The most significant figure in history (1) has this to say on how to end the Gaza – Israel war and all other wars:

“Love our enemies . . . “(2)

“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”(3)

“Love God with all your heart and love your neighbour as you love yourself.”(4)

It works! There are groups where people from Palestinian Muslim and Israeli Jewish backgrounds are meeting together, doing exactly that.

Ultimately, an escalation of the war in the Middle East and the rest of the world can only be prevented if a majority follows the way of love rather than hatred. (5)

Continue reading to the end to discover who gave those unique commands, how they are just and even possible.

Jesus Christ, also known by his Jewish name, Yeshua Ha-Mashiach, lived in modern-day Israel about 2000 years ago. He tells his follower to love their enemies and to forgive one another. One of his titles is “Prince of Peace”. Jesus is the only way peace can come to warring factions, where unbelievable atrocities are committed by both sides and where hatred increases, handed down from previous generations. (6)

You may object, “Its easy for Jesus to say that. Was he ever forced to become a refugee? (7) Was he at any time falsely accused, (8) hated, persecuted, (9) threatened with death, (10) and most brutally killed?” (11) Yes, he was! You can find all the sources for this and every other claim made, at the end of this article.

But doesn’t justice demand punishment? How can we turn a blind eye on all this terrible suffering by just loving and forgiving those who are causing it?

The saying, “No justice – no peace!” is indeed true. In the Bible, also known as Torah, Zabur and Injeel, God has revealed Himself and His will as follows: He is absolutely Holy. To hate and murder other human beings who are different from us are two of many ways that go against His perfect law.

All of us have failed to keep some of God’s commandments, such as not to lie, steal, be greedy, proud, lust after women, etc. The punishment for such selfish behaviour that brings dishonour upon God is physical death and eternal separation from Him in hell. God loves us and therefore took the sentence for sin upon himself in Jesus who died on the cross for it. There he paid the ultimate price that we all deserved, but could never have paid ourselves. Afterwards He rose again from the dead on the third day. (12)

Everyone is called to be truly sorry for their shameful lives and to turn away from them to believe in Jesus’ sacrificial death on their behalf. As a result, they receive instant, guaranteed forgiveness from God. He will give them a new life, a new heart in which he causes his followers to walk in his ways. This happens by the power of His Holy Spirit who dwells in them. Ultimately, they will be with God in heaven for all eternity. (13)

This is the only way how to get peace with God and one another. Jesus is our eternal peace! (14) To refuse his solution will ultimately bring about a terrible judgement, leading to the end of the world and hell. Until then, to keep law and order in this life, governments are commanded by God to still punish all law breakers, whether they believe in Jesus or not. The sins of the former are forgiven by God, yet they still have to suffer the consequences of them here on earth. (15)

But is it not impossible to love our enemies, when we sometimes struggle to even love our friends? One part of the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God is selfless love. (16) Those who have suffered unspeakable horrors can pray: “God, I want to love my enemy. I want to forgive but I cannot do that in my own strength. Please help me by producing this love in me so I can pass it on to others.” In this way God alone gets all the glory.

God’s answer to the Gaza – Israel war and all other conflicts in this world is so unique that it may have raised more questions. They need to be asked with humility, realising our place in relation to God. The main source of knowledge about him comes from his revealed Word alone.

In it he has described Himself as Almighty, Sovereign, Good, Just, Merciful, Loving Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. Naturally, His thoughts are higher than ours. (17) Such an awareness will make it possible at times, to accept no answer as an answer, for the time being, simply trusting instead that God is good and knows best. For more information, please visit

https://christianityexplained.net

This article is also available as a 4 minute video here:

https://youtu.be/98Mtw1dW0N4

If you agree with it please consider posting it on social media and discussing it with your friends.

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Sources:

(1) https://ideas.time.com/2013/12/10/whos-biggest-the-100-most-significant-figures-in-history/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Whos-Bigger-Historical-Figures-Really/dp/1107041376

(2) Matthew 5:43-48

(3) Luke 6:37

(4) Mark 12:30-31

(5) These groups are located in Israel. For security reasons not more details can be given. In the meantime you can watch testimonies of former Hamas fighters who became followers of Jesus here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upTofuSIcVM&t=30s

and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7LbVMQiWdk

For testimonies of Jews who accepted Jesus as the Messiah see here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se0_hYKJyqA&list=PLXiBkdTbRi-wmDEU85JJcZbqDw8RoOxOc

(6) Isaiah 9:6. Salafi Egyptian Islamic scholar and author, Sheikh Muhammad Hussein Yaqoub:

“If the Jews left Palestine to us, would we start loving them? Of course not. … They would have been enemies even if they did not occupy a thing. … Our fighting with the Jews is eternal, and it will not end . .. until not a single Jew remains on the face of the Earth. … As for you Jews, the Curse of Allah upon you, you pigs of the earth!” (Al-Rahma TV, 17 January 2009) https://anglican.ink/2023/10/17/islams-problem-with-jews-goes-back-millennia/

(7) Matthew 2:13–23

(8) John 10:33-36

(9) John 15:18-20

(10) Luke 4:16-30

(11) 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15

(12) Isaiah 6:3b, Exodus 20:1-17, Matthew 5:27-30, Isaiah 53, 1 Peter 2:24, Matthew 28

(13) Mark 1:15, John 3:16; 14:15-21, Ezekiel 36:25 -27

(14) Ephesians 2:14

(15) Revelation 20, Matthew 25:31 -46, Romans 13:4-7, 2 Samuel 12:7-14

(16) Galatians 5:22

(17) Job 38-4, Genesis 1:1; 17:1, Psalms 119:68; 145:8-9, Deuteronomy 32:4, 1 John 4:7-12, Colossians 1:15-17, Isaiah 55:8-9