On Earth, Peace

We know this statement all too well. It’s what the angel proclaimed at the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Glory to God in the highest and on earth, PEACE. As I looked a little closer at the word peace, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the beautiful, prophetic words of Isaiah in his ninth chapter and sixth verse.

Isaiah 9:6
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

He was letting everyone know, that when Messiah comes, He will be all of these incredible things, but His mission is to be the Prince of Peace.

The word Prince in this verse means, a leader, ruler or chief.

The word peace in this verse means, to restore, complete or make whole.

The reason I find this so interesting is because when Jesus was born, there was a lot of chaos in the land. Political corruption and dictatorships, just to name a few. His birth didn’t change any of that. There was no calm on that blessed night, as far as the world was concerned. Everything continued to go as usual.

After looking at the story again this season, I realized that there is a difference in “Peace IN The Earth” and “Peace ON The Earth”. You see, on that incredible night in Bethlehem, there was still no peace IN the earth, but now there was peace ON it. The only place it was silent that night, was in the place where Jesus was born. Nothing changed in the earth, but change was now on earth.

When I saw that the word peace, in Isaiah’s prophecy meant to restore, I then realized that Jesus didn’t come to calm anything, He came to restore man from his sinful condition. Because of Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden, man was incomplete and lost in his sins. There was now a great barrier between God and man and no one could stand in the gap and bring this great divide back together. However, when Jesus was born, He was both God and man and as the Prince of Peace or the Leader of Restoration, He started the process of bringing us back to God.

• His birth brought peace to earth.
• His death was the peace offering.
• His resurrection gave us access to peace with God through salvation.

Paul says it like this in Ephesians 2:14-15

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.

We are now complete in Him and because of Him. We are whole through His Holiness. With great joy we join in with the angels and say, “Glory To God In The Highest And On Earth…PEACE!!!”