The Prince of Peace
A few weeks ago there was news of Pope Leo XIV proclaiming that salvation is only in Jesus Christ alone. He went on to say that although Mary is certainly an important figure in Scripture, that it is not in Mary there is salvation. That is quite a bold statement.
Recently Pope Leo XIV visited the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey where the imam invited the Pope to pray. In respect, Pope Leo removed his shoes and toured the mosque in silence, but declined to pray. All accounts of the visit indicated that the Pope was gracious and warm. Some people felt Pope Leo XIV should have used it as an opportunity to make it a symbolic gesture of global unity. Others believed he was making a clear distinction between respecting another religion while at the same time
not participating in its worship. Once again, another bold move.
People, whether they be Christian, participants of other religions or even atheists, have this thought that humanity in and of itself can obtain peace. Their idea is that unity and peace is all about “live and let live.” However, true peace is not based on everyone just doing their own thing, and going along to get along. There will always be people who will feel their way of living and doing things are right while other people's way of doing things is wrong. It's more about being right than being about finding the truth.
Think about World War II. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain felt that he could appease Adolf Hitler. After signing the Munich Agreement of 1938, Prime Minister Chamberlain said they accomplished, “Peace for our time.” We all know how that worked out.
The only way to have true peace or unity is to find and know truth, or more accurately, the truth. The Truth is a Person. That Person is Jesus Christ. Here is what He said:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6 KJV
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27 NASB
Jesus makes it clear that He is the Truth. He also makes clear there are two kinds of peace. There is a peace that He can only give. There is a peace that the world gives, which is a false peace that is always temporary. The kind of peace the world gives is always situational or circumstantial. If things are going well, people can be at peace. However, many times even if people come up with situations or circumstances that are not extenuating, they still become aggravated, frustrated, irritated, all of which means peace flew out window.
True peace is not a situational or circumstantial peace. It remains regardless of whatever happens. I am not saying that I have “arrived” to where I always have the peace that Jesus gives. However, I have experienced it enough times in harrowing situations that I know it is real. I know others have as well. That does not make me or others that have experienced Jesus' peace despite trying experiences more spiritual. When we experience the promises of God's Word, it is not just for us as individuals. It is for us to share it with the lost, and with brothers and sisters who struggle to find such a peace. If Jesus couldn't give us His peace, He would certainly be high-minded and arrogant at the very least, and an off the wall liar at worst to make such and absolutist statement.
The prophet Isaiah called Jesus the Prince of Peace. The word prince in Hebrew is sar, which among several definitions means ruler, governor, or commander.
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace.” Isaiah 9:6-7 NASB
Since Jesus Christ is the ruler, governor, or commander of peace, it is His right to give us His peace. We just need to believe that He has already acquired His peace for us through His finished work on the cross.
There does appear to be a dilemma. Jesus said He gives us this peace. He also made a statement that seem to contradict what He said.
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it.” Matthew 10:34-39 NASB
In order to understand what Jesus said in Matthew, we need to think about what He said in John. The peace He gives us, as mentioned, is not a circumstantial or situational kind of peace that the world gives. Jesus did not come to bring that kind of peace on earth. That peace flies out the window the moment something goes wrong be it a small problem or a major catastrophe. Jesus gives us the kind of peace that can stabilize us no matter what happens.
Jesus said He came to bring a sword to the earth. Why? After all, He is supposed to be the Prince of Peace, isn't He?
The Word of God is the truth. Jesus is the Personification of the Truth. The very nature of Truth divides. Those who want the truth will unify around the truth. They desire truth over being right. Those who want true unity and live by the truth will have Jesus' peace because He is the Truth. God's Word is also likened to a sword.
“For the word of God is living and active and shaper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 NASB
Another way of looking at Hebrews 4:12 is that the word of God, divides truth from lies. By the way, this is coming from a guy (your humble article writer) who HAD to be right and HAD to have the last word. Sometimes you do thing so long that you do not even realize it. Over the recent years I realized this about myself, mostly with the help of the Holy Spirit, and now the truth means more to me than being right. I do my best, with the help of the Holy Spirit to search for the truth no matter where it leads.
Think of the things Jesus said in the Gospels. He did not speak the truth out of a heart to see what kind of trouble He could stir up. He was not trying to cause controversy for the sake of it. Jesus spoke what He said, as I heard one pastor say, “God will offend the mind to reveal the heart.” The purpose for offending the mind to reveal the heart was not to show people what miserable wretches they were (are) but for people to see what is in their hearts for Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit to be able to transform and heal their hearts. The truth will always separate those who desire to remain in the non-truth they are living in from those who want the truth, regardless of what the truth reveals. Once we know the truth, if we want to live in and remain in the truth, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to do the transformation change in our heart/soul that needs to be done. When that is accomplished we then receive His peace that we are lacking.
How do we do this? Let me quote one last Scripture and give a real life experience that I was a part of some 10-15 years ago.
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy set before Him endured the cross despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 KJV
As I stated, I was at a church service about 10-15 years ago. On the wall that was behind the platform where the praise and worship team would lead from, or whoever would be speak from, was a large painting of the face of Jesus. It was not your typical painting of Jesus. The story of how that painting came into being would be another article. It is a powerful painting.
I don't quite remember who spoke and what was preached that night. What I do remember was that the sanctuary was almost entirely full, which would mean there were about 100 people in attendance. After the message, the Holy Spirit blanketed the congregation. Most of the people were silent. Some were crying softly. Just about everyone was allowing the Holy Spirit examine their hearts.
One woman left her seat, went up on the platform, kneeled by the painting of Jesus' face, reached out her hand and kept her hand on His face. A few moments went by and a few others did the same. In time the entire congregation was up on the platform (including your humble writer of this article) most of them with their hands on the painting of Jesus face. Those who could not reach the painting because of those who were closer to it, put their hands on the people who were touching the painting. To describe in words how the Holy Spirit was moving in the lives of the people would be entirely inadequate.
In Hebrews 12:2 where it says, “Looking unto Jesus” in the Greek it is actually saying to reach out for the purpose of touching. That is how we get the peace that Jesus gives. As it were, we need to have a heart posture of reaching out to touch His face in a purposeful action to do so. To do something purposeful means there is a determination to reach out and touch Him. Think of the woman with the issue of blood for 12 years (Luke 8:43-48). Look up this Scripture. Peace be unto you all. Love & God bless, Pastor Paul.