Peace
Jesus comforts his disciples with the gift of peace after warning them that he will go away “for a little while.” They don’t fully comprehend what will happen in the next 24 hours, but Jesus knows.
Undoubtedly, the disciples felt anxiety, confusion, and other difficult emotions after watching Jesus be wrongfully accused and crucified. I wonder if any of them remembered his gift of peace in the middle of what must have seemed like their darkest moments.
The gift of peace was not only promised to the disciples, but to us as well. The world is filled with confusion and so much to worry about, but Jesus’s gift of peace is still available. It’s normal to feel anxious; even Jesus had moments of extreme anxiety (Matthew 26:36–46). Even so, Jesus moved forward with peace in his heart. I think Jesus chose to hold on to peace, despite the trouble awaiting him. His deep trust in His Father aided him in His darkest moment, giving Him strength. We have access to this peace because Jesus says it is His gift to us. When anxiety fills our hearts, may we reach for the gift of peace available through Christ Jesus.