Today’s reading is from 181:0-1. These passages consist of the farewell discourse of Yeshua to his disciples, particularly the eleven apostles, as he prepared to leave them. Yeshua first engages in an informal visit with his disciples, recounting various experiences that concern them individually and as a group. The realization that Yeshua is about to leave them is beginning to dawn upon the disciples, and they are holding onto the promise that he will return after a little while. There is a hint that some of them might have misunderstood the nature of this return, thinking it to be a brief visit with the Father before establishing the long-awaited kingdom.
In the subsequent part of the discourse, Yeshua imparts his final admonitions and warnings. He speaks about the transformation that will occur after his departure. While physically present, he could only be in one place at a time, but after being delivered from his mortal nature, he promises to return as a spiritual indweller in each believer. This spiritual incarnation is to guide them through life and the realms of the future, emphasizing that the journey in the Father’s eternal creation is a ceaseless progression in grace, truth, and glory.
Yeshua advises his disciples to focus on living in accordance with the spirit of his teachings and the ideal of his life, rather than attempting to imitate his natural life in the flesh. He assures them that, despite the challenges and tribulations they will face, they should find comfort in the fact that he has overcome the world. His impending departure is not a cause for fear, as he promises to return for a little while and send a new teacher, the Spirit of Truth, to be with them.
The peace that Yeshua imparts is distinguished from the joys and satisfactions of the material world. It’s not the stoic resolution to face the inevitable or the optimistic longing for an elusive peace. Instead, it’s the deeply ingrained peace of a God-knowing individual who has come wholeheartedly in compliance with the will of the Universal Father. This peace stems from an absolute faith in the wise and sympathetic overcare of the Father. Yeshua, despite knowing the challenges that awaited him, was unafraid, determined, and devoted to his mission. He encourages his disciples to embrace this same peace, assuring them that their hearts need not be troubled or afraid.
Yeshua’s comforting and instructive words to his disciples helped to prepare them for his imminent departure while assuring them of his continued presence through the spiritual indwelling and the coming of the Spirit of Truth. The peace he offers is rooted in an unwavering faith in the Universal Father and the assurance that one’s life, both in time and eternity, is in the care of an all-wise, all-loving, and all-powerful spirit.
(lp)