For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)
In the temple at Jerusalem was an area known as the Outer or Lower Court. It was also called the Court of the Gentiles. Everyone was welcome to enter this court. It was in this court that animals were sold for sacrifices and the moneychangers desecrated the temple. The enclosure to the temple proper was on a terrace about 10 feet above the Court of the Gentiles and had six steps leading up to it. Surrounding the enclosure was a wall about 5 feet high that was designed to shut out the Gentiles. Engraved on the wall in Latin, Greek and Hebrew were warnings to the Gentiles to come no further or suffer the penalty of death. (Manners and Customs of the Bible)
It was this wall that Paul most likely had in mind when he wrote, But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. (Ephesians 2:13-17 ESV) Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, preached peace, made peace and is peace.
Jesus preached peace. But, you might say, he saidthat he didn’t come to bring peace but a sword (Matthew 10:34). The peace Jesus is speaking of here is a false peace, a peace with no conflict. The peace Jesus preached is a peace in the midst of conflict. He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 ESV) “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV)
Jesus made peace. In the Ephesians passage above, Paul is speaking of the hostility between Jew and Gentile; however, because of sin there is a wall of hostility between God and man (Romans 8:7). Man abides under the fury of God’s wrath with only a fearful expectation of judgment (Hebrews 10:27). Jesus provided a remedy for all those who believe in him, by offering his flesh as a sacrifice for sin. He made peace by the blood of his cross, satisfying God’s wrath (Colossians 1:20). Paul wrote, Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1 ESV) It is by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone that we have peace with God.
Jesus is peace. He is the Prince of Peace. You may have seen the bumper stickers that read “No Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus, know peace.” To those who know Christ he is safety and welfare because he still calms the storms (Mark 4:39). He has become prosperity because he is their treasure and inheritance (Matthew 13:44; Ephesians 1:11). He has become rest because he has set them at one with God (Isaiah 26:3; Matthew 11:28). Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love. (2 John 1:3 ESV) FOREVER!
Are you at peace with God? Have you trusted in the Prince of Peace?
Scriptures for meditation:
Romans 15:12-13