Lessons from Mount Nemrut!�

Bible Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7, Matthew 11:28-30

 Peace in the Middle East? There are currently talks going on in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinians. They are seeking to try to find a peaceful solution to the conflict there. These issues go back centuries with animosities that are deep and fractious. I remember seeing a t-shirt in a shop in Jerusalem that had the caption �Peace in the Middle East?� with three men beneath those words rolling around on the ground laughing. The tragedy of all this is that it is not a laughing matter. Lives are being lost almost daily over the issue. Even the resumption of peace talks led to the deaths of four Israeli settlers, killed in protest that the talks were about to resume. Constant road blocks to peace.

This led me to think about a mountain I had visited in central Turkey in May this year.

Mt Nemrut lies in the region of Adiyaman, Central Turkey, and is the tomb sanctuary of King Antiochus 1. He reigned for the period 69-36BC, as king over the small kingdom of Commagene, a region squeezed between the two warring forces of Rome and Parthia.  The site was rediscovered by a German engineer in 1881 and has since been partially excavated. It is now a World Heritage listed site.

King Antiochus wanted to be the peace maker of his day. He thus built a huge sanctuary on the mountain as the place where he felt peace would come. It consisted of large statues of lions, eagles, various Greek and Persian gods, along with one of himself. He thought that if could bring together the gods from the various religious traditions of his day then peace would naturally flow and people would find happiness and salvation.

There are two areas of statues, set up like chess pieces on the west and eastern side of the mountain, with the burial site of the king it is thought inside the manmade peak of the mountain. The heads of the statues have been toppled by earthquakes over the centuries.

Antiochus tried hard to stop the two nations fighting but in the end, when the fighting continued, despite his peace making efforts, he joined the Parthians. The Romans then came, defeated the Parthians, deposing Antiochus from his throne and then took over his kingdom.

Antiochus had tried in his own way, just as many others have done down through the years, to bring peace, but failed. Peace however will only come when it is sought on God�s terms and in his way for he is the source of true peace. But one who would bring peace was coming.

� The coming of the Prince of Peace
It is ironical that just a few years after the death of Antiochus, a babe was born in a small nondescript village in Israel called Bethlehem, a child who was destined to  be called the Prince of Peace, a child who would truly bring peace, lasting peace.

This peace, Isaiah said some 700 years before this took place, would be declared in the region of Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan (Isaiah 9:1).

Isaiah 9:1 �In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan.�

The way of the sea or Via Maris as it is called in the Latin Vulgate, speaks of the ancient highway that passed through Capernaum on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Caravans would pass through here, coming from Egypt, Syria or Mesopotamia. This was a region of foreign influence and paganism, right up against the border with Syria.

This region had not featured up to this point on the political map. The Jews looked down on people who came from that area. The Pharisees in particular showed total distain for the region. They thus replied to a question from Nicodemus concerning this region�

John 7:52 �They replied, �Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.��

The Pharisees had not been reading their Bibles or else they would have known better than to make such a statement. It was concerning this region that Isaiah around 700BC spoke forth these words:

Isaiah 9:6-7 �For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David�s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from this time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.�

God was about to break forth in an amazing new way. He would bring light to a dark world, hope to a despairing people, peace to troubled hearts.

� What is this peace?
It is important to define what we are speaking about here. Peace is much more than the absence of war. The Hebrew word for peace, Shalom, has great richness in meaning. It could be translated as wholeness, wellbeing, or completeness. It speaks of a society when all is in harmony with God�s purposes. Shalom or peace is life as God intended it to be. Peace is not the absence of war but rather the presence of God in your life. Peace is a state of calm without anxiety. You can be at peace when the bullets are flying. In Israel when you greet someone you say �Shalom�. You also say it when you are leaving. Peace, in God�s terms, covers everything from hello to goodbye. Peace is the fruit of righteousness, when one is living in obedience to God.

In the NT peace has an equivalent meaning, flowing as a gift from God through Christ. That is why we need to now discover more about the promised Prince of Peace, for peace is to be found in a person.
 

� Who is this Prince of Peace?
There are several titles given concerning this prince of peace.
Wonderful Counselor � Wonderful refers to that which is divine. The coming prince would display divine ability to lead and guide others. Jesus is our source of heavenly wisdom. There are many people today who are very intelligent but are not wise. Knowledge is increasing so fast now but it is not necessarily wisdom. Once it doubled every century, then every 50 years, then every ten years. In 2009 it was said to be doubling every 18 months. The IBM company suggest it is now doubling every 11 hours!! What we need today is not more information and knowledge but true Biblical wisdom. Jesus is the source of such wisdom.

Mighty God � he is the Creator and Sustainer of all things; speaking of God�s power and authority as he moves out on behalf of his people. Jesus is the Mighty God who possesses divine power. He holds the universe in the palm of his hands. In Hebrews we read that Jesus made the universe and sustains all things by his powerful word. He is our mighty God. Read Hebrews 1:1-3 to see the whole picture here.

Eternal Father � He is the Father of Eternity, in control of all things. Jesus is the Everlasting Father, the benevolent protector who rules forever as Lord of time.

Prince of Peace � God brings shalom or wholeness to society through Jesus. Jesus is the one who will draw us into relationship with the Father and thus bring peace, in a partial way in this life but in completeness in his coming kingdom. He will rule forever on David�s throne, establishing his kingdom.

Luke 2:11-14 ��Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.� Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, �Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all men on whom his favor rests.��

Peace comes thus through Jesus.

� How do we receive this peace?
Jesus said that peace would only come as a person submitted to him and then lived a life of faith. To such people, Jesus could thus say�

John 14:27 �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.�

Some people at the time listened to him and followed but most chose not to. The Jewish authorities were angered and worried by such teaching and arranged for him to be arrested and crucified on a cross, with the support of the Roman authorities. They thought they had got rid of him, but three days later he rose from the dead, unlike Antiochus who is still in his tomb. Jesus then commissioned his disciples to go out with the Good News of peace. Empowered by the Holy Spirit his followers went throughout the Roman Empire, spreading the good news to all who would listen.

Yes, peace comes to our hearts when we submit to Jesus as our Lord and Master. Have you found that peace in your life? It is as simple as ABC�

Admit you are a sinner in need of God�s forgiveness.

Believe the Good News, that Jesus has died for your sins on the cross and has risen again in victory over sin.

Commit your life into Christ�s hands to walk by faith.

Jesus is reaching out to you right now.

Matthew 11:28-30: �Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.�

Are you weary and burdened by life? Reach out to Christ in prayer.

Philippians 4:6-7 �Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.�

� What is your road block to finding peace?
Most people would love to be at peace with themselves and others and with God. However, over the years, various barriers and road blocks have come between them and Jesus. As a result, many people have resorted to trying to find peace in other places. Peace does not come through political or military efforts. Peace does not come through positive thinking or via personal effort.  Peace comes when we submit to Jesus as Lord. Are you open to receive Christ into your life today, or are there roadblocks in the way. On our recent visit to Israel, we set out one day from Jerusalem to visit Bethlehem, the place where Jesus was born. We thought it would be a relatively easy journey, just 15kms away down the road. Such was not the case. Suddenly the road was blocked with this giant wall.

 Bethlehem is in the Palestinian West Bank and it is not easy to visit there. A huge concrete wall has been built, seeking to keep the Palestinians and Israelis apart and to stop the killings. On all my travels, Bethlehem was the hardest place to get into. For many of us, there seem to be so many road blocks that we have built, or we have allowed others to build that are preventing us from drawing closer to Christ and in finding peace.

What is your road block to finding peace? Some people say it is that they have been hurt by other Christians or by churches. Some say that they tried to follow God but it got all too hard. Some say that they have doubts and uncertainties or that they have seen too much suffering to have faith. Some say that it is too late, that they have messed up their lives.

To each of these concerns, can I encourage you to press on to discover who Jesus is and to submit to him. I plead with you, don�t allow the road blocks to keep you from seeking after Jesus. After going through quite a bit of hassle on the road to Bethlehem, we finally made our way into the town of Bethlehem and were so glad we did. Can I encourage you� press on to discover who Jesus is and in faith submit to him as Lord. Then you will discover the peace of God that only the Prince of Peace can bring!

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