Messianic Introduction of SHALOM

In our “Musings4Mission,” we have seen how God’s plan for humanity involved the roles of worship toward God, relationship with other people, and stewardship of the natural order. These three roles/responsibilities received detailed exposition in the Torah of Moses, and were further articulated by the Old Testament prophets.

However, it was clear that sinful humanity, ensnared in the rebellion which started in the Garden of Eden, would never fully realize the SHALOM which God intended for them. Despite the repeated admonitions of the prophets calling the people of God to repentance, they continued to persist in their ways of rebellion against God’s plan of holistic peace.

The first phase of God’s redemptive plan through Israel and the Torah was good, but it was only provisional. God’s plan of holistic redemption would take a giant leap forward, however, when the promised Messiah entered the world. The Messiah would be God’s anointed King – completely fulfilling humanity’s role of God’s vice-regent in the world. The Messiah would be the Perfect Human, flawlessly satisfying the demands of God in the roles of worship, relationship, and stewardship. The Messiah would be a great Teacher, instructing His community of disciples in a new Torah which would lead them toward holistic peace. The Messiah would be, in the words of Isaiah, the “Prince of SHALOM” (Isaiah 9:6).

Thus, the complete implementation of God’s redemptive plan came in His Son, Jesus the Messiah, and through the community of disciples gathered around Him. It is little wonder that Jesus inaugurated His public ministry with a quote from the book of Isaiah:

“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.” (Luke 4:18-19, NASB, quoting Isaiah 61:1-2)

Within the ministry of Jesus, we see how the Messiah demonstrated faithfulness in His commitment to worshiping God alone (Matt 4:8-11); expressed compassion for the social concerns of humanity (Matt 5:21-32; 6:25-34; etc.); and revealed His mastery over the natural world (Matt 8:23-27).

Jesus was indeed God’s promised Messiah, and it is in Him – and only in Him – that we gain access to the full promise of holistic peace which has always been God’s intention for His people.