Peace
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Peace is one thing for which everyone seeks. In our world it is desired by all, but elusive.
What is peace?
What is peace?
1: a state of tranquillity or quiet: as
a: freedom from civil disturbance
b: a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom 〈a breach of the peace〉
2: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
3: harmony in personal relations
4 a: a state or period of mutual concord between governments
I would simplify this to:
A state of tranquility due to:
Harmony in relationships
Inner calm, free from disquieting thoughts and emotions
Why don’t we have peace? Because in this world we have:
Disharmony
Disharmony
There seems to be no peace in the world. There are international conflicts in the news with Iran, North Korea, China, Russia, Syria, etc.
Division is rife with no apparent hope in our own government and society. The rhetoric is ‘tolerance’, but if you do not agree with them, there is not tolerance, but rather vitriolic hatred, which seems to grow by the day!
In our homes there is no peace due to financial strain, or disagreements over how to handle all of the activities of life, or the raising of children, or the way we spend our time.
Inner turmoil
Inner turmoil
Inwardly, we have no peace as we struggle with our own failures. Do you struggle like I do with “I wish I hadn’t…,” “I wish I had…,” “I shouldn’t have…,” “I should have…,” and “If only...”
Then there are the fears and anxieties of life: finances, physical health and well-being, death...
Everyone longs for peace, but we don’t have it. And our own actions to bring about peace torment us and rob us of the very peace we want… Right?
Have you every blown up at someone, “Just give me some peace and quiet!!” Then, we don’t have peace because the way we tried to get it destroyed our relationships...
When will we learn what will give us peace?
It reminds me of Kung-fu Panda. In that movie the teacher, Shifu, is constantly trying to find inner peace, but he keeps getting interrupted by the Panda. No matter where he goes, or how hard he tries, he just cannot find inner peace.
Have you found it? Or, are you like me, still trying to find it?
The big question today is:
How can I have peace?
How can I have peace?
Let’s pray and ask God to speak to us, and show us how we can have peace today.
Prayer
Our passage for today is John 12:12-19.
Some Bibles have this passage labelled as the Triumphal Entry, or Jesus Enters Jerusalem.
Let’s read it together.
The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.
Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him.
So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
What does this have to do with Peace?
What does this have to do with Peace?
At first glance, you may wonder what in the world this passage has to do with peace.
More than we may think at first glance.
When doing Bible study, one thing we have to do is keep in mind the setting, or the situation of the time period when this occured.
Then, we need to read the passage in its context, and look at any references to other passages.
That is what we will do this morning. Join with me in studying...
The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.
The Setting
The Setting
Centuries before, Israel had stopped worshipping God alone, and turned to worshipping idols. So God allowed them to be ruled by others. Currently, they were under Roman rule.
Being ruled by another country was burdensome. The people had no peace. They had to pay a lot of their income in taxes. They had to give produce from their land to the Romans. If a Roman soldier told them to, they had to carry burdens for the soldier for miles. They could be treated cruelly by a Roman, and have no recourse. Romans troops were all around to squelch any suspicious activity.
The people had no peace. However, they knew from the prophets that God promised to deliver them, to save them, and bring them peace.
Now, they were on their way to the festival.
What festival?
The Festival
The Festival
Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Of what is Passover a reminder?
Passover is a reminder of how their ancestors were oppressed as slaves in Egypt. They had no peace, but then God came and brought them out from under the oppression of the Egyptians.
So, now, being under the oppression of the Romans, they were waiting for God’s promise to redeem and restore them. They were waiting for the Messiah, the promised King who would free them and bring them peace!
And into this setting came Jesus.
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”
Palm branches were part of the Feast of Tabernacles according to Leviticus. But they were by this time used for other festivals, and to celebrate victory.
What were they celebrating?
The King Comes
The King Comes
John records the people singing, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!”
“Hosanna” means “O save!” and both this and the next line of verse 9 come from Psalm 118:25–26.
That Psalm is a part of a group of Psalms sung at Passover, Psalms 113–118, called the Hallel.
These words were fresh in everyone’s minds; hopes for the restoration of the Davidic kingdom ran high at this time of year. And, now, here is Jesus! The one who teaches with authority! The one who fed the 5,000, and then the 4,000. The one who cast out Demons! The one who raised the dead! This was surely a fulfillment of God’s promises to send a Messiah! This was surely the descendant of David, the King who would establish Israel as the Kingdom above all other kingdoms! The One who was coming to save them from Rome, and give them peace!
That background is important for our theme. Because we will see that Jesus indeed was coming to bring peace… But not necessarily the way they expected.
Look again at the passage.
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
He came...
Riding on aYoung Donkey
Riding on aYoung Donkey
Matthew, Mark and Luke give us more details than John. Technically, Jesus sent a couple of disciples to ‘find’ the donkey. Why would John say Jesus found the donkey?
When we read those passages, we see that Jesus didn’t go out looking, and then find a donkey. No, He, demonstrated His divinity by telling the disciples exactly where, and in what setting they would find the donkey and its mother, and how people would ask about their taking it.
Jesus showed that He is not just a human king. He showed that He is truly God, knowing all things as He sent two disciples to find the donkey. Though the disciples were the ones who technically went and found the donkey, John has it right. Jesus found the donkey. Being God, He knew exactly where it was, and what the setting was. He knew exactly what would happen, and that people would ask.
Jesus demonstrated that not only was he the promised king, He is God! He is the King of Kings!
Who better to bring peace than the King of Kings!
John also tells us that though the disciples did not get what was happening right at that moment, it was foretold in Zechariah 9:9.
“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
What is interesting is that all four gospels record Jesus going to Jerusalem, riding on a donkey. Why is that detail so important?
This relates to our theme of the day, Peace.
Jesus riding on a donkey was a symbol act of a king coming in peace. Conquering Kings would come riding in on horses. Kings who came in peace came on donkeys.
By riding on a donkey, Jesus was showing the people that he was their king who was coming to bring peace, not a fight.
Zechariah foretold this. Look at Zechariah with me.
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Do you see it? He will proclaim peace, but not just to Israel. Who will He bring peace to? The Nations!
Jesus came to Jerusalem to bring Peace to everyone!
Jesus coming to bring peace was also foretold in Isaiah and the other prophets on numerous occasions. One of the passages in Isaiah is Isaiah 9:6.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The great theme of the Bible, from the prophets through the end of the gospels is that ...
Jesus came to bring us peace
Jesus came to bring us peace
The people of Israel wanted peace.
They thought that overthrowing the Romans, the tyrants ruling over them would bring peace.
They thought that financial prosperity would bring them peace.
They thought that having all of their crops and material goods for themselves would bring peace.
They thought that freedom would bring them peace.
But would that truly bring theme peace?
Jesus came to bring peace, but not the way they thought...
Jesus said as much as He approached Jerusalem that day.
Luke records it this way...
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it
and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
If you had only known what would bring you peace…
Jesus wept, because they did not understand what would bring them the peace they needed. He knew they would reject Him, and the peace that He was bringing. And, because they would not accept the peace He was bringing, they would suffer greatly.
He goes on in Luke, describing the destruction of Jerusalem which happened in 70 AD, 30 some years later, when the Jews did revolt against Roman rule.
If only they had known what would bring them peace...
What will bring you peace?
What will bring you peace?
Just like the Jews in Jesus’ day, I believe we do not have peace because we don’t really know what will bring us peace.
Jesus wept for them because if they had known what would bring them the peace they longed for, they would not have such suffering ahead in their lives.
I believe He weeps for us too, because too often we do not know what will bring us the peace we so desire, and so we bring more suffering and anxiety upon ourselves.
So, this week, I want us to take time to know the Steps to Peace.
Steps to Peace
Steps to Peace
Jesus was going to Jerusalem that day to bring peace.
He brought peace.
Jesus did what was necessary to bring harmony in relationships.
Jesus did what was necessary to bring freedom from disquieting thoughts and emotions.
If we want peace, we need to know, and accept what Jesus did to bring peace.
1. Receive Jesus as your Savior
1. Receive Jesus as your Savior
Everyone wants to bring their own peace. Everyone has this human nature that desires to help ourselves, save ourselves. I can do it. I know what I need, and how I will get it.
The first step is to recognize that Jesus, God the Son, knows what we need, and how to get it better than we do.
He knows how to bring harmony to relationships.
The first relationship we need restored to our relationship with our God, our Creator, our sustainer and hope.
Sin is what destroys peace. Disobedience to God is what destroyed our relationship with Him. And sin separates us from God, keeping us from having peace because that relationship is broken by our actions.
Sin’s just punishment is separation from God, death. So Jesus came and took our sins upon Himself. He took our punishment, so we could have peace with God.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Romans 5:1 says,
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
We have been justified means that we have been declared to be righteous. All that stood between us and God has been removed.
We have—notice the tense here: it is present, on-going—peace with God through Jesus.
We have peace with God. There is harmony between us if we will accept Jesus’ death in our place!
The first step to peace with God is to accept Jesus as your savior, and stop striving to be at peace with God by being good enough on your own.
The second stop is...
2. Confess Sin
2. Confess Sin
Even after receiving Jesus as our savior, we still sin. Sin, self-centered actions, is what truly destroys peace in our lives.
When there is sin in your life, confess it, and believe Him when He says you are forgiven.
He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
When you remember it, rebuke it! He has removed it from you, so do not pick it up again!
James tells us to confess our sins to one another,
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Jesus told us that when someone has something against us, we need to go to them, and confess, and make it right.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
To have peace, harmony in our relationships, we need to confess our sins to God and to the ones we sin against.
When we do that, we will have peace.
3. Forgive others
3. Forgive others
Too often, we do not have peace, because we are hanging on to things people have done to us. We are hanging on to hurts from the past. We need to obey Christ, and Forgive others to be at peace.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
We need to forgive as God forgave us. Freely. This does not mean there are not on-going consequences for sin. However, the relationship is restored to have peace. David was forgiven by God for his sin, but there were still consequences for his actions.
Forgiveness means I will not seek revenge, or try to hurt you back. I will stop the hurt from my end.
Romans tells us to leave revenge to God, and to be at peace with all men as far as it depends on us.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
If we live in this way, and forgive others, we will have peace, even if others will not be at peace with us.
4. Live righteously and justly
4. Live righteously and justly
There is much to be said about living right.
Again, sin is truly the destroyer of peace.
“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace.
On the flip side, God tells us in His word,
The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.
When we do what is right, others may not like it, but we will be at peace because we haven’t done anything wrong. There is nothing to prick our conscience.
And, even if there is persecution for having done what it right, we can still be at peace.
I love what Richard Wurmbrand lived and wrote.
He and other pastors were imprisoned with the communists took over Romania after World War II.
Even in prison, they continued to encourage one another in Christ, as God commanded.
Richard wrote,
It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners, as it is in captive nations today. It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching, so we accepted their terms. It was a deal: we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching; they were happy beating us—so everyone was happy.
What kind of a mindset is that? That is a mind that is at peace because he is living righteously. He is living and doing what God says, even if it upsets others around him. And he had peace.
We can have peace if we live righteously. Not in pride because of our righteous living, for that is sin. Just live righteously, keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus who gives us what we need to live right.
And that leads us to our next step.
5. Meditate on Him
5. Meditate on Him
The world says meditation will bring you peace. You need to either empty your mind, or focus completely on yourself.
God also says we need to meditate. But not on nothing, or on ourselves. WE need to meditate, and fix our mind on Him!
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
As we fix our minds on Him, and know Him, we can have peace in every circumstance.
6. Learn Contentment
6. Learn Contentment
Peace is freedom from disquieting thoughts and emotions. What causes disquieting thoughts and emotions?
Sin does. And we have addressed that.
Another thing that gives us disquieting thoughts and emotions is lack of contentment.
Contentment is being at peace with my circumstances. Contentment is not wishing I had something different, or something more. That can come in the shape of desiring money, things, friends, time, health and more.
Paul said,
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
Paul had a hard life with beatings, stonings, illness, shipwreck, imprisonment, hunger and more. But he learned how to be content.
He trusted that God would give him the strength and grace for whatever came his way.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
David wrote,
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
Jesus said,
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
We will know peace when we learn that God cares for us, and will give us what we need to face each day in this world that is full of sin, heartache and illness. Though life is hard, He is with us so that we will not be destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:5-12 is another great passage. I encourage you to look it up, and learn how we can be content no matter our circumstances because God is with us, and will give us what we need.
7. Fear God
7. Fear God
Personally, I find that often I am robbed of peace because I am fearful of others. What will they think.
Jesus spoke to his disciples and said,
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
God says that I need to have a proper fear and reverence for Him, recognizing Him as the true authority in my life and world.
In Malachi, God speaks of a covenant He made with the tribe of Levi, who were the priests of Israel.
“My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name.
True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin.
God is the one who will give life and peace. That is His covenant. What is required is that I revere Him above all others. If I keep Him in His rightful place, and live to please Him, He will give me peace.
These are, what I believe, the steps of peace we find in God’s word.
To accept Him as Savior
Confess Sin
Forgive others
Live Righteously and Justly
Meditate on Him
Learn Contentment
Fear God
I encourage you to do the homework this week. Look into God’s word, meditate on what it says about peace.
Jesus wept for Jerusalem, If only you knew what would bring you peace...
He tried to share with them.
He has told us in His word how to have peace.
My prayer is that we will learn to be a people of peace, and experience peace as He intends for us.
Homework:
Salvation: How does salvation bring us peace? Study and meditate on Isaiah 53:5, Romans 5:1-5, and Colossians 1:19-20.
Confession: How does confession bring peace? Study and meditate on Romans 8:1, Romans 8:31-34, and 1 John 1:1-2:2.
Forgiveness: How does forgiveness bring peace? Study and meditate on Ephesians 4:31, Matthew 6:14-15, and Romans 12:17-19.
Righteous Living: How does righteous and just living bring peace? Study and meditate on Psalm 85:8, Psalm 119:165, Isaiah 48:8, Isaiah 57:21, Isaiah 32:17, and Isaiah 59:8.
Meditation: How does meditating on Him and what He says bring peace? Study and meditate on Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 26:3, and Philippians 4:6-9.
Contentment: How does contentment bring peace? Study and Meditate on Psalm 119:50, John 16:33, 1 Timothy 6:17, and Matthew 6:25-34.