Peace Has a Name

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

Peace.

That sounds good. That sounds really good for December 2020.

There are two things we need to know about the peace that Jesus gives.

1. Jesus gives us a peace that is unlike the peace that the world offers – “I do not give to you as the world gives”
2. Jesus gives us a peace that the world is incapable of giving – the part that is translated as “I do not give to you as the world gives” in the Greek literally reads, “Not as the world gives, I give to you.” The sense is that Jesus offers us a peace that the world cannot give, a peace that the world is incapable of giving

Let’s take a look at these two things.

First the peace that Jesus offers is unlike anything that the world can offer. The world’s offer of peace is completely dependent upon circumstances and situations. When things are peaceful, we have peace. When things are not peaceful, we have no peace. Peace is dependent upon situations that are outside of our control.

The peace that Jesus offers is not like that at all. This is the peace that is founded on the bedrock foundation of God’s absolute certainty and love. This is a peace that has already been established through the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is why we’re told in Romans:

“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?…

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?…

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:31-39).

Nothing can steal nor disturb the peace that God offers us. This is a peace that has already been ushered in and purchased by the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Second, Jesus gives us a peace that the world is incapable of giving. Only Jesus can offer us this peace because only Jesus died for sinners. But the tragic thing is we keep looking for peace in this world. We look for peace in finding the right person, the right job, the right home, the right salary, etc.

All these things are transient, temporary, and flighty. They are incapable of giving us peace. In fact, the very temporariness of these things disturbs peace.

Peace is found only in the one who has already made peace a reality by dying on the cross and rising from the dead.

Peace has a name. His name is Jesus Christ. It is when you bow your knee before him, and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior that you too can experience God’s peace.