Everyone loves the idea of peace. The Hebrew word for peace is “shalom.” To wish someone “shalom” is to wish them peace, harmony, completeness, prosperity, and well-being. When you greet someone, or say goodbye, it’s always shalom.
Now over in Chatham they have a different way of saying it. They say, “Have a good one.” They don’t ever say ‘a good one of what’, just “have a good one!” And if you ever mess up, people from Chatham are quick to give you assurance. They’ll say, “You’re good.”
Like say you’re at McDonalds, and you go to pay for your McMuffin, but instead of chip’in you start swip’in! And right when you’re about mid-swipe, they scream, “NO! DON’T SWIPE!” But it’s already too late, and your apologizing all over yourself, “I’M SORRY! I’M SORRY! I’M SO SORRY!” That’s when, in Chatham, they say, “You’re good.”
In Chicago they just say, “No McMuffin for you…” But in Chatham they say, “You’re good! Here’s your McMuffin! Have a good one!” It’s called Chatham shalom.
Everyone has some version of “shalom.” In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul begin his letters, “Grace and peace to you…” One of the ways we signal peace is with the two-finger peace sign. When you among friends, it means “Hey, were cool…” When you’re among rivals it means, “Not here, not now.” When you around groupies it means, “Come chill with us…”
During WWII, Churchill flashed the peace sign to the press, except he got it backwards! He held out the back of his hand instead of the palm, which in Europe, is like giving people the middle finger! Gestures can be powerful! If your palm is open toward someone its all good, but if your palm is turned away, it’s a curse!
For this month, we’re talking about Finding Peace with God. God has made a radical gesture of peace to us. With his palms open wide, he sent his One and Only Son Jesus to die on a cross. And why? To offer us a peace that is far deeper, wider, and longer lasting than any kind of peace the world could ever offer.
In John 14:27, Jesus is in the upper room with his disciples. He knows exactly what’s about to happen. He’s told his disciples, “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the 3rd day be raised.” But with dire prospect of death lurking over him, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.”
Notice that Jesus is makes a distinction between “his” peace and the world’s. He says, “my peace I give to you… I do not give as the world gives.” Have you ever considered that maybe there are different kinds of “peace,” and that maybe the peace God offers us in Christ Jesus is wholly different than any other peace that can be found?
Worldly peace tends to be rather “sentimental.”
I’m thinking of the 70’s music group Eagles. Remember their song? “I got a peaceful easy feelin'... And I know you won't let me down… Cause I'm already standin'… On the ground.” That’s worldly peace. I’ve got peaceful easy feelings so long as you’re not letting me down.
Worldly peace tends to be kind of “escapist.”
There is a shocking epidemic of addiction sweeping across our city. Alcoholism is a familiar vice. But heroin addiction is becoming epidemic, and its taking lives. People are addicted to painkillers. Marijuana use is becoming legal, and socially accepted. Pornography addiction is skyrocketing. Video game, smart phone, television addiction are very real.
Addictions are a way people try to escape all the pain & sorrow, the trouble & worries, the responsibilities, pressures, anxieties of life. But with every escape, the euphoric high only diminishes. And with every escape, your troubles only multiply. Addiction is a lie. It promises “peace, peace” while only multiplying pain. All too often the world offer “escape” under the guise of “peace.”
Worldly peace tends to be “atheistic,” “godless,” or even “anti-religious.”
Let’s dig a big further into our 70’s music archive. How about John Lenon, and “Imagine?” The world imagines peace without God, without heaven, without religion.
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky Imagine all the people living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Worldly peace also tends to be rather “humanistic.”
Humanism is an overly optimistic, naïve belief, that we humans are our only hope to eradicate all the evils in the world. I’m all for human progress. But my hope isn’t ultimately in human progress, its in God. A lot of preaching today is really just humanism dressed in gospel clothing.
Over a decade ago, Rick Warren identified five global goliaths that wreck peace. They are (1) Spiritual Emptiness, (2) Egocentric Leadership, (3) Extreme Poverty, (4) Pandemic Diseases, and (5) Illiteracy and lack of education.
He called upon churches world wide to slay these giants by committing to a five part P.E.A.C.E. strategy that involves (P)romoting reconciliation, (E)quipping servant leaders, (A)ssisting the poor, (C)aring for the sick, and (E)ducating the next generation.
As Christians, nothing on this list should be a problem for us. Jesus called us to be peacemakers. He didn’t come to be served, but to serve, and give his life for many. True religion is to assist widows and orphans in their need. The acid test for spirituality is care. “I was hungry | thirsty | a stranger | naked | sick | in prison... [you cared]” And education: “Go and make disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey…”
Now Rick Warren believes what I’m about to tell you. The problem isn’t what’s on the list, it’s what isn’t on the list. In Ephesians 2:14 Paul says of Jesus, “For He Himself is our peace. . .” In John 14:27 Jesus says, “My peace I give to you.” Peace is something Jesus is giving of himself, that he himself has, and that he himself is.
What is True Peace?
As Christians, we can be giving people all sorts of good vibes and peaceful easy feelings (the cynical side of me wonders if this isn’t what worship is becoming). As Christians, we can engage in all sorts of social justice… and really good stuff, like racial reconciliation, public service, building wells,… fighting poverty, sexual exploitation, slavery, homelessness, disease, illiteracy, war. We can mitigate much suffering. But if people don’t receive Jesus Himself, have they really/truly found peace?
Part of peace is seeking the well-being of people. But the peace of Jesus goes further still. We can gain everything this world has to offer, yet still forfeit their soul.
When Jesus offered a cup of water in his Father’s name to the woman at the well he was careful to say, “If you drink this water you’ll be thirsty again. But if you drink the water I offer, you’ll never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give will become in you a well of water springing up in him for eternal life!” (see John 4:13-14).
When Jesus looked upon the crowds with deep compassion, harassed and helpless and ravaged as they were, he fed them. But he was careful to say, “Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you… For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world… I am the bread of life, no one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again… for this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (see John 6:26,32-40).
When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about the Kingdom of God in John 3, he was careful to remind Nicodemus that the Kingdom of God wasn’t about anything he could do for himself, but only what God could do. Jesus said, “Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” (see John 3:5). The Kingdom of God isn’t a humanistic thing… it’s a Holy-Spirit enabled, Holy Spirit-regenerated thing!
When Jesus healed a man of life-long paralysis in John 5, the man probably felt his every prayer had been answered. But though cured he didn’t yet have peace. Why? Because John 5:13 tell us, “He did not yet know who Jesus was.” But Jesus appeared to him to say, “See, you are well! Do not sin anymore, so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.” The only thing worse than losing world’s peace, is losing the eternal peace Jesus offers.
When Jesus intervened on behalf of the woman caught in adultery, and spared her from a crushing death by stoning, she probably felt great relief. Jesus was the single greatest advocate there ever was for women’s dignity and rights. But she didn’t yet have peace. Jesus says to her, “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” And then Jesus tells everyone there, “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life!” (See John 8:11-12).
The blind man in John 9, received his sight back. Awesome! But he didn’t yet have peace. Jesus returns to him and says, “Do you believe in the Son of the Man?” The man said “Who is He Sir, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus answers, “You have seen him; in fact, He is the One speaking with you now.” To which the man says, “I believe, Lord!” and he worshipped Jesus. (see John 9:35-38).
Story after story, encounter after encounter, there is one overarching theme. The theme that is best captured in John 16:33, where Jesus says, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” The good news is no matter what we face in this world, Jesus offers Himself to us as our peace. In John 20:21-22, Jesus is about to ascend to the right hand of the Father. His parting words to his disciples are, “Peace to you!” And the Bible says he “breathed on them”, and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Peace is a Relationship
Peace isn’t a “thing,” it’s a relationship. If you don’t have Jesus, you only know the peace the world offers. What would it be like for you to know the peace Jesus gives? What would it be like for you to know the peace of John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.”
Here is what I want you to consider doing. I want you to devote the next four Sundays to being here in worship. This is just an introductory sermon. A teaser. Next week we’re going to talk about God’s offer of peace in Jesus. We already know that peace is a relationship, and Jesus is our peace. But what exactly is God’s offer of peace? And how do we go about receiving peace? Spend some time reading the Gospel John. Log into our website, and watch the messages, or read the manuscripts.
If you are sincere about wanting to know Jesus. If you haven’t been baptized, and think you might want to be. If you’re ready to explore this peace in Jesus... This Wednesday night, at 6pm, I’m starting a three-week class on Finding Peace with God. Childcare is provided. I’m eager to have that conversation with you if you’re ready.
Sunday, May 6 will be decision day here at Lakeside. It’s an opportunity for you to confess your faith, and be baptized with other people, right here at Lakeside. As we sing this next song, you’re welcome to come forward. If you can’t meet on a Wednesday night, let’s schedule another time for you to meet w/one of our ministers.