The Peace of Christ

I wrote this over the Christmas break but am just now getting around to posting it. Hope it is encouraging because the next 2 I have are less so.

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At the Christmas Eve service I attended at Elk Rapids Baptist Church, an interesting question was asked and offered for those in attendance to respond. Simply asked, “What does Jesus mean to you?” As I thought about it, the first thing that came to mind was ‘peace’. I don’t mean the sort of tranquil, peace of mind state that many run towards that they think comes with accepting Jesus. I was thinking more of the lack of hostility between God and His creation and between the members of the human race. Peace of mind seems to be a secondary bonus that may or come from accepting Jesus. But Jesus is the Prince of Peace because he offers more than just a good feeling and more than a cessation of war and fighting. The peace I am speaking of is clearly portrayed in Ephesians 2:14-18 (NIV):

“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

Jesus’ peace provides the ability for people to finally relate to one another and to finally relate to God. It is a peace that surpasses understanding because we can’t comprehend how God could accept us. We can’t see how humanity could actually get along in the face of constant conflict. Yet the peace of Christ has destroyed these walls and brought everyone near to God and to each other. Praise be to God for this gift of mercy through Christ!