Blessed Are the Peacemakers: Understanding True Peace on Palm Sunday

As we celebrate Palm Sunday, we’re reminded of the profound truth about the kind of king Jesus is. When He entered Jerusalem, He didn’t come on a war horse like worldly kings, but on a donkey – a symbol of peace. This reveals Jesus as the King of Peace, coming not to conquer people but to reconcile them.

What Does It Mean to Be Called Children of God?

The seventh Beatitude tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” As God’s children, we’re called to display the character of our Heavenly Father. We’re created in His image – not just in how we look, but in what we reflect of Him to the world.

God is fundamentally a God of peace. Scripture tells us, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). More than that, He’s actively a peacemaker, “reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

How Did We Lose Peace with God?

The need for reconciliation goes back to the beginning. In Genesis, we see two trees: the tree of life (God’s way) and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When Adam and Eve chose to define good and evil for themselves instead of trusting God, they were exiled and lost access to the tree of life.

Every one of us has made this same choice – deciding to define good and evil for ourselves rather than trusting God. This is the root of what sin really is. In our own strength, we cannot get back to God. We can’t be good enough or try hard enough to earn our way back.

How Did God Make Peace Possible?

God had to make a way back for us. Through the events we celebrate during Holy Week, Jesus – fully God and fully man – lived the perfect life we couldn’t live. He willingly went to the cross on our behalf, defeating the power of sin. He died, was buried, and on the third day rose again, defeating the power of death.

Now He invites us to join Him in His story. Our part is simply to say yes and join Him. When we do this, we become His children, and it begins to change us from the inside out as we learn to love what He loves.

What Does It Mean to Be a Peacemaker?

A peacemaker is someone who has come to peace with God, begins to experience the peace of God, desires to live at peace with everyone, and is always ready to share the gospel of peace so that everyone would come to know His peace.

Step 1: Coming to Peace with God

Romans 5:1 tells us, “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” You cannot be a peacemaker if you haven’t first come to peace with God yourself. This requires saying yes to Jesus, being reconciled to God, and having your sins forgiven.

Step 2: Experiencing God’s Peace

Once we say yes to Jesus, the Holy Spirit brings the peace of Christ to shape our inner lives. Philippians 4:7 describes this as “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” that “will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This peace isn’t something we can manufacture – it’s something we receive from God. When we bring our fears, worries, and frustrations honestly before God, His peace begins to settle our hearts.

What Spills Out When Life Bumps You?

Here’s a revealing question: When you have a full cup of coffee and someone bumps you, what spills out? Coffee – because that’s what’s in the cup. Similarly, when life hits you with stress, conflict, or pressure, what spills out reveals what’s really going on inside you. If you’re filled with anxiety, that’s what spills out when you’re bumped. If you’re filled with anger, that’s what emerges under pressure. The goal is to be so filled with God’s peace that when something happens, peace flows out naturally.

Living at Peace with Everyone

Romans 12:18 gives us wisdom: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Sometimes peace isn’t possible, but we’re called to do our part. This means being ambassadors rather than judges, living in a way that allows people to find Jesus and know how much He loves them. Peacemaking requires humility, grace, and moving toward brokenness instead of away from it. This reflects the heart of God and makes us salt and light in the world.

Proclaiming the Gospel of Peace

As we live as peacemakers, we’re given opportunities to share the good news of why we experience God’s peace. We should be ready, with “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace,” to tell people there’s a way back to be reconciled with God.

Why Did the Crowd Turn Against Jesus?

On Palm Sunday, crowds welcomed Jesus with “Hosanna!” But days later, many shouted “Crucify him!” What happened? They wanted a different kind of king – one who would defeat their enemies. But Jesus came to reconcile enemies. They wanted power; Jesus came with humility. This reminds us that we can’t experience true life until we come to know Jesus as He really is, not as we want Him to be.

Life Application

This week, pay attention to what “spills out” of you when life bumps you. When you face stress, conflict, or unexpected challenges, what’s your immediate response? If it’s not peace, bring those reactions to God. Ask Him to help you experience His peace more deeply so that peace becomes what naturally flows from your life. Start in your home, your relationships, your workplace, and your conversations. Be intentional about bringing God’s peace into every space you enter. Remember, you’re called to be a peacemaker because you follow the King of Peace.

Questions for Reflection:

Have you come to peace with God through Jesus Christ?
When life “bumps” you, what typically spills out – peace or something else?
How can you be more intentional about bringing God’s peace into your relationships this week?
Are you ready to share the gospel of peace when opportunities arise?

Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.