Peacemakers

Many have walked this earth. But how many have walked as peacemakers? Without debate, Jesus is the greatest peacemaker this earth has ever and will ever see. But our world has also been blessed with mere men – who made it their lives’ mission to be peacemakers. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. tops that list.

What can we learn from the lives of Jesus and Dr. King?

During their time many saw them as troublemakers instead of peacemakers.

Dr. King wasn’t immediately celebrated as a Civil Rights Icon or Hero. No, that took time. His fight for peace was met with much opposition and adversity. Many, during his time, considered him a troublemaker, instead of a peacemaker. It took years, before MLK Day was established as a national holiday and decades before all 50 states made it a state holiday. Now with greater perspective and reflection, we recognize his non-violent actions were paving the way for greater peace in our nation.

Dr. King was not alone. Many of the religious leaders, of Jesus’ time, saw Him as a troublemaker, interrupting the status quo. In Matthew 12, when Jesus healed a man possessed with a demon, the religious leader falsely claimed that His power came from Beelzebub. Another incident, in Matthew 21:12-15, the peacemaker, Jesus, overturns the tables in the temple courts and heals the blind and lame. Some praised him, but the chief priests and teachers of the law were indignant.

What can we learn? Be bold enough to be a peacemaker, even if your peers of today, view you as a troublemaker.

Their pursuit to make peace was full of action.

Perhaps we misunderstand, the true definition of peacemakers. We often envision peacemakers as quiet and void of conflict. However, we learn quite the contrary, from Jesus and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peacemakers aren’t silent, inactive, pushovers. Often the work of peacemaking requires voices to speak out, loudly and boldly.

Dr. King’s work was full of action and sacrifice. He also compelled others to action and instructed them to use their voices. Here are some of his famous quotes on the dangers of inaction and silence:

“There comes a time when silence is betrayal.”

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.”

Jesus’ pursuit of peace was full of action and the ultimate self-denial and sacrifice. This is the how Romans 5:7-8 describes the ultimate sacrifice, “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

What can we learn? Boldly pursue peace with your voice and actions.

We remember them today as children of God!

The scripture is clear and true. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. -Matthew 5:9 We honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a child of God. And without doubt Jesus is the Son of God. (Matthew 27:54)

Jesus, our peacemaker, bore a cross that took away our sin. Instead of enmity with God, now we have peace! Now we must bear our own cross. A cross, that declares, blessed are the peacemakers. Yes, it might cause others to erroneously see us as troublemakers. Yes, it will require action – peacemakers are not stagnant, but are active in pursing peace. Nevertheless, in the end, blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God!