The Meaning of Peace
Current Headline News Articles about Unrest
From Vision of Humanity.org
Civil Unrest Around the World has Doubled in Last Decade
From Allianz Insurance and Financial Services
Businesses should prepare for a rise in civil unrest incidents as the cost-of-living crisis follows hard on the heels of the Covid pandemic, according to insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS). With confidence in traditional sources of information and leadership being undermined, the role of social media platforms in activating civil unrest is becoming increasingly influential. Strikes, riots and violent protest movements pose risks to companies because in addition to buildings or assets suffering costly material damage, business operations can also be severely disrupted with premises unable to be accessed, resulting in loss of income.
“Civil unrest increasingly represents a more critical exposure for many companies than terrorism,” says Srdjan Todorovic, currently Head of Crisis Management, UK and Nordics, at AGCS
Unrest Like: Occupy Wall Street, George Floyd Death & Riots, Kenosha, WI,
NOTHING NEW HERE: Camp David Peace Accords, Vietnam, Korea, WW2, WW1, ECT......
THE WORLD IS IN A CONSTANT STATE OF UNREST!
As believers we often get comfortable and complacent in our surroundings and we tend to just glance at scripture! I would like for us to slow down and drill down on one phrase and mainly one word in scripture and see the story of truth it encapsulates.
Turn to John 14:25-27
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 20:19-22
19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit
John 20:26-27
And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
Let’s explore the word PEACE! In verse 19, we see the disciples shut up in a room full of fear of the Jews, not knowing what will happen to them after the Crucifixion of Jesus. When Jesus suddenly appeared to them and said, “Peace be with you.”
The Original Hebrew Greeting used today, Salom (SHALOM). Is this just a greeting from Jesus or something more? Let’s search the scriptures!
Turn to Isaiah 48:22
There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” This is repeated in Isaiah 57:21
Key Definitions:
The wicked: All unbelievers, the lost, the unrighteous, enemies of God
Peace denotes the wholeness, soundness, and well-being that characterizes God and that God created in the world. As peace was broken due to human sin, such well-being constitutes the hope for ultimate restoration by God. *God’s created beings are at WAR with Him, Enemies!
So was Jesus just being polite and greeting His disciples or is there a deeper truth He is giving them?
In the book of Judges Chapter 6 verse 24 we read:
So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it The-LORD-Is-Peace
Let’s go to Colossians 1:19-20
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross
In our text verses in John chapter 20, what just happened?! The crucifixion and the gift of the Holy Spirit! I believe there is more to Peace be with you, than just a greeting! What about you? Nor convinced yet? Turn to Romans 5:1-5
5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Just an amazing story in one word-Peace! This message from Jesus was not just to the Disciples!
Galatians 5:22-26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Conclusion:
In this one statement “I GIVE YOU PEACE, PEACE BE WITH YOU” holds the complete Gospel of Jesus Christ! The Salvation Redemption of man.
We are now at Peace with God! We can boldly come before His throne! We need to live in Peace with each other and not provoke or be envious of one another.
As the World continues to spiral out of control in unrest, we can rest in God’s Peace! We can boldly proclaim to the World the Gospel of Peace no matter the repercussions! Ephesians 6:14-20
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
