Scripture: Matthew 24:6-14
A major war rages between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East. This war threatens to involve Iran and many of the other countries. War continues between Russia and the Ukraine with Russia aligning itself with China more closely than ever. China is positioning itself with North Korea and threatening Taiwan. On the southern border of the U.S. an assault by drug cartels and potential terrorists wages. The world is in turmoil.
At the time Jesus was on earth, the Romans were in control of the area around Judea, but the Greeks had controlled it before being defeated by the Jews and then the Roman army. The Romans were in constant battles with nations and tribes on the outer edges of its empire. Violent insurrectionists were constantly in conflict with both the Romans and the leaders of the Jews. Jesus knew of all this and said, “you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places . . . at that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, . . but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved (Matt 24:6-13).
Later, at the Passover seder days before his crucifixion and resurrection, he told the disciples, “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever-the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:15-17). To comfort his disciples during their time of severe troubles, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
We generally define peace as the absence of war. I think Jesus was pointing out that peace on earth is not going to happen the way humans expect it. War and strife will exist, Jesus said, because the “prince of this world is coming” (John 14:30). This prince is the personification of evil and hatred. So, we cannot expect people, particularly non-Christians, to ever achieve a lasting peace. That peace would depend on human abilities. Those human abilities are limited and temporal. Jesus knew this and added to His thought, “he has no hold over me . . .” (John 14:31) providing the comfort that enduring and eternal peace is not dependent on man or world events, but on Jesus.
Evil and hatred runs through humans that cannot be eradicated by human choices. It takes an “advocate” that supplants our human nature to make this peace happen. And then, it happens within us as individuals, not within all others. There will be wars and rumors of wars, and we cannot control that. We can, however, accept the gift of peace for us.
Dr. Mike English and Lois are leaders for the Koinonia Sunday School class and active participants in church committees at Yates Baptist Church and the Yates Baptist Association.