We’ve been looking at the names of God and how his names help us understand him better. This week I want to look at the name, ‘The Prince of Peace’.

Isaiah the prophet called God the Son a number of names: ‘Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this’ (Isaiah 9:5-7).

So why, among other names, is Jesus called ‘Prince of Peace’?

The ‘Prince’ component of the title is obvious. God the Son is of course a ruler, and therefore qualified to be a prince.

But why is God the Son called the Prince of ‘Peace’? Because he brings peace.

Firstly, God the Son brings peace between God and sinful man. Our sin made us enemies of God and made God our enemy too. God’s justice requires that he fight back against sinners like ourselves. But God the Son made the payment by his death for the sins of those who trust in him, thereby bringing peace between God and sinful man.

The Apostle Paul makes this abundantly clear: ‘But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit’ (Ephesians 2:13-22).

But notice something else in this passage. Paul is also speaking about the peace between Jews and non-Jews that Jesus has brought too. By dying for believers from all nations, Jesus has joined hostile people together.

And Jesus will bring even further peace when he returns and a new age in heaven will begin. Isaiah’s prophecy will be fulfilled: ‘Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.’

Is Jesus your ‘Prince of Peace’? Do you know the peace that he has bought by his blood?                              Joel Radford