‘O that they might know the ways of peace’

In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is described as overlooking the city of Jerusalem during the last week of his life. Jerusalem was a city ruled by Roman puppets where dissenters were killed routinely. Jesus grew up in a rural community 70 miles north of Jerusalem that was dominated by dissenters. They were known as Zealots.

The typical Zealot was always armed with a knife or a small sword. Zealots firmly believed that the way to a more peaceful life, free of Roman rule, was to recruit more people with knives and swords than their oppressors. The answer to bad guys with swords was good guys with swords.

Jesus and his disciples made the fateful visit to Jerusalem, the center of power. At least some of his disciples were still Zealots who carried knives or small swords. Jesus looked at Jerusalem and said, “O that they might know the ways of peace.”

I can easily imagine Jesus looking at Washington, D.C., with all its war memorials and its grand discussions about size of guns and tearfully saying, “O that they might know the ways of peace.” Jesus was not interested in a discussion about the size of swords that were to be allowed. He was interested in something much more basic. He was concerned about behavior and actions that produce peaceful living.

Any thorough analysis of the teachings of Jesus shows that he was a peacemaker who taught and practiced peacemaking. Jesus was quite blunt about the particulars of peacekeeping. As a standard that rings in my ears, he taught that we should love our enemies rather than despise them. According to Jesus, loving your friends and family is easy. The test is what you do with enemies. The Jesus answer is straightforward — love them! He even begged God’s mercy on those who were killing him. His insightful remark was, “They have no idea what they are doing.”

The context of this column is obviously the debates now taking place in the U.S. Congress. The debates are about limitations on weapons ownership and the Second Amendment to our U.S. Constitution. Unfortunately, most Christians are accepting the parameters of the debate that are being set by the president and the members of Congress. Now is a marvelous time for Christians to speak a clear message from Jesus.

Peter, often seen as the chief disciple of Jesus, was a Zealot. When he traveled to Jerusalem with Jesus, he brought his sword with him. When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, apparently it was Peter who grabbed his sword and swung it at the slave of the high priest. He cut off his ear. The response of Jesus was telling. He healed the man’s ear and told Peter to put away his sword. Then Jesus repeated one of his memorable aphorisms that were basic to his teachings. Those who live by the sword will die by the sword.

Aphorisms are short, memorable statements that are easy to remember and easily transmitted orally from person to person. Along with Jesus’ parables, aphorisms are considered his most effective teaching tools. When working in Galilee, Jesus talked with a lot of Zealots who carried knives and small swords. I suspect that the words he spoke to Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane were words that Peter had heard many times before. Peter simply did not want to hear the message. He loved carrying his sword everywhere he went. I would like to think that Peter finally got the point when he watched his Lord Jesus submit to crucifixion with calm grace toward his executioners.

One of the marks of the aphorisms of Jesus is that they transfer quite well from generation to generation. Jesus is still saying to his followers, “Get rid of your weapons! Those who live by the sword will die by the sword.” By the time I was discharged from service in the U.S. Army, I had received the Jesus message. My father was a hunter and was by civil standards a very responsible gun owner. I broke ranks and have never owned a gun.

Following Jesus and owning a gun, particularly for personal protection, means turning a deaf ear to an essential teaching of Jesus. When, O when, will the followers of Jesus get the message? I have come to the conclusion that the most powerful tool for a safe society is a Christian population that renounces weapons and practices weapon-free life.

The most recent edition of Sojourners Magazine features articles by a new generation of Evangelical peacemakers. I am encouraged by the breadth and depth of the peace movements that are gathering steam among Evangelicals. I have asked why this is happening. I think I know the answer. Evangelicals are taking Jesus and his teachings seriously.

My fear for my country is that we have lived by the sword for so long that the addiction is permanent. An Old Testament prophet speaks of turning swords into plowshares. No better advice has ever been given.

The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister, who lives in Palmer. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.

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