Peacemaker

Introduction

We live in an upside down world. A world in total chaos. A world that calls wrong right and right wrong. A world that says peace peace when there is no peace, a world that says peace peace when there doesn’t need to be peace. This world can be confusing when we do not stay grounded in the truth. I think that these beatitudes can show us the way in which we are to go. The first three; blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, and blessed are the meek deal with our need. There are three towards the end; blessed are the merciful, blessed are the pure in heart, and blessed is the peacemaker deal with our action. These all center around the hunger and thirsting for righteousness and are wrapped up in the end with the fourfold result.

Today we are looking at the ending of the beatitudes that focus on our action and we need to remember where this action comes from, it comes from the center, it comes from someone who is hungering and thirsting after righteousness. We also need to remember that true faith is a faith of action, we are to be doers of the word. We will be known by our fruit; are you someone who promotes mercy, who promotes purity, who promotes peace? Look with me now at Matthew 5.9

Matthew 5:9 ESV

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Pray

“Blessed is the peacemaker, because they will be called sons of God”

This blessed statement is by no means an easy one to understand, when I began to study this passage I turned to one of my favorite pastors and theologians who had taught through the book of Matthew and after his death they put it all his notes into a book. When I turned to where he discusses this passage he states that this is one of the harder beatitudes to grasp. Over the last week I feel as though I do understand it now and I hope that you are ready to lace up your boots with me this morning as we look at all that this verse has to offer us because in the world that we are in today we need people that understand what it means to be a peacemaker and are willing to do it.

As we look at the wording of this verse we can immediately notice a few things; first it follows the standard pattern of the other blessed statements, and second there is a word there that we have not seen much throughout the whole Bible. The word peacemaker comes from the Greek word εἰρηνοποιοί, this is a rare word in the New Testament and this is the only place that this form of the word occurs. This word is translated very well to the word peacemaker as well because it is a compound word and the words that combine to make it are the words for peace and the word for make. This word that is only used in this way one time literally means one who makes peace. Notice how specific this word is, this is because it has a specific meaning. It does not point to those who keep peace, though that is a noble task, we are talking about making it.

When we look at the wording in this way it begins to seem a bit more familiar to us, in reference to Jesus it says in Colossians 1:20 “and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” The word here for making peace is nearly the same word just in a different tense. Jesus is the chief peacemaker and we also know that he is the Son of God just as the result of the blessing states.

This gives us a firm foundation to understand what it means for us to be peacemakers. We know to the fullest sense what the word is and we also have the perfect example to look at in Jesus.

Today I want to look at what it means to be a peace maker. In this point we will see some of the qualities of a true peacemaker and they are all qualities that we should all pursue. I then want to look at our perfect example of a peacemaker and that is the prince of peace himself, Jesus. After this I want to take a brief moment to discuss the relationship peace has with war so that we can know how exactly this applies in our modern times with all of our global issues. So lets start this morning by what it means to be a peacemaker.

What it means to be a peacemaker

So what does it mean to be a peacemaker? As we have seen throughout the most recent beatitudes they deal with actions that we are to take. Becoming a peacemaker is no different. To be a peacemaker is not to be hands off, laissez fair, it is not to have the attitude of you do you and I do me and we don’t worry about each other, it is not always peaceable. One thing that it does do though is always has peace as the end goal in mind.

Being a peacemaker is concerned with all of life. Whether it be a personal grievance you have with someone, a dispute among two friends, an issue in the church, or given the opportunity between larger entities. There are no confines to where peace is needed and where peace is needed we need to be peacemakers.

This is not an easy call by any means. Where peace is needed there is conflict. While our lives are not always in immediate danger as we seek peace there are still difficult and hostile places we will find ourselves as we seek to make peace. Sometimes being a peacemaker requires us to stir things up, issues that have been ignored for years may have to be brought up and discussed. This is not an easy task, but we can see how it is an important task and how it is a Christian task. Peacemakers will posses some distinct qualities that will set them apart and if we want to be peacemakers we need to make these qualities true of us and as a follower of God we need to desire to be peacemakers.

Qualities of a true peacemaker

When thinking about what it means to be a peacemaker we need to think of some of the qualities that a peacemaker must possess. These qualities, when surging through someone that is hungering and thirsting for righteousness, will seek to make peace in all areas of life. This is in no way a exhaustive list but as I read the Bible these are some of the first things that come at me that clearly lead to making peace. Without these peacemaking is far more difficult and at times impossible.

honesty

The first quality of a peacemaker is honesty. We have to be honest with ourselves and with others in order to be peacemakers. We cannot shout peace peace when there is no peace. At times being honest about the state of something is easy, for example it is easy to say right now that the world is not at peace. We see this clearly and it seems to be a far off issue. It is not as easy to say that there is not peace between you and a friend. This is something that is a bit more personal and a lot closer to home.

A complete honesty about all situations will help us to promote peace because we are honest in recognizing that there is often a lack of peace even in the moments that we would like to ignore it. Not being honest and following the path of ignoring the issue will lead to an even greater lack of peace which will only cause more issues and more tension. Many things such as divorce, church splits, wars, and so on are not a result of one issue but rather a result of there being many issues that were ignored and where peace was not made.

Be honest with yourself and others, when issues arise do not say peace, peace when there is no peace.

willing to risk pain

The next quality of a true peacemaker is that they are willing to risk pain. The Bible does not promise us comfort in this life and this goes for peacemaking. There is often a risk of pain. Someone might not be for the peace that you are trying to make and that could hurt. Promoting peace might cause misunderstanding that could lead to further conflict and drive relationships apart. Sometimes it also hurts to apologize and the temptation is to let things slide but to be a true peacemaker we have to acknowledge this pain and be willing to go through it for the reward of peace.

The Christian life is not promised to be a life of comfort and I think that is something that we do not like to think about in our churches today. Making peace can hurt, but with the end in sight it is worth it.

selfless

The third quality of a true peacemaker is that they are selfless. Someone who will put others first. Someone that can be between two parties and be neutral. Someone that desires peace more than they desire personal gain. It may take personal loss to attain peace and the person that is not selfless will not do this.

We live in the me generation. An age where everyone is concerned with self. We see this in TV shows and in books. People want to further themselves no matter the cost, they want to provide the most comfort to themselves. This mentality often causes pain for others around but they do not care. This lack of selflessness leads into an even greater lack of peace. People are at odds with each other because they are all using each other to further themselves.

A peacemaker goes against the culture and puts others before themselves. Through this peace is able to flourish. Conflict is often not present where people put others over themselves. Be selfless not selfish

fighter

The last quality that I want to cover is that a true peacemaker is a fighter. This is not in the aggressive combative sense but rather in the attitude sense. The peacemaker must be persistent in seeking peace even when the battle rages on longer than expected you hang in there and don’t let up. Sometimes making peace shakes things up and might even arouse trouble but through it you wage peace. A peacemaker confronts the issue and doesn’t just let it slide. A peacemaker knows that the task is not easy but they are still willing to do it.

Peace is something that is worth the trouble and worth the effort. We need to fight for it so that we can reap the rewards of it.

Transition

These qualities help us to understand what it means to be a peacemaker. Through then we can bring peace to bear without compromising our integrity and without compromising justice. As we strive for and display these characteristics we need to remember who it is that we represent, the prince of peace, Jesus Christ. He set the perfect example of all of these characteristics and showed us to the fullest what it means to be a peacemaker so lets turn our attention to him now.

Prince of Peace

Colossians 1:20 ESV

and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Jesus is the prince of peace and is the perfect example of a peacemaker. He was honest, he endured pain, he was selfless, and he was a fighter. In the ultimate selfless act he made peace by the blood of his cross as we see here in Colossians 1. This is contrasted though later in Matthew by an interesting statement where Jesus said that he did not come to bring peace, lets look at this passage and see what he means and how it relates to the overall goal of making peace and the example that Jesus set.

Matthew 10:34–39 ESV

“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. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

This text speaks of the divide between Christians and non Christians. This divide is often not peaceful. We see throughout the life of Jesus that there was conflict. Peacemaking is not avoidance but confronting the issues and this may bring about trouble but through the fight peace can be found. This is exactly what Jesus did, you can’t exactly call what he did with the Pharisees peaceful but through it all he made peace. Through those actions I found the peace that surpasses all understanding. Philippians 4.7 says

Philippians 4:7 ESV

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

There is crucial context to this passage that come right before this verse but for today all we need to see that this peace of God that surpasses all understanding is only found through the saving work of Jesus on the cross. Jesus up on that cross was not peace but it made peace. It made it for you and it made it for me and this is the greatest peace that we could ever hope for.

Jesus didn’t bring peace he brought the sword but with that sword he made peace. Think about the example that Jesus set in this. Through his life and his actions he was brutally honest, in the beginning of Mark we see the first words in Jesus’s ministry saying you need to repent. He risked pain and he got the greatest pain that there is for the sake of peace. He did the most selfless act in history by giving his life as a sacrifice for the sins of all those who would come to him. He was a fighter, he brought the sword, he never backed down from the opposition but rather always confronted them head on and never backed down or wavered. Jesus made peace and he says that we are blessed if we do the same.

This last week at our men’s breakfast Rod brought the devotion. Men if you weren’t there you missed out but this will be the cliff notes of parts that relate to this sermon, just imagine it with a lot more energy. Trust me I’m excited and energized on the inside. He talked about not shrinking back quoting Hebrews 10:37–39 which says “For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” The goal is not to shrink back but in Christian community lock arms together and walking forward towards our one goal. Totally unified, totally determined. In our world there is so much turmoil and so many things that we are to be against that are becoming commonplace, and don’t think that these are some far off things because that simply is not true. What if we locked arms and never shrunk back and became peacemakers like Jesus was. Facing the issues with all boldness and without hindrance, shaking things up a little, causing a little trouble for the sake of peace.

As I am sure you are beginning to see this peace is something a little deeper than we typically think of when we use the word. This peace that Jesus fought for and we are to work to make is a peace that goes deep within us. It’s the outside conflicts we face and it is the inner ones. It’s the social issues that cause harm that people don’t realize. Truly the fight for peace is the fight for the gospel.

Jesus is the prince of peace, the great peacemaker. Much in the same way we need to be peacemakers. We can follow the example that he set before us as we can read through his life.

Peace and War

And finally I want to take a brief moment to discuss the idea of peace and its relationship to war. With all that is going on in the world today I feel as though we all thought of this when we hear the words blessed is the peacemaker. We are desiring peace and we desire that there be no conflict. I don’t think that there is anybody here that is in the position to bring peace to this situation right now but what does it mean to be a peacemaker in these situations?

As with Jesus’s ministry being a peacemaker requires confronting the issue head on. Sometimes it’s not an easy thing to deal with. Sometimes there are those that are completely opposed to peace. Sometimes the only way to peace honestly is war. The way to peace is not always itself peace, Jesus was involved in many conflicts with the authorities of the day as he made his way towards peace. When we think of peacemaking on a larger global scale we need to take the same approach as with two people. Peace is not something that is always easy to attain but it is always worth the effort to make it.

Conclusion

As we can see peacemaking is not an easy task and it is not an easy subject. There are so many examples that we could look at to further see and get an image of what this looks like. One notable one that we are on the cusp of the anniversary of is the protestant reformation. This is when we split off from the Catholic church because they were explicitly going against the Bible. This was a rough battle and in it there was death but in the end the gospel stands as it should and because of that there is peace.

To be a peacemaker you first have to have a relationship with the prince of peace. You have to obtain for yourself the peace that surpasses all understanding. In Colossians where we read earlier it says that Jesus made peace by the blood of his cross. What this is referring to is that we have sin which the Bible says makes us enemies of God. Sin is anything that is against God and in Romans it says that all have sinned. Sin is the reason that there is a lack of peace in the first place, all the way from between friends to between nations. Everyone here is or was an enemy of God. Jesus made a way for forgiveness where we could have peace with God and no longer be enemies. He did this through his death on the cross. In the ultimate selfless act he gave his life so that we can no longer be separated from God but be back in right relationship with him. We do this by putting our faith in him and turning away from our sins. When we put our faith in him and repent of our sins we are no longer enemies but there is peace. In this he gives us his peace that surpasses all understanding and we can start living in the way that he calls us to live.

If you have never put your faith in Jesus as Lord and savior here in a moment I am going to pray and after I do that you can come and we can talk about just that.

When you accept the salvation that Jesus offers you become a peacemaker and are called a child of God.

Some of you are Christians but if you are being honest you haven't been much of a proponent of peace. You see it as a good thing but you don’t work to make it. This morning you need to commit to the change that you need to make in your life.

Maybe today there are situations in your life where there is no peace and you have done nothing about it and you need to pray over those situations. The altar is here. Maybe you want me or Terrell to pray with you, we are here.

Put an end to conflict, refuse to postpone apologies, refuse revenge, humbly serve your enemies, have love for others that is stronger than hate, make peace.

pray

Invitation

Now is the time of invitation and with every head bowed and every eye closed think how God is calling you to respond. One thing I think we get confused with this time is that it is for everyone, God’s word has been preached and his people are to respond. Maybe you need to make a commitment towards peace, maybe you need prayer, maybe you want to make the prince of peace boss of your life, maybe you need to walk across this room and seek forgiveness so that you can have peace. Do this today, don’t wait any longer. As we leave here today let us all be at peace with everyone and let us lock arms together and march out into the world and wage peace. You respond now as God directs.