John 16:29-33
I am not alone,
because the Father is with me.
I have told you all this
so that you may find peace in me.
How often have you prayed for someone that they may find peace? Perhaps someone might have to make a difficult decision or comes to terms with a difficult some difficult circumstances: we wish them peace. It’s possible to wish for others what we cannot find ourselves.
When Jesus is getting ready to leave his disciples his wish is that they may find peace. This won’t mean that they will avoid conflict or challenge. Instead they will find an inner strength in knowing that Jesus and the Father are one. Hidden in the tidy prose of John’s Gospel is the stark fact the disciples don’t know how things will turn out for them. They have been schooled in love by Jesus and promised the Spirit. Now it’s up to them to let the promises unfold.
What sense do you have of the peace that Jesus promises?