Peacemaker Primjer

He is Our “Shalom”

Shalom is the Hebrew word that is often translated as “Peace,” but it means so much more than that. It also includes “wholeness” “safety” “completeness” “security” “victory” and “restoration.”

Jesus’ teachings and actions displayed a revolutionary love for humanity. He brought “shalom” to those who were the most marginalized - the most downtrodden. Peace is not just something you feel; it’s something you bring.

Jesus brought “shalom” to:

Children

In the ancient world, many babies did not grow up at all. Unwanted children were often left simply to die, a practice called “exposure.” The Jews were opposed to this because of their faith, but it happened so often around them. Abandoned children were often left on a dump or a dunghill. One archeological dig found the bones of nearly 100 babies apparently thrown into the sewer.

In Matthew, Jesus not only communicates about the value of children, but he is also using them as an example of conversion. And then he says the thing that would never enter the mind of another human being to say, “And whoever welcomes such a child in my name, welcomes me.” His teachings changed the treatment of children. Shalom.

The Sick

In Luke, Jesus teaches and shows a man who was suffering from abnormal swelling is a child of God, and the treatment of him is more important than the laws of the Sabbath.

This teaching shows Jesus challenging how we place value. Anything malformed or defective was considered by Pharisees to be unable to reflect the perfect holiness of God. Therefore nothing abnormal was allowed within the precincts of the temple. They honored God by treating their homes as miniature temples. All the regulations that should be observed in the temple would be observed in their homes. For Jesus to teach this Pharisee that he should deliberately invite malformed, defective human beings into his home was a deliberate slap in the face.

His disciples listened to him. They heard him teach, and they saw him touch and heal lepers no one else would even stand next to. And he showed them to go do it as well. Bringing shalom. Wholeness.

Women

In the world into which Jesus was born, the Roman communities, there was a massive shortage of women, about 140 men for every 100 women. Why? Because girl babies were left to die. Men were required to raise all the sons, but only required to raise the firstborn girl - the rest could be discarded.

The longest conversation recorded between Jesus and one other person is in John 4. Jesus sat down by a well and asked a Samaritan woman for a drink of water … and began to talk to her. When the disciples returned to where Jesus was, they were shocked that he was speaking to her. At this moment, he was doing something revolutionary. He was treating this woman like someone who had her own identity.

He offered women a new community, wholeness, and restoration. He brought Shalom.

As we conclude “Peacemaker,” I ask that you pray and seek peace with God, become a peacemaker with others, and let Jesus be your “shalom.”