3 truths that help us rejoice in the gift of peace
I. Understand Peace According to the Bible
A. Peace between men = The end of a conflict between people and groups
B. Peace between man and nature = The end of conflict with nature
Isaiah 11:6-9 - And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
C. Peace within ourselves = The end of the conflict inside of us
Isaiah 26:3 - The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
II. Acknowledge that All of Our Conflict Comes from Our War with God
A. Sin brought conflict with God
Isaiah 59:2 - But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
B. Sin brought conflict into their own souls
Genesis 3:7 - Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.
C. Sin brought conflict with creation
Isaiah 1:7 - Your land is desolate, your cities are burned with fire, your fields – strangers are devouring them in your presence; It is desolation, as overthrown by strangers.
D. Sin brought conflict with each other
Isaiah 59:6b-8 - Their works are works of iniquity, and an act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they hasten to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, devastation and destruction are in their highways. They do not know the way of peace, and there is no justice in their tracks; They have made their paths crooked, whoever treads on them does not know peace.
III. Trust in the Prince of Peace Who Makes Peace for You
A. Admit that you cannot fix the brokenness yourself
Isaiah 48:22 - “There is no peace for the wicked,” says the LORD.
Isaiah 48:18 - “If only you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your well-being would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
B. Believe that Jesus is the Prince of Peace AND suffering Servant who came to make peace for sinners
Luke 2:13-14 - And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Isaiah 9:6 - For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Matthew 8:17 - This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.”
1 Peter 2:23-24 - …and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5 - Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being [peace] fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.
C. Enjoy peace with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
Romans 5:1 - Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…
This morning we finishing up our Christmas series that we started at the beginning of this month called Light of the World.
The reason we have called this series the Light of the World, is because of the main text we’ve been studying from Isaiah 9:1–7.
Isaiah 9:2 says,
The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.
Well, in the context we understand that the light that shines on the people who are in darkness is the prophecy of v.6 which says,
Isaiah 9:6 (NASB 95)
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
So the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Eternal Father and the Prince of Peace is the light of the World that has show into the darkness that we celebrate at Christmas.
We’ve studied 3 of the 4 titles in v.6 which leaves the 4th title for our study this morning—the Prince of Peace.
We are going to focus are time on 3 truths that help us rejoice in the gift of peace, that only comes through the Prince of Peace. But in order to do that, part of the task this morning is to first ask the question, “What is peace according to the Bible?”
And that’s important that we ask what peace is according to the Bible, because the Bible’s definition of peace is probably much different than the world’s definition of peace.
A verse that just makes that so plain that will come up later in the sermon this morning is John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
You see, the world has a kind of peace, and an idea of what peace is but it’s not what God calls peace. If we want to follow Christ, then we need to know what Jesus says peace is. If we don’t know what peace is, then how could we obey God’s commandments that we pursue peace?
Hebrews 12:14 (NASB 95)
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
- - That verse makes it plain that to not pursue peace means that we won’t see the Lord...in other words we won’t be in heaven!
Similarly Romans 12:18 says...
Romans 12:18 (NASB 95)
If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
- - Again, it’s pretty clear that pursuing peace is commanded of believers.
Then of course you have Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:9...
Matthew 5:9 (NASB 95)
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
- - The implication from that verses seems to be pretty clear like Hebrews 12:14...those that make peace are genuine believers.
- - To be a Christian means to pursue peace.
So understanding what peace is, is critical to us obey God and living out what we are called to be as Christians. It’s not optional...
So hopefully, I’ve sufficiently perked your interest to Understand Peace According to the Bible.
I. Understand Peace according to the Bible.
On the surface this may seem like a rather mundane or boring endeavor...but I just want to encourage you to really stick with me...I don’t want people walking away this morning saying, “Pastor Greg said that peace is fill in the blank....I want people walking away saying, “The Bible says that peace is then fill in the blank with what we see from Scripture this morning.
Peace between men = The end of a conflict between people and groups
So the first aspect of peace according to the Bible is Peace between men....peace between people, which means the end of conflict between people, groups and nations.
- - Deuteronomy 20:10 is just one verse where I get that definition from...
Deuteronomy 20:10 (NASB 95)
10 “When you approach a city to fight against it, you shall offer it terms of peace.
So based on this verse we see that peace is the alternative to war...it’s the alternative to fighting and conflict.
Psalm 120:6–7 (NASB 95)
6 Too long has my soul had its dwelling With those who hate peace. 7 I am for peace, but when I speak, They are for war.
Again we see the same thing in this passage. The Psalmist wants peace, but the people around him don’t want peace they want war. They want conflict. They want to fight.
Now, the end of conflict between people is not the only kind of peace described in the Bible. The Bible also talks about...
Peace between man and nature = The end of conflict with nature
Isaiah 11:6–9 (NASB 95)
6 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. 7 Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. 9 They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.
Can you imagine that kind of peace? Where nothing in nature hurts or destroys or attacks anymore?
For those of us with really, really light, pale skin...like my wife...well, yes and me...can you imagine what it will be like to not be at war with the sun!
- - You won’t have to put on the liquid armor of SPF 100 to not get cooked!
Ezekiel 34:25 (NASB 95)
25 “I will make a covenant of peace with them and eliminate harmful beasts from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.
- - I don’t know when people started proposing the idea seriously in Indiana, but you may have heard about the proposal to reintroduce wolves back into nature?
- - So instead of enjoying the howling of wolves at wolf park where you are safely on the other side of the fence, they want to introduce them into the wilderness again...into the woods!
For the most part we live pretty securely and aren’t too concerned about going into the woods because a wild animal is going to tear us or our children to shreds!
But we still deal with things like ticks, poison ivy, mosquitos and harsh weather...
Isaiah 55:12–13 (NASB 95)
12 “For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace... 13 “Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, And instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up...
You see, even the conflict with my skin and nature will be over...no more splinters or thorns!
Well, full orbed peace according to the Bible isn’t just the end of conflict between people, but also the end of conflict between us and nature!
Now as amazing and glorious as that would be, to have no conflicts with other people and have no conflict with nature at all...I want you to really think about whether or not that would then mean we’d finally be at peace...
Just imagine there is no conflict between you and your spouse, you agree about everything! You and your kids are in perfect harmony. There isn’t any frustration or problem with any people at work or school or anywhere. And the weather is perfect, and there isn’t any physical pain because gravity is weighing you down, or you had an allergic reaction to food or particles in the air...so essentially everything external is perfect...would that mean that you would finally be at perfect peace?
- - I think initially we’d say yes...but I don’t think it’s hard to prove that even if everything external was in it’s right place and at peace we still have the problem that is inside of us...
One of the dominant ways the Bible speaks about peace is...
Peace within ourselves = The end of the conflict inside of us
If you’re looking to do some reading of the Christmas Break or looking to fill out your reading list for 2024, I’d encourage you to consider 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You. It’s a very easy read, very insightful and I think for most believers they would really benefit in the relationship with the Lord from this.
But in the first chapter which he titled, “Addicted to Distraction”, the author Tony Reinke says this about digital distractions:
...we use digital distractions to keep thoughts of eternity away. Perhaps most subtly, we find it easy to fall into the trap of digital distractions because, in the most alluring new apps, we find a welcome escape from our truest, rawest, and most honest self-perceptions. This was the insight of seventeenth-century Christian, mathematician, and proverb-making sage Blaise Pascal. When observing distracted souls of his own day (not unlike those of our time), he noticed that if you “take away their diversion, you will see them dried up with weariness,” because it is to be ushered into unhappiness “as soon as we are reduced to thinking of self, and have no diversion.”[1]
He goes on to say to quote Pascal again saying...
“I have discovered that all the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber.”[2]
Here’s the point...the conflicts between people destroy peace...the conflicts in nature destroy peace...but an even deeper level of conflict comes from within our own souls!
I’m sure we all can give testimony to the anxiety, and shame and guilt, and confusion and turmoil and indecision and regret and panic that is within it us. And it’s not due to someone trying to kill us, or someone who doesn’t like us. It’s not due to health or the fear of a snake bite!
It’s what Pascal was describing...all unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber. The conflict and war is within themselves!
Praise the Lord, that according to the Bible, peace within ourselves is part of the biblical reality of peace.
Isaiah 26:3 (NASB 95)
3 “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.
John 14:27 (NASB 95)
27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
Jesus...the prophesied Prince of Peace of Isaiah 9:6...he gives his peace to us so that our hearts...our souls...internally we can have peace!
So just to recap what we’ve seen from Scripture so far is that peace involves
- the absence of conflict with other people—in your family, in your work place, your neighborhood, the nation and the world!
- The absence of conflict between nature and myself—no more disease, no more tornadoes, or earthquakes or death.
- The absence of any conflict within your own heart and mind—guilt free, shame free, regret free, anxiety free...PERFECT PEACE!
That’s full orbed peace according to Scripture. That kind of peace is so awesome, and so big and amazing!
- - Isaiah 9:7 describes the breadth of that peace...
Isaiah 9:7 (NASB 95)
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.
- - The breadth is over all creation...there will be no end to the increase of his government of peace...
- - And it’s breadth reaches across all time...the peace will go forever and ever!
Now, I don’t know about you but it’s hard for my imagination to grasp the reality of that kind of peace, because when I look around I see conflict and war and unrest and brokenness EVERYWHERE!
So that really begs the question, why is the world so engulfed in conflict? Praise the Lord, Scripture clearly answers that question as well...so the 2nd truth to help us rejoice in the gift of peace is to...
II. Acknowledge that all of our conflict comes from our war with God.
Now, I’m fairly certain that there are people that are here this morning that have never heard anything like this before. So I want to encourage you, to hear the words of Scripture and not to just check out.
According to scripture...sin brough conflict with God.
Sin brought conflict with God
Isaiah 59:2 (NASB 95)
2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
That verse makes it clear that it’s not just sin outside of us...it’s not just the sin of others that brought a conflict with God...it’s my own sin that brings conflict with God.
This conflict with God is as old as sin itself. Your probably familiar with the story of Adam and Eve and how they disobeyed God and ate from the tree that God commanded them not to eat. Well, as soon as they ate of the tree of which they were commanded not to eat the conflict with God began.
Genesis 3:8 (NASB 95)
8 They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
- - Why did they run from God? Because the peace with God was broken and now there was conflict and war with God.
They used to walk with God and delight in his presence! But as soon as they disobeyed...just like Isaiah 59:2 said, “[their] iniquities made a separation between them and God”.
And because of that conflict with God, out of that conflict came every other conflict!
Sin brought conflict into their own souls
Genesis 3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.
It’s stunning how quickly everything broke due to sin! Immediately upon disobeying God the internal peace they enjoyed was destroyed and they rushed to cover up their guilt and shame by covering their bodies.
God asked them in Gen. 3:11...”who told you that you were naked?”
- - That’s a very interesting question...because it’s not like it was a secret that they didn’t have clothes on...
- o But the point is, they were so free of any hint or thought of self-consciousness because who God created them to be and what they were, was in perfect harmony.
Well, that’s a far cry from where we are today. We can barely get through anything were other people are around without some kind of self-conscious discomfort.
- - For instance, even in taking a seat in the auditorium it’s probably hard to do that without any thought of am I sitting too close to those people, am I taking someone’s seat, if I’m too far up in the auditorium will it look like I’m too spiritual, if I’m too far back am I not spiritual enough, if someone is right in front of me will they hear my voice when I sing and probably an endless myriad of concerns of similar nature that show how self-conscious we are about such insignificant things.
Why? Because the conflict with God, brought the conflict within our own souls.
That conflict with God also brought the conflict with creation...
Sin brought conflict with creation
When God cursed the world in Genesis 3, he cursed the creation...
Genesis 3:16 (NASB 95)
16 To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children...
Genesis 3:17 (NASB 95)
17 Then to Adam He said, ... Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life.
Isaiah 1:7 (NASB 95)
7 Your land is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire, Your fields—strangers are devouring them in your presence; It is desolation, as overthrown by strangers.
Not only was their own internal peace destroyed, but their peace with creation was destroyed, and it also destroyed the peace they had between each other.
Sin brought conflict with each other
As soon as sin entered the world they began fighting and blaming each other...
God asked Adam did you eat of the fruit of the tree of the garden...which according to Genesis 2:17, the penalty for eating of the tree was death.
- - And in response to God asking Adam if he ate of the tree, he says, “The woman you gave me, she gave me the fruit...
Perhaps a good way to think of what he just did there was say, “Hey, it’s her fault. If someone is going to die for this, then kill her! She’s to blame!”
I think we understand what blame shifting is, but I think sometimes we can miss the severity of Adam trying to pass the blame here...the penalty was death and we pass blame because we want to absolve ourselves of guilt and consequences...
Adam offers up his wife to die without even hesitating!
Don’t let the familiarity of Genesis 3 cause you to miss how quickly and how utterly destroyed the peace they had between themselves was broken, when they sinned against God!
- - As soon as they sinned against God, they were ready to sin against each other!
- - Conflict with God brought conflict with each other!
Isaiah 59:6b–8 (NASB 95)
6... Their works are works of iniquity, And an act of violence is in their hands. 7 Their feet run to evil, And they hasten to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, Devastation and destruction are in their highways. 8 They do not know the way of peace, And there is no justice in their tracks; They have made their paths crooked, Whoever treads on them does not know peace.
Oh, how familiar conflict is to us...
Those are strong words in Isaiah 59, that I think we want to distance from ourselves...but how early that heart of iniquity is seen in us...
- - How easy it is to see even at 2 years old!
- - The acts of violence in the hands of a 2-year-old to bring destruction to his siblings Lego tower or to push another child off of their seat just because!
Or how quickly we do run—metaphorically speaking—to evil...so often our electronic devices digitally, at warp speed, take us to evil...
- - Whether that’s taking us to indulge in sexual immorality...
- - Or whether it’s taking us to gossip and delighting in the destruction and downfall of others
- - Or maybe it’s us joining in the slander and anger and spewing venom on others online.
Why is the path of war, and evil and conflict so familiar to us? It’s because our iniquities have put us at war with God. All of this conflict comes from our conflict with God.
And the answer to all this conflict rests in being able to make peace with God. And the good news is that God invites us to trust in the Prince of Peace who makes peace for you.
III. Trust in the Prince of Peace who Makes Peace for you.
But where trusting in the Prince of Peace begins is by admitting that you cannot do anything in your own power to fix the brokenness yourself.
Admit that you cannot fix the brokenness yourself.
Isaiah 48:22 (NASB 95)
22 “There is no peace for the wicked,” says the LORD.
Isaiah actually repeats that verse 3 times. There is no peace for the wicked. “Wicked” is a strong word. But our disobedience and sin against God makes us wicked. So the answer of Isaiah is very clear...can we achieve peace on our own? No....there is no peace for the wicked...
It doesn’t say, “Well only the REALLY wicked have no peace.” If we fall in the category of wicked, then we cannot achieve peace on our own.
Isaiah 48:18 (NASB 95)
18 “If only you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your well-being [peace] would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
This is why the Christmas story is so important. We didn’t pay attention to his commandments. There are consequences to our sin that we are absolutely powerless to solve on our own!
If there is nothing that we can do on our own, and there is NO peace for the wicked then what are we to do? This is the good news of the gospel...this is the amazing gift of Christmas!
Believe that Jesus is the Prince of Peace AND suffering servant who came to make peace for sinners.
Now, the connection between Jesus and the Prince of Peace is probably more clear than the connection of Jesus and the suffering servant. So if that doesn’t make total sense at this point, that’s okay I’m going to connect the dots for you in just a moment.
But first, the connect of Jesus as the prophesied Prince of Peace is made clear in Luke’s account of Christ’s birth.
Luke 2:13–14 (NASB 95)
13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
This is the announcement of the angels to the Shepherds that unto them this day a Savior, the Christ, the Lord has been born and that the sign to them would be they would find “a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
And then after that announcement comes the multitudes of angels praising God saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Peace on earth is part of the announcement of Christ’s birth because he is the child that was prophesied...
Isaiah 9:6 (NASB 95)
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There is to be peace on earth because the Prince of Peace has been born!
But what we’ve already seen this morning is that all of the conflict and lack of peace that we have in the world comes from our conflict with God. Unless that conflict with God can be removed, then God’s promise in Isaiah 48:22 will stand...“There is no peace for the wicked.”
So how can our conflict with God be resolved?
How can Jesus the Prince of Peace who is the rightful King to the throne of David actually be good news to us?
- - If there is all sorts of gang violence and drugs and so forth in your neighborhood, the police can come in and arrest people and clean up the neighborhood of wicked people who are breaking the peace.
- - The point being, peace can come by removing the wicked people.
So how is it, that Jesus—the Prince of Peace—is actually good news to us? Him coming to reign might bring about peace, but it might be through the destruction and removal of wicked people which is us!
Ever since Genesis 3 when sin entered the world everyone is born into sin!
Paul makes this so clear in Romans 3:9–20.
He says,
Romans 3:9–20 (NASB 95)
9 ... both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” 13 “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,” “THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”; 14 “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”; 15 “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, 16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, 17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.” 18 “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”
That’s talking about EVERYBODY! So how can Christ’s birth bring the announcement of “Peace on earth?”
And that’s where the connection of Jesus as the Suffering Servant becomes so very important.
Isaiah prophesies about a Suffering Servant in last part of the book. There are various Servant Songs that show up in Isaiah 40–53. They are somewhat mysterious because at the time of Isaiah’s writing it wasn’t fully clear who this Servant was...
But the NT fills out who that Servant was, and why that Servant’s suffering was so critical.
Matthew 8:17 (NASB 95)
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.”
- - Jesus’ ministry of healing the sick was part of the fulfillment of what Isaiah prophesied about the Suffering Servant.
- - Matthew quotes part of Isaiah 53:4 to show that his miracles were part of him fulfilling the prophecies about the suffering servant.
- - And in Jesus healing the people’s diseases, we see a clear connection between the Suffering Servant and the Prince of Peace who ends the conflict between our bodies and nature.
- - The role of Prince and Peace and the Suffering Servant are crucially linked...
Peter also sees Jesus as the fulfillment of the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 when he writes...
1 Peter 2:23–24 (NASB 95)
23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
The wounds of Jesus obviously describe his crucifixion. And those wounds heal us. But they heal us from something much deeper than just physical ailments...they heal our sins.
Isaiah 53:4–5 (NASB 95)
4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being [peace] fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
v.4 seems to put it so lightly saying, we esteemed him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted...let me try and make that more clear...
Luke 19:42 records Jesus’ words of lament over the city of Jerusalem just days before he would be crucified...he said...
Luke 19:42 (NASB 95)
42 “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes.
Jesus, the Prince of Peace, came to this world with terms of peace for his people Israel, and for his creatures and instead of accepting his terms of peace they killed him!
- - Oh, I pray and hope that no one here would remain and continue among the number of people that refused Jesus’ terms of peace!
But ironically, as Isaiah 53 makes clear, it was through being pierced, and being crushed, and being chastened and being scourged that he made PEACE for us...it was through Jesus’ crucifixion that terms of peace were made for our sins!
The Bible couldn’t be more clear, that Jesus didn’t go to the cross for his sins or iniquities, but he went to the cross to bear our sins and our iniquities!
Later in Isaiah 53:10, Isaiah explicitly states, that the suffering and death of the Suffering Servant—Jesus, was “the will of God.”
- - The point is, this wasn’t man’s doing. This wasn’t designed or achieved by human wisdom or power.
- - It’s as Isaiah 9:7 says right at the end, “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish it!”
Men, through their wickedness rejected Jesus the Prince of Peace, but it was actually through his suffering and death that the way of peace was made for those that would confess their sin and rebellion against God and trust in Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross for them!
So if Jesus, our Prince of Peace and Suffering Servant made peace for us through his death on the cross, then what is left for us?
To enjoy peace with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Enjoy peace with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
But if you’re here this morning and you’ve never acknowledged your sin, and rebellion against God...and you’ve never acknowledged that you are powerless to end the war between you God on your own, then I want to plead with you to let the word of God penetrate your heart and your soul...
- - Oh I pray that the word of God would soften your heart and open your eyes to see that the only hope and answer to all the conflict and brokenness in the world and especially the only hope to the conflict within your own soul is for you to make peace with God!
Romans 5:10
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son...
The Bible is clear, that our sin makes us an enemy of God, and the only way to end the war with God, is to by faith trust in Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross.
Simply through placing your faith in Jesus you can enjoy the blessing of Romans 5:1...
Romans 5:1 (NASB 95)
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
Christian friend, can I encourage you to rejoice in the gift of peace that the prince of peace has brought?
- - How easy it is to forget the preciousness of the gift that peace with God is!
- - How easy it is to forget that you didn’t accomplish peace with God by ANYTHING THAT YOU DID!
- - How easy it is to forget that peace with God is the most important peace to have.
- o Don’t get sucked into thinking political peace, or economic peace, or peace with the climate is the most important!
- o Peace will eventually come to all of that for those that have made peace with God through Jesus Christ simply by faith.
Isaiah 9:7 will be fulfilled, just like Isaiah 9:6 and the child being born was fulfilled. We are still waiting for the fulfillment of Isaiah 9:7, but those that have trusted in Jesus wait expectantly, excitedly, and tell others about the gift of peace that is available in Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 9:7 (NASB 95)
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.
[1] Tony Reinke, 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You (Wheaton: Crossway, 2017), 44.
[2] Reinke, 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You, 45.
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