(This passage is also referenced in Matthew 26:30-35, Mark 14:26-31, Luke 22:35-38)

Jesus is talking to His disciples here about Him leaving them. He knew He was going to be crucified and He knew that when He was resurrected He would go to be with the Father in heaven. Jesus wanted to comfort His disciples before this happens, so that when He was crucified and died, they would have something to hold onto.

This is one verse that shows us that Jesus was in control of the whole situation. He came to show us the Father, and He came to die for our sins. He was never pushed into doing this; He died for us of His own accord, because He loved us and because it was the will of the Father.

There is a famous saying that goes, “I asked Jesus how much He loved me. He said, ‘This much’, and He stretched out His arms and died”.

But of course, His death was not the end. After He had been raised from the dead He sent the Holy Spirit to live in every believer. Jesus did not leave us desolate, He sent His Holy Spirit to be with us, and this Spirit, Jesus says, will teach us all things and remind us of what Jesus has taught us (v.26). He also tells us that His peace will be with us; He left His peace with us, so that we might never be afraid or anxious about anything.

As we live today, let us remember this; that His peace is with us. It is not a worldly peace, it is Jesus’ peace, divine and holy, and Jesus left it for us.

Prayer: Lord as I live this day for You, help me to live in the peace that You left for me. Amen