NORRIS: Jesus is the bringer of peace at Christmas time
In a few days, millions of people will gather to celebrate Christmas. Hopefully, for most, it will be a special time to remember and celebrate the coming of God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ. The prophet Isaiah declared approximately 700 years before the birth of Christ that He will be called “Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) At the miraculous birth of Christ, 2,000 years ago, the angels were “praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors.” (Luke 2:14)
Peace has been a deep concern throughout human history. Lasting, encompassing peace has been limited, however in many cases elusive. Peace, for many, stands in contrast to war, referring to freedom from warfare, civil unrest and disorder. Others say peace signals harmonious living, referring to freedom from quarrels or dissension between individuals. Still others say peace is a state of inner being, a freedom from inner conflict (emotional, mental, or spiritual). Tragically many enter into the Christmas season with inner peace remaining elusive. Today it appears the scarcity of peace pervades all aspects of society at a level that we may have never experienced in human history.
This Christmas season the Christian message needs to resonate that Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace even in the midst of a hostile world. Wars may not cease; quarrels may continue. However one thing that we each can know is the peace that Christ brings into our inner being. God has made a perfect provision for peace — a lasting Peace (His Son) that differs from that of the world.
I am reminded of a personal experience I had while driving a bus for the Fort Worth transit company during my years as a seminary student. My route had me pick up passengers in the downtown area of Fort Worth and take them to the far eastern section of the city.
One particular evening, a few days before Christmas, a young man boarded my already filled-to-capacity bus, sat in the bench seat facing me and without asking him any questions, he shared his story loud enough for many of the passengers to hear. His story was filled with sadness. He had lived in a home full of all types of conflicts; his father was an alcoholic and had a history of physically abusing the children (he bore the bruises and scars); his father had just recently kicked him out of the house; he had no friends and other family members to lean upon. As he shared his story, I and others on the bus realized his horrific situation. We did not question the genuineness of his story; we knew it was true. After he had finished sharing his story (and I might add with tears) there was a hush, a quietness throughout the entire bus. If one had told me when I first hired on that I would have experiences like this, I would have been skeptical. However, here I was in the midst of something unusual that only God could have orchestrated.
In the midst of the quietness, a middle-aged lady left her seat and sat next to the distraught young man. I can still hear what she said as if it happened just last night. “Young man, I may not be able to resolve all your hurts and conflicts but one thing I do know is the One that can. Would you like to know the One who is the Prince of Peace?” Wow! This transit bus had become a place for a young man to hear the wonderful message of Christmas. God sent forth His Son, the Savior into a darkened and depraved world. Jesus came not only for this young man but for all of us. The middle-aged woman shared the message of Jesus with him. To make a long story short, the young man received the message of Jesus. He entered the bus downtrodden with all kinds of inner conflicts and fears; he exited the bus, along with several caring people, full of peace and hope. I never saw the young man again but the middle-aged lady kept me updated that he was doing well.
My prayer for you is that this Christmas season you will know the peace that only Jesus Christ can provide. Christ’s peace pervades all aspects of our personal life and can even change the most horrific plights that our world is going through. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
