John 14:8-17 [25-27] (NRSV)
Read John 14:8-17 [25-27] on biblegateway.com
Verse 8Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Verse 9Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Verse 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Verse 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.
Verse 12Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Verse 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Verse 14If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
Verse 15"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. Verse 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. Verse 17This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.[
Verse 25"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. Verse 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Verse 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.]
Devotion
Peace is an elusive reality. I went to Europe in the aftermath of World War II on an exchange program known as IFYE (International 4H Youth Exchange), as a forerunner of the Peace Corps program. I lived with farm families and worked as a family member. Our goal was a grass-roots level of bridging the gap of misunderstanding and working for peace in our world. The idealism of that time quickly gave way to reality. When the Berlin wall went up in 1961, it was an example of walls that we put up to keep “others” out. More recent examples are the walls in the Holy Land and along the US/Mexican border. We may never experience peace in this world.
But the peace of God is otherworldly. It is the work of the Spirit in us. In the Spirit, we are reminded of what our Lord brings to life. In the Spirit, the ways and the will of Christ become apparent. He brings a peace that the world cannot give.
Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly dove, give us everlasting peace that we might serve you more completely in Christ. Amen.