This time of year, the word peace makes its way around, especially in Christian circles. We hear of Jesus being the promised "Prince of Peace", who came to bring "peace on earth, good will to men". In the hectic nature of this season, peace is also something that we find ourselves longing after. With the pressures of gifts, of work, of family, and perhaps travel, we long for peace. Even going to the store, hearing the ringing of the Salvation Army bells adding their trill to the cacophony of noise can make us long for peace and quiet.
Yet, do we truly know what we are asking for when we ask for peace? Do we truly understand the peace that Jesus came to bring into this world? I would dare say not. On one occasion, Jesus made the statement, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." And that may strike us profoundly to hear Jesus, of all people, saying that.
How would you define peace if you were asked? Most of us might tend to lean toward the absence of conflict. People are getting along. When you hear people talk about peace on earth, that's usually what they mean. The nations aren't actively seeking to hurt each other. There aren't wars going on. People are tolerating each other. And we then bring that same meaning into what we believe Jesus came to bring. An absence of conflict. "We all just get along".
I would say that Jesus says that statement because that's not the kind of peace that He had come to bring. Sure, the absence of conflict would be a mark of a perfect world, but then, Jesus didn't come and eradicate sin in this world. He came to deal with its end result and repercussions. He didn't come to remove conflict, but to deal with the thing that is at the heart of conflict. He came to bring restoration to things to be the way that they were intended to be from the creation. And the beginning point for that restoration would be to pay the price of guilt.
It sounds almost like a Christian cliche to say it, but Jesus came to make things right between the creation and God first and foremost, so that then, when the new creation comes into its being, we can be welcomed into it. If things haven't been made right ahead of time, then the new creation would be empty and, therefore, pointless. The peace Jesus came to bring is not merely the absence of conflict, but the removal of everything separating God from His creation. It is much deeper and more profound than we could possibly imagine.
So as you reflect on peace this Advent season, I encourage you to consider obstacles that may be present in the relationships you share with others. In the reflection of your Christian faith, how can you work to remove those obstacles and grow the peace that can more fully exist in those relationships? That's the living out of this Christian peace in our lives here and now.
Yet, do we truly know what we are asking for when we ask for peace? Do we truly understand the peace that Jesus came to bring into this world? I would dare say not. On one occasion, Jesus made the statement, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." And that may strike us profoundly to hear Jesus, of all people, saying that.
How would you define peace if you were asked? Most of us might tend to lean toward the absence of conflict. People are getting along. When you hear people talk about peace on earth, that's usually what they mean. The nations aren't actively seeking to hurt each other. There aren't wars going on. People are tolerating each other. And we then bring that same meaning into what we believe Jesus came to bring. An absence of conflict. "We all just get along".
I would say that Jesus says that statement because that's not the kind of peace that He had come to bring. Sure, the absence of conflict would be a mark of a perfect world, but then, Jesus didn't come and eradicate sin in this world. He came to deal with its end result and repercussions. He didn't come to remove conflict, but to deal with the thing that is at the heart of conflict. He came to bring restoration to things to be the way that they were intended to be from the creation. And the beginning point for that restoration would be to pay the price of guilt.
It sounds almost like a Christian cliche to say it, but Jesus came to make things right between the creation and God first and foremost, so that then, when the new creation comes into its being, we can be welcomed into it. If things haven't been made right ahead of time, then the new creation would be empty and, therefore, pointless. The peace Jesus came to bring is not merely the absence of conflict, but the removal of everything separating God from His creation. It is much deeper and more profound than we could possibly imagine.
So as you reflect on peace this Advent season, I encourage you to consider obstacles that may be present in the relationships you share with others. In the reflection of your Christian faith, how can you work to remove those obstacles and grow the peace that can more fully exist in those relationships? That's the living out of this Christian peace in our lives here and now.
No comments:
Post a Comment