Finding Peace In Our Struggles Series

Note: The idea and title for this series comes from outreach.com.

Christmas is a big deal in Finland. For over 700 years, at noon on Christmas Eve, a Declaration of Christmas Peace is proclaimed in the city of Turku. Read by a city official from the balcony of a historic mansion at the center of town, this Declaration of Christmas Peace reminds people to spend the holiday in harmony. It ends by threatening offenders with harsh punishments, before wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

“Tomorrow, God willing, is the graceful celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior; and thus is declared a peaceful Christmas time to all, by advising devotion and to behave otherwise quietly and peacefully, because he who breaks this peace and violates the peace of Christmas by any illegal or improper behavior shall under aggravating circumstances be guilty and punished according to what the law and statutes prescribe for each and every offence separately. Finally, a joyous Christmas feast is wished to all inhabitants of the city.”

This declaration, with its dire warnings about breaking peace, is based on legislation created in the 13th Century to extend the tradition of the “Truce of God.” I wonder if we should start a tradition like that in our country where every person who breaks peace would be punished?

There’s not much peace pervading our culture right now, is there?

• In a new Harris Poll called, “Stress in America,” 8 in 10 adults say the coronavirus pandemic is a significant source of stress in their lives, while 60% say the number of issues America faces is overwhelming to them.

• Another survey finds 65% of Americans have had their own personal crisis at some point during 2020.

My guess is legislation that punishes a lack of peace would put us all in prison! If we ever needed a proclamation of peace, it’s right now. Listen to this declaration first given over 2,000 years ago, celebrating the “true truce of God” that leads to peace among people.

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.

There is so much to unpack in this passage but instead of doing that, we’re going to primarily spend our time in verse 14. The first message the shepherds receive is from one angel, when suddenly a whole regiment of rejoicing warrior angels fills the sky, praising God in a thunderous chorus: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” In the coming of Jesus, God extends grace to those out of place.

I see two outcomes of this announcement from the angels.

1. Glory to God – glory goes up to God

2. Peace to people – peace comes down from God

We could say it like this: Peace comes to those who praise Him, and He gives grace to those who give Him glory.

John Piper offers this insight, “First and foremost, God is glorified because this child is born. And second, peace is to spread everywhere this child is received…God’s glory [is] sung out among men for the sake of His name. God’s peace [is] lived out among men for the sake of His name.”

Let’s look at each aspect of this announcement.