“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27 ESV).
The peace that Jesus gives is true and real peace. It is not only a true cessation of hostility between God and man, but a real sense of well-being and serenity of soul. For Christ’s peace comes in a Person. For the peace that Jesus gives, abides in believers by the indwelling of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, which the Father has sent in the name of Jesus.
The peace of Christ is not as the “world” gives. For the people of the Middle East and other parts of the world offer their words of “shalom” and “salam,” which are the Hebrew and Arabic words for “peace.” Its salutations and benedictions are generally matters of custom and polite ceremony and as such are nothing more than empty wishes or expressions of a thoughtless habit. And even they say it with real intent, what power or authority do they have to procure it for themselves or to distribute it to others?
Yet Jesus has procured peace with God for us through His sacrificial death on the cross. As the apostle Paul told the Ephesians, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace” (Eph. 2:13-14). Jesus is our peace.
Jesus is able to distribute His peace, His shalom, to us by abiding in us by His Spirit. It is this peace of Christ that calms our troubled and fearful hearts. According to Strong’s Concordance, true “shalom” means “completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.” This is the peace that Jesus offers. He doesn’t offer this peace as the world does. His peace is perfect and eternal. Those that receive His peace have put away worry and fear.
PRAYER: Dear Father, fill us afresh this day with the peace of Christ. Help us to abide in Him. For we are often troubled and afraid. We worry and we doubt. Help us to see these as signs that we are not abiding. Fill us afresh by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.