Prince of Peace

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Scripture: “..His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6, ESV

Consider: It is hard to turn on the news today and find peace and quiet in the Phoenix Valley. We are now the 5th largest city in the USA. Peace is something not only sought after from major cities of the world but for all mankind. We all long for peace, from major urban epicenters to rural run down villages peace is what we want. We want freedom from disturbance; we want quiet and tranquility. We want peace from war and violence. Today we shall find this in the person and work of Christ. As we look upon the forth descriptive name of the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6. The Prince of Peace. This perhaps most clearly is exemplified in the Christ more than the others.

Theologian, Tremper Longman III once said, ”It would be difficult to overstate the importance of Isaiah for the Christology of the church.” In other words, the church’s understanding of who Christ is would be nearly impossible without Isaiah’s description and record of this coming Messiah.

God’s word today tells us that Peace would characterize the coming Messiah’s kingdom.

Isaiah describes here the Messiah as a King that would once and for all establish this long-awaited peace in the human hearts of mankind. While most Kingdoms are established through war, this kingdom would come through the peace of Christ on a cross.

As Paul writes in Romans 5:1, ESV “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Christ himself is our peace. The angels declared this at his birth, and Christ reaffirmed this truth as well later. In Luke’s gospel, we read, that “Angels appeared saying… “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men…” Here we learn that the Angels of heaven are giving glory to God for the birth of Christ, the Messiah but they also describe the result of his coming to earth. Christ would establish in time a kingdom of peace because he is the Prince of Peace. Some 30 years after the angels made this announcement Jesus himself would declare, he was the source of peace, by saying… “In me, you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33, ESV).

Are you tired of what the world offers? Tribulations? Trials, problems, and drama. Christ offers an alternative. He has overcome the powers of the evil of this world and offers a peace that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7). It’s the peace of Christ. Receive this today.

Pray: Lord, I receive the peace of Christ over my life. You are enough. You are fully satisfying to my soul. I confess I am a sinner, in desperate need for you give me the only peace and joy over my life today. Purge my motives. Calm my heart. Fill me with your peace. In Jesus name. Amen.