Peacemaker

Matthew 5:9
“9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

So who or what is a peacemaker? The dictionary defines a peacemaker as a person, group, or nation that tries to make peace by reconciling parties who quarrel, fight, or disagree. The wild west defines a peacemaker as a .45 Colt revolver. Can’t it be both?

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression “Make peace with God”, but have you ever really thought about it? What would “making peace with God” look like? Some might say that it would be coming to an agreement that you’ve made mistakes, but that you had the best intentions. Others would say that it’s simply admitting you were wrong. I think it looks a lot more violent than that! You see, to honestly make peace with God, we would have to atone for all of our wrongdoings. It wouldn’t be as simple as saying, “I’m sorry”; there would have to be blood shed.

There was a man named Jesus. He was taken by His own people and brutally beaten. He was brought before a Roman court and scourged. Whips with bone and lead fragments embedded in them were used to tear His body apart. He was laid on a cross where 7 inch nails were strategically hammered between His bones to ensure that He would suffer horribly before dying. And to top it off, the very people who He loved; whom He came to save, stood at the foot of the cross and ridiculed Him.

Jesus endured it all for us, though. In dying such a horrible way, He made peace with God for us. You see, the ultimate peacemaker is the One who isn’t about being violent to control the masses, but rather about enduring violence to save the masses.

Being a peacemaker means being willing to suffer. It means being willing to put aside your feelings for the good of another. It means being willing to say I’m sorry, even when you haven’t done anything wrong. That’s what Jesus did, so it is what we must do also!

This week, as the 4th of July approaches, we will celebrate our Independence. We’ll hear stories about men and women who sacrificed themselves in order that we might have a peaceful, free life. We’ll hear about their courage in the face of danger, their drive in the face of insurmountable odds, and their victory over oppression. We’ll celebrate how they fought to give us peace! I suggest that while remembering our peacemakers we pause and remember our Peacemaker, for He is the Son of God!