If You Would Recognize the Things that Make for Peace

How can we be instruments of peace this Christmas season?
(Enjoying a nice night out with my hubby)

Scripture:

Luke 19:41   As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, ⁴² saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. ⁴⁴ They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”

Observation:

As Jesus continued to prepare his disciples for the future he looked over Jerusalem, and wept. What he saw was a city that had turned her back on God. The people thought that they were extremely religious, for this was the heart of Jewish worship, but they failed to see and understand the signs that he had provided for them. He came as the “Prince of Peace.” Often he would declare to people “peace I give you” as he healed them of their diseases, but his ministry among the marginalized was more than they could comprehend.  

Jesus’ peace meant something different than what the people had wanted. They wanted a political king, someone who would overthrow the government. They were looking for power and authority, but this would never bring them peace. What Jesus expected was repentance on the part of those who were religious and an end to the oppression of the poor and needy. Jesus wept because he knew that he would soon die in this city, and his blood would be shed so that he could bring peace. 

The vision of peace that Jesus has in mind is not something temporal, but eternal. This is, according to Green, “a soteriological term shalom, peace and justice, the gift of God that embraces salvation for all in all of its social, material, and spiritual realities.” (NICNT) What was required for genuine peace included the action of the king who establishes and perpetuates peace, and the welcome response and blessing of the people. Jesus would, ultimately, be rejected. The on-going rejection of Jesus as the Messiah meant that Jerusalem had reached the point of no return. The eyes of the people were now closed to the evidence of God’s work. 

Application:

We live in an era that continually moves toward universalism, and as a result is unable to recognize the things that make for peace. Peace, primarily comes through the salvific work of Jesus Christ. A rejection of Christianity, and ultimately Jesus Christ, means that the world is drawing at anything that might bring peace, except the Prince of Peace. 

Repentance seems to no longer be in vogue, nor does the idea of personal responsibility. Instead, we are bombarded with concepts of predeterminism that make any type of accountability irrelevant. And then we wonder why there is no peace! Instead of peace we discover that we are finding new and old ways of disliking one another. Jesus came to break down the barriers to peace, and yet, we are falling into a trap where we are becoming more divided than ever. Open our eyes — look over the landscape and weep, for the enemy is winning the day when he sows seeds of division and distrust. 

As disciples of Jesus Christ we are called to recognize the things that make for peace. This Christmas season people need to know about the real Jesus more than ever. He IS the Prince of Peace who comes to bring people together as God’s children. Repentance is required, because we cannot continue to go in the direction that we have been. A call to repentance is a call to peace. It’s time to turn from our sinful ways and toward Jesus Christ. There is no other way to salvation, but through Jesus Christ and he is the bearer of peace. 

The Prince of Peace calls us to minister to the poor and the needy within our communities with the love of Christ. The church has abdicated far too much of this work to the government. When God’s people are engaged in bringing peace and justice to the world, the result is stunning. No longer do we have to live in predetermined ways or roles, but we can be set free. For centuries the gospel has done something called “lift.” As people have come to know Christ and lived in new and different ways, they have been “lifted” out of the places and ways in which they have felt suppressed. 

As disciples we are to partner in God’s kingdom work in this world, recognizing the things that make for peace. What a great season to share Jesus with the world, embrace him as our King, bless him, and participate in his mission. 

Prayer:

Lord, engage your disciples to be agents of your peace in this world. Amen.