Peace That Surpasses Understanding

     This past Sunday, I experienced something profound about God's peace in an unexpected place – the Seattle Marathon. Many of you knew about my injured knee and were faithfully lifting me up in prayer. Those prayers carried me through 26.2 miles of what could have been anxiety-filled running. Instead, with each mile marker, I felt an inexplicable calm. Even as my legs grew heavy, there was a steady assurance that surpassed the physical challenge. Crossing the finish line in 3 hours and 48 minutes, I couldn't help but reflect on how God's peace shows up not just in moments of stillness, but in our struggles and striving. To everyone who prayed – thank you. Your prayers weren't just about a finishing time; they were prayers of God's peace flowing into a situation that could have been overwhelming. This experience has made me reflect deeply on what Jesus meant when He promised us His peace – a peace that's active and present even when our circumstances are anything but peaceful.
     In the Advent season, as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ's first coming, we find ourselves drawn to a promise Jesus made to his disciples during their last evening together. His promise centers on the coming of the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus describes with distinct specificity. This wasn't to be just any spiritual experience or divine manifestation – this was to be the Spirit sent by the Father in Jesus' own name, carrying all the authority and character of Christ himself. The Greek text uses the word "Paraclete," which carries connotations of advocacy, comfort, and guidance. It's worth noting that this is one of only three instances in John's writings where the full phrase "Holy Spirit" appears, marking this as a moment of particular significance.
     The Spirit's role, as Jesus defines it, is both comprehensive and specific. He "will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." This dual function – teaching and reminding – speaks to the Spirit's role as both instructor of new truth and preserver of Jesus' teachings. It's a promise that would prove essential for the early church and remains important for us today. The Spirit doesn't bring new revelation that contradicts or supersedes Jesus' teachings; instead, he deepens our understanding and applies Christ's truth to our contemporary context.
     But Jesus doesn't stop with the promise of the Holy Spirit’s instruction. He moves to give something equally important: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." The timing of this gift is significant. On the eve of his crucifixion, when chaos and violence were about to erupt, Jesus speaks of peace. This isn't just any peace – it's "my peace," he emphasizes. The possessive pronoun is crucial here. This is the very peace that enabled Jesus to sleep in a storm-tossed boat, to face hostile crowds with composure, and to approach his crucifixion with unwavering purpose.
     The distinction Jesus draws is sharp and intentional: "I do not give to you as the world gives." The world's peace is often merely the absence of conflict, a fragile ceasefire dependent on favorable circumstances. It's the pax Romana of Jesus' day, achieved through military might and maintained by the threat of violence. In contrast, Jesus offers a peace that transcends circumstances – a peace that can exist in the midst of trouble, not just in its absence.
     This promise of peace is similar to the ancient Hebrew blessings. When Jesus speaks of leaving peace, he employs language that would have reminded his Jewish disciples of the traditional greeting and farewell of "shalom." The concept of shalom encompasses completeness, wellness, and harmony with God and others. It's the peace envisioned in the Messianic prophecies of Isaiah, who foresaw a time when the "Prince of Peace" would establish endless shalom (Isaiah 9:6-7).
     The connection to the Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6:24-26 is particularly striking. Just as the priests would pronounce peace upon the people of Israel, Jesus now bestows his peace upon his followers. But there's a crucial difference – this isn't just a blessing to be hoped for, but a gift to be received and experienced. It's a peace that would soon be sealed by his blood and made accessible through his resurrection.
     Jesus concludes this promise with a command that speaks directly to our human tendency toward anxiety: "Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." The imperative here is active – it's not just about feeling peaceful but about actively refusing to let our hearts be dominated by trouble and fear. This command is grounded in the promises that precede it: the presence of the Spirit and the gift of Christ's peace provide the foundation for peaceful hearts even in troubled times.
     For us, especially during the Advent season, these verses offer comfort and challenge. We live in a world that often feels increasingly chaotic and divided. The peace offered by our culture usually comes with conditions – financial security, political stability, military strength, or personal achievement. But Jesus offers a peace that exists independently of these external factors, a peace that can sustain us even when our circumstances are far from peaceful.
     The promise of the Spirit's presence reminds us that we're not left to figure things out on our own. The same Spirit who would guide the disciples into all truth continues to illuminate Scripture for believers today, helping us understand and apply Jesus' teachings to our contemporary challenges. The teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit isn't about receiving new revelation but about experiencing the living reality of Christ's words in our daily lives. Moreover, the peace Jesus gives is not passive but transformative. It's a peace that can change how we respond to conflict, face uncertainty, and handle anxiety. It's a peace that enables us to live differently in a troubled world – not because we're immune to problems, but because we're grounded in something deeper than our circumstances.
     As we enter Advent, these verses invite us to reflect on the multiple dimensions of Christ's coming. His first advent brought the Prince of Peace into our world. His Spirit's presence offers us peace in our current reality. And his promised return holds the hope of perfect peace when all things are made new. The peace he gives is both a present reality and a future hope, sustaining us in the tension between the "already" and the "not yet" of God's kingdom.
     The practical implications of this passage are far-reaching. It challenges us to examine how we seek peace in our lives. Are we looking to the world's sources of security and stability, or are we learning to rest in the peace Christ gives? It invites us to consider how we might live as agents of his peace in our families, workplaces, and communities. And it reminds us that true peace isn't something we achieve through our own efforts but rather a gift we receive and then share with others.
     As we prepare to celebrate Christ's birth, these words from the upper room remind us that the baby in the manger would grow up to offer a peace that surpasses all understanding. The Spirit he promised continues to teach us, reminding us of his words and enabling us to live in his peace. In a world that seems increasingly fractured and fearful, this promise of peace remains as relevant and necessary as ever.