Matthew 5:9 says,
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. (ESV)
However, just five chapters later in Matthew 10:34, Jesus Christ says this,
Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. (ESV)
“Hmmm…” say the naysayers, “The Bible is full of contradictions. See, we told Christians this, and now the author of the blog and administrator of http://www.TrueLifeChistianity.com is saying the same. Only this one was made by Jesus Christ, Himself. Is there anything else needed to convince Christians that the Bible is full of fallacies?”
“Wait a minute, ” I say. Christ is the epitome of peace. You just have to take a look at His life chronicled throughout the four gospels. You may say, “What about His anger at the money changers that Jesus overturned the tables in the synagogue?” (John 2:11-22; Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-19). First of all, that was righteous anger. Next, Jesus Christ was all about protecting His Father’s house, although the officials were swindling the rest of the Jews and Gentiles by overcharging people by exorbitant amounts so the officials could maintain their life of ease and snobery. But may I remind you that this was the synagogue, where God was supposed to be worshipped. What a rebel to think that God is more important than yourself. Yet, that is exactly what He did.
Jesus was a Man of Peace. You say, “What about Matthew 10:34 which says,
Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. (ESV)
“What about that?” you say. See, this is where this gets good. Knowing humanity, Jesus didn’t want us to think of Him as a physical conquering King where He would instill peace by force. In Isaiah 55:8, it says this,
My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither your ways My ways declares the Lord. (ESV)
He didn’t want us to think that living for Jesus would be a walk in the park (Luke 9:23; 1 Peter 2:21). No. He knew it would cause inner turmoil amongst us. And that is precisely the reason why He said,
Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34, ESV)
Jesus Christ knew the outcome of human beings left on their own; unfortunately, we wouldn’t take the time necessary for things to play out. Christ knew before the creation of the world (yes, He existed before the creation of the world, in whatever form until He was born a human being through a virgin *because Scripture doesn’t make it exactly clear other than in Isaiah 6*). To step out of unseen heaven to make a visit on this now a shamble of earth marred by sin is unfathomable to me. Yet Jesus Christ did. Hebrews 11:6 says,
Without faith, no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that He is real, and He rewards those who truly want to find Him. (NCV)
And you flippantly ask, “What is faith? I know what faith is, things I can see with my own two eyes!” No, that isn’t faith.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1, KJV)
OK. I went off into a rabbit trail, but this rabbit trail could lead you into being a man of peace as you closely follow what Jesus did.
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you may walk in His steps. (1Peter 2:21, ESV)
True Life Christians are supposed to be men and women of peace only by following after Jesus Christ: the Man of Peace.
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