A PRINCE THAT BRINGS PEACE

WHO IS THE PRINCE HERE?

Prince of peace here is none other than Jesus Christ whom Prophet Isaiah through the Holy Spirit was revealed to the manner of a Child that was to be born in the lineage of David.  In a triumphant song prophet Isaiah, rejoices as though the promised Child of the house of David has already been born. This is the real force of the Hebrew, and emphasizes the historical nature of the birth (Isa. 9:6-7) “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of host will perform this.” The Child’s birthright involves authority and rule, while His character is depicted in a typically oriental fashion by the use of names. As “Counselor,” He represents the sum of wisdom and knowledge see (Col. 2:2-3) “That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” while His divinity is established clearly by the title “Mighty God.” The fatherhood of the Messiah is eternal, which again demonstrates His identity with God. See (John 10:30) “I and My Father are One.”

CHRIST THE GOOD SHEPHERD

And His care for His people (John 10:11) “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” The shepherd’s profession was one on the most highly respected in antiquity. Placed in His custody was most of His employer’s material wealth, and a careless shepherd could therefore cause great loss to his master’s holdings. Good shepherds were devoted to their flocks, protecting them against all kinds of harm and even risking their own lives for the animals. Christ here gives the suggestion of His own substitutionary death on Calvary.  As Christ, the Good Shepherd knows His sheep by name, so He is known by the Father as the One who would die to save the lives of the flock. The voluntary self-offering of Christ pleased the Father because it accomplished God’s plan of human salvation. The Savior’s death was not final, like that of sacrificial animals, but was followed by a glorious resurrection (V. 17) “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.” Christ’s atonement for human sin was made freely, His death was under divine, not human control, and God brought victory from apparent defeat (V. 18) “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment I have received from My Father.”  Paul the Apostle added (Rom. 5:10) “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

CHRIST AS THE PEACEFUL PRINCE

Finally, as the “Prince of Peace” (or, better, “Peaceful Prince”) He seeks peace and brings it into the world by His atoning death on the cross, paying the price of human sin and reconciling us to God. And the lineage of David will be the means by which these blessings will come upon humanity, but the revealed character of the Son of David will guarantee their permanence as prophesied by prophet Isaiah.  And the psalmist declared (Ps. 135:13) “Your name, O Lord endures forever, Your fame, O Lord throughout all generations.” Christ’s name endures forever and His fame throughout all generations. For generations comes and goes. But Christ’s name is forever and gives peace to those who peace is due to them. Pursue peace beloved, and in return have peace!

A PRINCE THAT BRINGS PEACE

Zechariah anticipates the coming of the Prince of Peace thus (Zech. 9:9-10) “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; the battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.”  In a joyous outburst just like Isaiah, Zechariah proclaims a prophetic oracle in which he foresees the triumphant approach of the Messiah, Israel’s anointed Deliverer and King of the capital city of Zion. Originally this was the name of the escarpment between the Kidron and the Tyrooeon Valley of Jerusalem, but later was applied to the entire city. The great arrival is marked by great excitement as the King is seen to enter the city riding upon a young donkey. This fact identifies Him as the promised Peaceful Prince, because He is mounted on the usual work-animal of daily life and not upon a horse as a warlike overlord would be. His commission is to triumph in the hearts and lives of God’s people. Christ’s entry into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday fulfilled Zechariah’s prophecy. And because of that we have peace with God. Just as Isaiah stated in his epistle thus (Isa. 52:7) “How beautiful upon a mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

GOD’S PEACE GIVEN IN CHRIST

The glory of the latter Temple which represents Christ according to prophet Haggai (Hag. 1:9) ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.” After Jerusalem fell to the Chaldeans, the Temple became a symbol of hope for Israel. They hoped that by rebuilding the Temple, the life of the nation, their very existence, would be revitalized. Thus it became very important to God’s prophets after the Exile for the Temple which lay in ruins to be rebuilt. Haggai proclaimed this message. But he adds another aspect to the hope which Israel placed in a reconstructed Temple. He says the glory of the latter temple would be greater. That which lay ahead was greater than that which as behind them.  As Haggai’s prophecy anticipated during Christmas (the birth of Our Lord), we can see clearly why Haggai saw such glory in the future Temple. For it was on the restored Temple, the one restored by Zerubbabel and later by Herod, that the Prince of Peace was revealed.

This was proclaimed to all by the holy man Simeon, who met Mary and Joseph as they brought Jesus into the Temple after His birth (Luke 2:25-32) “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the Temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in His arms and blessed God and said: Lord now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples. A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the Glory of Your people Israel.”  Simeon had been waiting for the messianic promise of God to be fulfilled, the Consolation of Israel. Upon seeing the Baby Jesus, the Holy Spirit revealed to him that this very special Child was in truth the promised Messiah, the one who would bring peace. There was Anna also who saw Christ and glorified the Lord too for bringing redemption in Jerusalem (V. 36-38) “Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a window of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Israel.” For eighty-four years, Anna fasted and prayed for the salvation of Israel to be born and indeed shed did fulfill that assignment.  What joy Simeon and Anna felt at seeing the Glory of Israel? Their exclamation is for us a fitting benediction at Christmas indeed.  They were glad and joyful to depart in peace then; (V.29-32) “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the gory of Your people Israel.”

May the Lord give us strength, and bless us with His peace in this year 2022. Beloved be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and  minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).

“Grace to you and Favor of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with us all. Amen and Amen and Amen.”