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Devotional | Dec 8, 2024
Use the button below to view this week's Practicing Together guide.
Practicing Together(The Practicing Together guide for December 15 is included here, so you can prepare for next week’s gathering.)
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, 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. 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. You heard me say, “I am going away and I am coming back to you.” If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. John 14:25-31
If you read a lot of books, especially fiction, you probably have some “go to” authors. You return to them often because they write stories where you know no matter what happens with the characters, struggles, disasters, heartbreak, everything will turn out alright in the end. And, it will be satisfying. Because you trust them, when you know the story will end well, you can read through some tough passages with hope, and even confidence, because you know this particular author won’t let you down.
Dallas Willard, author of “The Divine Conspiracy,” has a quote, “This present world is a perfectly safe place for us to be.” That is difficult to understand, let alone believe … unless you trust the Author of your story. This is how we live within what Dallas Willard called the Divine Conspiracy: we know the ultimate outcome of our stories... of the ultimate story.
In Scripture, there are two words translated as peace. In the Old Testament Hebrew, the word is shalom (shaw-lome). Shalom is so much; wholeness, soundness, safety, prosperity, and contentment are just a few words used to define it. God gives Aaron this priestly blessing for his people. In the New Testament the Greek word for peace is eirene (i-ray-nay). Eirene conveys a state of national tranquility, peace between individuals (i.e. harmony), and finally “of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever that sort that is” (Blue Letter Bible).
God desires for us shalom, peace. Jesus, on the night before his crucifixion gives to disciples his peace. Imagine that much assurance in the goodness of God when facing death. He trusted his Father, and he had peace in the midst of his story. He saw beyond the difficult “passage” to the end of the story, and he was able to bear the cross because he knew. We too can know the outcome. It has been provided. In the Old Testament, Immanuel—Prince of Peace—is predicted. In the New Testament, Jesus bestows on us his peace. Because we know the Author of our salvation, Jesus, we can have peace. And we can know, as Julian of Norwich is attributed to saying, “…all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”
PrayerHeavenly Father, thank you for the gift of hope that shines through the darkness and anchors our souls. As we reflect on your promises that were fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, help us to live in confident expectation of his promised return. Help us not to grow weary in the waiting, but to trust in your unfailing love and goodness toward us. Amen.
The first step of Bible study is always prayer. Pray for God to open your mind to his ways, and your heart to his will.
Context: John, the author of this gospel, was one of the disciples, and one of the three who were Jesus’ closest friends, Peter, James and John. John is the only disciple who escaped martyrdom and lived to be an old man. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are “synoptic,” meaning they relied upon each other as source material, and they have a similar storyline. John’s gospel has a different agenda and carries a different tone. He clearly states his purpose in the closing words (John 20:31), “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” This week’s reading from John 14 takes place in the upper room, on the night before the crucifixion. Jesus is speaking to his disciples.
Lectio Divina on John 14:25-35
John 14-17 is known as Jesus’ Farewell Discourse. This is an intimate time with his disciples. Earlier in the evening, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. As he spoke to them, he predicted the betrayal that would soon take place, and he warned Peter to guard against denying him. Jesus then begins to clarify things to his disciples about himself and the coming Holy Spirit. This is the passage to read for today.
Much of Norman Rockwell’s work in the early 1940s was commissioned by the US government to be used as reminders of what the nation was fighting for. His 1943 painting, “Freedom from Peace,” was another of his “Four Freedoms” series of Saturday Evening Post covers. In it, he captures a tender moment as a mother gently tucks her children into bed against the backdrop of the horrors of war as revealed by the headline on the newspaper that the father holds. Those were dark times, when the difference between the peace that the world gives and the peace that Jesus offers in John 14:25-28 could be seen in stark contrast. Already asleep, the children exemplify the peace of rest under protection.
We can imagine them using this week’s reading from Numbers as a blessing over their children and a faith-filled call to the one whose perfect love casts out all fear:
“The Lord bless youand keep you;the Lord make his face shine on youand be gracious to you;the Lord turn his face toward youand give you peace.” - Numbers 6:24-25
In this week’s visio divina, ask yourself if the peace Jesus gives is something more than physical safety. Consider how the Lord makes his face to shine on you. Reflect on how Rockwell’s use of light and line bring balance and a sense of peace to the composition as all of the lighter areas and the strongest lines direct your eyes toward the two children enveloped in love, fast asleep and at peace.
Click here for more about the background and details on the steps of visio divina, as well as a sample using Norman Rockwell’s “Freedom from Want.”
Random Acts of Kindness: Each day this week, do something kind for someone you do not know. As you do, pray for that individual to experience God’s peace. Some ideas might include:
Anonymous Act of Kindness: At least one day this week, consider doing a kindness for someone you know but disagree with or have conflict with.
Leave their favorite treat on their desk or doorstep.