Isaiah 9:6  His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

One of the challenges of family gatherings is recognizing who is in charge. When do we eat? Who sits where? How long shall we wait for family members who haven't arrived yet? Someone needs to be in charge.

If that's true of a simple family gathering, it's definitely true of the whole world. Wouldn't it be wonderful if there were a single voice that could fairly and peacefully give direction? We need a Prince of Peace.

That's the wonderful promise of our text. We have endless questions and few lasting answers. We need a Savior with the power and authority of God Himself but whose message is not our destruction but the gift of peace. How easily His role could have been judgment only. But His cherished title is Prince of Peace.

He is the Prince of Peace who created peace between God and all people by being the incarnate Son of God. In Him is all the fullness of God and the authentic human flesh we carry. He is not a mere messenger from one side or another but the living peace between God and all people. With Him, we have the King whose word is peace.