Jesus Is the Prince of Peace

“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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

Isaiah 9:6-7

Introduction to Peace

  1. God has exalted His glorious Son Jesus to be a Prince for salvation (Acts 5:29-32; Revelation 1:4-5).
  2. He is specifically identified by divine prophecy as the Prince of Peace by God’s zeal (Isaiah 9:6-7).
  3. He is chiefly the Prince of Peace for the peace that He gave in Jerusalem by His death (Hag 2:1-9).
    1. The Desire of all Nations has come, for it is none other than the Lord Jesus at His first coming.
    2. Peace was made when Jesus died and opened the way to God (Matthew 27:51; John 19:30).
    3. The description and context prove it was at the first coming, and so did Paul (Heb 12:25-29).

Definition of Peace

  1. Peace. The absence of hostilities; the end of war; freedom from quarrels or dissension; the elimination of anger or enmity; a state of friendliness; concord, amity.
  2. Reconcile. To bring again into peace or friendly relations after an enstrangement.

Need for Peace

  1. The true God is a holy Being, Who will not tolerate enemies (Exodus 24:17; Lev 26:28; Deut 4:24; II Chron 34:24-25; Psalm 2:12; 5:5; 7:11; 18:7-8; 21:8-9; 76:7; 83:13-15; 130:3-4; Jer 10:10; Lam 4:11; Joel 2:11; Nahum 1:2-6; Mal 4:1; Matt 21:41-44; II Thess 1:7-9; Heb 10:26-31; 12:28-29).
  2. God in chastening anger afflicted Job, but He did not show His anger in full extremity (Job 35:15).
  3. God promised and executed great anger against His people Israel (Deut 28:15-68; 32:22-25).
  4. God saw man’s wickedness in Noah’s day and destroyed man and all living creatures (Gen 6:1-7).
  5. God will not allow the wicked to have any peace, here or hereafter (Isaiah 48:22; Rev 20:10-15).
  6. We are all spoiled from a true appreciation of peace, since we are so pampered here in our lives.
  7. Other religions have tried to make peace with God by human sacrifice, vows of celibacy, self-mutilation, vows of poverty, prayers for the dead, religious rituals, and so forth.

IDENTITY OF PEACE

  1. While Jesus is the Prince of Peace, He will not bring peace on earth with rebels (Matthew 10:35-36).
  2. While Jesus will make peace through His government and dominion of His enemies, yet this is not the kind of peace we need or seek (Isaiah 9:6-7; I Cor 15:24-25; Hebrews 10:12-13).
  3. While Jesus could easily bring peace to stormy seas (Mark 4:35-39) and afflicted lives (Mark 5:25-34), yet this is not the peace with God that we desperately need.
  4. How can this great God of wrath and vengeance be known as the God of peace (Romans 15:33; 16:20; II Cor 13:11; Phil 4:9; I Thess 5:23; II Thess 3:16; Hebrews 13:20-21)?
  5. Why is every epistle of the New Testament opened and/or closed with a blessing of peace (Romans 1:7; I Timothy 1:2; I Peter 1:1-2; Revelation 1:4; etc.)?

SOURCE OF PEACE

  1. The prophets told of the great reconciliation Christ would accomplish (Isaiah 53:5; Daniel 9:24).
  2. The angels pronounced peace on earth and good will toward men at His birth (Luke 2:14).
  3. Inspired disciples glorified Him as David’s Son and told of peace in heaven (Luke 19:38).
  4. His death on the cross by God’s wrath made peace (Eph 2:11-17; Col 1:16-20; Hebrews 2:17).
  5. While His death brought peace, His life also brings peace (Romans 5:1,10; 8:34; Hebrews 7:25).
  6. No surprise that Jesus was a Priest just like Melchisedec – King of Peace (Hebrews 7:1-3).

GLORY OF PEACE

  1. The glory of peace is in the contrast between Lazarus and a rich man in hellfire (Luke 16:20-25).
  2. The glory of peace is in the contrast between the obedient and disobedient (Romans 2:8-11).
  3. The glory of peace is in the beauty of even the feet of those who preach the gospel (Romans 10:15).
  4. The glory of peace is in the reception God will give the elect (Is 57:1-2; Matt 25:34; II Peter 1:11).

APPEAL OF PEACE

  1. God has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace; but have you reconciled yourself to Him, by laying aside all self-righteousness, works, guilt, sins, fear, pride, worthiness, and hopelessness, to lay hold of Him and eternal salvation by faith (II Corinthians 5:18-21)?
  2. Jesus wept over Jerusalem at their rejection of the peace He offered the city (Luke 19:41-44).
  3. Paul warned that the only confidence of peace with God you can believe is proved by perseverance in the faith grounded and settled (Col 1:21-23).