Series: Flowers in the Desert
John 16:33 ESV
John 16:25-32 ESV
Peace at our house when the kids were growing up was pretty much nonexistent, especially when the kids were small. They weren’t bad kids at all, but they were very normal…especially the three boys.
While other people who came by to visit noticed the noise level, what I remember most was the chaos that surrounded the fun.
We did have fun!
For example, there was a massive amount of laundry that needed to be done regularly, so instead of me working most of the time on wash, dry, fold, repeat, I engaged them in the activity. Even when they were really small they were able to help sort the clothes. As they grew older they were able to go to the basement, get the clothes out of the dryer and as a team effort, hoist the basket up the stairs. The older three children were born in a three year time-span so they grew up together and they were stair step kids. They were a team.
They were also able to get the clothes out of the dryer and pick their own clothes out of the load. Once we had the clothes sorted they each folded their own clothes. I helped sort and of course, once my youngest son was born, I sorted his clothes out and folded those. Just to give you an idea, I sorted and folded my clothes, dad’s clothes, and babies clothes.
The older three children sorted and folded their own clothes.
I was not picky about how neatly they were folded, but they did need to be folded and not just “wadded” up.
What I loved and still cherish was the silliness that occurred as we worked.
They would throw clothes at each other.
There was chasing and screaming.
Most of all, I remember the laughter!
There was a lot of laughter.
Because the whole process was filled with laughter, and shenanigans when I would announce we were going to do laundry they would come running. It became a game.
By the time the baby was two years old, we had moved to a church parsonage in another town and the washer and dryer were located on the same level. That actually helped. We still all did laundry.
There were other activities we did together as well…but that’s another story!
When we did laundry there was chaos, but when the work was done they were usually tired and in the afternoon we would rest.
There was peace.
When Jesus was nearly finished with His time on earth He tried to prepare His disciples for what was about to happen. Jesus knew there would be chaos.
In John 16:25b-32 Jesus told His disciples, “The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.”
Jesus knew once He was arrested, they would scatter and hide.
Indeed, the only disciple present at the crucifixion was young John. He was there with Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the other women.
The women were present when Jesus died.
There was chaos.
Mary and the women stayed with Jesus until the end. They took the half mile long trek up to Golgotha. While scholars today have difficulty pin pointing the exact site, we know Jesus carried the heavy cross up the hill to where He was crucified. Today it’s referred to as Mount Calvary.
In John 16:33 Jesus also told His disciples, “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.”
Jesus also knew after the crucifixion he would rise again.
He knew there would be a time of peace for His disciples after the resurrection.
In addition to that, Jesus knew that when the Spirit of God was released to believers in the world, peace would be available even in times of terrible chaos. In other words, even when things get really bad for His disciples, in their hearts and minds the Spirit of God will give peace that knows no end.
Today, even in the “worst of times” the Spirit gives peace.
Spiritual Practice: Ask for Peace
Today spend time set apart from the world and be aware of God’s peace. You can ask God to reveal His peace if you haven’t experienced it. There’s nothing quite like it on earth!
In God, Deborah
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