The Meaning of Peace

Preached at Christ Church, Billericay on 27 July 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0AuG3T7boA from 35:57 to 57:47 

Prayer

Gracious God, We gather in Your presence, with hearts open and hopeful.  In a world often marked by noise and unrest, we come seeking Your peace.  As we reflect today, shape our thoughts, stir our compassion, and guide us in the way of peace.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Introduction Video

I will start by showing a video that explains the biblical meaning of peace.  Then we will go on to look at the meanings that come from our two readings.  Let’s watch the video.

The Longing for Peace

Even if you almost never see or hear a news program, even if you almost never see a newspaper, it should be obvious to you that there are conflicts everywhere.  There are over 40 armed conflicts in the world today.  That does not include all the places and situations where one people are oppressing another.  In our own, relatively harmonious country there are fights between neighbours, protests in the streets, disagreements in the workplace and I haven’t even mentioned the church.  
What peace we have feels fragile, easily broken by grief, disappointment and fear.  The Bible, and especially our readings today, present peace not as a fleeting emotion, but as a profound promise from God.
Shalom, as we heard in the video, brings healing, reconciliation and completeness.  Let’s have a look at Isaiah’s vision of peace.

Isaiah - A Vision of Peace

Isaiah paints a stunning picture of a shoot growing from the stump of Jesse.  Jesse was David’s father, his lineage had not held power for over 600 years when Christ was born.  David’s descendant, the new and true king, is described as:
    • Full of wisdom and understanding,
    • Empowered by God’s Spirit,
    • Delighting in the fear of the Lord,
    • Righteous in judgment of the poor and needy,
    • Doing everything with faithfulness to God
And under His rule there is a new reality that defies nature’s violence:
    • The wolf will live with the lamb,
    • The calf and the lion will feed together,
    • A little child shall lead them.
It’s an image of creation restored—not just ceasefire, but cosmic reconciliation.  Peace isn’t merely the absence of conflict.  It’s the presence of divine order, of justice, and of unshakeable harmony.  Isaiah promises that this peace will come through the Messiah—a ruler who transforms fear into trust, and division into unity.

John - Peace in the Storm

Fast-forward a few centuries, and we find Jesus speaking to His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion.  His words are mysterious—“In a little while you won’t see me… then you will see me again.” The disciples are confused.  But Jesus knows exactly where He’s going: to the cross, the tomb, and the resurrection.
He tells them:
“You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.” “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.”
Here is peace—not promised as an escape from trouble, but as strength in the midst of trouble.
The Prince of Peace doesn’t erase storms—He walks through them, and walks with us.  His victory isn’t just some future ideal; it’s current and personal.  He has overcome so, with Him, we too can live as overcomers—with peace that endures betrayal, loss, and confusion.

Activity

Let’s take a minute now to think of some of the things that disturb our peace.  On your tables there are sheets of paper, pencils and envelopes.  Take a sheet and write down anything that occurs to you.  It may be a long, or a short list.  In a couple of minutes, we will fold the paper and put it in an envelope and seal it up.  It will be symbolically hidden in God.

Living in Christ’s Peace

As we launch this series, let’s ask ourselves:
What kind of peace are we searching for?
    • Is it circumstantial or spiritual?
    • Temporary or eternal?
Isaiah gives us a glimpse of peace fulfilled, and Jesus gives us the path to peace today.
Peace isn’t passive.  It’s powerful.  It begins by abiding in Christ, receiving His Spirit, and living not in fear, but in faith.  As the series unfolds, we’ll explore how to cultivate peace in our relationships, our decisions, and our witness to the world. 

Final Challenge

Let this be our prayer this week:
“Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is despair, let me shine hope.”
Because in Christ, peace isn’t just something we receive—it’s something we carry into every room we enter.
Amen.

References

 Written with the help of copilot, images created by copilot

https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/meaning-shalom-bible/

 

The Tree of Hands / A Demon in my View - Ruth Rendell

There will be spoilers, so don't go on, if that will ruin your enjoyment. 

The Tree of Hands 

I picked up a paperback from the book exchange shelf in the hotel, as I often do when these things exist.  This review is only for the first of these two stories - The Tree of Hands.  It is my first Ruth Rendell.  To be honest, I'm not sure what to make of it.  

Fairly early on, we start off with the criminal act of a woman who is clearly certifiable.  At this point we are following her daughter, Benet, who is set up as a self-sufficient woman.  So much so that she has had a child quite deliberately by a man she wants nothing to do with, and perhaps never really did.

Then we meet Carol, and her lover, Barry.  Carol is a career petty thief, and has the looks and character that make her unlikely to ever really love anyone.  It is Carol's child that goes missing.  The police involvement is really a side plot.  

Other characters are bought in, some are developed well, others are just there to round out the narrative.  

It is a very easy read, and there are plenty of twists and turns. One of those is Carol's murder, which is inadequately explained and seems to be a device to bring the book to a conclusion.  Having carefully wrapped up all the other plot lines, this one is terminated messily and seems like an easy way out for the author.

I am not sure if I should be sympathetic with the main character - Benet, or appalled by her actions and her selfish lack of judgement - she got away with it, as some criminals do, but I couldn't be more than disappointed at the ending.

⭐⭐☆☆☆ 

A Demon in My View
================
Of the two, this was better, the ending, a proper ending, a reasonable, believable ending. However, there is still an unexplained death, which favours the protagonist and so detracts from the believability of the plot. The characters are once again well-developed and rounded. There is less jumping around, which made the story easier to follow. Quite an enjoyable read. Delving into the mind of a psychopath was interesting, we've all met people like him and never realised. The action, the physical murders are almost glossed over, but the feelings are examined to a limited degree.  

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆