Jesus: The Prince of Eternal Peace
Summary
In Isaiah 9, we find a profound prophecy about the coming of Jesus, who is called the Prince of Peace. This passage is a cornerstone for understanding how Jesus brings peace into our lives and the world. As we light the Advent candles, each representing virtues like hope and peace, we reflect on how Jesus ignites these virtues within us. The birth of Jesus is not just a historical event but a cosmic turning point that ushers in peace—peace with God, peace among people, and ultimately, peace throughout the universe.
The prophecy in Isaiah 9:2-7 speaks of a child born to us, a son given, whose government and peace will have no end. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, fulfills this prophecy through his life, death, and resurrection. He offers us peace through his wonderful counsel, divine might, and fatherly care. As the Wonderful Counselor, Jesus provides guidance that illuminates our path, dispelling the darkness of ignorance and fear. His divine might assures us that even in our weakness, his strength is made perfect, offering us peace in the midst of life's battles. As the Everlasting Father, Jesus connects us to the heart of God, making us children of God and heirs to his eternal peace.
The story of Grace Kelly becoming a princess of Monaco serves as an illustration of how Jesus, the Prince of Peace, transforms our lives. Just as her presence revitalized a nation, Jesus' presence in our lives brings renewal and peace. Unlike earthly royalty, Jesus' reign is eternal, and his peace is everlasting. Through his sacrifice on the cross, Jesus bore our sins and reconciled us to God, offering us a peace that surpasses all understanding. His resurrection assures us that this peace is not temporary but eternal, promising a future where peace will reign over all the earth.
Key Takeaways:
1. Jesus as the Prince of Peace: Jesus' title as the Prince of Peace signifies his role in bringing comprehensive peace—shalom—into our lives and the world. This peace is not just the absence of conflict but the presence of wholeness and harmony, achieved through his life, death, and resurrection. [02:27]
2. Wonderful Counsel: Jesus provides us with divine guidance, illuminating our path and dispelling the darkness of ignorance and fear. His counsel leads us to peace by showing us the right way to live and aligning our lives with God's truth. [10:59]
3. Divine Might: In our weakness, Jesus' divine strength is made perfect. His might assures us that we are not alone in our struggles, and his power is available to us, bringing peace even in the midst of life's battles. [16:24]
4. Fatherly Care: Jesus connects us to the heart of God, making us children of God and heirs to his eternal peace. Through his relationship with the Father, we experience the care and love of God, which brings peace to our souls. [20:56]
5. Eternal Peace through Sacrifice: Jesus' sacrifice on the cross reconciles us to God, offering us a peace that surpasses all understanding. His resurrection assures us of an eternal peace that will one day reign over all the earth. [27:59]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:27] - Introduction to Isaiah 9
- [04:21] - The Advent of Peace
- [06:45] - Grace Kelly's Story
- [07:40] - Jesus, the Prince of Peace
- [10:59] - Wonderful Counsel
- [14:46] - Peace through the Holy Spirit
- [16:24] - Divine Might
- [18:15] - The Story of Gideon
- [20:56] - Fatherly Care
- [27:59] - Sacrifice and Eternal Peace
- [29:56] - The Impact of Jesus' Birth
- [31:03] - Conclusion and Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Prince of Peace
Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 9:2-7
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the titles given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6, and how do they relate to his role as the Prince of Peace? [02:27]
2. How does the sermon describe the impact of Jesus' birth on the world, according to Isaiah 9? [04:21]
3. What story from the sermon illustrates the transformative power of Jesus' presence in our lives? [06:45]
4. How does the sermon explain the concept of "Wonderful Counsel" provided by Jesus? [10:59]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does Jesus' title as "Prince of Peace" extend beyond the absence of conflict to include wholeness and harmony? [02:27]
2. How does the sermon suggest that Jesus' divine might is made perfect in our weakness, and what implications does this have for believers? [16:24]
3. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between Jesus as the Everlasting Father and our identity as children of God? [20:56]
4. How does the sermon connect Jesus' sacrifice on the cross to the concept of eternal peace? [27:59]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced peace in a difficult situation. How did Jesus' role as the Prince of Peace influence that experience? [02:27]
2. The sermon mentions Jesus' "Wonderful Counsel." How can you seek and apply Jesus' guidance in a current decision or challenge you are facing? [10:59]
3. Consider an area in your life where you feel weak or inadequate. How can you rely on Jesus' divine might to find strength and peace in that area? [16:24]
4. How does understanding your identity as a child of God, connected to the Everlasting Father, change the way you approach your daily life and relationships? [20:56]
5. The sermon highlights the eternal nature of the peace Jesus offers. What steps can you take to cultivate a deeper sense of this peace in your heart and mind? [27:59]
6. Reflect on the story of Grace Kelly and her transformative impact on Monaco. How can you allow Jesus' presence to bring renewal and peace to your community or family? [06:45]
7. As we anticipate the return of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, how can you actively participate in spreading his peace in your surroundings? [31:03]
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus, the Prince of Comprehensive Peace
Jesus is referred to as the Prince of Peace, a title that signifies his role in bringing a profound and all-encompassing peace—shalom—into our lives and the world. This peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of wholeness and harmony, achieved through his life, death, and resurrection. The prophecy in Isaiah 9:2-7 speaks of a child born to us, a son given, whose government and peace will have no end. Jesus fulfills this prophecy by offering us peace through his wonderful counsel, divine might, and fatherly care. His reign is eternal, and his peace is everlasting, promising a future where peace will reign over all the earth. [02:27]
Isaiah 32:17-18 (ESV): "And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to invite Jesus' comprehensive peace today, and how can you actively seek this peace in your daily interactions?
Day 2: Illuminating Guidance through Wonderful Counsel
Jesus provides us with divine guidance, illuminating our path and dispelling the darkness of ignorance and fear. As the Wonderful Counselor, he leads us to peace by showing us the right way to live and aligning our lives with God's truth. This guidance is not just about making the right decisions but about transforming our hearts and minds to reflect God's wisdom and love. By following his counsel, we can navigate life's challenges with confidence and peace, knowing that we are walking in the light of his truth. [10:59]
Psalm 119:105-106 (ESV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules."
Reflection: What specific area of your life needs the light of Jesus' counsel today, and how can you open yourself to receive his guidance?
Day 3: Strength in Weakness through Divine Might
In our weakness, Jesus' divine strength is made perfect. His might assures us that we are not alone in our struggles, and his power is available to us, bringing peace even in the midst of life's battles. This divine might is not about overpowering others but about empowering us to overcome our own limitations and fears. By relying on his strength, we can face challenges with courage and resilience, knowing that his power is at work within us to bring about peace and victory. [16:24]
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Reflection: Identify a current struggle where you feel weak. How can you invite Jesus' divine strength into this situation today?
Day 4: Experiencing God's Love through Fatherly Care
Jesus connects us to the heart of God, making us children of God and heirs to his eternal peace. Through his relationship with the Father, we experience the care and love of God, which brings peace to our souls. This fatherly care is not just about meeting our needs but about nurturing our spiritual growth and well-being. By embracing our identity as God's children, we can rest in his love and find peace in knowing that we are deeply valued and cared for by our heavenly Father. [20:56]
1 John 3:1-2 (ESV): "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is."
Reflection: How can you embrace your identity as a child of God today, and what steps can you take to experience his fatherly care more deeply?
Day 5: Eternal Peace through Jesus' Sacrifice
Jesus' sacrifice on the cross reconciles us to God, offering us a peace that surpasses all understanding. His resurrection assures us of an eternal peace that will one day reign over all the earth. This peace is not temporary but eternal, promising a future where peace will reign over all creation. By accepting his sacrifice and resurrection, we are invited into a relationship with God that transforms our lives and fills us with hope for the future. This eternal peace is a gift that we can experience now and look forward to in its fullness in the age to come. [27:59]
Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV): "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
Reflection: Reflect on the eternal peace that Jesus offers through his sacrifice. How can you live in the reality of this peace today, and how can it shape your hope for the future?
Quotes
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, and those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation. You have increased its joy. They rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. [00:02:04] (23 seconds)
For to us a child is born. To us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. And of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no. End. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Stay standing just through the prayer, please. [00:02:45] (33 seconds)
You'll remember when the angels appeared to the angels, and the angels appeared to the shepherds. And the angels appeared to the shepherds and said, glory to God in the highest, Luke chapter 2 verse 14. And he said, peace on earth and goodwill to men. That through the Advent, through the arrival of Jesus, through the arrival of the Prince of Peace, as we're told in Isaiah chapter 9, peace would come to the earth. [00:04:34] (20 seconds)
And the fascinating thing about Isaiah chapter 9, as we learn about Jesus being the prince of peace and all of these other titles that the Lord gives him, it says that this was for us. This was for you. Do you remember that? It says, to us, a child is born. To us, a son is given. And then all of these other titles are rattled off. Culminating on the prince of peace. [00:07:41] (25 seconds)
So if you're taking notes, the first point is wonderful counsel. We'll look at that first title juxtaposed with the theme of peace and how the wonderful counsel of Jesus gives us peace. Secondly, the prince of peace gives us his divine might because he's called Almighty God. [00:08:45] (17 seconds)
Jesus, the son that was given, is a wonderful counselor. The Prince of Peace gives us his wonderful counsel. Now, what does that mean that we get peace through wonderful counsel? Well, obviously, lousy counsel can lead us down some pretty dark roads, amen? If you get bad counsel in life, if you have a bad source of reality, a bad source of the truth, right, that will lead you into a dead end in life. [00:09:00] (29 seconds)
This is all explicitly setting up the arrival of Jesus and this idea of we're living in darkness, long lay the world, and sin and error pining in darkness. Then he appeared with the light of heaven, shining when all of the angels and the glory of heaven shone on those shepherds. It's like a burst of light, not only onto those dark sky or into the dark skies and those dark fields, becomes a metaphor for all of creation bursting with the light of Jesus Christ. [00:11:33] (28 seconds)
But again, this is not just so that we see the brute strength of Jesus to calm storms, though he did an awesome job, to raise the dead, though his voice called out Lazarus from the tomb, to heal the blind, though he could do that. But it wasn't just so that we could see his divine might on display. This divine might put on flesh for us, for you, that you might encounter the divine strength of God in your life as a means of peace in your life. [00:17:34] (31 seconds)
And Jesus on the cross, as he was exalted as the king over his cross said, here is the king. Here is the king of the Jews. He's not only the king of the Jews, he is the king of the universe. The prince has been coronated to give you his peace. [00:29:15] (18 seconds)
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