Isn’t the Good News that the kingdom of heaven is near? Didn’t Jesus say that His mission was to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor? i That certainly sounds more like peace to me than a sword. But it was Jesus that also said 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”ii How is it that these two statements come from the mouth of Jesus?

I think that the answer lies in what people need to do, what behaviors they need to exhibit, what behaviors they need to change.

Ah, did I say the magic word, change? Most people are very comfortable with things as they are. Most people will vigorously defend what they have grown accustomed to doing, rather than entertain the need to change. Perhaps the sword that Jesus is wielding is one that requires change, changing from our world view to one that aligns with God’s world view.

Remember the lawyer that asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment? To Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. And this is like it, love your neighbor as yourself. The lawyer was rewarded by Jesus telling him that he had spoken correctly. The lawyer followed up with a question that seemed like he wanted to limit his responsibility. Who is my neighbor? Jesus then told the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Essentially everyone is our neighbor. We need to open our arms very wide to include all our neighbors.

Peter asked Jesus how many times do I need to forgive another member of the church, as many as seven times? Jesus responded: “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times”. Enough times that you may lose count and forgive the person anyway! Does Jesus mean that I must forgive every time?

In these two examples, the lawyer and Peter discovered parts of their world view that needed to be changed to align with God’s world view.

If we define our neighbor as just our family or just our family and friends, we are not loving as God loves. We need to find it in ourselves to love even our enemies. We need to be able to treat people who neither look like us nor believe the same beliefs as if they are our neighbor. Some of us can do these things more easily than others. Jesus’ sword draws a line. On one side of the line, we decide to hold tightly on to what we already have. On the other side of the line, we open our hearts and hands to accept His grace, and then share that grace with our neighbors. The sword that Jesus wields is the Word of God. Scripture gives us instruction for receiving God’s grace and gives us a place to go to for help when we need it. The Word of God helps us to identify those areas within ourselves that need to change. For some, the changes they need to make are too great a price to pay for the privilege of accepting the grace that God freely gives. As a result, they work very hard to protect what they already have whether it be things, ideology, or the need to just be different than everyone else. The seeds of conflict are sown.

Jesus presents us with the need to make a choice. We can choose the way of the world or the way of God. That choice acts like a sword, dividing family, friends, neighborhoods, cities, and nations. Let us choose the way of God and let the Holy Spirit support us in that path.

To God be the Glory!

Pastor Frank Hancock

Email: pastor@plumcreekpc.com

Office: (412) 793-4525

Cell Phone: (412) 860-3719 – Please feel free to leave a message.