Peace is a wonderful theme for Advent, and the Bible has much to say about it. In contrast, the world system also talks a lot about peace, but it obviously does not understand it. As a child of the sixties, I heard a lot about peace and love from that camp. But until I accepted Jesus’ gracious offer to save me, I didn’t understand peace either.
 
As Christians, we all desire true peace, but do we consider the source? In Isaiah chapter 11, the prophet gives us a panorama of where true peace comes from, starting with Jesus’ Advent. Jesus was a descendant of Jesse, and the Spirit of the LORD rested upon him during his Earthly ministry, which gave him wisdom, counsel, knowledge, and the fear of the LORD. And the meek were promised equity; however, the wicked would be judged.
 
Jesus carried out all the tasks the Father gave him until the time of his Atonement. During the Last Supper he delivered the most wonderful promises to his Apostles; not just Peace, but blessings beyond compare, that where he was, they would be also. In John’s gospel, Jesus says “Peace I leave you, my peace I give to you… Let not your hearts be troubled…” (Jn 14:27) What could be better than that?
 
The final scene Isaiah gives us is a picture of what Jesus will do in his Millennial kingdom. Gone will be all the evil we see around us in this fallen world. There will be Peace as there has never been before, except for a short time in the Garden of Eden. And harkening back to the first verses of chapter 11, “and a little child shall lead them.”
 
Maranatha!
 
Peace to you all this Advent season.