Finding Peace in the Heart of Christmas

“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 NIV

This child to be born would be God Incarnate, which just means God in human form. The final title Jesus is given here in this passage is “Prince of Peace.”

Prince of Peace

The Prince of Peace. What did this mean? Did this mean that when He came, the earth would be at peace? If we read through the gospels, we see that there wasn’t overall peace in His lifetime. What about after Jesus rose again? Was there peace from that time forward? No, if we look at the book of Acts, and all of the books after that, we clearly see that there wasn’t complete peace after Jesus went up to heaven.

In the movie Miss Congeniality, Sandra Bullock’s character has to play a woman in a beauty pageant, and one of the jokes is that they all have to work into their speech that they desire world peace. In the end, she says, “and I really want world peace.” This is because we don’t see this world peace anywhere in history, nor does it look like we will see it anytime soon.

Eventually, we do see that Jesus brings the kind of peace many are looking for, but it comes in the very end of the book in Rev. 21:1-4 (a great passage to read), when we learn of the new heaven and new earth that is to come.

So what could this mean that Jesus is the Prince of Peace?

I believe we are talking here about being at peace with God. If we look at Webster’s Dictionary (1828), one of the things we see is that peace comes from reconciliation. Because we have been reconciled to God through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we are able to be at peace with God.

When we live for Jesus, and we ask Jesus to forgive us and to live in us, to be the Lord of our lives, He gives us His peace. The angels who came to the shepherds shared of God’s peace that would be coming. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14 NIV

But they are told that here on earth, peace will be on “those on whom His favor rests.” Peace isn’t around us, peace dwells on us and can be found in us.

Peace isn’t around us, peace dwells on us and can be found in us.

Jesus told the disciples, and us, that He would be leaving us with His peace – “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 NIV

But there is a difference between peace and trouble-free. We see this in John 16…

“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 NIV

The peace Jesus offers is an inner peace, it is a peace in the midst of trials. Peace in the midst of trouble. We have peace with God, the forgiveness of our sins, through Jesus (Rom. 5:1). And when we trust in God, and put Him first in our lives, He offers us peace that passes all understanding (Phi. 4:6-7).

Lord, help me to put You first in my life. Help me to love You, and follow You. May You be my priority this Advent season, and may I be filled with Your peace, so that those around me can see what is different, and seek to know You, the Prince of Peace, as well. In Jesus’ Name…