Jesus, The Prince Of Peace

Luke 2:1-14

Jesus, The Prince of Peace

Woodlawn Baptist Church

December 9, 2001

Introduction

A. In current series dealing with the titles of Jesus, we have considered so far Jesus as the Son of man, and as the Son of God.

1. We saw that the title Son of man was a declaration of the deity of Jesus as well as a declaration of the humanity of Jesus, and then we saw some specific duties of Jesus as the Son of man, particularly dealing with his return to earth sometime in the future.

2. We saw that the title Son of God was a wonderful pronouncement from Gabriel of the majesty of this One who would be called Jesus: Jehovah saves. He would be great, the Son of the Highest, who would be given the throne of David and would rule over the house of Jacob forever.

B. Perhaps of all the things people think about though when the Christmas season roles around, peace is one of those most often mentioned. If you listen carefully you’ll hear many songs and sermons using this text to convey the idea that the birth of Jesus brought peace into the world.

C. I want peace.

1. I would like to know the peace of God in my marriage. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to experience a marriage without strife or heartache?

2. I would like to be at peace with my children. I would like to experience peace in my financial decisions.

3. I would like to have peace of mind at the end of the day knowing that I have lived my life rightly and usefully that day.

4. How about having peace in my thought life? James said, "Where do wars and fighting come from? Don’t they come from the lusts that war in your members?" In other words, our minds rage and war because of the lusts in them. Your mind wants one thing, and your body has a strong desire for it, but the Spirit of God tries to lead you in another direction, and because of the strong desire, there is warfare. I want the peace of God in those moments.

5. We want peace for our churches. Our nation wants peace. The people in Afghanistan would like some peace right about now.

6. And we always hear about world peace.

D. In Isaiah 9:6, we find the prophecy, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Jesus is that Prince of Peace.

E. With all this focus on the birth of Christ and peace at this time of year, I think it will be worth our time this morning to examine some truths concerning Jesus and peace.

I. The birth of Jesus did not bring peace. (14)

A. We hear the idea every year that the birth of Christ brought about peace, but it is a faulty notion. One only need to read the second chapter of Matthew to know the birth of Christ did not bring peace to the world. Verse 16 says, "Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men."

B. Not only does history prove that the birth of Christ did not bring peace, but the very words of Jesus Himself contradict the idea.

1. Jesus said in Matthew 10:34, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household."

2. He said in Luke 12:51, "Suppose ye that I am come to send peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division…" What was it that created division? - A sword, and specifically the Word of God. It is the Word of God that divides. It divides husbands and wives. It divides mothers and daughters, sons and fathers. It divides churches and even nations.

3. So, either there are a lot of preachers and singers who are wrong, or Jesus was a liar. Paul said in Romans 3:4, "…let God be true and every man a liar…" Jesus was not mistaken. He knew that it was not His birth that brought peace to the world. The exact opposite was true; His birth only brought division.