MADE FOR PEACE!
In Luke 19:38-41 the writer describes for us the scene as Jesus enters for the last time into Jerusalem before his crucifixion. The people line the street and the crowd shouts, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace!
On this day of triumphant jubilation it says Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. The reason he wept is because the people didn’t know how to make peace in troubled times! He wept because in a time of political chaos and tribal racism and religious oppression and class warfare his followers didn’t get his message of peace.
Jesus message of peace was not found in leveling your enemies, but in loving your enemies.
Jesus message of peace was not a peace where everyone has to agree and be the same, but a peace that is found when you can disagree freely and love regardless.
Jesus message of peace was not that his followers would not incite battle, but that his people would know how to make peace in hostile times.
To make peace you have to have inner peace. Jesus message of peace is not a path TO peace, but a path OF peace. Peace is not something you WAIT FOR, it is something you WALK IN!
Jesus wept because as the Prince of Peace came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, a posture of a king riding into the city of another king bringing peace the people didn’t understand the kind of peace he offered. He wasn’t offering a peace free from trouble, he was offering a peace in the midst of trouble.
How do we bring peace into a world that is often divisive and polarizing? By refusing to say or do things that divide. We walk in peace!
How do we bring peace in a culture that reduces people to labels and categories and uses those labels to oppress? By refusing to label others and/or demean others. We walk in peace!
It is God’s dream that His Church would be a voice, a voice of love and peace in a troubled world. We walk in peace!
A man or woman OF peace will be a man or woman who MAKES peace!
“Blessed are the peacemakers, (it’s not a peace-wisher, or peace seeker, or a peace keeper. It’s a PEACEMAKER) for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9
WALK IN PEACE MY FRIENDS!