Matthew 10:34 - Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Commentary

One of the undercurrents of the Lenten season is that there is a battle. From the beginning, Adam and Eve rebelled against the governance of God to create their own knowledge of good and evil. So when God came to the earth as a man, part of His mission was to bring a sword that challenged the status quo of His day just as much as it does now. The book of Hebrews calls that sword the word of God. How do we approach Scripture? As a book of morals? Or do we see it as a sword that will challenge the thoughts and intents of our heart? Jesus is challenging us to leave our own knowledge of good and evil. This challenge is offensive to our inherited nature from Adam, but if we allow it to do its work, the challenge will lead us to the ultimate tree of life. - Jesus our risen Lord.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

John 13:3 - Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;

Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

Commentary

Jesus came to earth with a mission. One of the ways this is stated by theologians is that Jesus was "self aware" - meaning that He was not on a path of discovery of His identity, but had full clarity of who He was. The accounts of Jesus reveal a being so magnificent that His power was fully engaging the creation around Him in a way that even His followers didn't comprehend; they could only respond in amazement. Do we see Jesus in this light? As someone so powerful that He is engaging our circumstances in such a way that we can't see. Whether we realize it or not, Jesus has been given all power, and He is guiding us in our purpose on this earth.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC