The Inconvenient Path to Peace

Luke 1:79 --“to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death,to guide our feet into the path of peace."


Luke 2:14 -- "Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."


We are not surprised at all to find statements about peace connected with the birth narrative in the Jesus story. “Peace on earth” may be one of the phrases most associated with the nativity story. But here is where we may need one of the most radical changes of our minds.

I’m afraid too many people sing about peace on earth and good will to men without seriously considering what Jesus taught his disciples about the pursuit of peace. Contrary to the Empire that believed the Pax Romana – the peace of Rome – was maintained through a strong standing army ready to violently crush any rebellion, Jesus taught his disciples to love their enemies and do good to them.

Contrary to his own Jewish countrymen who believed God’s peace on earth would be established by a forceful and violent overthrow of the pagan invaders, Jesus taught his disciples to pray for their enemies and to go the second mile for those very invaders.

Isaiah had prophesied of the coming kingdom where men would beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks and learn war no more. The Jews believed that would happen, but only after they had destroyed the Gentile unbelievers.

When Jesus came he was saying, “No, we are going to start living the kingdom right here and right now in the middle of the world and all its wars. We are going to be citizens of heaven and conduct ourselves by the standards of the age to come. And in the middle of all the fighting and the killing, we are going to practice peace and return good for evil. And in this way we will show them the real path to peace.”

Is anyone listening? Is anyone willing to change his mind this much?

FOCUS SCRIPTURES


Isaiah 2:3-4

Many peoples will come and say,

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

to the house of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us his ways,

so that we may walk in his paths."

The law will go out from Zion,

the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

4He will judge between the nations

and will settle disputes for many peoples.

They will beat their swords into plowshares

and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation will not take up sword against nation,

nor will they train for war anymore.

Matthew 5:43-48

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Luke 6:27-36

27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.