Keith Battle - The Peace Maker

Today, I’m calling this message «The Peacemaker.» The word «peace» has a very rich connotation in the realm of biblical literature. When we look at the word «peace» in the sacred writings, it’s not just about having calm; it’s about being totally whole. Whenever you say «shalom» to someone, you are saying, «Be all well; be totally whole.» The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and make you whole—give you peace, give you shalom. Not only does this word «peace» mean wholeness, but within the circumference of the word, it is also a reference to placidity, serenity, calm, and emotional ease of mind, soul, body, and spirit. Peace, yes, peace—that peace that comes when you’ve gotten three school-aged kids dressed and packed in the morning, their book bags filled, homework placed in, supplies gathered, and lunches packed, and they’re off to school on the bus. Then you walk back into the house and close the door—that’s some peace right there. It’s the kind of peace you feel when you go to a spa, getting pampered while hearing the sounds of waterfalls around you. Peace! It’s the kind of peace you experience sitting on the porch on a moonlit night in a rocking chair, drinking sweet tea in the quiet. It’s the kind of peace you have when you wake up in the morning, before the world starts moving, sitting and meditating on the goodness of God as the birds chirp—peace. It’s the kind of peace you experience reclining in your favorite chair, reading a book under warm light with a warm beverage and a candle lit next to you. Does anybody know what I’m talking about when I mention peace? When I talk about the Peacemaker, all of that lies within His capacity to provide. He brings peace; He has peace; He is the personification of peace. He has peace at His disposal—He is a peace ambassador. In fact, the Bible says that when His incarnation was announced, the angels began to sing of what He would do: He’s going to bring peace on Earth and goodwill toward men. When Isaiah prophesied about Him, he said, «Now unto us a child will be born, a son will be given; the government shall be upon His shoulder, and He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.» He is an ambassador of peace, and within His capacity, He has the ability to bring peace. I came to preach to somebody this weekend who needs peace—somebody who’s after peace, someone who wants to hold on to peace. Sometimes in life, there’s nothing more precious than your peace: peace in my mind, peace in my home, peace in my car, peace in my existence. I came to preach to someone who needs peace, and in this passage, He gives peace in three uncontrollable situations. He gives peace in three unnerving situations. First of all, He brings peace to a storm—peace in the midst of chaos. There is chaos from a storm, and He brings peace into that situation. Then He brings peace into a community that is controlled by demonic-driven violence, and lastly, He brings peace amidst a conflict with townspeople who have a conflict of interest with Him. He walks away from a situation that could become even more toxic—He is the Peacemaker. Jesus gives peace where there’s chaos; He brings peace into a community; He brings peace where there’s conflict. Let’s dig into this text. Verse 23 says, «Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with His disciples.» Now, I love the New Living Translation—it’s my favorite translation—but what is lost in this translation is the accurate rendering of the Greek word «akoloutheo.» The word «akoloutheo» means «follow me,» which is what Jesus had just said in verse 22. This all started in verse 18 of Matthew 8 when Jesus said to His disciples, «Let’s go to the other side of the lake.» As soon as He says, «Let’s go to the other side of the lake,» one gentleman steps up in verse 19 and says, «Lord, I’ll go wherever You go; anywhere You go, I’ll go.» He’s speaking big faith, but Jesus sponsors them and says, «Let me tell you something: foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man doesn’t have anywhere to lay His head. You think you know what you’re getting into? You have no idea what you’re saying—you’re committed.» Next, a man says to Him, «Lord, I’ll go with You too, but I’ve got to first bury my father and make funeral arrangements.» Jesus replies, «Let the spiritually dead bury the dead; you follow Me—akoloutheo, you follow Me.» When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. What I’m trying to say is that discipleship, by its very nature, means to follow Jesus. We are called to follow Jesus, and that gets lost in the modernity of our faith today because so many have a Christian faith that somehow doesn’t…