Today’s passage: 3 John 1:13–14
Focus verse: Peace to you. (3 John 1:14)
John ends his first letter with an abrupt instruction to keep away from idols. In contrast, he wraps up his next two letters with a smoother, more intimate farewell.
To both recipients he expresses his desire to see them in person and tell them more, face to face (see Day 35: Bonus Content).
In his second letter, to the lady chosen by God, John adds greetings from the children of her sister—who is also chosen by God. These would be her nieces and nephews.
In John’s third letter, he again sends greetings and encourages Gaius to likewise greet the friends there. John also simply proclaims a blessing of “Peace to you.”
We’ve already talked about peace in Day 31. There we noted that peace occurs throughout the Old and New Testaments. It’s ironic, however, that peace occurs in every New Testament book except 1 John.
First John aside, let’s look at what else John writes about peace.
Peace occurs five times in the gospel of John, each instance coming from the mouth of Jesus. Our Savior declares peace to us and wants us to experience his peace. This is so affirming.
The first time, just before his betrayal and arrest, he gives his disciples some final instructions. In this address, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”
This isn’t a worldly peace but a spiritual one. Therefore they—and we, along with them—shouldn’t worry or fear (John 14:27).
Next, after telling the disciples what is about to happen, Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.”
Though the world will cause trouble for them—and us—take heart, for Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33). This is a reason to feel his peace.
For the last three times peace occurs, Jesus says the same thing. This happens after he rises from the dead and meets his disciples in resurrected form.
He twice tells them as a group, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19, 21). Then he commissions them to tell others about him.
But Thomas isn’t there. Jesus later appears to him with the same greeting, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:26).
Let’s also consider John’s epic revelation. As John opens the record of his vision, he addresses it to the seven churches, with the words “Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come” (Revelation 1:4).
May we have the peace that Jesus and John proclaim.
Questions:
- Do we have Jesus’s peace in us?
- Do others notice his peace in our lives?
- What does spiritual peace mean to you?
- How can we increase our peace?
- What can we do to promote God’s peace in our world?
Discover more about peace in Luke 2:14, Acts 10:36, Romans 5:1, and Galatians 5:22–23.
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Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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