And He Shall Be Called: Prince of Peace
by Daniel Burton
“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)
People often mistake peace for concession. There is this mistake idea that peace means just not fighting with one another that if the actions are somehow stifled but the bitterness and anger that resides in a persons hearts will deteriorate. Or that by being “nice” the spiritual forces that plague this world will be satiated and unable to make any attack. This is not peace but rather complacency. Isaiah describes the coming of the Prince of Peace, a figure who would usher in the true and everlasting peace. While the people of Israel went from exile to oppressive rule, there would be the coming of one who would establish peace throughout the world. This Prince of Peace would be the Messiah.
Prince of Peace
Jesus is the Messiah that the prophet Isaiah spoke of long before His arrival and fulfills the role as the Prince of Peace. Within Jesus is this dual identity of both being a full reigning sovereign and an approachable man. While King’s rule over their land, one of their main tasks is to protect the citizens and maintain peace throughout the land. Jesus, being a reigning sovereign, is no stranger to this task. Peace guided God to take the form of man in order to restore the right relationship between them. When man allowed sin and chaos to enter into perfection, Christ came to restore the peace between the people. The King had come and fought hard for the peace that is without end.
Representing the King
As Isaiah depicts the coming Messiah as the Prince, there are a couple connotations that come with the wording that Isaiah uses. Isaiah’s use of Prince reveals the royal nature that the Messiah possesses. He is in the line of royal lineage. There is honor due to a King and this honor would extend to all who are in the King’s family. Furthermore, the use of “Prince” also carries the understanding that this person is sent as an envoy or representative of the throne. While away from the throne room, the same rights, dignity, and power would be due to this King.
Jesus, as our Prince of Peace, does not scoff at the people but greets them on their level for their safety and protection. Click To TweetJesus is representing the throne room of heaven. He has descended to the lower regions of our world in order to bring the power and authority that comes from God. He is God in the flesh and He speaks with the authority of the King of Kings. Yet, He is not unapproachable as with most common monarchs throughout history. Jesus, as our Prince of Peace, does not scoff at the people but greets them on their level for their safety and protection. When enemies attack, they do not attack the common man but the ruler of all dominions. Jesus greets us warmly bringing with Him the grace to know God in a personal relationship and protects us from all attacks of the enemy.
Peace Coming to The World
Make no mistake, we are in the midst of war. There are spiritual forces of good and evil that are earnestly vying for control of our lives on a daily basis. Satan, along with the demons on dark spiritual forces will stop at nothing to see the world tear itself apart in war, disease, and destruction until everything has been obliterated. The Messiah, though, is profoundly different. Peace is the goal and this peace would be achieved by any means. Where the enemy sought to destroy and kill, the Messiah seeks to restore the right standing relationship between God and man.
Where the enemy sought to destroy and kill, the Messiah seeks to restore the right standing relationship between God and man. Click To TweetJesus is bringing peace to the world and this peace, while hard fought, will last through out all eternity. At the beginning of creation, God and man walked in harmony and peace with one another in the garden of Eden. As sin was introduced, that connection was severed between the two. When Christ came and when he returns, Jesus will bring that peace with Him. The assault on our eternal security will be vanquished and we will receive peace. It is the hand of God that gives us peace and it is the hand of God that returns us to our right standing with Him.
This is His Advent. He is our Prince of Peace.
