Word of Encouragement (7/23/2021)

Today, we move on to another short benediction: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thess. 3:16). This is a simple benediction with one theme—peace. It invokes “the Lord of peace”; it prays for peace. But this benediction is as wonderful as it is short and simple.

This “peace benediction” is unique in that it invokes “the Lord of peace” (and that, in an emphatic way: “the Lord of peace himself give you peace) rather than the usual “the God of peace” in other peace benedictions. The Lord of peace here refers to Jesus Christ rather than God the Father. As “the Prince of peace,” (Isa. 9:6), Jesus Christ deserves the title of “the Lord of peace” and has the authority to impart peace to His people.

Jesus is “the Lord of peace” because He has peace in Himself without measure. He is peace as much as He is love and grace and righteousness and justice and life and resurrection. Peace is one of His divine attributes, without which He cannot be God. And He is the essence of peace; apart from Him, there cannot be true peace, just as there cannot be any brightness without light. Only He can give true peace.

Jesus is “the Lord of peace” also because He brought peace between the holy God and His sinful people. “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). By paying the full penalty of our sin through His suffering and death, Jesus satisfied God’s justice, appeased His righteous wrath, and reconciled us to God. Now, we are no longer the enemies of God to be vanquished, the rebellious sinners to be punished, the children of wrath to be destroyed. In the Lord of peace, we are now “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God..., being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Eph. 2:19, 22).

Jesus has also reconciled us to one another: “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility..., that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace...” (Eph. 2:14, 15).

So then, Jesus is the Lord of peace by virtue of His divine essence and His work of redemption.

This benediction further shows that Jesus is the sovereign Lord of peace: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way.” How can Jesus give us peace at all times if He is not in sovereign control over “all times” and every moment? The Greek even has the connotation of “to the very end of time.” At no time in history, at no time in our life, is the Lord of peace out of control. If our hearts are directed to the sovereign Lord of peace rather than the constantly changing and shifting circumstances of our lives, we can have the peace of our sovereign Lord, which surpasses all understanding.

And the sovereign Lord of peace will supply His peace to His people “in every way.” When things are going well, we can certainly experience the Lord’s peace. But that is not the only “way” Jesus provides His peace to us. We can experience peace even when we pass through the waters and walk through fire and trek through the valley of the shadow of death if the Lord of peace is with us. His peace is not dependent on our changing circumstances. His peace is stronger than all the clamors and troubles in this life. There is no sorrow or tragedy in this life, which His peace cannot comfort and heal. We don’t need to be afraid even when thousands of enemies surround us; we can lie down and go to sleep (Ps. 3:5-6) because the Lord of peace is our Shield and Protector.

How are you doing? What are you going through? Whatever you are going through, please know that you are not outside of this benediction. “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”

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