What Kind of Peace Do You Seek?

Ask any group of people what their one wish is for the world and I’m sure half of them would say it is peace. I checked out a site online that posed that question. Eleven of the 21 replies were related to peace. I suspect that is typical. It doesn’t matter what country people live in, what nationality they are, or what season of the year it is. People worldwide long for peace.

We desire peace in all arenas.  In the world, we want wars to cease. In our country, we want government leaders to work together. In our communities, we want riots in our streets to end. In the workplace, we want co-workers to stop bickering. In our extended families, we want civil conversations around the dinner table. In our homes, we want our children to share their toys.

These outward manifestations of peace are not bad things to desire or work toward. Paul tells us to pursue peace (2 Timothy 2:22). Peter said, “¹⁰Whoever would love life and see good days . . . ¹¹must seek peace and pursue it” (1Peter 3:10-11). In Hebrews, we are admonished to “make every effort to live in peace with all men” (Hebrews 12:14). And Paul informs us that “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (I Corinthians 14:33). So if we follow Jesus, we will seek peace in our world.

But even though we are to pursue it, universal peace—or even peace in all the circumstances of our own lives—will never be a reality in this life. Would it surprise you to know that Jesus, who was called Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), didn’t come to bring peace to the world? In His own words: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34).

How could the “God of peace” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 13:20) not have come to bring peace to the world? We need to look more closely at the word peace. The Greek word eiréné always means “one, quietness, rest” (Strong’s Concordance), but the Hebrews had both temporal and spiritual applications for it (Clarke’s Commentary). In the verses mentioned earlier, it refers to “peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon).

The Jews of Jesus’s time were expecting a Messiah to appear and rescue them from their oppression. He would conquer the Roman government and bring freedom and prosperity to Judea. But in Matthew 10:34, Jesus was saying they had the wrong idea about Him. He did not come to bring worldly prosperity or peace between individuals.

Jesus came to reconcile the world to God. ¹⁹God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him [Jesus] ²⁰and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:19-20). But He knew not everyone would accept Him. When some people follow Him and others refuse to, values and goals will be different, even among close family members. Conflict is inevitable; it is a by-product of the division that occurs when people are confronted with the Gospel and reject it. Reconciling as many people as possible to His Father, though, was far more important to Jesus than the entire world getting along with each other.

The reconciling peace that comes through the shed blood of Jesus is about a different relationship than the one between individuals. It expresses “the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is” (Thayer’s). It’s about the quiet, restful, whole relationship between God and His follower.

This is the peace Jesus spoke of when He was about to leave His disciples to return to heaven. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (John 14:27). His peace was not temporary, shaky, or dependent on circumstances. It was based on the disciples’ individual relationships with Him. He told them they would certainly have trouble in the world, yet “in me you may have peace” (John 16:33). It’s the same inner peace that we can experience through any temporal situation, no matter how disagreeable or painful the situation may be.

This year, listen closely to the songs of the carolers: “Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” (Hark! The Herald Angels Sing); “Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven’s all-gracious King” (It Came Upon the Midnight Clear); “Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace” (O Come, O Come Emmanuel). Notice the Christmas greetings your mailman delivers. Is there a card of the angels appearing to the shepherds and declaring, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14)?

This peace does not fluctuate with changes in our physical conditions, the political atmosphere, our job situations, or whatever disasters may come into our lives.

This peace is pure contentment in being reconciled to our God.

This peace is eternal.

This is the peace I wish for you.

What kind of peace are you seeking?

[NOTE: Greek definitions and commentary notes are from Bible Hub. See Resources.]