This Christmas season we’re doing a short series of messages called “Unexpected.” We’re surveying some of the unexpected ways in the Christmas story God shows up to work out his purpose and plan. Last week our theme was HOPE. This morning our theme is PEACE.
In the Christmas story, there are several stories of interest. The first story is about the Shepherds who are staying out in their fields, keeping watch at night over their flocks. An angel of the Lord stands before them, and the glory of the Lord radiates forth, all around them. They are told in Luke 2:10-14, “. . . Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!”
So, there is that word, that promise of peace! There are a couple of things that strike me about this announcement. First, the angel promises that Jesus Christ will bring a distinctive kind of peace, the effect of which, will be felt here, on earth. After all, it’s right now, here on earth, that peace most matters to us. But second the angel promises God’s people will be the select beneficiaries of that peace. Those whom God favors (his people) will feel a peace that won’t also be felt by those who are hostile to God, or otherwise alienated from God!
Remember the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control? The world doesn’t have peace—our world is vexed with anxiety of every kind. I would never suggest that a Christian is exempt from anxiety. In fact, Jesus commands Christians not to be anxious, nor to worry, but to trust God in everything. It’s just that those far from Christ often have anxiety in spades! There is a sense of desperation that short-circuits one’s love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control. When you are most anxious you are impulsive, reckless, desperate, grabbing and grasping, doing damage to yourself and others, fighting, arguing, stealing, taking.
In this breathtaking moment, Luke 2, the curtain is drawn back and these shepherds get a glimpse of heaven. They’re shown that God is control, indeed, that God favors and is bringing peace to his people on earth.
Now let me take you to a second story, which is our main text this morning. Consider Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, in Matthew 1:18-19, “The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.”
The story of Mary and Joseph seemingly flies off the page from left field. There is a couple. They are engaged. They hadn’t had sexual relations. Joseph’s fiancée Mary is found to be pregnant. He’s told the most fantastic of all reasons ever given in the history of humankind never before, and never since, “It’s from the Holy Spirit.” Of course, Joseph didn’t believe that one, and began taking steps to quietly divorce Mary. The reason the text says “divorce” is because engagement in that culture was such a serious and advanced state of affairs, you’d have to take a whole bunch of steps and measures to undo what’s been planned. I mean, can you imagine?
There are so many things that happen to this young couple—Mary and Joseph. Some wise men from the east see some star and come looking for Jesus. They stir the insecurities of Herod, who begins a search throughout Bethlehem for Jesus. Dozens of babies, or perhaps more, are massacred by Herod. If you were Mary and Joseph, would you be filled with peace or sheer dread?
From my study of Scripture, I’ve found that there are at least four dimensions of peace. A first dimension of peace concerns our relationship with the world. I don’t have to tell you, but this world is filled with chaos. There is so much danger, so many disasters, disease and suffering. To find peace on earth, we most often turn to technology. The promise of technology is to subdue the chaos, or even insulate us from danger. I have GPS. I can call 911 and be saved. There is medicine to stem effects of disease, to ward off the pain and threat of death.
A second dimension of peace concerns our relationship with one another. Our world is filled with not just with chaos and suffering… but with cruelty and evil. I was talking with a lady who works in the records department of a police department. She was comparing the number of crimes filed, but also the nature of the crimes filed fifty years ago versus today. There's a gratuitous “cruelty” to many crimes. It’s not just that a person does a crime—but they do it in a way to maximize its destructiveness. Crime done to terrorize, to cause shock and awe. Herod’s cruelty in the Christmas story rendered the mothers of Ramah inconsolable! Hostility and cruelty is multiplying exponentially.
A third dimension of peace concerns our relationship with our own selves. I can’t name a single health professional that would suggest people are experiencing deeper or greater peace within today than even few years ago. Far from it. The number of people soothing themselves with alcohol, marijuana, drugs, vices, gluttony, sensuality, lust, anger, and rage… we’re in the midst of a full-blown mental health crisis. We’re not finding peace, at best, we’re faking peace. We’re chemically altering, tricking, and deadening our bodies to get sleep, to cope… only to wake up with a soul every bit as restless as day before.
And a fourth dimension of peace concerns our relationship with God. Spiritually we’re racked with guilt and shame. Our conscience accuses us in regard to sin (all that’s wrong), righteousness (all that should be), and judgement (that we’re accountable to something higher than ourselves). There is so much spiritual confusion and darkness. Does God exist? Can I know God? Has God spoken? Does God love me? Can I be forgiven and justified or made right with God?
There is a spectrum of peace we need! Something that strikes me about Mary and Joseph. In Matthew 1:20-25 says, “But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her 25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.”
What leapt out to me in this announcement is the name to be given Jesus… who is Immanuel, and which is translated “God is with us.” I don’t know what your definition or idea of peace may be… but in the Bible peace is the assurance that not only are we God’s people… but that GOD IS WITH US! At every twist and turn in the Christmas story God shows up in unexpected ways to give peace to Mary and Joseph! When they feel disgraced, when they feel afraid, when they don’t know what to do, when they don’t have a plan, when they’re in danger, then they’re in need… God shows up time and again. God provides the information they need, the guidance, the place (manger), the warnings, the gifts (the gold, frankincense, myrrh), the protection… in short… the FAVOR they need to prosper.
Listen, there is a general way God’s goodness is felt by all people—because of the simple fact you are a human. Romans 1:20 says, “For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.” What is that talking about? In Luke 6:35 Jesus observed how God’s kindness extends even to unkind, ungrateful people. In Matthew 5:45 Jesus says God causes the sun to rise on good people and on evil people, and he sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong. James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father”. At Christmas we can all celebrate the general goodness of God that evident to all men on earth.
But this isn’t the peace spoken of in the Gospels. The Peace that comes in Christ delivers us from chaos, suffering, and death into eternal life. It delivers us from darkness and confusion into true light and knowledge of God. It delivers us from cruelty and evil and decimates the dividing walls of hostility that exist between people everywhere—and ushers in forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Most of all, the peace of God quiets our restless souls and reconciles all people to God. This particular peace comes to all who believe on Jesus. It’s a peace that can only come to one to whom GOD is TRULY WITH.