Close your eyes for a moment

Keep them closed. Listen to these words from Scripture.Imagine the feeling these words convey: The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down withthe young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them." "The cow andthe bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lions shall eat straw like the ox". "The nursing child shallplay over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den." "They shall not hurt or destroyin all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea

What one word might describe the incredible and unrealistic setting the prophet Isaiahdescribes? Peace in the family. Peace on earth. Peace. The absence of conflict. The absenceof disease. The absence of heartache. He is the "Prince of Peace" (Is.9:6). "For in Him all the fullness of God waspleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross."(Col 1:20) "For He Himself is our peace," (Eph2:14a) "And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who werenear: (Eph.2:17) "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. (John 14:27) Peace from the Prince of Peace.

Close your eyes again. Now listen to these words from Jesus – our Lord and Savior Himself. “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in- law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his ownhousehold. Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more thanMe is not worthy of Me. And whoever does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.

What one word might describe the emotion of the hearer of that message from Jesus Himself?FEAR? That passage, which comes from the same Holy Bible as the text I just read to you, sayssomething completely the reverse of peace. In fact, for the casual Christian, one who opensthe Bible infrequently, attends church irregularly, sees the world through the prism of “can’t weall just along,” or “most people are by nature good, ” and perceives a walk of faith to be a leisurelystroll down the path of least resistance, what the Prince of Peace says might come as asurprise, might make one want to get up and walk out. This is not the Jesus they expected.