Jesus Is The Prince Of Peace

Alba 1-2-2022

PRINCE OF PEACE

Isaiah 9:6

We live in a world that is unable to stay at peace. We hope for it every new year. But every year disappoints, fulfilling our Lord's words that there will always be wars and rumors of war.

Yet, there was in history a moment when the promise of peace came forcefully and wonderfully. Luke chapter two records that moment, it says: 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

But think back with me how it was in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth. There wasn’t much that looked peaceful there. Streets crowded, businesses crowded, everyone in a hurry. Sound familiar?

I don't know if one can experience “road rage” when driving a donkey or a camel, but I would think it might be worse than from inside a vehicle! The people you shout at might actually hear you!

Bethlehem was full of strangers due to a census imposed by someone everyone hated. The out-of-towners hate being in Bethlehem, and the local folk hate all the traffic brought by the out-of-towners. And they both hate the Romans. Bethlehem is not a peaceful place.

Isaiah 59:8 states, The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. (NIV) These words could be said about Bethlehem in the time of Jesus. And about our world today.

Yet into this world has come the One described in Isaiah 9:6.

"For unto us a child is born, unto 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."

Today we will look at His name, the Prince of Peace. Both descriptions of Jesus, Prince, and Peace, have meaning. Lets examine them. First, Jesus is the...

2. Prince

In Hebrew the phrase Prince of Peace is “sar-shalom.” Say that out loud with me: “Sar-shalom.” Jesus is the sar-shalom.

“Sar” is the word for prince. Normally when we think of a prince, we think of the son of a king. But that’s not what this word is designed to make us think.

This word, Sar, literally means Head Person, the Captain, Governor, or Prince. It refers to the man in charge. The go-to guy.

I have read that a prince was usually more involved in the affairs of a country than the king. The king sat on his throne signing orders, while the prince, the sar, was out in the trenches, governing the people.

The Romans had a very similar word for their ruler, he was called the “C-sar.” They had Julius Caesar, Caesar Augustus, Nero Caesar. That was their head guy.

And, until the Bolshevik Revolution, the Russians adopted the same title for their head of state. They called their ruler the, “czar.”

The word sar, or Prince, especially taken in context of Isaiah 9:6, implies that Jesus is THE supreme ruler, that He is royalty.

A prince commands respect. Jesus, our Prince, commands the greatest respect. He is to be held in the highest esteem. That means we are to submit to His authority under all conditions.

It means are to we honor Him and revere Him above all else, all the time. It means we are to bow before Him in humility and treat Him like the royalty He is. The question is, do we?

Jesus IS a Prince now. And there’s coming a day 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:10-11)

Jesus rules from a throne on high, and from that throne vast power is at His command. The government is on His shoulders, there is no higher government than Him. His word is above every word, His law above every law.

Everything bows down to Him. He has a Kingdom, a kingdom of unlimited wealth, power and glory. He is sovereign. There is no match to His power, there is no real competition. He is in complete control. Jesus is the Prince, the sar-shalom.

Yes, Sar is the word for Prince, and Shalom is the word for peace. Let's look at that word:

1. Peace

The Greek word in that verse is Eirene (from which we get the name, Irene) Is it really possible? Peace, I mean. Can we really have peace? Or is it just a dream that we cling to around the Christmas season and hope for in the New Year?

I read a story about a man who found himself on a train between two ladies. And unfortunately for him the two ladies were arguing constantly about whether the window should be open or shut.