Blessed are the Peace Makers
Joseph Mustapha
To understand what Jesus would do about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we should focus on His core teachings that reveal God’s intentions for humanity—namely, the call to embody love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Jesus said in John 5:19, “I always do what I see my Father doing,” emphasizing that His actions reflect God’s will and that we are called to do the same.
Jesus is the exact representation of God. God did not abandon creation, even after man’s fall brought chaos, hate, conflict, competition, and war. Jesus became the deliverer and savior, rescuing humanity from the troubles and conflicts the devil causes.
God’s message is LOVE (John 3:16), reconciliation and forgiveness (2 Corinthians 5:19), and restoration (Luke 19:10).
If Jesus were physically present today (Not discounting His presence as the Holy Spirit), His unequivocal message to Israelis and Palestinians would be to pursue LOVE, FORGIVENESS, PEACE, and genuine coexistence—presented as the only viable solution to the conflict.
Humans are plagued with ‘SELF.’ Self-centeredness drives selfish ambition, which leads to strife. This sharply contrasts with Christ’s selflessness.
The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in my view, stems from a lack of selflessness. Without considering others, peace is unreachable. Jesus’ words are relevant: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Choosing selflessness over self-interest leads to resolution.
In conclusion, if Jesus were present today, His singular message to both Israelis and Palestinians would be one of unconditional love, forgiveness, and peace. True resolution is only possible if both sides adopt selflessness and peacemaking, as Jesus so clearly taught, making these the essential steps toward lasting peace.
Joseph Mustapha is a Stuttgart-based minister.
A Different View – Femi Francis
If Jesus had lived in this dispensation and age of ours, what would He have done concerning the Israel-Palestine conflict?
I like to look at this issue a bit differently. The question is, would Jesus have really done anything to resolve this conflict? I am not certain. Because when He was on earth, they tried to make Him a king so that He could use His messianic anointing to drive out the Romans, but He did not, because that was completely outside God’s agenda for His mission.
According to the Bible, Jesus lived under Roman occupation in Israel but did not resist their rule. Galatians 4:4 states that God sent his Son at the appointed time to die for men’s sins. Revelation 19:15 then asserts that Jesus will return to judge his enemies—Jews and non-Jews—while believers from all nations will reign with him, judging the rebellious.
Minister Femi Francis is also based in Stuttgart.