The Heart of Christmas: Peace

Luke 2:8–15 ESV

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

As we look at this narrative, and take time to understand this message of Peace during this Advent season…though we have read and heard this story many times...it is important we do not overlook the context...because everything God does is intentional.

Why does this message, come to these people, at this time?

Why did God choose these shepherds, in the middle of night to bring a message of peace?

Why was it so significant then? And what makes this so significant now?

There are three parts of this context that I want us to look at together, that speak to the relevance of the message of peace.

1.Shadow of Night

2. Shepherds

3. Sheep

Why in the shadow of night, why these Shepherds and these sheep? Why did this message of peace come to them. Why did the angels come, then?

SHADOW OF NIGHT

Its the middle of the night, so why aren’t the Shepherds sleeping?

It is in the night, and under the cover of darkness that thieves come to steal, and wolves come to devour the sheep. Why aren’t they sleeping? Everyone else is sleeping, but the Shepherds are up..watching and protecting. The sheep are always vulnerable, and in particular under the darkness of the night. So they stay up to fight off whatever may come to kill or harm their sheep. They are up because they know that the world is hostile, and the sheep are vulnerable.

The Shepherds are working to protect thier flock.

This context, the shadow of night, reveals an underlying problem.

Loss of Peace- War Among Creation

The Shepherds are up the same reason we lock our doors at night. Because of the danger, and wickedness in this world. Because creation is set against itself.

I am certain that after many nights watching and waiting and defending sheep, the temptation to stop fighting and defending may tempt them…but they can’t. Because the world is broken, and people, creation is at war with itself.

Its not just the wolves, but its people, thieves. They are up because they know, and we know, wickedness is present, and danger is real.

Ephesians 5:15–16 ESV

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Evil is present. Various temptations everywhere you look. People are hostile to one another.

We are in a time, where you see more and more senseless violence. More and more mass shootings, school shootings, church shootings, people getting angry and doing great evil.

To the point we are almost numb to it. We, as other churches, have had to put in place security…didn’t have it in the years past. Schools have had to up security. Homes now, want to make sure you have some security system. Like it or not, we know, that creation is at war. Evil is present.

Parents have new problems and considerations in protecting thier children now. I am sure many a mother and father have stayed up, waiting on thier child to come home, calling to make sure they are safe. Fathers watching out for thier wife and children.

Why do the Shepherds remain villigent, and alert? The same reason we have to..because there is darkness and evill is present.

Isaiah 9:2 ESV

2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

This darkness we are in isn’t simply of night, its the wickedness and brokenness of this world. Once the sun rises the Shepherds can relax to some degree in the protection of the light. But what do you do when you dwell in a spiritual shadow..and there is a war among creation.

The night points us to a peace lost.

But next, the question is, why Shepherds?

SHEPHERDS

Why Shepherds? What do we need to know about them?

The Gospel of Luke e. The Birth of Jesus (2:1–20)

The verse describes the normal behaviour of shepherds who kept their flocks in the open and therefore had to mount a watch at night (each shepherd taking his turn on a rota) to guard against thieves and wild animals. Flocks were kept outside in this way from April to November (SB II, 114–116) and occasionally in suitable locations during the winter (cf. Morris, 84)

Multiple shepherds are necessary particularly because you have the sheep out in the open they must be guarded at all times. At night, one of the shepherds would have to stay up and watch. So, while one would would be up, the others would rest. So they would rotate…so that one always had their eye on the sheep. To protect them.

You need multiple shepherds because even the best shepherds needed to sleep. It is up to the shepherds to keep the peace of the sheep, protect them, but one man alone could not watch them all night, lest he fall asleep and leave them vulnerable.

It is the job of the shepherd to protect the sheep, but men are weak, they get tired…and so, you have multiple shepherds.

Shepherds here are significant, not simply because they represent the everyday common man and woman…but also because they give a picture of the weariness and weakness of this world.

Can you imagine, staying up all night to watch and protect sheep? Can you imagine staying mentally, emotionally sharp..to protect these helpless animals that can not help themselves?

It was a wearisome work..and reflective of another aspect of peace that is lost. Not only is there war among creation, but there is weariness and weakness within creation

Loss of Peace- Weariness and Weakness Within Creation

Weary shepherds point to the weariness of work, of life. Our loss of peace is not only reflected in the war among creation, but the weariness and weakness of creation.

Ecclesiastes 1:8–9 ESV

8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.

Heres the issue we recognize the there is war around us…there is conflict everywhere, but the truth is…we aren’t strong enough to fix it. Even if you fix something , you can’t fix everything. Even if the Shepherds fight off the thieves and wolves tonight…they still will have to stay up tomorrow night.

There is this weariness and this need for rest!

Where is Peace?

This is why this message is so important. I think we read over this verse so many times, that we have not paused to see that there is more here than happy shepherds watching sheep…they are alert, they have thier eyes attentive…they are weary.

So the night and shepherds all point to this lost peace..but also, I want you to see the significanse of the sheep. Do not miss this.

SHEEP

Its not just the night/time that is significant, or the people/shepherds that are significant, but also the sheep.

Luke: An Introduction and Commentary H. The Angels and the Shepherds (2:8–20)

It is not unlikely that the shepherds were pasturing flocks destined for the temple sacrifices. Flocks were supposed to be kept only in the wilderness (Mishnah, Baba Kamma 7:7; Talmud, Baba Kamma 79b–80a), and a rabbinic rule provides that any animal found between Jerusalem and a spot near Bethlehem must be presumed to be a sacrificial victim

For the sheep to be near Bethlehem, and out in the open, rather than in the wilderness it is likely that they were destined for temple sacrifice. Multiple commentators agree on this point. Offerings were made day and night in the temple, andIt is likely that they would have been the unblemished lambs. These would have been protected to be offered and available, for sacrifice.

Ok, so lambs are kept, protected day and night so they can be sacrificed. Ok…why?Why would lambs have to continue to be offered as sacrifices to God.

Lambs were ofered Because of the sinfulness of our hearts and our disobedience to God. Sin was present…and so lambs were offered unto God.

The very first animal to die in the bible was immediately after Adam and Eve sinned and an animal was killed to cover them. Their sin was messy, and something had to die to cover it. And lambs are offered…how often? Day and night!

The fact that these lambs have to continue to be sacrificed, and even at Passover, you sacrifice for the sins of the people…again and again..is because peace has been lost..and theres not just war within creation, or weariness within creation…but War against the creation.

Loss of Peace: War Against the Creator

And here is the underlying issue. The hostility of the world, the weariness of this life…all flows firstly from a lack of peace with God.

It isn’t people first, or the world first, or weariness first…It is first our War against God.

So in this context…we see protection in the shadow of night which points to the hostility of the world, the necessity of multiple shepherds pointing to the weariness of the world….and then the sacrificial lambs…pointing to humanities war against God.

We fight, we war, we are restless…because we resist and do not rest in God!

You can lock your doors..you can work real hard..but until you get peace with God..there will be an endless restlessness in your heart.

These were weary shepherds protecting sheep which could not truly save them..in the middle of the night restlessly watching for thieves and wolves. And even if they could stay up and protect these sheep, they would have to stay up and keep pprotecting more and more sheep..as more and more are offered…because Humanity is at war with God!

This is how many of us live our lives. Weary, trusting in something that can not save us…trying to fight battles we are too weak and weary to handle…in the darkness of our sin.

We need peace to rest. We need peace to shut our eyes. We need peace so that this war within us, and this war around us can cease....Peace!

Praise God..the story doesn’t end there..and he comes to these shepherds and these sheep at this time.

Isaiah 9:2 ESV

2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

The angels bring a message of peace!

Let me pause here and say, for every parent trying to protect thier children from the attacks on the left and the right, and those feeling weary from the same things every day, and you may feel as these shepherds, that nobody even sees it..and you’re just tired. You just want to be able to rest your eyes, rest your heart, rest your soul…the angels bring a message of peace. For the college students, or husbands or wifes, or sons, duaghters..whoever..and you are trying to find peace..trying to find rest. Good news..when you couldn’t find peace..peace finds you. Peace comes to where we are…in the darkness and weariness of our lives.

Christ Jesus is born!

SHALOM

Luke 2:14 ESV

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The message delivered was to bring news of this prince of peace…and in Him is this peace.

Now we have already looked at different layers of meaning of this world peace:

One part of it is this absense of hostility.

We have also said that peace is necessary for rest, and combatst this weariness of this world.

Isaiah 32:17–18 ESV

17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. 18 My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

But to understand the word peace and what it truly means..we must look at the Hebrew, which is the word “Shalom”.

It is much more wholistic than a lack of hostility or rest.

But this Shalom- Has been lost.

If you want to find something that is lost, I always ask myself, where was the last place I had it.

Where was this Shalom/Peace that God intended lost?

Where We Lost Peace

Genesis 3:6–7 ESV

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

And in so doing the world was cursed. Satan was cursed, Eve was cursed, Adam was cursed..and humanity was no longer able to dwell in the Garden with God.

By choosing to listen to the serpent, they chose war and hostility with God. Peace was lost.

And choosing to war against God, thier was a war and weariness within themselves..they started to die physically, and spiritually.

And not long after this, we see the violence of a world turned against its creater and against itself..when Cain kills Abel…brother against brother. And since then..the world has been groaining for what was lost.

So peace/Shahom, is deeper than warfare and weariness. The Hebrew word “Shalom” actually points to this sense of human flourshing that was lost in the Garden.

Biblical scholars tell us that shalom signifies a number of things, including salvation, wholeness, integrity, soundness, community, connectedness (to others and to God’s creation), righteousness, justice, and well-being (physical, psychological, spiritual).

Shalom denotes a right relationship with God, with others, and with God’s good creation. It is the way God intended things to be when he created the universe. This was God’s original design for his creation—not that we live in scarcity, poverty, or in minimalistic conditions. He desires that we enjoy the fruits of his creation and the fruits of our labor because by doing so, we bring him glory. 

At its core it is speaking about wholeness or completeness. Well-being and flourishing are the fringe benefits of such a state. As Pennington notes, to greet somebody with “shalom” meant to wish them prosperity and peace or flourishing in a holistic sense—personally, economically, and relationally.

Isaiah’s description of the coming righteous king gives Christians one of their favorite titles for Jesus Christ: Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). But the Hebrew is even more clear: it says that Jesus is the Prince of Shalom.

Peace/Shalom is a wholeness/completeness founded on the relationship of love and loyalty with God and one another.

This peace is a picture of the new kingdom. It is a picture of the Garden.

Jesus being this Prince of SHALOM, means He is the embodiment of what Humanity was supposed to look like, He is a picture of the thriving life.

This is what it means to have peace. More than wars, more than rest..but a picture of the new creation. And Christ would do it by making us new!

Peace with God, to bring peace with eachother, to bring peace within ourselves, and with creation.

This is why it is impossible to say I have peace with God, but you can’t leave at peace among your brothers and sisters! Because Shalom/Peace of the Messiah speaks to every aspect of our lives!

You know why Jesus says:

Matthew 5:9 ESV

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Because only people who have made peace with God through Jesus, can make true peace with others through Jesus.

One of the surest signs we have made peace with God, is that we stop making war with everybody around. When God has made peace with you through Jesus, you will begin to make peace in the world around you.

People will be mean...But I have learned that the surest sign of being at peace with God, is how respond in places where there is none. If there is no peace, I should be able to walk into it, and bring peace…because the prince of Shalom is in me.

I don’t need to fight them. I don’t need to strike them. They will have to take it up with God…but I have peace.

This Is Shalom. Thriving from a right relationships with God that affects everything else.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Messianic Peace

The most prevalent nuance to the concept of peace in the New Testament is the messianic peace accomplished by Christ and experienced by the Church (compare Acts 9:31). In the Old Testament, the concept of messianic peace referred to both the absence of hostilities and a reconciled relationship with God and others in the context of the new creation

This is the message! There is no true peace outside of Jesus…because there is no peace with God outside of Jesus, and any person that does not have Peace with God, can not live in that peace with others and themselves.

This SHALOM, this message of the Prince of SHALOM…changed the world…and he brought it to common men, shepherds, weary in the field.

Now, let us continue reading together, and see how this Peace/Shalom comes to the sheperds and addressed the lack of peace.

SHALOM & The SHADOW

What does God’s peace do in the darkness and conflict of this life.

How Does the Peace of Jesus Impact War Among Creation

Luke 2:9 ESV

9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

The angels show up and immediately shine with the glory of God..to the point that the Shepherds are terrified.

They show up and they proclaim “Jesus is Here” and they worship.

“Jesus is Here!”- Worship

There is a trembling and a reverence.

Peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of God. At the Heart of Peace is This Statement: “Jesus is Here”

Thiefs were still out there, wolfs were still out there..but now God was there too. And that was enough to calm and quiet the hearts of Shepherds.

That statment right there…if you would but remind yourself…is at the heart of Peace.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Problems still exist. There will still be wars and conflict during this time. You will still need to lock your doors, but now you have something thiefs can still. So you can lock your doors, but you don’t have to put your faith in the locks. If thieves come and take everything I go…thats ok, Jesus is here. And my Peace is in Him. God will bring anew heaven and new earth..one day every knee will bow and tongue confess…but untill then my peace is secure in Him..even in a world of madness.

But my Job..yes but Jesus is here

But I’m sick, yes but Jesus is here

But I’m tired, yes but Jesus is here

But I’m hurting, yes but Jesus is here.

But I don’t know how I”m going to make it…yes, but Jesus is here.

God does not come and make you or the world perfect right now..but what He does do is come into it and say I am good and perfect.

JESUS IS HERE

God does not end all hostility of this world, at-least not yet..but he comes into it with you. And his presence keeps you.

Peace is anchored in an awareness and reverence of God’s presence, right here, right now!

Isaiah 26:3

Isaiah 26:3 ESV

3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Peace is not about who your attacker its about where your attention is.

Isaiah 30:15 ESV

15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling,

I can not overstate it. This statement, “Jesus is here” is like lightening that strikes at the heart of every fear..and lights up the night sky in a moment.

God With us..Jesus is here!

I’m not one for surprises, but last year, me, kya, and my brother wanted to surprise my mom. We don’t get to come home much and so we decided to show up as a surprise for mom’s birthday. When I got in, she was on the phone…and I put my arm around her. She doesn’t move. I look so much like my dad, she thought I was him without looking at my face. She keeps talking on the phone for a good minute..and when she looks up she stops, laughs..and says, “Hey, let me call you back. RJ is here” In that moment, whatever conversation it was..she said hold on, let me call you back..RJ is here. And we all just laughted about it. When you someone you love is there..shows up..Its a gift.

How much better then is Jesus when we are struggling, battling…our fears keep talking to us, Satan keeps talking to us…and we are just caught up in the noise..and then an arm reaches out for us..and He says, “I’m here.” Jesus is here. Your fears may say, wait im not done…yeah but Jesus is here. Satan says wait I got something else to say, “Jesus is here” And so the unexpected Son of God/surprises us by showing up!

And says Peace be still!

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Satan wil fight me, he may try and come like a thief in the night..but I have something He can’t steal.

Luke 1:76–79 ESV

76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 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 is Here” is one of the most transformative and revealing statements of our lives..because how you respond to that determines whether we choose peace or war.

“Jesus is Here” and they worship!

How does Jesus deal with the Conflict of this world?

He says I am here. His presence turns war to worship

SHALOM & The Shepherd

Not only that, what does God’s Peace do for the Shepherd..humanity that is weary and weak.

1. Peace is a gift: Recognize and Recieve!

Shepherds work to protect it and to keep the peace…but this peace that they need is not earned..its given!

Luke 2:10–11 ESV

10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Jesus is Here…will you receive the gift of peace? Heres the question, if we need peace..why would we ever walk away?

Peace is given…in the person of Jesus.

We fail to experience peace, because we are not as thankful for him as we should…and we are not thakful because we do not recognize the value and treasure of Christ.

The angels proclaim “Jesus is Here” and yet we don’t pick up our bibles. Heaven cries out, “Jesus is here” and we say “thats cool”. The message of the angels is, “Jesus is Here, Jesus is Here” and yet we reply back...”We know, I”m busy”

Until we value Jesus more, we will never experience the fulness of peace!

Peace is a gift: We fail to recieve it because we fail to recognize his value!

Truth is, we want peace..but we don’t really want Jesus. Or if we want Jesus, we want him and other things. We are too tired to hear the angels crying out, too busy trying to keep our own lives together…to hear and to come!

This Jesus, this Prince of Peace, turns thier weariness to worship! Divinity comes into thier monotony to bring HIs glory. Don’t you see! Jesus is here. Will you recognize it? Will you recieve it?

John 14:27 ESV

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

It is a gift..and God gives no good apart from himself…because in Him is found every good and perfect thing.

The more you live in light of realizing Jesus is Here…the more thankful you will be..and the more peace you will have.

Recognizing who Jesus is turns weariness to worship!

2: Peace is a Person: Abide & Rest

The significance of Peace being in a person means that instead of us fighting for peace in weariness…the prince of peace fight for us..we can rest.

I’ve heard people say, “Protect your peace” meaning do what you have to do to find peace. And the sentiment is a good one, but its not biblical. You do not protect your peace…The Prince of Peace protects you. Humanity didn’t find peace, peace found us. Peace wasn’t about getting out of danger, it was getting to the manger!

Stop fighting for your peace, and start trusting in Jesus, who is your peace, to fight for you.

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Do not fear, remember “Jesus is here” and rest!

You have no peace because you have forgotten Jesus is there, and you will not pray or talk to Him..and you start fighting for your own peace again.

I don’t have to fight for peace, Because Peace is in Jesus…and it is Jesus who is fighting for me!

Galatians 5:22

Galatians 5:22 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

John 15:4-5

John 15:4–5 ESV

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

There is no true peace outside of Jesus. There is no true rest outside of Him

Heres the secret, you don’t find peace by looking for peace. You find peace when you look for Jesus. If you get Jesus you get peace,joy, love, all wrapped up. If your trying to get peace..without Jesus…you will find neither.

Lastly, not only is there Shalaom in the shadow of this world, and Shalom for the Weariness of the Shepherd…most imporantly..there is Shalom in the war against God, and the sheep who could not save.

SHALOM & The Sheep

War Against God

These Shepherds who are watching the very sheep

to be offered for the sins of the people, acknowlege the light of the world, who will be THE true lamb of God offered for the people.

Just like these sheep had to die as an offering for our sin..something had to die. These sheep could not accomplish lasting peace for humanity.

But heres what we see..peace has a cost.

1. Peace has a cost!: Someone has to pay

Ephesians 5:8 ESV

8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

The problem with the sheep the shepherds are watching is, they deal with the external..but darkness isn’t just something we are in..Ephesians says..we were.

It is in us!

To have peace…God has to remove those that war against Him. Whose hearts are against Him. If we pray for peace..and God to make everything right..He’d have to get rid of us. We are the ones who have lost peace.

He has to deal with the evil of this world. Sheep can’t fix that. Something had to be done instead.

Isaiah 53:5–6 ESV

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Jesus is the light in the darkness…the good shepherd for weak and weary shepherds…and the perfect lamb to end all other sin sacrifices.

Peace will come!

We choose peace in Christ or war with God!

We choose to accept the gift or reject Him.

What am I saying?

Each of us like these shepherds are in a world of darkness…trying our best to keep the peace of our lives.

You may be able to fight off the wolf or the thief for a while…you may be able to fight off certain problems in your life.

But there is a thief that comes which you can not stop. As a matter of fact Satan already has your peace. We lost it. Christ came to bring it back.

John 10:10 ESV

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Christ offers Shalom: Peace.

The Good shepherd who protects us from Satan, that thief.

Jesus is here..He comes to the Shepherds..and He comes to you..What will you do?