PRINCE OF PEACE
Kendra Intihar
Today's Scripture: “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’” Luke 2:13-14, NIV
Theme: Because of Jesus, we can have the joy, peace, and excitement of Christmas all year long.
THE REVOLUTION
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!” (Luke 2:14, KJV). It was the announcement that changed the world: Peace had come to dwell on earth!
In the week prior to His crucifixion, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to shouts of “Hosanna to the Son of David!” and “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” The crowds laid their cloaks and palm branches in His path like royalty. Many in the crowd had seen His miracles and heard His teaching. They saw Jesus of Nazareth as the coming King, the Messiah who would begin the revolution that would defeat the enemies of Israel and make everything right again. And they were correct…sort of. They just missed the revolution because it came dressed differently than they thought it would.
CONQUEST OR PEACE
When I was younger, I thought the donkey upon which Jesus entered Jerusalem was a symbol of His humility. To us, donkey vs. horse feels like an analogy for humility vs. pride. To the first century Jew, however, it would’ve meant something different. The idea of kings riding on donkeys was nothing new to the people of Israel. Solomon rode a donkey (1 Kings 1:33). David rode a donkey (2 Samuel 16:2). Donkeys were a common mode of transportation, and sometimes kings just rode on donkeys. The important difference between donkeys and horses in the time of Jesus was this: When a king comes riding in on a horse, he’s there for war and conquest. But when a king comes riding in on a donkey, he comes in peace.
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.” Zechariah 9:9-10 (NIV)
According to the prophet Zechariah, Jesus would take away the chariots, the warhorses, and the battle bow, and He would proclaim peace to all nations. And that’s exactly what He did. The Israelites thought Jesus was coming to defeat their earthly enemies, but they didn’t realize that their enemy was not “flesh and blood,” but “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12, NIV). Jesus didn’t come to show the “other guys” how horrible they were. He came to rescue them, too!
WE’RE INVITED
In His humanity, Jesus showed us what God is like. His redemptive work on earth, especially at the cross, was an invitation to all of us to join Him in His kingdom, right now – not merely when we die. We’re already residents of heaven. When Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is at hand,” and “[God’s] will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” He invited us to join Him in His Kingdom work, where God’s will is done, and peace and joy prevail. He showed us a brand-new way to be human!
Make it Personal: Jesus came with focused intention to reconcile and restore all things to Himself (Colossians 1:19-20). He came, not to conquer earthly enemies, but to defeat the eternal enemy of death by giving His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). That is Good News! People say His kingdom is “upside down”—because it is! He did everything the opposite of what we would expect from a conquering king, but He did it exactly the way God planned. The Kingdom of God was and is at hand! If we believe that this Good News is truly good, let’s live like that’s true – joyfully and peaceably – not just at Christmas, but all year long!
Pray: Jesus, what a gift it is to know You and to be loved and redeemed by You. Your triumphal entry was triumphant because of the peace it foreshadowed. When You conquered the grave, You thought of me. Lord, You have invited me into Your holy, restorative work by teaching me to love others. Equip me to love boldly and to joyfully share the Good News that You have won, and sin has lost, just as You said. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Read: John 15:11; Romans 15:13; Galatians 5:22-23
Weekly Memory Verse: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14, ESV