We live in a perpetual war between good and evil–a war that is brought to our attention in Genesis 3 when the first couple disobeyed God, ushering in sin and separating us from a holy and perfect God. Though this war takes place, Jesus is called the Prince of Peace because He offers peace to us in the midst of the war. Because of Him, we can have peace with God and others.
This title, “Prince of Peace,” presents Jesus as the antidote to the peace we are searching for in the world. His peace doesn’t just have the potential to impact our environments, such as our homes, places of work, or schools. His peace provides peace for our minds where the most hostile war occurs. Even when our circumstances are not peaceful, our hearts and minds can be filled with peace because of Jesus.
In one of His discourses, Jesus reassuringly says, “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, neither let it be afraid.” –John 14:27 (emphasis added)
The world only offers temporary peace, focusing on circumstances, not lasting peace that quiets our souls.
Are You at War with God?
Peace isn’t free. Someone had to pay for it–that someone was Jesus. This is why Jesus is called the Prince of Peace.
The fall of man was tragic because it meant we became corrupted by sin, and there was no way sin could be in the presence of a holy God. As a result of the fall (described in Genesis 3), humanity was no longer at peace with God. Instead, we were now in rebellion and at war.
Sin also brought physical and spiritual death, which means separation from God. Each human inherited sin from Adam–a nature that makes us naturally lean toward doing wrong.
This inherent nature means we're born enemies of God because we’ve inherited a sin. Here's how the Scriptures explain these facts:
- “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –Romans 6:23
- “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” –Romans 8:7
You can't have peace with God until you receive the Prince of Peace–Jesus Christ–as your Savior. About 2000 years ago, on the cross of Calvary, Jesus made your peace offering by dying for your sins.
When you give your life to Christ, you are reconciled to God and can have peace with Him.
- “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” –Romans 5:1
The wages of sin is death. Jesus died in your place, paying the price so you can have “peace that surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).
Putting your faith in Jesus' work on the cross brings peace, and God looks at you as if you have never sinned.
How Is Jesus Our Peace Offering?
When the Israelites wanted to present a special offering to God, they brought a peace offering for three reasons, as detailed in Leviticus 7:11-21…
- As a freewill or thanksgiving offering–to give thanks for God’s generosity, praising God for His goodness
- Alongside a vow made to God, expressing peace in the heart of the worshiper toward Him, as if proclaiming, “I am holding nothing back”
- As an expression of thanks for God’s deliverance in a time of need
In all three instances, the giver was glad and gave the peace offering out of the cheerfulness in their hearts. They celebrated God's goodness and confessed their dependence on and need for Him.
Jesus is called the Prince of Peace because He is our peace offering. He chose to go to the cross and offer Himself as a sacrifice on the cross for our sins so that we could have peace with God. He mended our broken relationship with God and surpassed any good work we could ever do, including giving a peace offering.
Why Jesus Is Called the Prince of Peace…
There is no other way to have peace with God except through Jesus Christ.
Receiving His gift of eternal life and trusting in His sacrifice restores our relationship with God, and we become God's children. This right relationship with God is the foundation of living at peace with all His creation.
In Jesus, every fear of death and hell becomes eliminated and replaced with the gift of eternal life.
- “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” –John 3:16
The fact that Jesus is called the Prince of Peace enables us to become peacemakers.
- “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” –Matthew 5:9
Jesus is called the Prince of Peace because He restores broken relationships between man and God and man and fellow man.
- “Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”–2 Corinthians 13:11
Our inherent sinful nature affects our relationship with God and fellow human beings. If we are not delivered from sin, we live to serve ourselves before others and naturally go against God and His law. Bondage to sin makes us slaves to it.
The result is a broken relationship with God and other people. But because the issue is bondage to sin more than a lack of willingness to do right, doing good things cannot save us from sin.
Bu receiving Jesus’ gift of eternal life restores our peace with God and allows us to love others as God loves, and as a result, our relationships with others is restored too.
How Jesus' Sacrifice Can Save Us
Jesus' sacrifice can save us and make us new creations.
- “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” –2 Corinthians 5:17
Receiving Christ also delivers us from the power of sin. It gives us the grace to not bow to it so we can treat others and God as we should.
“… knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be [a]done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” –Romans 6:6
Moreover, His death on the cross guarantees us to have peace with God and empowers us to have peace with others.
- “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity” –Ephesians 2:14-16
Jesus is also our mediator.
- “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus…” –1 Timothy 2:5
Bible Verses About the Peace That God Offers Through Jesus
The Word of God is full of the promise of peace:
- “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”–Philippians 4:6-7
- “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”–Isaiah 9:6
- “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”–Psalm 4:8
- “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.”–2 Thessalonians 3:16
- “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”–Philippians 4:9
- “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”–John 16:33
- “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”–Isaiah 26:3
The Key Takeaway
In summary, there is a raging spiritual war between good and evil. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace because He is the only one who can bring true peace, restoration, redemption, and reconciliation between you and God and others.
These pieces of Scripture have peace in common. Better yet, they promise peace from God that is not based on circumstances. God's peace stays when things are not looking up for you, when the future seems grim, and when things are good.
Learn more about God's love for you and His peace here. May the peace of God wash over you in this season.
