Most people would define peace as the absence of conflict or the absence of war. That is certainly a definition of the word and something that we should all desire. However, from a Biblical perspective, the word peace has a much deeper meaning.
As we go into week two of Advent, this week’s theme is peace. Peace is tranquility, be it internal or external. It’s a state of being, as one can be in the midst of conflict and still retain a peace that defies understanding (Phil. 4:6-7). That’s the Biblical idea of peace.
The word peace in the Hebrew scriptures means to be complete, having nothing missing and nothing broken (shalom). This is an internal state of being where one knows that no matter what is happening externally, because one’s trust and hope are in God, all things are going to be okay.
As I wrote about hope in my last post, hope is the confident expectation that good things are coming. Out of this hope, one can live in peace because they are not focused on external things. They are focused on their relationship with their Heavenly Father and since He is in charge of all things, they can live with inner tranquility knowing that no matter what happens, it will all turn out for their good.
The Jewish people were waiting for their Messiah, their Deliverer. They were anticipating the day their Messiah would come and deliver them from Roman oppression and make Israel great again. They wanted external peace that came through a national deliverer.
One thing that is ironic to me is that Jesus (the Prince of Peace) was born during a time known as the Pax Romana, the peace of Rome. However, that Roman peace came at a high price. It came through the punishment and sometimes the violent death of anyone that opposed Rome. Peace came through violence. That’s the way of the world.
Jesus came to bring peace in a different way. The way of Jesus’ peace doesn’t come through violence, although many Christians believe that it does. Many Christians believe that at some point in the future, Jesus will return and wipe out his enemies thus bringing forth eternal peace.
How is that different than the Pax Romana? How is keeping the peace through means of violence the way of the Kingdom? Jesus didn’t offer peace through violent means. He offers peace through relationship, through union with him and the Father.
The words to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth declare the intent and thoughts of the Father’s heart towards humanity. “Peace on earth, goodwill to men.” (Luke 2:14). These are not words of violence but of peace. The angels did not say “you’d better worship this baby or else all hell will break loose”. That’s the way of the world as we see in the actions of King Herod when his kingdom was threatened by the birth of this new king. In order to protect his kingdom, King Herod committed the Slaughter of the Innocents.
God’s way is peace, everything and everyone in its place, where nothing is missing, nothing is broken. God wants us to live in both inner and external peace. And that peace comes from our hope and trust in Him. It comes from believing that God’s will is peace and goodwill toward mankind.
Far too many Christians believe that God is angry with humanity and is punishing us through violent means such as hurricanes, tornados, and tsunamis. On a more personal level, some believe that God inflicts sickness on them as a punishment or a means to teach them a lesson. That’s the way of Pax Romana, not the way of the Prince of Peace.
Peace is one of the foundational points of our relationship with God. Jesus, the very Prince of Peace, came so that we could have peace with God and live in peace with one another. Jesus came to show us that the Father was wanting to reconcile the world to himself. (**). God is a God of peace and wants us to live in peace.
Jesus came to reveal a Father that loves his children and desires peace with them. He’s done all that he can do to bring that peace about. It’s up to us to trust in his desire for peace on earth, and goodwill to men.
As we observe Advent by anticipating the birth of this Prince of Peace, ask the Father where things may be missing or broken in your life. Ask the Prince of Peace to bring peace into your situation. Believe that his desire is peace in your life and goodwill toward you.
Thinking Allowed Episode: The Peace of Advent
