Jesus didn’t come to bring peace to the world.
There. I said it. Now before you cast your religious stones my way and accuse me of blasphemy, please allow me to explain.
It may be simply a matter of terminology, but I think we often confuse the purpose of the coming of the Christ of Christmas. We love the passage in Luke describing Jesus’ birth. The “great company of the heavenly host” accompanying God’s angel told the shepherds, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14) We often look for peace in this world and are disappointed when life appears anything but peaceful. Don’t confuse that verse to mean that in this world, because Jesus came, there would be peace all around us. That day here on earth may never come. We live in a very mixed up, shattered world where peace is often hard to find.
In fact, during Jesus’ ministry, he told the disciples, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34) That doesn’t sound very peaceful, does it? The controversy over Christmas that remains today is that Jesus divides people over opinions of who He is and what He did and can do for the world.
Here’s the bottom line; Jesus didn’t come to bring peace to the world. Jesus came to bring the world Peace. Jesus came to bring the world the One who is Peace. He came to bring peace to the hearts of men that are imprisoned by “sin that so easily entangles.“ (Hebrews 12:1) Jesus came to bring Himself to people who could not reach peace on their own. The peace that came to the world at Christmas is to be found within you, the followers of Christ.
In light of this truth, if you desire to celebrate the real purpose of Christmas, understand that it is through you that the real meaning of Christmas is expressed…as you share the Peace of Christmas…the person of Christ…with others. That peace is expressed as we share Christ’s love with people that feel unloved, forgive those that have injured us, feel joy when our world is falling apart around us or give expecting nothing in return.
There may never be peace in this world, but in this world, we can have Peace. His name is Jesus, born in a manger, but raised to live a perfect life, die on a cross, and introduce the world to real peace…peace that surpasses understanding.
Do you think it is possible to have peace at Christmas apart from the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ?
(27) O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a wicked man nor was thy mother a harlot. (28) Then she pointed to him. They said: How can we talk to one who is in the cradle, a young boy? (29) He spake: Lo! I am the slave of Allah. He hath given me the Scripture and hath appointed me a Prophet, (30) And hath made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and hath enjoined upon me prayer and almsgiving so long as I remain alive, (31) And (hath made me) dutiful toward her who bore me, and hath not made me arrogant, unblest. (32) Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive! (33) Such was Jesus, son of Mary: (this is) a statement of the truth concerning which they doubt. (34)
Just wanted to tell my fellow Christians that we (Muslims) are the only non-Christians who believe in Jesus (Peace be upon him).
(21) And she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far place. (22) And the pangs of childbirth drove her unto the trunk of the palm-tree. She said: Oh, would that I had died ere this and had become a thing of naught, forgotten! (23) Then (one) cried unto her from below her, saying: Grieve not! Thy Lord hath placed a rivulet beneath thee, (24) And shake the trunk of the palm-tree toward thee, thou wilt cause ripe dates to fall upon thee. (25) So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal. (26) Then she brought him to her own folk, carrying him. They said: O Mary! Thou hast come with an amazing thing.
Chapter 19 (Mary) verses 16 to 34
And make mention of Mary in the Scripture, when she had withdrawn from her people to a chamber looking East, (16) And had chosen seclusion from them. Then We sent unto her Our Spirit and it assumed for her the likeness of a perfect man. (17) She said: Lo! I seek refuge in the Beneficent One from thee, if thou art God-fearing. (18) He said: I am only a messenger of thy Lord, that I may bestow on thee a faultless son. (19) She said: How can I have a son when no mortal hath touched me, neither have I been unchaste? (20) He said: So (it will be). Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me. And (it will be) that We may make of him a Revelation for mankind and a mercy from Us, and it is a thing ordained.
I think that this is awesome!! As Christians we find peace in the fact that Jesus rose from the grave, and as a result we are fellow heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven. So, I say no, no-one can have peace and comfort except through Christ, because all other options leave a feeling of unrest towards the future.
Thank you Robert!
I once read that Peace is not the absence of strife but the ability to deal with it. This is a band aid just to get through the day more than anything else, but still real.Many people find many ways to deal with the strife, anger, even wars of this life and never find Christ. The ability to have peace with ones own self and with the world can only be done in a working relationship with Jesus Christ. Only He has the ability to help us find rest within ourselves due to the sins in our lives.
I suppose the answer, in my opinion, is yes and no. The Peace, I think, Jesus was speaking of was not necessarily a corporate peace, even though it would be experienced globally.
Good thoughts. Thanks for sharing!
I think this may be one of your best posts! Perfect enlightenment for this time if year. Many blessings Pastor Ron. Merry Christmas.
Thanks man. Hope you are well. Send me a private update sometime. Merry Christmas!
Amen, He is our peace. We are promised that all men that choose to leave a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. True faith will divide the sheeps from the goats, the wheat from the tares. Not a popular ear tickling message but one the brethren need to begin to understand as the heat is going to be turned up in these end times.
Thanks Pete. Nice of you to comment on my post!
Ron, apart from Jesus there is no peace. I think you said it very well. Thank you for always being willing to point toward the Christ. In Him and through Him, all things are possible, without Him, we have no peace.
Yes.
Thanks for commenting Vivian. Even if we disagree here, I love the interaction.
I took me a minute to think about what you said. My first thought was if Jesus brings peace to all men, then there will be peace on this world. But that was wrong. As long as this is a broken world, a world that has hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, house fires, car crashes, and illness, there will never be peace on this world. If, through Jesus, war and hatred came to an end, all the other stuff could still make our lives stressful. So, yes, your statement is right on. Trust in the Lord and know that no matter what happens you will have peace. It may not be today or tomorrow, but it will come to you and those you love.
Great thoughts Daniel. Thanks for commenting.
Right on target Ron!
Thanks Cheryl. And thanks for the Twitter RT.
Great post. To answer your question…simply…no. 🙂
Thanks Jason