In this prophecy concerning the birth of our Lord Jesus
Christ there are four names given to Him: Wonderful counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father and Prince of Peace. While we would be profited by a study of
any one of these names I want to focus on the last one, the Prince of Peace,
because as I have been reading through some of the passages concerning the
incarnation this idea of peace being connected with the person of Christ has
stood out to me.
I want to begin by saying that
peace is something that is emphasized in our day, national leaders will meet
together to discus the pursuit of global peace, that is, to try and stop the
conflict between nations. Individuals will seek out religion, therapy or self
fulfillment in order to obtain "inner peace." People will seek out
counselors in order to try and bring peace to a relationship. But while the
majority of people may claim to be seeking peace, or at least claim to want it,
most people are seeking it apart from the Author of peace. The Bible is very
clear that man in his sinful state cannot have peace. We read in Isaiah 57:21 -
"“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”" We know from
Scripture that there is none righteous, not even one, and in that same passage,
in Romans 3, we're told "And the path of peace they have not known."
It seems as though mankind is willing to seek for peace everywhere except where
it can be found. We're willing to go to anyone and everyone except for the
Prince of Peace, but the Bible is abundantly cleat that there is no peace apart
from Him.
In Micah chapter 5 we have a prophecy concerning the
birthplace of the Messiah, and we read in verses 2-5 - "But as for you,
Bethlehem Ephrathah, little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will
go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from
the days of eternity. Therefore He will give them up until the time when she
who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren will
return to the sons of Israel. And He will arise and shepherd His flock in the
strength of the Lord, in the
majesty of the name of the Lord
His God. And they will remain, because at that time He will be great to the
ends of the earth. This One will be our peace." The wording here is very
intentional. In talking about the Christ the Lord doesn't say in this passage
that He will bring peace, but He says "This One will be our
peace." In Luke chapter 1 when Zacharias was talking about the role that
John, his son, would play in the coming of the Messiah, he talked about him
preparing the way of the Lord, and how Christ would be the Sunrise from on
high, and he says in verse 79 that Christ has come - "To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the
shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." He came
to guide us in the way of peace because He came to draw men to Himself and
offer His righteousness in exchange for their sin. Since there is no peace for
the wicked, Christ came to apply His righteousness to our account and thus
provide the way of peace. There is no hope for peace apart from Christ.
After Christ was born in
Bethlehem in Luke 2:8-14 we read - "And in the same region there were
shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by
night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of
the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And the angel
said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great
joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has
been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for
you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And
suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising
God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with
whom He is pleased.”" The proclamation of the angel is something that is
sung about every year at this time, "Peace on earth good will toward
men." Even in the secular world some are singing this verse of Scripture
and yet many don't realize that this peace is inseparably connected to the
birth of the Lord Jesus Himself. We seek for peace on earth and think that if
all the nations get together and agree to stop fighting then everyone will have
peace, but that will never work. Only Christ can establish peace on earth. When
He was born into this world He came and presented Himself as the King of the
Jews and gave a legitimate offer of peace, but His offer was rejected and was
crucified, bearing in His own body the sins of the world. But this does not
mean that Gods plan for peace on earth is forfeited, He will still bring peace
on the earth. When Christ returns to the earth and sets up His kingdom He will
rule and reign on the earth for a thousand years. At that time all global
conflict will cease and for a time there will be peace on earth because the
Prince of Peace will rule over the nations. In the meantime, we who belong to
Christ can have peace in spite of the conflict which surrounds us. In spite of
trying circumstances we are instructed in Colossians 3:15 to "Let the
peace of Christ rule in your hearts." Do you think that the Lord Jesus is
worried about the way things are going in the world? Do you think He is
concerned about economic and political change? Are your trials and concerns too
big for Him to work out for good like He said He would? Let His peace rule
in your heart. Let the Prince of Peace sit on the throne of your heart and the
result will be peace. In Philippians chapter 4 we're told to "Be anxious
for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses
all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Are you committing everything to the Lord in prayer? Are you letting the
peace of Christ rule in your heart? He has offered peace. If we don't have it
it's because we're looking for it in the wrong places. The Lord Jesus said in
John 16:33 - "These things I have spoken to you,
so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but
take courage; I have overcome the world."
Ephesians 2:12-22 - "Remember that you were at
that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and
strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the
world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought
near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both
groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing
in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in
ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus
establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through
the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and
preached peace to you who were
far away, and peace to those who were
near; for through Him we both have
our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and
aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s
household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being
fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also
are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit."
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