Did Jesus Come to Bring Peace on Earth?
By Tom Shanklin
Suddenly there was with the angel a company of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and good will toward men.” (Luke 2:13-14 MEV).
Do you suppose that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. (Luke 12:51 MEV).
When we see two seemingly contradictory verses (in this case from same Gospel writer, Luke) we scratch our heads. How can this be? Did Jesus come to bring peace on earth … or not.
What I see here is two verses about different subjects. One deals with peace between God and man. The other is about peace between human beings.
When the company of angels were praising God with the words, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and good will toward men,” they were announcing the peace plan between God and the people of the world. God was sending His Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, to liberate us from our sin and reconcile us unto Himself. See Romans 8:3
It’s a message of peace to ALL who will receive it!
God Almighty has offered total pardon and total forgiveness to ALL who surrender to Him regardless of our past sins. We were enemies of God because of our sins, but God allow His Son to suffer the consequences of our sin on the cross so that we might be forgiven, cleansed, and given a totally new lease on life.
As God says through the Apostle Paul, “For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, how much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.” (Romans 5:10 MEV). This applies to all of us because “… all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23 MEV).
When we are forgiven, it’s just as if we had never sinned in the eyes of God. He totally forgives all we have done against Him and brings us into His family. Glory to God!
What then about this division that Jesus spoke of, and the lack of peace?
Jesus knew that even though His message of peace with God was available to all people, not all would receive it. He knew that some would choose darkness, even though they were offered light. For some, His message of forgiveness through the cross and the call to surrender would be an offense. It would become something to fight against, rather than to accept. As a result there would be division.
We see this division during the time of Jesus’ ministry on earth. He was slandered, rejected, and violently murdered. We see the same thing during the days of the early Church. God’s people were verbally abused, beaten, and martyred. The Apostle Paul even said that he and the other ministers were considered the filth of the earth and garbage to be disposed of. (1 Corinthians 4:13)
This same division and lack of peace continues today, as there are more Christians being martyred today than in any time in the history of the world, and there is much animosity among the people of the world over the cross of Christ.
So what are we to do? Take up arms? Join the battle of words? Attack those who attack us?
No, a thousand times no. We are called to join with Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to offer amnesty to the enemies of God. God’s offer of peace is in force during this season of grace, and it will last until Jesus’ returns. Our job is to keep busy with the peace negotiations, offering grace and forgiveness to a lost and dying world.
Jesus, the Prince of Peace, laid out some radical teachings for His followers. He did not call us to fight the war of words and take up arms. In fact, He called us to love our enemies and to do good to those who abuse us. And He called us to forgive and hold no animosity in our hearts towards those who hurt us. He called us to manifest the opposite spirit of those who hate us, in order to serve faithfully as ambassadors of His Kingdom.
How can we do this?
To be honest, I think it’s impossible, humanly speaking. The only way I know is with the aid of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that it is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27) When Jesus died and rose again, He opened the door for something very supernatural to occur in our lives. He made a way for God the Holy Spirit to come and live in our hearts.
Yes, when we are born again, we still have those human impulses and emotions, like fear, anger, jealousy, and anxiety. We have the temptation to live with anger in our hearts and to fight with words and weapons. But now we have a Helper living inside. God, who is love, resides within us, enabling to love the unlovable. We can forgive. We can return good for evil. We can manifest the spirit of the One who hung on the cross and said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34 MEV)
We can walk in the nature of Christ because we are spiritually joined to the Lord and are one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17
Most of the world is spiritually blind and cannot see the goodness of God. Jesus said that you must be born again to see the kingdom of God. As long as people resist Jesus, they will be unable to see the truth, but when they turn away from sin and surrender to Jesus, spiritual things will immediately become clear.
The only way some people will ever see Jesus is if they see Him through you. As Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9 MEV).
If we allow it, God’s peace plan will extend to include peace with others. When we choose to love and forgive others, the work of healing and redemption can touch the hearts of those around us, and truly there will be peace on earth, good will towards men!
Dear Father, thank you for Your wonderful work of reconciliation! Thanks for sending your only Son to die for me that I might have eternal life. Fill me to overflowing with your love that I might bring peace to a world that is at war with itself, in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.