• (John 14:27 ESV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
• (John 16:33 ESV) I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Reality check: In the world you will have tribulation. But you already know that, don’t you? This world can be a troubling place: Agonizing, painful, heart-breaking, tragic and frightening. I am pretty sure that you agree with me that this world is a mess, and I am happy that we agree, so don’t misunderstand … but everybody sees that. You don’t even have to know God to know that this world is a mess. It’s like the Geico commercial: “Everybody knows that.”

As a truck driver I know would put it, “That ain’t nothin!’” He was always one-upping the guys as they were story-telling on their CB radios. Someone would have a story, and he would chime in, “That ain’t nothin!’” So it became kind of a catch phrase around the gravel pit and the quarry. “That ain’t nothin!’”

So I’m telling you … just because you can recognize that this world is a mess … “That ain’t nothin!’”

Do you want to know what is something? Hearing the voice of God in the word of God over the noise-makers of the world. And what does our God tell us? “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation.” God is in touch with the reality of this sin-wrecked world. “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.” His intent and purpose with these words is our peace. So let’s get very pointed in this conversation. Do you believe him? Do you believe Christ as he speaks to you in the middle of your anxiety and fear that in him you may have peace?

He continues: “But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Christ will not only get us through the difficult times in our lives, but he gives us ultimate victory over the world. Everybody knows things are a mess but too few of us hear the promise of victory in the midst of the mess.

Message: “The Peace that Jesus Gives!”

Message Text: John 14:27, 16:33 & Selected