God is the ultimate peace maker. And he paid the final price for peace as he sent his only and beloved Son to become our Prince of Peace. The prophet Isaiah eloquently spoke about the joy Jesus Christ would bring by revealing the good news about God’s peace:
Isa 52:7: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’” And when Jesus was born angels filled the sky and praised God saying: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favours” (Luke 2:14).
Notice how God’s peace and God’s salvation is mentioned in the same breath by Isaiah. In restoring God’s reign in our lives and on earth, we experience heavenly peace through the salvation that God brings. The angels confirmed that it is Jesus that the prophets spoke about.
In the very next chapter Isaiah describes God’s suffering Servant as “a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief” (Isa 53:3). He suffers not because he did anything wrong, but “he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed!” (Isa 53:5). God would restore peace on earth through Christ who carried the punishment for our sins and thus restored our peace with God. People who are at peace with God become family with others who were blessed in the same way. God’s people also have a new respectful relationship with all that God created.
Jesus entered the world as the one who would accomplish the assignment of the suffering Servant. In his resurrection he guarantees that this peace would be maintained through the coming of his Kingdom that he received as he was exalted to sit at the right hand of God.
By God’s grace and mercy we serve the Prince of Peace. His light shines through us and his message comes through us. In Christ the prophetic message also speaks about us, when we are faithful in proclaiming the Good News: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’ (Isa 52:7)
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