Christ's Birthday Observance: Make Peace

Entertaining Angels

As we celebrate the results of Angel visitation.

Gabriel visited Zechariah

Gabriel visited Mary

Angels visited Joseph

Angels Announced to the Shepherds

So much of our celebration of the birth of Christ is the result of angels’ visitations.

Think about the times when it was likely that God sent His angels for you.

Today we look at another result of the visits of angels and the Christ that the world so desperately needs:

In a world of stress and worry and war, God needs His people to

Make Peace

Familiar words of peace we share in the Christmas season are all over in the book of the prophet Isaiah.

Here is the most familiar:

Isaiah 9:6–7 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. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

The prophet promises the Prince of Peace; and promises that His government of Peace will continue to increase “from now to forever.”

The Peaceable Kingdom

Is the grand theme of God’s restoration in Isaiah.

It is a glorious vision, it is a perfect world, it is the restoration of Eden for all mankind, not just our first parents, Adam and Eve.

We will see in the 11th chapter of Isaiah the coming peace through the Promised Child:

A Child of Promise

Isaiah 11:1–2 ESV

1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Judging by Grace

Isaiah 11:3 ESV

3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

Judging by Righteousness

Isaiah 11:4 ESV

4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

Complete Peace Comes by the Child

Isaiah 11:5–6 ESV

5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. 6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.

Celebrate Safety

Isaiah 11:7–8 ESV

7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.

Celebrate Security

Isaiah 11:9 ESV

9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Celebrate Peace

Isaiah 11:10 ESV

10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

Peace Begins With You

Isaiah 26:3 ESV

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

Righteousness and Peace Are a Package

Isaiah 32:17 ESV

17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.

When We Rebel, Peace is Lost

Isaiah 48:18 ESV

18 Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;

We Need Bringers of Peace

Isaiah 52:7 ESV

7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

People may proclaim peace; a few work to make peace, but for the real peace we need, . . .

Our Only Hope is Christ

Isaiah 53:5 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.