Violence meets the Prince of Peace

Violence meets the Prince of Peace
NO BODY IN THE GRAVE NOW!
Terry R. Baughman

“John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29 NKJ).

John the Baptist had an usual insight with Jesus. Not only did they share the experience of supernatural birth, they were related. John was only six months older than Jesus! 

John’s mother, Elisabeth, was much older and had never had children. However, God made a promise to her husband, Zacharias, while he served in the Temple they they would have a child. As a sign of this miracle Zacharias was unable to speak until John was born and dedicated. He named him by writing on a tablet, “His name is John” (Luke 1:63 NKJ). 

Six months after Elisabeth had conceived, her young niece, Mary, received a visit from the angel Gabriel, who announced God’s plan for her. She had been chosen to bear the anointed One, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It was too much for her to comprehend and she sought to understand how it could be possible for a virgin to conceive. One of the signs given to her was that her aunt, Elisabeth was also expecting her first child, even though she was beyond the age for child-bearing. 

God’s plan of redemption involved more than two cousins bringing a message of salvation and deliverance to all humanity, but it also required the miraculous participation of two godly women, Elisabeth and Mary, to bear these two men of destiny into the world. John the Baptist, so named because of his message and practice of baptizing believers in the waters of the Jordan river, became the messenger, or the forerunner, of the coming Messiah. He understood his own calling, “I must decrease,” as well as the destiny laid upon the shoulders of his cousin, “He must increase” (John 3:30 NKJ). After declaring Jesus to be “The Lamb of God,” he stated, “After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me” (John 1:30 NKJ).

The prophet Isaiah said, “The government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NKJ). The attributes of the coming Messiah concluded with, “Prince of Peace.” He went on to say, “Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end” (Isaiah 9:7 NKJ).

However, the Prince of Peace was met with violence. Jesus came with such hope and promise, bringing Good News to the world. John said, “He entered into the world he created, yet the world was unaware. He came to the people he created — to those who should have received him, but they did not recognize him” (John 1:10-11 TPT). Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem just prior to His final visit, and cried out, “If only you could recognize that this day peace is within your reach! But you cannot see it” (Luke 19:43 TPT). 

The Peacemaker had come, but only to be rejected, mistreated, and put to death. They did not perceive their hour of visitation had come from on high. Isaiah predicted, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5 NKJ). Our peace cost Him punishment. He was beaten, bloodied, and bullied, yet He refused to speak out in His own defense. He did not rationalize or justify His actions. He did not return anger and rebuke for His mistreatment. He surrendered with peace so that we might have peace. 

Another verse from our Easter theme song, There’s no Body in the Grave Now, by Elevation Worship says, “Behold the Lamb, Upon the cross, Who takes away the sins of all. Forgiveness flows, From hands and feet, As violence meets the Prince of Peace, Behold the King.” While violence is all around us, and peace become every more illusive, there is a peace available to every child of God, “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 NKJ).
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Theme passage:
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay” (Matthew 28:5-6 NIV).