We Can't Make Peace, but We Can Receive It

David preached on Luke’s account of Christ’s crucifixion. In killing Jesus, the religious and political powers were trying to make peace by removing a troublesome figure. But that was a false peace, founded on injustice and lies. Yet on the Cross, God was at work offering a different path to true and perfect peace:

Jesus’ peace is founded on “love.” And this love is the love that embraces all sinners in the world. Jesus on the cross prayed to the Father, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (34). Peace in the world is conditional and transient.  There are many complicated conditions to be satisfied in order to maintain peace, and the peace is easily given up for “more important issues.” But Jesus’ love is unconditional. Jesus loves the sinners. He loves even his enemies who hate and crucify him with no reason. He loves even his enemies who are mocking him without knowing what they are doing. Jesus’ love is unconditional. Therefore, peace coming from Jesus’ love is steady and never changes in whatever situation. Jesus never scolded his disciples for any fault. He scolded them only for their little faith. Jesus’ love was always overflowing, enough to cover all their faults. Jesus rebuked them only when they hesitated to believe this love. There is nothing we should change ourselves in order to enter into peace with Jesus and stay in the peace. What we need is faith in his love. Then, just as we are, we have peace with him.