Jesus – the peacemaker
The grace of Christ unites (all who accept Him)
The truth of Christ divides (evil from the good)
So many people sing with gusto –“ Peace upon earth and
goodwill toward men”. And so it is that the prince of peace came to Bethlehem.
He it was who said “Blessed are the peacemakers”.
How then does this fit with the fact that for 2000 years He
has been a great cause of division and strife? The answer is two fold :
1st the
opposition to Him under the influence of the god of this world – Satan – is very
real. For example – Herod the king, very quickly gave in to jealousy and had
all the children of Bethlehem slaughtered, in his attempt to eliminate the
child that was born ‘King of the Jews’. So much today remains an attempt to
crush the Name of Jesus Christ and His followers.
2nd is the age old problem of unbelief. The Lord of
glory came to earth in humility so that all people could believe in Him of
their own choice, and not as a matter of dominance in religious or political
power. He presented Himself in meekness, yet with signs of proof and words of
heavenly truth. Through faith in Him, peace with God was enacted, but unbelief in Him left the people estranged to God . Unbelief
has the normal effect of inciting persecution toward the believers.
So the critical thing to note in the matter of ‘peace’, is the
persons involved i.e. the most important peace, is peace between God and
mankind. Only through the Son of God, and only by His death is there peace with
God for we who have disobeyed God. Love initiated the sacrifice of Jesus and
grace implemented the blessing of the cross. His blood shed made atonement
before the throne of God to bring peace instead of wrath.
“Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God
through our
Lord Jesus Christ” Romans 5:1
Peace among people is quite different. An ongoing conflict is
between Jews and Gentiles. For 3000 years this conflict has raged and on a human
level seems unsolvable. The Bible answer is once again the cross. When Jesus
Christ is accepted, all , Jews and Gentiles find their nothingness and their
everythingness at the cross.
“That He might reconcile us both to God in one body through
the cross, thereby killing the hostility” Ephesians 2:16 . Thus God is putting together
all people as a house of praise in perfect harmony and Peace.
The angels wonder at the glory of this, but sadly unbelief
scoffs at God’s method and then wonders why this world is not a place of peace.
This is just where the United Nations mission has failed the
very purpose of it’s existence. By eliminating Christ and the Gospel, the very
means of peace is lost. The tragic violence in the world today with increasing
persecution of Christians demonstrates the the UN has lost its way. Australia
has like so many nations, fallen into the trap of the Devil with the idea that
everyone is a independent, responsible to no-one but themselves. This destroys
authority, morality and spirituality.
“Every man does that which is right in his own eyes” ( Judges)
The real wonder is that the creator does not come in with a
flood of fire to destroy such insult and
anarchy . ( He did flood the world once for this). But such is the character of
God – in patience waiting for mankind to repent and turn again to the Prince of
Peace.
John McKee
P.S. I should have pointed out the vast difference between “peace”
and tolerance. “peace” and compromise. “peace” and truce. ”peace” and ceasefire.
“peace” and isolation. True peace is about reconciliation, acceptance, unity,
understanding and sharing.
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