“Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth?” (Luke 12:51)
We all want peace. Yet we see so much hatred, malice, and resentment. We talk about peace. We pray for peace. Jesus Christ is “the prince of peace.” So at times we find ourselves wondering why we don’t see much peace. What we need to realize is that Jesus Christ did not bring peace to this world when he came. Actually, he brought division.
I know you think I have gone off the deep end, but listen to the following verses in Luke chapter 12. These are the words of Christ: “Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against – or two in favor and three against. Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law.” (Verses 51-53) Jesus knew that even his very name would cause great division. And he was right. He knew his presence would bring hatred, malice, and resentment. And he was right. He knew he would be the cause of much division in families, in friendships, in neighborhoods, in nations, in the workplace. And he was right. He was fully aware that because of him there would be division. Therefore, we should not be surprised or dismayed at all the discord we are seeing today.
Perhaps some of you reading this know what that division is like. You have lost friends because of your faith in Jesus Christ, you have endured ridicule from family, or you have been unfriended on Facebook because someone thinks you put too many spiritual postings on there. Perhaps your co-workers have sneered at your faith. I remember when I first came to faith in Christ 48 years ago, my mother thought I was so deranged that she told me she was having me stricken from her will. And remember, Christ’s earthly family were divided, thinking he was out of his mind. (Mark 3:21)
Jesus Christ did not come the first time to bring a settled peace upon the earth. He actually came to divide people. But take encouragement in your heart! The Old Testament prophet Isaiah has told us that one day Jesus Christ will reign as the “Prince of Peace.” In verse 7 of Isaiah chapter 9 he wrote, “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing it and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”
For now, we find ourselves immersed in great division and strife. But take heart. Jesus Christ, The Prince of Peace, is coming!
Darlene