“He has now reconciled his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him” —Colossians 1:22
The Gospel is ultimately all about reconciliation. Undoubtedly, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a multi-faceted and highly complex thing. Even when you think for a moment about the reasons for Jesus’ death, the answers are many.
There are historical reasons for Jesus’ death: Jesus was put to death because he was a disturber of the peace.
There are religious reasons for Jesus’ death: he was condemned to death because he was accused of being a blasphemer by the Sanhedrin (Jewish religious authorities during Jesus life time (on earth)). Namely, he was accused of claiming equality with God (I’ve always wondered how Jehovah’s Witnesses deal with this reality).
There are theological reasons for Jesus’ death: Jesus died to take upon himself the penalty of death for the sins of the world.
There are spiritual reasons for Jesus’ death: Jesus died in order to then rise again thereby demonstrating his power over death.
Finally, Jesus died simply because he loves us.
In the end, Jesus’ death is the fulfillment of God’s plan to redeem the world. This means God breaking into the broken world where hostility, corruption, violence, deception, sin and death reign and redeeming it all by facing death as the ultimate catalyst for hostility and defeating it.
In his death Jesus put an end to any and all hostility between humanity and God. Not only this, but Jesus also puts an end to the hostility that pervades the human race.
As a church, we have inherited the same mission to bring peace and healing to the world, to proclaim the message of reconciliation that is manifest through the Cross. Christians are to be ambassadors of peace.
All the while, by some mystery, we come with a sword, and that sword, the weapon with which we combat corruption in the world is forgiveness, grace, and self-giving love.
For the world to find peace, it must pass into forgiveness, reconciliation, and love. Church, this is your mission.
Blessed are the peacemakers.
Good word.