What is Biblical Peace?

Lesson #234

Try to put yourself in the disciples’ place. What Jesus is telling them and doing is so radically different than what they have experienced or been taught by their Jewish teachers. Jesus tells them about things that will happen and about things they will not understand until later. They don’t know what to think or how it will finally impact them. This is not unlike many nonbelievers today. Without the indwelling Holy Spirit, they are unable to understand many spiritual concepts found in the Bible. We must be careful not to be too harsh with the disciples, because they have much to learn and experience yet.

Jesus continues to say to them: “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). “Peace I leave with you” is a Jewish form of salutation and benediction. Jesus desires that they experience peace now and after he leaves. The expression “peace” used by Jesus had a much richer connotation that the English word does since it conveyed not merely the absence of conflict and turmoil but also the notion of positive blessing, especially in terms of a right relationship with God. For example: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24 – 26 ESV). Also, “The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace” (Psalm 29:11 NKJV). This peace will manifest itself most clearly in the midst of persecution and tribulation from the world. Remember what Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18 – 19 NKJV). Later in our study, Jesus will say, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 ESV). This peace Jesus speaks of is testified of by people currently experiencing persecution in various parts of the world.

The Jews offer empty wishes and the people of the world offer empty compliments, but to the followers of Jesus he gives peace, procures it, preserves it, and establishes it. He is the author, prince, promoter, and keeper of peace. The disciples, and we, are to focus on this and not let our hearts shrink back through fear of any approaching evil. Jesus wants his disciples to understand that this approaching evil will only fall on him, and this evil he is to endure will result in comfort and salvation for them and for us, and in the redemption of a lost world.

Jesus continues to tell them: “You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I” (John 14:28 ESV). Jesus is going away from them through his death and he will come to them by his resurrection. I don’t think there is any question that the disciples loved Jesus, but Jesus was implying that they didn’t have a proper view of him as their Messiah, were still influenced by various Jewish prejudices, and lacked confidence in what he was telling them. If they really understood his mission, they would rejoice because of the benefits they would receive in the person of the Holy Spirit.

What is the meaning of “the Father is greater than I?” Over and over again Jesus has told the disciples that he was sent by his Father. The one who sends is considered greater than the one sent. In this sense, the Father is greater than Jesus, but in terms of the Godhead the Son is equal to the Father.

Prayer

Father as I think of this peace that Jesus gives I am reminded that Paul tells us to “let the peace of Christ rule in [our] hearts, to which indeed [we] were called in one body. And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15 ESV). It is so easy to let other things take over our hearts and as a result we wonder why we experience so much tribulation in our lives. Father, we need to get our priorities straight and let the peace of God rule our hearts because that peace surpasses all understanding and it will guard our hearts and our minds (Philippians 4:7).