Another Kind of Peace-John 14.27
Mark 4:35-40
Introduction:
Imagine yourself on a lake, watching the birds flying overhead, the calm water lapping at the boat, the boat gently rocking and drifting along, the clear blue sky above, the sun shining down, and the fish are biting. You are resting and enjoying the day off from work. In the words of the world, “It doesn’t get any better than this!” In the words of a Christian, “Surely God must be shining down His peace upon me today!”
Now imagine that you are on that same lake, there are no birds overhead, the waves are crashing over the boat and threatening to capsize it, the boat is violently bouncing up and down, the sky is dark, there is no sun in sight, and the fish are not biting. You are hanging on for dear life and hoping you will make it through the day so you can go back to work. In the words of the world, “All hell has broken loose!” In the words of a Christian, “Surely God must have abandoned me today!”
Now imagine that Jesus is with you in each of these scenes. Was God shining down His peace on you in the first scene because it was so calm and serene—was Jesus with you in the boat? Did God abandon you in the second scene because it was so tense and chaotic—did Jesus get out of the boat? No, if we look at Mark 4:35-39, we see that Jesus was with the disciples when they went through the storm. In fact, He was sleeping in the back of the boat!
Why is it when the storms of life blow, that we think God has abandoned us? Maybe, as in the words of Jesus, it is because we lack faith (Mark 4:40). However, maybe it is because we do not truly understand the peace of God that has been given to us. Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (NASB)
This verse occurs at what we know as Jesus’ farewell discourse at the last supper in the upper room. Jesus has been telling his disciples that He is leaving them and that the Father will send the Holy Spirit to be with them as their Comforter, Teacher, and Helper. When you are leaving someone you love for good, you do not talk about trivial things. You talk about what is most important to you and what you want to leave as a legacy or what you want them to remember. Jesus speaks of His gift to them as being another kind of peace.
In the New Testament, the Greek word for peace is eirene. Its primary meaning is absence from war.…it may mean a peaceful attitude, i.e., the absence of hostile feelings.[i]
However, since the Greek New Testament is based on the Septuagint version of the Old Testament, to understand the meaning of the word for peace as the disciples would have understood it, we must look at the word in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, the word for peace is shalōm. The meaning of shalōm is wholeness, soundness, well–being, prosperity; more particularly welfare, every kind of good, completeness, soundness, peace. In fact, one of God’s covenant names is Jehovah-shalom, “The Lord is peace” or “The Lord is our peace.” The NASB Topical Index says that peace refers to a personal sense of well-being, wholeness, harmony, and security through a proper relationship with God and fellow men. Thus, the basic meaning of shalōm is not absence from war or trouble, but one of “well-being.” It means everything that makes for our highest good.
In John 14:27, we see that Jesus said He is leaving His disciples a gift. A very precious gift—His peace—not the world’s peace. His shalōm—His wholeness, His well-being, and His harmony with God.
What was it that could make Jesus sleep while the storm was raging around Him? It was the shalōm, well-being He had of knowing that He belonged to His Father and that His Father was in harmony (agreement) with Him. Jesus knew that His Father desired to give Him the very highest good that He possibly could. Jesus could rest in the fact that nothing could take away that sense of well-being of knowing God, no matter what trouble might come His way. Now also, do not lose sight of the context that Jesus is saying this knowing full well that He must face the agony of the cross in the next few days. That included separation from His Father, besides all the physical pain that He would endure.
He said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”(NASB) With the gift of God’s peace, we can have well-being even in the worst storms of life. We can face any storm because we know that nothing is too great for God to handle. We also can face the storms of life with confidence that we are not alone. He has not abandoned us, for God has promised us that He will never leave us or forsake us (Heb 13:5). Therefore, when we go through the storms of life, we can rest assured that He is in the boat with us. Maybe He is sleeping, and appears not to care, but He is still with us. There are three kinds of storms that we may face:
1. The storm of sorrow. When sorrow comes, he tells us of the glory of the life to come. He changes the darkness of death into the sunshine of the thought of eternal life. He tells us of the love of God. In the storm of sorrow, Jesus tells us that those we love have gone to be with God, and gives us the certainty that we shall meet them again.
2. Life’s problems involve us in a storm of doubt and uncertainty. There comes times when we do not know what to do; when we stand at a crossroads in life and do not know which way to take. The real tragedy is not that we do not know what to do; but that often we do not humbly submit to Jesus’ guidance. To ask his will and to submit to it is the way to peace.
3. The storms of anxiety. The chief enemy of peace is worry, worry for ourselves, worry about the unknown future, and worry about those we love. But Jesus tells us of a Father who knows what we need, and has a love beyond which any of us can ever drift away from. In the storm of anxiety, he brings us the peace of the love of God.[ii]
In the Message, John 14:27 says, “I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.”
The purpose of God’s peace is that our heart not be troubled, or fearful. That means that we should not be upset or afraid, but instead should be “well and whole.” No matter what difficulty we are facing, with God’s peace we can have a restful, settled heart—not a fearful heart. A fearful heart is one that is:
1. Trying to face the storm alone and thinking that God does not care (just as the disciples did in Mk 4:38). Yet Jesus knew their need and calmed the storm around them.
2. Does not trust God to take care of us. Jesus told us that the Father knows what we have need of and will provide those things just as He does for the birds and the flowers (Matt 6:25-34).
3. Tries to figure out the answer to his troubles, rather than not leaning on his own understanding, and acknowledging God in all his ways (Prov 3:5).
4. Sees the circumstances as huge waves crashing in that will overcome us. Jesus simply says, “Hush, be quiet! (Mark 4:39). The Word of God tells us very plainly that God is not the author of fear (2 Tim 1:7).
You may say that it is easy for me to share these things, because I do not know what you are going through. You are right that I do not know what you are going through, but neither do you know what I am going through. There are pressures on the job, in my family, financial pressures, losses in my life, etc. It is not important that we understand what each other is going through, but that God understands what we are going through (and He does!)
A very important verse regarding God’s peace is Phil 4:6-9 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension (understanding-KJV), will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (NASB)
When you look at this passage in the Amplified version, verse 7 reads, “And God’s peace [shall be yours, that itranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall jgarrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”[iii]
Let me briefly explain how we can use this verse practically to experience the peace of God that Jesus gives us (I have a whole other sermon just on this topic). This is something that I have learned to practice in my life and it has been a great blessing in times of trouble. The word that is used for garrison (keep (KJV), guard-NASB and others) is important. A garrison consisted of troops stationed in a fort or city to protect and defend it. If there were a need for extra troops, they would be called up. Therefore, the peace of God is there to protect us from our enemies—keep them out of our hearts and minds. In addition, a fortress is a place to run when the enemy is chasing you (e.g. knights running to their castle) — once the gate is closed, you are safe. According to W. E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words—the idea is not merely that of protection, but of inward garrisoning as by the Holy Spirit.
So when storms are blowing in our life, what do we do? First, we pray (vs. 6), then we run into the fortress of God’s peace and let the Holy Spirit fight for us! We rest while God fights for us! Jesus gave that gift to us of His peace.
We usually think of peace as quiet, tranquility, calmness—but the other kind of Peace that Jesus gave us is more than just resting in a grassy meadow of ease. It is a powerful force, which we can use to protect ourselves from the enemy. It is that place that we can run into and hide when “All hell is breaking loose” around us. Like the eye of a hurricane, it is a place where we can rest in God’s grace and mercy in the middle of the storm! We must resist the enemy calling us out into the whirlwind away from our fortress of Peace.
The peace that the world offers us is the peace of escape, the peace that comes from the avoidance of trouble and from refusing to face things. The peace that Jesus offers us is the peace of surrender that comes from facing the struggles of life and giving them to Him. God has told us to “cast all our cares upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Pet 5:7). No experience of life can ever take His peace from us; no sorrow, no problem, and no anxiety can ever make it less powerful. His peace is independent of outward circumstances.
God has provided for believers a place of protection and shelter—it is called His Peace. We must choose to run into His fortress of Peace and dwell in His safety. Once we are there we can cease from fighting and let God fight for us—which is the way it should be anyway. He will guard our hearts and minds and give us the rest we need and then we will not have a troubled or fearful heart.
The LORD bless you, and keep you:
The LORD make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you:
The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Num 6:24-26)
1515 εἰρήνη [eirene /i·ray·nay/] n f. Probably from a primary verb eiro (to join); TDNT 2:400; TDNTA 207; GK 1645; 92 occurrences; AV translates as “peace” 89 times, “one” once, “rest” once, and “quietness” once. 1 a state of national tranquillity. 1a exemption from the rage and havoc of war. 2 peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord. 3 security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous). 4 of the Messiah’s peace. 4a the way that leads to peace (salvation). 5 of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is. 6 the blessed state of devout and upright men after death.[iv]
----
i.e. id est, that is
[i]Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1995, c1985). Theological dictionary of the New Testament. Translation of: Theologisches Worterbuch zum Neuen Testament. (Page 207). Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans.
[ii]Adapted from The Gospel of Mark. 2000, c1975 (W. Barclay, lecturer in the University of Glasgow, Ed.). The Daily study Bible series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press.
i Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
j William Gurnall, cited by Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
[iii]The amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament. 1987 (Php 4:7). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
n n: noun or neuter
f f: feminine
TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament
TDNTA Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume
GK Goodrick-Kohlenberger
AV Authorized Version
[iv]Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the test of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) (G1515). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.