Peace of Earth

Introduction

This is one of my favorite stories in the Christmas narrative.

It has captivated my mind for my years...

What was it like to witness this amazing event.

It was a declaration of peace because the Prince of Peace was now here.

Luke 2:13–14 ESV

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angel appeared to the shepherds to tell them about the Savior born in Bethlehem, he brought an army with him.

But it wasn’t an army of soldiers.

Luke wrote, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

The angel came with an army of angels.

Usually when we think about an army, we think of war, not peace, right?

But that night heaven began to invade earth—not to fight against us or destroy us, but to save us.

Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be the “Prince of Peace,” and that the peace he would bring would last forever.

Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV

6 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. 7 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.

Jesus didn’t come to destroy his enemies, but to make peace with them.

He came to turn his enemies into friends.

We probably have never thought of ourselves as enemies of God. But the Bible says that whether we realize it or not, all of us, at one point, were God’s enemies.

Left on our own, we are sinners who naturally fight against God. That makes him our enemy.

But God has not left us on our own.

Even though we have declared war on him deep in our hearts, he has declared peace with us.

This friendship is made possible not because Jesus was born, but because Jesus would die.

Paul wrote to the church in Rome

Romans 5:10 ESV

10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

God does not want to wage war against us even though we’ve been rebellious toward him.

Instead, he has reached out to us, making the first move toward peace.

He gives us the grace to overcome our natural resistance toward him so that we can develop a deep friendship with him.

He gives us the faith to trust in him, making us one of “those with whom God is pleased.”

Colossians 1:19–22 ESV

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,