“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

At the end of every service, there is a moment of silence that follows the benediction. Yet, when everyone leaves service, it is anything but silent. Voices sound forth in salutations and conversations fill the sanctuary and extend out to the courtyard. Our personal lives are often rushed and chaotic, which makes moment of silence seem far away. As much as we may crave for peaceful moments, our lives are often interrupted. What does it mean to have peace in our lives?

In John 14:27, Jesus shared three perspectives about peace to his disciples. First of all, peace is His peace. This is a divine peace, which makes no sense to the world. In Philippians 4:7, it says, “…the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” This is God’s peace or specifically, the peace between Jesus and God. Jesus is not creating a new batch of peace, but rather sharing with you His peace or bringing you into His peace. Interestingly, the setting in which Jesus gives this statement is right before His betrayal and subsequent suffering. At the cross, Jesus satisfied God’s justice by taking upon His wrath and becoming the sin bearer. He purchased our forgiveness through His shed blood. For those whom the Father draws to himself and who respond by faith, God provides the very peace that Jesus enjoyed with the Father. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we have peace with God.

Secondly, His peace is different from what the world can offer. If you think about it, the world may give a certain peace of mind based on good circumstances like a sunny day. However, the world offers no peace when night falls or the weather changes. We live in a fallen world, which means disease and even death. Our human attempts to secure peace of mind by working hard to control our lives may give some moments of peace but ultimately cannot protect us from worry. God’s peace is different from the world’s or our own feeble attempts at peace. His peace is not based on favorable circumstances.

Thirdly, His peace can be experienced during any crisis or challenging circumstances. Jesus told his disciples in preparation of His suffering and death on the cross, “do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.” In Jesus’ last hours with the disciples, He gave them perspective on how they could be fearless and at peace in all circumstances. He concludes his conversation with the disciples by saying, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart in that tribulation, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we can also have peace from God. We can experience this peace, which surpasses all understanding and can guard our hearts and mind in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6-7).

What does this mean for you and me? As believers, who have faith in Christ, we have peace with God. This is the ultimate peace that goes beyond our lifetime on to eternity. Secondly, while we may encounter challenges, crises, and difficult circumstances, we can experience peace from God. Not only can we experience peace, we can even express peace in our words and deeds.