Jesus, Justice, and Peace: Part 3, Peace
Peace is a trickier concept. In the Bible version I’m using, there are two words: peace and shalom. Jesus uses peace 2 times in the Gospels, and shalom nearly 20 times. As a result, shalom is my focus.
What is shalom? It’s a Hebrew word meaning peace, but it’s also integrated with perfection. Biblically it is well-being, prosperity, tranquility, security, but it is also a high blessing and moment of grace — that unearned, undeserved favor from God.
It surpasses all understanding and provides special protection for the hearts and minds of believers.
Christ mentioned shalom nearly 20 times, and most of us now have short attention spans in the Internet generation. As a result, my focus is John’s Gospel for the remainder.
Almost all of Christ’s mention of Shalom occur in John chapters 14–17. These are powerful passages describing Christ trying to prepare His disciples for His impending crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and return to heaven. Throughout the Gospel, his disciples do usually miss the meaning of Old Testament passages that apply to Christ. This is the last meal Christ shares with them; as a result, these words He speaks are His final instructions before leaving this life.
The first mention of peace, of shalom in this passage is John 14:27: Shalom I leave you, My shalom I give to you; but not as the world gives! Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid.
Christ has already established that He is God’s Son and He is one with God the Father; therefore, He has the authority and power that God the Father has.
As Author of Life and Creator, Father God can create something out of nothing, guide the hearts of rulers as nations rise and fall, and align circumstances for the well-being of His children.
Shalom is a circumstance that is best for His children. It’s not the absence of conflict though. It is an attitude of well-being, prosperity, tranquility, security, that comes as a high blessing from God and brings with it a moment of grace.
The next mention of Shalom is still within the passage of Christ’s last meal with His disciples in John 16:33: These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have shalom. In the world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world!
Here, Christ ties the concept of peace, of shalom to belief and faith in Him. In essence, His teachings over the last meal He’s sharing are to remind His disciples of relating to Him and honoring His teachings. In this relationship through obedience, Christ gives His people well-being, prosperity, tranquility, security, that high blessing from God bringing a moment of grace. However, He also reminds them that these things cannot be defined as the world defines them.
Three more times, the Lord uses the word Shalom in John 20, verses 19, 21, 26. It is after His death, burial, and resurrection but before His return to heaven. His disciples are fearful, afraid of dying the same way. He appears to them despite circumstances that would prevent most ordinary humans from appearing, and He greets them with the term Shalom Aleichem. It literally translates as peace be to you. And it’s not the standard absence of conflict peace. As victorious God, Christ is giving them that high blessing and moment of grace, unearned favor from God, that brings well-being, prosperity, tranquility, and security.
I do want to address one other place shalom is mentioned in the Gospels. It’s tricky and difficult and often misinterpreted to argue that all God’s children are able to go to war and it is actually permitted.
Well, actually it’s two, but they are both very similar. Let’s look at Matthew 10:34–36 and Luke 12:51–53.
In Matthew 10:34–36, Jesus speaks: Do not think that I came to bring shalom on the earth; I did not come to bring shalom, but a sword. For I have come to set “a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.”
Jesus also speaks in Luke 12:51–53: Do you suppose that I have come to bring shalom on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on there will be five in one house in opposition, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.
This is disturbing and distressing to hear coming from the Lord, especially in light of John’s Gospel. Why is this there? What does it really mean?
I don’t believe Jesus was talking about global affairs or actual assault, battery, and domestic violence. I think that He knew as He fulfilled all of Jewish Law some of His teachings would be difficult and even revolutionary. He knew the hearts of men, and He knew that some men would not be able to accept His teachings.
In these passages, He was warning His followers that they would face hardship and severe opposition from those who did not believe in Him. He wanted His people prepared and ready because their sharpest critics and most vocal opponents could be friends and family, even those they lived with.
