The Prince of Peace - People United for Christ

No life ever lived has affected the world more than that of a simple man who walked the earth over two thousand years ago - Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Chronicling his life, the New Testament continues to touch the lives of people even today. It contains the famous parables and moral lessons of this greatest of all teachers. Christ was very much a type of a revolutionary figure, introducing to the world what the love of God can do for individual humans and for humanity as a whole. His message can be summed up best by his beloved apostle John, who wrote, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever should believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Christ is dear to me because, just as this scripture states, he continues to inspire because he was more than merely a great moral teacher; he was the Son of God. He was born to a virgin, Mary, under humble circumstances; a true prince of peace. Growing grace by grace, He began his ministry at about age 31 and was killed less than three years later by those who could not understand his mission. Christ was a man stuck in a time period that was not willing to accept his message of love and of peace and of healing. He seemed to know exactly how to raise the ire of those around him, condemning but also containing an abundance of love. As a follower and great believer in the People United for Christ Reverend Peter Popoff, I believe in the Lord's power to help people and provide for them.

This God, though, was not ignorant of what it was like to be a human. Paul, the author of the treatise on Christ that we now know today as Hebrews, expresses thanks that we "do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4.15). In other words, Christ was abased so that he could be exalted: "We do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of god he might taste death for everyone" (Hebrews 2.9). In what other aspect of life do we have that promise -- who else can truly understand us?

He takes upon himself--not in a collective but individual manner--the mass of human suffering, including physical, mental, and spiritual pain, sin, and even misunderstanding. He has promised to make right what can otherwise never be reconciled in this life. That promise, unwavering although given thousands of years ago, continues to anchor the lives of millions today. Because of his literal resurrection those many years ago, all mortals will be resurrected. These are no trivial events, and indeed, no mere mortal could have offered such a lifeline nor a promise.