When we think of “peace” we often think of the “absence of war.” Throughout the Bible, there are times where peace means that but often when “peace” is encountered it means that things have been made complete. This world is not at peace because it is not complete. It is broken by sin. It is not as God intended it to be. So, Christ came proclaiming peace, shalom, to those who are near and to those who are far off (Ephesians 2:17). He promises peace and gives it freely so that our hearts will not be troubled (John 14:27). The Hebrew writer calls us to “make every effort to live in peace with everyone…” (12:14). James glorifies the peacemakers as those “who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness” (3:18). This is just a quick sampling of the peace called for in the New Testament.
The peace that Jesus promises and gives brings people together in “completeness.” Those who strive to bring people together in this “completeness” are called peacemakers. Too quickly, and too often, it is tempting to draw lines in the sand between “us” and “them.” We see Jesus step across those lines in search of bringing peace. The woman caught in adultery comes to mind. A line was drawn in the sand that she was to be stoned. She’s still draped in the bedsheets of her sin when Jesus showed mercy on her and met her where she was on the other side of the line. He also called her to action, to leave her life of sin, and to take on a new life. He called those with the stones to do the same, but they mostly just walked away. Peace builds bridges and invites people into wholeness. It invites them into the presence of God’s shalom. It invites them to completeness.
There is one passage that seems to run in contrast to everything I’ve said up to this point. In Matthew 10:34, Jesus says, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” It would be a mistake to take this verse out of context and use it to say that Christians are called to take up arms against those who oppose Christ. Christ calls the peacemakers “blessed” (Matt. 5:9) and says, “they will be called children of God.” He calls each of us to “pick up our cross and follow him” (Matt. 16:24-26). This is why Dietrich Bonhoeffer reflects on this passage in Matt 10 saying, “The cross is God’s sword on this earth. It creates division. The son against the father, the daughter against the mother, the household against its head, and all that for the sake of God’s Kingdom and its peace – that is the work of Christ on the earth!”
When Jesus was born, there were lots of people who encountered him and marveled about what would take place. Throughout the two birth narratives in Matthew and Luke, Simeon seems to be one of the few who grasps what is Christ’s coming will mean for Israel and the world. In Luke 2:29-35, Simeon speaks of Jesus as the “light for revelation to the Gentiles” and that he will cause the “rise and fall of many in Israel.” He brings the fall to many in Israel because while they are all calling for the sword against Rome, he picked up the cross. Rome brought “peace” everywhere they went by using the sword. They flexed big enough that no one wanted to go to war with them and therefore received “peace.” Their “peace” brought further brokenness. It did not bring shalom.
The only way the world could receive true peace is if God came down and picked up the cross. God picking up the cross brought division because people want “peace” by the ways of the world, the ways of Rome. True peace that brings completeness comes by picking up the cross. The cross is the sword of God which brings division between those of the world and those who choose “the most excellent way” …Love (1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13). Simeon says that even Mary will be cut to the soul by this sword.
Simeon sees the completeness that Jesus will bring to the world (and the Gentiles) and is at peace because completeness has come. Embracing the Christ child brings him to a peace that he is now able to let go of his life fully (Luke 2:29). What does it look like to live a life that fully embraces Christ? It is a life of peace. It is not anxious about the things of this world. It does not seek power but serves freely. It does not withhold love but gives love freely to all whether the world thinks they deserve love or not. As you contemplate Simeon embracing the Christ child at the end of his life, think about which areas of your life have yet to embrace Christ, bringing peace. Do you more often reach for the sword or the cross in your thoughts towards others?
As we prepare to break bread together this Sunday, be meditating on Mark 8:31-38 for our time of Dwelling in the Word. Please share with me what God is convicting you with in this passage.