For reading & meditation: Matthew 26:36-46
“Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go!” (vv.45-46)
Yesterday we looked at some of the world’s ineffectual answers to the problem of unmerited suffering. In them there are no wounds to answer our wounds, no death to answer our death. Their so-called answers remind me of a cartoon I once saw which depicted two toddlers in a children’s boxing ring. Stripped for action, with nothing on but shorts and boxing gloves, they were ready for the fray. The attention of one of the youngsters was caught by two butterflies flitting just above his head and he stood gazing up at them, exposing himself to the blow which his opponent was about to land on his nose. Gazing at butterflies while in the midst of a conflict is a dangerous occupation. Any system of thought that takes your attention off the grim facts of life by calling attention to butterflies is doomed inevitably to produce pessimism as the blows begin to fall. What, then, is the Christian answer to this problem? First, we must realistically face the fact that life involves suffering. There is no escaping that fact; to deny it is a denial of reality. I have found from experience that the first thing many Christians do when caught up in a form of suffering is to deny its reality and say something like this: “I don’t have any problems, for Jesus is the Great Insulator between me and everything that happens.” It is not lack of faith to acknowledge a problem. You don’t have to dwell upon it, but before you can deal with it, you must acknowledge it. Remember, you must first be willing to face reality before you can expect to overcome it.
Prayer:
O God, give me courage to face up to issues and not dodge them. Help me to be open and honest. Father, I look to You now to help me put this into daily practice. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.
For further study:
Matthew 26:36-46; Psalms 34:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:12
1. What is the purpose of our affliction?
2. What has God promised?
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”- Romans 3:23-24
“Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.”- Luke 9:23-24
Do you ever long for genuine, lasting peace? In our ever-changing world, tranquility can be hard to find. Just when we start to relax, something happens to upset the balance we’ve been trying to achieve.
At the Last Supper, Jesus told His disciples, “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” (John 14:27). He wanted them to experience God’s peace despite the terrifying events that would soon follow. Let’s take a closer look at each section of John 14:27.
1. “Peace I leave with you.”
The Holman Bible dictionary defines peace as a “sense of well-being and fulfillment that comes from God and is dependent on His presence.” Rather than expressing an absence of stress or conflict, the Hebrew word shalom and the Greek eireneindicate the presence of peace, health, restoration, salvation, and reconciliation with the Lord.
How would your life be different if you enjoyed God’s peace more fully?
In John 14:27, Jesus encouraged His followers because they were distressed about His impending death. (See John 13.) Notice how the words in this sentence—“Peace I leave with you”—read like a last will and testament. Adam Clarke’s Commentary notes that “a wish of peace among them is thus to be understood: May you prosper in body and soul, and enjoy every earthly and heavenly good!”
What prophesy is fulfilled because Jesus gives us inner stillness and restores our fellowship with the Father (Isa. 9:6)?
2. “My peace I give you.”
At first glance, these words seem to repeat the same concept as the first sentence. However, the emphasis is on the type of peace Christ offers—it belongs to Him alone. He offers us “eternal comfort and good hope by grace” (2 Thess. 2:16).
Read John 14:1-6. How does this passage contribute to your sense of tranquility?
Notice that Christ gives His peace. Just like salvation, such quietness is a gift—not something we have to earn.
What is required in order to experience this gift (Rom. 5:1)?
Which member of the Trinity enables believers to experience peace on a daily basis (Gal. 5:22)?
3. “Not as the world gives, give I to you”
Jews of Christ’s day commonly wished each other peace out of courtesy. Although Jesus used similar words to reassure His followers, He truly had the power to give peace, and He still does today.
In western culture, we often look to tangible things for security. But only through Christ can we experience any assurance for the future. John Gill wrote, “The peace Christ gives is true, solid, substantial; the peace the world, the men, and things of it give, is a false one.”
In your own experience, how have you found this statement to be true? Try to give a specific example.
Accepting God’s gift of salvation doesn’t spare us from all hardship. Despite that fact, what does Jesus promise us in the midst of trouble (John 16:33)?
At what point will the world think that all is well yet be completely wrong (1 Thess. 5:1-3)?
4. “Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
The disciples were distraught at Christ’s imminent departure, and He reassured them that they shouldn’t be afraid. Notice that His statement is a command. Jesus assumed that His followers could control their emotions. Colossians 3:15 echoes this principle: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts . . . and be thankful.” With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can resist the temptation to give into fear and anxiety.
In what practical way(s) could you “let the peace of Christ rule in your heart” (Col. 3:15)?
What is the key to walking in peace (Rom. 8:6; Isa. 26:3)?
Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Notice that this verse doesn’t guarantee that the Lord will change our circumstances. What does it promise instead?
What do you think that means in a practical sense?
Conclusion: Believers often believe a lie, thinking that peace can be found in success, prosperity, positive experiences, or certain relationships. But the only source of lasting tranquility is found in the presence of Jesus. What the world has to offer will crumble under pressure. But God’s peace has the ability to carry His people through every hardship.
Prayer: As you end this study, write down the various stressors that rob you of peace. Pray over the list, surrendering each struggle to the Father. Choose to let go of every worry, and allow Christ to rule your heart. You may want to shred or burn the list as a symbol of your trust in the Lord.
Once, before a speaking engagement, a staff member and I were sharing a meal at a restaurant on the West Coast. The young woman waiting on us appeared to be in her twenties. During the meal, I posed this question to her: “If you could ask God for anything, what would it be?”
Without any hesitation she said, “I’d ask for peace.” A big tear made its way down her face as she told us about the death of her beloved grandmother a few days before.
In sharing her story, she explained that no one in her family believed in God, and neither did she. Our waitress had not consciously rejected the Lord—she had never heard about Him. All she knew was the deep restlessness within her. The young lady had no understanding about how to resolve that inner turmoil, or even what lay at its root. Like many people, she went from day to day without having much purpose or meaning in her life.
This woman represents so many people in our society today. They might not describe the emptiness they feel as a lack of peace. Some would use the words, “I am so lonely.” Others might say, “If only my spouse would love me more, I’d be happy.” Or, “If only I could be successful in my career . . . ” But these are all variations of the same theme: “There is something wrong. I am not happy. I have no peace. What is wrong with me?”
Our society bombards us with messages that supposedly answer this question. If only you were thinner . . . dressed better . . . drove a Jaguar . . . lived in a nicer house . . . made more money . . . The list goes on and on. But none of the “answers” proposed by society can permanently or satisfactorily provide what we desperately crave.
The young waitress had it correct. Most of us feel strongly that we need something more, and the all-encompassing word that describes it well is peace. But you will never experience such tranquility in this life until your relationship with the Lord is right.
A Friendship with Your Creator
The God who controls all things—and who is present in your life whether you acknowledge Him or not—is a God of peace. He designed this world with a plan in mind, and it includes you!
The Lord created humans so they would have a relationship with Him that is characterized by love—His loving them and their loving Him. And through His presence, He would protect and provide for mankind. Only through close friendship with the Creator can anyone receive deep, lasting, abiding peace. This idea is unique to Judeo-Christian thought.
What people sense as “loneliness,” “a deep void,” or “purposelessness” is a type of signal—or indicator—that God has built into man. It is a programmed message that we need Him. Through it, the Designer tells His creation, “Without Me, you will never feel complete. I am the only One who can satisfy your deepest longings. I will be the source of your peace.”
Sudden tragedy or personal loss can show us our need for help, comfort, and guidance. And it is at such a point of need that our kind and loving God often reveals how to know Him in a personal way.
How We can Have Peace with God
Jesus came into our world to live and die as one of us. He was both God and human at the same time—an amazing truth. As a sinless man, Jesus was killed because the religious leaders of His day felt threatened by His claims to be the Savior of the world.
His death wasn’t the end, however. After three days, He was resurrected by the power of God, triumphing over death. Before returning to His Father in heaven (Mark 16:19), Jesus promised the disciples that His presence would remain with them, and He would give them peace (Matt. 28:20; John 20:19).
God wants all of us to ask for His mercy, confess our sins, and trust Him for salvation—that’s the essence of His plan for you and me. It is also the fundamental requirement for experiencing His wonderful, continuous gift of peace.
When we ask Jesus to forgive our sins and take control of our lives, He bridges the gap between God and man. Through Him, we have forgiveness (no more shame or guilt because of the past) and the assurance of His presence in our lives. Moreover, we have the opportunity to experience abiding peace—the gift promised to those who follow the Lord.
I. Introduction: Life is unpredictable. Wealth disappears, jobs end, relationships fail. Even health is not guaranteed. The good news is that we can experience inner peace that is not threatened by life’s challenges. The secret to this tranquility is surrender to the heavenly Father. Peace with God is the fruit of oneness with God (Life Principle #12). We experience calmness beyond human comprehension when we submit to His will and trust Him to provide for our needs.
II. God’s Supernatural Peace
A. Jesus told His disciples about the type of peace that depends on His unchanging character (John 14:1, 27). Place your trust in Christ, and allow Him to bring you the security and comfort you need.
B. The secret to finding tranquility lies in releasing our burdens to the Lord (Phil. 4:6-7). This kind of peace is unchanging—it doesn’t come and go depending on life’s triumphs and challenges.
III. Peace with God
A. Peace with God refers to the nature of our relationship with Him. Until a person receives Jesus Christ as personal Savior, he or she will have no genuine peace. The individual may experience happiness, but not the kind of deep inner stillness that endures.
B. What if you long for genuine peace but are not yet a child of God? You must begin by dealing with the problem of sin in your life. Accept Christ’s forgiveness. Receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior, and you will become a child of God (Rom. 8:14-15). You will be reconciled to God (Rom. 5:1)—then you can start to learn how to walk in His peace.
IV. The Peace of God
A. Regardless of the situation, any believer can find inner calm. Jesus told His disciples, “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” (John 14:27). Our culture looks to possessions, human relationships, or accomplishments to bring them security. But because each one is subject to change, attempting to find peace through them is futile.
B. The peace of God depends not on circumstances but on a personal relationship with Jesus. He said, “In Me you may have peace” (John 16:33). Transcendent peace rests on our agreement with God. When you submit your daily choices to the Lord, you are in harmony with His Spirit, and you will experience peace.
C. Remember that if you are a born-again believer, the Holy Spirit lives within you to make a godly life possible. The Helper produces all kinds of good fruit within believers, including peace (Gal. 5:22). As you cooperate with the Spirit, He will also enable you to have joy, love, and kindness. Through His power, you and I can have contentment in the midst of suffering and misfortune.
D. The Father doesn’t promise us a trouble-free life. But if we cultivate an intimate relationship with Him, we can possess a quietness that gives us strength to withstand adversity.
V. Our Responsibility
A. When we face situations that could cause turmoil, we must hold on to our identity: children of God. His Spirit, who lives within us, will bring us quietness, contentment, security, and courage.
B. We must stop dwelling on negative circumstances and renew our focus on the Father. Since we are His beloved sons and daughters, God will cause all things to work together for our good (Rom. 8:28). Get your eyes off the source of disappointment and onto Him, and you will know supernatural peace.
VI. Conclusion: Perhaps life has you frustrated right now. Your circumstances might be out of control, or maybe you are simply a little disillusioned. You may think that more money, a better job, or a certain relationship could make all the difference in how you feel. But there is only one source of peace—the God who holds the universe together. Surrender to Him and you can face every day with an awesome sense of indescribable peace.
I know He lives (woah)
I believe He lives (ooh)
I’m sure He lives (woah)
I’m sure He lives
(How y’all doin’ today)
I know He lives (the Savior lives)
The Savior lives (ooh, oh)
It’s time to celebrate the Savior and His worth
Let’s shout because we know He lives and we are certain
His love has set us free, our enemies defeated
If with me you agree, come on and lift up your hands
[chorus]
Everybody lift your hands if you know that Jesus is worthy
Open up and give Him praise, let’s do it in a hurry
If you love Him, let’s glorify in the song and in the dance
You know the Savior lives come on and lift up your hands
To understand just why we praise let me tell you how it all went down
The news spread so very fast, people came from miles around
This would be the day Christ would be crucified
He took His last breath, He hung His head and He died
They took my Savior down from off that rugged cross
They laid Him in a tomb, it seemed all hope was truly lost
But the third day came along and brought the rhythm of life
The stone was rolled away, an angel proudly proclaimed
[bridge]
He lives (He lives) He lives
(Christ is risen) Christ is risen just like He said
(Our Lord and Savior) The Lord and Savior’s no longer dead
Rejoice and celebrate, He lives, He lives, Jesus, He’s alive
Hallelujah
Jesus is alive
Death has lost its victory
And the grave has been denied
Jesus lives forever
He’s alive! He’s alive!
He,s the Alpha and Omega
The first and last is he
The curse of sin is broken
And we have perfect liberty
The lamb of God is risen
He’s alive, He’s alive!
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