The Attitude of Peace
Notes
Transcript
The attitude of waiting
The attitude of humility
The attitude of joy
It has been my prayer throughout this series that we would observe the Christmas season and that our attitudes would be altered in a way that Christ would be seen in our lives.
While this morning’s text is not primarily a Christmas text, we will quickly make a tie in to the Christmas story. Let’s stand together and read John 16:33.
Read John 16:33
The Peace of God is First Offered as a Promise
The Peace of God is First Offered as a Promise
The desire is that the disciples who have heard these words might have peace in the moment that is a glimpse of the further peace that comes at His death and resurrection. However, there are other moments that refer to the Christmas season which also promised peace.
First, Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
The Messiah, as prophesied, is promised with peace as a result in two ways. As the Prince of Peace, Jesus would usher in an absence of war, bringing about health to society rather than the rule of a tyrant. The second way that this peace is described makes mention of the duration in verse 7, that there will be no end. Now, we must understand this as an End Times prophecy because there is an existence of war today but His eventual rule will take place with a complete lack of war. This is the outcome for all of the world when we consider the coming of Jesus but the second passage I want to look at in Luke 2:14 looks more to individuals.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Here we see that there is peace among those with whom Jesus is well pleased, leading us to the understanding that peace is promised to those who will enter into a relationship with Christ and vow to serve Him for the rest of their days.
Both of these mentions of peace when it comes to Jesus should offer us various levels of encouragement. For the sake of the world, we praise God that there will some day be no more war or strife in the world. The servant leadership of Jesus will be marked by the peace that He brings. For us as individuals, we ought to be encouraged if we know Him because of the peace that is in our lives because of that.
When we look back to John 16, we next can understand that
Peace Comes to the Individual in the Form of Forgiveness
Peace Comes to the Individual in the Form of Forgiveness
The beginning of verse 33 begins with “I have said these things to you , that in me you may have peace.” We first ask ourselves, what things that Jesus said is he referring to? There are some scholars who believe that the things being referred to in this case are the many sayings of Jesus that led up to this point. All of the parables and sermons that He preached would have certainly led to peace for His disciples. However, I would tend to think of the context as referring to the previous verse. In verse 32, Jesus is informing His disciples that they will abandon Him. They did not believe Him when He said this. In fact, Peter was told that He would deny Christ.
Jesus understood and wanted His disciples to understand that, though he would shortly die alone, abandoned by those who loved Him and followed Him, they should still have peace because He still loves them.
I want this sobering fact to set in for just a moment if you’ll put yourselves in the shoes of the disciples for a moment. Just after the death of Jesus, can you imagine what Peter, James, John, and the other disciples must have felt, knowing that they had allowed Jesus, the Savior of the world, to be arrested and crucified. This would have been weighty for them. Yet, Jesus tells them in this moment that they are still to have his peace because their sins are forgiven.
The death of Jesus Christ atoned for the sins of the world. John 3:16 is a helpful verse and so well known. Yet, the two verses that follow it are just as important! John 3:17-18.
Those who believe are given a clean slate. When we stand before God in eternity, it will be said that our sins have been covered by the blood of Jesus. We can have peace because of forgiveness.
The tribulation, or difficulty, we face when we consider our own sin is overcome by peace that can only be offered by Jesus Christ, due to His death on the cross for our sins.
But as we consider tribulation, Jesus speaks of peace in terms of what we will face in the world.
The Peace of God is Given in the Midst of Difficulty
The Peace of God is Given in the Midst of Difficulty
The word for tribulation describes a certain pressure or distress. Jesus speaks of the difficulties that His disciples will face in the world and that is the sort of thing we are talking about here.
Let me be the first to tell you that living for Jesus is not easy. It takes a great deal of endurance. We can come away each day struggling and wondering if it is worth it.
It is difficult to operate in the workplace as a Christian. It is difficult to be a parent as a Christian. It is difficult to be a good husband, son, brother, and friend as a Christian. Thankfully, Jesus offers us peace in these tough times when we become worn down. As we look to Him and all that He accomplished here on earth, not to mention His return, we are able to have a certain peace!
Why? Other than the fact that He has promised us peace, what certainty do we have? The final sentence in this chapter tells us what we need to know in order to have peace in the midst of tribulation. “Take heart/courage/good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
The final point this morning is
We Can Have Peace Because Christ Has Overcome the World
We Can Have Peace Because Christ Has Overcome the World
When Jesus overcame the grave, He promised a return and with that return, He will rule over the world as Creator and Judge. This is yet another statement by Jesus that is spoken as certain even though it hasn’t yet taken place. Jesus Christ has overcome the world and that is the reason for our peace.
If Christ has overcome the world, it means that we possess the ability to overcome because He has.
However, you might be asking yourself, what does any of this have to do with having an attitude of peace. 1 Corinthians 11:1. I
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
f we are to imitate Christ, this means that we, too, should be people of peace, seeking the welfare of others when the easy way out would be justice. When we reflect the light of Christ on a dark and dying world, it should be our mission to be people of peace. Luke 10:3-5
Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’
You and I have been sent out into the world to carry the gospel truth that’s been laid before you today. But we are called to do so in a way of peace. So, will you take up that call?!
