As I sit in the early morning darkness drinking a cup of hot coffee and writing this blog post, it’s peaceful. Quiet. Calm. However, if I was writing this from Israel, it would be a different story.
The current Israeli-Iranian conflict, has overshadowed the recent fight with Hamas and the conflicts in the Gaza strip. Almost forgotten, at least in the news media, is the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Current and recent conflicts remind me of an observation made by a Texas preacher, Guy McGraw, based on a reference by General Douglas MacArthur in 1935.
“In over 3400 years of recorded world history, the world has only been at peace 8% of the time or a total of 286 years, and over 8000 treaties have been made and broken. During this period there have been 14,531 wars, large and small, in which 3,640,000,000 people have been killed.”
Add to this the turmoil on our own American soil. Unrest. Protests. Riots. Crime. A war of words between opposing political factions and special interest groups. And a current uneasiness about our possible involvement in the Israeli-Iranian war.
In the midst of all of this tumult and upheaval, people are individually seeking peace. Peace of mind. Heart. And soul. Some people pursue peace through possessions. Pleasure. And passion. And yet there is inner turmoil. Conflict. Confusion. And consternation.
There is only one answer to real peace, both among nations and individuals. His name is “Jesus.” The prophet Isaiah calls Him “The Prince of Peace” (Isa 9:6) To the apostles, Jesus promised, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you; not as the world gives do I give to you” (Jn. 14:27). And Paul affirms, “He is our Peace” (Eph. 2:14)
Jesus was born to be the purveyor of peace. At His birth the angelic chorus sang, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” In His life He preached peace. Even to those who were disenfranchised and estranged from God. The means of His death has become the world-wide emblem of peace. His gospel is the good news of peace.
Jesus is the essence of peace. The embodiment of peace. The incarnation of peace. The personification of peace. The person of peace. My personal peace. However, real peace is impossible apart from a Biblical understanding of what peace is, how it’s obtained and the way it’s sustained.
“The Prince of Peace” came into a world filled with conflict, discrimination, inequity, and poverty. He brought peace. But He did not eliminate all social ills. Or eradicate injustice. Ironically the peace promised in the Messiah was ushered in when Jesus was cruelly crucified on the cross.
The Bible says that He “made peace through the blood of His cross” (Col. 1:20). Jesus’ death was the means of reconciliation that brought together both Jew and Gentile, servant and master, male and female (Eph 2:14-17; Gal.3:26-29). The cross broke down barriers. And the “message of the cross” (1Cor 1:18) became the power of God, not only to eliminate artificial distinctions among all people but more importantly to save the human race from sin.
The real problem contributing to the absence of peace is sin. It is sin that breeds hate, arouses suspicion, inflames emotions, and provokes racial strife. And sin can only be addressed by accepting Christ as one’s Savior (Ax 5:31).
Peace begins when we seek restoration with God and find justification by faith (Rom. 5:1). Peace is a personal responsibility. It is the fruit of the spirit I must work to develop (Gal. 5:22). And “the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those that make peace’’ (3:18). Right living comes first. Then peace. People want peace but unfortunately are not always willing to pay the price.
Here’s what’s vitally important right now as war rages around the world and people feel anxiety. Peace may be personally enjoyed even amid global conflict and cultural crisis.
The Prince of Peace can reconcile sinners to God. Provide peace to unite all people into one spiritual Family. Offer peace to ease the pain of a nagging conscience. Supply peace to soothe the troubled soul. Furnish peace to heal the broken heart. Extend peace to calm the raging storm.
Let us share the “peace of God” not only through the gospel message, but by treating others with respect and valuing the dignity of each person created in the image of God.
May the peace of God rule in your heart, guard your mind, and soothe your soul through Christ Jesus.
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
ThePreachersWord 
Thank you Ken, I watch a bit of news every morning & this is something I needed to be reminded of!!!
Sharon M
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“Ironically the peace promised in the Messiah was ushered in when Jesus was cruelly crucified on the cross.”
This is the worldly view, that Jesus was cruelly treated, stripped and flogged and then secured to a lifeless branch with iron nails.
The worldly view points out that The Bible says that he “made peace through the blood of His cross” (Col. 1:20). Jesus’ death was the means of reconciliation that brought together both Jew and Gentile, servant and master, male and female (Eph 2:14-17; Gal.3:26-29).
Thus it is reasoned that Peace comes with the death of Jesus on the Cross and that this was the supreme sacrifice that Jesus accepted to usher in Peace.
Look again and listen again. The Worldly view has been crippled with sin.
The “Blood” that Jesus sheds, causes to flow, is the family, the life blood (the mother of God) that gives birth to and sustains humanity forever and ever.
If Christians today could open their eyes and see the Woman Jesus as the penitent Amygdala securely attached to the CROSS, as the Light of the world, Easter would usher in the Prince of Peace.
The Prince of Peace, born again on the Third Day, would appear to them standing “face to face” with the Light of the World.
Here they would hear Jesus the Teacher of Israel, saying to the Woman Jesus called the Magdalene, do not cling to me…go and tell my brothers I must ascend to the Father and the Father that belongs to YOU. Just as Moses ascended the mountain (Exodus 19:16-19) to make straight the way of the Lord, so must I ascend and appear to the Man Jesus called Simon—the Cyrenaic—whose love for the world and for Jesus compelled him to carry the Cross of Jesus and to crave the body of Jesus like a hungry Lion (Mark 15:21: Mark 15:43 KJV; Matthew 16: 23).
As yesterday’s post claims, Billy Sunday preached a sermon that said the Bible gives Jesus 256 names!
So is it any wonder, Christians have trouble seeing Jesus as a “fourfold” Man going into the world with the power of love to multiply the power of love in the world to beget peace makers?
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