In today’s Gospel, Matthew 10, Jesus says, “Do not think I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
But does Jesus really mean a sword??
He later says, “Put your swords away”, and explains that the kind of army he wants is made up of those who choose to follow him, no matter how hard it will be. His “soldiers” are those who believe that losing their life for his sake is really finding life. Jesus tells the disciples to go out and use the only “weapons” they will need: healing, teaching and proclaiming the good news – that grace and mercy and forgiveness are for everyone.
So as Pastor Eric says, although we all like a compelling story about good prevailing over evil, Jesus is not really telling us to take up a sword. Rather, it is all about Jesus fulfilling the mission he was given: to die for us on the cross so that we may spread the good news that everyone can embrace the Kingdom of Heaven.
Click below and listen to the full Gospel and Sermon.