The Great Gift Jesus Gave Us

Posted on February 14, 2021

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By David Ettinger

No, Not That One
If I read this headline on someone else’s blog, I would assume the gift was salvation, the greatest of all of Jesus’ gifts, but I speak of another one.

The one I speak of concerns coping in this evil world after that initial gift is received. Though the salvation of Jesus causes men and women to be transformed from the inside out (2 Corinthians 5:17), our “outsides” still consist of corrupted flesh that continues to assault our reborn spirits. And the corrupted flesh of others continues to make living holy lives very, very difficult.

Jesus was well aware of this, and exhibited it when He said good-bye to His disciples. He knew that once He returned to Heaven they would face struggles, and He wanted to assure them He would help them. He promised He would give them a gift when He left, a gift which would help them cope with the overwhelming challenges awaiting them.

He told them: “Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful” (John 14:27).

Thankfully, Jesus has given this gift to ALL who confess Him as Lord and Savior.

What Peace Means
The Greek word for peace is eiréné, pronounced i-ray-nay. Eiréné is the Greek counterpart of the more famous Hebrew word, Shalom. Eiréné gives the sense of oneness, quietness, and rest. When believers have God’s peace, this is what they experience.

Though chaos ravages our world, the Christian can feel a sense of oneness with God which leads to quietness and rest. Some call it “peace of mind.” The Hebrew concept of peace contains the sense of complete metal health, an inward wholeness that soothes the soul.

The peace of Jesus – or peace of God – is not something that can be practiced, but asked for. There is no formula for it as it is a gift. In fact, Philippians 4:7 tells us that this peace of God “surpasses all comprehension.”

It is no wonder the apostle Paul ends several of his letters wishing peace upon his hearers. He writes in Ephesians 6:23: “Peace be to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” So too in 2 Thessalonians 3:16: “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance.” Again, notice that this “peace” is given, something the Lord grants to His children.

And several times He refers to the Lord as “the God of peace” (Romans 15:33; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). The writer of the Book of Hebrews does the same (13:20).

A Desperately Needed Gift!
For Western Christians, the Lord’s gift of peace is needed now more than ever. In America we are seeing the Judeo-Christian foundations of our nation eroding to the point where the foundations of Christianity – faith in God, the Bible, attending church – could become the things of sedition.

Believers will be held accountable for their faith, and a price will be paid. Believers will need the fortifying quietness and rest of God’s unfathomable peace to withstand the hardships that could well await us.

Jesus knew back then how despairing his followers would become, even to the point of falling away, and He knows the same holds true today. If we are faithful to Him, He promises to guide our inner-spirits through the coming trials and will give us the balm our souls need.

So, dear Christian, don’t despair when things get bad. Rather, fall to your knees and ask God to give you His gift of peace. What will be His reply? This: “Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.”

Amen, Lord Jesus, give us your glorious peace!

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Posted in: Application, Bible study, Bible teaching, Christian Behavior, Christianity, Comfort, Culture, Current Events, Deterioration of the U.S., Devotional, Drawing Close to God, God's Faithfulness, God's Grace, God's Provision, New Testament, Practical, Resting in Jesus, Salvation in Christ, Society