SHALOM - the Meaning of True PeaceSample

Although we are looking into the book of John, it's important to note that the word peace is found the most in the book of Luke. Luke, who was a physician and possibly a gentile, was not part of the original 12 Apostles but may have been one of the 70 disciples appointed by Jesus. Here is a man who works according to logic, science, and human effort, finding comfort and making more sense of the word Peace than John, who was known as the "beloved" Apostle. It always fascinates me how so many people could hear the same message and yet come to different conclusions. Luke heard Jesus say "Peace" the most. John heard Jesus say "Love" the most.

Gentiles were generally considered the outcast of Jesus' day. Jews didn't even consider them in the plan of salvation. Once again, giving weight to the fact that when something is so prevalent in your life, the more you become familiar with it, and familiarity breeds negligence. But for Luke, this was a new concept, something that was new to him the way Jesus was presenting it. Something that left a mark on Luke.

Here we find the first time Peace is mentioned in John by Jesus. The famous text can be quoted without even reading the entire text. But notice how he makes two clear distinctions between the word peace as believers know it and peace as the world knows it. It always catches my eye how Jesus alludes to the fact that the world can give you peace. Yet he emphasizes that the peace that he can give us is unique and different. The world gives us temporary and conditional peace. Jesus offers us something eternal. Remember, the word used in Genesis was used in context of passing from this earth into eternity. Jesus is upholding that definition using a new word in Greek.

The Greek word for Peace is Eirene (Strong G1515), and it means the state of uprightness after death, the assurance of salvation, to be secured by, and to join together. Now it's starting to take more shape! As our Prince of Peace, Jesus is assuring us that He is the only one that could give us the kind of peace we need. The peace that gives us more than stress-free tranquility - but rather the blessed assurance of salvation that we can only find IN him (Jn 16:33). Tomorrow, we will put all the pieces together and see what it means to us