On the Seventh Day of Christmas: Prince of Peace

This Christmas I feel so blessed, spoiled even. I have a job, my husband has a job, our sons are healthy and are both employed. And while we've had some pretty major stresses, it is nothing compared to what other families must endure. As you have probably noticed, I've been reading a lot in Isaiah and listening to the Messiah. I've been trying to really understand the miracle of Christmas. I've always known, but I decided that I needed to really focus myself this season on what Christmas means to me personally and spiritually.

Jesus Christ is the literal Son of God, who under a divine plan was born in Bethlehem of Judea. He grew in Nazareth as the carpenter’s son, within him the elements of both mortality and immortality received, respectively, from his earthly mother and his Heavenly Father. In the course of his brief earthly ministry, he walked the dusty roads of Palestine healing the sick, causing the blind to see, raising the dead, teaching doctrines both transcendent and beautiful. He was, as Isaiah had prophesied, “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” (Isa. 53:3.) He reached out to those whose burdens were heavy and invited them to cast their burdens upon him, declaring, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:30.) He “went about doing good,” and was hated for it. (Acts 10:38.) His enemies came against him. He was seized, tried on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy the cries of the mob, and condemned to die on Calvary’s cross.

The nails pierced his hands and feet, and he hung in agony and pain, giving himself a ransom for the sins of all men. He died crying, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34.)

He was buried in a borrowed tomb and on the third day rose from the grave. He came forth triumphant, in a victory over death, the firstfruits of all that slept. With his resurrection came the promise to all men that life is everlasting, that even as in Adam all die, in Christ all are made alive. (See 1 Cor. 15:20–22.) Nothing in all of human history equals the wonder, the splendor, the magnitude, or the fruits of the matchless life of the Son of God, who died for each of us. He is our Savior. He is our Redeemer. As Isaiah foretold, “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6.)

The present economic distress that our nation (and the world) faces leaves us a significant question: Where do I turn in my distress? Do I look to government programs, charismatic leaders, self-help books, family, or friends? However well-meaning, beneficial, or gifted these resources are nothing compared to Jesus Christ. Only Jesus has the power to save us from our ultimate source of distress: sin.

He intercedes on our behalf with our Heavenly Father. He answers prayer and directs our steps as our Wonderful Counselor. He is omniscient and omnipresent as our Mighty God. He was with God in the beginning and will be forever (Everlasting Father). He has defeated sin and will return to usher in peace. Peace from war, sickness, death, hunger, and poverty.