Peace on Earth

Peace on Earth and Kindness to All Men

Stop Stop Jenny, enough already.This is exactly why I have to have Sheppard tell these stories because you just can’t get it right.That is not the meaning of Christmas.It’s fun and we like it but that’s not the meaning of Christmas.Actually I think the angel said it best to the Shepherds Luke 2:8-14 NKJV

Luke 2:8–14 NKJV

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, kindness toward men!”

The meaning of Christmas is about the coming of the Savior, Jesus.And with Jesus came a message, of peace on earth and kindness toward all men.Since we talked about the Savior the last two Sunday’s I think we should look at the message of peace on earth and kindness toward men.Because that one is kind of a mystery as you look around.There is not that much peace and kindness on this earth.So what has happened?And my question today is, if that is part of the Christmas story then what have we missed?And after thinking about this a lot I think what it comes down to is this peace and kindness is something we all want.We want it with our friends, our family, our cities, country and even the world. But we are waiting for it to JUST HAPPEN and that’s not how it works. Here’s the take home for today.This Christmas Let’s see if we will learn how to see Peace on Earth and Kindness to all get started.The way we can learn this is from one Jesus’ most famous parables that He told.It’s known to us as the Good Samaritan.I mainly just want to read the first part because I believe it shows where the problem is.Luke 10:25-29

Luke 10:25–29 ESV

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Let me tell you about this story here that many know so well because it identifies our big problem.From the time Jesus started His ministry He taught about salvation and eternal life.Of course all were very interested in this.But there was a group of religious people that kept trying to trick Jesus into teaching things that did not match what they had been thought for many years.And on this day one of these religious men stood up to test Jesus.Of course he knew the most important teaching that God wants us to obey is that we are to love God and our neighbor’s.Jesus said you have it right.Verse 28 is the key: You know what to do, Do It.Love God and Love your neighbor.If you do this you are on the right path.But now comes the big question that was the trap.He said, Who is my neighbor?This is where the explanation needs to come in.You have to understand what this guy was thinkingIf you could imagine it like this maybe it would help.You might get the picture that this man was asking this question with a blank piece of paper and asking who all needs to go on the list of who I need to love.Like Jesus just tell how and I will start doing it.But that is not his thinking at all.The Jews in that day started with the list of all of humanity and by their laws they crossed people off of who they were to love and associate with.So on this man’s list right off he would be able to cross off everyone who was not a Jew.In other words the list started that you only loved people of your race and religion.Then you could cross off everyone that had physical defects and certain diseases, they were unclean and you could stay away away from them.Then you could cross off people that had come across anything that died, animals or anything.You could cross off anyone who had sinned and not been cleansed.So at the end of the day your list was really small.And when he asked Jesus this question of who was my neighbor i’m sure he expected Jesus to confirm his list and maybe even cross a few more off.And this is where the wisdom of Jesus came in.Jesus did not answer this guys question of who is my neighbor.Jesus did not tell him more people to cross off or add to his list.He just told a story.That story that we probably know so well.He said well let me tell you a story one day a man left Jerusalem and was going down to Jericho.Which by the way this was called the blood road because it was the most dangerous road to travel.And on his way he was robbed and beat up and left for dead.Bad deal.Then Jesus said by chance a priest came by.I mean how lucky could this man be. A man of God was coming by.But when he saw him he walked by on the other side.It’s like wow, poor guy. Too bad this world is such a bad place.Then a Levite came by.Now the levites are the guys that got paid to work at the church.So again how lucky is this man because a church worker is coming by.If anyone is going to help it’s the guy who gets paid to help.But again when he saw the man he walked by too.Finally a Samaritan came by.Now the Samaritans were hated by the Jews.On the list they would be the first to be crossed off.By law they did not have to associate with the Samaritans.But Jesus said he came and helped the man.This is where Jesus makes His point.It was not to love those you don’t like.It wasn’t to even put more people on the list.Jesus never answered the guy, WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR.This is what Jesus said.

Luke 10:36–37 ESV

Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Here’s Jesus’ point. Go be a neighbor.Don’t worry about who to love and who is your neighbor just focus on being a neighbor.What a brilliant answer.And it still applies today and what will bring this peace on earth and kindness to all men.It’s when we focus on being a neighbor.See I think one of the big obstacles with this peace on earth and kindness toward all men is we all want it and almost can think it’s up to others to make it happen.And that we all have our lists of who like and want to like.And we have heard this Scripture taught in church about loving your neighbor and then we get stuck and honestly overwhelmed thinking I have to love everyone?Jesus doesn’t want us to focus on everyone.Because when we do we will almost always find good reasons to not love a few of them.It’s really about throw away the listChange your focus, even change your question.Don’t ask who do I need to love?Because if you do you will sometimes say, no I can love ________ but honestly you can’t really expect me to love ___________.The question is Jesus teach me to be a neighbor.You came with the message of love.You came with the challenge and told us Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.Lord teach me to be a peacemaker and a how to be a neighbor.When we do that, we will help fulfill what the angel said Jesus would bring to the earth when He came.

“Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, kindness toward men!”

This Christmas the greatest gift you could give anyone is to be a good neighbor.I’m sure most of you will be spending time with friends a family today.Most groups always have that one or two people that well, they are a problem.Today don’t ask, do I really have to love them.Know that Jesus just focus on being that good neighbor.