Today, we conclude our Advent sermon series. Thus far, we have studied the three names of Christ from the Book of Isaiah: “Wonderful Counselor,” “Mighty God,” and “Everlasting Father” (Isaiah 9:6). Shortly, we will examine another significant name of Jesus: the “Prince of Peace.” Peace remains one of the most desired virtues in our world today. In today’s Gospel, the Heavenly Choir assures us of divine peace. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14). How deeply we yearn for such Heavenly peace. As we celebrate this Christmas and look ahead, our hearts long for this peace. Tonight, I invite us to briefly explore three aspects of the peace that Jesus Christ brings through His birth, life, death, and resurrection.

Firstly, the peace Jesus offers is peace with God. Friends, do we experience this peace with God today? Our Lord Jesus has paid all the consequences of our mistakes, failures, and transgressions. These things could cause us to lose our peace with God and keep us distant from the Lord. However, we need to remember the truth: God has both the power and the willingness to purify us from every sin – whether committed knowingly or unknowingly – when we genuinely repent and sincerely trust in Him. Through the grace of our Mighty and Merciful Lord, our broken relationship with God can be restored. In Christ, no guilt, condemnation, and discouragement can make us anxious. The Prince of Peace can set our souls free and give us profound peace with God. With our Christ-given calmness, we can courageously keep moving forward in His bright direction, regardless of our challenges.

Secondly, the peace Jesus brings is peace within us. Friends, do we experience this inner peace today? We often believe that we could find peace of mind if certain aspects of our lives improved. However, the settling truth is that we could still harbor anxious hearts even when things improve. Anxious thoughts seem to shadow us constantly. It often feels as if we are persistently trying to free ourselves from mental turmoil. We all yearn to find peace within our hearts. When we place our trust in the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, we can attain peace from God who understands our innermost feelings, recognizes our struggles, and sees every tear shed for our loved ones. With God’s peace dwelling within us, we can confidently echo the hymn “It is well with my soul” in our daily lives. Empowered by our God-given peace, we can navigate challenges and enjoy a peaceful journey regardless of the storms we may encounter.

Thirdly, the peace Jesus brings is peace with others. Friends, do we experience this peace with others today? Misunderstandings from loved ones or those around us often become stumbling blocks in our relationships. Despite our best efforts and intentions, we may find ourselves misunderstood. Such moments are painful. If you have felt hurt by close associates, know that my heart goes out to you. I pray that our Prince of Peace may touch your wounded spirit and shower you with His peace. My wife often shares a wise insight: “If we continually justify our words and actions and defend ourselves, God has no space to intervene on our behalf.” I wholeheartedly agree. When we entrust our hurts and feelings to God and strive to do right things before Him, He will comfort us, fight for us, and mend broken relationships. Through this transformative journey, God can mold us into His peacemakers, enabling us to bring harmony to our troubled world.

This Christmas season, we raise our voices in praise, singing the cherished carol, Silent Night: “Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright. Round yon virgin, mother and Child, Holy Infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.” Such peace resonates with God, dwells within us, and binds us to our brothers and sisters in Him. Friends, let us always remember that this divine peace is attainable only through Christ. On our spiritual journey, challenges will undoubtedly arise that we cannot face alone. In those moments, we must once again turn to the Prince of Peace, placing our burdens in the hands of Christ. Jesus, born unto us, sacrificed for our sins on the cross, resurrected from death, graciously offers each of us His eternal peace.

Friends, I urge each of us to reflect daily upon the Holy Scripture, repent of our sins before God, and receive Christ’s boundless forgiveness with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Once we have made peace with the Mighty God, we can address the root of our fears, experience His peace in our hearts, and nurture harmonious relationships with others. As ambassadors of Christ’s peace, let us share the Gospel of Peace with our family, friends, and neighbours, not just during Christmas but throughout our lives.

* In this message, I have been inspired by some thoughts from various sermons based on the following texts, Isaiah 9:6-7; and Luke 2:1-15.