PEACE: Daily Reading Plan #2
Luke 1:68-79
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Jesus Himself is our peace means that, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, God made it possible for all people to live at peace with one another. It also means that humans can be reconciled to God and experience peace with Him: "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us" (Romans 5:1, NLT). The person and work of Jesus Christ is God's ultimate provision of peace for humanity.
Before salvation, sin separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 4:18). But when Jesus died, He paid the full penalty for our sins. He was "pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him" (Isaiah 53:5; see also Colossians 1:20). Only through a relationship with the risen Christ can peace with God be achieved and maintained.
Jesus Himself is our peace means His presence is our source of peace. Paul called Jesus "the Lord of peace" who gives "peace at all times and in every way" (2 Thessalonians 3:16). The Lord told His disciples, "Peace I leave with 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).
The prophets foretold that Christ would come as the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6) who would "proclaim peace to the nations" (Zechariah 9:10). Jesus fulfilled the prophecies and preached "peace to you who were far away [the Gentiles] and peace to those who were near [the Jews]" (Ephesians 2:17). At the time of Christ's birth, the angels proclaimed, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14).
Jesus Himself is our peace. In Him, we have "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding" to guard our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7). Jesus came to bring peace on earth and called His followers to continue His mission (Matthew 5:9). We do this by sharing the gospel—"the good news of peace through Jesus Christ" (Acts 10:36)—and by living in peace with one another (Romans 12:18; 14:19; Hebrews 12:14). Because Jesus Himself is our peace, we can enjoy harmony and wholeness in our relationship with God and others.
Reflection Questions
- What do these verses reveal about peace?
- What are you called to do as a result of recognizing God who gives light and guides our feet in the way of peace?
