People think they know what the Bible teaches, or what Jesus
says, and quite often they do not. So
much of who Jesus is, and what he does is unexpected, even to Christians.
Is it because he is mysterious and beyond us, because he is
omniscient God who created all and knows all, and we are tiny, puny little
specks in the grand scheme of his creation?
That he’s just so much smarter than us that we can’t fathom his truth?
Or is it because our sinful flesh has warped expectations of
God? That even if we had the biggest brain, or a super-computer artificial
intelligence juicing up our comprehension of reality – we’d still get it wrong
because we are perverted by sin – corrupted through and through. And it’s not so much intellectual capacity as
it is spiritual deadness that is our problem?
Why is Jesus always surprising us, blowing up our
expectations? Because we’re not that
smart, or because we are so sinful? Perhaps
both.
Thankfully he doesn’t leave us to figure all this out on our
own. But rather, he reveals to us truth
- even difficult truths. He shows us and
tells us things that we couldn’t come to on our own. Things about ourselves, about himself, and
about the meaning of his work among us. And
in many cases these things fly exactly in the face of our limited and corrupted
experiences and expectations.
Today he puts some hard truths before us, concerning violence,
division, families, crosses, and even some unexpected promises near the
end.
First, the Prince of Peace shocks us with talk of violence. “Don’t
think I’ve come to bring peace. No, I’ve
come, instead to bring a sword!” What?
Isn't this Jesus who teaches “turn the other cheek”? Isn't this the one who
told Peter, “if you live by the sword you will die by the sword”? Isn't this
the Jesus who isn't a military messiah but a humble donkey-riding king whose
kingdom is not of this world? Yes, to all of that. But how do we reconcile
these seemingly contradictory statements? Is he a peace guy or a sword guy? He’d probably get a 30 day ban on facebook!
But talk of violence - perhaps Jesus' own life is a starting
point. For though he preached good news, healed the sick, and never thought of
rebellion – violent men found him anyway, and pierced him with thorns and nails
and spear. He didn't bring the sword, but his words and actions brought the
sword down upon him. Like a lamb led to the slaughter, so our Lord was taken.
Like a robber they came to arrest him with torches and clubs at night, though
he taught openly every day in the temple.
He could have called legions of angelic armies, the mighty hosts of
heaven to his aid – but he chose rather to fulfill the Father’s will, and become
the victim of violence for all.
We might be reminded of the momma-always-said bit of wisdom,
“no good deed goes un-punished”. Or to put it in more biblical terms, Jesus
suffered violence for doing good. He was persecuted for telling the truth. He
made enemies by loving people. Who would have thought?
No the world isn't fair that way, because the world is
sinful and full of sinners. And if it was that way for Jesus, it will be all
the more for us, his people. So he warns us, he came to bring a sword. Not a
sword for us to bear, that we should be violent. But a sword of persecution that will be
pointed at us, just as it was at him.
Following Jesus does not mean peace – at least in the sense
of a peaceful coexistence with the sinful world around you. In fact, being a
Christian might even mean trouble for you, yes, even in your family. Holding to
Christ's word may bring a sword – it may cut you, or cut you off from those you
love in ways you don't expect.
I think of the sad reality of so many of us who have adult
children who have left the church, departed the faith. It’s a sword that pierces our soul. It’s a cross to bear, about which we can
often do little but pray. Oh, it may not
be a verbal or physical fight – dividing you from your wandering children. But when the center of your life is Jesus
Christ, and the ones you love wander off, or quietly drift away – it can frustrate us, it can hurt us, and it
can even tempt us to compromise, equivocate, or wander away ourselves. Jesus knows that family ties are strong,
that’s part of his good design in creation, but he knows also that the evil one
will use even the family to drive wedges and create conflict. Jesus warns us not to love father or mother,
son or daughter “more than me”. He must
be first, he must take priority, even over our own flesh and blood.
But the violence and division that Jesus brings isn’t even
limited to the world out there, or the members of the family. It gets even more personal, closer to
home. The Christian is even at odds with
himself. Your sinful nature is at war
with the new man! The battleground
doesn’t get any closer. The lines are
drawn up in your very soul. The struggle
against sin is daily and real. We must
take up our own cross, and not despise its shame, lose our own life for the
sake of Christ if we hope to save it.
Recall how St. Paul talks about the struggle between the
good that he wants to do and the evil he finds himself doing. Wretched man that
I am! We could all say the same. Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Jesus Christ alone!
But in another sense, Jesus does bring peace. He even says so. The peace that Christ does bring is a true
peace – with God. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives, give I unto you.” (John
14:7) It is not an outward, false peace. It is not a shallow, temporary peace. Not even an emotional peace. In fact, sometimes
it doesn't even feel peaceful. But he declares it to be so – and his word of
forgiveness is the greater reality. You are forgiven. You are righteous. You
belong to God, in Jesus Christ who died for you. You are at peace.
So whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses
his life for Christ will gain it. If you think you are just fine, if you think
you are without sin, if you think you are at peace – Jesus comes to say otherwise.
But if you are lost, if your life is a mess and fading away, if you confess
your sin – Jesus brings a peace that passes understanding.
And he brings rewards. Here after all the hard words of
warning about sword and trouble and family turmoil – he does not leave us
without hope. He never does.
So whoever receives Jesus receives the Father, and whoever
receives a prophet, receives the one who sent the prophet – namely, Jesus. This
is why we hear the word of God. To receive that reward. To know that blessing.
And we receive the righteous person – we care for, and love one another –
righteous saints of God, even as we are already righteous in Christ.
Yes, there is reward enough in doing what is right for its
own sake. But when this world rewards your faithfulness with hatred, your trust
in Christ with ridicule, and your works of Christian love with derision – know
that your reward isn't ultimately here, but in Heaven.
No, we don't deserve these rewards – unlike earthly rewards.
Just like the peace he brings is not as the world gives. These are not dessert for cleaning your plate
at dinner, or a paycheck for a hard day's labor. The rewards Christ promises
are always of grace.
Our “just desserts” would be scary. We are sinners. But what
we truly deserve isn't what he promises. Instead, he gives us his own
righteousness. His own blessedness. His own life – a resurrection and a
glorious eternity. A kingdom that never ends. Another great surprise, eh?
Jesus never said being a Christian would be easy. No, instead
he talks about crosses, and suffering, and swords. It can bring division and
strife, even in the inner sanctum of the family. There's no promise of peace this side of
heaven. But for the faithful, the reward awaits. The hope endures, always, only
in him, who by his cross has conquered, and by his word sustains us. Believe in
that word, come what may. And look for that reward, for it is sure. In Jesus
Christ, Amen.
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