The Center of the Gospel

The German theologian Jurgen Moltmann has said, "All Christian statements about God, about creation, about sin and death have their focal point in the crucified Christ." (from The Crucified God). I wholeheartedly agree.

       This morning at the Medair gathering I lead the second of four teachings/devotionals. Today was titled, "Peace and Jesus' Sword" and was based on Matthew 10:32-42. Jesus says that he came not to bring peace but a sword. He also says that families will be split up over this.
       The other places in the Gospel accounts where we see a sword is when Peter cuts off the ear of a person and when Jesus is pierced with a sword while hanging on the cross.
       Could it be that Jesus' reference in Matthew 10 to bringing a sword is a statement about his upcoming crucifixion? Could it be that Jesus is saying that there is NO shalom without the sword which pierces him on the cross?
       All of Christian belief, faith, and practice begins and ends at the cross of Christ. Shalom is found at the most violent pinnacle of human history - the cross where Jesus is crucified.