This past Easter weekend, while many of us were gathered in worship and reflection on Christ’s sacrifice and message of peace, I found my thoughts constantly drifting to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. The images of destruction and the stories of suffering—on both sides—weighed heavily on my heart. As a Christian, I began to ask myself, how should we think and feel about this? What does our faith demand of us when the Holy Land is soaked in blood?
At Easter, we remember the cross—where ultimate injustice met ultimate love—and the resurrection, where death was defeated, and hope was born. If we truly believe in the power of the cross and the empty tomb, our hearts cannot stay silent in the face of ongoing suffering.
I didn’t want my view to be shaped by politics or social media alone. I wanted to see through a different lens—a biblical one. So, I turned to Scripture to understand the history and find God’s heart in the middle of it all. What I found wasn’t simple. But it reminded me that true faith doesn’t look away from conflict—it leans into it with truth, justice, and compassion.
Paul’s writings offer a powerful lens for this reflection. In his letters, particularly to the Romans, he speaks extensively about Israel, the Jewish people, and the role they play in God’s plan. Romans 9:45 reminds us of the deep heritage and spiritual legacy of the Jews: “Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.” Paul never dismisses Israel’s place in God’s story. He grieves over their unbelief, longing for them to accept Jesus as the Messiah.
Yet Paul is also clear that salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone. In Romans 10:9, he writes, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. And in verse 12, he makes it plain: “There is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him.” So, while there’s honour and respect in the biblical story of Israel, there’s also an urgent call for all people to find salvation through Christ.
In today’s world, however, most Jewish people do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Modern Judaism, in all its branches—Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform—rejects this central Christian claim. Many Jewish people continue to await a Messiah, while others interpret the concept metaphorically, as a future era of peace rather than a personal saviour. A small group, Messianic Jews, do accept Jesus as Messiah while maintaining their cultural identity, but they are not widely recognised within mainstream Judaism.
So, what do we make of modern Israel, especially in light of Scripture? While the nation is deeply connected to biblical history, it is today a secular state with a mix of beliefs—Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and secular. And while many Christians feel a deep connection to the land of Israel, we must be careful not to confuse political loyalty with spiritual truth. Support for a people or a land must not come at the expense of compassion, justice, or the gospel.
Paul anticipated this tension. In Romans 11, he speaks of a “hardening in part” among Israel, a spiritual blindness that would last until the “full number of the Gentiles has come in”. Yet he also holds onto hope: “And in this way, all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26). Paul saw God’s hand at work even in the rejection, believing that one day, many Jews would come to faith in Christ.
As Christians today, this calls us to hold two things in tension: a deep respect for God’s covenantal relationship with Israel and a steadfast commitment to the truth of salvation through Jesus. It also means we cannot stay silent in the face of suffering. Whether in Gaza or Tel Aviv, refugee camps or synagogues, every human life bears the image of God. And every life lost in war, whether Israeli or Palestinian, is a tragedy that should move us to tears and prayer.
Our calling is not to take sides in a political conflict but to be ambassadors of Christ in a broken world. That means speaking truth, showing mercy, and praying boldly for peace. It means recognising the spiritual heritage of the Jewish people without excusing any injustice. And it means seeing Palestinians, many of whom are our Christian brothers and sisters, as people worthy of dignity and compassion.
As I sit with everything I’ve read, prayed over, and wrestled through, I can’t help but feel both sorrow and hope. The Israel-Palestine conflict is deeply complex—politically, historically, and spiritually. However, as Christians, we are not called to pick political sides but to be faithful to Christ’s example. Paul’s writings remind us of Israel’s special place in God’s plan and the truth that salvation comes through Jesus for all—Jew and Gentile alike. That doesn’t permit us to excuse violence or injustice; instead, it calls us to be even more committed to peace, justice, and love.
We cannot close our eyes to suffering nor let our faith be shaped by fear or tribalism. In a world so quick to take sides, may we be found on the side of compassion, truth, and the gospel. Let us pray for peace in the Middle East, softened hearts, open eyes, and the day when both Jew and Gentile will honestly know the Prince of Peace.
In the end, this reflection has not given me all the answers. But it has deepened my conviction that the gospel is bigger than borders and more powerful than politics. Christ’s peace is not passive but active, costly, and redemptive.