Prince of Peace

"For a child will be born to us ... and His name will be called ... Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

Shalom - meaning to be safe, well, happy, and friendly - abstractly refers to welfare (health, prosperity, and peace). The word, used as a greeting, expresses a desire for the other person to be well on many levels. People can wish peace and wellness for others, but only the Prince of Peace can actually accomplish that objective. As the highest ranking person in the realm of giving peace, Jesus has sufficient dominion, authority, and power to provide peace.

Jesus creates peace in individual hearts.
Jesus establishes peace with God for those who are saved. "And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:20). "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son" (Romans 5:10). "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

The peace Jesus gives believers supersedes all other peace, providing peace even in difficulty and tribulation. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you" (John 14:27). "And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Jesus provides peace with other people.
Although naturally people struggle to get along, God creates a bond of peace between believers and enables them to live in precious peace with each other. "So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another" (Romans 14:19). "Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3).

It is not as easy to maintain peace with non-believers, due to the fundamental division that exists. "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). However, a Christian still has the ability to enjoy peace instead of friction with family, friends, neighbors, and others. "Pursue peace with all men" (Hebrews 12:14). When Jesus enters the heart, relationships mend and improve.

Jesus facilitates peace within nations.
Entire nations can find peace in Jesus, which is what God intended for Israel. "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace!" (Luke 19:42). "The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ" (Acts 10:36).

Salvation through Jesus binds people across ethnic boundaries. "For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall ... so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body" (Ephesians 2:14-16). Peace can exist between Jew and Gentile. When Christianity has spread to new countries, rival ethnic groups have united in fellowship, and the aggression of war has lessened or ceased.

Jesus will establish peace in the world.
Jesus' millennial kingdom will bring the peace that the world has long sought. "But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain. ... I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron, you shall shatter them like earthenware" (Psalm 2:6,8-9). "And it will come about in the last days that the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established ... and He will judge between many peoples and render decisions for mighty, distant nations. Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they train for war" (Micah 4:1&3).

The extent of peace in that kingdom will be incredible. "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven ... and he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years" (Revelation 20:1-2). "The bow of war shall be cut off. And He will speak peace to the nations; and His dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth" (Zechariah 9:10). "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" (Isaiah 11:6-9).

Jesus will institute eternal peace.
The peace of heaven will be unmatched. "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth ... and there will no longer be heard in her the voice of weeping and the sound of crying" (Isaiah 65:17&19). And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain" (Revelation 21:4). This will be true and complete "Shalom" like man has never experienced before! "There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace" (Isaiah 9:7).

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men" (Luke 2:14).