He could speak peace in the forgiveness of sins: but this peace—His peace was not before given to the disciples. Peace shuts out trouble. (John 14:27.)
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This peace is the possession of such quiet as to be undisturbed about other things. It is peace with God in sight of His righteousness and His holiness. And it is an absorbing thing.
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The soul, so satisfied with its own peace, desires nothing else. It knows God and finds nothing to disturb it in God or out of God.
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Mark the extent of the peace, “My peace,” and how thoroughly well He knew what He had that He could give it them.
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He had been tried, rejected, suffered, “He had not where to lay his head.” (Matt. 8:20.) “Hunted like a partridge upon the mountains.” (1 Sam. 26:20.) “The man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3); and yet He knew so well the blessedness He had that He could speak of it to leave it to them.
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“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee” (Isa. 26:3) was known experimentally by Him.
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If the Lord came this moment would you have peace, would you be able to say, “This is our God, we have waited for him”? (Isa. 25:9.)
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Even if you have found peace of conscience about your sins, through the blood of the cross, it will destroy your communion and peace of heart, if you like anything God does not like.
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If there is anything not given up in the will there cannot be peace, if you have peace, then if God came in your peace would stay.
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Peace is never imperfect, there can be no flaw in it, if anything comes in and produces an uncertainty it cannot be peace.
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How can we have peace? Because He has made it “by the blood of his cross.” (Col. 1:20.)
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Peace is made, peace is given, peace is known by “the blood of his cross.” (Col. 1:20.)
Is it a thought of mine about getting this “peace”? No. He says, “My peace I leave with you.”
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Have I earned it? No; He has earned it.
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Christ would rather give up His life than God’s favor for us.
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