“What do you want for Christmas?” is the question being asked in many homes at this time of year. Beyond the gifts that fit under the Christmas tree, one of the great gifts of Christmas is peace.
Among the prophecies of the coming of the Messiah is this one from Isaiah 9:2 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end…..”
This prophecy has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the child who was born in Bethlehem to be the savior of the world. His mission in the world was to bring peace with God to people who have been alienated from God by their sins. Since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) that includes all the people of the world, every last one of the 7 billion people who currently inhabit this planet, including you and me. Through faith in Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice on the cross, sinners are forgiven and find true peace. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 2:14 says, “He [Jesus] is our peace….” And Jesus himself said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” The gift of peace is given by God and received through faith in Jesus Christ, who is aptly called the Prince of Peace.
But the prophecy of Isaiah 9:2 has not been fulfilled yet in terms of conventional world peace. When Jesus was born the world was experiencing the Pax Romana engineered by Caesar Augustus and his successors which meant that there were only minor wars and insurrections going on in the Mediterranean world for about a hundred years. But this was just a pause in the vast sweep of history where wars and rumors of wars have been constant. 2011 is no different from other years. War planes and drones fly as men hatch plans for violence in many corners of the world. Those who have put their faith in the Prince of Peace are called to work for “peace, goodwill toward men” in every season of the year. Romans 14:19 says, “Let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” And Hebrews 12:14 says, “Strive for peace with all men….” This means trying to encourage reconciliation between people coming to your home for Christmas dinner, on the one hand, and trying to influence the government toward a peaceful resolution of world conflicts, on the other.
As we move through this month of buying gifts and giving presents, may you receive the greatest gift of all, “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” and may you give the gift of working for peace as you remember the beatitude, “Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
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