Peace Indeed

I appreciated the contrasts to peace that Philip categorized during the exhortation last Lord’s day. Living in peace is more like playfully moving and not fearfully frozen or anxiously scrambling. Let’s continue to think more about peace.

Jesus told His disciples that we do not live in a world of peace. It is a world in which peace is desirable, a possession of greatest worth. But the world itself works against peace. The world is full of trouble.

“I have said these things to you, that you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

The word “tribulation” refers to distress. The way of the world is sorrow, pressure, pain, and strain. Is it financial, physical, familial, future, or just in soul? Distress comes in all kinds of mixed shades from the color palate.

But Jesus came with a message of peace. He commanded His men (and us as disciples), “take heart,” “take courage” (NASB), or more poetic, “be of good cheer” (KJV). This is because He had overcome (nenikeka perfect tense) the world.

How so? He spoke these words on the night of His betrayal. He spoke these words only hours before the false charges and arrest, the physical beatings and verbal mocking, the humiliation and crucifixion. But His defeat of sin and death was as certain as if already accomplished. And it had, it still has, ongoing overcoming effect.

Sin and death are the two greatest powers in the world, the two greatest enemies of peace. And they have been defeated. Jesus died to pay for sin and rose again to show His power over death. He is risen, so there is peace indeed!

“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11).