Wednesday, 26 July 2023

The Upper Room Discourse 22

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John 14:27 "Shalom I leave you, My shalom I give to you; but not as the world gives! Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid."

May I share a few of my innermost thoughts with you? Let's keep this between us. This verse addresses why I became a follower of Yeshua in the first place. I was in pursuit of Shalom, and I found it in the lives of several believers who were witnessing to me. In short, I wanted to be like them. At one point I thought, "They have their Christian faith and that is good for them. I'm Jewish and it's not for me." Then I thought, "It seems to work well for them. I'm glad they have the Shalom I've been seeking." My next thought came, "Why shouldn't I have it too? The Shalom I seek is right there and available. Why not for me?"

Yeshua says that His Shalom is given not like the world gives. There are several ways to look at that statement. His Shalom is different. The world's Shalom is a "serenity now" (with all due respect to the Seinfeld episode by the same name www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow_9MglZrhs), type of zen meditation plan to force your mind to achieve something like Nirvana (not the band which is spelled "Nirvanna," but a state of mind in the Indian religion).

Yeshua's Shalom is not like that. Yeshua gives us a completeness, wholeness, perfection, lacking nothing sense of relating to Who God is and who we are in relation to Him. Colossians 2:9-10a For all the fullness of Deity lives bodily in Him, and in Him you have been filled to fullness. Isaiah 53:5 provides the missing link here: "The chastisement of our peace was upon Him". He took our broken Shalom and replaced it with His eternal and perfect Shalom. Let me explain further.

This other aspect of Yeshua giving Shalom is that the world gives conditionally, while Yeshua gives unconditionally (by grace). The Shalom of this world is works derived; you have to earn it, and because you have to earn it, you can lose it. Yeshua's Shalom is a gift from God that He will not take back, but will continue to give without measure. Isaiah 9:5b-6a His Name will be called ... Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government AND SHALOM there will be no end.

This brings us to the last part of our subject verse ... John 14:27b Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid. I like the term "blessed assurance." A few years ago, our children's camp theme was "UNSHAKEABLE." What is unshakeable is our Shalom. Philippians 4:7 And the shalom of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Messiah Yeshua.

In what way does the "Shalom of God" surpass understanding? When our understanding (mind) tells us to get upset or run, the Shalom of God plants us as oaks of righteousness that cannot be moved. Let's give Judah the last word today ... Judah 1:2-21 But you, loved ones, continue building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Ruach ha-Kodesh. Keep yourselves in the love of God, eagerly waiting for the mercy of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah that leads to eternal life.