Ministry of Love

The intention of this blog is to share Biblical messages at least on a weekly basis. Any response is appreciated. I do not expect everyone to agree with my interpretation of Biblical passages. I will try to respond with love and thoughtfulness.

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

What is peace? John 14:27, by John.

Ever so often someone asks, "What is peace?" Generally there are a few moments of silence before someone says, "The absence of war." Several comments may be made, such as "To be in agreement," or to be content as you are," and these are true, but they are not real definitions. They represent one phase of what we call peace. Jesus according to John 14:27 said, "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." (NIV)

That gives a wonderful perspective of what peace is. It's not anything given by the world we live in. National peace is an absence of war. Personal inner peace is something that a person can have in the midst of war and other kinds of turmoil and trouble; so, peace is much more than a negative concept of a positive reality. Philippians 4:7 says, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Whatever peace is, it is obviously something our human race really needs!

The phonetically spelled New Testament Greek word for peace is "eye-RAY-nay" which has been made into personal names in several languages. Ours is Irene transliterated from Greek. Irenic is an adjective usually used to describe a very peaceful scene or time. Tranquility might frequently be a good synonym for peace. "Roman peace" is a term used to describe the peace that came to people after being conquered and ruled by the Roman Empire.

The word for used for peace in the Hebrew Old Testament is phonetically "sha-LOME, and was used as a word of both greeting and parting. No matter how we try, we have to keep coming back to Jesus as the Author of peace. God is the only one who can give real, lasting peace to an individual, and nations are communities of individuals. Since nowhere in the Bible does it say, "Peace is," we have to look beyond ordinary definitions. Jesus is the example, and without examining His entire life on earth, there is no hope for a definition. Peace is a concept, which I believe is impossible for anyone who has not met, and given his life to, Jesus to understand. Because of that, we cannot define the word for them at all. We can just describe it, and tell the world that Jesus provides it.

Briefly consider these thoughts: First, Jesus always did the will of His Father in heaven. There was and still is peace between them. No one deliberately disobedient has real peace. Second, He constantly conquered His environment. I don't mean to say He brought it under His control. I mean He lived successfully with it as it was. He was always at peace whether He had a place to lay His head in rest, or not, whether things were as He liked them, or not. Having, or not having, food is always a problem for us, and hunger apparently did not please Him either. He cursed a fig tree for not having any fruit even though it was not fruit-bearing season. It did not cost Him His peace. He endured all the suffering the Jews and Romans could put on Him, but kept His peace. He was angry with those who sold merchandise for a profit within the temple court, He cast them out, overturning their tables, and wielded a whip in the process. Only God can dispense such correction without losing His peace, I believe.

Third, He kept His peace when people let Him down. Judas Iscariot is the prime example. He was with Jesus, enjoyed His presence, ate with Him, did all of the things the other disciples did, even held their treasury, but Judas betrayed Him. Jesus did not lose His peace. At the last supper, He dipped a piece of bread into His own bowl, gave it to Judas and sent him on to finish his beatrayal.

The above are just a few examples. Jesus always considered His Father's will before He said or did anything. Perhaps somewhere in all of that wonderful life He lived on earth lies an answer to what peace is. Thankfully, we don't have to define it. Every person who gives his or her life to Jesus in simple faith receives from Jesus the gift of His Own peace. There is no other like it, and no one else can provide it. It is ours to enjoy and appreciate whether we can define it, on not. It's part of the wonder of being Christian!

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