Enjoying Crazy Peace
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you…”
John 14:27-31
Jesus’ statement raises crucial questions: What kind of peace is He offering, and how does it differ from the world’s? To understand this, we can examine His disciples’ expectations. They envisioned a Messiah who would conquer Rome and establish His Kingdom by force, unaware that His Kingdom would first take root spiritually, not physically.
Today we often expect Jesus to fulfill our visions—bringing 'justice' as we define it and validating our little kingdoms. We long for His peace to end wars and eliminate strife, heartache, and division. While His peace will ultimately be realized, these struggles seem to be intensifying for now.
So, what kind of peace is He offering? To find the answer, we must consider His words, His ways, and His will for His Church.
First, His words are meaningful.
The Greek word eiréné, meaning “peace, quiet, and rest,” comes from the root word eirō, meaning "to join, tie together into a whole.” The peace Jesus offers goes deeper than the surface-level calm we often associate with it. In the Greek, it carried a weightier significance.
In Greek, peace carries the idea of all essential parts being joined together. Jesus' peace brings wholeness where things were once fractured or incomplete. The opposite concept is captured in the Greek word merizo, meaning “to be pulled in different directions,” which is the root of merimna, meaning “anxiety” or “worry.” In other words, Jesus' peace unites what was once torn apart. It’s not merely a remedy for anxiety—it stands in direct opposition to it.
Jesus warns in the parable of the Sower that merimna—anxiety or worry—chokes out the seed of the word (Matt. 13:22, Mark 4:19, Luke 8:14). Peter urges us to cast all merimna on Jesus, who cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7). In a very real sense, our anxieties divide us from within, tearing us apart and triggering fight, flight, or freeze responses. This is far from the well-being Jesus promises.
This echoes James' warning about the double-minded person, unstable in all their ways (James 1:8). Inner turmoil leads to instability, showing up differently depending on our temperament and experiences. When I’m not at peace and allow anxiety to take root, I’m in motion—talking and acting, but not grounded in the wholeness I have in Christ.
Another person may withdraw, quietly ruminating on what could go wrong. Though less outwardly disruptive, they are just as unstable if not anchored in the peace Jesus offers.
Jesus’ peace doesn’t simply quiet our fears; it binds together what anxiety has torn apart, restoring wholeness. We see this not just in His words but in the way He lived.
Second, His ways also illuminate what He meant.
In the previous chapter, Jesus remains consistent in chaos, whole amidst division, and calm under threat. While washing the disciples' feet, Peter misunderstands, asking to be washed completely. Soon after, Jesus confounds them by speaking of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, all while offering dipped bread to the one who will betray Him.
This is the first time the disciples learn that one among them will betray Him. As they struggle to grasp this, Jesus reveals to Peter that he, too, will deny Him before dawn. In the midst of this unsettling moment, Jesus exudes peace—steady in character and unwavering in submission to the Father's will.
Despite the charged atmosphere and emotions running high, Jesus speaks truth without fear. He knows the cost and glory that lie ahead and remains undivided in His devotion to the Father. Calm under threat, He turns His attention to His disillusioned disciples, offering them peace rooted not in earthly power but in Kingdom authority.
God's sovereignty will use earthly powers for His Kingdom's good, and Jesus guides His disciples to that truth. He does not try to prevent the unfolding events; instead, He tells the betrayer to act quickly (John 13:27) and predicts Peter's denial without warning. His words are filled with compassion, grounding the disciples in their belief in the Father, which should extend to Him as well.
Imagine revealing the secrets of the Kingdom just after your betrayer walks out. Jesus remains unshakable in His obedience to the Father and vulnerability with His disciples. As He leads them from the table to the Garden, on the path to His arrest, trials, and death (John 14-17), He speaks with unwavering peace, wholly focused, undivided, and at peace.
Third, His will for us deepens our understanding of His peace.
His peace not only restores what is fractured but also reveals His purposes for us, as evident in Paul's writings—His peace is actively at work on our behalf.
Paul urges the church in Colossae to embrace love, embodying tenderness, mercy, humility, patience, and forgiveness in all relationships. He instructs them, 'And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful' (Colossians 3:15).
As we allow His peace to govern our hearts, we are empowered to walk in love as unified members of one body. We cannot manufacture godly love on our own; it is peace that reigns in our hearts and flows through us. It’s worth noting that this call to embrace peace follows a reminder to forgive as we have been forgiven, a topic I will explore further in another blog.
In concluding his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul encourages them not to be anxious about anything, but to present their requests to God with thanksgiving. He promises that 'the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus' (Philippians 4:7).
When we reject the divided heart and the inner turmoil of anxiety, choosing instead to approach God with gratitude for His character and His immense love, the peace Jesus has already bestowed upon us serves as a sentinel around our hearts and minds, enriching our relationship with Him.
Peace is not merely a gift; it confronts its enemies by subverting their power. It remedies the very threats that seek to undermine it.
Conclusion
Christ's peace is more than a fleeting emotion; it is a "crazy peace," a powerful force for restoration and unity. This peace anchors us in His steadfastness amid the chaos of our world. By embracing the call to love, mercy, and forgiveness, we open ourselves to the peace of Christ, which guards our hearts and minds against anxiety.
His peace confronts the very forces that threaten our wholeness, inviting us to rise above turmoil. Empowered by Jesus’ peace, we can face any challenge and draw nearer to the abundant life He desires for us.
To fully embrace this peace, we may need to break free from our addiction to flurry and worry, but He has shown us the way.
Let’s follow Him wholeheartedly.