Let’s start this off with some truth, shall we?
John 14:27 – Jesus speaking:
“Partly-peace I leave with you;
My halfsies-of-peace I give you.”
I can just imagine your face right now, eyes squinted staring at the screen wondering if you just read that correctly. I’m betting that you realize that is not what Jesus said… but dare I say, that’s how many people live?
Give me the next few moments to unpack some thoughts on peace, and hopefully you walk away from this time with fresh inspiration and encouragement to lean in to this incredible gift on offer to you.
Let me back up and tell you the inspiration for this concept:
This past week, I decided to get my watercolor paints out. Far from a professional painter, I simply enjoy the process of watching the colors play on the page. There is something about it that brings a peace to me in those moments.
That got me thinking, “I wonder what other people do that brings them peace?”
Then, as things usually end up for me, I started researching. I looked up popular perspectives on “how to get peace.
Source after source made it’s case for how to get peace. Most of them offered good thoughts, but they never fully checked all the boxes that I am looking for when it comes to having peace.
Most sources centered their ideas around the absence of something (conflict, war, problems).
Many offered ways to get “centered” or grounded through things like breath-work to be calm.
As I thought about these wonderful pastimes or practices for peace that we all must have in one way or another, I also thought about how so much of perspective on peace involves the temporary.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the peaceful moments. In fact, I build my life intentionally to have those – and I do believe that those moments are flashes of what the future holds when we get called Home. It’s almost like they are little glimpses of glory, right?
But the fact is, the peace we often try to cultivate has a short shelf life… It’s momentary. Temporary. Not quite “complete.”
There is something in us that just knows there’s more to it.
We long for – not peace in part- but full peace.
Complete peace.
Whole peace.
Right?
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Let’s make our way back to the ACTUAL words that Jesus said:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.”
In the text, the word peace in the original language is eiréné (pronounced: “i-ray-nay”).
Here’s what it meant:
-peace (of course)
-rest
-to join together into one
-wholeness…
Hold the phone… “wholeness?”
Is Jesus saying that he’s offering wholeness?
If so, is he implying that people have been living “in parts?”
Go with me here for a second- a couple questions as I think out loud:
Is it possible that humans were/are living fragmented or broken and that they needed a legitimate path toward wholeness again? To be joined back together as one unfractured heart…? To have authentic, real, not-in-part peace…?
As I run my eyes over and over the statement by Jesus, I have a few other thoughts – track with me as I stress a few imperative words:
-He’s saying he is giving the peace.
It’s not offered by any other source, and it can’t be completed through any other source.
Ever noticed how attaining the next promotion or filling your house full of material goods never fully delivered on the promise of peace they probably once held?
Notice also, Jesus says he is giving the peace.
Jesus himself is the giver of this gift.
It’s not for sale (although it has been bought at a high price).
You can’t earn it through hustle or work.
It’s simply a good gift given by the ultimate Giver.
Finally, let’s notice the contrast Jesus makes:
“NOT as the world gives…”
When I see a blatant statement like that shows two opposing options, I just have to pull that thread with a question:
“HOW does the world give?”
This is what I came up with:
I don’t know about you, but when I see those options side-by-side, my heart shakes.
On one hand, I think about how easily I can buy into the watered down, less than awesome version of peace that the world offers.
On the other hand, as I look at that list, everything from the world’s offering screams red flags to me.
If we were entering into a relationship or contract and those were the known terms, wouldn’t you run for the hills??
Yet, there is a divine gift of peace on offer – opposite of what we’re sold every day in this world.
If you’re anything like me, you might be asking “What does that look like practically, though? I mean, sure, all the good Christian-ese language always sounds so good, but how can this idea actually affect my real, everyday life?”
I’m so glad you asked because those are things I have to wrestle through, too.
One thing about the Good News is that it really is simple.
It all comes back to Jesus.
We know that Jesus was the perfect example for how to live, right?
So, practically speaking, taking notes on how he lived, and then implementing his ways as our ways (with the help of the Spirit)… well, that’s how we do it.
Notice how he operated.
Observe how he treated people.
See how he lived with certain practices and disciplines and beliefs…
Live like that.
Jesus’ life was lived with peace – in complete wholeness – not fractured or fragmented inside, not dis-joined in his heart or mind – but one, complete wholeness – And that is actually how we were divinely designed to live.
No wonder we feel like we’re coming up empty-handed with the broken world’s promises of peace…we were created for wholeness.
Loved one, don’t sell yourself short by buying into the broken and incomplete ideas of peace that the world continues to sell.
And thank God- we actually have a way to live with the true peace we were created for.
