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What peace did Jesus offer?
One of the arguments an atheist friend used about not wanting to become a Christian was that he believed Jesus came to divide families. He quoted Luke 12:51 (NIV) to back his argument:
Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.”
Honestly, I can see how Jesus saying this would cause confusion. I believed Jesus to be the Prince of Peace, the Good Shepherd, the Man of Sorrows.
However, Jesus didn’t come to bring temporal peace on earth but rather spiritual and eternal peace. He didn’t come to restore civil peace but rather to purchase our peace with God.
Jesus did not shy away from the truth. Many of us can see the truth of His statement in our very own lives. Following Jesus will mean estrangement from those who rebel against Him — even our own family members.
Jesus calls us to put Him ahead of everything, including our families. And this may seem hurtful to a spouse or child who is not in a personal relationship with Him.
Jesus preached love, joy, and peace but He also wanted believers to realize that as followers, we would encounter conflict and hatred.
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