JOHN 16:29-33 THE PEACE THAT PASSES UNDERSTANDING

29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

31 “You believe at last!” Jesus answered. 32 “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. 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.”

The Truth is greater than our understanding. We are incapable of grasping the totality of the Truth even when it is presented to us. This is especially true when we try to make the transition from the conceptual to the practical. It is one thing to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior and yet quite another thing to live in grateful abandon to his will. But rather than a cause for despair, this weakness in the application of the Truth is actually the vehicle that brings us into a proper and humble relationship of dependence upon God.

The Disciples appear to finally recognize the oneness of Jesus and the Father, and Jesus commends them for that. However, in foretelling their individual and corporate denial of him, Jesus places their human frailty in the hands of the Father. They might abandon him, but he and the Father will never abandon them. The horrible events of which they cannot even conceive, including their denials of their Master, will draw them away from self-righteous arrogance and into a reconciled relationship with the Father; his peace. While the world brings separation from God, Jesus brings reconciliation.

Because Jesus has told us of both our weakness and God’s strength, we can live with the assurance that St. Paul expressed in his letter to the Church in Rome.

8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Is this a license to ignore God’s commandments in this life and presume on his love and mercy? Certainly not! This is the knowledge that drives us into an increasing desire to gratefully return his love and faithfulness by living in greater obedience to his will. In any circumstance, we can say with assurance, “I can, with God’s help.”

Jesus, thank you for making the Way to the Father known. Continually unfold in my life the full meaning of that knowledge so that I might know his peace and never fall victim to despair. Heal my insight into the Truth and strengthen me to walk according to the Truth. Take my knowledge of you and turn it into a way of living and a witness to you. Amen.