The peace of Christ Jesus is the only thing we need in this life and hereafter. Were it not so, Jesus wouldn’t have said in John 14: 27, peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Jesus referred to two type of peace, (1) peace from the world; and (2) peace from him.
The distinction
Jesus implied that his peace calms troubled hearts and fear without exception. The peace from Christ Jesus, also called inner peace, transcends the material world and continues after death; it gratifies primarily the soul and spirit; it is eternal or everlasting; and comes by God through Christ Jesus and his Holy Spirit. On the contrary, peace from the world, also called material comfort, is limited to this world; it gratifies only the body; it is temporary and subject to human efforts though every good thing comes from God.
Whilst peace from the world is oblivious of a relationship with God through Christ Jesus and his Holy Spirit, the peace from Christ Jesus is grounded on righteousness from a relationship with God. The peace of Christ Jesus bequests one of God’s most priced offers for us. Jesus when he sent his disciples on a mission said in Matthew 10: 13, if the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. This implies that not everyone can have his peace but those he favours. His angels said at his birth in Luke 2: 14, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”
The way to peace from Christ Jesus
Christ Jesus showed us how to attain his peace. It involves knowing (a) the right way; (b) the truth about his peace; and (c) having life that brings his peace. All three conditions are embodied in Christ Jesus. He said in John 14: 6, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. In other words, no one can know his peace without knowing him personally.
Jesus is the way to peace
Only Christ Jesus knows the Father as he said in John 10: 30, I and the Father are one. He is the peace of God and the only way to that peace. When our way gets dart, Jesus becomes the light to show us the way as he has assured us in John 8: 12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus’ peace overwhelms the darkness that clouds our way.
Jesus is the truth about peace
The truth of God restores our peace and calms our fears. Jesus said of himself in John 11: 25, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. This fact that life in Christ Jesus is everlasting in righteous living is assuring enough to alley our fears; and to restore our peace now and in eternity. Revelation 1: 18 says, I am the Living One; I was dead and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I have the keys to death and Hades. Accepting Jesus’ words restores his peace to us.
Jesus is the life-line to peace
Many have comfort yet without peace. Only God gives peace through Christ Jesus. John 1: 3 says, through him all things were made, without him nothing was made that has been made. We are counted as dead without the peace of Christ Jesus. Life is given to those who know him as he said in John 10: 14, I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. Aside Christ Jesus, there is no peace anywhere. Jesus stated two conditions in John 15: 4-5, remain in me, as I also remain in you… apart from me you can do nothing. The caveat is to remain in him; or to vacate and lose everything.
Jesus assures this peace
Jesus assured us of his eternal peace. He said in Matthew 11: 28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. The nature of our burdens is primarily the absence of divine peace from Christ Jesus. We may be sick or needy or powerless yet be indomitable with the peace of Christ Jesus. Having tasted the peace of God, David said in Psalms 55: 22, cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
To David, the righteous will have the peace of God because they will be sustained so not be shaken. He affirms the condition precedent to peace as righteousness. Sometimes doubts rob our peace from us but Jeremiah 32: 27 says, see, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me? Jesus assured us in John 14: 19, because I live, you also will live. Those alive to the world are dead in Christ Jesus whilst those dead to the world are alive in Christ Jesus with his eternal peace. Do we have the peace of God?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, let your peace which you gave to the world enrich our hearts and minds as we abide in righteousness. May your peace placate our fears and sorrows. Preserve us in your peace under the shadow of God Almighty. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
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