3 Reasons Why Jesus Is Called The Prince Of Peace
If you’re looking to understand why Jesus Christ is known as the Prince of Peace, you’ve come to the right place. In a world filled with trouble and strife, the message of peace Jesus brought stands out. But why exactly is He given this title?
In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore the biblical and historical reasons Jesus is called the Prince of Peace.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Jesus is called the Prince of Peace because He brought spiritual peace between God and humanity, predicted an era of peace on earth, and told his followers to seek peace.
Jesus Brought Spiritual Peace Between God and Humanity
Jesus reunited humanity with God
When Jesus came to earth, he reopened the lines of communication between God and people that had been closed since the Fall. As the Son of God, Jesus bridged the gap that sin had created between humanity and the Father (John 14:6).
Through his teachings, Jesus revealed God’s loving character and welcomed people into a close, personal relationship with their Creator (Luke 15:11-32). He emphasized God’s mercy and forgiveness for repentant sinners rather than condemnation (John 8:1-11).
Ultimately, Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross paid the penalty for mankind’s sins, allowing people to be reconciled with God (Romans 5:10).
He enabled forgiveness of sins through his sacrifice
Central to Jesus’ mission was providing a way for people’s sins to be forgiven. The Bible teaches that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Someone had to pay the price. By living a perfect life and then willingly giving up his life on the cross, Jesus paid the penalty that we deserved because of our sinfulness (1 Peter 2:24).
His sacrifice makes possible the forgiveness of sins for those who put their trust in him. When people confess their sins and commit their lives to following Jesus, they are cleansed and their relationship with God is restored.
This happens by grace through faith, not because of any good works on our part (Ephesians 2:8-9).
His teachings emphasized love, compassion and unity
In addition to providing the way for spiritual peace with God, Jesus also taught how relationships among people could be transformed. He emphasized loving one another, showing compassion, pursuing justice, practicing generosity, and striving for unity among believers.
Key aspects included loving and praying for one’s enemies (Matthew 5:43-48), caring for the disadvantaged and marginalized (Luke 14:12-14), being peacemakers rather than vengeful (Matthew 5:38-42), and bearing good fruit in one’s life through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 15:1-17).
Jesus envisioned a community of believers united by their love for him and for one another across social, economic, and ethnic lines (John 17:20-23). This vision was foundational to the early Christian church (Acts 2:42-47).
Jesus Prophesied an Era of Peace on Earth
The prophecies of Isaiah pointed to a messianic era of peace
The Old Testament prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of a Messiah who would usher in a new era of peace on earth. In Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah prophesied that a child would be born who would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
This messianic figure would reign on David’s throne and establish His kingdom characterized by “peace without end.” Isaiah described a time when warfare would cease, weapons of war would be transformed into farming tools, and there would be universal knowledge of God throughout the earth (Isaiah 2:4, 11:1-9).
These prophecies pointed to a future messianic era ruled by the “Prince of Peace” where peace and justice would prevail.
Jesus said He came to fulfill these prophecies as the messiah
When Jesus began His ministry, He announced that He came to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecies about the messianic era of peace (Luke 4:16-21). Jesus claimed to be the long-awaited Messiah who would establish the Kingdom of God.
He described the Kingdom as having radically different values than the corrupt kingdoms of this world. It is governed by principles of love, mercy, forgiveness, care for the poor, and desire for peace.
Although the Kingdom starts small, like a mustard seed, it will eventually grow to encompass the whole earth (Mark 4:30-32). Jesus taught His followers to live as citizens of this Kingdom by loving enemies, doing good, and seeking reconciliation (Matthew 5-7).
His kingdom represents peace, justice and healing for all
Jesus demonstrated the peace of the Kingdom when He healed the sick, restored the outcast, and broke down divisions between Jews and Gentiles, women and men. He redefined concepts of power, leadership, and greatness in terms of servanthood and humility (Mark 10:42-45).
Jesus’ ultimate act of establishing His Kingdom was in giving His life on the cross. He died to break the power of violence, sin, and death itself. The resurrection proved that God’s Kingdom is founded on self-sacrificial love and is moving toward complete victory over evil.
Although the Kingdom has not yet been fully established on earth, Jesus inaugurated the messianic era of peace through His life, death, and resurrection. All who put their faith in Christ begin to experience the profound peace He offers as citizens of His Kingdom (John 14:27).
Jesus Instructed His Followers to Seek Peace
He told them to love their enemies and avoid violence
One of the most well-known teachings of Jesus was his command to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). This was a radical departure from the prevailing culture of retaliation and honor in first century Palestine.
Jesus called his followers to break the cycle of violence by responding to evil with love and forgiveness, not more evil. He modeled this himself by willingly suffering abuse without retaliation.
Jesus instructed his followers not to resist evil or seek revenge, but to “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39). He told Peter to put away his sword when he tried to defend Jesus from arrest, saying “all who draw the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).
The early Christians took these commands seriously, accepting torture and death without violent resistance, and amazing even their enemies with their patience in suffering.
They were to be peacemakers bringing reconciliation
Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers” and called his followers to actively pursue peace with others (Matthew 5:9). They were to take the initiative to seek reconciliation, even with their enemies or those who have wronged them.
Jesus taught that true greatness comes from serving others, not from high status or forcing your will on others as the Gentiles did (Mark 10:42-45).
The apostles taught the early church to “live at peace with everyone” as far as it depended on them (Romans 12:18). This included reconciling broken relationships and bringing adversaries together through forgiveness.
Paul wrote that Christ has given Christians the “ministry of reconciliation” to bring people back into relationship with God and each other (2 Corinthians 5:18).
This was part of living out Jesus’ message in their lives
Jesus’ radical message of peace wasn’t just words–it was lived out through actions. His followers were called to embody the way of peace in their character, conduct, and community. They were to be known for their love, longsuffering, and peaceableness.
By putting Jesus’ teachings into practice, their lives would shine as a light to others.
The early Christians did have disagreements and conflicts arise, but they managed them with patience, humility, and consideration for the other person rather than insisting on their own way (Philippians 2:3-4).
They were patient and gentle with those who opposed them, correcting them with kindness (2 Timothy 2:24-26). This Christlike character was a powerful witness in the violent Roman Empire.
Conclusion
In summary, Jesus Christ is fittingly called the Prince of Peace because He restored humanity’s relationship with God, prophesied an era of righteousness and peace, and commanded his followers to live peaceful, gracious lives.
His teachings and example give hope to all who seek respite from enmity and strife. Though the world is still filled with conflict, Jesus offers us personal spiritual peace, and the promise that one day all evil, division and violence will end.
He is the embodiment of divine peace, making Him worthy of the noble title Prince of Peace.
