The question of whether Jesus came to bring peace on earth is an important one for Christians to consider. At first glance, some of Jesus’ own words seem to contradict each other on this topic. In one place, Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34 ESV). But in another place, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (John 14:27 ESV). So which is it – did Jesus come to bring peace or not?
To understand this issue more fully, we need to examine the different contexts in which Jesus spoke about peace. When Jesus said that he came to bring “a sword” rather than peace, he was referring to the division and conflict that his teachings would cause. As the Messiah, Jesus was ushering in the kingdom of God and calling people to repentance. But not everyone would accept his message. Jesus knew that following him would turn family members against each other and would lead to persecution for his followers (see Matthew 10:21-22). So in that sense, Jesus’ coming did not initially bring earthly peace between people but spiritual division and conflict. Peace would come later through people’s repentance and acceptance of Christ.
However, Jesus also came to bring a deeper spiritual peace between God and humanity. Jesus said his peace was “not as the world gives” but was an inner, eternal peace (John 14:27). Through his life, death on the cross, and resurrection, Jesus bridged the gulf of sin that separated people from God. Those who put their faith in Christ can experience reconciliation with God and have “peace with God” (Romans 5:1). This is the inner peace that Jesus secured for those who believe in him.
So in one sense, Jesus came to bring division and a “sword” as people reacted to his message of repentance. But ultimately, he came to bring peace – first between God and man, and then as a result, peace between people as more accept Christ and are transformed by his Spirit. As the angels proclaimed at Jesus’ birth, he came to bring “peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14). The kind of peace Jesus brought is not just the absence of conflict but the restoration of relationships – with God, with others, and within our own hearts.
When Jesus spoke of leaving his peace with the disciples, he was referring to this deep spiritual peace that he would make available through his sacrificial death and resurrection. Jesus knew he was about to die, which would plunge the disciples into sorrow and confusion. But he comforted them by promising the peace that only he could give: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). This supernatural peace would carry the disciples through the turmoil of seeing their Lord crucified and then resurrected. It would guard their hearts against crippling fear and equip them to carry out Jesus’ work after he ascended to the Father.
The peace of God that Jesus spoke about is available to all who put their faith in him. It is an unexplainable inner tranquility that comes from being made right with God and given the gift of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:1, 8:6). This spiritual peace flows out of a reconciled relationship with God and cannot be achieved through human effort. Jesus alone can provide it. As Isaiah prophesied about the coming Messiah, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…He will be called Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Through faith, believers can experience this promised peace of Jesus in their own anxious hearts today.
While Jesus came to bring an end to strife between God and humanity, his teachings make it clear that following him will not immediately end all conflicts in this broken world. There will still be wars, interpersonal conflicts, persecution, and suffering for his followers. But in the end, Jesus as the Prince of Peace will return to establish his eternal kingdom with no more sorrow or conflict (Revelation 21:4, 22:3). At that time, the peace he accomplished through his first coming will be fully realized throughout the earth. Until that day, believers can prayerfully spread Christ’s peace and point forward to the day when “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9).
Jesus’ Teachings on Peace
To understand more fully the kind of peace that Jesus came to give, it is helpful to look at some of his specific teachings on peace.
Peace with God through Jesus
As already discussed, Jesus’ primary mission was to bring peace between God and mankind. Humans have no hope of finding peace with God on their own because of their sin. The prophet Isaiah said, “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). The only solution was for God himself to bridge the gap through the redemptive life and death of his Son, Jesus. As Paul explained, “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:19-20). Now all who put their faith in Christ “have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). This vertical peace with God is the foundation for all other forms of Christ-centered peace.
Peace with others
If we have experienced the grace of being reconciled with God, it should overflow into our human relationships. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). As children of God, Christians are called to bring reconciliation wherever there is strife – in their marriages, families, friendships, workplaces, and even with enemies. Paul taught that believers should “live in harmony with one another” and strive to “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:16, 21). This can only be accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit, who produces “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” in those who belong to Christ (Galatians 5:22-23). As ambassadors of Christ, Christians bring a message of grace, forgiveness, and peace (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).
Peace within
Not only does Jesus offer peace with God and peace with others, but he also promises a profound internal peace for the believer. After warning his disciples of coming tribulations, Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Because Jesus has “overcome the world,” his followers can experience deep confidence and rest in the midst of earthly troubles. Paul confirmed the self- defeating nature of anxiety when he wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). This inward peace of God is able to rule in believers’ hearts even when chaos reigns in the outside world (see also John 14:27). It is one of God’s most precious gifts to his children.
Jesus Promises Enduring Peace in the World to Come
While Jesus did not promise immediate world peace as a result of his first coming, he spoke often of bringing ultimate peace to the earth at his second coming. When Jesus returns, he will consummate the kingdom of God and rule from his throne in Jerusalem. His reign will be characterized by righteousness, justice, and unilateral peace. Micah foresaw this end-time peace and declared, “He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (Micah 4:3). Ezekiel similarly prophesied, “I will make a covenant of peace with [my followers]. It will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers…I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Ezekiel 37:26-27). According to Isaiah, even nature itself will be transformed to reflect the peace of Christ’s kingdom. “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together…They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:6, 9).
These glorious prophecies point ahead to the ultimate, everlasting peace that Jesus will bring to the earth upon his return. Believers can look forward to the day when Christ will reign from Jerusalem over a kingdom characterized by righteousness, justice, love, and peace. Satan will be bound and the causes of conflict such as sin, pain, and death will be removed. God’s people will experience intimate fellowship with him and harmony with each other. Peace will no longer be sporadic and ephemeral as in this age but constant and supreme. As Isaiah declared about the Messiah who will reign in peace, “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:7).
Practical Steps for Pursuing Christ-Centered Peace
While we await the return of Jesus, believers can take practical steps to reflect his peace in a conflict-filled world. Here are a few ideas:
- Pursue reconciliation in relationships whenever possible (Matt 5:23-24)
- Bring conflicts to God in prayer rather than holding on to anger (Phil 4:6-7)
- Seek unity and harmony within the body of Christ (Eph 4:3-6)
- Extend grace to those who wrong you (Col 3:13)
- Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart no matter your circumstances (Col 3:15)
- Meditate on Biblical truths that promote peace (Phil 4:8-9)
- Trust in God’s sovereignty over the nations rather than panicking (Psalm 46:6)
- Look for small ways to be a peacemaker in your sphere of influence (Rom 12:18)
- Refuse to repay evil for evil as far as it is possible (Rom 12:14-21)
- Set an example of calmness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23)
The more believers yield to the Spirit’s work in their lives, the more they will reflect Christlike peace to others. While we will never be able to eliminate all conflict until Christ returns, we can point to the ultimate peace that is coming. We pray for the Lord to come quickly to make wars cease and usher in an eternity of peace through his reign.
Conclusion
At his first coming, Jesus did not immediately abolish all divisions and usher in a geopolitical utopia. But he did come to earth “to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:79). Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus made peace between God and mankind available to all who put their faith in him. This reconciliation with God provides the foundation for all other forms of Christ-centered peace – with others and within ourselves. Until Jesus returns, believers live with tension – enjoying the “peace of God” within while longing for the end of all conflict in the world to come. But we can confidently pursue spiritual peace in the midst of earthly chaos, knowing the victory has already been won through our Savior, the Prince of Peace.