Prince of Peace

Make Peace

What do you think of when you hear the word peace?

1 freedom from disturbance; tranquillity.

2 freedom from or the cessation of war.

There was a quote that I was told of recently that said something to the extent that the night of Jesus’ birth was anything but silent. The first thing I thought of was how that comment neglects the theological implication of silent night.

When we think about our responses to the question some of us could be relating to tranquility.

The other thing I thought about was the quiet we experieinced after eden was born. Not during, but after. When all the nurses went away for a bit and left us to bond with eden. It was calm, silent, then it ended. lol. That statement was wrong in so many ways, but in the biggest wa was the theological implication. When Jesus came into the world, he brought peace with him.

Isaiah 9:2–6 ESV

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 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.

I love the picture of rest and peace given here.

So what kind of peace are we looking at here? Does anyone know what kind of peace isarael needed in this time?

Israel was exiled and waiting at this time. So their view is someone who would bring their freedom. For us we’re looking for a different kind of peace. The only peace found in christ.

Luke 2:14 ESV

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

So, who are those with whom God is please?

believers.

Hebrews 11:6 NASB95

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Romans 1:17 NASB95

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

Justification

In the birth of christ we find that the son of God took on flesh. He could’ve very well come and lived only his ministry years, but it was important that he be born in order to live fully life for us.

Justification: the action of declaring or making righteous in the sight of God.

Hebrews 4:15 NASB95

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Matthew 1:21 ESV

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

(book quote)

1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jeremiah 23:6 ESV

In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

Expiation

Another way that christ has brought peace to us is this idea of carrying our sin away.

Psalm 103:12 ESV

as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Leviticus 16:8–10 NASB95

“Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. “Then Aaron shall offer the goat on which the lot for the Lord fell, and make it a sin offering. “But the goat on which the lot for the scapegoat fell shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, to send it into the wilderness as the scapegoat.

Leviticus 16:20–22 NASB95

“When he finishes atoning for the holy place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall offer the live goat. “Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness. “The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.

Who does that sound like?

John 1:29 NASB95

The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

1 John 3:5 NASB95

You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.

Propitiation

Not only did he take our sin far away from us, but he also died for us.

Isaiah 53:11 ESV

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

Isaiah 53:5 NASB95

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.

1 John 4:9–10 NASB95

By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Romans 3:25 NASB95

whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;

Hebrews 2:17 NASB95

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

The Son of God needed to come and be born to fulfill prophecy as The Father promised That there may be peace between God and Man.

If there are some verses that come together to prove that Jesus brought peace:

Romans 5:1–11 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Later in the same chapter of Hebrews, we find we can draw near to God “with a true heart in full assurance of faith…,” and we are to hold on to our confession of faith without wavering because Jesus is faithful (Hebrews 10:17-25). Hallelujah! Jesus paid it all with His blood (Romans 5:8) in a bloody, messy act of love, and now our bodies are now washed with pure water (John 4:10). God sent His sacrificial Lamb as a Scapegoat for us that when God looks at us, He sees His perfect Son.

Peace when he returns

Revelation 20:10 ESV

and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 21:1–5 ESV

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Expository Preaching Outlines, Volume Six (Fifty-Two, Sermon Outline)

An eternity of peace is a concept almost beyond human comprehension; it sums up everything the human heart longs for. If we are to be sharers in all that is implied and involved in this title we must open our whole being to this Prince of Peace who came at Christmas time to make peace, give peace, and preach peace.