Why is Christ Called The Prince of Peace?

 I'm sure that most of us have heard this scripture from Isaiah 9:6 quoted at least a hundred times. The Bible in Basic English (BBE) renders it this way: "For to us a child has come, to us a son is given; and the government has been placed in his hands; and he has been named Wise Guide, Strong God, Father for ever, Prince of Peace." But what exactly does "Prince of Peace" mean?

Christ is the one who makes peace between us rebels and Holy God. The Apostle Paul pointed that out in Colossians 1:19 and 20 (BBE). "For God in full measure was pleased to be in him; Through him uniting all things with himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, uniting all things which are on earth or in heaven."

Now some folks might quote Matthew 10:34 (BBE), claiming that Christ denied being the Prince of Peace. "Do not have the thought that I have come to send peace on the earth; I came not to send peace but a sword." In the next two verses, Jesus speaks of the divisions in families caused by people following him. It has nothing to do with political peace.

We also note that the analogy of healing our relationship with God is used in the Bible to describe being made right with God. Charismatics figure that Isaiah 53:5 (BBE) means that we can claim healing in Christ's name. The BBE renders the verse like this: "But it was for our sins he was wounded, and for our evil doings he was crushed: he took the punishment by which we have peace, and by his wounds we are made well."

I keep telling my pastor that this verse doesn't mean physical healing but a spiritual one. The previous verse does predict Christ healing ailments but verse five hearkens back to the start of the chapter and how Christ bore our sins.

Neither are we to establish Christ's kingdom as the Dominion Theology folks claim. Acts 1:6 and 7 (BBE) makes that quite clear. "So, when they were together, they said to him, 'Lord, will you at this time give back the kingdom to Israel?' And he said to them, 'It is not for you to have knowledge of the time and the order of events which the Father has kept in his control."

Christ will come when he comes and not a millisecond sooner. Our job isn't to conquer nations but to preach the gospel. May Christ find us doing so when he does arrive.

But if our Lord delays his coming until after Saturday, I intend on posting about the end of the world and a powerful song by King Crimson.

The Disciples' Misplaced Expectations of Christ

I believe we shouldn't be critical of the way Christ's disciples behaved while he was still with them.  We tend to misplace our expectations too, especially when it comes to electing politicians or trusting friends.

In the first century, Rome ruled over Israel with rigger. Israelites felt especially affronted by these pagans bringing in their images and their false religions. They took seriously what God commanded in exodus 20:4 and 5 (BBE). "You are not to make an image or picture of anything in heaven or on the earth or in the waters under the earth: You may not go down on your faces before them or give them worship: for I, the Lord your God, am a God who will not give his honour to another; and I will send punishment on the children for the wrongdoing of their fathers, to the third and fourth generation of my haters;"

People at that time expected the arrival of Messiah. Consequently, we read of Peter's excitement in John 1:41 (BBE) when, "Early in the morning he came across his brother and said to him, 'We have made discovery! It is the Messiah!' (which is to say, the Christ)."

The Jews of that time remembered Daniel 9:25 and 26 (BBE) which prophecied, "Have then the certain knowledge that from the going out of the word for the building again of Jerusalem till the coming of a prince, on whom the holy oil has been put, will be seven weeks: in sixty-two weeks its building will be complete, with square and earthwork."

But they didn't understand Daniel 9:26 (BBE) which said, "And at the end of the times, even after the sixty-two weeks, one on whom the holy oil has been put will be cut off and have no ...; and the town and the holy place will be made waste together with a prince; and the end will come with an overflowing of waters, and even to the end there will be war; the making waste which has been fixed."

The crucifixion of Christ was such a shock to them, even though he said plainly he would die and be lifted up again. That's why Acts 1:6 (BBE) says, "So, when they were together, they said to him, 'Lord, will you at this time give back the kingdom to Israel?"

They didn't understand that Christ spoke of a spiritual kingdom which they were a part of.

On Thursday, unless Christ returns, I hope to post about my youthful materialism and how I've changed since the seventies.

Why Was Christ Called the Prince of Peace?

Isaiah 9:6 is one verse commonly quoted during this season. The Bible in Basic English renders it as, "For to us a child has come, to us a son is given; and the government has been placed in his hands; and he has been named Wise Guide, Strong God, Father for ever, Prince of Peace."

Cynical people might say that Christ was far from being a peace maker. To them, he was a teacher who got killed for telling people to be nice.

The truth is that Christ came the first time to save sinners from hell. Even the Samaritans who heard him teach understood this. John 4:42 (BBE) quotes the villagers as saying, "And they said to the woman, (whom Christ met at the well) 'Now we have faith, but not because of your story: we ourselves have given ear to his words, and we are certain that he is truly the Saviour of the world.'"

But this salvation was of the soul, not the temporal nation of Israel. Even after Christ's resurrection, his disciples still had the political kingdom notion stuck in their heads. Luke records in Acts 1:6 (BBE), "So, when they were together, they said to him, 'Lord, will you at this time give back the kingdom to Israel?'"

A day will come when Christ will return as conquering king and judge of humanity. As Isaiah 9:7 (BBE) prophesied, "Of the increase of his rule and of peace there will be no end, on the seat of David, and in his kingdom; to make it strong, supporting it with wise decision and righteousness, now and for ever." By the fixed purpose of the Lord of armies this will be done."

We also read in Isaiah 2:4 (BBE) how Christ will rule forever. "And he will be the judge between the nations, and the peoples will be ruled by his decisions: and their swords will be turned into plough-blades, and their spears into vine-knives: no longer will the nations be turning their swords against one another, and the knowledge of war will be gone for ever."

What a glorious time that will be! But for many folks, their future is eternal separation from all of God's goodness in hell. That's why I'm working on a book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? I hope it steers people away from that horrid place.

On Saturday, I hope to publish my take on a song from 1982 and why we can't live in harmony at this time.