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And he will be called…Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6
In ancient times, princes, whether they desired it or not, often became warriors. Rulers of nations may talk about peace, but nothing is more elusive than peace. And so, when Isaiah talked about a child who would be born, a son who would be given, who would be called “Prince of Peace,” it sounded like high rhetoric, wishful thinking. Could it ever possibly happen?
When you look at the life of Jesus, it hardly appears to be a life of peace. He was in constant conflict with people who had invented their own ideas about God, and with people who really didn’t want God to meddle in their affairs at all. Jesus had enemies. In the end, he died a most violent death, which had been preceded by humiliating abuse. His followers were harassed and persecuted. Fishermen died as martyrs.
Yet, it is in Jesus’ sacrifice that he became Prince of Peace. Only when the chief enemies of humanity—sin, death, evil—were defeated could people live at peace with God, with themselves, and with the world.
And so, yes, he was the Prince of Peace. The angel was right in saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace…”(Lk. 2:14). The apostle Paul offered a sincere blessing of peace when he said: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way” (2 Thess. 3:16).
This is the kind of prince—a ruler brand new to the world—that the prophecies had described. So when we think of Bethlehem, we must remember that it was not the stable that made this baby unique, nor the virtues of Mary or Joseph, nor the angelic presence, nor any other feature of those extraordinary days, as important as they are. The child was remarkable, because Jesus is the only prince to truly bring a lasting peace—a peace that has lasted for millennia, and will last into eternity.
Where do you need to find peace in your life at this time? Your family? Your workplace? Your inner life? We can be assured of this, God is for peace and reconciliation, and God wants to bring order where there has been chaos in our lives.
Prayer for today:
Lord, I know there will be battles in my life, and I know that some fights between what is right and what is wrong are necessary. But help me to live in the calm and confidence that you have made it possible for me to live at peace with you.
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