Peace At Christmas Series

Christmas—with all its tinsel, decorations, presents, food, and gatherings with family and friends—is truly a remarkable time of year. For a moment, it almost feels as though we are being invited to step outside the weight of our daily realities and taste the love and joy we long for, but so often find lacking. If we are honest, the emotions we carry into this season are rarely as bright as the lights around us. Part of us dares to dream of a glorious future, yet another part battles the fear of failure, prolonged illness, financial collapse, or rejection from those we care about. We wonder whether we are “enough,” and whether our lives hold any real meaning.

Scripture reminds us that “the mind is the battleground” (cf. Romans 7:23; 2 Corinthians 10:3–5), and we know this to be true. The unknown future is hard enough, but often the past and present feel even heavier. Many are weighed down by the fear that they are not loved; others feel disconnected from a world that seems increasingly chaotic. Add to that the pain of broken relationships and the endless comparison with others, and it is no surprise that so many feel inferior, unseen, or overwhelmed.

Yet the deepest turmoil of all—the one that most robs us of peace at Christmas—is the sense that we are distant from our Creator. For some, this takes the form of doubting salvation; for others, it is the nagging fear that our love for God is too weak, our obedience too inconsistent, to be considered genuine. We confess sin only to stumble again, and the weight of repeated failure leaves us feeling unworthy of the One who gave His life to set us free. And so, even as we gaze upon the Babe in the manger, the peace of God that “surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) feels just out of reach.

That is why today’s message is such good news. The announcement of Christ’s birth to the shepherds reveals that God’s peace is not reserved for the privileged, the polished, or the spiritually elite. It is offered to all who genuinely seek His face. Peace with God comes only through the blood of Christ, shed on the cross, for “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Through Him we are reconciled, and through Him we can draw near. Christmas is not only about receiving God’s peace; it is about allowing the love and comfort we have received to overflow into a world desperate for reconciliation and hope. The manger leads to the cross, and the cross leads us to peace—true, lasting, soul-steadying peace in Jesus Christ.

The Peace Announced

And to show us just how far His peace reaches, Scripture moves our attention from the palace to the pasture and introduces us to the most unlikely recipients of the greatest news ever proclaimed—the shepherds. Listen now as Luke records the miraculous moment when heaven announced the birth of Jesus:

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.”

Luke 2:8-14

Luke continues by painting a vivid picture of the angel of the Lord appearing to shepherds watching their flocks near Bethlehem. At the sudden burst of heavenly light and the radiant glory of God shining around them, these humble men were terrified. Yet the angel calmed their fears with a message beyond anything they could have imagined. Though first-century shepherds were viewed as untrustworthy wanderers —social outcasts whose work kept them ceremonially unclean —the Lord chose them to receive the first proclamation of the Messiah’s birth (Ezekiel 34:23). Israel’s true Shepherd and promised Savior had come, offering reconciling peace to all who would fear God and believe (Isaiah 52:7; 57:19). And to confirm the truth of this good news, the angel told them they would find the Christ-child wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Then, as if the announcement itself were not enough, a multitude of heavenly hosts burst forth in praise, declaring glory to God and peace on earth to those who receive His favor.