What Is Peace?

“What Is Peace?”

John 14:23-27

A man in a morning exercise group I am involved in asked for prayer for his daughter.

He and his wife haven’t seen nor heard from her in 8 months.

Apparently, she suffers from drug and alcohol addiction.

He asked that we pray that she turn to Jesus…

…That she give her life over to Jesus Christ.

This is what he believes will save her, restore her to her right mind, give her peace and bring her back to them.

He prays for this because he has experienced the peace of Christ in his own life and has seen it transform the lives of others.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is sometimes referred to as “The Gerasene Demoniac” or “Jesus restores a Demon Possessed Man.”

It’s about a very troubled man who lives naked among the tombs in a graveyard.

He cuts himself with stones and terrifies the people because he is completely out of his mind and unpredictable.

Jesus comes along, heals him and the next day we find him sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and I’m quoting from Mark 5:15: “in his right mind.”

He then begs to stay with Jesus and follow Him wherever He goes.

It never fails to amaze me how a relationship with Jesus Christ reaches across the boundaries of race, socio-economic class, intellectual capabilities, and educational status and brings peace to all who experience it.

I know wealthy, well-educated doctors and scientists who have experienced peace of mind and transformation of life through a relationship with Christ.

I also know folks on the margins and in very difficult circumstances who know the same peace through the same Savior.

Our human need for Christ knows no bounds.

I am convinced that we all need Jesus.

And our souls will never be at rest until we find rest in Christ.

Nearly all the speakers who come to give their testimonies at our Wednesday Evening First Recovery Meetings every week, have found that a relationship with God through Christ is the key to their ability to stay off drugs and alcohol and get their lives together.

The Apostle Paul talked about “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,” guarding our hearts and minds “in Christ Jesus.”

And then he encourages us to focus our minds on: whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, and anything that is excellent or praiseworthy.

And the God of peace will be with us.

Recently, I decided to stop looking at Facebook because the angry rants, fights over politics and put downs were bringing unrest to my soul.

I am able to focus more on the good things. It has made a positive difference.

No matter what the world might say, there really is something to having a relationship with Jesus Christ, and continuing to cultivate that relationship through action, love, service to others, worship, prayer and I could go on and on.

In our Gospel Lesson for this morning from John Chapter 14 Jesus is preparing His disciples for the time when He will no longer be with them physically.

It is the night of His arrest.

Judas has already left to tell the authorities where they can find Him.

Soon He will be falsely accused, mocked, spit upon, tortured and left to die an unimaginably painful death while nailed to a cross.

In the face of all this Jesus instructs His followers to obey His teachings, and He promises that after He is gone God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit will come and make their home in them.

And if they remain in God as God remains in them they will have the strength to face every trial this life can throw their way.

“Peace I leave with you;” Jesus promises, “my peace I give you.

I do not give as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Peace.

This is Jesus’ parting gift on the night before His execution.

“I do not give as the world gives,” Jesus promises.

The world gives us simple beauties: the full moon on an early morning, the feeling of a loved one’s hand in ours, a strong cup of coffee before a day of work.

But so often, the world gives trouble, disappointment, and fleeting relationships with people who hurt us or leave us.

“The Message” paraphrase of the Bible says it this way: “I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft.”

Yes.

Jesus tells His huddled followers, and Jesus tells us that He does not give as the world gives.

He does not leave us the way we are used to being left.

Instead, He offers us the gift of peace.