Opening illustration: Review my life: 1970-71 was the Indo-Pak war and my family and I were in the war-zone living most of the nights in blackouts and bunkers when the war planes would come. 1980’s (for a decade) national unrest and civil war. 1990-91 we were just married and thrust into region of the first Gulf War and the second. Since then and now we have witnessed numerous wars, terrorism and complete chaos overseas as well as in our nation. We are spiraling down pretty fast. There is no peace but confusion everywhere. There is only one through Whom peace is promised. I want to share a short narrative from the nativity story from Luke 2 which helps …
Introduction: When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the world was not the way God intended it. Into this moral and spiritual darkness Jesus came bringing life and light to all (John 1:4). Even though the world didn’t recognize Him, “to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (v. 12). (Give the narrative of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, wise men and the Israel being colonized and ruled by the Romans. Amidst all the chaos that existed, God sent His peace for each one of us. We are in a similar situation right now.)
When life is not “the way it ought to be” we are deeply saddened—when families break up, children go hungry, and the world wages war. But God promises that through faith in Christ anyone can begin to move in a new direction.
The Christmas season reminds us that Jesus, the Savior, gives the gift of life and peace to everyone who will receive and follow Him.
The word peace, or versions of the word, is used in all but one New Testament book. It seems the angels had it right when they declared, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" They were declaring God's desire for harmonious relationships between men and nations. Peace also describes friendliness, freedom from attack, order, and a sense of rest and contentment. Yet, despite the meaning and purpose, a countless number of people lack peace in their lives.
Many see and hear the sights and sounds of Christmas, and in despair they say, "There's no peace on earth." And it's not just this particular year. For centuries, people have struggled with the notion of peace on earth. During the American Civil War, Henry W. Longfellow wrote the lyrics of 'I heard the Bells on Christmas Day.' With heartfelt candor, he wrote, "For hate is strong and mocks the song, of peace on earth, good will to men." His honesty pricks my heart.
The news headlines are disparaging. The reality of war and hate among nations is too close to home. And it is sometimes hard to know what to say to those enduring this season without their loved ones for the first time. Yet despite all this, there is still a message ringing through the air: Peace On Earth.
How is Jesus the PEACE on Earth for us?
1. Brought Peace between us and our Father (Ephesians 2:13-18)
God wants us to remember that violent death, because violence is the ultimate result of paganism. It is the final expression of a godless society. Cruelty arises immediately when love and truth disappear from society. And God is simply reminding us that when humanity had done its worst, had sunk to its lowest, had vented its anger in the utter wretchedness and violence and blood of the cross, his love reached down to that very place and, utilizing that violent act, began to redeem, to call back those who were far off and bring them near -- in the blood of Christ.
Let us use a human analogy. Suppose two people have a difference and go to law about it; and the experts in the law draw up a document, which states the rights of the case, and ask the two conflicting parties to come together on the basis of that document. All the chances are that the breach will remain unhealed, for peace is seldom made on the basis of a legal document. But suppose that someone whom both of these conflicting parties love comes and talks to them, there is every chance that peace will be made. When two parties are at variance, the surest way to bring them together is through someone whom they both love. That is what Christ does. He is our peace. It is in a common love of him that people come to love each other. That peace is won at the price of his blood, for the great awakener of love is the Cross. The sight of that Cross awakens in the hearts of men of all nations love for Christ, and only when they all love Christ will they love each other. It is not in treaties and leagues to produce peace. There can be peace only in Jesus Christ.
In Isaiah 54:10 the prophet reminds us that, God’s loyal love and God’s covenant of peace will remain with His people “though the mountains depart and the hills be removed.” It is an eternal covenant that will outlast the hills; it is based on the LORD God; whose character it is to show mercy. This “covenant of peace” is a reference to what Jeremiah will call the new covenant which we enjoy today.
Illustration: World War II had ended. Peace had been declared. But young Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda of the Japanese Imperial Army, stationed on an island in the Philippines, didn’t know the war had ended. Attempts were made to track him down. Leaflets were dropped over his location, telling him the war was over. But Onoda, whose last order in 1945 was to stay and fight, dismissed these attempts and leaflets as trickery or propaganda from the enemy. He did not surrender until March 1974—nearly 30 years after the war had ended—when his former commanding officer traveled from Japan to the Philippines, rescinded his original order, and officially relieved Onoda of duty. Onoda finally believed the war was over.
When it comes to the good news about Jesus Christ, many still haven’t heard or don’t believe that He has “destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). And some of us who have heard and believed still live defeated lives, trying to survive on our own in the jungle of life.
Someone needs to tell them the glorious news of Christ’s victory over sin and death. Initially, they may respond with skepticism or doubt, but take heart. Imagine the freedom they’ll find when Christ illumines their mind with the knowledge that the battle has been won. (Poh Fang Chia, ODB: 08/09)
2. Brought a Peaceful stillness to the storms in our life (Mark 4:35-41)
Many of the disciples were professional fishermen. They knew how easily even a good boat could capsize or be swamped by the waves. They knew what happened to others who had been caught in a storm like this. There would be no way to swim out of the situation, in the dark, in the waves, in the storm. You get swamped in a storm, you drown.
Storm clouds have gathered over our community. Just think of things that upset that smooth sailing of our community at the moment. It may seem from our newspapers that chaos has certainly broken loose and we like the disciples are fearful of what is going to happen. Will we all go down with the ship? Will the power of the destructive storm that has broken out in our world finally swamp us? We are tempted to ask what has happened to the straight sailing of the past. To be truthful there has never been straight sailing since sin came into the world in the Garden of Eden.
Jesus stands up. Without answering their question about whether Jesus cared for them in their time of deep trouble. Rather he demonstrates how much he cares and speaks a word to the wind and the sea: “Peace! Be still!” It’s calm. Jesus brings peace and calm to the terrified and panic-stricken disciples. In ancient literature storms were often thought of as the power of chaos breaking out, as the raging of all that is evil. Jesus has power over all that is evil and chaotic. His peace gives calmness, a sense of safety and security.
And let’s not forget the church. It’s not exempt from storms and chaos either. When one Christian hurts another –
• When the church is struggling because of uncommitted members,
• When Christians are distracted from worship, reading God’s Word and prayer by all kinds of trivial things,
• When Christians prefer holding grudges than seeking reconciliation,
• When the followers of Jesus are burdened with guilt, uncertainty and doubt,
These are the storms that the church faces in our secular society. Often the church is described as a boat and all the believers are sailing in this boat sometimes in calm waters but more often than not sailing through a storm.
God isn’t responsible for the chaos in our lives but he is there to help us overcome the chaos Satan wreaks in our lives. God tells us again and again as if we need constant reminding that he is in the boat riding the storms with us, and that if we let him, he uses those storms to strengthen us and bless us. He reminds us, “Don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed: for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
God is not out there somewhere but right here in the boat with us as the chaos rages around us. He is in the midst of our difficulties and the scary moments of our lives, but not subject to them.
Illustration: Narrate the storms we face in our own personal lives and how God brought peace a stillness in our lives in the midst of those storms.
3. Promised us an infinite Peace surpassing all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7)
This is not some psychological peace gained through coping techniques. The Christian psychiatrists I mentioned earlier give all sorts of “common sense” and psychological methods (alongside the “spiritual”) that you can use to alleviate your anxiety, including picking a phrase (any phrase will do, they say) and repeating it over and over! This is just thinly disguised Transcendental Meditation!
No, what Paul is talking about is the peace that comes from the God who is never subject to anxiety because He is the sovereign, omnipotent Creator and Lord of the universe. Nothing takes Him by surprise or makes Him bite His nails, wondering how it will turn out. This is the peace that Jesus promised, “not as the world gives.” It is humanly not explainable. But, praise God, it is real, and every child of God has known it and has known that it comes from God alone, not from psychological insights.
Note that this peace stands guard like a sentry over our inner person, our hearts (the comprehensive term for our whole person) and minds (specifically, our thoughts which threaten to trouble us) in Christ Jesus.
God may not always remove the problems that were the initial cause of our anxiety, but He promises a "peace which surpasses all understanding"!
• It is a peace that the world cannot provide, but He can!
• It is a peace that "guards" (to guard, garrison like a fortress) our "hearts" and "minds"
? Guarding the HEART (which is susceptible to wrong feeling)
? Guarding the MIND (which is susceptible to wrong thinking)
One elderly lady said, “I always feel bad when I feel good, for I know that I’ll feel bad after a while!” What a tragic outlook, yet many people live right there. Folks, the bottom line is this, when we worry we have ceased to trust the Lord, and that is a sin!
To those who follow Him, Jesus promised, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27). He spoke those comforting words on the most difficult night He faced on this earth, the night before His crucifixion.
Application: Do you know God’s peace in the midst of situations that the world gets anxious about? If not, examine yourself: Is your faith in Him and your focus on His kingdom, rather than on selfish pursuits? Have you drawn near to God in reverent, specific, thankful prayer? You can put your full weight down on Him, and He will bear you up and give you His indescribable peace. It makes the flight so much more enjoyable!
