💫WEB · John 14:27
What does John 14:27 mean?
"Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful."
— John 14:27 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me.
I have said these things to you, while still living with you.
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.
Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.
You heard how I told you, ‘I go away, and I come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I said ‘I am going to my Father;’ for the Father is greater than I.
Now I have told you before it happens so that, when it happens, you may believe.
I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me.
Explanation
In this verse, Jesus is speaking to his disciples on the night before his crucifixion, offering them a gift of peace as he prepares to leave them. In plain language, he is saying: "I am giving you my own peace, not a temporary or fragile peace like the world offers, but something lasting and real. Because of this gift, you don't need to be anxious or afraid."
The context is crucial to understanding the weight of these words. This statement comes from what is often called the Farewell Discourse (John 13-17), Jesus' extended teaching to his disciples during the Last Supper, just hours before his arrest. The disciples were confused and troubled—Jesus had just told them he was going away, that one of them would betray him, and that Peter would deny him three times. Their world was about to be shattered. Into this atmosphere of confusion and impending crisis, Jesus speaks these words of comfort. The Gospel of John was likely written by the Apostle John, addressing early Christian communities who needed reassurance of Christ's presence and promises, especially as they faced their own trials and the reality of Jesus' physical absence from the earth.
Theologically, this verse draws a sharp contrast between the peace Jesus offers and the peace the world offers. Worldly peace typically depends on circumstances—the absence of conflict, financial security, or favorable conditions. It's fragile and can be shattered instantly when troubles arise. The peace Jesus gives, however, is rooted in his own identity and relationship with the Father; it doesn't depend on external circumstances but on the abiding pres
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