It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
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INTRO.: Today, I want to think about the song, "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear," by Edmond Sears, a New York Unitarian Minister, who penned it in 1849.
It’s an unusual carol. There’s no mention of the birth of Jesus, His mission, the manger, etc. The entire focus is on the message of the angels about peace on earth.
This carol was written as the clouds of civil strife darkened the United States setting the stage for the Civil War. We can understand what moved him to write "peace on the earth, good will to men, from Heaven’s all gracious King."
A verse usually left out of hymnals says,
"Yet, with the woes of sin and strife
the world hath suffered long.
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled,
two thousand years of wrong.
And man, at war with man, hears not,
the love song which they bring.
Oh, hush the noise, ye men of strife,
and hear the angels sing."
The message of this season and of this song is one of peace for the people of God.
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
There is great need for peace in our world today:
There is great need for peace in our world today:
International strife is everywhere.
War in Ukraine
Civil unrest in China
1,000’s from south of the border flood to our border to find sanctuary
Muslims wage war against Christians, who are persecuted in many of the world’s nations.
On the national level:
Fear and distrust among people of differing color, national origin, religion, sexual preference fills our newspapers
Our schools have become battlefields.
Corrupt politicians and business leaders abuse their powers
Violent crime seems to be an ever escalating plague.
In many families, things are no better:
One generation strives against another.
We have spouse abuse, child abuse, elder abuse.
We live with anxiety, guilt, insecurity, fear within.
Prisons and mental hospitals are full of folk who can’t live peaceably with one another.
The divorce rate is a national disgrace.
The world has tried many ways to bring about peace by human effort and has failed.
On the international scene:
Treaties have been violated.
Negotiations have failed.
War has even been tried and failed.
On the national level:
We pass laws against corruption and violence and they still increase.
Few are content with the amount of wealth or power they have. Peace eludes us.
When we try to help the poor and oppressed, our efforts are perverted as others "play the system."
Personally:
Counselors’ offices are full to overflowing.
Millions seek peace in drugs, legal and illegal. Peace eludes us.
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
If this is the case how did the angels claim peace on earth at Jesus birth? Where is the peace? I’ll be honest with you I’m no entirely sure there can be peace on earth because we live in a fallen world. But I do no the where we can go or more importantly to who we can go to find peace.
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Jesus is the prince and when make no doubt when the angels appeared they understood that Jesus is Peace
This peace however is not like the peace We often think about this time of year. Matt. 10:34-35 think about Jesus words as he sends his disciples out...
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
“For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
Isn’t that a contradiction? It is if you misunderstand what the angels were singing and if misunderstand the peace that Jesus came to bring.
remember the words of jesus to his disciples John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
As needed as international, national, personal peace. There is one peace that is more important than all others, and that is peace with God. The universal state of all us before Christ is one of rebellion. we have all sinned and rebelled against God, we do not have peace with Him. Romans 5:10 describes people in sin as “enemies of God.” This is a statement of fact, whether or not we harbor any hostile feelings toward God.
Jesus came to bring peace on earth. First and foremost, He came to make peace between God and rebellious, sinful human beings.
Rom. 5:10 “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
Jesus paid the penalty for our sins so that God’s wrath could be turned away from us and we could have peace with God. This peace and forgiveness are available to anyone who comes to Jesus for salvation: Rom. 5:1
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
How do we find peace with God, Through the blood of Jesus.
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
HEAR
Rom. 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
BELIEVE
“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
REPENT
“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,
because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
CONFESS
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.
As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.
BAPTIZED
“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
When he does this, he is added by the Lord to His church (Acts 2:41, 47). He is born again (John 3:3-5; 2 Corinthians 5:17 new creature). He is in Christ where all spiritual blessings are to be found. (Ephesians 1:3;) Gal. 3:26-28
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
In short, he is a Christian (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16).
and then that peace with God can transition into peace with men. Eph. 2:13-18
But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near;
for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
we learn to be at peace with all men
If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
we can have that inner peace
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
and ultimately we look forward to the day when Jesus returns and...
so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
there will be peace eternal for those in Christ Jesus
Are you an enemy of God this morning or have you come to the prince of peace Rom. 5:1 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” thru hearing, believing, repenting, confessing, baptism
If you are a Christian are you trying to be at peace with all men? and are you finding that peace that passes all understanding in Christ Jesus?