How does Isaiah 57:20 connect with Jesus' teachings on peace in John 14:27? Setting the Passages Side by Side • Isaiah 57:20: “But the wicked are like the raging sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud.” • John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.” What Isaiah Reveals about the Human Heart • Restlessness is the default state of anyone separated from God. • The “raging sea” image highlights constant turmoil—never-ending churn, filth, and noise. • Just as the sea naturally tosses up “mire and mud,” a heart estranged from God naturally produces anxiety, fear, and sin (cf. Ephesians 2:1-3). What Jesus Offers in Contrast • “My peace” is uniquely His—rooted in His sinless life, sacrificial death, and resurrection (Romans 5:1). • It is a gift, not a wage; we receive, we don’t manufacture. • His peace is unlike “the world’s” temporary calm—no dependence on circumstances, politics, or self-help (Philippians 4:7). • The command “Do not let your hearts be troubled” shows that this peace actively guards the believer’s inner life (Colossians 3:15). How the Two Texts Fit Together • Isaiah exposes the problem: an inner sea that can never settle. • Jesus presents the cure: a peace that immediately stills the storm (Mark 4:39 as a vivid illustration). • The contrast underscores that peace is not attainable through reforming the “sea”; it requires receiving the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Living the Connection • Admit the natural restlessness Isaiah describes; don’t excuse it as “just stress.” • Receive Christ’s peace through faith, acknowledging He alone can calm the heart’s waves. • Guard that peace daily—return to Christ’s words when fear rises (John 16:33). • Share the difference: people notice when the “sea” inside you is calm while theirs rages (1 Peter 3:15). Other Scriptures that Echo the Theme • Isaiah 57:21 — “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” • Psalm 29:11 — “The LORD gives His people strength; the LORD blesses His people with peace.” • Romans 8:6 — “The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace.” • Colossians 1:20 — Through the cross God “made peace by the blood of His Son.” The raging sea of Isaiah 57:20 finds its only lasting stillness in the gift Jesus holds out in John 14:27. Receive it, rest in it, and let every wave be hushed by His word. |
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