Jesus, Our Peace
Scripture Reading — Isaiah 53:1-6
The punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5
World history is the history of wars; wars of kingdoms against kingdoms and nations against nations. People live in constant conflict—almost as walking war machines. We live in conflict with God, with others, and with ourselves.
In this violent world, where quite often our foes can be found in our own homes, Jesus is presented as our peace.
But peace in Jesus is not measured by the absence of conflict or struggle in our lives or in the world around us. Peace is not just a serene feeling or even a pleasant condition.
Our peace is a person; our peace is Jesus Christ. Jesus made the peace, offers the peace, and is the peace. At the heart of this amazing peace-making, as Isaiah tells us, is the love that took upon himself the terrible brokenness of our world!
Through Jesus we have peace with God and we have the peace of God. Peace with God has to do with our right relationship with God (Romans 5). The peace of God has to do with our hearts and minds being filled with assurance, hope, and contentment in Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
Jesus is the Prince of peace, the ruler of the kingdom of peace, and his subjects are peacemakers. Jesus is the only one who can calm the tempests of the soul, quiet the churning waves of the heart, and lead us safely to divine peace.
Lord, help me to know your peace and to lead lost people to you, the source of life and peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — Hernandes Lopes
Rev. Hernandes Dias Lopes grew up in a Christian home in Brazil. Following his 1981 graduation from Seminário Presbiteriano do Sul in Campinas, Brazil, he served two congregations of the Presbyterian Church in Brazil. In 2000, he earned a doctor of ministry degree from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. Rev. Lopes has been the voice of the television program Verdade e Vida (“Truth and Life”) since 2006. In 2010 he was appointed Portuguese ministry leader for Back to God Ministries International. Rev. Lopes and his wife, Tinha, have two college-age children.
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