Prince of Peace
Show us mercy
Prince of Peace
Light of nations
Since the time God drove Adam and Eve out of the garden, our world has known conflict. Discord, quarrels and controversies divide our families and friends while rebellions and insurrections destroy societies from within. We hear of wars and rumors of wars while strife is sown among the nations causing one to rise against the other.
But, of all these conflicts there is surely none greater than the conflict between ourselves and our Creator God. In sin, we have rebelled against God and declared ourselves His enemies. Raging and plotting in vain, our rebellion only gained for us the adversaries of death and the grave—two enemies against whom we were powerless.
But, in our helpless and hopeless state, God did not respond to our rebellion by crying, “Havoc!” and, “Let slip the dogs of war!” But rather, our loving, gracious and merciful God responded to our rebellion by sending to us the Prince of Peace.
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…
Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Jesus, the Prince of Peace, came to meet our sin with forgiveness and our rebellion with reconciliation. Justice would indeed be served, but our Prince Himself would pay the price.
He was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
Our Prince has quelled our rebellion and overcome our adversaries through the superior firepower of His cross. Now, we rebels, overwhelmed by the amazing love and grace of God, lay down our arms in surrender and lift up our hands in praise. Now, justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through Jesus we not only have peace with God but also the peace of God, because to be forgiven as God’s enemy is to be adopted as His child. Being a child of God through our Prince, we now have His peace, and this peace is one which surpasses understanding. It is the settled-ness of the soul in the sea of life’s circumstances. Whether or not we are in plenty or in want, in calm seas or rough waters, God’s peace guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. We know He is always for us and is always with us. When the storms of life throw winds and waves at us, we can be at peace, because we are with the One who is able to command the winds and the waves, saying, “Peace! Be still!” (Mark 4:39) and they obey him. What a Prince of Peace, indeed! Where is fear? Where is worry? Where is doubt? In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
This Advent season, rest in Jesus, our Prince of Peace, and rejoice with a full-throated echo of the angelic proclamation, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14)
Weekly Advent Readings: Psalm 133:1-3; Isaiah 2:4; Luke 2:14; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20