Our Church Media

During the Christmas season the communication of peace and good will is seen on Christmas cards, expressed in song and words, and demonstrated at times in actions.  Jesus, the One whose birth we celebrate is referred to as the “Prince of Peace”. World peace is often mentioned when people are asked what would they wish for if they could have anything they wanted. What do you picture when you think of peace?  Is it a tranquil setting, or an absence of strife?

Beit Kjos thought about this and in his book, “A Wardrobe from the King” told of a man who sought the perfect picture of peace. He wrote, “Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered.

The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled.

As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd.

A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.

The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace?

A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.

A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.”

The image that is often presented at Christmas in the Carols we sing and the stories we tell continue to portray the birth of Jesus as a festive, peace filled time: silent nights, manger scenes, animal petting zoos near the baby, angels and shepherds rejoicing with trumpets sounding, elegantly dressed Kings with nicely wrapped presents bowing before Him. As the Prince of Peace what kind of peace did Jesus really come to bring?

Think about the turmoil that was caused when Joseph heard the love of his life, his fiancé, Mary was pregnant and he knew he had nothing to do with that fact. He was forced to deal with the disappointment and shame the community would bring over pregnancy before marriage.  What about the upheaval caused when he was forced to take his family and flee to a foreign country to keep Herod from killing his son?  Was there any peace when Herod ordered the slaughter of all boys in the Bethlehem area two years old and younger?

The birth of Jesus is a reminder to us that we live in a world in which there is an ongoing war between the forces of spiritual darkness and light for the souls of humanity.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:10-12, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. {11} Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. {12} For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” He then went on to instruct the followers of Jesus to put on the “full armour of God”. We would not need armour if we were not getting attacked. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, but that does not mean the war is over yet. Victory is assured because Jesus overcame death, but there are still serious skirmishes and clean-up battles taking place. Just as there was a difference between D Day and VE Day in WW II so this is true in the spiritual realm as well.

The Prince of Peace provides an internal peace despite what outward circumstances may be happening in our lives so that we can say with the hymn writer Horatio G. Spafford,
    When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
    When sorrows like sea billows roll;
    Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
    It is well, it is well, with my soul.

    Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
    Let this blest assurance control,
    That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
    And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
    Refrain:
    It is well, with my soul,
    It is well, it is well, with my soul.

This is peace.