The One of Peace has come
Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Micah 5:1-5 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible).
Advent is a time of writing Christmas cards in our house, and I am always keen to send cards which highlight the true meaning of Christmas. But I wonder if I’m the only one who shies away from sending cards which hail Jesus as the ‘Prince of Peace’ to those who don’t have a Christian faith, because as we look around the world today we see a lot of conflict. We know that the Prince of Peace, or ‘one of peace’ (v.5) has come - but where is that peace?
Our reading today reminds us that Jesus has come as our shepherd (v.4). Jesus calls us all into His flock, where we will find peace (v.5) and security (v.4). Let’s recognise the context in which this peace is experienced, however, this is not a peace which is detached from the realities of living in a broken world, as the NIV translates it: ‘And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land’ (v.5). The peace which Jesus brings is deeper and longer lasting than a lack of conflict. The peace which Jesus brings can even be experienced by those who’s country have been invaded.
Jesus, ’the one of peace’ (v.4), through His first Advent, brought a spiritual, a personal peace, which will last forever, which all those who choose to follow Jesus. Whilst I have personally not known the horrors of war, I have known un-peaceful and stressful situations, and have known ‘the peace of God, which passes understanding’ (Philippians 4:7).
During this Advent season, not only do we look back to when our Shepherd, the One of Peace, arrived that first Christmas, we eagerly look forward to when Jesus will return to bring pervasive, eternal peace, not just to the individuals who seek to follow Him now, but bringing an end to all wars, sufferings, and personal conflicts. It’s impossible to sum up the depths of the peace Jesus brings in a simple Christmas card, but I pray that recognising Jesus as ‘the One of peace’ will bring hope and joy this Christmas and throughout the coming year.