Grace and Peace

On Christmas morning, me my five sisters, and four brothers would wake up @ 7am, open our stockings and Hoover the chocolate hidden inside. Then, we had to wait for me mom and me dad to come downstairs. after some time waiting. My dad would mosey downstairs in his housecoat and make his way to his saved chair. Every year he’d ask, “which version of the Christmas birth should we read this year?”The kids all saying “anything but Luke.” Why? Oh it’s long. And of course, He’d read Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus Christ, born of Mary, the very son of God. As he opened his bible and read, everything settled. And there was something reminiscent of peace. Peace in the midst of the chaos that is the fortune family Christmas.

As I read you this account, remember the authors hope. That you could have an accurate account of what actually happened. If it helps, close your eyes, and imagine, once again, the pictures as I read this story to you... this morning. 

Luke 2:2–21 ESV

This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

This is the word of God it’s absolutely true and its given to us in love.

There is peace here. Though babies cry and we sit with people largely unknown to us. Though the wind blows out power lines and life is chaotic and difficult sometimes, we have peace. and even though it seems the fabric of our society is disintegrating. Yet, there is peace among the people of God.

You see, the Christian doesn’t have inner peace. We don’t find peace in ourselves, or in our experiences. We find it in Jesus.

There is a patten of how we attain this peace and it’s revealed in this passage today (and actually in the last three sermons we have heard this Advent season this pattern is present.) Let me remind us: There is fear, then wonder, then peace. I want you to see this in the bible today. 

Look with me at verse 8.

Luke 2:8 ESV

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

These shepherds were keeping watch over their flock at night. This is a tough job. These guys are not the clean cut nativity characters we might picture. They had to defend the helpless sheep from wild predators and even other people. 

Luke 2:9 ESV

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

Let me help us understand what this would have been like:

Earlier this week at the office. We’ve had this terrible smell see, and we couldn’t find where it was. Eventually, someone found the pungent jug of bad milk in a back closet. The smell was gone and there was a ton of relief. Now, on Thursday, I got a private phone call and needed a place to talk.. I went outside and the wind was impossible. So i went to the back closet. Andy did not know this. When he was trying to see if the smell was really gone he opened the close and it looked like he saw a ghost. He was terrified. I think he aged 5 years that moment.

But this what I’m saying, shifting shadows freak us out and these shepherds were met by an ANGEL of the LORD. “and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not,”

Fear Not. It’s interesting to note. The most frequent command God speaks to us in the testimony of scripture is this: FEAR NOT. 366 times. (You can check my math if you like). God is always telling us to not fear him. But why? This is the initial reaction of Mary, Zechariah and a myriad of others. Fear. Because God is awesome, powerful and Holy. We need to reacquaint ourselves with this side of God. I think we undervalue his holiness. We need to get a bigger picture here-the one he is showing us. He is holy. The angel continues...

Luke 2:11–12 ESV

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke’s hope for his reader is that when we read the angel’s words, we would see the shepherds as representative for all people. For though we are lowly, we have been given a gift that’s cause for great Joy. and this is the wonder... that the news is for you. This is the great individualization of the Gospel. I’m bringing you good news. Spurgeon says this angel was the first gospel preacher. There’s first fear and then wonder. And wonder of wonders, why shouldn’t we fear? because he has given us his one and only son, that whoever believes in him wouldn’t perish but would have eternal life. The great wonder is this. Peace among those with whom he is pleased.

What does it mean to have peace with God? 

Making peace with God is not...

Deathbed Hail Mary

Being a Christian in name only

Living a good, moral life

Well, culturally, it often looks like a deathbed prayer. It is miraculous what God can do in a moment. Even with the grumpiest grandpas. But making peace with God is not something we do on our deathbeds. 

It also isn’t this weird form of North American Christianity that buys some sort of Hellfire Insurance. As if to say, “welp! Checked that box. Back to ‘reality’. And it’s not moralism either. Let me explain what I mean by that. 

When we read “peace on earth among those with whom he is pleased.” It DOES NOT MEAN... living a good moral life is how you make peace with God. As if to say, “I don’t really want to be a part of Christian community but... don’t want to go to hell either.” Your morality however keen is not going to cut it. 

Jesus is the one who has made peace with God and man. Colossians says, making peace by the blood of his cross. But he also calls us to live in that peace. How? Living under the rule of the prince of peace means finding the source of our peace in him.

John 16:33 ESV

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.”

You see, the Christian doesn’t have inner peace. We don’t find peace in ourselves, or in our experiences. We find it in Jesus.

Transition: We cannot have the peace of god without the God of Peace. 

Who is the God of peace? He is Jesus, the saviour, Christ the Lord. Do you know Jesus this way? As saviour, as Christ, as Lord? This is the first and only time this phrase is used about Jesus in the New Testament. It is the announcement of His reign in the earth. All people need a saviour. You need a saviour. it is Jesus. He is the Christ/messiah. He is the fulfillment of the hope of Israel. He is the promised one from God. And he is the Lord. 

Theologian John Frame says that the Lordship of God is perhaps his most pronounced characteristic.  To have peace with God is to live in the ways of the Prince of Peace. To make Jesus your lord. 

How does he say you should walk in the way of peace?

Calls you to be a peacemaker (Matthew 5:9)

Strive for peace with everyone and for holiness, without which no one will see God (Hb12:14)

And to live like him...

In romans 12 Paul makes his instructions very practical, we’d do well to have these on our heart this week. When the in-laws are over.. and it seems like there’s more chaos than peace,

Romans 12:14–18 ESV

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

We walk in the way of peace. In the footsteps of our Saviour. That the world would know the gospel by the love we have for one another. 

This morning we’re going to try something new that’s actually pretty old. In the earliest days of the church, a time would come during the gathering, just before communion when people would bless each other with the peace of God. They would bodily remind themselves of the Gospel and practice it with one another. 

What’s going to happen is, in a minute I’m going to invite you to stand, and I’ll bless you with the peace of the LORD Jesus Christ and you’ll say. And also with you. 

Then You’ll turn to those around you and say the peace of Jesus be with you this Christmas. 

Now, I want to point something out here. If you are a Christian, which means you trust in Jesus and you live as he teaches you to, and there is someone here who you are not at peace with. I want to challenge you with the message and the power of the gospel. Maybe you don’t do it immediately following the gathering but maybe you do. Go to that brother or sister, and bless them with the peace of Jesus Christ.

And FRIEND, if someone comes to you in humility, live in the forgiveness of your sin and share in the peace of Jesus with them this Christmas season.

The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!

And also with you.