Prince of Peace

Lauren and I got to be a part of the Drive Thru Nativity at Briarwood again this year. It’s always interesting to find out what scene we are going to be in. This year it was the scene where Mary and Joseph arrive in Bethlehem looking for a place to stay. “Yours truly” was the mean Innkeeper and it was quite an experience having to tell Mary and Joseph over and over again to move along since there was “no room in the Inn.” I felt like such a heel having to do that. Ha. I’m looking at Mary’s pregnant tummy that is holding none other than the savior of the world and rejecting them time and time again.

Well, you know me, I couldn’t help but think that there has to be a Sunday School lesson wrapped up in there somewhere :-) Rejecting Jesus over and over again - isn’t that what we do as sinners? Yes, but as convicting as that was, there was an even more profound lesson of that moment and this season.

As I wrote last week, Isaiah 9:6 gives us the “throne names” of Jesus that are sung in the Hallelujah chorus of Handel’s Messiah - Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

As the Prince of Peace, Jesus provides elements of peace on many different levels. He give us peace “from” God, “with” God and “of” God. Peace “from” God means that he was sent by his Father to the world to save us. Peace “with” God means that in saving us, we are reconciled with God for our sins. The peace “of” God is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we have after accepting Christ - our continuous source of peace.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

The Innkeeper was not ready for the coming of the the Christ child - the Prince of Peace. He was probably a decent and honorable man, but like all of us at times, he found himself at full capacity with no room left for Jesus. The busyness and worries of life choked out his desire to make room. In hindsight, it’s hard to imagine him doing this, but we also are guilty of shutting Jesus out of our lives.

Make room for him today.

Merry Christmas,

Big E

Matt. 5:6