The Christmas Promise of Peace

THE CHRISTMAS PROMISE OF PEACE Spring Valley Mennonite; December 18, 2022; Luke 2:14, Matthew 10:34-36; John 14:27 Although the tradition of sending Christmas cards has largely fallen victim to expensive postal rates coupled with the ease of electronic communication, I still look forward to going to the mailbox anticipating the reception of a Christmas card or letter. One thing I have noticed is that the cards with Religious Christmas pictures on them usually have one thing in common: they all show peaceful scenes, the "Silent Night, Holy Night" idea much like our banner here in front. The true meaning of Christmas should bring a sense of peace to each believer; there is a quietness of spirit which should come from contemplation of the events of that first Christmas. But although we tend to think of the night of Jesus' birth as peaceful and quiet, I doubt if it was that way-the birth of a baby in any circumstances is never quiet and peaceful! I was in the delivery room for the birth of each of our five children, and I don't remember those births as being quiet! And although the song "Away in the Manger" gives the idea that Jesus didn't cry at His birth, that doesn't reflect reality and the desirability of a healthy cry from a newborn. I'm almost positive the infant Jesus loudly exercised a pair of healthy lungs! The shepherds who were watching their sheep out in the Bethlehem pastures probably were peacefully dozing around a fire until their peace was interrupted by the sudden appearance of an angel messenger with a choir rejoicing over the birth of Messiah Jesus. (I wonder how the sheep reacted to the situation; do sheep stampede?) The whole Roman Empire was in turmoil because of a newly ordered census which required everyone to travel to their ancestral home to register. Why did they need to register? It was so they would not be overlooked in the payment of new taxes! And aren't we all filled with peaceful thoughts when we must pay our taxes??? The first Christmas my not have been as peaceful as the Christmas cards would have us believe! Yet, peace is one of the themes which stands out in the Christmas narrative. Where do we get this idea of Christmas peace? You probably would conclude-and correctly-that the idea of peace came from the words of the angel to the shepherds. In Luke 2 the words of the Angel chorus emphasized peace as they sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth PEACE among men with whom He is pleased." But we find that: I. PEACE, (is) AN ELUSIVE GOAL OF MANKIND An article in the "Canadian Army Journal" stated that historians calculate since 3600 B.C. the world has known only 292 years of peace. Over the past 5,618 years, man has been at war 95% of the time! The article continues, saying that during this period, there have been 14,531 wars, large and small. 3,640,000,000 (Three billion, 640 million) people have been killed. Someone has described peace as "that brief glorious moment in history when everyone stands around reloading!" Clearly, mankind has had little success at achieving any semblance of peace. Yet there remains in the heart of any thoughtful person a universal longing for peace in his world. In addition to the desire to live lives free from war and hostility, all yearn for personal peace within as well as peace in relationships. But for most, even this inner peace seems beyond our grasp. Yet peace remains one of the greatest promises of the Christmas event. Is genuine peace possible? Let's examine this: II. (THE) PROMISE OF PEACE The promise of peace voiced by the Christmas angels is found throughout the Bible. God's desire for mankind has always been for peace to exist between Himself and man, as well as for peace to reign between all men. Jeremiah 29:11 speaks of God's desire when we read, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you says the Lord, thoughts of welfare (or peace) and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." One of the names of God is "Jehovah-shalom"-God our peace. In Psalm 29:11, we learn that God promises that the Sovereign God of Israel will bless "His people with peace." When King David was fleeing from his rebellious son Absalom, and under intense pressure, we read his words in Psalm 4:1-2: "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone O Lord make me dwell in safety." Psalm 119:165 states, "Great peace have they who love God's law." When Isaiah spoke of the coming Messiah, he prophesied that He would be known as "the Prince of Peace". He added in 32:16-17, "The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest." Other Old Testament Prophets spoke of the One who would rescue Israel and establish a mighty kingdom from which Messiah would rule the entire world in peace. Ezekiel 34 speaks of Messiah personally ruling, confirming His covenant of peace with His people. Yet, while all these expectations of peace were clearly stated, did the coming of Jesus bring peace to all mankind? The answer to that question is "Yes, and No". What did the "Prince of Peace" Himself teach about peace? III. JESUS' TEACHINGS ON PEACE First, Jesus promised to give peace to those who follow Him. To His disciples, Jesus said in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." Notice that Jesus' peace is not as the world gives us. What does the world offer in the way of peace? It has been interesting in past decades to follow events in the part of the world known as the Balkans, that area formerly known as Czechoslovakia. This is where we now find the countries of Bosnia, Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia and Macedonia. This part of southeastern Europe is divided among many different ethnic groups which have been in conflict over territory for hundreds of years. After the second World War, Russia established a Communist dictatorship in the area. Under the iron fist of Communism, these various ethnic groups were forced to co-exist. When Communism lost its grasp over this area, the various ethnic groups again began to demand autonomy and territory, and war broke out. They formerly were at peace, but the peace was created by force. That is the peace the world offers. And we read daily of the Ukrainian and Russian war raging in that area. Russia offers peace in that conflict if the Ukraine will surrender and yield their freedom. Peace is possible, but peace created by force. During the time of Christ, Rome ruled with an iron fist-there was peace, the "Pax Romana", but it was a peace enforced by the Roman Legions. It was an outward peace, but in the hearts of people, rebellion simmered. That rebellion in Judea led to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. In recent years, the United Nations has been presented as a body which can achieve world peace. It is interesting that United Nations troops are called "Peace Keeping FORCES"! This is the best the world can offer. Turn to Matthew 10:34 for a surprising word of our Lord regarding peace: (read vv. 34-36). Jesus teaches that His peace does NOT mean "absence of conflict". The truth of the Gospel often creates divisions, even within families. We see this dramatically demonstrated when a member of a Muslim family becomes a Christian. Another word on peace is found in John 16:33 as part of our Lord's words right before His death: "These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world." In these last days believers are experiencing increased conflict with the world system. Let's take Jesus' promise of peace a step deeper and examine: IV. THE PEACE JESUS BRINGS,(this) "PEACE AMONG MEN WITH WHOM HE IS WELL PLEASED" The peace Jesus brings to earth can be defined in three ways: Peace with God, Peace for living, and a future peace. A. Peace with God: This is where all aspects of peace begins. Here is a crucial principle regarding peace found throughout the Bible: the enemy of peace is sin. Remember that Adam and Eve were at peace with God, resulting in both personal and relational peace, until they sinned! Only after sin entered the world did conflict arise. We observe this terrible fruit of sin in the murderous conflict between Cain and Able. As people rebelled against God's will, sin came to rule the race of man. In the Garden of Eden immediately after the fall, God set His plan of redemption into place. The Promise was made of a future Messiah Who would make peace and bring reconciliation between God and man. God then provided a way for man to deal with sin through repentance and blood sacrifices. But always the truth remains, "There is no peace for the wicked." Because every person is born a sinner, he lacks peace with God. Scripture repeatedly tells us, "Your sins have separated you from God." We are cut off from the source of peace. And because sin rules in this world, there is no peace between men and nations, except the "Peace by force and domination or mutually assured destruction". But for the individual, there exists a pathway to peace, the present peace Jesus offers. Since we are sinners, and this sin sets us in rebellion toward God, our sin problem must be resolved before peace is possible. I remember the comment of Samuel Clemens (writing under the pen name of "Mark Twain") when he was once asked if he had made his peace with God: his reply was, "I was not aware we were at war". But the sad truth is, Mr. Clemens, "All have sinned and have fallen short of God's glory", God's perfect standard. Every person is in rebellion, either active or passive, toward a Holy God. But the glorious truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that Jesus came to make peace between God and man. Listen to Romans 5:1: "Therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." "Justified" means "declared righteous". Because of what Jesus did for us by taking our sins upon Himself and becoming our sacrifice for sin, God counts Jesus' righteousness as our own for those who believe. The result is that we are no longer at war with God, but we have peace with our Heavenly Father. Colossians 1:19-20: "For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His Cross." This peace has far-reaching implications. Since we have peace with God, we can be at peace with others. Moreover, we are to be agents of peace in the world, as Jesus spoke in the Beatitudes when He said, "blessed are the peacemakers." Look at 2 Corinthians 5:18: (Read vv. 18-21). As believers who are at peace with God, we are to be ambassadors of peace to others, urging them to be reconciled-brought together in peace-with God. We also are to be ministers of reconciliation within the body. We are to strive and work for the unity of the body. Remember the enemy of peace and unity? The enemy of peace on all levels is sin. We have the responsibility and privilege of maintaining peace with other brothers and sisters. There is an illustration Martin Luther used about how Christians should be willing to suffer inconvenience and even injury for the sake of maintaining peace: There were two goats which met upon a log over a deep river. They could not go back; to fight would have meant disaster to both. After a short discussion one of them lay down and the other walked over him to safety; then the first stood up and likewise proceeded to the river bank and no harm was done. Then Luther would say: "The moral is easy; be content if thy person be trod upon for peace's sake. Thy person, I say, not thy conscience." Peace with our Maker is the key for peace on all levels, for if a person is not at peace with God, he cannot be at peace with his fellow man. B. Peace for Living is a second aspect of the peace Jesus brought: We considered Jesus' words a moment ago which told us that the Gospel message can bring during conflict. If we are honest, our lives are full of conflict as a result of being a believer. We are constantly involved in spiritual warfare and the enemy of our souls seeks to keep us constantly stirred up. Satan strives to activate our pride. He tries to drive wedges between husbands and wives, within churches and in all human relationships. He tries to destroy any peace and tranquility which exists. But in the midst of such conflict, we can experience the peace of God as we live trusting our good God who has control over all circumstances. There are other situations which are indirectly caused by the sin principle operating in the world. These situations disrupt our lives. We live in a sinful and fallen world where things go wrong. People get sick and die. Financial decisions and needs bring stress. The decisions of others often affect our lives adversely. We are surrounded by all the adverse circumstances of life. Yet Jesus promises that peace can be ours even in times of turmoil. I love Paul's closing words in 2 Thessalonians 3:16: Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. What a great verse! When surrounded by turmoil we can choose to trust God and experience the "peace that surpasses understanding." When worry creeps in, we confess our lack of trust, and keep moving forward in faith. Billy Graham once described such peace with this description: "The sea was beating against the rocks in huge, dashing waves. The lightning was flashing, the thunder was roaring, the wind was blowing; but the little bird was asleep in the crevice of the rock, its head serenely under its wing, sound asleep." That is peace: to be able to sleep in the storm! In Christ we can be relaxed and at peace amid the confusions, bewilderments and the perplexities of this life. The storm rages, but our hearts can be at rest. We have found peace-at last. Because Jesus came, He gives us peace for living. C. Jesus came to earth that first Christmas to be a bridge of peace between God and man. When He returns the second time, it will be to establish a future Kingdom of peace which is richly described in terms like those of Isaiah 11:6: And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them." Regarding Israel, God says in Jeremiah 33:9: "And (Israel) will be to Me a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear of all the good that I do for them, and they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that I make for it." In the streets of Jerusalem, there will be "the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, 'give thanks to the Lord of Hosts, for the Lord is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting." These words describe the Lord Jesus Christ's future Kingdom of peace. The Prince of Peace will rule! The promise of peace comes true to those who live in harmony with God, for the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, PEACE... It is also true that the further we drift from God as believers, the less personal peace we will experience. This in turn leads to turmoil in all our relationships-between husbands and wives, parents and children, employer and employees and with other believers. The first step to reconciliation in any of these relationships is first to reestablish our place of peace and rest with God. To experience our spiritual birthright of peace, we must confess the sin which stands between us and God. In this Christmas season, are you at peace with God and man? Do you have the peace of God in your heart? Remember the principle: sin is the enemy of peace. Jesus came to earth to reconcile man to God. Unable to deal with our own sin, Jesus was born to die as the ultimate sacrifice. "Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." 2