SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 12, December 13, 2009

Who do you say that I am?
Prince of Peace
Theme Verse: "Who do you say that I am?" Matthew 16:15
Readings: Isaiah 9:6-7, John 14:26-27, John 20:19-22, Colossians 1:15-23 Philippians 4: 4-9
Memory Verse: "For he himself is our peace." Ephesians 2:14
      The Hebrew word for peace is "salem", meaning safe, wholeness, peaceful. It is part of the standard greeting even today, "Shalom A-la-cum" (Peace be with you.)
      Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 is talking about the promised Messiah. Jesus is that promised "anointed" one who will be a descendent of King David and his Kingdom will last forever. All the names in this passage are about a Ruler. Where God rules there will be peace. "Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end." And God will accomplish this. "Prince of Peace" describes a ruler, a king. "Peace" describes his character and the character of his kingdom.
       The angels who told the shepherd in the fields that the Messiah (Christ) who is the Savior would bring peace on earth to those "on whom God's favor rests" meaning those with whom he is well pleased. (Luke 2:14) God is giving his peace in sending Jesus --to those who would receive him.
      God had some things to say in the Old Testament to his people about peace long before Jesus came. Psalm 119:165 and Isaiah 26:3 are both telling (and promising) us how to receive and keep God's peace in our hearts. (See NOTE). "Great peace have they who love your law/Torah (teaching of God) and nothing will cause them to stumble." (Psalm 119:165) "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed (holds fast) on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever for the LORD God is an everlasting rock."( Isaiah 26:3-4) God has a peace/his peace he wants to give us but there is a condition, not only trusting in him but keeping our minds and hearts steadfast on him. We need to trust God to receive his peace. (Have a time of reflection on the areas in which we are struggling to trust God. Confess our lack of trust and ask him to renew/enable our trust in him for that person/thing. BE SPECIFIC.)
      God the Father sent Jesus ("God with us") to reconcile us to himself. "While we were still sinners Christ died for us….Therefore since we are justified (set right) by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have access to this grace in which we stand."(Romans 5:1,8 ) In Isaiah 53:5 God promised that his Servant (the Messiah) would deal with our sins and separation from God by dying for us. "He was pierced for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him." Jesus paid the price for our salvation and peace. "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him and through him to reconcile to himself all things...by making peace through his blood shed on the cross." (Colossians 1:15-23) But we have to receive it.
      Jesus is the source of genuine peace. Jesus wept over Jerusalem shortly before he was crucified because they did not recognize what would bring them peace and now disaster would come upon them. (Luke 19:41-44). A parallel in the Old Testament is Isaiah 48:18 "O that you had heeded my commandments, then your peace would have been like a river."
      During his ministry on earth, Jesus demonstrated that he had the authority to bring peace, for example when he quieted the violent storm on the lake, commanding, "Peace, be still" and the wind and the waves quieted down. His disciples looked at each other and asked, "Who is this, that even the wind and waves obey him?" (Mark 4:41) Notice that the disciples had to go and ask him for help.
      Peace ("salem" or currently pronounced "shalom") is much more than the absence of conflict. It means safe, whole, peaceful. Jesus brought wholeness to those many who mourned and many who were sick. He brought the wholeness of forgiveness to some and through his death and resurrection, to all who receive him. Interestingly, "Jerusalem" means "city of peace"--even though it has experienced more war than most places. In Psalm 122:6 we are asked to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Abraham met King Melchizedek who was King of Salem. In Hebrews (5:6) Melchizedek is a pattern for Jesus as our High Priest, who is also our King, the Prince of Peace. The heavenly Jerusalem will be a place of perfect peace.
      On the night before he died, Jesus blessed his disciples and gives HIS peace to them. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:26-27) At the same time he told them, "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you", referring to the Holy Spirit he was going to send to them. After his resurrection Jesus greeted his disciples who were hiding from fear, with, "Peace be with you" and showed them his hands and his side and then repeated his greeting, "Peace be with you" and gave them his Holy Spirit. Later, at Pentecost, they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8 ) Jesus' peace is different from the world's peace. It can remain even when our hearts would normally be troubled and afraid.
      Jesus offers peace to us. First there is the basic peace of reconciliation with God and forgiveness when we receive Jesus into our lives. But there is so much more. Paul in Colossians 3:15 instructs us, "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, since as members of one Body (the church) you were called to peace." In verses 5-10, 12-14, 16-17 Paul goes into more detail about how to choose to let God's peace rule. He has similar advice in Philippians 4:4-9. "Rejoice in the LORD always…Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Notice the sequence here. God's peace is not a passive thing but results from turning to him and being in step with God and what he is doing.
      Doug Koch has a story to share about this verse. When his grandson, Alexander came close to death three months after he was born, he remembers driving down to Albany Med following the ambulance. "For some reason I just felt like praising the Lord over and over. A deep peace came over me, just like Philippians 4:7. I didn't know what to think." On another occasion he was disturbed about a TV show debating Jesus' resurrection and he wondered about how he would witness to an unbeliever who had watched it. The Lord showed him that you can only have that deep settled peace in you by having Jesus in the center of your life, and that peace which only he can give is from him, our resurrected Lord.
      Now reflect on the words that the Lord has given the teachers. What do you have to share?

"Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'" (John 20:19) A word received: Pray for my peace. Let my love come into your heart. My love casts out fear. (James 4:19)

"When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord." (John 20:20) A word received: I want you to experience their joy in seeing me.

"So Jesus said to them again, 'Peace to you! As the Father has sent me, I also send you.'" (John 20:21) A word received: Go forth in my peace. It is not the peace that the world gives; it is the peace that flows out of my relationship with my father.

"And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'" (John 20:22) A word received: This is the way to my peace -- to have my Holy Spirit in your heart.

"'If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'" (John 20:23) A word received: My peace should lead you to forgive others. As you have received my love and peace and forgiveness, let others receive your love and peace and forgiveness.

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined." (Isaiah 9:2) A word received: I want my light to shine forth so that men and women and children will know my peace.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) A word received: I came as a child. I came without strength or position, but I came with peace that drew people to my father. Pray for my peace to shine forth in your lives.

[NOTE: "heart" in the Bible does not mean just feelings as we often use it today. It implies an act of the will. Sometimes it refers to a person's character. It includes our thinking and reason, our conscience. "To summarize: the heart is above all the central place in a man to which God turns, where religious experience has its root, which determines conduct.", (Theological Wordbook of the Bible, p.145)]