Prince of Peace
This is the fourth blog post in a 4-part series on the names of Jesus as found in Isaiah 9:6. In this messianic prophecy, Isaiah declares that Jesus would carry four titles that would be a reflection of His character.
6 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.
(Isaiah 9:6)
In the first three blog posts, I wrote about the meaning of the first three names: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and Everlasting Father. Today, we’ll look at the fourth name, Prince of Peace, and discuss the meaning of this title and how it impacts us today.
IF JESUS IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE, WHY IS THERE SUCH A LACK OF PEACE TODAY?
Let’s be honest, as we look around the world today, there is so much unrest and a lack of peace. People argue, bicker, and fight over politics, race, education, sexuality and gender, and just about anything and everything.
There is stress from work, school, relationships, and finances. We experience struggles with anxiety, depression, and addictions. We have to fight illnesses, injuries, and diseases. Then there is the grief that comes from death and the loss of loved ones.
There just seems to be so much chaos, unrest, and a lack of peace in our lives and in our world.
So, if Jesus is the Prince of Peace, then why is there such a lack of peace today?
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JESUS’ FIRST COMING AND SECOND COMING
Isaiah did say that when Jesus, the Messiah, came He would carry the title Prince of Peace. Isaiah even said that when Jesus came His government and peace would have no end and that He would reign as the Prince of Peace on His throne forever (Isaiah 9:7).
What we need to understand is the difference between Jesus’ first coming and His second coming. Jesus did come. He was born into this world fully God and fully man about 2,000 years ago as the Prince of Peace.
After His death and resurrection though, Jesus ascended back to heaven and we are told that Jesus would come again.
11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
(Acts 1:11)
As Jesus ascended back to heaven, an angel told the disciples that He would come back again. We refer to this as His second coming.
When Jesus comes back again, things will be different.
4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
(Revelation 21:4)
At Jesus’ second coming, He will rule and reign as King and there will be ultimate peace. There will be no more death, mourning, crying, fighting, arguing, or conflict.
It will be a great day, but until then, there will be conflict in our world, and we will face struggles.
However, even though we won’t experience ultimate peace until Jesus comes back again, we can still experience peace in our lives and most importantly with God!
JESUS CAME TO ESTABLISH PEACE BETWEEN HUMANITY AND GOD
Jesus came into this world first and foremost to establish peace between us as His creation and God. That peace had to be established because all of humanity had been alienated from God and become enemies of Him due to sin in our lives (Colossians 1:21).
God is a holy and perfect God, and once we sinned in the garden, we could no longer live in the spiritual union with Him in which we were created to live and function out of. This, of course, caused so much unrest, guilt, shame, conflict, and bondage in our lives which all come from being isolated from God, our Creator and Source of Life.
So, Jesus, out of His love for you and me, came to re-establish the peace that was there between God and man in the garden. To do that, He had to die and pay the penalty for our sins so that we could be forgiven and reconciled to Him.
The apostle Paul in Colossians 1 tells us that Jesus did just that.
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
(Colossians 1:19-20)
So Jesus has accomplished everything necessary for you and me to have our sins forgiven, to be at peace with God, and to be in union with Him again, drawing upon Him as our Source of Life, meaning, purpose, and strength.
When we receive Jesus’ gift of salvation by faith, we have peace with God as the apostle Paul declares in Romans 5.
Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
(Romans 5:1-2)
JESUS, THE PRINCE OF PEACE IN OUR CIRCUMSTANCES
Even though we won’t have ultimate peace until Jesus’ second coming, we can experience peace in our situations and circumstances today.
True peace isn’t found in situations, circumstances, or the absence of conflict.
True peace is found in a Person. It’s found in Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
(John 14:27)
Notice whose peace it is. Jesus said, “MY PEACE I give to you.” He is peace. He even says here that it is something that He will give to us.
See, you can’t manufacture peace in your life. Peace has to come from the Source of Peace, which is Jesus, The Prince of Peace.
Now, once Jesus gives His peace to you, that doesn’t mean you will have no more conflict.
In John 16, just a few verses later, Jesus says this…
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
(John 16:33)
Jesus flat-out tells us that we are going to have troubles. We will experience conflict.
Notice however what Jesus said right before this. He says, “I’ve told you these things, so that IN ME you may have peace.”
Notice again that peace will be found IN JESUS, not in our situations or circumstances.
I don’t know what you are dealing with as you walk through this Christmas season, but Jesus, as The Prince of Peace, wants you to find rest and experience the peace that you can only find in Him.
As you walk through your struggles, keep your eyes fixed on Him. Trust Him. Experience the joy, hope, peace, and rest that all come from Him.