A Reign of Peace in the Turmoil
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1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
December 1958
Sputnik had communicated with the world by transmitted radio beeps
President Eisenhower said:
“Through the marvels of scientific advance, my voice is coming to you from a satellite circling in outer space. My message is a simple one. Through this unique means, I convey to you and all mankind America’s wish for peace on earth and good will to men everywhere.”
What I find ironic about this message during the holiday season is this message of peace was strapped on to the cheapest rocket they could find, a rocket meant to carry a nuclear bomb
This, I think, speaks to the fact that everyone wants peace; peace on certain terms.
America wanted peace during the Cold War, as the Soviets, just peace that fit their ideological convictions
On an individual level, think about yourself and any conflict you ever have; everyone will say they hate drama, but the peace they desire to have as to be on very specific terms dictated by self
Does God work this way? YES!
His will is to bring his peace to a situation that is engulf in turmoil due to our rebellion
His peace most specifically means destroying our self rebellion
I can say emphatically, do you want peace right now in your homes, marriage, friendships, self, the answer is always not to get your own way but to desire God to have his way
And that cannot be a bumper sticker statement but it should be our delight to see it played out in all our lives
Last week we spoke on turmoil and we broke it down in three layers
1st: Humans (raging and plotting against God and his anointed)
2nd: Satan being the prince of the power of the air over it
3rd: God over it both
We saw how God is sovereignly using the turmoil brought by the first two layers to bring about the kingdom of his Son
Today we will see how Jesus’ kingdom is of peace Luke 1 and 2
But also how this peace is brought on his terms Psalm 2 -
This is needed to understand because in evangelizing most think peace should be on their terms
And if Jesus would allow such a thing in his kingdom it would be the most unloving and unjust kingdom
This is needed to understand in our own selves: like Charlie Brown we should be on the search for the meaning of Christmas
Peace from the King on his terms
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
These words are dripping with where we left off last week in Psalm 2
The nations rage and plot and God laughs because he will accomplish his desire which is
6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
Part of the rule is seen in God’s ability to handle his enemies on his terms
46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
Zechariah highlights this peace in his prophecy shortly after
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, 68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
This messiah was to give peace to his people from without by delivering them from their enemies
But also peace from within by forgiveness of sins
Jesus will one day war with the enemies of his people and vanquish them
But first he vanquishes the enemy from within us
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 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. 10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 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!” 15 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.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 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.
Shepherds—
If you want to have an acknowledgement of being king, you make it spectacular for it to be more convincing in the eyes of the people
The acknowledgement of Jesus as King came when he was born
In a cave
By Shepherds
That’s as bad as having women be the first eye witnesses to his resurrection!
But this is a testimony of what we said last week—God is establishing his king and does it in a way in which he laughs at his enemies attempts to stop him
The question is, it has been 2,000 years since this has happened, and the turmoil of the world is still a problem
Turmoil within our homes (me going to church being told what a christian home is and not going back to one)
Shooting in Oxford
I heard the Bells on Christmas Day
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Is peace really something Jesus has brought?
Psalm 2 helps us makes sense of this
The angelic declaration was not God’s best intentions but these 2000 years show that he fell short of the mark
Christ will defeat his enemies and bring total peace in the end—but first he uses the raging and the plotting to bring peace within his people first
Your sanctification is a guarantee of the enemies imminent downfall
6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
This is in direct response of the plotting and raging of the world ( IN VAIN)
The first two layers at full force, working their energy against God
After God gets done laughing and mocking them he says, now let me tell you what I AM doing—NOT IN VAIN
Then the words go to this King that he is establishing
7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
Immediate context is God producing a king for Israel—they gain their power by God not man
The ultimate fulfillment is the Father establishing the throne of Messiah
(the ultimate function of the monarchy of Israel was to prepare for the monarchy of Messiah)
Decree: An authoritative law or command
Where the world rages and plots in vain
After God gets done laughing he decrees and this is NOT in vain
When was this decree for the kings of Israel? When each king was enthroned
When was this decree for the eternal Son of God?
Resurrection?
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
Baptism?
16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Transfiguration
5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.
I have no problem placing this decree in eternity pass in the covenant of redemption
1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
We get to peer into an inner trinitarian conversation happening in eternity past
And all that happens in time and space is to contribute to that covenant—including the first two layers of man’s and Satan's rebellion
And so all that has ever happened in time and space has been so that the Father would give the Son a kingdom based off this eternal covenant
7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
What will the Father give to the Son?
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
Heritage= Inheritance from a father
Possession=take ownership
The Father gives his Son something: the world
The Father creates the world through the Son
The Father gives this world to Satan as he enticed man to sin
So that the Father can then give the world to the Son
By conquest
By the Son reversing all that Satan has done in sin
Satan brought turmoil so that the Son could come and bring peace
When we want to sing
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
It is ultimately for the glory of the Son receiving the kingdom from the Father
1st Layer of how the Son accomplishes this
Destroying the Rebellion from without (the world)
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
Future judgement
Thyatira
25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Current Judgement
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”
2 Layers of receiving that inheritance and possession from the Father
1st Destroying the Rebellion from without (the world)
2nd Destroying the Rebellion from within (the church)
And this second layer we will detail more next week
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Instead of Jesus dealing with our sin at judgement, he deals with our sin at present as we take refuge in him and kiss him
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
Everyone wants peace—just on their own terms
God works this way—and the kingdom he has given to his Son by decree works this way
The turmoil we see in the world system—is found even in you
The seed of rebellion is found in everyone after Adam
Jesus receives glory in ending it in you
And after his church has been fully sanctified, ending it in the world
And then peace will forever reign
If you are a Christian that means you do not seek peace by getting your own way
But rather you seek that Jesus gets his own way in everything
And that includes conquering sin wherever it is found
In his elect now in grace, in the world at judgement
And in this way peace does reign from Christ despite the turmoil of the world
I heard the Bells on Christmas Day
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor does He sleep,
For Christ is here; His Spirit near
Brings peace on earth, good will to men.”
When men repent and turn from sin
The Prince of Peace then enters in,
And grace imparts within their hearts
His peace on earth, good will to men.
O souls amid earth’s busy strife,
The Word of God is light and life;
Oh, hear His voice, make Him your choice,
Hail peace on earth, good will to men.
Then happy, singing on your way,
Your world will change from night to day;
Your heart will feel the message real,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
Concluding Remark
Through the last two thousand years the world has still acted in turmoil
But there has been a kingdom in the midst of it all who has enjoyed peace
Can it be said that your life is defined with this peace that Christ has brought?
If not could it be that he has not dashed your sin to pieces?
We should be like Charlie Brown and search what Christmas really means
It means peace that Christ has brought
The answer today to if you have the spirit of Christmas, the spirit of peace
Is found in if Christ has dealt with your sins and is dealing with it in
Justification and Sanctification