Those Who Believe That God Exists Will Have Peace - Research Paper Example

22nd May Introduction In the world we leave today difficult moments tend to manipulate the faith of the Christians. Difficult situations that lead to individuals questioning whether God exists have been debated for a longer duration. In the research conducted whether God exists, theologians indicate that God exist, philosophers ponder about it stating that due to misery God does not exist. On the other hand atheist’s state there is no God at all while scientists depicts that biological processes take place for things to happen. This paper aims at discussing that those who believe that God exists will have peace and they will never get afraid. In John 14:27 Jesus Christ announced to the humanity that peace is provided to everyone and it will not be provided as the world provides according to what one have (John 14:27). The verse further states that our hearts should not be troubled and we should never be afraid since one need to call on to him and everything is provided. The purpose of the study to strengthen individual’s faith and never to be afraid or troubled since God exists to cater for each and everyone needs. God provides abundantly for those who believe that He exists.   Summary of the passage Worldly pressures make individuals to forget that God is the provider of everything for those who believe that God exists. Jesus Christ as He ascended to heaven, declared that He give us his peace that can never be provided by the world. After that, individuals were warned never to make their hearts troubled or to be afraid. It only implies that all the burdens should be casted on to Him. He knows one’s future, and no one should feel desperate. The verse goes in hand with Isaiah 4:10 which warn individuals not to fear since the Lord is with us and thus never be dismayed for ‘I am your God”. He is there to strengthen us and to help people seeking His assistance. Worldly pressures and challenges keep on recurring which sometimes makes us question whether God really exist. Isaiah is strengthening Christians never to be dismayed since faith Moves Mountains and thus God created us with His image. Troubles and challenges were as a result of Adam and Eve after they ate the fruit of forbidden tree. Though God had warned them Eve being a weaker sex was compromised by the serpent and up to date challenges exists. God understanding human weakness John was inspired to write the book and thus encouraging those who have lost faith. Peace when prevailed gives one the strength to bear the pain, and thus one cannot be afraid and troubled since there is God who is the provider. When Jesus Christ had not ascended to heaven according to John 16:33, he declared that in him the world has peace. In the world, trouble is experienced and thus the reason he was sent on the earth to experience the pain that an individual undergoes. We are strengthened to take heart since Jesus Christ had already overcome the world challenges. Individuals are supposed to have peace of mind since Jesus Christ overcome the world and thus one should not be troubled (Hill 56). After dying on the cross, all our sins were cleansed and thus one should not be afraid since the Savior died for us. Historical context The author of the book is John, who was among the disciples of Jesus Christ. The encouragement comes after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. John wrote the book to give the Christians hope and other disciples who were troubled that their king or Messiah was killed, and thus they would follow the same fate. Jesus Christ strengthens them through the Holy Spirit and thus inspired to write the books and continue with the work of God. Through the Holy Spirit, peace was prevailed in the room they had closed based on the fact that they feared that Herod and those who were in leadership wanted to kill them. The main persons are the disciples of Jesus Christ after the resurrection (Daniel 46). John is among the other disciples who had met at Jerusalem where they are consoled not to be afraid, that peace to prevail among them. The main event that is celebrated is the resurrection of Jesus Christ since Christian faith is strengthened. The prophecy in the Old Testament came to reality and indicated the foundation of Christian faith. The prophecy dates the time of Isaiah and John the Baptist who had prophesied about the coming of the Messiah. The book was written in A.D. when Jerusalem was being destroyed John had to strengthen the Christians to be peaceful and never to be troubled or be afraid. Literary context and genre The immediate context of the verse is seen at the start of the chapter when Jesus comforts his disciples. He tells them not to let their hearts be troubled but trust in God and trust on to Him. He strengthens them that He is going to prepare a place for them, and when He will be coming back He will take them. In the same chapter, He promises them the Holy Spirit, who is going to be the helper. In the next chapter, John talks about the vine and the branches. Jesus is the true vine and his father the gardener. When a tree does not bear fruits, it should be pruned so that it can bear fruits. When the word of God is spoken of the Christians, they are clean and thus they should remain in him so that He will remain with you. In the larger context of the verse, it strengthens all individuals who are in misery never to worry since when one cast his burden on God He provides and rewards those who have faith in Him. The prophecy of the Isaiah and John the Baptist came to reality. For example, John the Baptist prepared the way for the Christ in the wilderness. John the Baptist used to Baptist people with water but who was to come was to use fire. On the other had Isaiah prophesied about the suffering servant of the Lord who was to be the sacrificial lamb. The Messiah prophesied that his own people would reject him, and He would die for our sins (Bauckham 36). The Messiah would be accused, but the servant of God will be silent, He would die and then be buried in a tomb that belonged to a rich man and He would be despised and born by Virgin Mary among others issues. In the time of John the Baptist and in the time of Moses in the Old Testament law had to be followed and even the New Testament the same law applies. John and James were brothers and they were sons of Zebedee. The mother was Salome, and the sons were the fishermen’s. Zebedee was a fisherman, and his sons become the fishers of men. When Jesus started preaching He came along the river and when He met John and James, and they decided to follow Jesus Christ. The genre of the text is a prophecy that came to pass and up to date it strengthens the Christian faith. The prophecy of the Old Testament has come to reality in the New Testament. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christian faith is strengthened which makes individuals be aware that God exist. Christians should not be afraid or be troubled since through players and trust God rewards. The Holy Spirit, who was left as a helper, strengthens individuals in time of trouble that implies that Christians are never lonely even after the death of the Messiah. Christians are encouraged to be peaceful even in difficult times since the helper is within us and thus never to be afraid. Everyone who obeys the Messiah obeys the Father, and His Father will love him. Literary structure One of the most notable aspects that the verse covers is about peace. Jesus indicates that peace that He leaves to be with people is different from the peace that the world gives to the people. In this regard, the repetition of the word peace in the verse creates an emphasis that makes the reader to have stronger connection with the verse. The connection between the sentences in the verse which is made clear through the use of commas, full stops and semicolons, is strong. Additionally, the sentences are clear an aspect that makes the bible readers to have a more understanding of the message that Jesus gives in the verse (Martin 46). The verse also provides a promise once individuals emulate the peace that Jesus Christ leaves to them. For example, it indicates that those who will adopt peace will rejoice and there is no need of being afraid. In their efforts to create strong awareness of the importance of the verse among modern Christians, parallel versus have emerged from various sources. For instance, while the verse indicates that ‘my peace I give to you; not as the world gives you, the new international version states that my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Other parallels that have emerged covering the same message includes new living translation, King James Bible, international standard version, Holman Christian Standard Bible and New American Standard Bible among others. The aspect of chiasm in the verse is indicated in the way it use the word you as the way of indicating how people will benefit from the peace that Jesus leaves to them. In addition the pattern that starts from the statement peace I leave with you to the statement that Father is greater than I, depicts a good flow that leaves the Bible readers to comprehend the information being given by the verse. Grammatical study The most important issue that the verse covers is peace. This entails the state of harmony among the social groups around the world that is portrayed by lack of violence and conflicts among members of the society. Worldly peace is achieved through reconciliation and solving of problems not only through peaceful means but also in courts of law. However, the peace that is portrayed by this verse is a different one since it touches on heart and it only comes from Jesus Christ. The word peace is continuously repeated in the verse as well as in the parallel verses. The use of commas in the verse creates strong connection among the parts of the verse an issue that make it to have an attractive rhythm. In the verse, the word Father is unique since it is not used to refer to the common father that we have, but it stand for God. The accent being provided by the verse is unique due to the repeated use of the vowel ‘o’, ‘e’ and ‘a’. Theology and message/ homiletics John 14:27 shows comparison of the worldly and Godly peace. While worldly peace is contributed by people through reconciliation as a result of war and political violence, the peace that Jesus indicates in the verse if free and does not involve any reconciliation. The verse indicates that we should not be fearful or troubled. Another major issue that is covered by the verse and which makes us to have confidence in day to day activities is that once we adopt the peace that Jesus Christ gives us, He will come to us. The difference that emerges between the peace that the world provides and the one that Jesus Christ gives us is that the latter is permanent while the former may be short term (Martin 23). In addition, the verse clearly indicate that peace that makes us to rejoice comes from the Father who control everything in the universe. In the contemporary world, the verse is relevant since it covers important aspects that can make us to stay peacefully as individuals and families. Given the challenges that we face in our families and individuals which ranges from sickness to discrimination, we are exposed to fear that can deteriorate the issues. John 14:27 promises us not to fear and not to be troubled. Thus, the verse gives us hope that comes from God. Another issue that is covered by the verse and which is essential is that, Father (God) is greater than Jesus and the peace that is given by Jesus comes from the Father. This implies that we will highly benefit once we emulate the peace that Jesus Christ provides to us. Summary and conclusion Despite the views of theologians, scientists and atheists regarding God, Christians have full confidence on Jesus Christ. John 14:27 is a verse that indicates the sustainable peace from God and which will make our heart to be in peace. Even if it was written many years back, the verse is still relevant today. Being also supported by Isaiah 4: 10, the verse by John the Baptist promise individuals joy once they emulate the peace that Jesus Christ gives the world. The historical context of the verse can be traced back during the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is worth to note that despite the long period the verse has existing, it has strong impact on Christians. Prophesy of John and Isaiah was one of the major issues that Christians value to date. This is based on the fact that it included direct words from Jesus and it involved Godly promises. The literary structure that includes use of repetitions and parallels makes the verse to be comprehensible by the readers. The use of rhetoric and simple play words like peace and you also make the verse to be easily understood. As we face off day to day challenges, we should emulate the peace in order to rejoice as promised by Jesus through the verse. In this way, we will also create global peace that in needed in the current times. Works Cited Bauckham, R. The Testimony of the Beloved Disciple: Narrative, History, and Theology in the Gospel of John. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007. Print Daniel, K.The Gospel of Peace of Jesus Christ by the Disciple John. Essex, England, 2005. Print. Hill, E. The Johannine Corpus in the Early Church. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. Print John 14:27. The Gospel According to St John. Available from https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/14.27 Martin C. Thinking about Peace and War. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987.Print. Martin, C. The Origins of War Prevention: The British Peace Movement and International Relations, 1730-1854. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996. Print. Read More