Our Prince of Peace

Sar (sar); the one in charge; lord, chief, general

Shalom (shaw-lome’); rest, tranquility, wholeness, completeness

Jesus is our Sar Shalom. Taking the Greek meaning of the words Sar Shalom you might say Jesus is our Captain of Rest, General of Tranquility, Chief of Wholeness, or Lord of Contentment. He is the one in charge of rest, tranquility, and wholeness. It’s amazing the number of times I’ve heard believers make a statement such as, “I don’t have peace.” I’ve come to realize that most Christians have a false understanding of peace.

We personally experienced this a few years ago. While away at an encounter weekend, my wife had to take our youngest daughter, Samara, to the emergency room because she was experiencing tremendous stomach pain. After a few tests, they found that her stomach was pressing through a hole in her diaphragm collapsing her lung and pressing against her heart. They quickly airlifted her to a children’s hospital in Chicago. After nearly 22 hours and a full day of tests, needles, and nurses, they took her into emergency surgery. By this time, we were exhausted. I can remember being awakened by the staff coming into the room to take her away to prep her for the operation. I looked over to Charlene who was sleeping soundly. Instead of waking her, I prayed with Samara and then they wheeled her out of the room. I laid back down in the chair and went back to sleep. About an hour and a half later, the doctor came in to explain to both of us the procedure and all the potential complications that possibly could take place. As the surgeon left the room, and I remember thinking that I needed to be a “man of God” and stay awake and pray for my daughter. However, I knew that there were others that were praying on our behalf so I laid back down and went to sleep. The next thing we remembered was the surgeon waking us to tell us how the surgery went just as they wheeled Samara back into the room.

We still talk about that experience and are amazed at the peace that we walked in. Most parents would be up pacing the floors throughout the surgery. Yet we had amazing peace and laid down and slept. You see, the storm still raged and the battle was still going on. However, in the midst of the storm, we rested. Jesus did the same thing. In the midst of a storm on a boat, Jesus laid down and slept. Why? Because He knew who was still in authority, and the storm didn’t change that. Peace is the supernatural ability to rest while the war rages all around you. Where we miss it as believers is that we falsely believe that for peace to exist, the war has to stop. True peace exists when you can rest in the midst of the war.

Philippians 4:6-7 says that the “peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The peace that comes from the Prince of Peace cannot be understood. It transcends our understanding. Peace that comes from the Prince of Peace is found in Him alone (Ephesians 2:13-14a).

·      Jesus is the Prince of Peace who comforts you.

“Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” — John 14:27

·      Jesus is the Prince of Peace who saves you.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Romans 5:1

How would you describe your normal state — very peaceful, mostly peaceful, occasionally stressed, or off-the-charts high strung and anxious? What keeps you from walking in supernatural peace in the midst of the war surrounding you?