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Ask God: Jesus Christ was an effective peacemaker for God. He taught His disciples to be peacemaker and provide important lessons for us.

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Good Evening Reader,

May God be with you as you read this lesson about being a peacemaker. God blesses peacemakers and He will bless you. Come into God's presence and enjoy fellowship with Him.

Today is the day the Lord has made. Enjoy!

All Glory to God.

Elvin

How Believers Are Called to be Peacemakers

Are you a peacemaker or a peacekeeper? Jesus called His followers to be peacemakers in a world of much strife, confusion, and turmoil. As Christians for Jesus Christ, we should strive to emulate Jesus as peacemakers, as seen in Matthew 5:9 and John 18:1-11. It is good to be a peacekeeper, but Jesus called us to step forward to be a peacemaker. Peacemakers are doers of the Word of God.

Matthew was a tax collector and probably not well-liked or respected by the community. He was a faithful disciple of Jesus. When he sat down to write his book, he decided to direct his book to the Jewish community to prove that Jesus was the Messiah, the eternal King.

Matthew provides a background of Jesus, including His birth, escape of the family to Egypt, Jesus' baptism, time in the wilderness, and the calling of His disciples. Then, he immediately gets to the heart of Jesus' earthly ministry with the Sermon on the Mount.

Do you think Jesus randomly selected this mount? Probably not. He deliberately positioned Himself like Moses on Mount Sinai, delivering a new "law," not written on tablets but on hearts. The Sermon on the Mount was radical Kingdom teaching—it flipped worldly values upside down. It called for righteousness that starts within, in the heart.

The Sermon on the Mount set the stage for what Jesus would teach during His three-and-a-half-year ministry. Central to Jesus' message was the introduction of the Kingdom of Heaven. Believers enter the kingdom of heaven through faith. His ultimate kingdom would be realized upon His return.

Peacemakers are Called Children of God or Sons of God

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9), the seventh beatitude.

Jesus starts His Sermon on the Mount by teaching eight beatitudes. Each beatitude tells how to be blessed by God. Blessed means more than happiness; it implies the fortunate state of those in God's Kingdom.

Today's study will explore peacemaking through Jesus' actions in both Matthew 5:9 and John 18:1-11. Jesus turned challenging situations into opportunities for peace when faced with His own arrest and even chose to heal rather than harm.

Remember, being a peacemaker isn't just about stopping fights; it's about bringing true healing and understanding, even when faced with betrayal. Consider the challenges you face in the world, and consider how you might apply peacemaking in your daily interactions.

Jesus, a Peacemaker Even During His Arrest

How did Jesus handle the events of His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane in John 18:1-11?

"After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples. The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove.

Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. "Who are you looking for?" he asked.

"Jesus the Nazarene," they replied.

"I am he," Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) As Jesus said, "I am He," they all drew back and fell to the ground! Once more, He asked them, "Who are you looking for?"

And again, they replied, "Jesus the Nazarene."

"I told you that I am He," Jesus said. "And since I am the one you want, let these others go." He did this to fulfill his own statement: "I did not lose a single one of those you have given me" (John 17:12).

Then, when Jesus is arrested, Peter pulls his sword and cuts the ear of a soldier, but Jesus stops him. He even fixes the ear of the man Peter hurt.

Jesus shows us that making peace is better than fighting. Even in scary times, He chose peace.

Why Did Judas Bring a Contingent of Soldiers?

There are several reasons why Judas was accompanied by a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards.

First, the Sanhedrin expected resistance. Jesus was popular among the people, and the religious leaders were afraid of a riot (see Mark 14:1-2). Bringing a mix of Roman and Jewish forces was a show of strength meant to overwhelm any followers who might try to stop the arrest. The Roman guards represented Rome's backing because the Sanhedrin had no power to execute a person.

Second, the religious leaders were spiritually blind. Despite all Jesus had taught and done, the religious leaders feared losing power more than they feared God. Judas led them to Jesus like He was a dangerous criminal. Their fear, pride, and spiritual blindness caused them to go overboard with force.

Finally, this act fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah. Jesus had to be betrayed and arrested. Isaiah 53:12 said He would be "numbered with the transgressors." The scene with armed guards shows the world treating the sinless Son of God like a common criminal.

Jesus Steps Up With Authority

The Roman soldiers and the Temple guards approached Jesus. Jesus, the peacemaker, stepped forward and asked, "Who is it you want?" They replied, "Jesus of Nazareth."

When Jesus answered, "I AM He," they drew back and fell to the ground.

The power of Jesus was felt by the enemy. This same power echoed when God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM."

The power in the name, "I AM WHO I AM," is the same power in which Jesus proclaimed who He was to the soldiers. And it is the same power of His name that we use today. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

It also shows who was in control in this encounter, Jesus or the contingent of soldiers?

Modeling Peace in Today's World

Even though Jesus faced many tough situations, he always stayed calm and showed us how to have peace. When things get really hard for you, remember how Jesus handled it. He didn't yell or fight back. Instead, He stayed quiet and only said what was true and helpful. By doing this, he kept peace inside and around him.

You can try this in your life. When someone is rude or you are having a terrible day, think about staying calm. Speak kindly and help others. Self-control makes peace as Jesus did. It's not easy, but it's a good way to show love and calm to the world.

After learning how Jesus maintained peace, it's interesting to see how differently Peter reacted under pressure. When the soldiers came, Peter took out his sword and cut off a man's ear!

It's like he thought fighting back was the best way to handle trouble. But that's often how folks think when they're scared or don't know what else to do. They fight because that's what they see around them.

Jesus, though, had a different idea. He remained peaceful and calm by remembering His ultimate objective and purpose. He did not get caught up in the heat of the moment. He even healed the soldier's ear, showing that hurting others isn't the way.

You've got to care and help, even when it's hard. That's how you really serve and make peace, not by fighting.

Peacemaking Requires Courage and Strength

While peacemaking often demands great patience, it also requires bravery and strength.

Being a peacemaker means stepping up when others might step back. It's about facing problems, not avoiding them. You must stand firm and speak the truth, even when it's easier to remain silent.

In a world where arguing feels normal, choosing peace can seem odd. Yet, this is what we are called to do as believers.

You need to show others there's a better way, that kindness and understanding can heal where anger fails.

Remember, it's not just about stopping fights but building bridges. Every step toward peace you take strengthens you and those around you.

Stay brave and keep strong.

Elvin

Blessed Are the Peacemakers.

Ask God For Help

Christian faith

Reader,

Hosea said his people were destroyed for lack of knowledge. Knowledge give believers and non-believers a choice. When a person does not know, they cannot choose.

Feel free to forward this lesson to your friends and family.

Grow in the knowledge of God.

Elvin

Send your comments to elvin.aycock@AskGodForHelp.net and let me know what you think of the lessons.

Go to: www.AskGodForHelp.net

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