As you know, we are in the season of Advent; that time in the Christian calendar when we as a church are preparing our hearts and minds for the celebration of Christmas. Isaiah the prophet spoke of the coming of Christ as a baby when he said:

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

Here Isaiah called Jesus the “Prince of Peace.” Peace describes the state that Man was in when God first created us. Man was created perfectly in God’s image. God put him in the Garden of Eden, gave him a wife, and told him to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. The Israelites called this state “Shalom”; God’s perfect peace. Man was sinless and was in perfect communion with his creator. There was no pain, no suffering, no anxiety, no stress, no struggle, no hurts, no tears.

Just peace.

But when Adam sinned, this peace between Man and God was broken, and for thousands of years God’s people waited expectantly for the coming of the Son of God who would restore this broken relationship.

Then, when Christ was born, the angels declared to nearby shepherds:

"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:10-14 (ESV)

Thirty-three years after the proclamation of this message, Jesus, the sinless Son of God, allowed himself to be crucified at the hands of sinful men. In so doing, he atoned for your sins and mine that we might have Peace with God. During this season, let us remember the Peace with God we have through Christ and marvel at how that peace was brought to us through the birth of a baby.