JUST WHAT IS A PEACEMAKER
Matthew 5:9

Before we can examine the characteristics of a person who might call himself a peacemaker, we should seek to understand the source of this peace.  God is the author of peace.  David writes these words:  The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace (Psalm 29:11).  In his great prophecy concerning the coming of Jesus Christ, the prophet Isaiah states that one of his descriptive titles would be that of Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). 

Furthermore, this peace is made available to us through Christ.  Paul wrote to the Colossians and informed them:  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:19-20).  There, on the cross, Jesus purchased our peace with God.  I like the way Dr. John MacArthur expressed this thought:  How could the cross bring peace?  At the cross all of man's hatred and anger was vented against God.  On the cross the Son of God was mocked, cursed, spit upon, pierced, reviled, and killed.  Jesus' disciples fled in fear, the sky flashed lightning, the earth shook violently, and the veil of the Temple was torn in two.  Yet through that violence God brought peace.  God's greatest righteousness confronted man's greatest wickedness, and righteousness won. And because righteousness won, peace was won.  This is that peace which we have experienced in our own hearts when we invited Jesus Christ to come into our lives.  And, it is this peace which the world so desperately needs.

Let me share with you some powerful words which describe God's desire for His children.  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.  And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ's behalf:  Be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).  Ours is the greatest ministry of all, that of bringing people into the presence of God where they might find peace for their hearts. 

In our final study, we shall discover just what is the role of the peacemaker and look at a great biblical model of that role.

Father, I am thankful for that peace which Jesus provided through His death on a cross.  It was through His death that we have been reconciled to You.  I would pray that You would give each of us enablement this day to act as Your ambassadors of reconciliation.  May we find that one person who is searching for peace today and lead them into Your presence.  We pray this in Christ's name.  Amen

Return to Sermon on the Mount Overview