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Not Peace, But a Sword (Matthew 10:34-37)

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I don’t want to spoil anyone’s Christmas and, certainly, I do wish everyone a very blessed and peaceful season but...well, it was never going to be easy bringing peace to the earth. I recently heard an excellent sermon reminding us that the babe in the manger was destined to die a brutal and ignominious death on the Cross; you can’t have Christmas without the Cross.

Of course, we often get so sentimental about Christmas – “it’s all about the children isn’t it”; or cynical about it all – “I don’t see much peace on earth.” But the Christ who made the sacrifice that might bring peace also challenges us to choose peace.

It has always been this way since the beginning. Adam and Eve could choose obedience or rebellion (Gen.2:16); Israel was challenged before entering the Promised Land to choose between the gods of Egypt or the Living God who saved them (Josh.24:15); when Paul preached in Athens he declared:

“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)

The angels famously announced the birth of Isaiah’s Prince of Peace (Is.9:6) and declared, “on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Lk.2:14NKJV). People know the peace on earth part, but they forget how this angel song begins, 'Glory to God!'

In fact, it doesn't really say, peace, goodwill toward men. It says, 'Peace, goodwill among those with whom he is pleased.' (ESV, NASB) With whom is he pleased? On whom does his favour rest? (NIV)

When that Prince departed this life he invoked peace on his followers (Jn.14:27). He came to bring peace between man and God and among men, yet there is still the challenge to receive and embrace that peace.

Jesus came to restore what was lost

The consequence of our choices is conflict between Christ and anti-Christ, light and darkness, good and evil, the children of God and those who choose to follow the god of this world. Even between members of the same family:

“For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Mt.10:35-36)

It all seems a little harsh, all this strife and conflict going on in the name of the babe in the manger. However, Jesus came to restore what was lost, correct relationship between man and God and between men.

God made man to be in God’s image, to reflect his glory, but man has turned from God and made himself god. Of course we are to love one another but we are to love God above all (Gen.1:26; 1 Cor.1:20-21) The world's definition of love and peace is misguided and wrong.

God made man to exercise stewardship over the earth, to tend and care for creation. Of course we are to care for the earth, but man has made the created order his god when we should be tending it in obedience to the God who made us and placed us in it (Gen.1:26; Ro.1:23) The world's understanding of naturalism is well-intentioned but wrong-headed.

God made man to know and worship Him and enjoy Him forever, but man has turned his back on God to follow his own agenda. Self-help has replaced dependence on God who made us, and the result is conflict and disaster (1 Cor.10:31; 1 Cor.1:20-21) The world's misuse of the power and authority God has given us is reaping the whirlwind.

There will be conflict but for those who know Him there is always peace.

Through the babe in Bethlehem we can know right relationship, responsibility under God, and the peace and joy of unfettered access to God. But when we declare our intent to follow after the only one that can bring these things we set ourselves against those who reject God’s ways, misunderstand and misuse love, nature, and worship; even among our families.

Thus He brings a sword because every worldly expression of confidence, ideology, cult or religion is an expression of man’s futile attempt to find his own way, be his own god, and follow his own agenda. When that agenda comes up against the truth, the kingdom, and its people, there will be conflict.

Many will make Him in their image again this year while others will sentimentalise or complain about Christmas. Perhaps the best witness we can give to the truthfulness of the Christmas message is to, ourselves, submit to His kingship.

For their sake, we must be prepared to take up our cross and lose our lives in Him and, ultimately of course, for His sake (Matt.10:38-39). There will be conflict but for those who know Him there is always peace.

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