Friends, Christmas season once again is upon us! And while this means more activity, shopping, parties, multiple family obligations, and endless noise, we need to be reminded about what Christmas ultimately is about.
Peace.
The peace that only God can provide through the giving of his own son. On that first Christmas, God introduced us to His own, unique peace, or shalom, through the birth of his son, Jesus of Nazareth. This is not any temporary peace, but an everlasting and abiding peace.
The Promise of Peace in a Troubled World
Isaiah 9:6 declares that the coming Messiah would be called the "Prince of Peace." This prophecy, fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, speaks to our deepest longing. We live in a world desperate for peace. We long for peace between nations, peace in our communities, peace in our families, and peace within our own souls. Yet true peace has remained elusive until that first Christmas night in Bethlehem.
The angels announced to the shepherds, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased" (Luke 2:14). This wasn't wishful thinking or empty sentiment. It was a declaration of cosmic significance: God himself had entered human history to establish lasting peace.
Understanding Biblical Shalom
The Hebrew concept of shalom (the peace Christ brings) encompasses far more than the absence of conflict. It speaks to completeness, wholeness, and flourishing in every dimension of life. Scripture shows us how this comprehensive peace touches our relationship with God, with others, with ourselves, and even with creation itself.
When Jesus was born, He didn't just bring a message about peace; He is our peace. Ephesians 2:14 reminds us that "He himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility." Through His incarnation, life, death, and resurrection, Christ reconciled us to God and made peace possible.
The Peace That Transforms
This Christmas season, we must remember that the peace Christ offers isn't dependent on our circumstances. It's not contingent on political stability, financial security, or perfect family relationships. Instead, it flows from our relationship with the Prince of Peace himself.
In John 14:27, Jesus tells His disciples, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." This peace transcends understanding (Philippians 4:7) because it originates not in our circumstances but in the character and promises of God.
As you celebrate this season, consider: Are you experiencing the peace that Christ came to bring? Or are you still seeking peace in the temporary solutions the world offers?
Living as People of Peace
The birth of Jesus calls us not only to receive peace but to become ambassadors of peace. Romans 12:18 exhorts us, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." Having received the peace of Christ, we're commissioned to share it with a world still desperately seeking what only He can provide.
This Christmas season, let us embrace the revolutionary truth that changed history: Jesus Christ brought true peace to the world. Not a political peace. Not a temporary truce. But the transformative shalom of God that reconciles us to our Creator and empowers us to live as agents of His peace in a broken world.
<aside> Reflection Questions:
- How does understanding Christ as the Prince of Peace change your perspective on current challenges you're facing?
- In what areas of your life are you seeking peace from worldly sources rather than from Christ?
- How can you become an ambassador of Christ's peace in your family, workplace, or community this Christmas season?
Dr. Jeremiah J. Johnston is the founder and president of Christian Thinkers Society and editor of the Peace of God Study Bible. His mission is "teaching Christians how to become thinkers and thinkers how to become Christians." To explore the theme of biblical peace more deeply, visit peaceofgodbible.com or learn more at christianthinkers.com.
