“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 ESV)

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV)

In these two verses Jesus tells us how peace relates to Him, the world and our hearts.

How Peace Relates to Jesus: He tells us that peace is found in Him. Jesus gives His very own peace to His followers. This peace we receive from Jesus can be described in both an objective and subjective way. The objective peace is that peace with God that Christ has made for us through the cross. Christ’s atonement for our sins reconciled us with God and secured lasting peace for us with the Father. The subjective peace is that peace we now have in our lives as Christians, the fruit of the Spirit which steadies our souls.

How Peace Relates to the World: Jesus says that this peace is not something the world gives. You seek true peace in this world and you will not find it. Only Jesus can give this peace. The world offers just the opposite: tribulation. The one who follows Jesus will experience trouble and turmoil in this world. That is why we need the peace of Jesus.

How Peace Relates to Our Hearts: Jesus tells us that He has overcome the world. The victory Jesus won through His death and resurrection means that the tribulation in this world pales in comparison to the victory we have in Christ. The world’s opposition and attacks on His followers cannot defeat them. His victory makes us overcomers with Him. So Jesus says to our hearts, “Don’t be troubled or afraid. Take heart.” Be encouraged. All the pain, sorrow, and trouble this world brings cannot take away the peace you have in Jesus Christ. He has conquered all evil. He is with you. You are secure in Him. We share in His victory with Him. His triumph is forever.

Those who are united to Him by faith are granted a peace that endures while living in this troubled world. If we believe He has overcome this world and promised victory to us, we can have an internal peace that weathers every storm of life. Our peace is not shaken because it is secured in the triumph of Christ.