The Peace of Christ: What It Means and Why We Need It

by Michaelle Moran

“For he himself is our peace…” Ephesians 2:14a (NIV)

What Is the Peace of Christ?

Last week we talked about hope and how it isn’t merely a wish but an expectation. Today we’re talking

about peace — not peace we hope will come one day, but peace that is already ours because of the

Prince of Peace. And while Advent invites us to wait for the second coming of Christ, it

does not ask us to wait for Christ’s peace. But what exactly is the peace of Christ?

Peace Is a Person, Not a Feeling

For starters, the peace of Christ is Christ Himself. Ephesians 2:14 tells us plainly:

“He Himself is our peace.” That means peace is not a feeling. It is not circumstantial. It is not

elusive — something we can only experience when we have enough money, the relationship mended,

or the test results negative.

Why Worldly Peace Will Always Fall Short

The world defines peace as the absence of problems, the corralling of chaos, and the ability to create

peace ourselves. But as someone who once walked through an extended season of

anxiety, I can assure you I could no more create peace myself than I could stop the anxiety by sheer

willpower — though that’s exactly what the world insists we do. Worldly peace says: “Fix your life, then you’ll feel

peaceful.”

Biblical peace says:

“Jesus is your peace — even when your life feels broken.” What Is the Peace of Christ? Last week we talked about hope

and how it isn’t merely a wish but an expectation. Today we’re talking about peace — not peace we hope

will come one day, but peace that is already ours because of the Prince of Peace. And while Advent invites us to wait

for the second coming of Christ, it does not ask us to wait for Christ’s peace.

But what exactly is the peace of Christ?

Peace Is a Person, Not a Feeling. For starters, the peace of Christ is Christ Himself.

Ephesians 2:14 tells us plainly: “He Himself is our peace.” That means peace is not a feeling.

It is not circumstantial. It is not elusive — something we can only experience when we have enough

money, the relationship mended, or the test results negative.

Why Worldly Peace Will Always Fall Short

The world defines peace as the absence of problems, the corralling of chaos, and the ability to create

peace ourselves. But as someone who once walked through an extended season of

anxiety, I can assure you I could no more create peace myself than I could stop the anxiety by sheer

willpower — though that’s exactly what the world insists we do.

Worldly peace says: “Fix your life, then you’ll feel peaceful.”

Biblical peace says: “Jesus is your peace — even when your life feels broken.”

The Presence That Brings Peace

True peace does not come from the absence of problems. True peace comes from the presence of Jesus.

We’ve all seen the bumper sticker that reads: “Know Jesus, know peace. No Jesus, no peace.”

I call this parking lot theology — and it preaches. Friend, the peace we’re longing for

doesn’t come from inside ourselves. It comes from the One who steps inside our lives.

Shalom: The Wholeness Only Christ Can Give

The Hebrew word for peace — shalom — means wholeness. We are only whole when we

receive Christ’s gift of salvation. Otherwise, there will always be a hole within us we will try to fill with

everything but Him, leaving us restless, empty, and longing for the peace only He can give.

The peace of Christ is not a vague spiritual calm. It is wholeness, restoration, completion, belonging, and

presence — all found in Jesus alone.

Peace Stepped Into the World

This Advent, remember that the Prince of Peace doesn’t hand us peace the way we hand someone

a gift. He is the gift. When Christ stepped into our world, peace stepped in with Him.

And the only way to find peace within ourselves is to invite Jesus in.

Shalom, dear friend.

Christ has come.

Peace has come.

A Question for Your Heart This Advent

Where might Jesus be inviting you to stop striving for peace and simply receive Him instead?