The Scriptures always seem to be asking us to choose. Choose between comfort and compassion – between what is easy and what is right. Occasionally, the choices are even more complicated.

How often have you been told that we Christians are ‘at war?’  That there is a ‘spiritual battle’ and we must ‘fight the good fight?’ (our hymnals – and our pulpits – have been full of this kind of language…for years) Does this sound true to the image of Jesus that is presented in the Gospels?

We confess that we follow Christ as King – and the Bible describes an emerging kingdom that will replace the current world order. Sometimes, the language is combative and militaristic.

When it suits us, we imagine ourselves as soldiers in the army of God – all very confusing when set against the way Jesus is depicted in the gospels.

True, some Old Testament prophets imagine God setting things right by force. And it is also true that it has been very hard for Christians to abandon the idea that we can only prevail through conflict (and that we can only be successful with God’s help) Faith is often confused with power – to no good effect.

So the prophet proclaims a king – who will ‘cut off the chariots of war’ – all while mounted on…a donkey. It is a ridiculous image, and so we have bent our minds to some sort of miraculous battle – underdog messiah wins the day on the most unlikely battle steed. And the crowds cry ‘Hosanna – save us.”

The image held out by the prophet is meant to be challenging – but also, dare I say it, laughable. This is not how wars are won – not how kingdoms are secured. Force is required. Overwhelming, undeniable, force…except - the prophet gives no indication that God’s messenger will come with anything but humility.

Donkeys are far from majestic. They are sturdy and reliable – but they don’t signal significance.

So this conquering king ‘arrives on a donkey’ and ‘removes war chariots.’ Not overwhelms them, or defeats them. Removes.

This King does not call for carnage. This king ‘presents peace.’ More evidence that any violent purposes to which we might direct our faithfulness are totally misguided.

This matters because of the world we live in. History is littered with the wreckage of faithful conquest. The exploration of the globe has been a continual lesson in how NOT to spread the gospel.

Oh, sure - the story of Jesus did make it to (almost) every corner of the world, but at what cost? Cultures destroyed – languages and practices outlawed. All in the name of ‘God’s kingdom.’ And Jesus weeps.

The humble, peace-giving image has been swept aside by our need for power and control. The myth of the need for Christianity to triumph over everything has given us a twisted view of the world, and unfortunately, that view is fighting for our attention still today. So it might help us to listen – even briefly – to Jesus, who urges us to something different in the gospel this morning.

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

This gentle invitation doesn’t come from nothing. The bulk of chapter 11 concerns the way that the people seem to be responding to the slow and surprising emergence of the kingdom of God through the work of both Jesus and the recently arrested John the Baptist.

Jesus sits with the news that his friend and mentor has been arrested - that the power of the state has been brought to bear on this troublesome man of God - and Jesus acknowledges the difficulties. “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Mt 11: 12)

Such violence solves nothing. The gospel goes on to compare the violent victors to children, complaining that no one will celebrate with them. “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.” (Mt 11:17)

Those who claim triumphantly that the kingdom of God must prevail - that the message of Christ MUST be the only message of peace and compassion have grabbed the wrong end of the stick.

The work of John - and now of Jesus - has been done quietly, with great compassion and little fanfare, and the reception has been underwhelming.

People want the big noise. Flags and bands and 21-gun salutes. People – including many of God’s people - seem to think that a show of power is necessary to prove that God is God - that Jesus is Lord. And Jesus paints a different picture.

He calls the weary to rest in his presence. HIs is the way of gentle humility - there is work to be done, for sure, but that work is not the constant struggle to express authority. The work that Jesus calls us to is full of grace and peace.

Think of the contrast between how faithfulness is being portrayed - even in this country. If you’ve been paying attention, you will have heard prominent people describe a titanic struggle or a spiritual battle for the ‘soul’ of the nation. They imagine that we must win some sort of existential fight – that we need to conquer in order to save. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Jesus’ compassion manages conflict- it doesn’t increase tension, it eases tension. The offer of peace that the prophet speaks of is not an ultimatum (make peace or suffer the consequence), it is a strategy to avoid the conflict that comes from the misguided notion that there must be a dominant winner and a submissive loser.

Humility allows that there is a way for all to exist - peacefully - in the embrace of a loving God. Jesus’ humility extends even to those who had chosen violence. How might we pursue the way of peace and rest?