“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.”
John 14:27
Peace is a difficult thing because it is deceptively simple. The first definition for “peace” in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is “a state of tranquility or quiet.” This idea of peace is defined by a mere six words. Yet to many of us, these words feel weighty, complicated, burdensome, and often, unattainable.
How many of us truly experience the state of being tranquil or quiet in our daily lives? We are constantly inundated with noise and busyness around us. Even when we sit in silence, our minds are often filled with disruption: anxiety over workplace tensions, the replaying of our spouses’ tone of disappointment, the neverending mental list of things to do, the nervous voice of our conscience reminding us of the things we should be ashamed of.
Perhaps the noise in our minds often grips us because we are not looking for peace in the right places or ways. We seek reprieve in whatever we think will immediately remove the sources of chaos in our lives. We cut off relationships, take vacations, avoid disagreements, or even do as much good as possible to silence our consciences.
Similarly, we find that when faced with turmoil and geopolitical fears, the Israelites look for immediate and physical answers to their problems. They desire their foes be put down and for their nation to be spared from collapse. However, God’s answer to Judah, and to us, is not the change of our circumstances. Judah is not told that they will promptly be spared from international powers. Instead, they are given a word that the Messiah shall come and be called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). God’s answer to his people both then and now is the person of Jesus Christ.
When sin entered the world, our biggest problem became our standing before God, our maker, judge, and ruler. We became enemies of God. We, who were created to be image bearers, servants, and worshipers of God, were faced with a chasm so wide that it destroyed our purpose and ability to function as we should. This chasm is what strips us of peace. It grips us in fear of our standing before a holy God, leaves us unsure of ourselves in this world, breaks our ability to love other people, and robs us of contentment in God alone. The depth of this chasm is reflected in the corruption, violence, and injustice that is so visible to us and to Judah. We can never bridge this chasm on our own; our sin deems us unholy and makes peace unattainable.
Yet Jesus Christ, through his atoning work on the cross, removes the space between us and God and invites us to experience his peace. His peace is not like that of the world; it is not dependent on situations or fallible humans. His peace is secure in a forgiveness that can never be taken away or changed. His peace is guaranteed to us through the Holy Spirit and brings us back to a place of purpose, belonging, and security in our Father. His peace is the sanctifying work in our hearts that heals relationships and allows us to live harmoniously with the people and world around us. His peace is the unchanging promise that no matter what happens in this lifetime, we will be in eternity with the one our soul longs for. His peace is the fact that Christ rules this world and that one day, all things will be made new and just, with all peoples bowing their knees before him.
Judah thought they needed an immediate rescue from their enemies, but God promised them a greater peace that would come in the person of Jesus. As you meditate this Advent season, consider how you are also tempted to look to something or someone else for peace. Could God be reminding you that you already have your source of ultimate peace? May you drink from the riches of the gospel that remind you of all the ways in which Jesus gives us his peace as you consider his coming this season.
- How does knowing Christ as the Prince of Peace impact the way you share Christ with your unbelieving friends and family members?
- What are the areas of your life that cause the most internal chaos or stress for you? How can the gospel speak into those areas and help you experience Christ’s peace regardless of your circumstances?
To view this piece in a magazine format, click here. This rounds out our last Advent devotional for this year, and you can find last week’s here.
Photo Credit: Alec Favale