As He entered Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday, Jesus wept over the city and over its people for whom He wished peace. A peace He could give them if only they accepted Him…recognized Him as the Son of God, their Messiah. Earlier in His ministry and their training, Jesus had told His disciples the reason He came.
Don't imagine that I came to bring
peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 'I have come to set
a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own
household!' Matthew
10:34-36 (Jesus quoted Micah 7:6.)
Jesus
didn’t come to bring peace. He came to bring salvation…but not covered in
palms, roses or pansies. Salvation paid with a price—which is His blood. As He
rode a donkey into Jerusalem at the beginning of His last week, His disciples
and followers chanted Hosanna, saying they were looking for a King to bring
peace to Israel. Peace, quoting Psalm 118.
"Blessings on the King who
comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest
heaven!" Luke
19:38
Jesus
knew He was not the conquering King they were expecting, but a spiritual King
that would bring them peace in their hearts, not peace on this earthly world.
The
Psalms, written mainly by David and the Sons of Korah, spoke of God’s peace.
But give great joy to those who
came to my defense. Let them continually say, "Great is the LORD, who
delights in blessing his servant with peace!" Psalm 35:27
The LORD gives his people strength.
The LORD blesses them with peace. Psalm 29:11
I listen carefully to what God the
LORD is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not
return to their foolish ways. Psalm
85:8
God does
want His people to have peace. Peace is part of the Fruit of the Spirit: love,
joy, Peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control
(Galatians 5:22-23). Peace passes all understanding. Peace is desirable—but it
is not what Jesus came to give. Just as He said, He came to be a sword. We can
see that a sword is the Word of God, as described by Paul. Additionally, John
tells us that Jesus is the Word.
Put on salvation as your helmet,
and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17
For the word of God is alive and
powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul
and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and
desires. Hebrews
4:12
In the beginning the Word already
existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the
beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created
except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his
life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the
darkness can never extinguish it. John
1:1-5
Jesus spoke to the people once more
and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have
to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."
John 8:12
I hope
I’m not manipulating Scripture here, but rather tying it together to see truths
about Jesus. He is a sword; He is the Word; and He is light. Jesus is the Word
of God…He is God. He is the light of the world. He will give peace and hope to
those who believe in Him as their Lord and Savior. During His last supper with
His disciples, He spoke to them about His future…and their future, to give them
hope. He offers us that same peace and hope.
I am leaving you with a gift—peace
of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So
don't be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I
will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I
am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things
before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe. John 14:27-29
Believe.
Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, accepting His gift of peace of mind and
heart. Don’t be troubled or afraid—even during a time of isolation or despair.
Have hope that just as Jesus promised He will come back again. Keep seeking Him
daily, to know more about Him and the peace that He gives to those who love
Him. Be sure not to keep this a secret…share the news of Jesus with others. It
is not fake news. It is Good News.
But
as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep.
"How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to
peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long
your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close
in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your
children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because
you did not accept your opportunity for salvation." Luke 19:41-44
 |
| Where is peace in the puzzle of your life? |
Meditate.
Picture Jesus about to enter Jerusalem and His passion for the people there.
Verse
of Salvation ~ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is
eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
This post is revised and recycled from May 10, 2020, Banquet
With The King blog.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
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