“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
– Isaiah 9:6-7
And so we look at today…
Prince Of Peace
The coming Messiah was going to be the “Prince of Peace.” He was going to be the “Ruler,” the “Leader” to brining and maintaining “peace.”
From our limited vocabulary, I quick look at the word “peace” would make us think of “without disturbance” or “quiet” but the original word holds so much more meaning.
The Hebrew word is:
šā∙lôm
Here’s an idea of the greater meaning this word brings:
Peace.
Prosperity.
Success.
Welfare.
State of Health.
Friendliness.
Deliverance.
Salvation.
See, this Hebrew word holds more meaning than just the lack of distraction, distrubance or noise.
šā∙lôm brings in the postive side of peace.
Not just the lack of problems,
but the presence of good.
I’m not saying that Jesus came to bring a “prosperity gospel” where you should expect perfect health, wealth and no problems – at least not this side of heaven.
Here’s what our Prince of Peace has, and will do, for us, His people.
Peace With God
Our first and foremost problem wasn’t a lack of physical peace, but not having peace with God.
Jesus’ mission when He came on Christmas day, was to bring us into Peace with God.
As Paul described it, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” -Romans 5:1
His primary goal is to bring us back into Peace with God, so that we may have a peace that will last for eternity.
Peace In Life
When we have Peace with God, we are transformed from the inside out to have peace while still in the difficulties of life.
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…” -2 Corinthians 4:8–9
Becoming at Peace with God doesn’t neccesarly bring peace around us – but it does bring peace within us.
Even consider Jesus’ life as an example. His life was wrought with problems and difficulties, yet He was at peace except for when He was preparing only hours before taking on our sin on the cross.
Before bearing our sins, so we could experience peace.
He experienced pure agony and difficulty,
and being at ends with God the Father,
so that you and I would experience the same peace He did throughout His life.
Peace that came from a perfect relationship with the Father.
We won’t neccesarly experience peace from our outward cercumstances in life, but we can experience inward peace, regardless of our circumstances because of what Jesus has done.
This inward peace is what allowed Paul to say…
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” -Philippians 4:11–13
Too often, the end of this verse is taken out of context. Paul wasn’t saying that he can “accomplish all things” bcause of God who strengthens Him. With this mindset, it would be easy to assume that we should experience perfect wealth and success in life.
Instead, Paul is saying that He can endure all things well (and even be content in them), to the glory of God, because it is God who strengthens Him.
Because he’s been given inward peace.
Perfect Peace In Eternity
Jesus, our Prince of Peace, has brought immense peace to us.
Peace with God, the Father
Peace inside our hearts dispite life circumstances.
But He promises that He’s not done.
It’s been said that through the Gospel, we’ve
Been saved from the penalty of sin
Are being saved from the power of sin
and Will be saved from the prensence of sin.
The peace that Jesus brings us is the same way.
Through His Gospel, we’ve…
Been given peace with God
Are being given (and growing in) peace in our daily life
Will be given perfect peace after this life.
In the New Heaven and New Earth that Jesus promises for those who accept His Gospel, we are told that we will experience perfect peace.
Perfect šā∙lôm.
For now, we’re told that Satan is still the “ruler of this world,” but that one day, we will be eternally with Jesus as our ruler.
And the Prince Of Peace will rule with Perfect Peace.
What This Means For Now
Christmas time is the new beginning.
Christmas is when the Prince of Peace came down to begin this revolution, bringing Peace back to His creation.
But it’s not finished yet.
So, here’s what we can do today:
- Accept His Gospel and receieve Peace with God.
- Continually turn to Him and receieve inward peace from Him
- Continually look forward to the day where He will fully remove us from the precense of sin and bring complete peace to all creation.
Here’s some scripture for each of those steps to encourage you as you seek Jesus in each of these ways…
“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” -Isaiah 53:5
“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.” -Ephesians 6:14–15
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” -Jesus (John 14:27)
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” -Isaiah 26:3
“But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” -2 Peter 3:13
“For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” -1 Thessalonians 1:9–10