This is the fourth in a series of posts on the prophesied names of Jesus. The others: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and Everlasting Father are helpful in fulling understanding who Jesus is for believers today.
Isaiah 9:6 “…and his name shall be called…The Prince of Peace.”
Prince of Peace
For me, this is one of the more comforting names that Jesus is called. In John 14:27 Jesus told His disciples that He was leaving His “peace” with them. The world really doesn’t have a peace. But the peace that God has through Jesus the Prince of Peace passes or transcends all of our “human understanding” and it will keep our hearts or guard, protect, and prevent our hearts from invasion with the troubles and turmoil of the world. That is what Jesus, as the Prince of Peace, will do for you and me.
Prince
The Hebrew word for “Prince” is also translated as captain, chief, ruler, governor, and keeper. The people of Isaiah’s day would have understood that a Prince was the leader of a kingdom or group of people. Jesus is the ruler or keeper of peace. He is the leader of a people of peace. Ephesians 2:14 tells us that “he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, but which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to those who were far away and to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”
As the Prince of Peace, what has Jesus done?
- He’s given us His peace (John 14:27). It isn’t the world’s peace but it is a divine and heavenly peace.
- He has made it possible for us to have peace with God (Romans 5:1). God isn’t mad at you!
- He has filled us with a “Spirit of peace” through the fruit of the Spirit that we bear as God’s children (Galatians 5:22).
- There is no “hostility” and “division” between people groups (Ephesians 2:14)
- His peace gave us access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18)
The Hebrew word for “peace” is “shalom” and in the Old Testament it often referred to the times of peace between nations and groups of people when there wasn’t any hostility. As our Prince of Peace there is no more hostility between us and God, or us and others. It is time for believers to begin to live at peace with others. At the birth of Jesus, The Prince of Peace, a multitude of “heavenly hosts” appeared and were praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and good will to men.”
Have you found the Prince of Peace in your life? How does it comfort you to know Jesus is the Prince of Peace?
— Keith Fife
Other posts in this series:
His Name Shall Be Called…Wonderful Counselor
His Name Shall Be Called…Mighty God
His Name Shall Be Called…Everlasting Father
His Name Shall Be Called…Immanuel
His Name Shall Be Called…Jesus
Podcast: His Name Shall Be Called… (Length 30 min.)
Wonderful sermon of praise and adoration. Peace is the hope of the world and Jesus is our Peace. Peace is more than the absence of war. It is a positive power for blessings,healing and deliverance.
The turmoil that is in the hearts and lives of men has never been on display more than in this time of internet social media. People find a jillion issues to divide over and enter into conflict with each other. I’ve often taken comfort in our Lord’s demonstration of His power as Prince of Peace in the story of Him calming the raging sea with His words “Peace be still”! Glory to God we can “be of good cheer” for He has truly overcome this world and all it’s turmoil. That we can have this peace is a wonderful thought! Cheery Christmas!