Prince of Peace

When an airplane takes off in rough weather, the ascent can be quite turbulent! The plane jostles to and fro, drops down (leaving your stomach somewhere above your head) before lifting back up again. Sometimes, the airplane rises above the storm and once it reaches a certain altitude, settles in for a peaceful flight. It doesn’t mean the storm ceased to exist. However, it is far below you and the winds are ineffective against you in your current position. Riding with Jesus is like being in that airplane above the turbulence below: He is the Prince of Peace!

Your peace was paid for by Jesus on the cross, but even before His death, burial and resurrection, your peace was established at His birth. When Jesus was born, the angels announced, “Peace on Earth!”

Luke 2:14

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” – Luke 2:14

The order in which these words originally appear in this verse are:

Greek: “Doxa en hypsistois Theō kai epi gēs eirēnē en anthrōpois eudokias”

English: “Glory in [the] highest to God and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

Let’s focus on just a few of the words in this verse so we can truly grasp what the angels were declaring to us:

peace/eiréné: Defininition: one, peace, quietness, rest. HELPS Word-studies: (from eirō, “to join, tie together into a whole”) – properly, wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace (God’s gift of wholeness).

goodwill/with whom He is pleased/eudokias: Definition: good pleasure. Usage: good-will (good-pleasure), favor, satisfaction, happiness. A word closely related is eudokía, which means what seems good or beneficial to someone.

As we first look at just these two words/phrases, we can see that at the birth of Jesus, the angels were declaring that God’s peace was being declared over and given to those with whom He was pleased. God was giving His gift of peace, of wholeness and rest, to mankind, through the birth of His Son, Jesus!

Peace on Earth?

Many times this verse is misinterpreted that this peace “among” men was supposed to be peace between people groups, as though there would be no more wars or conflict. Some Bible versions have also translated the word for “among” as “toward” or “to” which indicates that God’s peace and goodwill was directed toward mankind. While this is slightly more accurate, it isn’t the full picture!

en/among/toward/to: Definition: in, on, at, by, with. Usage: in, on, among. HELPS Word-studies: en (a preposition) – properly, in (inside, within); (figuratively) “in the realm (sphere) of,” as in the condition (state) in which something operates from the inside (within).

The peace the angels were declaring was not peace among/between mankind. Although God was showing His favor toward humanity by giving HIs peace, the peace wasn’t “among” people groups—it was given to be within/inside all mankind! This peace is something which operates from the inside!

Therefore, a more accurate translation of this verse would be, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace inside those with whom He is pleased!“

Prince of Peace

The Prince of Peace came to restore to mankind everything that the devil had stolen. Now, we have peace as a fruit of our born-again spirit, but our minds will determine if we see the effects of it in our lives. Although our natural minds tend to look at our circumstances to determine our peace, the peace of God is on the inside of us, not on the outside!

Outside circumstances act as turbulence, just like when on an aircraft. However, when we ride with Jesus, we are lifted up above the storms to a place of peace. If we look down, we can still see that the circumstances exist, and if we were to lower our altitude, we would again feel its effects and begin to be tossed to and fro—which is a very unpleasant sensation!

However, the Word of God tells us that we are actually seated in heavenly places with Jesus!

Your Thoughts Determine Your Altitude

“And [God] raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” – Ephesians 2:6, brackets and emphasis added

If the Prince of Peace has given us His peace, His wholeness and rest, and if we are seated in heavenly places—soaring in that airplane far above the turbulence below—then we can choose to remain in His peace every single day, regardless of what is going on around us!

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
– Isaiah 26:3

No matter the storm you may be facing, don’t stay at that altitude. Look up and remember you are seated in those heavenly places with Jesus! Keep your mind and your thoughts stayed upon Jesus. Then you can ride above the storm with Him, soaring above the clouds in perfect peace!