Peace on Earth, Goodwill Towards Men

Luke 2:1–20 NIV

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, 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 heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Introduction: Funny question, How does Jesus’ birth point us to Jesus?

27 - Where is the Peace on Earth?

The Unforgettable Story of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - During the Civil War.

His wife had died when her dress caught on fire - he tried to save her but was too late.

He had just received news that his son was facing lifelong paralasis after being wounded in the Civil war.

Read the lyrics

"Peace is the Brief Glorious Moment in history when everybody stands around reloading. - Lloyd Cory, Quote Unquote

You also may not find peace as we generally define it. It feels like there are - conflict with a family member, friends, co-workers.

Culture wars in our country

Russian and Ukrainian war, rumors of war.

A longing for something - more money, more love, more friendships, alone time, etc...

Jesus’ is born when all kinds of conflicts are happening. The Romans are beginning their occupation on the land. Herod in a few years, will kill all the baby boys 5 yrs or younger - Jesus himself will lose his life over conflicts with the Religious leaders and the Romans, 40 years after that Jerusalem will be decimated by the Romans, and all of his followers will be killed. If it is not this kind of peace, what kind of peace are we talking about?

Tell the Story of my Freshmen Bible Class in the Life of Jesus. - Feeling Wholeness

That sense of wholeness is what Jesus Brings.

28 - Jesus’ Birth brings Peace.

29 - Bible Project Video on Peace.

30 - Quote Romans 5:1-11

Romans 5:1–11 LEB

Therefore, because we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces patient endurance, and patient endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, yet at the proper time Christ died for the ungodly. For only rarely will someone die on behalf of a righteous person (for on behalf of a good person possibly someone might even dare to die), but God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Therefore, by much more, because we have been declared righteous now by his blood, we will be saved through him from the wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, by much more, having been reconciled, we will be saved by his life. And not only this, but also we are boasting in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

His death and resurrection could not have happened if Jesus were not embodied as a human being. - His birth story tells us that God took on flesh

As we have been looking at other birth stories pointing to Jesus and how they were real men who foreshadowed Jesus Christ, and now Jesus Christ is here being born, the fulfillment of all the Old Testament types and prophecies. William Boekestein writes, “Until we grasp that Christ is God-in-flesh, the Old Testament will remain a collection of stories about how men and women struggled with the call to faith. The incarnation helps us to see that the Old Testament sets the stage for God to once again live with man as He did in Eden. On every Old Testament page, God promises a human deliverer who is also stronger than Satan (Gen. 3:15); both a suffering servant and an anointed king” (William Boekestein, “The Incarnation: Its Relevance,” Ligonier, December 18, 2020, https://www.ligonier.org/blog/incarnation-relevance/).

The Chosen

Chrisitians believe that the incarnation - Jesus being fully God and Fully man is essential for our salvation. Had to be a man in order to pay for the sins of man “Through one man sin entered the world, and through one man the sins of many have been removed.” He had to be fully God, because no many had the power to conquer sin and death on his own.

The incarnation is the point where God and humans unite making us whole

The Incarnation shows us that what God takes on God saves, and makes whole.

We all have a God-sized hole in our lives that can only be filled by Christ.

Saint Augustine writes in his Confessions, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

But this peace is made to be shared

31 - Promote Peace.

The Angels share the message with the Shepherds There will be a sign -

32 - Picture of a Manger....

33 - Positive View: Daryl Bock: Noteworthy too is the choice of shepherds to be among the first to hear about the new child and see him. Some commentators argue that the shepherds symbolize God’s meeting the despised, but this negative reputation for shepherds is later than the first-century Judaism. The biblical shepherd imagery is mostly positive, and the association of shepherds with these events adds an image of everyday living to the scene. God is involved not just with the special or the great, but with all people. His announcement of the child’s arrival to everyday folk shows his commitment to the mass of humanity. Those “on whom God’s favor rests” include those whose claim to fame may be nothing more than that they wake up each day and pursue a living in service to God.

• Place Called Migdal Eder - Tower of the Flock.

More on the Positive View: Geldenhuys, N. It is probable that their flock was intended for offerings in the temple, as flocks for this purpose were kept in the vicinity of Bethlehem (cf. Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus, i, p. 189). In this case they would ere long have gone to Jerusalem and would there also have told the whole story to the pious people who were awaiting the coming of the promised Messiah. In this manner they would have prepared persons like Simeon and Anna (verses 25–40) for their welcoming of the Christ-child.

Geldenhuys, N. (1952).

The angels described the birth of Jesus as good news of great joy, and Luke’s Gospel in particular shows that from the very beginning, Christ came to redeem people from all levels of society. This is the good news of Christmas: that no matter where you live or what your parents do for a living, you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you are loved by God and that he delights in you. Whether you’re a shepherd or a janitor or a doctor or a teacher, God still can and will use you for eternal purposes.

Challenge everyone to send a card or visit someone who is sick - contribute to the peace on Earth.

Conclusion: How can you be a sign to others of God’s Peace?