Peace
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Today, since we have the Kids Connection kids with us, I thought we’d begin with a little game using alternative titles to familiar Christmas songs. Can you figure out the real titles of these Christmas songs?
Quiz: Alternative Titles to Christmas Carols
Quiz: Alternative Titles to Christmas Carols
Listen, winged heavenly messengers are proclaiming tunefully
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
The lad is a miniature percussionist
Little Drummer Boy
As guardians of woolly animals protected their charges during Earth’s darkness
While by the sheep we watched at night
The Christmas preceding all others
The First Noel
A twitter-patting sound made by metallic vessels that vibrate when shaken
Jingle Bells
this last one is not on your inserts.
Give us Peace
Dona Nobis Pacem
Yes, I know, that last one is not as familiar a tune - though it is a familiar sentiment of Christmas. We long for peace. We long for some semblance of tranquility. We long for something different than the hustle and bustle of the culture in which we live. I think this has been a longing for nearly every culture.
Recognizing the innate desire that we have for peace, God promised peace in the message of the prophet Isaiah:
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.
If we could boil that down the elements that relate to our theme of peace into a tongue-twisted theme, we might say:
The Pickney Prince Propagates Peace
Say that 10 times without messing up. I don’t think I can.
But as we consider this child that is born, let’s look at this theme together, beginning with…
Pickney
Pickney
In other words - “a child is born.”
Pickney is a Caribbean word for child. Frankly, in light of the other words that we’re thinking through, I needed a word that began with the letter “p” and pickney seemed to be the most appropriate.
Isaiah was preaching during a time of darkness in the history of the people of Israel. He prophesied that a child would be born. This child would usher in a time of hope for God’s people.
One of the things to keep in mind is that prophesies are a bit like vistas - if you were to look out over a mountain range, you would notice the peaks, but would have difficulty delineating the distances. So as Isaiah prophesies the coming of a child, he sees a couple of peaks or children in mind -
one that is near term - one that would mean something personal for his listeners; and
one that is far term - one that more completely fulfills God’s will for His people.
All that to say, there was likely a child of significance that was born to Isaiah’s listeners. As we get to see the full revelation of God in His word, we learn that the ultimate fulfillment of this pickney or child is Jesus.
But there is something significant in the fact that a child is born. This begs the question…
What is a child?
a small, immature human being - that almost goes without saying.
dependent - a human child is particularly dependent. In most of the animal kingdom, the offspring are often quick to get up and move around - and yet humans need months before mobility comes and years (even decades) before independence comes.
weak - there is little strength within a child.
lacking initial ability - nearly everything that a child does has to be learned.
full of potential - There is a whole future waiting to be realized in the life a child.
In much the same way, Jesus came, weak, dependent, and full of potential. He grew up just like you an me, needing his mom for nearly everything for the first couple of years.
In a similar fashion, His church was birthed in weakness, dependent - on the Spirit and each other, and yet full of potential. Now His church spans nearly every nation of the world and among most people groups.
People who live in light of Jesus’ life live in the same way:
weak - or humble - we should not try to force our way - but live in godliness and allow God to work His will through us
We should live in a dependent way…
Dependent on the Spirit - leading each of us according to God’s Word and according to the way in which he has fashioned us - so that we might
honor Him fully
live with integrity before the watching world
We should also live in a way that is a bit dependent on each other. This will require a bit of vulnerability.
full of potential
not so much our potential - but the potential that God might reap through us.
When you consider all that Jesus did and taught, we should live in a child-like way. He even urged us to come as little children…
But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
In addition to being born as a child, this promised pickney would be a…
Prince
Prince
In other words, He was part of a royal line. Both Matthew and Luke provide genealogies that depict Jesus’ royal lineage. He was an heir to the throne of Israel.
But more than that, as Prince, He is heir to the throne of God. The angels told both Mary and Joseph that He would be “of God.”
In Hebrew, the word that we get to read as “prince” has connotations as “representative.” We might also see this as ambassador. This child would be an ambassador or representative of peace, ultimately, of God.
This word is also used to describe a “commander” or “chief” or “official.” Calling this child a prince of peace has a poetic ring to it and in some ways mimics the sort of alliteration we find in Hebrew “saar shalom.” This prince or commander or chief is a ruler, a leader, a governor.
Isaiah continues a discussion of the governing authority of this prince.
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.
When Jesus stepped onto the scene in humility, he did not demand the respect or adoration that other rulers would demand. He led by example, showed us how to live with humility. His rule is fueled by love - for God and for humanity. His rule is exhibited with integrity and righteousness.
He is the kind of prince that people want to be around, that people are compelled to obey, serve - not because they have to, but because they want to.
How are we doing allowing him to have reign in our lives?
So, Isaiah prophesies that a child would be born and one of his titles would be prince of peace. We could say that this pickney prince……
Propagates
Propagates
Of course nearly every leader or ruler propagates something. Often we might think of this in the way leaders promote their agenda or their world view or things that might make them look good. For those who are altruistic, they might even be hoping to make a difference in the world.
But this child that Isaiah speaks of, this Jesus Christ, is someone who doesn’t just propagate his agenda or his ego - he propagates……
Peace
Peace
This concept of peace is something that we find throughout the Bible. Peace is often experienced within the context of a “relationship of love and loyalty with God and one another.” (LBD) There are several ways that peace is referenced throughout the Bible……
It was often used in greetings by simply saying “Shalom.” In fact this is similar to the way the Persians would greet one another - saying “salaam”.
It was used in reference to a general sense of welfare. In other words it’s a sort of “personal” peace or wholeness.
Peace was also used to refer to a time in which there was no hostility or war.
Peace is often used to refer to a state in relationships - one that is “characterized by friends, care, loyalty and love” as the Lexham Bible Dictionary notes.
Augustine described peace as…
[Peace is] the tranquillity of order.
Augustine of Hippo
But as we think specifically about the peace that is propagated by this pickney prince, it seems there are a few very specific ways. The first…
Personal peace
Personal peace
This is peace in the midst of any circumstance.
The night before he was crucified, Jesus told his disciples...
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Jesus’ disciples were about to face something extremely difficult and challenging as their teacher, their rabbi would be killed. Granted, he would rise from the dead a couple days later but then a few weeks later, he would ascend to heaven, and yet they would remain to proclaim the good news in a culture that was against them. Nearly all of them would be martyred for their faith. And yet Jesus provided peace in the midst of those circumstances.
For people who follow and obey Jesus’ teachings, there is a sense in which he provides a peace in the midst of the storms of life. A confidence that God is in control.
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
In addition to a personal peace in the face of any circumstance, there is a personal peace that is……
internal peace - addressing the guilt of our sin - atoning for us - redeeming us - we will get to this more fully in a few moments.
frankly with that can come some turmoil - living in conflict with the way that we should be living - besetting sin, living contrary to the live that God saved us to.
When we have true personal peace, we are better able to experience peace in other ways.
First put yourself at peace, and then you may the better make others be at peace. A peaceful and patient man is of more profit to himself and to others, too, than a learned man who has no peace.
Thomas à Kempis
In addition to bringing personal peace, this pickney prince propagates…
Inter-personal peace
Inter-personal peace
This is essentially peace with one another. This child whose birth we celebrate came and taught us how to live. As we saw briefly last week, he urged his followers to be peacemakers. He provided an example in how we should proceed in humility.
We may get humiliated - some people may take advantage of us. There is a natural human response that fights for retribution, for vindication. So often when we work at getting back at others for wrongs that have been done to us, we really only make things worse. And yet Jesus taught that there is a better way.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
It may sound like Jesus people are simply being pushovers and running down the path of least resistance - but in some ways it takes a great deal of strength to go this route of humility.
this is the way to go - be who God made you to be, in humility -
There is one final area of peace that it seems this pickney prince propagates - that is……
Eternal peace -
Eternal peace -
That is peace with God.
Often our notions of peace are relegated to temporary things. That’s not to say they are not important - that poorly worded text message, or response that had a bit too much anger in it, or even conflicts that surface between people of rival political parties or neighbors surrounding property lines or what it means to be a good neighbor. Those are important, but they are not eternal.
When Jesus emerged into this world, He did so as an ambassador of God to bring eternal and lasting peace between God and humanity.
What peace can they have who are not at peace with God?
Matthew Henry
You see, we all have a sin problem.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
And that sin problem has rewards or consequences
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
By coming and living the perfect life that we never could, Jesus became the perfect payment for our sinful predicament.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
So then the question becomes, how do we receive the free gift of eternal life? How does Jesus’ righteousness become my righteousness? How do we get to be “in him” in order become to the righteousness of God? I’m glad you asked……
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
So, if we confess and believe, we get to be justified.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
What greater gift could you receive this year than receiving the gift of Jesus? Will you repent of your sin, confess that Jesus is Lord, believe that God raised him from the dead? Will you receive his righteousness? Will you experience eternal peace with God through Jesus?
Closing thoughts
Closing thoughts
Christ alone can bring lasting peace—peace with God—peace among men and nations—and peace within our hearts.
Billy Graham
May we too live in and promote the the peace that Jesus brings.
Let’s pray
Benediction:
Benediction:
John 20:26 (ESV)
……“Peace be with you.”
Discussion questions:
Discussion questions:
read Isaiah 9:1-7, and Luke 2:1-38
What is significant about the birth of this specific child?
What do you think it means for the “government to be upon his shoulders”?
Isaiah gives several titles to this child - “wonderful counselor, mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” What are the implications of those titles? How do each of those titles impact the needs of humanity? How do they impact your needs?
Thinking specifically about the title of “Prince of Peace,” how did Jesus usher in peace?
What can we do to emulate the peace that Jesus brings?
Sources
Greever, Joshua M. “Peace.” Edited by John D. Barry, David Bomar, Derek R. Brown, Rachel Klippenstein, Douglas Mangum, Carrie Sinclair Wolcott, Lazarus Wentz, Elliot Ritzema, and Wendy Widder. The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016.
Martin, John A. “Isaiah.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/luke-1-9/
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-rename-those-tunes-a-christmas-carol-game-2003dec21-story.html