Blessed are the peacemakers: Considering the job of the mediator, and the role of Christ

Peacemaking is an odd task: while everyone wants peace on the terms they imagine it, generally there is also some matter of justice or fairness behind a conflict. Who would accept peace at the price of unfairness? Can peace last if it is nothing more than a negotiated injustice? Conflict may seem better than co-signing to accept an injury. Those who simply want everyone to stop fighting have very little success because justice is not served, and valid points are left unheard and unaddressed. Someone who says simply "stop the conflict" is not likely to succeed as a peacemaker. 

So the art of a mediator involves skills that go beyond what a judge would do in settling questions of fact or law. The mediator tries to broaden perspectives so that each side gains awareness of the other side's position, gains perspective if their own side has any weaknesses they hadn't seen. The mediator may be able to get each side to realize the other side's true position, to leave aside the hard-hearted caricature that took root when there was no understanding and no respect. The mediator encourages each side to re-evaluate its thoughts about what's fair and what's practical. The mediator explores ways to broaden the playing field so that more options can be imagined, and so that everyone saves face, and both sides may attain an acceptable solution. Peacemaking is not an easy task. 

In the spiritual world, Christ's position is described as a mediator between God and man, the mediator of a new covenant between God and man (Galatians 3:20, 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 8:6, 9:5, 12:24). He works to prevent that alternative where we would appear before a Judge, and without the facts on our side. When we look at Christ, we leave aside our hard-hearted caricatures of God, and we take an honest look at our own position. And so through the mediator we receive a new covenant: "I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and remember their sins no more." (Hebrews 8:12)