On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus promised the remaining 11, and by extension, every Christian:
“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.
John 14:27
The peace Jesus brings is positive. It is so positive that it literally can impact the circumstances in which we live. It goes on offense to keep our hearts from swaying throughout life. This is the peace Paul was speaking of in Philippians 4:7: And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Here, it is the peace of God, not peace with God. And again, see how it is aggressive in that it attacks whatever situation we’re in, finding joy through Christ. You can see it in the preceding verses in Philippians 4:
· It fueled the joy Paul expressed in 4:4.
· It was the source of his graciousness in 4:5.
· It was behind the active prayer life referenced in 4:6.
· It is the following through in total confidence in 4:19.
Again, see how Paul’s peace does not come from his circumstances—it existed over them, helping Paul to frame his experiences from a spiritual perspective.
Philippians 4:7 – Peace Serves as a Guard
In this verse, “guard” comes from a military word that means to stand at a post and protect against enemy aggression. Peace stands guard at the door of your heart against the corrosive acid of worry. It stands over our minds, fighting against unworthy and inaccurate thoughts that wreak havoc on them.
What kind of self-talk do you engage in? For many, the ongoing narrative they have with themselves is a collection of lies. I’ll never be good enough. I always fail. I just wasn’t meant to succeed. No one cares about me. I’m alone. No one cares about me or my problems. These thoughts can go on with reckless abandon. And we must take these thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ, 1 Corinthians 10:4-5. Until we do, we will never have peace. This may be one of the avenues where Satan is most effective against us. While he has all sorts of options to attack us from the outside, he renders most of us inactive before we get out the door every morning by all the lies he says through our negative self-talk.
If you want this peace, you must first make peace with God. Once you have that, you experience peace based on faith.
· In your past. You’re not guilty — and stand forgiven, Romans 5:1.
· In your present. You stand by grace, Romans 5:2.
· In your future. You are no longer dominated by fear—your eternal destination has been determined, and your status as a son or daughter of God is never precarious (Romans 5:5).
The Source of Peace
In John 14:27b, Jesus says, My peace I give to you. There is no other source of true peace. No earthly source of peace ever lasts. There is always something over the horizon. But the peace that the Bible speaks of is from God.
· Philippians 4:9 – God is the God of peace.
· Hebrews 7:2 – Jesus is the King of peace.
· Galatians 5:22 – by His fruit, the Spirit produces peace.
True peace comes from God—those without God will not find peace without him. Look again at John 14:27. Jesus gives us peace. How? By the work of the Spirit, 14:23, 27. In John 16:14, the Spirit takes the things of Christ and gives them to us. He brings life, instruction, and peace.
Whose Peace Does Christ bring?
Jesus says he brings my peace. The same peace that filled him as he was mocked, tortured, and killed is given to us. It works. He used it in the greatest battle in the hours leading up to and on the cross. Here, he promises that when he leaves, he will give the Christian this peace. Think of how this peace has helped you:
· Find peace in times of danger.
· Experience calm in trouble.
· Gain freedom from anxiety.
In this way, the peace He brings is aggressive in that it helps us tackle our troubles or challenges. When dealing with the most significant problems, we are well rooted, have a strong foundation, and are like a rock — because we stand on the rock. The peace Jesus possessed was undistracted fearlessness. It was total trust. It was dependence on God. Read John 19 and see how Pilate stood in amazement at Jesus’ disposition during the most extreme circumstances. This is the kind of peace that He supplies you with.
This is not the peace the world gives.
The world does not have peace. It prays for peace ... but searches for it in all the wrong places. The only peace the world offers is an escape from reality. Some try to find it in all the wrong places and wind up wrecking their lives because it never satisfies them. All the trouble comes back — with even more trouble piled up on top— after one is forced to come back to reality the morning after, coming down from the high or having to pay the bill.
The world can’t find peace because it does not know God. It’s not circumstances, family history, or past mistreatment. If a person lacks peace, they have either no or a troubled relationship with God. There is no peace for the wicked, says the Lord (Isaiah 48:22). The only way to make peace is to make peace with God.
The Impact of Peace
Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful, John 14:27c. Peace has been given to you, but you must receive it and apply it to your life. How much do you believe in God? How much will you trust Him? Especially as you think about your future—because this is usually what generates most of your anxiety. Some people struggle with their past, but the future often concerns them the most. So, will we choose to remember that everything is under the care of our God?
This is how peace is to impact your life. Constantly remember:
· He has forgiven your past.
· He is with you in the present.
· He has secured your future.
So, as Jesus says, don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.