Adevnt 2023 Peace Luke 2

Introduction

Peace in a concept in today’s world that is confused with a false sense of unity; words such as one love are to project this peace. If ever one just got along, we would have peace. Neglecting truth for a sake of calm is not peace, and that is not the peace that brought with Christ.

Today we will look at the account of Luke, to see how peace was brought into the world but at what cost.

True peace is never without the waging of a sword and blood being shed. Peace has conflict and the peace of God has conflict due to sinners waging war against God.

Peace Needed

If man had obeyed the commands of God in the garden, he and his wife would have walked with God in the cool of the day, child bearing would be without pain, labor would have been enjoyable, and power over another would not have been.

With sin these three main things happened;

Man became separated from God the very source of Peace

Labor (work) became void of peace and filled with trial.

Family became broken, households are divided.

All these things we see in birth narrative of Christ. Man indeed is separate from God, in fact God had stop speaking to His people for about 400 years.

Work was brutal, that trip to report in was not an easy trek much less being pregnant. Joseph probably had work he needed to get done but is now managing his wife, and the affairs of government reporting.

Family, without God’s intervention Joseph would have abandoned ship on Mary.

We see all these effects of sin today, man is chosen the idol of the LGBTQ+ idol, or some other forms of idols. Rejecting God.

Work and career is still a broken system, it has the effects of sin upon it.

Every day households are being broken due to do drugs, sex, or abandonment.

The effects of sin are very present, which is why we need the peace of God.

Peace Comes

Now Jesus would come, and indeed God is with us. In that little farm scene laid a baby and two young parent’s. A little rough of a spot to give birth but there is peace for those brief moments of the coming of the son of God.

The angels are rejoicing and singing. Here is the savior of the world and He has arrived. The whole narrative of scripture has lead to this very point.

The peace of God has come into the world.

The first snowfall of the season is always special, especially in North Carolina. Life stops for a moment and people are still. The noise of the city somehow gets lost in the wind chill. Children begin to play in the snow and adults act like kids again.

It is a scene of beauty and rest.

This is what is to be the sabbath, where the world stops to reflect on God. Indeed the first advent is our Sabbath has come, resting in Christ is true peace.

Now this very scene of angels worshiping, a young family resting, and a baby held by her mother would quickly be divided because while the first advent is the peace of God comes into the world, it will be at the second advent that the peace of God reigns forever.

This narrative of the peace of God comes into the world will turn into another journey to flee the murder of any young boy below the age of 2.

Mary, Josephs, Flee the scene for Herod desires to kill the one who will be called King. Matthew 2: 16

Matthew 2:16 ESV

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

This very peace of God will come at a cost, and while it would not cost the life of Jesus his formative years, it would cost His life at the prime age of 33.

In order for their to peace with God, sinners needed atonement. The first advent brought the peace of God to man through the blood of Jesus.

Peace has a cost and it cost the life of the Lord Jesus who is the Christ.

Peace Between the Advents

Today there is peace with God between the advents. No longer for those in Christ are you bond in the flesh or tied to the sins of the former man. But you are in right standing with the almighty God through Christ.

The Christian sabbath indeed is in Christ and this day points us to be reminded of the rest of Christ which is peace. On the Lord’s day stop as you would the first snow and assemble together to worship the living God. Spend your work week in constant prayer and worship before God, walk in this peace that God gives you.

Bring the message of peace to all, but be warned as Jesus said do not cast pearl before swine. The peace of God is for all the sheep who know the saviors voice and the road is narrow.

Hope in the second coming.

The first advent brought peace between man and God, the second advent His peace will reign forever. In one way this peace of God is advancing today but in another we await.

Illustrate the persecuted church in their peace while waiting.

The Second Advent

At His second coming

God indeed will usher in His Kingdom at full. Man will once more walk with God and God with man face to face. We shall see God as Christ is God himself.

We shall enjoy the labors the Lord has set before us in His Kingdom without pains

Death is finally defeated

There will be one household where Christ is the bridegroom, and we are His bride. No longer will households be divided.

Everything that took the peace of the garden, is redeemed on the mountain, and brought into full consummation upon His return.

Conclusion

Enjoy this peace you now have with God and look to the day where eternal peace will be forever and ever. Always gaze upon Christ and never loose sight.