Two Kinds of Peace

(John 14:27) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

I have been pondering briefly this morning, the two different kinds of peace that Jesus is talking about in the verse above. He tells us that he is leaving and giving a certain type of peace. And he also tells us that this type of peace is different then the type of peace the world gives. I looked up 8 or so verses that spoke of a certain kind peace that was deceptive.   This peace was deceptive because one person would boast and flatter another person, only to later bring destruction upon them (Psalm 5:9, 12:2).

(Psalm 55:20-21) My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. 21 His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

There is also the account in Matthew 22:15-22. The Pharisees want to trap Jesus in his words, so that they can shipwreck his ministry. They have some of their followers go up to Jesus and speak flattering words..

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “ Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “ Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “ Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “ Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “ Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

I think the difference between the peace that Jesus gives to Christians, and the peace the world offers is this; the peace of Jesus brings unity, and the peace the world brings disunity. Jesus, through the cross, brought a peace with God that was not there. We were enemies of God because of our sin. Jesus bore our wrath, and took away our sorrow. He brought us to God through his own blood. We have true peace with God because of Jesus, and thus true unity. The peace the world offers brings disunity. If you read the above verses, the peace the world is offering is only deceptive peace. It says, "I love you," and yet will deceive you later on, thus bringing disunity between people.

In thinking about this type of peace the world offers, It seems to me that there is plenty of peace between non-believers. It would appear at first that what Jesus is saying isn't always true. People can be truly kind to one another, and have no plans in their heart to kill, or deceive one another at a later date. But here is where the peace of the world, and the peace of Jesus really distinguish themselves. The peace of Jesus bring unity between man and God. The peace of the world brings disunity between man and God. The atheist parent brings up their children to be unified with their fellow man. They teach that all of creation is united by a common substance, and should strive to be at peace with it all, whether other humans, the animals or nature. They do not outright teach against God, yet they are preaching plenty of the needlessness of the peace that Jesus offers. It ends up not in what they do say, but what they leave unsaid.

So the peace Jesus offers us is a unity with the God of all creation. The peace that the world offers may be a supposed unity with other men, but is only deceptive speech to actually bring disunity. Or the peace the world offers actually brings unity between people, but disunity between these people and God; and thus brings actual disunity.