Prince Of Peace Series

To us a child is born, to us a son is given... And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Jesus is the Prince of Peace. On the night of His birth, the angels announced that peace was coming to the earth.

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:10-14).

One of mankind’s greatest desires is to experience “peace on earth”:

• President John F. Kennedy declared, “...peace does not rest in the charters and covenants alone. It lies in the hearts and minds of all people. So let us not rest all our hopes on parchment and on paper, let us strive to build peace, a desire for peace, a willingness to work for peace in the hearts and minds of all our people. I believe we can. I believe the problems of human destiny are not beyond the reach of human beings.” Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. He died without seeing the goal of world peace accomplished.

• Guitarist Jimi Hendrix said, “When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will finally know peace.” Hendrix overdosed on sleeping pills and died on September 18, 1970. He died without the world finding peace through love.

• Musician John Lennon stated, “If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there’d be peace.” This year, Lennon’s handwritten lyrics to the song “Give Peace a Chance” sold at auction for $833,654. The song says, “All we are saying is give peace a chance.” It became the anthem of the anti-war movement in the seventies. Another song by Lennon says, “Imagine all the people living in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.” Lennon was murdered in New York City on December 8, 1980. He died without experiencing the peace he had imagined would come to earth.

I don’t need to tell you that “peace on earth” is still rare today:

• There is fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.

• There is genocide in Africa.

• There is terrorism in the Middle East.

• There is violence in our neighborhoods.

• There is discord in Parliament.

• There is conflict in our homes.

• There is anxiety in our hearts.

You might feel like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow when he wrote,

And in despair I bowed my head:

“There is no peace on earth,” I said,

“For hate is strong, and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.”

WILL THERE EVER BE “PEACE ON EARTH”?

One of the most shocking statement Jesus ever made is found in Luke 12:51: “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division” (cf. Matthew 10:34). The human race is divided because of the coming of Jesus into the world. Some choose to trust in Him; others choose to reject Him.

» Jesus Christ will bring peace to Israel and the world when He RETURNS.

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end (Isaiah 9:7a).

And he will be their peace (Micah 5:5a).

Peace is frequently mentioned in the book of Isaiah:

• “He will judge between nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Isaiah 2:4).

• “All the lands are at rest and at peace; they break into singing” (Isaiah 14:7).

• “The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever” (Isaiah 32:17).

• “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” (Isaiah 52:7).

One week before His crucifixion, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and the people shouted, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38). The people’s praise is reminiscent of the angels’ message in Luke 2:14. But Jesus knew that, in the end, He would be rejected. “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes’” (Luke 19:42). Because of Christ’s rejection, the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning peace on earth have been postponed until the Second Coming.