Jesus’ Peace is Different

Matthew 8-10 

“’Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.’”

Matthew 10:34

Jesus’ call to love and forgive our enemies often gets confused into a peace-centered theology apart from Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom. The exclusive truth-claims of Jesus and his call to forsake all other loyalties, seeking first the kingdom of God, by definition, will cause conflict. When that conflict comes, we are called to forgive and love those who oppose the kingdom of God within us. The absence of this conflict could be an indication that we have replaced the lordship of Jesus in our lives with peace. Those of us living in the religious pluralism of the West are particularly susceptible to this danger. Jesus came to bring the kingdom of God, not peace in the way this world proclaims peace. The fruit of the Spirit in our lives is peace. The kingdom of God within us is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. This inner peace with God is then expressed in a ministry and message of reconciliation as we call others to also experience peace with God, and in Christ, reconciliation with each other.

“Lord Jesus, you are our peace, for your glory.”