Paradoxes from Jesus: Slave or Free

Jesus prophesied that he was fulfilling Isaiah's prophesy saying that, 

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives ..." Luke 4:18

What kind of freedom for captives was Jesus bringing? What were they taken captive by? 

In another situation, Jesus famously calls people to come to him for rest, 

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

But says that he will give them his "yoke", he doesn't completely release them from a yoke but frees them so that they would be captives again. Freedom for slaves to become slaves again? 

Again, Jesus instructs his disciples that they are to be slaves. 

"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave..." Matthew 20:25-27 

 What is the paradox of freedom that Jesus is communicating? 

Paradoxes from Jesus: Prince of Peace

A bearded smiling man in long dazzling white robes carrying a peaceful lamb is the iconic image of Jesus of Nazareth. We know him as the "Prince of Peace". Even agnostics and followers of other religions and philosophies admire him as a great prophet or good teacher. What did he teach? I think most would (and do) say that he taught "all people to love and be at peace with their neighbors." Jesus" and peace seem to be parallel ideas. What do we find though when we read about Jesus... 
Zechariah prophesy over Jesus when he was a child that he would, 

"... give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1:79

Jesus instructs his disciples to bless the households of those who take them in while proclaim the gospel. 

"Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!'  And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you." Luke 10:5-6

In the famous Sermon on the Mount Jesus says, 

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Luke 5:9

It seems however that people contemporary to Jesus' ministry thought the very same things that we modern readers think because Jesus had to dispel these misconceptions.

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household." Matthew 10:34-36

See Luke 12:51 for the same quote. 


What is the sword that Jesus brings? What is the peace that Jesus proclaimed?

Paradoxes from Jesus: The cost of the kingdom

In the gospel of Matthew Jesus tells two similar parable to explain the kingdom of heaven. 

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it." Matthew 13.44-46

The most basic and clear interpretation of these two parallel parable is that the kingdom of heaven is extremely valuable and comes at a very high cost to the seeker/buyer. In contrast, Christian evangelists often proclaim a gospel that salvation is a "free" gift and costs nothing. The quintessential reference for this idea comes from Paul's statement in Romans,

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6.23

What is the "cost" that Jesus is referring to?