Walking Through the Shadow of Death Hope and Peace

Walking Through the Shadow of Death

Hope and Peace

When we walk through the valley of the shadow of death

With others or we ourselves

We need peace

Peace with God and peace with others

Jesus gave us His peace

His peace was in the glory of His Father 

He overcame the hatred of the world

Demonstrating ultimate love

Giving Him peace with God and man

Hope and Peace

It is a common thing to lose hope.

Life is full of disappointment.

 

Maybe it was hope to get done with a project in

time to watch a little TV before you went to bed.

Or, hope to achieve some goal in life.

Sometimes the loss of hope is no big deal, but

other times the loss of hope means we also lost peace.

Anxiety, fear, frustration, anger

replace the sense of peace we enjoyed.

When my sister in law was diagnosed with

pancreatic cancer many hopes were crushed.

Loss replaced hope.

Fear replaced peace.

The emotional change from one

day to another was like day and night. 

As Jesus began His walk through

the Valley of the Shadow of Death, the

hope and peace of the disciples was lost.

Jesus’ words to His disciples were not

only comforting to His followers then,

but to those of us who follow Him now.

Jesus told His disciples on the other side of

the valley He is preparing a place for them.

He is very aware of the trouble we face in this world and

the loss of peace we experience when we face those troubles.

So Jesus says…

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27

It is important we see Jesus says…

 “My peace I give you”

What is different between the peace

Jesus has and gives and world peace.

Jesus’ peace was not contingent

on anything in this world.

Jesus’ peace was contingent on two things…

Peace with God
 

Jesus throughout His earthly ministry said…

 I and the Father are one

Jesus never lost sight of the

glory He has in the Father.

In Jesus’ prayer of John 17 we see this glory…

I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory

I had with you before the world began.

Jesus also had peace with others.

Although the world hated Him,

He overcame the hatred with love.

He gave His life so we might have eternal life.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!

 I have overcome the world." 

John 16:33

Jesus had peace with the world

because He overcame their hatred

with the ultimate expression of love.

When we walk through the

Valley of the Shadow of Death…

With others, or we ourselves, we need peace.

Peace with God and peace with others.

Having peace with God is completing

what God has for us to do and looking

forward to being in His glory.

Peace with others is not always easy, we don’t

always see the love for us we would like.

We, too, need to overcome the lack of love with love.

It is not easy especially when we are in need.

It is not easy when others do not understand.

It is not easy when we don’t feel good and are confused.

Therefore we need to make it our purpose every day to…

Have peace with God and peace with each other.

Scripture Reading

John 14:23-27 NIV

23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 16:33 NIV

33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace . In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." 

John 17:1-5 NIV

17:1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Ephesians 2:14-18 NIV

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.