Ever since the fall, there has been a problem with peace. When Adam and Eve sinned against God, there was an issue with peace between God and man. Man hid, and God banished him from the Garden, never to return lest he be divided by the blade of the cherubim.
Cursed was the ground because of the man, and so were the relationships of those who had been formed from the dust of the earth. Peace is hard to come by. It is as though Jesus’ statement that His second coming would be marked by wars and rumors of wars almost bears no significance as an isolated occurrence. Wars and rumors of wars have always been taking place; people never seem to be at peace with one another. What is the opposite of peace? War, violence, discord, animosity, and the like would surely be some of the antonyms. Maybe Jesus had wars of the grandest scale on His mind when He spoke of wars and rumors of wars. It appears as though the lack of peace will one day culminate in its logical conclusion.
Either way, it is hard to know, but this one is for sure: Jesus desires that His followers be peacemakers. Jesus came to the earth in peace. In the Triumphal Entry, as He entered Jerusalem, He did so on the back of a donkey. Kings would typically ride into a city on a horse, thus depicting a conquering king. Jesus, however, depicted a King Who rode into the city in a different manner. The donkey was a symbol of peace. Nobody would go to war on a donkey. Jesus came to earth in peace. He wanted the people to know it. Yes, there were times when the glory of His Father was at stake, and Jesus therefore flipped over some tables. But nevertheless, Jesus came in peace.
Jesus desires that the Christian would go out and do likewise. But what does this mean? When should the Christian be a peacemaker? How can the Christian be a peacemaker? Scripture says, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matt. 5:9).
What does it mean to be a peacemaker?
This brings us to an important question. What does it mean to be a peacemaker? In the Greek, the word that is used for peacemaker is “eirenopoios,” which comes from the base word “eirene.” The base word is the typical Greek word that is used when you see the English word “peace” being used. The base word carries the meaning of peace, quietness, and rest. As one looks at the word “eirenopoios,” he encounters a word that involves being peaceable or a peacemaker. It also involves the Greek suffix “poieo,” meaning to make. Therefore, in effect, eirenopoios involves someone making peace.
When should the Christian be a peacemaker?
Jesus Christ is not teaching social reform here. Rather, He is teaching that the Christian must pursue peace in his relationships with others. A number of Bible verses rise to the surface that will support the idea of the Christian pursuing peace in his relationships.
Scripture says, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12:18). In this verse, the reader can see his call to pursuing peace with others. This verse can be helpful for the Christian to remember as he seeks to be a peacemaker. There will be times in which people do not want to be at peace with you. All that is expected from the Christian is a heart, willingness, and action of pursuing peace with others. This does not mean that he will always be able to promote peace.
Another Scripture rises to the surface. In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus tells of a situation in which someone is worshipping the Lord. This person who is worshipping the Lord does not seem to have a grudge against his brother, but it appears as though his brother has a grudge against him. This is reason enough, in the eyes of Christ, for the one worshipping to drop what he is doing and seek to be a peacemaker (such as in Matthew 5:9 and Romans 12:18). Scripture says, “Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to they brother, and then come and offer thy gift” (Matt. 5:24). “Be reconciled to thy brother,” Jesus says. Reconciliation is a message of peace.
Finally, another dynamic of being a peacemaker rises to the surface. If all that a Christian pursues is peace among men, his work will ultimately be burned by fire. It will not last. The lasting effect of his work will come primarily by way of a vertical approach to life rather than a horizontal approach to life. People can get very nearsighted, and in that, they miss God. God is near to His people, but He is seen by having an eternal perspective. If one only looks at the world, he will only see what is transient. But if he looks to the things that are eternal, he will be fixed on those things that will last. In this, the believer must walk by faith and not by sight.
When the believer is called into a relationship of peace with God, the believer is reconciled to God, but his work is not complete. In actuality, his work has just begun. One of his chief works is declared in 2 Corinthians 5. This portion of Scripture tells of the way that Christ died and how, therefore, we died with Christ. This took place that the believer would then live for Christ, which the Bible then says is brought about by the new birth. Then Paul gets specific, and he tells the reader that he is now an ambassador for Christ. Paul goes on to say that as ambassadors, God actually makes His appeal through His children. What is the message that God gave His ambassadors? Scripture says that God “…hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation… and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18-19). The message of reconciliation is the Gospel. Christians are called to share the Gospel. When they do, they are being peacemakers.
How can the Christian be a peacemaker?
As was just stated, the Christian can share the Gospel if he wants to be a peacemaker. But there is more at stake in the day-to-day, ongoing effort to be a peacemaker. The Bible says, “Follow peace with all men…” (Heb. 12:14). This following is also a striving after peace. It is an ongoing effort in the life of the Christian.
The Christian must also “…seek peace, and ensue it” (1 Pet. 3:11). This means that the believer must be looking for opportunities to be at peace with people. He must be taking a personal inventory of his relationships with a focus of making sure that he is in a right relationship with his peers.
In Ephesians 2, Paul deals extensively with the topic of peace and reconciliation. The context is that there are Jews and Christians who are now under God’s decree – one people, instead of two. In the Old Testament, there was an obvious divide among the Jews and Gentiles. In the New Testament, the two are declared to become one in Christ. There is only one body, and all people, whether Jew or Gentile, make up the body of Christ.
Scripture says, “For he is our peace, who hath made both one…” (Eph. 2:14). If someone wants to be a peacemaker, this must be the source of his strength: “Christ is our peace,” he must say. If he simply tries to be at peace with people, it will be a burden that will crush him. If he looks to Jesus and sees the great price that Christ paid to be at peace with him, peace will flow forth from his heart.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the great price that Jesus paid to be at peace with me. Help me to pursue peace like Christ pursued peace with me. Teach me Your ways, Lord, and give me wisdom on how I, too, can be a peacemaker. In Jesus’ name, Amen.