This is the fourth post in a four-part Advent series. Read last week’s post here.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” -Isaiah 9:6, emphasis added
For a nation facing destruction, war, and turmoil, the promise of peace must have been the hope Israel had been praying for. One day, a child would come to end the people’s distress and shelter them with a covering of peace.
But this peace would mean more than the cessation of conflict. It would mean restoration not just for one broken nation but for all people, to the ends of the Earth.
A Broken Peace
When the Lord gave Adam the breath of life, God and man had a perfect, unbroken relationship. There was nothing that came between them.
Then came the fall. Adam and Eve sinned, opening up a chasm and severing the perfect relationship with God. One act broke the shalom that man had with God.
Shalom—which is translated as “peace” throughout the Old Testament—is a Hebrew word that means completeness and wholeness. If something is broken, it is no longer whole—it is no longer in a state of shalom.
Sin causes brokenness, and with that brokenness comes a great price. Sin yields death (Romans 6:23), which is separation from God. Those who live by their sinful flesh will not inherit the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:21). Sin creates darkness, and the God of light cannot dwell in that darkness (1 John 1:5).
The nation of Israel knew all too well the weight of sin. The people desperately desired shalom, and God promised it was coming.
Prince of Shalom
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ … .” -Romans 5:1
It was through the Prince of Peace that God decided to restore shalom between Himself and mankind. By paying for the wages of sin, Jesus has reconciled those who accept His sacrifice to God. Our relationship with the Lord has been restored to wholeness if we choose Jesus’ offering of salvation.
Not only that but the separation between Jew and Gentile is eliminated because this free gift of shalom is available to all, creating peace and oneness even between people.
“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” -Ephesians 2:14-16
In response to this great gift, those who follow Christ are called to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9, James 3:18), commissioned to create unity in the Church and tell others about the peace Jesus offers. Share about the Prince of Peace this Christmas, how He has brought shalom to us through His death and resurrection. This wonderful, mighty, everlasting Prince is why believers can rejoice in this advent season.
“Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” -Isaiah 9:7