Lesson Four
Prince of Peace

“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

This verse contains the first of Isaiah’s 25 references to peace. It is an important topic to us. We tease about the typical beauty pageant answer concerning a goal or desire, “World Peace.” However, it is bigger than that. We want peace at church, work, school, neighborhood, home, and even within ourselves.

1. Where do you typically struggle to find peace?

Matthew Henry wrote, “Christ died. He left a will in which He gave His soul to His Father, His body to Joseph of Arimathea, His clothes to the soldiers, and His mother to John. But to His disciples, who had left all to follow Him, He left not silver or gold, but something far better – His PEACE!”

Jesus offers peace. Prepositions can be important. We need peace with, from, and of God.

Peace with God

It is crazy to realize, but we are born at war with God. As an infant, we have a sinful nature that encourages us to worship ourselves. We feed that desire throughout life striving to fill a void. That gap can only be filled by Jesus Christ. Yet, we fight the solution. We need and seek peace, but we ignore the “Prince of Peace.”

Jesus came to earth as a man, lived a perfect life, died for our sins, was buried, and rose again so that we could find peace. We can now have peace with God through Jesus Christ.

John MacArthur said, “God can work peace through us only if He has worked peace in us… Those who are in the best of circumstances but without God can never find peace, but those in the worst of circumstances but with God need never lack peace.”

2. Do you remember what your life was like before you gave your life to Jesus?

C.S. Lewis adds, “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” We can not have peace from God or the peace of God until we are at peace with God. Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” because He made the connection possible.

3. Do you see the world struggling for peace?

Dwight L. Moody pointed out, “A great many people are trying to make peace, but that has already been done. God has not left it for us to do; all we have to do is to enter into it.”

4. Where does the world strive to find peace aside from Jesus?
5. What does it mean to enter into the peace of God?

Romans 5:1 gives a great summary for this section, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We have peace with God through the “Prince of Peace.”

Peace from God

Once you have peace with God, you are open to the blessings that come with peace from God.

6. How is peace from God different than peace with God?

I regularly thought of peace with God (salvation) and peace of God (calmness during the storm) but did not acknowledge peace from God. One of Paul’s favorite greetings was a mixture of a Greek and Hebrew blessing, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:3). Paul likes to start his letters with this greeting (Romans 1:7; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4; Philemon 1:3). The Greek or Christian greeting emphasized grace while the Hebrew blessing was about peace.

7. Why would peace be such an important part of blessing someone?

There is turmoil in the world. We need peace. Warren Wiersbe said, “Real contentment must come from within. You and I cannot change or control the world around us, but we can change and control the world within us.” We must focus on the Lord. We must fix our eyes on Him. Peace comes from Him. He is the “Prince of Peace.”

I do not know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future!

8. What does this phrase mean to you?

F.B. Meyer gives some very practical advice, “As we pour out our bitterness, God pours in his peace.”

9. How can we “pour out our bitterness?”

Peace of God

Philippians 4:7 so beautifully says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I enjoy reading other translations of the center phrase:

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (KJV)

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

The peace of God “passeth, surpasses, and transcends” all understanding. It is hard to explain, and there is no logical explanation outside of the Prince of Peace.

10. What does peace of God mean to you?
11. When have you experienced the peace of God?

In his book, “Follow Me”, David Platt starts by saying, “I did what everyone expected me to do. I planted a megachurch. I wrote a bestseller. I started a college, planted other churches, and spoke at conferences. But there was a big problem: I lacked peace.”

12. Are you so busy “doing” that you are not being still and realizing that He is God?

Isaiah foretold that the “Prince of Peace” was coming. Luke 2:14 records a beautiful song that the angels sang at the Savior’s birth, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Jesus brought peace and is peace.

Ephesians 2:14 adds, “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.” Jesus is our peace.

13. How is Jesus our peace?
14. In his commentary, Robert Jamieson referred to Jesus as “The Tranquillizer.” Does this make sense or offend you?

Henry Blackaby admonished, “The Christian needs to walk in peace, so no matter what happens they will be able to bear witness to a watching world.” The world knows pain. People can relate to pain, anger, and complaining. They do not understand peace during the storm.

I found an acronym for PEACE that I thought was relevant: People Expressing A Christ Everlasting.

Mother Theresa gave some very basic advice, “Peace begins with a smile.”

15. How can we show peace in the world?
16. Where do you need to show peace?

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)