He Will Be Called... Prince of Peace

Welcome to Real Life.  Two thousand years ago, a child was born in a manger.  Angels heralded his birth proclaiming, “Peace on earth.”   Two thousand years later, I know that peace. 


For to us a child is born...
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 9:6 NIV)

As a young woman, I fought God for years without realizing it.  I believed in him.  I went to church.   I thought that was good enough.  I lived life on my terms.  I knew who God was, but I didn’t know God.  He didn’t play a major role in my life.  I didn’t know he wanted to. 

At Christmas time, I sang carols without comprehending their meaning.  I adored the baby in the manger. Yet, I had no clue the incarnation[1] held a deeper meaning for me. Or, that one day the child in the manger would rock my world.  I was an observer at the birth of the Savior, not a participant.[2]

All that changed one Sunday in December many years ago.  I was invited to a church where I heard a message from the Bible.  God’s truth penetrated my young soul.  I knew I needed the Savior.  I knelt at an altar and surrendered my life to Jesus.  The battle was over.  God won.  The Prince of Peace[3] captured my soul. 

At that moment, my whole world changed. My status shifted.  I was no longer an observer at the manger scene.  I had become a participant.  It was my Savior, Jesus, who had been born.  Now, I understood the Christmas carols.  As a participant, I found myself in their verses:


Joy to the world!  The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room. 
That’s me.  My heart made room for Jesus.

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King;

Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.”

That’s me.  Jesus brought peace to my soul.  I’m no longer fighting God.

God rest you merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay,

Remember Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas Day;

To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray.
That’s me.  I was going astray and Jesus rescued me.

O little town of Bethlehem…

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend on us, we pray;

Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.

That’s me.  Jesus cast out my sin and entered my soul.  I’m born again.

Two thousand years ago, a child was born in a manger.  He came to die for me.  One Sunday in December, he became my Savior - my Prince of Peace.  Today, I know him.  He is still transforming my heart.

Something to think about…

• Are you an observer or a participant at the manger scene?  For to us a child is born.  Jesus was born for you. 
• Picture yourself at Jesus’ birth in these scenes from The Nativity Story. 

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[1] Incarnation – the taking on of a human body by the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ.

[2] Idea of being a participant at the manger scene inspired by The Mystery of the Holy Night by Manfred Weber, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Peter Heinegg.

[3] Jesus’ birth brought me peace in that he had to be born in order to die.  His death on the cross paid for my peace.  I, a sinner, cannot enter the presence of a holy God.  Jesus’ blood paid for my sin.  Now, I can enter God’s presence in Christ’s righteousness.  Hallelujah!