The Gift of Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.

John 14:27

To think of Christmas is to think of peace. It’s featured prominently in the Nativity when the choir of angels appears to the shepherds proclaiming, “Peace on earth, good will to men.” We sing of it in Christmas carols as we adore the Christ child by candlelight on Christmas Eve: “Sleep in heavenly peace.” The prophet Isaiah foresaw a time when lions would lie down with lambs (Isaiah 11:6) and swords would be beat into plowshares (Isaiah 2:4). And of course, Jesus himself, is hailed as the Prince of Peace.

 

All of this is in striking contrast to the world around us. Terror threatens many lands, including our own. Nations are divided into armed camps. Incivility and bitter division pervade our politics.

What a blessing, then, to remember that peace is a gift from God: “My peace I give to you,” said Jesus. It's a gift the world cannot understand, much less give. The Good News is he wants to share it with us. So as we experience the joy of giving and receiving this Christmas, let us keep Christ’s gift of peace foremost in our hearts.

Christ desires to share his peace with us.