Peace

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” – John 14:27

Hey March…how about a mulligan?

It’s astonishing how much our world has changed in a matter of weeks. February seems like lifetimes ago. Peace sounds really good right about now.

We typically think of peace as the absence of turmoil, strife, and suffering. But that’s not the peace Jesus is talking about.

The peace Jesus offers us is the ability to experience peace in the midst of turmoil, strife, and suffering. It is a peace that surpasses human understanding. It is a peace this world cannot offer because nothing in this world has defeated sin and death. Only Jesus has. It is a peace only the risen Christ can offer.

It is worth noting that when Jesus spoke these words to the disciples, it was after the Last Supper and after Jesus washed his disciples feet. Jesus spoke these words hours before he was crucified. Jesus was modeling the peace he was offering.

Finally, it should be noted that the peace Jesus offers is not a feeling. It is a choice. Jesus commands “Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” These are imperatives in the Greek. He orders us to not be troubled in troubling times, and not to be afraid in fearful times. How can we do that? We have to choose the peace Jesus offers.

I am glad this is the peace Jesus offers us because the world I live in has more than its share of turmoil, strife, and suffering.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”

Thank you Jesus!