Prince Of Peace

Recap

Last week we learned of why Jesus, the anointed One, the Christ, the Messiah, even as a baby was to be called Father of Eternity.

Father of Eternity refers to His relationship with time as times originator, He is the source of time or the parent of time. Even time eternal proceeds from Him.

Today Isaiah wraps his lists of titles in a nice, fitting, and powerful bow by calling this unusual child the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 (NASB95)

6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

(pray)

Meat and Potatoes

As I was telling you last week. My tendency is to be a peace junkie. In order for me to engage in godly conflict even with my wife and/or children, it takes an act of the will knowing that it is necessary but it is not natural for me. Because I crave peace, and not only peace, but lasting peace.

But this is not uniquely my issue. At core, everyone wants peace, though we all may have different ideas of what exactly would that entail and/or how to acquire it.

Just like Isaiah’s audience, so all people struggle to find peace in their lives. No matter the situation, every person wrestles with the contrast of who they are at their worst compared to their best—as subjective as both evaluations might be. However, we all struggle to find peace in our lives.

The reason why peace looks different from person to person and why we struggle struggle so hard to find it stems from our desire to find peace on our own and on our own terms.

Peace or shalom is a condition that is apparent when God is present and dependent upon.

Jesus our Messiah is called Prince of Peace in our passage.

Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (8269 סָרַר, שַׂר) sar

Occurs 421 times in the OT. It also translates as captain, chief, ruler, governor, keeper, principal, general, lord.

It corresponds to our idea of administrator, a mediator representing the king.

He is the guardian of peace, the administrator of peace, he makes peace happen where there is no peace and what he does and how he does this is complexed because it has many moving parts.

What is peace? What is the Biblical reality of peace? What is peace from a biblical perspective

Deuteronomy 20:10 (ESV)

10 “When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it.

In other words, peace is the alternative to fighting

It is the absence of fighting.

Psalm 120:7 (NIV)

7 I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.

It is the alternative to war.

So, peace is a relationship among people where fighting and war and conflict is avoided.

Mark 4:37–39 (ESV)

37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Peace is the removal of the conflict between natural forces and man. Nature was bent on killing every one in the boat and the disciples were fighting to keep the boat afloat.. man versus nature……

So, peace is not only the absences of or the removal of war and conflict between people, the absence of man fighting man, but peace is also the removal of the conflict between man and nature. For example:

Leviticus 26:6 (ESV)

6 I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. And I will remove harmful beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land.

Peace is freedom of conflict between men or within humanity and freedom between humanity and nature. No longer afraid of the bee sting, or viruses, or rabid dogs, or big wild cats, or sharks. So all conflict with other living things or nature itself as tornadoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and even cancer, aids, diabetes etc… as a matter of fact Isaiah describes a future:

Isaiah 55:12–13 (NIV)

12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”

Isaiah 11:6–9 (NIV)

6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den, the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Peace is not only the freedom of conflict between men and women and it is not only the freedom of conflict between us and nature but it is also freedom of conflict between nature and nature. But there is one more:

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Psalm 77:1–2 (NIV)

1 I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. 2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted.

Even when there is no dog chasing you, or the weather is cooperating nicely. Even when there is no conflict with your brother and the nation is at peace with other nations, even when your health is good and your body is strong… your mind can and often cause you be be in conflict with yourself. This is called depression, anxiety and stress that when you even try to explain it you have no words.

Peace is not only the freedom of conflict, the absence of war between people and it is not only the freedom of conflict between man and nature and it is not only freedom of conflict between nature and nature, but it is also the freedom from war and conflict within one self.

But why is all of this happening, why are we at war with each other? why at we are war with nature? why is nature at war with us? what is nature at war with itself?

It all stems from Genesis 3. God gave unto man a mandate that would insure that man only knew peace… but man rejected that. He wanted what he wanted apart from God. Adam and Eve traded satisfaction in God for satisfaction in themselves and the chose to have conflict with God rather than peace.

The problem is described by the Psalmist:

Psalm 24:1 (NIV)

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

When you enter into conflict with God, you enter into conflict with everything that is attached to God, which is everything and everyone.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace because He came primarily to restore peace with God which started this whole mess.

This is why Isaiah says:

Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

5 But 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.

He came to administer peace.. He is the Prince of Peace because he is making all things new by restoring the order of things… he is restoring all things by first having man make peace with God.

This is a source of great joy which is why the angel said,

Luke 2:14 (NIV)

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Romans 5:1–2 (NIV)

1 Therefore, 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. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Peace with everything else is now possible because God is no longer angry with you

And everyone who refuses to make peace with God through the administrator of peace will one day be removed from creation so that it will not contaminate what God has made new.

“He [Christ] has fully paid for the penalty of our sin through his death on the cross so that we might be debt free.”

We have been so reconciled that we have peace with the one we had once offended. (God is not angry with me)

And so peace begins with Christ. He has not yet ended all conflict. The dog still bites and the bee still stings, but the process has began. Peace with God means you can have the peace of God now.

John 14:27 (NIV)

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.

Your heart can now be at rest even if the rest of the world is still at war. Anxiety, depression, and stress need not be your constant companion.

Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard throureal [military term to protect by guarding like a soldier] your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:8–9 (NIV)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true (false, dishonest, unreliable, lie), whatever is noble (dignified or worthy of respect), whatever is right (conforms to God’s ways and standards), whatever is pure (wholesome , no moral impurities), whatever is lovely (promotes peace and not conflict), whatever is admirable (positive and constructive)—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things... And the God of peace will be with you.