Advent: Peace for Troubled Hearts

How’s your peace today? Peace is the theme of the second week of Advent, and I know that word can mean so many different things today… it brings to mind everything from “wartime ceasefire,” to “absence of conflict,” to “a state of calm and quiet”… not to mention a certain era of history characterized by long hair, tie-dye, flowers, bell-bottoms and drugs. ✌️ 

None of that adequately encompasses the meaning of “peace” in the Bible. The Hebrew word for peace—shalom—is potently comprehensive! It speaks to being “whole,” “complete,” “healthy and prosperous in every respect,” “fully restored as if never broken.” Check out this great article from FIRM Israel for a deeper dive into the meaning of Shalom.

This week, I’m thinking about Isaiah 9:6, where Jesus is prophetically described as the “Prince of Peace.” Think of that fuller meaning above… He truly is the Prince of wholeness, completeness, rest, total health and restoration to the fullest degree. He has done what we could never do… make peace between mankind and His Father. 

Troubled Hearts → Burning Hearts → Peace

One of my favourite chapters in the Bible is Luke 24—the account of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. As they walked and mourned the crucifixion events of that weekend, “Jesus Himself drew near and went with them” (isn’t Jesus so kind to do this for all of us in times of pain and mourning?), and they didn’t recognize Him. Knowing all things, He still invited them to pour out their troubled hearts, and then He lovingly opened their eyes to understand the Scriptures. (This is His glorious work in us—only the Word of God Himself can reveal the Word of God to us!)

When they reached their village, they constrained Him to stay with them (oh may we do that!), and then as He broke bread with them, their eyes were opened and they knew Him. In that instant, He vanished, and they said to each other: 

“Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

Luke 24:32 NKJV

Their troubled hearts encountered the Person of Peace, and as He spoke to them, their hearts burned within them even before their minds could fully recognize who He was. And then, at the breaking of bread—speaking of the Bread of Life Who had been broken for them—their eyes were opened!

They couldn’t keep this to themselves—they had to run to Jerusalem right away and tell the other disciples about what had happened. Then, as they shared the news:

… Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

Luke 24:36-39 NKJV

He declared peace to them by showing them His wounds. Their troubled hearts were quieted as they “handled” Him and touched Him. This is what Isaiah spoke of when he prophesied of Christ—our peace is found in His wounds:

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5 NIV

Today, can we recognize the One who draws near and walks alongside us, inviting us to pour out our pain… the One who opens the Scriptures to us so that our hearts begin to come alive and burn? 

The Prince of Peace is stepping into our midst and declaring peace to us, holding up His hands and feet and side while He says: 

“Look here! Look at these holes! They declare My love for you! What I said was finished at the cross really is finished! I’ve overcome the grave, and death, and sickness, and pain! I’ve done that FOR YOU! Don’t let your heart be troubled anymore!”

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May His words echo over us today. May the “Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way” (2 Thess. 3:16 NKJV). 

May we look upon His wounds today. May we handle and touch Him, receiving every fullness He desires to bring to our hearts and bodies and families and communities today.

Shalom.