Advent 2021 | Christ Brings Peace
Christ Brings Peace and Will Bring Peace | Advent part 2
In Luke 2, we find the most often read Christmas story from the Bible. Luke recounts why Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem, though they were from Nazareth. He records how the young couple found themselves in a manger because the inn was full. And he also gives us a glimpse what happens when heaven touches earth. Turn with me to Luke 2, and let’s read verses 8-14.
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!”
Luke 2:8-14
Imagine the joy, excitement, and sheer amazement for the shepherds! They are watching their flocks, probably huddled over a campfire sharing stories when suddenly, they are shocked to see the glory of the Lord shining around them. The angel tells them to not be afraid because he brings “good news of great joy.” What is their news? The Savior is born! And then, a multitude of angels appear and they all sing a verse that just sounds better in the King James, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”
This week, as we continue Advent, we are looking at the Peace that Christ brings.
Jesus is the Reason for Peace
I’ve mentioned before that many people define ‘peace’ as the absence of war or conflict, but in reality ‘war’ is the absence of peace. ‘Peace’ is the actual thing, and any time we find ourselves in conflict—whether war, arguments, factions, etc—we are feeling the effects of a lack of peace. Think about when you find yourself alone in the woods, or surveying the ocean, or the top of some mountain, any place where someone would say “Oh, it is so peaceful!” Now, it’s fascinating that the vast majority of places like this don’t have any people in it! It’s peaceful, because there is no hustle or bustle, no arguments, no fighting over what belongs to who. And yet, we can find ourselves among people and still have peace. Whenever the people get along with one another, when they demonstrate love for one another, these are times when we say, “They are at peace.”
The Lord created this world with a particular design, and when that design is working, it is a peaceful design. But, whenever humans sin against each other, against God, or His Creation, then it breaks that peace.
A lack of peace is a symptom of a lack of obedience to God’s design.
Recount the story of humanity after the Fall. Humanity attempted to become gods themselves, even building a great tower that was supposed to reach heaven. After God breaks apart their ability to understand each other, they spread out over the earth. Then, tribes and factions begin fighting one another. Violence covers the earth to such a degree that God floods the entire earth in order to cleanse it of the violence. Humanity is rebuilt through Noah’s family, and they once again spread out over the earth. And again they divide into factions and tribes building new civilizations. And these civilizations have been trying to get along but continue to fail time and again.
It is not until one day, angels arrive announcing a time of great change is at hand. The promised Messiah has come! He is the Savior who will bring peace!
Now, one question you might have is, “How does Jesus bring peace?”—especially since nations still exist, wars still occur, and people still struggle to get along.
The answer begins way back in Isaiah 32 where Isaiah prophesies what will happen when the Messiah comes. Chapter 32 begins with a series of poetic verses that speak to the rising and falling of Israel. They are going to see some good times, but then the women of the country will wail because of the great horror that is going to happen. But then in verse 15, Isaiah says the Spirit of the Lord will come upon the land, and a great revival will occur. Read with me:
until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,
and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.
Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,
and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.
And the effect of righteousness will be peace,
and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.
Isaiah 32:15-17
Again, these verses occur within the context of Israel’s judgement by Assyria. Isaiah is bracing the people for the harsh realty that is going to happen to them, but he is also reminding them God is not done with them. What is most important for today’s point is what the effects are when the Spirit is poured out over the land.
First, the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field becomes a forest. There is a great reversal of fortunes as the Spirit puts right what went wrong.
Second, justice and righteousness return to the land. The people are reminded right is right, wrong is wrong, and they are to uphold justice and conduct themselves in righteousness.
Third, the effect of righteousness is peace!—a peace that brings about quietness and trust.
Why do people struggle so much with trusting one another? There is no peace! Peacefulness breeds trust. So:
If we want peace in our families, our community, and in our country, then we must pursue the only true source of justice and righteousness—the Spirit of God.
Now, I have pursued this tangent for a moment, because I want you to understand the significance of the impact of what Jesus says in John 16:33:
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.”
John 16:33
Jesus tells us to take heart when the world rages and when we can’t seem to find peace, because He has overcome the world. In Him we have peace, because it is through Him we have access to the Spirit of God. Look at John 16 with me, but look up at verses 5-11.
But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
John 16:5-11
Jesus came 2,000 years ago in that manger accompanied by a host of angels singing “Peace, goodwill toward men!” A little over 30 years later, Jesus tells His disciples that He is about to return to the Father. The time for Him to lay down His life has come. He is going to rise on the third day defeating death itself. But before the cross, Jesus encourages His disciples that it is to our benefit that He returns to the Father. It is beneficial because after Jesus ascends, He will send the Spirit of God, the Helper, who will open access to Divine justice, righteousness, and peace!
This is the Good News of Great Joy!
Jesus has come and conquered sin and death. He lived a sinless life, laid that life down as the final sacrifice for sin, and then rose again on the third day defeating death itself. All that was prophesied thousands of years ago has come true. And for us today, when we trust in Jesus for salvation and forgiveness, He sends us His Holy Spirit to remake us. Just as Isaiah said, our wilderness lives become fruitful. We learn what it means to act in justice and righteousness, because the Spirit "convicts us of sin and righteousness and judgement.”
When we trust in Jesus for salvation, we also receive the Spirit of God to guide our new life towards peace.
The first step towards peace in our land starts with us. It starts with the individual turning their heart towards God, repenting of the sin that has brought so much destruction and removed the possibility of peace. Then, as a church, we follow the footsteps of Jesus who guides us through the Holy Spirit towards peace. It is the pursuit of righteousness and justice that will give us that peace we are so desperate for. And only then, when God’s people are following the Spirit of God, can we expect to help others find the peace they seek as well.
Peace in the land begins with God’s people following the Spirit of God.
One day Jesus will return to establish the New Creation in which Heaven and Earth are one. But until that day comes, we must remember the words of Jude:
But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
Jude 17-23
These times of scoffers and the pursuit of ungodly passions are no surprise. The Lord said these things would come to pass. What we must remember is those same scoffers and ungodly influences are why divisions happen. The reason people argue and fight is because they have no peace. And they have no peace because they are “devoid of the Spirit.”
But for us, who have the Spirit, we are to build ourselves up in faith and prayer. Remain in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of Christ that leads to eternal life. Pass on that mercy to those who doubt, and save those you can as if you are snatching them out of a fire, because that is exactly what you are doing. When Christ returns those who are in Christ will enjoy eternity without sin, death, or corruption. But for those who continue in their sin, they will only see more sin, more death, and utter desolation.