I am a Jesus pusher!!! “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:8). Don Richardson wrote a book entitled Peace Child, (Glendale, California: Regal, 1979). The basis of the book is the description of the long struggle to bring the gospel to the cannibalistic, headhunting Sawi tribe of Irian Jave, Indonesia. The central focus of this ministry was to communicate the heart of the Gospel message. They had great difficulty in getting this tribe to understand the Gospel message, especially the significance of Christ’s atoning death on the cross.
The Sawi tribe highly honored treachery, revenge, and murder; there seemed to be no hope for peace. Each village made war against their neighboring village. They were constantly fighting among themselves. However, the tribe had a legendary custom. If one village gave a baby boy to another village, peace prevailed between the two villages as long as the child lived. This baby was called a “peace child.”
This custom created an open door for the message of the Gospel. The missionary used it as an analogy of the reconciling work of Jesus. Jesus is God’s Divine Peace Child. He gave Jesus to us! Hear the prophet of old: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:6-7). Jesus lives eternally; therefore His peace will never end. This analogy was the key that unlocked the Gospel for the Sawi Tribe. God, the Father, is the source of all peace; Jesus, the Son, is the manifestation of that peace. Jesus is given to you! I am a Jesus pusher!!!