It is often said that Christmas is about peace, joy and love. Really? How can there be real peace when the rich and powerful exploit the poor and weak at will, seemingly without retribution? How can there be real joy when the wicked mock the oppressed - asking “where is your Jesus?” with malice and glee? Jesus certainly does not aim to bring the kind of superficial, wishy-washy non-confrontation that relies on the oppressed accepting their fate and suffering in silence. That is not salvation and surely not real peace. Jesus is not worthy of our faith if that is all that He brings.
Jesus is actually preaching a very subversive Gospel. Blessed are the poor, the meek, pure at heart, …, those who suffer for the sake of justice. - He said. We are to listen to God rather than man. God is for justice and real freedom that faith brings. These are our true values. If so, we should persevere in the face of persecution, even to die for our values. It is a fiercely committed faith, a fearless faith. Only this kind of faith brings true freedom.
Faith in the righteousness and sovereignty of God sets us free and gives us peace not just as a hope for the future, when God returns to punish the wicked and reward the faithful. Faith gives us peace in our mind even now, when evil still reigns.
Jesus does not seek to bring peace by overthrowing the oppressors with violent revolution. But Jesus is fearless in speaking against the hypocrites, the liars, the oppressors, the exploiters, the wicked. He did not keep quiet. Jesus heals the sick, feeds the hungry, comforts the disturbed. He did not simply tell the hungry to have faith and go in peace. Jesus empathises with the oppressed, and tells us to do the same.
Faith gives us peace of mind in the face of evil when (1) we know that we are doing the rich thing in the eye of God and (2) God reigns supreme. This is the kind of peace that Christmas brings. Are we worthy of such peace?
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