The Prince of Peace

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). The following acrostic on the title “Prince” illustrates what kind of a Prince Christ is.

P — Powerful Prince. He is “the Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6). He is mighty in many ways. His mighty acts declare His power. He is mighty to save (Psalm 89:19); He is mighty to deliver (Deuteronomy 6:21; 7:8,19); He is mighty to conquer (Joshua 4:24; 2 Corinthians 10:4); He is mighty to strengthen (Genesis 49:24); He is mighty to use in His service (Colossians 1:29); He is mighty in word (Luke 24:19); and He is mighty in work (Mark 6:2).

R — Royal Prince. Some men have occupied princely places who have not had a royal pedigree. Not so with Christ, for He is the “Son” (Isaiah 9:6). His royalty is of heavenly origin, for He is the Son of God; and He is of the royal line of David, and as such will sit upon the “throne of David” (Isaiah 9:7) in the time to come. Christ is royal in every sense of the word. He is royal in birth, royal in giving, royal in love, royal in grace, royal in truth, royal in action, and royal in utterance.

I — Incarnate Prince. He who was the Son of God became the Son of Man that He might make the sons of men who believe in Him, sons of God; hence we read, “Unto us a Child is born.” By His birth He became our Kinsman (Hebrews 2:14), that He might have the right to redeem us. The action of Christ as the Saviour is a trinity, as seen in His incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection. These must never be separated, for the one is essential to the other to complete the triangle of Christ’s complete redemptive work as far as it relates to His atonement.

N — Noble Prince. He is “Wonderful” and “Counsellor” (Isaiah 9:6). Christ is noble in His wondrous love. David said of Jonathan’s love that it surpassed the love of women (2 Samuel 1:26). We must say of Christ’s love that it surpasses all other love. It is a height without a top, a depth without a bottom, a length without a measure, and a breadth without a calculation (Ephesians 3:18,19). Christ is noble in His comprehensive counsel. The Septuagint renders “Counsellor” as “Messenger of great counsel.” “Who teacheth like Him?” None. He eclipses all others. “Never man spake like this Man” (John 7:46).

C — Conquering Prince (Isaiah 9:4). Christ is the mighty Man of valor. He goes forth conquering and to conquer. He overcomes the strong man armed (Luke 11:22), and strips the powers of darkness (Colossians 2:15). He leads forth His armies and gains the victory (Revelation 19:11-15), and as we have faith in Him, we also overcome by His power (1 John 5:4).

E — Eternal Prince (Isaiah 9:6,7). He is the “Everlasting Father,” and the One of the increase of whose government there shall be “no end”; yea, “for ever” shall His righteous rule be prolonged. Unlike earthly monarchs, who come and go, this One shall remain, for His kingdom is spoken of as “the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11).

—F.E. Marsh, from Five Hundred Bible Readings