Jesus, The Prince of Peace

Isaiah prophesies about the birth of Jesus: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Prophet Micah foretold, “Jesus shall be our Peace” (Micah 5:5). In the Gospel of Luke, priest Zechariah sings prophetically that Jesus is the rising sun that shines to guide our feet into the path of peace (Luke 1:78-79). This Lord Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace, was born for us. His divine peace is at work in our lives in 3 stages.  I wish to share about that through this message.

Peace with the Most-High God

(Upward Peace)

 The Bible says that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). For when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled with Him through the death of His Son (Romans 5:10). How did we become enemies to God? Sin entered the world through Adam and Eve and the whole humanity became sinful (Romans 5:12). Hence, King David cries, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Psalms 51:5). The Bible says, “Your iniquities have separated you from God”. (Isaiah 59:2). We became worthy of death because, the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Sin ruins the relationship and the peace we have with God. However, Lord Jesus shed His blood and brought us peace and reconciliation with Most High God (Col 1:20). More than that, Jesus Himself became our peace by abolishing the enmity we had with God through His death on the cross. He also made us new creations and reconciled us with the Most High God (Ephe 2:14-16).

Sin will rob our peace. “There is no peace for the wicked”, says the Lord (48:22; 57:21). “The wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest”, states the Bible (Isaiah 57:20). One day a woman who lived a sinful life, came to Jesus seeking forgiveness. Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven. Go in peace” (Luke 7:37, 48-50). Jesus came to this world for this very purpose, to reconcile us with the Most High God. Have you lost your peace with God? If so, repent today, renounce your sins and receive the forgiveness and peace the Lord Jesus gives through his blood.

 

Peace in the Heart

(Inward Peace)

 Jesus says, “Do not let your heart be troubled. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:1, 27). Fear and anxiety will spoil the peace of mind. Peace that the world gives is temporary.  Whereas, Jesus completely removes the fears and anxieties that torment our mind. How does this happen? What should we do for this? We must fully trust God and hold fast to Him. The Word of God says, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3). ‘Perfect Peace’ means peace that is permanent and continuous. This also means that God gives us the assurance of divine protection and care to those who totally trust Him and cling to Him.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6, 7) is Apostle Paul’s counsel to us. We read about a woman who suffered for 12 long years with a bleeding issue. She spent all her wealth to obtain cure but she did not get well. Nevertheless, when she trusted Jesus and approached Him with faith, she received complete healing and peace of mind (Luke 8:43-48). Likewise, Jesus brought peace to the apostles and comforted them when they were hiding indoors for fear of Jews (John 20:19, 21, 26). The Lord visited Gideon who was living in fear of the Midianites and strengthened him by revealing Himself as “The Lord of Peace”  (Jehovah Shalom) (Judges 6:23-24). Dearly beloved, surrender all your fears and anxieties today to Jesus the Prince of Peace and receive the divine perfect peace from Him and rejoice.

Peace with others

(Outward Peace)

 Jesus wants to offer us peace in our relationships as much as He wants to give us peace with God and in our mind. The Bible clearly instructs us to be at peace with everyone as far as we can (Romans 12:18; Heb 12:14). Nowadays, there is peacelessness and domestic violence in many families. Moreover, divorces are rampant owing to disharmony between husbands and wives. In the same manner, there is neither peace among parents and children nor among siblings. The reason for discard in relationships is apathy, ego and lack of forgiveness. We read in the scriptures, that though Jesus, being in very nature God, made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, made in human likeness, humbled Himself and became obedient to death, just because of His unconditional love for us (Phil 2:6-8). Not only this, Jesus demonstrated His love for us by dying for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8).

 

Being followers of Christ, if we express such unconditional love and humble attitude towards others, we too will enjoy peace in our relationships. Only then, Jesus shall be our peace and will break the dividing wall of hostility (Eph. 2:14). We read about the parable of the prodigal son in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 15:10-24). We observe that the prodigal son left his father because of his arrogance; later he realizes his mistake and returns to his father humbly seeking for apology. But even before he could do that, the father expresses his unconditional love and forgives his son. This kind of unconditional love, humility and forgiving attitude alone can promote harmony and intimacy in relationships. Are you shedding tears thinking of the broken and lost relationship in your life? Do not worry. If you are willing to forgive and seek pardon with love and humbleness, Jesus is able to repair and restore your precious relationships.

 

Dearly Beloved, the God we worship is the God of Peace; (Romans 5:33; Heb 13:20), the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and the Source of Peace (Micah 5:5). The Bible promises, that the Lord will bless His people with peace (Psalm 29:11). Therefore, according to these scriptures, may the perfect peace of Christ fill and enrich your lives.