Peace in a War Zone

We have to remember that our only saving grace, in any of this, is actual Saving Grace.

Over two millennia ago, an angel departed the throne of God to deliver a long awaited message to a carefully selected young woman. As the only woman prophesied of in our recorded scripture, Mary’s role was established since the foundation of the world (see 1 Nephi 10:18) as an irreplaceable piece of the Plan of Salvation. The angel’s message, of course, was that Mary would soon bear a child, even the promised Messiah hailing from the Kingdom of Heaven who would rule and reign upon the throne of David (see Luke 1:32-33). 

In the months leading up to her delivery, how often did Mary wonder at the prophecies about the child in her womb? How often did she converse with Joseph about how to protect him? And how quickly did fear creep into her mind as she laid him in the manger? Amid stars, shepherds, and wisemen, it became abundantly clear on that blessed night that Mary was not called to raise just any child, but a perfect “lamb to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7).

 

Jesus the Christ was born to die for the sins of the world, his earthly ministry was much larger than even the pure love of a mother. So it was that Mary, as she looked upon her son - the child she had labored for and would now raise - saw not only two small hands reaching upward, but saw two gentle hands healing a blind man, two giving hands feeding thousands, two sacred hands breaking bread and blessing wine, and two strong, weathered hands spread wide and nailed to a cross. 

 

Over the months and years that would pass, Mary saw more and more of who this man was and where his bitter trail would lead. But, while an incredible charge laid before him as the very Son of God, Jesus Christ, on that quiet night in Bethlehem, was simply Mary’s son.

 

Christ was born into a war zone – filled with governmental and religious corruption, violence and torture, and every kind of political manipulation. And then was born the Prince of Peace. However, His peace was not what the people expected, or even wanted. I’m sure they were tired of the oppression, violence, arguing, and divisions that bombarded their everyday life. They wanted a hero to come in and save the day, to save them from the things that troubled them every day. That’s not what He came to do. At times, I have acted like the many Jews who wanted tangible deliverance—they wanted Him to save them from their bondage and their oppression. That is not what He came to offer. Although the Lord has physically delivered his people before, and He can rescue from physical ailments, His constant and unwavering deliverance is from sin and death, “life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).

We live in a world that is equally corrupt. Of our day it has been prophesied: “And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men’s hearts shall fail them… and the love of men shall wax cold” (D&C 45:26-27). That is blatantly true of what I notice is currently happening in our world. 

The earliest, clearest prophesy foretelling the birth of the Savior came from Isaiah, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). This first title given Him would let the world know that a God, Himself, would come and be among us—this name was given as a sign of God’s deliverance to His people (See BD, Immanuel). His would not be a deliverance from human slavery, as with the Hebrews, from the stranding effect of a flood, as with Noah, or from physical oppression, as with Christ’s own Jewish people—Christ would come to ransom every person who had ever been a slave, ever been stranded, or ever been oppressed. Along with the rest of God’s people, we can find comfort in knowing that He has come to save us, and deliver us unto the promise of everlasting life, everlasting peace, and everlasting joy. With every people who has ever called out to Him, we, too, plead that He will come unto each of us, and we pray for his second glorious coming to the earth. God’s people will always carry a plea, “O Come, O Come, Immanuel.”

 

While we may wish and hope for Him to come end the suffering and contention we experience and witness, His being among us does not have to wait for a final day of deliverance. The kind of peace He gives is within individual hearts. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). 

 

We have to remember the battle is being fought against the peace within hearts. There is a void of love, of patience, and actual faith in an actual Savior.

 

As a people that seems to be infatuated with superheroes—from Superman to Captain Marvel, and everything in between—we feel the need to imagine an incredible outside force that will save the world. Like the Jews of Christ’s time, we want a hero. “Save us… fix this… help us… deliver us…” But the victory will not come from a suit or a weapon or a hero in a mask. Victory comes through Him who redeemed us. He is an incredible outside force, but often does not intervene in the way we think He will or would like Him to. Because He is also an incredible inside force that can change our hearts and minds. We have to remember that our only saving grace, in any of this, is actual Saving Grace.

 

Peace comes more abundantly to the world as it comes individually to each of our hearts by exercising faith in Jesus Christ and coming unto Him. Fear, anger, and jealousy must be personally eradicated, and instead replaced with charity, bravery, and temperance. The world cries for “Peace on Earth, good will to men.” The peace we need is not an earthly armistice or for everyone to magically agree on everything; what we need is Him. Let us be reminded that Peace was born in Bethlehem on that holy night.

 

From that lowly stable, Christ’s redeeming message can spread throughout the world—the gospel message that we can change and improve. We are His messengers to spread His light wherever we live, work, play, and worship. We need not walk the roads of Bethlehem and kneel before the manger to receive our own witness that Jesus is the Christ. The greatest testimony comes to each of us not as we walk where He walked, but as He walked. By doing so, that tiny, precious Light of the World born over two millennia ago, will light the world. Just as his newborn hands reached toward his mother, and grew to be spread upon the cross, we are charged to be his hands to reach out to all around us, and in turn, light the world.

I would like to thank my friend, Jessica Sargent, for her contribution to this post. I asked her to write a piece to add to this message, and the first four paragraphs are her words. 

View "The Christ Child" video by clicking here. 

#lighttheworld