PRINCE OF WHOLENESS
prince (noun): a ruler; a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field
wholeness (noun): completeness, unity; the state of being unbroken and undamaged
“For a child has been born–for us! The gift of a son–for us! He’ll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness. His ruling authority will grow, and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings…” Isaiah 9:6-7
In most translations of this verse, Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. In the Message version of the Bible, Eugene Peterson chose to use the word “wholeness” in place of peace. Connecting the ideas that wholeness precipitates peace and that peace influences physical and mental well-being made sense to me; but I wanted to understand more…
A quick Google search helped me find the Greek word for peace: eirene. Eirene stems from the root word eiro which means “to join, tie together into a whole.” I love that the same word that is written for peace is used to express wholeness–something (or someone) with all the essential parts joined together.
The night that Jesus was born, the angel proclaimed:
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born…
At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights, PEACE to all men and women on earth who please him.” Luke 2:10-14
God’s gift of Peace on Earth means so much more than just the absence of strife or conflict.
God’s gift of Peace on Earth means that he has a plan to bring everything and everyone into wholeness. To usher us first into a perfect union with him, but also to bring healing to our broken world. Our relationships, our roles, our struggles, our victories, our pain, our gifts, our disappointments, our joys–all essential parts that God is tying together.
He sent Jesus to bring us into wholeness with himself: welcoming us into a redemptive, loving relationship; making us one with our Creator-Father-God.
He sent Jesus to bring us into wholeness with each other: showing us how to live and serve in community with equal regard and true compassion for every person.
He sent Jesus to heal our hearts and souls and minds and bodies: helping us to nurture and calm the conflicted, alienated, painful parts of ourselves.
He sent Jesus to infuse peace into our circumstances, giving us the strength to endure and the faith that trusts his goodness and wisdom in every situation.
He gave us Jesus. Our Prince of Wholeness. His perfect, just-what-we-needed, more-than-we-could-have-ever-dreamed-of gift.
Invite Him in: Even though this world keeps breaking you down, tearing you apart, and chipping away at your soul; Jesus came to bring you wholeness. He continually puts your pieces together, builds you back up, heals your heart, and refreshes your spirit. Let him pour the completeness of his life into yours and give to you his peace.