Title: “The Announcement of Peace” Scripture: Lk. 2:10-18
Type: Thematic 2nd Sunday of Advent Where: GNBC 12-4-22
Intro: When we were little boys staying with our grandparents, my brother shot a dove. My grandfather was a great hunter and fisherman. He would pay us to keep blackbirds, starlings, etc. out of his garden. When my brother proudly brought his prey for our grandfather’s approval, the response was not what we expected: “Don’t ever shoot a songbird! A never shoot a dove, because it is the symbol of peace!” The dove is a nearly universal symbol of peace. And a very appropriate one. Doves are beautiful, gentle, faithful creatures. They’re also, well, flighty creatures. It doesn’t take much to send a dove fluttering away. A harsh word, a rash gesture, and off she goes. If you want a dove to stay around, you have to be very careful how you speak and act. Which is a lot like what it takes to be at peace with other people. The world’s peace is flighty at best. Its based on win/loss percentages, prenuptial agreements, lack of anxiety and stressors, medication scripts, or imposed by troops from the UN or some larger nation. Even the season of Christmas can cause undue stress. Friend, let me tell you this, Jesus came to bring us peace.
Prop: Exam. Lk 2:13-18 we’ll notice 3 important elements of the Angelic announcement of Peace.
BG: 1. The story of the birth of the Savior is the Greatest Story ever told. It is the most wonderful event of all history.
2. The messenger of the glad tidings was an angel. “Messenger” is the meaning of the word, “angel” and what a message this angel had to share. Along with the proclamation we see a myriad of the heavenly host also announcing the birth of the Messiah.
3.
Prop: Let’s look at Lk. 2 to notice 3 important elements in the Angelic announcement of Peace.
I. The Angel Announced Peace vv. 10-14
A. This Event marks the first Advent of Christ.
1. What was the historical setting into which Christ came?
a. After the introduction of Luke’s gospel (1:1-4), Luke begins to intertwine the advent of both John the Baptist and Jesus, beginning with the announcements of their births, then their births, and finally some significant insight into a childhood event.
b. “Pax Romana” is a roughly 200 yr. time period during which Rome ruled with unquestioned power and authority. It was the golden age of Roman imperialism, highlighted by prosperous stability, hegemonial power, and regional expansion, It is traditionally dated as commencing from the accession of Augustus, founder of the Roman principate, in 27 BC and concluding in 180 AD with the death of Marcus Aurelius. Yet even during this time, there were constant wars and uprisings. The world was still a very unsafe place to live.
2. The Angelic Announcement: “Peace on Earth”
a. Illust: “A curious bystander was watching a blacksmith with great interest. The blacksmith was hammering out a horseshoe. He had just finished with a shoe and had placed it aside to cool. Without thinking, the bystander picked it up to look at it more closely, and even more quickly put it down. With a twinkle in his eye, the blacksmith commented, “Hot, wasn’t it?” Not to be made light of, the observer responded, “Nope, it just doesn’t take me long to inspect horseshoes.” On can say that it doesn’t take Luke very long to report on child births, either, gauging from the length of his account of the birth of our Lord Jesus. Luke’s account of our Lord’s birth is the only inspired account recorded in the gospels. Neither Mark nor John deal with the births or the childhood days of either John the Baptist or Jesus, but begin with the commencement of John’s public ministry. Even Matthew does not record the actual birth.” (Bob Deffinbaugh, Luke 2)
b. Who were these men who heard the angel’s announcement? I personally believe these were special shepherds. Priestly shepherds if you please. Rachel, the wife of Jacob had died nearly 1700 years to the birth of Christ. There, outside Bethlehem she was buried at what was called “The Tower of the Flock”(Migdal Eder in Hebrew). Here the lambs for sacrifice were pastured. Did not the prophet Micah predict this: Mic 4:8 “And thou, O tower(Migdal) of the flock(Eder), the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.” Again the prophet declares: Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” What an amazing fulfillment that the Lamb of God would have been witnessed by the shepherds of the lambs for sacrifice! By the way, does anyone know what the name “Rachel” means in Hebrew? “Little lamb”! I think it’s pretty amazing that the Lamb of God was born near the memorial for the Patriarch Jacob’s wife, Rachel (Little Lamb) was buried where the sheep for ceremonial sacrifice were pastured.
B. Man Has Always Struggled to Find Peace.
1. Man struggles to find peace in our own lives. If you live very long in this life you have regrets. Illust: Paul Anka wrote a song that both Sinatra and Elvis popularized. The second verse declares: “Regrets, I've had a few, But then again, too few to mention, I did what I had to do, And saw it through without exemption, I planned each charted course , Each careful step along the byway, And more, much more than this, I did it my way…” A few? Liar!
Man struggles to find peace in our relationship with others. Life is full of broken relationships. Professions of love and faithfulness end up in a court for dissolution. Children separate and cut themselves off from their parents. Friends turn their back in times of need.
2. Man struggles to find peace in our relationship with God. We cannot understand the full ramifications of this peace unless we are fully convinced of what our relationship to our Creator was truly like before we knew Jesus. Scripture describes this relationship as an all-out war. Contrary to many popular ideas about God and humanity, the Lord's attitude toward fallen men and women who are outside of Christ is not one of kind benevolence or even neutral toleration. The Old Testament prophets understood this quite well, and they saw that God was at war with even the covenant community of Israel because of its sin. We read continual warnings about the consequences of this war in Scripture,
C. Applic: The prophets foresaw a great day of salvation when God would save His people and bring them shalom—peace—ruling them by His anointed king (Isa. 32). This shalom is not the mere cessation of hostilities but is much more. Shalom is a holistic concept, a condition in which people enjoy complete and permanent well-being. What the prophets proclaimed for the future, the Angels proclaimed in fulfillment.
II. The Angel Announced Peace to a People. V. 14
A. The Angelic Announcement was made to a Downtrodden People.
1. Asa People, the Jews of Judea were under the boot of Rome.
a. In our modern, Hallmark colored view of Christmas, with its focus on family, Santa, glitz and glitter, we lose site of the fact that this really was a historical event that took place in the context of a time and place in history. This announcement came to people, shepherds, but it came to a people, Israel.
b. We know from history that the Jewish people were long expecting a Messiah. Since the time of the prophet Malachi, for nearly 400 years, prophecy had stood silent. Alfred Edersheim, one of the greatest scholars to have ever written on the life of Christ, devoted an entire chapter in his magnum opus on the expectation of the Jewish people for the coming Messiah. Let me summarize what Edersheim said of the type of Messiah the Jews were expecting: NOT THIS ONE! The rabbis did not believe they needed deliverance from sin. They did not make the connection between their individual & national suffering and sin. They made no connection to their spiritual need!
2. The Angel Announced Peace to a People whom God was Pleased.
a. V. 14 – “among men with whom He is pleased” – This is a bit stilted in how we read the passage. The angels are saying that God will bring peace ‘for men on whom his favor rests’ (NEB). There is an emphasis on God, not man. It is those whom God chooses, rather than those who choose God, of whom the angels speak.” (Morris, pp. 85-86.)
b. Don’t get lost in the weeds when you read that. Here is the Good News: A thrice holy God Who is separate from all of creation in absolute purity desires to have fellowship with us! He has sent His Son to display His favor and pleasure upon man who will trust Him as Savior and Lord.
B. Where do People Turn today in an Attempt to Find Peace?
1. The World Offers its Counterfeit Peace
a. What are some of the offerings served up at the smorgasbord of secularism? You can fill your plate with secular counseling, you can garnish it with medications and substance abuse, we can feast on hobbies and entertainment in an attempt to drown out the loneliness, we can vainly look to politics to provide lasting peace in our cultural chaos, we can attempt to fill our inner hunger with “meditation” and new age spirituality. But, at the end of the day, none of these samplings offer us true and lasting peace.
b. Illust – I read a very sad statement this week on the BBC website. For the 1st time in recorded history, a majority of the people in the nation of Wales no longer identify as “Christian”. 51% now identify as “no religion” or “atheist” or “other”. Let me tell you, “No religion” is a lie. Everyone has a religion: Self, relationships, idolatry, entertainment. I asked myself a very basic question we should all ask ourselves we reading an article such as this. “Is Wales better off today without Christ?” Let’s look at the social indicators which can easily find on NIH website for the UK. 1. 40% of adult pop suffering undiagnosed depression (8-14-19, SmartTMS.co.uk) 2. 28% of young people reported severe mental health issues (4-2020). 3. 1in 6 adults suffering severe anxiety disorder. (www.cardiff.ac.uk), 4. Divorce rate was up 10% in the year 2020 alone! 5. Males 45-49 commit suicide at rate of 24.1 per 100k! 6. 73% of Welsh transgender teens have seriously considered suicide even though the UK has some of the most tolerant and inclusive laws in the world! Illegitimacy rates which were consistently 3-8% for the past 150 yrs. have now surpassed 51%! Compare Wales today to the Wales of 1905 after the great revival, unrecognizable! Need Christ! Need Christ’s peace!
2. My friend, where are you trying to Find Peace?
a. The hope and the option of peace is being proclaimed to you today! Just like the first hearers, the shepherds, it’s your choice to listen to the message and explore the facts for yourself. Who is this Jesus? How can He make my life different? How is He unique in all of history?
b. Friend, you find peace in a Person and in a relationship with that Person! You find peace in finding the Christ that was born at Christmas. You find peace when you find Jesus Christ!
C. Applic: Just as the first century Jews needed the peace the Messiah would bring, 21st century man needs His peace just as much today.
III. The Angel Announced Peace in a Person vv. 16ff
A. The Shepherds Found Peace in a Person.
1. The Shepherds Found a Person, a Baby, who was announced as the source of Peace.
a. Go back to the text. The Bible says that the shepherds “went straight to Bethlehem”. Why? They were looking for the reason for the angelic announcement. What did these men find? An emperor? A conquering general? A philosopher? A doctor? No, they found…a Baby! They found a wholesome teenage maiden. They found a devout and chaste young man. Both were from the royal lineage of David. Most likely they were nearly related. Both were exceedingly poor and without privilege in the world. How different from the pronouncement of the birth of royalty today. Eagerly and with great haste they hurry to find the baby!
b. Illust: Upon the birth of a royal in the UK the queen or king are first notified, and then the other senior royals. A gold easel is then placed in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace with a proclamation signed by the royals’ doctor. The Union flag is flown on all governmental buildings. A 21 gun cannon salute takes place at the Tower of London and from one of the royal parks or palaces. The Home Secretary informs the Mayor of the City of London, and the King or Queen’s secretary informs the Commonwealth. Finally, the child is baptized by the Archbishop of Canterbury with water from the Jordan River in a silver lily font, which is a part of the crown jewels.
2. We find Peace When We Find Christ.
a. V. 16 – “they came in haste and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby…” I love Luke’s explanation. The shepherds went in HASTE to find Christ. Christ was the proclamation! He was the solution! There is someone here today who needs to hear this: “Quit your dilly-dallying with Christ! Quit dipping your toe in the water! Jump in! Give Him your whole life! Run in haste to Him today! Don’t delay!
b. Jesus said in Jn. 14:27 “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.” Jesus offers a different peace from the counterfeits of the world. Offers you new life in His life.
B. We Find Peace when We Find Christ because He is our Peace!
1. Christ Alone Makes Peace Between God and Man.
a. Since the Fall in the Garden our original ancestors of the entire human race fell into iniquity and enmity between God and man became fixed.
b. Romans 5:1 declares: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…”
2. Christ Alone Makes Peace Between Peoples.
a. Illust: For decades there has a fixture that has spanned several miles in West Belfast, N. Ireland. Ironically, it was named “The Peace Line”. It is a cement and metal wall that towers twenty feet into the air. Why was it built? To keep the Republicans and Loyalists of West Belfast from killing each other! It literally divides the two communities which historically hated each other. I have preached in a church, Springfield Rd Methodist Church, which the wall literally runs through! None of the parishioners walk through the front doors or park their cars on the front due to vandalism or threat of violence from Catholic community. Rather, all walk in the back door and park behind the wall! Sad! Our world is filled with hatred and hostility. Hutus and Tutsis, Russians and Ukrainians, Jews and Gentiles, White and Black. The list is as long as the way we divide ourselves.
b. Eph. 2:14 – “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…” Listen friend, Jesus Christ ended our old identities and affiliations! V. 15 tells us “His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace…” Illust: I love that scene in “The Chosen” where Christ is about to send out the 70 disciples on their mission. IN that (artistic license.) Jesus pairs Simon the Zealot with Matthew the tax collector! Why? Because without Christ they would have hated each other! Now, however, it is a part of the message of reconciliation we are to have in Christ! Christian, your highest loyalty is to your faith and the people of God.
3. Christ Alone Makes it so We can Have Peace with Ourselves. I Pet. 3:21
a. I know a lot of people whose biggest detractor is himself/herself. You are still holding yourself guilty for your past. You beat yourself up over failures. In fact you live on “Failure Street”. Change your address! Forward your mail to “Clear Conscience Blvd!” If you have offended others ask their forgiveness! Let Christ release the control your conscience has over you!
b. In I Pet. 3:21 we read: “Corresponding to that (Previous verse references God saving Noah and his family in the ark.), baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. When the believer is baptized, he/she is baptized on the basis of having trusted Christ and repented of sins. His conscience is clear before God. Her sins have previously been forgiven and her baptism is a sign of both that confession and the promises of God. No infant being baptized can have that appeal to a clear conscience, only one who has personally come to know Christ.
C. Applic: “Jane Fonda” was an unmentionable name in my home growing up. We were not allowed to watch her movies. If her name was mentioned by my father, who was ex-Army, it was modified with profanity. The outward success the actress, activist, and fitness guru experienced in life has never been able to overcome the failings and shortfalls in personal relationships. Her mother’s suicide when was only 15 sent her on a spiral seeking love and acceptance. She lost her virginity to an actor at 18. She suffered from poor self image. She became alienated from her father. A string of romances and marriages to famous men (Most notably Tom Hayden and Ted Turner.) only left her more depressed. Political activism never fully satisfied. Then in the late 1990s/early 2000s, when marriage to Billionaire Ted Turner was falling apart, the atheist from birth was invited to a Bible study, and in her words, “accepted Christ”. Now, I am not saying all of her views are orthodox! However, just last week I read that the 85 yrs old actress has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. Facing death, she said, she has finally made “peace with herself”. Let me ask you, have you allowed Christ to make peace with God, others, and yourself for you personally?
