The peace of Christ
Jesus said: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27
Peace is critically important for all of us. It has said that with peace of mind, a poor person is rich and, without it, a rich person is poor. The Bible tells us that Jesus was the Prince of Peace, and his intention was to offer his peace to everyone. But unfortunately, in our broken and tempestuous world, the word ‘peace’ tends to be seen negatively, or as merely the absence of war and conflict. When we look at the peace of Jesus, we need to tune our minds into thinking differently. Peace is the Lord’s gift to all who open their hearts and minds to him.
Peace treaties are certainly impressive achievements, and they are often the result of many hours (sometimes years!) of careful negotiation. The Good Friday Agreement, signed in 1998, was far from perfect. Yet it has led to a period of much greater peace in Ireland and Northern Ireland. However, the peace that Christ makes available to us is quite different. It isn’t something which we can achieve by clever negotiation and hard work. It is simply a gift. And because it comes from God, the world is powerless to take it away from us.
The Hebrew word for peace is shalom, and there can be no doubt that the richness of that word was in Jesus’ mind when he spoke these verses. Peace is something which touches every part of our life. When we know God’s presence, it affects our health, our relationships and brings a richness to community life. Peace might sound a very personal – or even private experience – but when we receive the peace of Christ, every aspect of our lives is blessed and enhanced by it. What a wonderful parting gift for Jesus to his disciples, at a time when their world was just about to be turned upside down.
QUESTION
In what ways are you aware of the peace of Christ in your life?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for offering me your gift of peace. Help me to allow it to transform every part of my life. Amen