Good Shepherd Sermon: May 25, 2025. John 14. 23-29
“Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled”
Grace, mercy, and peace to you, from God, the Creator, our Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ, thru the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Of all the places you have traveled to, domestic or foreign, is there one place you have enjoyed the most? OK, that might be difficult so let’s make it one of the “Top 5” places. Where is one of your five faves?
Truth be told, as much as Wanetta and I love the mountains, or have an affinity to spend days around a pool or a white sandy beach, one of my favorite places is on our patio. Yep! A dozen feet from the back door, on a chaise lounge chair with a head set on around 5:15 or 5:30 in the a.m. That’s one of my all-time favorites.
That said, one recent morning, with a slight breeze seemingly wrapping itself around me, I could feel the Spirit as if it whispered, “Peace.” With wind chimes accompanying the distinctness of the Voice, my body responded with a calmness, a calmness only the Spirit of God cold give.
That may sound a tad weird…but you get the point. Jesus told the disciples; thus, he is telling us that upon his departure, God Almighty will send to them – and to us – the Advocate, the Holy Spirit – the Paraclete – in his name to remind us of all the things he said while he was still on earth.
I ask you — is that not comforting in these anxious, often fearful times? Too often, we allow the world and all its confusion and commotion to move in and attempt to steal our joy and peace. Listen again to the words of Jesus.
“Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Let not your hearts be troubled.”
What encouraging, engaging words spoken to the disciples of Jesus. And, yes, they are words spoken to you and me.
“Let not let your hearts be troubled.”
What should he leave to his poor disciples, who had left all for him? I mean, Jesus didn’t have silver and gold to leave behind, nor valuable property for the disciples to make their home or meeting place. No…what Jesus left all who have left their lives to follow him, is to give something that money can never – ever – buy.
Priceless peace.
Peace is given for reconciliation and love; the peace given is peace with God, and peace with one another. But, what seems to be especially indicated, is a formidable peace within our own hearts; a tranquility of mind coming from a sense of our justification before God. It is the matching part of the forgiveness of our sins, and the composure of our minds. Christ calls this hispeace, for he himself, is our peace.
In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he reminds them that since now they are in Christ Jesus and who once were far off, they have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Listen to what the apostle says in Chapter 2 verse 14: “For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. This is the peace he died for and preached to us.”
Then, one of the more popular verses in scripture comes from the 4th Chapter of Philippians, verses 6 and 7, which tell us:
“ 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
In other words – – –
“Let not your hearts be troubled.”
When Jesus meets his frightened disciples after his resurrection, it will be with a greeting of what…? Yes, peace (John 20:19, 21). The Greek word for peace is eirênê, but what many scholars have shared in their study of this text, is that the word, “peace” is most likely a translation of the traditional Hebrew greeting shalom.
Here is why – that beautiful word, Shalom, suggests more than the absence of battle or struggle; it is a reflective and all-inclusive sense of well-being:
wholeness.
And, as hard as the world might try, it is the kind of peace which the world cannot give – (Pause)
it can only come from God.
This may sound somewhat deep, but this gift of peace accompanies the gift of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus breathes into his disciples as he sends them out in mission later in John’s gospel.
You see, John’s Gospel sees the death of Jesus in the light of the resurrection, in the light of God’s triumph over evil and death. The incarnation, the incredible manifestation of God’s love by becoming human, plus the ministry, the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the sending of the Spirit; all these events together demonstrate the depth of God’s love for the world. And, with the depth that knows no bottom, God’s peace is what we continue to feel and share as we walk thru life’s journey.
When asked, “What’s wrong with the world today?” many will point to volatile stock markets, corrupt governments, lack of healthcare, broken families, overcrowded schools, and more. The world tries to fix these problems by doing good: feeding children, building wells, regulating markets, conserving wildlife, and thereby achieving a type of peace.
The “world’s peace” tries to fix the symptoms of sin but fails to see how the root of the problem is the sin-disease itself, something that can only be healed by Christ—not by money, regulation, or reform.
God’s peace is found in the most interesting places. It is found in the peace of the unknown future. It is peace in the midst of conflict and chaos. God’s peace is found when we suffer pain, and the same peace is found in life’s storms, just as much as God’s peace is in the contagious laughter of children.
His peace doesn’t change with the circumstances; it is secure
in spite of the circumstances.
Listen to the words of the prophet, Isaiah, from Chapter 54, verse 10:
“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
May you feel the embrace of God’s compassion and peace this day…
and, always.
AMEN.