Peace Is at The Heart of Christmas – The Heart of Christmas, part 2
During this series, we are looking at how hope, peace, joy and love are at the heart of Christmas. Today we’ll learn about the remarkable offer of peace: Who is it for? What does it do? How do we get it?
The announcement of Jesus’s birth was delivered to shepherds who lived on the fringe of society. The heavenly angels told them that peace was coming to the earth for those on whom God’s favor rested. God’s favor was even on the lowly shepherds! They were being offered peace; and if it could be given to them, we can rest assured it is offered to us as well.
Jesus is at the heart of Christmas. His birth, life, and death offer a saving grace we can find nowhere else. This series centers on the story of Jesus’ birth. It’s meant to help you grow in faith and prepare your heart to focus on the real reason for the season: Jesus!
Jesus Offers Restorative, Fulfilling, Eternal Peace
Last week we considered the hope of Christmas. The hope of a savior being born. The hope of deliverance from oppression, bondage, and spiritual darkness. The hope of the promised Messiah is fulfilled at the birth of the promised savior.
Last week we looked at Isaiah 9:2-7 and learned that, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” We also learned that the promise of the Messiah was fulfilled in the birth of a child (see Isaiah 2:6). And we read of a child being born to a virgin (see Isaiah 7:14). We noted that people today need to hear the promise that was fulfilled long ago by the birth of Jesus; the birth that we celebrate each year at Christmas. We learned of a hope that is available to all who have faith in Christ the Lord. A hope that will pierce the darkest and hardest of hearts. True hope is found in Jesus. His birth, life, death and resurrection.
Today we are considering the peace that comes to a person’s heart who embraces the hope that is found in the birth of the savior. The hope of the savior being born brings with it a peace that all will be made right.
Hope fulfilled instills peace of heart and mind to all who know Jesus as Lord and savior.
A peace from God to men on whom his favor rests.
A peace only God can give.
A peace that is proclaimed by the angels because the Prince of Peace had been born.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6, NIV).
In this series, we are discovering the true meaning of the season of Christmas is more than the season giving gifts. God’s gift of a savior is the most important gift of all, that being the gift of his son. The gift of God that people everywhere would receive not only hope in their hearts but also the peace, joy, and love of God. Within this gift of God’s son is found the mercy, grace and forgiveness of God for our sin and rebellion to all who believe.
We will see that the birth of Jesus is God’s gift to mankind. It was a promise fulfilled and the birth of Jesus is a gift of true hope, peace, joy, and love. It is a prophecy and a promise of God all wrapped in one. The prophecy fulfilled gives us confidence that we can place our hope in Jesus. It is in the hope we have in the savior that we can find peace in whatever we face, both in the present and the future.
The heart of Christmas speaks peace to the soul.
Jesus’ birth is God taking the first step towards repairing mankind’s broken relationship with God Almighty that first occurred back in the garden of Eden when man sinned. Peace with God is only possible when man’s broken relationship with God is restored. A peace God extends to all who will believe in Christ the Lord as their savior.
Now let’s read part of Luke’s account of Jesus birth.
‘And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”’ (Luke 2:8-14).
The Peace of God Is for All People
In the verses we just read we find that shepherds were the first ones told of Jesus’ birth. Shepherds would not have been on anyone’s high priority list in the first century, but they were the first on God’s list to tell of Jesus’ birth.
Shepherds lived with the sheep. They were considered dirty, smelly, and untrustworthy. Shepherds lived with the sheep for months on end, both night and day. Always moving around and letting the sheep graze, and the shepherds kept watchful eyes out for predators. Shepherds were often considered to be unreliable and were not allowed to give testimony in courts of law. Many shepherds were considered social outcasts and yet God chose to first tell the shepherds that the savior was born. God chose to first give the lowly shepherds hope and peace before anyone from the religious or ruling class of people.
It is an ordinary night when those shepherds are visited by angels. Suddenly angels appeared and the glory of the Lord pierced the night. The shepherds were terrified. Then when the angels tell the shepherds not to fear, the news of the savior being born filled their ears and hearts. The shepherds are told news of great joy and how to find the child. The shepherds are no longer fearful; instead, the shepherds decide to go and see for themselves the long-awaited Messiah who was born that night.
The shepherds knew of the promise. The story of a coming Messiah had been told to them as children. The promise of the Messiah, the savior, the one who would break the yoke of oppression and bring peace has been born. What excitement they must have felt within their hearts! What a privilege to be told and invited to see the child. The privilege given to the shepherds is also available to everyone without respect for position or status in the world. The lowly shepherds hear the news of great joy that will be for all people. And on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.
From the time sin entered the world and affected all of creation, mankind has been at odds with God. The Bible says we were enemies of God and living in rebellion. Sin also caused us to be in conflict with one another and ourselves. Jesus’ birth is the good news all the world needs to hear. The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus is the answer to mankind’s brokenness that exists because of sin—brokenness between us and God, between ourselves and others, and even the brokenness that is within our own hearts.
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant” (Colossians 1:19-23).
Jesus lived a sinless life and he willingly offered up his life to pay the debt we could never pay because of our sin. It is the blood of Jesus Christ that makes peace between us and God. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross pays for the sin we have committed, and it destroys the power of sin in, and over, our lives. Being reconciled to God is the key to experiencing true and lasting peace in every area of our lives.
Jesus Reconciles Us to God
Being made right with God or having peace with God does not mean that you will never face problems. Dr. Tony Evans says it like this: “Peace does not mean you won’t have any problems. Peace means that your problems won’t have you.” It means during your troubles you can have the peace of God in your heart, mind, and soul.
Learn to breath the name of Jesus. Wisper it and let the name of Jesus bring peace to the storms of life. In your weakness he is strong. In troubled waters Jesus will reach out to you and save you. It is in times of your weakness that you call out to Jesus that God receives all the glory. Remember Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
First, the peace God gives is a peace given to those who call out to him and on whom his favor rests. His peace is available to all. However, the peace of God is not given to everyone, it is only for those who believe and have placed their faith in Jesus.
“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” (John 14:27).
The peace Jesus gives is not peace like the peace the world gives. Rather, it is a supernatural peace. It is a peace that is beyond understanding; a lasting peace; total peace both for now and in the future. It is a hope and peace regarding the blessed hope you have in Christ the Lord.
The peace Jesus offers is a peace for all who believe; a peace that will guard your heart and mind.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
Peace Is Our Purpose
The shepherds, having seen the baby Jesus, would later return to their flocks. However, I am sure they did not keep the news of the birth of the Messiah to themselves. They would have told others the good news. Starting most likely with other shepherds, and then others they came across in the days, weeks and months following. It is a message that neither they nor we are to keep to ourselves.
The world needs to hear the gospel of peace.
The more people who have the peace of God in their hearts and are willing to share that peace with others, the more people will experience the peace of God for themselves.
Telling others of the hope and peace of God is an expectation that Jesus has for his followers. Consider Jesus’ sermon called the Beatitudes.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).
Do you have the peace of God in your heart? Remember Matthew recorded Jesus’ words. Blessed (or happy) are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
We are to tell others of the hope and peace of God that we have experienced in our heart so that others might know the hope and peace of God for themselves.
God had a reason and a purpose for telling the shepherds. It was to proclaim the Messiah had been born and that it was good news for all people—not just for a select few. Young and old. Rich and poor. Jew and Gentile. Religious and nonreligious. Everyone needs to hear the message of hope and peace that comes from God. The religious leaders of the day looked down on the ordinary person. They looked down on the social outcast and would not give them the time of day. The shepherds looked down on no one. The religious leaders felt threatened by Jesus. Jesus reached out to the lost, the outcast, the sinner.
You Can Have the Restoring Peace of Jesus
Maybe you feel a bit alone this Christmas season. Maybe you don’t have a sense of hope or peace in your heart today. The kind of peace that the world gives is an empty, temporal kind of peace that vanishes when the storms of life come. The peace that Jesus speaks of is lasting, eternal, peace. It is a peace that only he can give. It is a peace that follows the hope fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, Immanuel—God with us.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
Let the peace of God guard your heart, and your faith in Jesus. And know that the blessed hope you have in Christ will be with you today and every day.
Suggested Praise and Worship
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