John 14:27-30
March 9, 2026
John 14:27-30
CONFESS
Lord God, Almighty and Eternal Father, we acknowledge and confess before you that we are miserable sinners; conceived and born in guilt and in corruption, prone to do evil, unfit for any good; who, by reason of our depravity, sin without end. We have drawn condemnation and death upon ourselves by your just sentence. But, O Lord, with heartfelt sorrow, we repent and mourn our offenses; we condemn ourselves and our evil ways, with true penitence asking that your grace may relieve our stress. Have compassion on us, O most gracious God, Father of all mercies, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ. And in removing our guilt, grant us daily increase of the grace of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
READ & REFLECT
John 14:27-31
27Peace 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. 28You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
Those who take Jesus’ words to heart and put them into action will receive his peace as a gift. This peace is something the world around us knows nothing of and could never give. It is a peace which comes from knowing that Jesus is indeed one with the Father, and therefore he is always there to strengthen us with his presence and love. That is why Jesus commands us to not let our hearts be troubled or afraid. The choice is ours.
This peace, however, is no easy thing. It is hard won. Jesus warns that even at that very moment “the ruler of this world” is coming for Jesus through his weak and willing accomplice and the powers that stand behind him. Though the evil one temporarily has a claim on this present world in all its rebellion and brokenness, he has no claim on Jesus. Yet Jesus willingly accepts the path of the cross so that the same world might know that he loves the Father. Jesus tells his disciples all this before it occurs, so that when it does take place they might believe. That is the true source of both our peace and our joy no matter what the outward circumstances of our life may be.
How can you choose not to let your heart be troubled or afraid today?
PRAY
Weekly Collect
Heavenly Father, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you: Look with compassion upon the heartfelt desires of your servants, and purify our disordered affections, that we may behold your eternal glory in the face of Christ Jesus; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.