Friday, May 8, 2009

JESUS, THE PRINCE OF PEACE?

Good afternoon Bible Scholars. We’re going to have a shorter devotional today but an really interesting one. Today’s topic is about our most favorite Bible character: Jesus. Obviously, with a whole religion built around Jesus, there has been much made about his character, his mission, and himself. Today, we are going to tackle a fundamental question about Jesus. Did Jesus come to bring peace to this world?

In many theologies, Christ is seen as the person/deity who was going to bring peace between God and man. Jesus was sent to Earth to die for mankind and pay for Adam and Eve’s little foul up. (Original sin and its consequences will be discussed in a later post.) In any case, because God the father seems tends to be a little pissed off with his creation and tends to want to smite as many of them as possible, Jesus if often portrayed as kind, gentle, and caring about the world.

Isaiah 9:6 is a verse which dubs Jesus as the “Prince of Peace” among other things. Let’s see what the other Bible writers day about Jesus and his mission:

Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.

Acts 10:36
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ.

These verses indicate that Jesus was here to bring peace. However, the Bible also shows another side of Jesus:

Matthew 10:34
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Luke 12:51
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Luke 22:36
He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

Revelation 19:11
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Hmmm . . . these verses seem to indicate that Jesus was here to bring strife and war. The first three are spoken by Jesus himself. The last one describes Jesus in the end times. Well . . . dear Bible scholars, what shall we make of this. First Jesus wants us to believe that he is about peace, love, and harmony between God and man. In the next breath, Jesus tells about all of the death, discordance, and destruction that he plans to sow on this Earth. Talk about a schizophrenic deity or we can face the reality of it all.

Jesus is just like his father, God. Jesus is a colossal prick. Jesus wants us to believe that he is a nice deity, but he really isn't that nice. Just like daddy, Jesus really wants to get about a smite some people. He’s gonna judge us in the end, so I cannot be led to believe that the cosmic acorn fell far from the tree.

Here is the final way the Jesus and God are alike. They don’t exist . . .

Let us pray, “Oh Jesus, we know that you have come to bring us peace and to smite everyone else. We know through your holy, yet wholly contradictory Bible, that you are the Prince and Peace and the great divider and maker of war. Bless us, oh Jesus and please do not smite us. In your name, AMEN!”

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