Peace
Jesus and Peace
Jesus spoke of peace on three levels at once: peace with God, peace within, and peace between people. He is even called the Prince of Peace. What made his peace distinct is that it did not depend on removing conflict from your life; it came from being reconciled to God at the root, so that a settledness could hold underneath everything else.
Three kinds of peace
We usually mean one of a few things by peace: no war, no inner turmoil, or no broken relationships. Jesus addressed all three, but he started with a fourth that holds the rest together, being at peace with God. His followers found that when the deepest relationship was set right, peace began to work its way outward into the mind and into their dealings with each other.
What Jesus taught
Christians say Jesus does not merely give peace; he is peace, the meeting place where people are reconciled to God and to one another. That is why the same Jesus who calms a frightened heart also tears down the walls between enemies.
You are welcome to come and see
None of this asks you to pretend, to sign up, or to have it all figured out. The invitation of Jesus was always gentle: come and see. Read his own words, watch what he does with the tired and the hurting, and decide for yourself. The Gospel of John is a kind place to begin, and it costs you nothing but a little quiet and an honest heart.
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Frequently asked questions
- What did Jesus teach about peace?
- That real peace begins with being reconciled to God, and flows outward into a settled heart and reconciled relationships. He offered a peace 'not as the world giveth,' one that holds even when circumstances do not (John 14:27).
- Why is Jesus called the Prince of Peace?
- Because Christians believe he brings peace at the root: peace with God through his death and resurrection (Romans 5:1), and peace between people once divided (Ephesians 2:14). The title comes from Isaiah's prophecy of the Messiah.