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

Christmas is the season of gifts. Material things are given and received, new traditions are born and continued, and our hearts yearn for this jolly time of year. But who can give a greater gift than the one who was, and is, and is to come?

Isaiah’s prophecy gives us a clear insight on who Jesus is and what His rule on earth would look like. Jesus is the opposite of what other earthly rulers looked like in both his stature and character. While other earthly rulers governed by fear, strength, and terror, Jesus’ governance would incorporate tenderness, love, and kindness. His rule would not be that of a begrudging son, eager to make his name known and best his father. Instead, his rule was that of a loving son, eager to continue and advance his Father’s kingdom.

Jesus, God in the flesh, is also the Son of God. His familial belonging is that of a son to his Father. This relationship is a powerful one, as fathers take great pride in their sons and their sons yearn to be like their father. The beauty of God the Father and God the Son’s relationship is that while Jesus is the Son of God, He also is God. This mysterious triune God we worship has chosen to reveal Himself to us in the flesh by being born in the complete likeness of Himself because He is God. And he chose to do this by giving us His Son.

It is the most beautiful revelation we have to know that our God dwelt among us in the form of His Son. And this is not the only descriptor of Jesus but one of many. In this passage, we are told that the forthcoming Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor: He allows us to come to Him at all times and lay our burdens at his feet, only to respond in love, grace, and comfort. Jesus is also our Mighty God: His reign endures forever and He has defeated the power of sin and darkness completely through His death and resurrection. Jesus is our Everlasting Father: God the Father shows us his great love and care for us through the ministering life, death, and victorious resurrection of His Son. And lastly, Jesus is our Prince of Peace: He came not to destroy the world through fire and brimstone but to bring salvation and peace to the world through His tender love and grace. At the pronouncement of His birth to the shepherds, the angels declared, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests” (Luke 2:14).

As a child was born, so too our hope was born. As a son was given, so too was the hope of the world given in the Son, Jesus. As we venture throughout this Christmas season, we are reminded that our hope rests in the Prince of Peace, who was born to bring us to new, everlasting life in Him.