The Best Peace in the World
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 let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Today is Mother’s Day, and a warm greeting to all who are mothers celebrating this special day. I like holidays like Mother’s Day, except for one thing – finding a good Mother’s Day card. After Christmas and Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day is the third most popular occasion to buy a greeting card.
Do you like looking for greeting cards? Statistics show that 80% of all greeting cards are bought by women. I wonder if it’s because men aren’t good at finding greeting cards. I know I’m not. I stand in the aisle at Walgreens, a lot of the cards are too sappy, too many words. These cards over here don’t say enough. These cards over here are too juvenile – I can’t give my mom a card that has a picture of Mickey Mouse on it. Finally, as the employees at Walgreens turn off the lights in the store and stare at me, I pick a card that’s not exactly what I want, but close enough.
Millions of people in the world are searching every day for something, and it’s more important than a Mother’s Day card. It’s peace. Where can I find peace in my life? For some, it’s a life-long search that’s never successful – trying to find peace. Do you have peace in your life? Today we’re going to talk about how Jesus gives his special kind of peace to you. It’s the kind of peace that will satisfy you, make you content in your life, no matter what your earthly circumstances might be.
Jesus talks about his kind of peace in John 14. Do you remember what was happening in John 14? It was the moment right before Jesus was arrested. The disciples were troubled. They felt very uncertain about the future, because Jesus was telling them that he was about to leave them. They were upset, nervous, uncomfortable. And then Jesus told them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.”
What is it that troubles you? What is it, that causes you to not sleep at night? What is it, that makes you worry? The disciples felt very uncertain about the future. How do you feel about your future? Different things trouble different people. A loved one is sick or suffering – the future is uncertain. I have a friend who is trying to find a job – the future is uncertain for him. I have a family member who has health problems, and her kids have health problems, and every day is a struggle and every night is a struggle, and the future is uncertain. What about you?
Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts, be troubled, and do not be afraid.” In another part of the Bible, Jesus says, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Jesus tells us that he is where you can find peace in your life.
Sometimes we look elsewhere for peace. We look for peace at home as we try just about anything – herbal supplements, sleeping aids, meditation – trying to relax and find peace.
We enter counseling to find peace within ourselves and with one another. We read books, we read advice columns in newspapers. We keep looking and looking.
Jesus today tells us in his Word to look to him. “I do not give to you as the world gives,” Jesus says. The peace he gives lasts longer, and satisfies more deeply, than anything you can find in this world. When the human soul feels troubled by an uncertain future, and cries out for peace, Jesus says, “My peace I give to you.”
What is it about a mother, that sometimes she is the only one that can truly calm a crying baby. I’ve seen this happen many times in our house. The baby is crying – and I try everything to calm the baby. I want to give the baby PEACE. Maybe the baby is hungry. No. Maybe the baby is thirsty. No. Maybe the baby needs the diaper changed. No. Maybe the baby is tired, and needs to be put in her crib. No. Does she need a toy? Why is this baby so troubled? Nothing works! What does this baby need? My wife comes around the corner, takes our daughter out of my arms, and finally, the baby is calm. She is at peace. Her restless soul wanted her mother.
Where does restless soul ultimately find peace? Only in Jesus Christ. Only he can truly calm the troubled heart. This is why Jesus came into the world in the first place. “Peace on earth,” the angels sang when he was born. Jesus came to bring peace between a pure and holy God and the sinful human race. How did Jesus do that? He placed upon himself the sin of all mankind, and carried that sin to the cross. And there on that cross where Jesus was crucified, he experienced the opposite of peace. He experienced the punishment that you and I deserved for all of our sins. He died on that cross for you and me, so that we could have peace.
Do you know what peace is? It’s not the absence of sin. It’s the forgiveness of sin. God loves you and forgives you every day for all of your sins, because Jesus died for you. You never have to feel like God hates you or is punishing you. Jesus died for all of that. There is peace between you and God.
Peace is not the absence of death in this world. Peace is having the sure hope of eternal life. Peace is believing that “whoever lives and believes in Jesus will never die.” Peace is believing that there is a mansion in heaven with your name on it. It’s believing in the “resurrection and the life.” Do you have that kind of peace?
Peace is not the absence of trouble in this world. It’s the presence of Christ. It’s believing that Jesus is with you always. Jesus is my strength when I feel weak. My shelter. My wisdom. The one who works all things for good. My peace, I give to you, Jesus says.
I saw great illustration of peace a couple months ago. I don’t remember where I saw this picture – maybe Time magazine or something like that. There were pictures of the devastation in Haiti. Remember that earthquake that took place a few months ago? There was one picture where everything was a disaster – buildings had fallen down, fire and smoke were in the background, people were lying on the ground, some of them with obvious injuries – all of these things were in the picture.
But there, right in the middle of the picture, was a mom, and she was holding her little child, and the little child was resting on her mother’s shoulder, arms around her mother. The child didn’t look scared. The child looked peaceful. In the midst of all that trouble, there was peace.
Remember what Jesus said: “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” We cling to Jesus, and there we find our peace. “My peace I give to you,” Jesus says. “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.”
He is the Prince of Peace. He has taken your sins away. He has promised you eternal life. He has promised to be with you always. This is the peace that Jesus gives to you. Amen.
