The Prince of Peace

Introduction: What do you think about when you think of peace? Some people think of a time when there is no more war, crime or murder. Others think of individuals who are in constant conflict finally reaching a place of reconciliation. Children wish that mommy and daddy would quit fighting. School children wish the bully on the playground would learn to be nice.

Peace means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Two thousand years ago the Prince of Peace was born and He brought with Him the opportunity for us to have the ultimate peace!

Scripture Introduction: In Isaiah 9:6 we are told that one of the titles of Jesus will be “Prince of Peace.” It says:

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

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.

In today’s passage of Scripture it seems Luke emphasizes the idea of the Prince of Peace more than any other title. Notice with me first of all:

Peace Has Arrived. But there is No Room (Luke 2:1-7)

Bruce Larson notes:

Luke begins this Christmas story with the mention of Caesar Augustus, nephew of Julius Caesar and one of the most powerful of the Caesars. It was said of him that he came to Rome made of brick and left it a city made of marble…At his funeral, his mourners comforted themselves with the belief that he was a god and therefore immortal. (The Preacher’s Commentary, pp. 47-48)

One of the most powerful men in history was being used by God to fulfill ancient prophecies and he had no idea. You see it had been prophesied hundreds of years earlier that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (House of Bread). The only problem was Joseph and Mary lived several miles away in Nazareth. Surely a lady who is nine months pregnant will not be traveling this late in her pregnancy to Bethlehem. But as God always does, He works behind the scenes to ensure the Savior of the world would be born in just the right place at just the right time.

A census or registration was called for by Caesar and everyone had to return to the town of their lineage. Since Joseph was a descendant of David, Bethlehem was the town he had to return back to.

Wouldn’t you know it, just as God planned, while they were visiting Bethlehem to take care of this “business” Mary went into labor. Scripture plainly says, “Mary gave birth to her firstborn son.” A virgin, gave birth to the Savior of the world! The God of the impossible shows up once again!

Unlike Caesar Augustus who was always surrounded with pomp and circumstance, Jesus was surrounded by animals and laid in a manger. The innkeeper was a busy man, and his guest room was so full he offered what he had left....a manger. Peace had arrived in a little village called Bethlehem.

We usually give the innkeeper a hard time. He is confronted with a young couple who are obviously in need of a place to stay and give birth. There is no room he says. But rather than completely turn them away he offers them a place where his animals are kept. Whether it’s a stable, a cave or a structure that is a part of his home has been debated through the ages. The point is, the Savior of the world made his grand entrance into the least likely of places. The Creator of the universe was born among the lowliest of His creation.

If often think of how much like the innkeeper we are. Busy with the hustle and bustle of life and the holidays with no room for Jesus. We relegate Him to an “out of the way” place so He doesn’t interfere with our lives and routine. However, in doing so, we miss out on so many blessings.

The same is true with our world today. There is no room for Jesus in our family celebrations, no room for Jesus in our schools, no room for Jesus in the public square. Yet all the while we search for peace, we search for meaning, we search for purpose…when the VERY thing we are searching for is right under our noses!

Secondly we see:

Peace is Announced (Luke 2:8-14)

Not only is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, born in a humble place, but the first announcement of His birth goes to some humble people. Shepherds were often despised by the higher class because their position was “low on the totem pole” as far as the working class was concerned. However, God doesn’t send the angel to the ivory palaces of the rich and famous to declare the Savior had been born, He goes to the lowly shepherds who are busy taking care of sheep. How ironic is it that the “Lamb of God’s” birth is announced to those who take care of little lambs.

The angel’s announcement is an important one of course. Included in that announcement is our key word for today...”PEACE.” The type of peace mentioned here by the angels is not just and “absence of conflict” but it refers to a RECONCILIATION and RESTORATION that would be established by Jesus’ LIFE, DEATH and RESURRECTION! God offers to us this peace because of His GRACE!

Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrive from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while other viewers clapped their hands and cheered.

One unusual painting showed a tumultuous waterfall cascading down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.

A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil (www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/p/peace.htm).

God can give you the kind of peace that transcends the chaos and turmoil of this world. He can give you an inward peace that transcends your outward circumstances. However, for you to experience the “PEACE OF GOD” you first need to have “PEACE WITH GOD.”

God is willing to FULLY REVERSE the alienation brought on by our sin! The PEACE that Jesus offers is the restoration of all things begun by Jesus on the cross and will culminate in God and His church dwelling together forever, face to face (Teach the Text, p. 37)!

Thirdly we find:

Peace Has an Audience (Luke 2:15-20)

The shepherds decided to take a trip to Bethlehem to meet the Prince of Peace. As they meet Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus they conveyed to them the message they had received from the angels. Everyone who heard the story was in amazement.

The Bible simply says in Luke 2:19:

Luke 2:19 ESV

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Imagine the flood of emotions that she had experienced over these last 9 months and now in her arms she holds the Creator of the Universe. Once again God has reinforced to her exactly WHO Jesus is! How overwhelming this must have been for her!

After the shepherds left, the Bible says they returned, GLORIFYING and PRAISING GOD for all they had HEARD and SEEN.

Our celebration of Christmas is all about the Prince of Peace leaving a perfect place of peace and coming to a WORLD OF TURMOIL to RECONCILE that which had been BROKEN by SIN back to God! Jesus Christ dealt with OUR sin and HIS GRACE is sufficient! We can come HOME. We can belong to HIM!

Whatever YOU have done YOU can belong to Him! He invites YOU to come. We invite YOU to come! Just as Mary, Joseph and the Shepherd’s lives were never the same again YOUR life can be FOREVER CHANGED if YOU will come to Jesus today!