Written by Hayley Young

Around this time of year, we often here Jesus referred to as Prince of Peace, this coming from the
famous verse in Isaiah that are fervently read at Carol Services.

How would you define peace?

1. Some scholar said it is: “That brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around
   reloading.”
2. “The absence of conflict.”
3. “Peace is knowing that we may get to the point where we can do nothing else, but that our all-
   powerful God has no such limits.” (adapted from John MacArthur)

The second definition actually comes closer to getting it right.
We know that Jesus description of peace didn’t mean merely the absence of interpersonal conflict,
because conflict is a part of life.

The third definition is adapted from the definition that Dr. John MacArthur gave. “Peace is knowing
that we may get to the point where we can do nothing else, but that our all-powerful God has no
such limits.”

I like the perspective of Helen Keller, the American author and political activist, who wrote against
war in 1904, when she said, “I do not want the peace which passes understanding, I want the
understanding which brings peace.”

The reality is that the peace which surpasses understanding comes from understanding the truth
about God.

Peace is a major theme in the Bible. It appears more than 80 times and it occurs at least 1 time in
every one of the 39 books in the New Testament.

That brings us to the difficult question of whether it’s even possible to have peace in the world we
live in. Many people would say that it is not. It’s only as we examine the perspective of God’s word
that we come to understand how that peace is not only possible but should be normal in the life of
the person who has the Spirit filled life inside.

To properly understand peace, we need to understand where true peace comes from. Jesus being
referred to as the Prince of Peace informs us that peace ultimately comes from God not from us.
The Hebrew concept of shalom is much more positive than merely the absence of conflict. It speaks
of wholeness and well-being that includes our relationship with God and loving harmony with
others. Paul spoke of both “peace with God,” because we were justified by faith and “the peace of
God,” which goes beyond human understanding (Romans 5:1)

In Greek the word peace means harmony, or every kind of good.

Joy, gratification, pleasure, favour, acceptance, every kind of good.

The Greek word for Peace is interesting; there is one future use of it in the New Testament otherwise every other use of the word in the scriptures is about the present; about today.

So this word, there is one mention of it for people someday in the future, peace someday otherwise
every single use of the word is about us experiencing peace, right here, right now.

Joy, gratification, pleasure, favour, acceptance, every kind of good.

Peace is there a better idea, a move favourable notion?

I don’t know about you but I need peace. I need people to speak peace to me; I need to hear it; I
need to be reminded of it – especially at this time of the year.

We speak peace because is there anything more powerful.

What would it be like to know Jesus as our Prince of Peace?

It would radically transform so many of our encounters and relationships.

Jesus will go onto say: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world
gives Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

It doesn’t take too much study to see that peace was important to Jesus. However, upon closer
examination the source of the peace Jesus was speaking about comes from God Himself. As Jesus is
the Prince of Peace then God must be the Author of Peace.

Jesus described the peace He was talking about as, “My Peace.”

In other words, the peace He wanted them to have was the same peace He depended upon during
the most difficult moments of His life. What He taught them here wasn’t based upon theory, it came
out of the challenge He was facing at the very moment He challenged them with it.

Jesus wasn’t the only person in the Bible who illustrated peace like this. There are many examples of
peace in scripture, for example: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace
Also, in the New Testament Peter in the book of Acts, King Herod had already killed the Apostle
James & everyone knew it was the night before Peter was scheduled to become a martyr. He was
chained between 2 guards asleep: how many prisoners do you suppose sleep well the night before
their execution?

I believe true peace: the peace that Jesus births in us this season is complicated and simple all at the
same time. It is involves more than most people think as well as less than they think.
What does peace look like right here, right now?

We remember in this Advent season that Jesus brings us Peace: wholeness, well-being, joy,
gratification, pleasure, favour, acceptance, every kind of good.

Peace is there a better idea, a move favourable notion?

---

Hayley Young is a Regional Minister with the South Wales Baptist Association and Minister of Rumney Baptist Church.

This post is part of an advent series. Twenty-Four diverse voices have been invited to share some thoughts on one of four themes (Hope, Peace, Joy and Love) each day during the season of Advent. Each contributor has been given just one theme and no further parameters – they may write as much or as little in the style of their own choosing.

If you haven’t done so already Sign up for reflections direct to your inbox.*

*After 24th December 2020 you will continue to receive the latest blog posts from thebrokenchurch.net, you can unsubscribe at any time following the link at the end of your email.