Christ’s Legacy of Peace

Peace I Leave with You

John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

Introduction

Anyone here memorized that verse already? It’s worthy, isn’t it? When you really look at it, this is an exceedingly precious and great promise—and a command.

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

And yet, a thousand opportunities arise for trouble and fear, don’t they? A song I heard not long after I was converted comes to mind: “Troublesome times are here, filling our hearts with fear.”

This verse, John 14:27, deals with Christ’s legacy of peace: “My peace I give to you.” A similar promise is found later in this same discourse, in John 16:33:
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Additionally, while John 14:27 refers to “My peace,” notice how other passages in this discourse emphasize “My love” (John 15:9-10) and “My joy” (John 15:11). Love, joy, and peace are also the first three fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

The Greek word for peace here is eirēnē, from which the name Eirene comes. Peace is such a great blessing and so necessary to the human heart. Anxiety, fear, and trouble are awful burdens, aren’t they? You’d likely be surprised at how many people in our communities live on tranquilizers, forgetting what the Lord has done for us in such substantial measure.

Three Aspects of Christ’s Peace

1. A Donated Peace

“Peace I leave with you.”

This peace is a legacy, an inheritance that the Lord passes on. Matthew Henry writes, “The Lord Jesus bequeathed His soul to His Father, His body to Joseph of Arimathea, His clothes to the soldiers, His mother to the care of John. But to His disciples, He left what was far better—His peace.”

This is not a material inheritance. When my mother passed away, she left her wedding ring and silverware to Tarri. That was special. But the Lord did not leave His disciples a house, lands, a car, or even good health.

Take, for example, Kevin Willingham, the brother down in Texas. He has to lift his wife Sherry about 70 times every day. The Lord did not promise good health or ease of life. In fact, such things, when pursued excessively, can clog the arteries of our spiritual lives. Instead, He left something far greater: peace.

This is a peace of conscience, arising from peace with God. It comes because our sins are pardoned and we are reconciled to God through the blood of Christ. This peace is so rare and so special. Unlike earthly inheritances, which are often replaceable, the peace Christ gives has no equal.

2. A Double Peace

The verse emphasizes peace twice:
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.”

This repetition underscores its importance. The Lord didn’t leave us material goods but something far greater—His peace. This peace is not available anywhere else. Just as Joseph in Egypt was the designated one to distribute wheat and corn, so Jesus is the sole dispenser of this peace.

Isaiah says, “There is no peace for the wicked.” Any peace a sinner finds apart from Christ is superficial, temporary, and ultimately false. The non-Christian does not know the way of peace—it is foreign to them. What a sad and sobering truth.

3. A Different Peace

“Not as the world gives do I give to you.”

The peace Jesus gives is fundamentally different from what the world offers. Anything the world provides is fleeting, superficial, and shallow. Christ’s peace, however, is enduring and rooted in our reconciliation with God.

In the Bible, the emphasis on peace is striking. Seven times in the New Testament, God is called the “God of peace.” Once, He is called the “Lord of peace.”

The God of Peace

The Lord is repeatedly called the God of peace in Scripture—a designation that emphasizes His character and His gift of peace to His people. Seven times in the New Testament, God is referred to as the God of peace, and once He is called the Lord of peace. This is a central theme of the Bible, and many scriptures affirm it:

• Psalm 4: “I will both lay me down in peace and sleep.”
• Psalm 29: “The Lord will bless His people with peace.”
• Psalm 34: “Seek peace and pursue it.”
• Psalm 37: “The meek shall inherit the earth and delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
• Psalm 72: “The mountains shall bring peace to the people.”
• Psalm 85: “He will speak peace to His people and His saints.”
• Psalm 147: “He makes peace in your borders.”
• Isaiah 9: “One of the Lord’s names is the Prince of Peace.”
• Isaiah 26: “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You.”
• Romans 5: “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
• Ephesians 2: “He is our peace.”
• Philippians 4: “Be anxious for nothing… and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds.”
• Hebrews 12: “Follow peace with all men and holiness.”

What an emphasis there is on peace throughout the Scriptures! It is one of the greatest needs of the human heart and a central promise of God.

A Donated Peace

“Peace I leave with you.”
This is a donated peace—a gift and legacy left to us by Christ Himself. It is not material wealth or worldly goods but something infinitely more valuable. Matthew Henry observed that Jesus left His soul to His Father, His body to Joseph of Arimathea, His clothes to the soldiers, and His mother to the care of John. But to His disciples, He left His peace.

It is peace of conscience, arising from reconciliation with God through the blood of Christ. This peace cannot be found in the world—it is unique, rare, and eternal.

A Double Peace

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.”
This double peace points to two aspects of peace in the Christian life.

1. Peace with God (Objective Peace):
   This is the peace Christ accomplished through His death on the cross. As Colossians 1:20 states, “Peace through the blood of His cross.” Our sin debt has been paid, and the chastisement that brought us peace was upon Him (Isaiah 53).
2. The Peace of God (Subjective Peace):
   This is the inner peace that comes from walking with Christ. It is experienced through prayer, obedience, and trust. Philippians 4:6-7 says:
   “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

A Different Peace

“Not as the world gives do I give to you.”
The peace Christ gives is fundamentally different in nature and source:

• It is Deep: Unlike superficial worldly peace, Christ’s peace reaches the heart.
• It is Spiritual: It is not based on circumstances or possessions but rooted in a relationship with Him.
• It is Eternal: The world’s peace is temporary and fleeting, but Christ’s peace endures.
• It is Supernatural: It surpasses all understanding and cannot be explained by natural means.

Consider how believers throughout history have demonstrated this peace. Covenanters faced death with joy, singing praises to God. The apostle Peter slept peacefully the night before his execution (Acts 12). Paul and Silas sang hymns while imprisoned and beaten (Acts 16). This peace defies logic and is rooted in Christ’s presence within us.

The Believer’s Response

We should ask ourselves:

• Do we have peace with God?
• Do we experience the peace of God?

Peace with God requires faith and repentance, trusting wholly in Christ’s finished work on Calvary. Without this, there can be no true peace. Jeremiah warned against a false peace, saying: “They have healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14).

Peace with God is eternal and unshakable for the believer, but the peace of God can fluctuate based on our obedience, trust, and prayer life. As Spurgeon noted, disobedience, ignorance, and unbelief can all disturb our peace. Yet the eternal realities we possess in Christ remain secure.

Conclusion

Christ’s peace is a rare and precious treasure. It is not of this world, but it is ours through Him. As believers, we are secure in the big things—our union with Christ, our justification, and our eternal hope. Let us pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, knowing that Christ desires for us to experience this peace in abundance.

As Spurgeon said, “The believer can have two heavens if he wants—one here below and one above.”