Remember Peace

Can you believe Christmas is this weekend? My kids have been counting down for weeks. We have been watching Christmas movies. We have done shopping and planning. And soon, we will be going to spend time with family. The typical American Christmas.

These are the activities of the American Christmas. But what is Christmas all about?

We talked about this at youth group on Thursday evening, and the kids came up with a great list of what American Christmas is all about. It included things like: Family, Food, Presents, Love (ie. Romance), Giving (ie. Generosity), Happiness, and Peace.

But all of the talk of the spirit of Christmas is truly like empty rhetoric isn’t it? Just the past week we had more threats of violence in the schools. Families are bickering. People buy gifts begrudgingly. Is love really about Romance? Why does it seem that happily ever after is ending in divorce more often than not? Are people really happy? And, where is Peace on Earth? All of the hustling and bustling. All of the fighting; All of the hatred and bitterness; All of the posturing and attacking; There is no peace.

The American Christmas is falling short of its lofty goals. It missing something. For all of its lofty aspirations, it has not delivered. What is missing? The Happy Holidays are missing the only One who can deliver that for which people are longing. Christ is the only One who can deliver Peace.

As believers, Christmas is a good time for us to reflect. It is good for us to examine how much this world has influenced us, and to return to the basics of our Faith.

Over the past weeks, we have talked about Remembering the truth about certain topics of which Christmas is a great reminder.

Things to Remember at Christmas

Hope

Faith

Joy

Peace

As we saw when the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, Christmas should be a time we remember the Hope that the Lord has for us.

When Gabriel appeared to Mary, we saw her faith, and are reminded to trust the Lord even when our situation seems impossible.

When we looked at Zechariah after nine months of silence because of his lack of faith, we saw Joy. No word of the Lord shall ever fail, as the angel said. Christmas is a time to remember the joy that is ours because the Lord is faithful. He is faithful even when we are not. Remembering that will bring us Joy in the Lord.

Today, we will be looking at the Shepherds to whom the angel appeared. The appearance of the angel and then the heavenly hosts was both awesome and frightening. Yet, the message they brought was one of peace; peace on Earth. As we look at this passage, we will be reminded of the only true source of Peace, the babe that was born in Bethlehem, the true Prince of Peace.

Let’s read the account, and then see what God has to say about Peace.

Luke 2:1–20 NIV

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

In those days, Caesar Augustus

I was struck by the contrast that Luke sets up for us in this chapter as I studied this week. A contrast that was very real to Luke and his contemporaries who were not far removed from Caesar Augustus, who ruled the Roman empire from 27 BC to AD 14.

Caesar Augustus, was previously known as Octavian - the adopted son of Julius Caesar. Following the assassination of Julius Caesar, Octavian defeated Marc Antony and Cleopatra to become the next Caesar, or ruler over the Roman Empire.

Name Augusutus given him in 27 BC by the Roman Senate meant divine. He was thought by many to have been the best ruler of the Roman empire. He brought about many good reforms, and ushered in an era of peace in the world through the strength of his empire.

Called the bringer of peace and Savior of the world

The Gospel of Luke 2.5.1. The Birth in Bethlehem (2:1-7)

the Myrian inscription: “Divine Augustus Caesar, son of a god, imperator of land and sea, the benefactor and savior of the whole world.…”

Following Julius Caesar, he did not necessarily want to be deified and worshipped himself. He saw the hatred that Julius Caesar had brought through his policies. However, Caesar Augustus did continue to assert the divinity of Julius Caesar and allowed himself to be called “Son of God.” He also permitted the worship of powers of peace, victory, liberty and security which he exerted.

Though he did not seek worship for himself, it was given, and emperor worship was found throughout the empire.

The Gospel of Luke (2.5.2. The Angelic Message and the Shepherds (2:8-20))

Paullus Fabius Maximus, proconsul of Asia, proposed beginning the new year on Augustus’s birthday, he observed:(It is hard to tell) whether the birthday of the most divine Caesar is a matter of greater pleasure or benefit. We could justly hold it to be equivalent to the beginning of all things …; and he has given a different aspect to the whole world, which blindly would have embraced its own destruction if Caesar had not been born for the common benefit of all. In their decision to honor Augustus in this way, the provincial assembly explained:Whereas the providence which divinely ordered our lives created with zeal and munificence the most perfect good for our lives by producing Augustus and filling him with cirture [sic] for the benefaction of mankind, sending us and those after us a saviour who put an end to war and established all things; and whereas Caesar [sc. Augustus] when he appeared exceeded the hopes of all who had anticipated good tidings …; and whereas the birthday of the god marked for the world the beginning of good tidings through his coming.…53

What I find interesting in all of this is the similarities between the accolades given to Caesar Augustus and the One born in a manger who was also said to be the God of the world, and because of whom the angels sang of good tidings through his coming.

Did Caesar Augustus bring Peace?

He did bring peace through his military conquests, and then through the strength of his military which kept everyone under control.

The Stoic philosopher Epictetus said, “While the emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, he is unable to give peace from passion, grief, and envy. He cannot give peace of heart for which man yearns more than even for outward peace.

This was certainly true in Israel. They did not have peace in this day.

As Warren Wiersbe describes the times, Taxes were high, unemployment was high, morals were lax and getting worse, and the Romans military state was in control.

The Romans were in control, and it was felt by all in the empire. There was no equality. Romans were on top, and others were under their rule and authority.

The very fact that Joseph was going to register in the census shows the lack of peace brought by Augustus.

On top of this, as I mentioned in previous weeks, the Jewish priesthood was corrupt. The Pharisees rose up to try to restore the Jewish law, but ended up oppressing the Jewish people under their traditions and standards.

There was not peace from Caesar. He could not give men and women true peace. He may have domineered, but there was not justice for all, and there was not peace in the land. There was not peace in men’s hearts.

Then, into this world where men spoke of peace but yet still lacked it, the Lord sent God the Son, born of a virgin.

This is what the angels announced to the Shepherds.

Luke 2:10–11 NIV

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

The Messiah brings Peace

Peace in the World

Longfellow wrote I heard the bells on Christmas Day. Midst of Civil war.

I heard the bells on Christmas day Their old familiar carols play; In music sweet the tones repeat, “There’s peace on earth, good will to men.”

I thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along th’ unbroken song Of peace on earth, good will to men.

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.”

United Nations cornerstone: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.”

The United Nations, started in 1945 after second world war has as its mission to bring peace on earth. However, it has not been able to accomplish this, nor will it ever accomplish this goal. Though they use this quote from Isaiah 2:4, they left out the important context.

Isaiah 2:2–4 NIV

In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

The Messiah brings Peace

Instead of recognizing the need for the Lord who is the One who will bring peace in this world, they try to bring it without him.

And, what is more, they try to subvert His standards and justice and put in place their own.

There will be not peace on Earth without the Lord’s justice.

And, in the future, what the Lord calls the last days, He will come and establish His kingdom and bring justice. It is when He brings true justice, there will be Peace.

Our nation is a small reflection of this. Over the past year we have all seen the riots and lack of peace as people revolt against justice and want to remove those who are tasked with enforcing law. Now, in those cities where they have subverted justice, there is rampant crime and no peace. They rioted for peace on earth without justice, and the result is no peace.

Without God’s justice there can be no peace on Earth. We are all corrupt and any human who gets power simply puts their group on top. There is no true justice, and therefore no peace.

It is when the Lord comes and establishes His kingdom that He will bring true, righteous justice, and then peace.

I look forward to that day, don’t you?

The Messiah will bring Peace to Earth.

Isaiah 52:7 NIV

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

The Savior brings Peace

When he establishes His kingdom, not all will know peace.

Isaiah 2:17–19 NIV

The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear. People will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.

The Savior brings Peace

Peace with God.

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.

Romans 5:1 NIV

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

The Lord brings Peace

Inner Peace. Despite circumstances.

Isaiah 26:3 NIV

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

John 14:27 NIV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

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.

Jesus—The Messiah, Savior and Lord—brings Peace

Luke 2:14 NIV

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”