In Time Of War

In time of war, what would Jesus do?

Well, it just so happens that, when and where Jesus was walking this earth on two legs, and teaching from his mouth to a great many ears, it was a time of war. It was a time of war right where he was.

There were two evil and tyrannical rulers there, both full of tyranny, perversion, and selfishness: a king named Herod, who ruled over much of the area, and a man named Pontius Pilate, who ruled over the rest. Both of these were the willing agents of the Roman Empire, a great and terrible tyranny which exported its filthiness to all of its subject peoples, throughout most of the world.

The peoples ruled by these two individuals were often very angry. These were several different peoples who, in the main, very strongly desired to worship God, in their own very particular, and several different, ways. The Pharisees had their own special ways to worship, the Sadducees had others for themselves, the Essenes had theirs, and the Samaritans had theirs, and so on. But in the Roman Empire, if you were under Pilate and refused the image of the Emperor who demanded to be worshipped as a god, your life might well be forfeit. And King Herod required that all of the baby boys born in a certain three-year period be killed, despite the fact that very nearly all of the peoples ruled by him had a terrible hatred for the killing of babies. All in all, the people were very often denied life, denied liberty, and denied the pursuit of happiness.

As is rather understandable, many among these peoples hated these two lords and their toadies, and military rebellions and revolutions were attempted. In fact, in the first and second centuries both B.C. and C.E., there were quite a large number of people who attempted to conduct military rebellions and revolutions. One of these was Barabbas, cited in Mark 15:7. Many more are named and described in writings of the time by Josephus and others.

But the question is: when the Lord’s beloved people, the very people to whom He was sent first and foremost, were being killed and persecuted, were being denied life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness...what did He do? And what did He tell them to do, in order to do right?

Did He tell them that His Father had given them the right to their lives in this world? Did He tell them that no one could ever take this right away from them, that they were right to kill and rebel against all who killed them and their friends and their children? Or did He willingly submit to being tortured and killed, without any resistance, for His sake and for the glory of His Father? Did He encourage us all to do likewise?

Did He tell them that His Father had given them the right to liberty, the right to have freedom to worship His Father however they chose, that no one could ever take this right away from them? Or did He tell them, and us, that we must eagerly submit to authorities of the world who wish to limit our own libertine choices, except when, in the rare case, the authorities may command us to violate the specific commandments of the Christ Himself?

Did He tell them that His Father had given them the right to pursue whatever made them individually happy? Or did He state that the only one that is good, or right, is God, that we all must do as He desires in order to be right?

Did He tell them that they should be eager to rebel against and kill anyone who forcefully denied them a right to life or liberty or the pursuit of happiness? Or did He command us to not care about our lives in this world, to be not concerned with securing our sources of food and material security, to not care about the things which the rest of the world spends all of its time striving and scheming for, and to love and serve only the purposes of the Kingdom of Heaven?

Do you remember? Do you care?

If you care, but don’t remember, some of the words of the Lord are copied here for you, at the end.

If you don’t care, please imagine for a moment what it would be like, if you had none of the cares and associated fears that you have now, but instead a whole lot of love. You would have strength and power for good no matter what happened to anyone or any thing around you. You would never feel depression or despair, ever again, because you would care only about things which are eternal, which will never end at all, which will never be destroyed, according to that which God has said will occur.

If you want to feel this way, fearless and strong and free, if you want to know the never-ending power and truth of the Lord in your life, please contact anyone who knows this of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we will be happy to help.

Matthew 5:43-45 You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor" and hate your enemy; (44) but I say to you, Love your enemies; bless those cursing you, do well to those hating you; and pray for those abusing and persecuting you, (45) so that you may become sons of your Father in Heaven. Because He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and unjust.

John 14:21 He that has My commandments and keeps them, it is that one who loves Me; and the one that loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I shall love him and will reveal Myself to him.

Matthew 19:16-21 And, behold, coming near, one said to Him, Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? (17) And He said to him, Why do you call Me good? No one is good except One, God! But if you desire to enter into life, keep the commandments. (18) He said to Him, Which? And Jesus said, "You shall not commit murder, nor commit adultery, nor steal, nor bear false witness, (19) honor your father and your mother," and, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (20) The young man said to Him, All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack? (21) Jesus said to him, If you desire to be perfect, go sell your property and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; and come, follow Me.

Luke 21:12-16 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you, and will persecute you, delivering you into the synagogues and prisons, being led away before kings and governors on account of My name. (13) But it will return to you for a testimony. (14) Then put into your hearts not to premeditate to make a defense. (15) For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all those opposing you will not be able to withstand or contradict. (16) But you will be betrayed also by parents, and brothers, and relatives, and friends. And they will put some of you to death.

Luke 6:22-28 Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they cut you off, and will reproach you, and will cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man; (23) rejoice in that day, and leap for joy; for, behold, your reward is much in Heaven! For their fathers did according to these things to the prophets. (24) But woe to you, rich ones, for you have your comfort! (25) Woe to you, those having been filled, for you will hunger! Woe to you, those laughing now, for you will mourn and lament! (26) Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers did according to these things to the false prophets. (27) But I say to you, Those hearing: Love the ones hostile to you, do good to those hating you, (28) bless those cursing you and pray for those insulting you.

Matthew 6:30-34 If God so enrobes the grass of the field (which is today, and is thrown into a furnace tomorrow) will He not much rather you, little-faiths? (31) Then do not be anxious, saying, What may we eat? Or, what may we drink? Or, what may clothe us? (32) For after all these things the nations seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. (33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (34) Then do not be anxious for tomorrow. For the morrow will be anxious of itself. Sufficient to each day is its own trouble.

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