The Prince of Peace

‘His name shall be called. ... the Prince of Peace.” — IsA. ix.

SUPPOSE you go to see a grand house. The more you walk round it, inside and out, the better you will understand and admire it. But as you look first at one side and then at another, you will get quite different views of it, and yet it is always one and the same house. So it is that we get different views of the Lord Jesus, and yet He is always “this same Jesus” (Acts 1. ).

Now, though we are right and glad to think of Jesus as King, reigning gloriously already, yet we like to remember that another of His names is Prince, — Messiah the Prince, as He was called by Gabriel (Dan. ix, ). This shows us another side of what He is,

For a prince is a king’s son, and Jesus is the Son of God, who is the King of all the earth (Ps. xlvii. ip

A prince is heir to a kingdom, and so Jesus is heir of all things (Heb. i. ); and the time is coming when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ (Rev. xi. i How different the newspapers will be then, if there are any!

But a prince has royal honor now, and so it is God’s will that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father (John v. y:

A prince has other names joined to his title, and so has Jesus; and all His names show how He is the “Prince of princes” (Dan. viii. ), far, far beyond all others.

First, He is the Prince of Peace. What music there is in this beautiful name! Does it not sound as if an echo of the angels’ song had been caught and kept in it, waking up again in our hearts whenever we think of

Jesus as the Prince of Peace, who made peace in heaven (Luke xix. ) and came to give peace on earth? (Luke ii. ys

Then He is the Prince of Life (Acts iii. ), whom God hath raised from the dead. For God has given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as God has given Him (John xvii.

); and that, you know, is all who come to Him (John vi. ys

Then He is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour (Acts v. ), so that He may give repentance and forgiveness of sins.

And, last, He is the Prince of the kings of the earth (Rev. i. ). And this gives us a glimpse of His greatness and glory, which we do not fully see yet. But if we rejoice already in this bright and royal name of Jesus, when His glory shall be revealed we shall be glad with exceeding joy (1 Pet. iv. );

O the joy to see Thee reigning,
Thee, my own belovéd Lord!

Every tongue Thy name confessing,
Worship, honor, glory, blessing,
Brought to Thee with one accord;
Thee, my Master and my Friend,
Vindicated and enthroned,
Unto earth’s remotest end
Glorified, adored, and owned.

a
Morning Stars., ‘10g