Behold: The Peace of Jesus

Written by: L.K. Ortiz

"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself because it is not there. There is no such thing." – C.S. Lewis

What is the peace of Jesus? The peace of Jesus is not as the world would define: the peace of appeasement, compromise, or conformity. [1] Biblical peace is more than just striving for the absence of conflict; it is taking action to restore true brokenness. The peace modeled by our Savior is more than a state of inner tranquility; it is a state of perfect wholeness and complete trust in God.

Striving after Peace

So how do we strive to have the same peace as Jesus? What does it look like to have true peace in our lives? To follow Jesus, we must leave behind comfort and venture into the unchartered. Not all Christians will be called the same way, but every Christian must be willing to forsake all. Every believer is called to give up any idol that stands in the way of following Christ wholeheartedly. The unrest in our hearts is real, and each of us knows what that thing is and how difficult it is to say goodbye to it. But, in the end, the heart that seeks the peace of Christ will let go of that which keeps us from total surrender, despite the genuine pain and anguish of doing so. A wholehearted pursuit of Jesus in the disciple's life requires full-hearted peace and devotion.[2] 

Trust God's Sovereign Plan

To do so, we must trust God's sovereign plan. In Luke 9:51-62, Jesus asks each of us: Are you really on mission with me? Do you know what it means to follow me? Here we see Jesus' commitment to His mission and His complete trust in the sovereign plan. In verse 51, it says, "When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem." Jesus was not focused on a location to travel to; this passage shows us His single-minded devotion to His purpose and mission. Jesus set His face towards Jerusalem because the time had come for Him to suffer, be rejected, be crucified, and be buried. He modeled what true peace looks like regardless of our circumstances. We must come before the Lord asking for dependence on Christ and for the Lord to help us trust in Him.

Peace and Our Pursuit of Jesus

Jesus teaches us that discipleship is about becoming like Him. And so, when you look at him, what do you see? Do you see someone that's committed to trying to live life according to worldly standards of success and wealth and power? Do you see someone who's trying to give you worldly status and the ability to influence others? Do you see someone living a life that is trying to avoid suffering and filled with privilege? Jesus was showing us that being a Christian means that we are to be in the world, but not of the world.

Real, single-minded discipleship isn't about perfection, but it is without condition. An entirely devoted follower of Christ clings to Jesus, regardless of unexpected circumstances or situations that arise, because they know that Jesus has already overcome the world[3]. True peace clings to Jesus, no matter how hard it gets. Hard things will come our way, we'll even be asked to sacrifice for Jesus, but He will be with us in the middle of it. Jesus is worth it.[4]

Verses on Peace

Galatians 5:22, Psalm 34:14, Romans 12:18, Romans 14:19, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 3:11, Proverbs 12:20, Matthew 5:9, Isaiah 26:12, John 14:27, 2 Thessalonians 3:16, Philippians 4:6-7, John 16:33, Isaiah 26:3

[1] Rev. Billy Graham                       

[2] Dr. John Wohlgemuth

[3] John 16:33

[4] Dr. John Wohlgemuth