Of all the prophecies
which foretold the coming of Christ, none is more familiar or more loved
than the first seven verses of Isaiah 9.The great darkness that settled
over Judah and Israel at this time was typical of the night of sin which
would be over the same land at the time of the coming of the Messiah. Out
of this gloom the prophet foresaw the coming of One who would bring both
light and victory over the "land of the shadow of death." The
prophet pictures one of the most beautiful scenes of the person and work
of Christ that we have in the scriptures 700 years before Christ's birth.
Nowhere is the person and work of
Christ more apparent than in array of names which Isaiah uses to describe
Christ. "Wondeful" suggest the many wonderful things
concerning His birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension. "Counsellor"
brings to mind the matchless instruction which he uttered, preserved in
the Gospels "The Mighty God" reveals His duty as the Son
of God and equal with God. That He had the might of God was demonstrated
by his power over demons, nature, disease, and death. "The
Everlasting Father" tells us He was from everlasting to
everlasting.
Then follows the name "The
Prince of Peace." It forecast the message of the angels at
Christ's birth, "On earth peace, good will toward men." This
title tells the peaceable nature of Christ and His kingdom. His gospel is
that of peace, requiring His disciples to be at peace. The Prince of Peace
has come.
To most of the world Jesus is still
a stranger as the Prince of Peace. Although foretold concerning him so
many years before, expressed so clearly at his birth, taught so pointedly
during His life, and demonstrated so dramatically in His death, Christ, as
the Prince of Peace seems vague.
At Christ's birth all heaven let
earth know that Christ came and His coming was to bring peace---peace in
the heart and peace between persons and nations. "Peace on
earth" was the angels' refrain. Zacharias filled with the Holy
Spirit, prophesied concerning Christ's coming that Christ is sent "to
give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to
guide our feet into the way of peace(Luke 1:79).
During Christ's life He taught peace
and called His disciples to this way. The Sermon on the Mount refers to
the essence of Jesus' teachings. The truths taught here are nearly all
repeated later in our portion of the New Testament. We know the spirit and
truth which pervades the Beatitudes. "Blessed are the poor in
Spiri(not the proud)." "Blessed are the the mee(not the
arrogant)." "Blessed are the peacemakers..."
So the search for peace is as old as
man. In John 14:27---Jesus said to His disciples.."Peace I leave with
you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Peace results from a right
relationship to God. We cannot have peace with a wrong relationship to
God. Our relation to others determines our relationship to God. God
promises us a threefold peace---with Himself, with ourselves, and with
others. True peace follows in that order. When at peace with God, we can
be at peace with ourselves. Only then can we be at peace with others. If
we fight against God we cannot experience peace.
The scriptures says peace is
possible. But not the kind of peace man provides; not the peace pursued at
peace tables. It is not a negotiated peace. This peace is God's own peace,
shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
This peace of God must, first of
all, be peace with God. Unless our relationship with God is right, no
peace is possible. Second, the peace of God is peace with ourselves. As
long as we are torn by conflicting or contending loyalties there can be no
peace. Only as we settle the supreme loyalty can we have peace within.
Then it is peace with others. We cannot claim to have peace with God and
be at odds with others.
God provides peace with Him through
Christ, who took the penalty of our sin; peace with ourselves because He
cleanses us from a guilty conscience; and peace with others, for God in
Christ breaks down the walls which separates.