occupation, these people were living during a tumultuous time when violence could erupt at any moment.
Religious leaders can’t seem to work well together and people are dying from violence, starvation, and disease. The kind of peace the world gives the disciples doesn't seem very peaceful at all.
But Jesus is not talking about the kind of peace the world gives. Jesus is bringing a peace that transcends all of that. The peace of the world does not sustain, but the Holy Spirit does.
The Holy Spirit does not bring a sword, but rather love and peace.
The Holy Spirit does not bring shame but rather hope and joy.
The Holy Spirit does not bring fear or trouble, but rather cheering and rejoicing.
Now this is the kind of peace that I need.
Furthermore, I would like to say the Holy Spirit offers us something that is also given to the disciples: courage.
The Holy Spirit filled up the disciples and led them to do amazing things. Peter went from being really bad at catching fish to raising people from the dead. John preached Jesus in front of the council of religious leaders. Philip baptized the court official of the queen of the Ethiopians. The list goes on and on.
The disciples went toe-to-toe with the empire and changed the world.
The same spirit that empowered the disciples in inside each of us. The way we treat people helps bring peace to the earth. When we look out for the needs of others, we are creating God’s peace on earth.
When we feel like we are faced with an impossible situation on earth, we are reminded of a Holy Spirit that brings courage to tear down those walls and build super big bridges — bridges of peace and love.
I don’t know about you all, but I am in need of some peace. When there is arguing among people, I need some peace. When there is arguing among nations, I need some peace.
In the midst of the hatred of the world, I need some peace.
But above of all else, I am encapsulated by the Holy Spirit and equipped to go out and work toward bringing the peace.
Let’s go out and change the world.