Theme: Peace on Earth
Text: Luke 2:8-14
Greetings: The Lord is good; His Love endures forever!
Illustration:
Christmas always means a Gift.
After the Christmas holidays,
A boy told his uncle, ‘Thanks uncle, for the electric guitar you gave me for Christmas’ "It's the best present I ever got."
His uncle said ‘Oh, nice to know about it. That's great,"
Then his uncle asked, "Are you enjoying playing it?"
The boy said "Oh, No Uncle, I don't play it," because
"My mom gives me Rs. 50 per day not to play it during the day,
And my dad gives me Rs.500 a week not to play it at night”.
Introduction:
Santa Claus is merely a gift-giving, fourth-century Saint Nicholas of Myra known for his piety and generosity. Santa's modern look comes courtesy of a Coca-Cola advertising campaign in the 1930s. "In 274 C.E., the Roman emperor Aurelian established a feast of the birth of Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun) on December 25." The true biblical story of Jesus' birth has been syncretized into a non-Christian festival. The vast majority of mainstream Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25 or January 6 (Eastern Orthodox), depending on their denominational allegiance.
1. Good news to All
The Greek word ‘e?a??e????µa? – evangelízomai’ literally means "I evangelize you," for "I bring good tidings," is a matter "of great joy."
In a way, this is the beginning of the preaching of the gospel, as this is the sense of the Greek term. He is informing the shepherds that God had sent him as an evangelist to let them know that the way of salvation was beginning to open to all people.
Good news "to all people." In the Greek text, a definite article appears before "people," so it should read, "all the people." Whenever we read "the people," in Bible, it usually refers to the people of Israel. So, all the People refers to the whole universe, all nations, all tribes, and all languages.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of reconciliation and hope (John 3:16–17), that hope is only accessible to those who believe in Him (John 3:18, 36). So, the angels are declaring good news to all but Peace to those who follow His will by accepting His Son (John 6:28–29; Hebrews 11:6).
It is clearly affirmed in Luke 2:10 and 2:14. Kindly observe carefully the words coined by Luke in this passage. There is a sharp contrast between those addressed in v.10 with those addressed here in v.14. The angel declared in “good news of great joy” to all people (v 10). In other words, the coming of Christ has a universal, or general, benefit for all humanity. No one by birth, nationality, language, or prior creed or behaviour, has been excluded. No matter where you have come from, or what you have done, God offers good news, the gospel—and we will get to what that means in a moment—to all.
The “People” (Greek laos) at this point likely points to the people of Israel, but in the larger narrative of Luke-Acts indicates that God’s people will expand to include all people regardless of nationality. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles. James makes this point at the end of the Jerusalem council.
Proclamation has five elements. First, reason not to be fearful but rather joyful. Second, “good news” for everyone. Third, a saviour has been born. Fourth, the saviour is the anointed one of God. Fifth, the baby in the manger is the “sign” that affirms the truthfulness of this proclamation.
The birth story of Jesus comes in three parts: the pregnancy and the birth (Luke 2:1-7), the proclamation of the birth to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20), and the circumcision and naming (Luke 2:21). This is similar to many ancient and modern stories. We can very well see the same structure even in these days: The birth, the announcement of the birth to others; and the circumcision and naming of boys, or of girls, or dedication or infant baptism.
Illustration:
Christmas Gift:
A wealthy English family once invited friends to spend some time at their beautiful estate. The happy gathering was almost plunged into a terrible tragedy on the first day. When the children went swimming, one of them got into deep water and was drowning. Fortunately, the gardener heard the others screaming and plunged into the pool to rescue the helpless victim. That youngster was Winston Churchill. His parents, deeply grateful to the gardener, asked what they could do to reward him. He hesitated, then said, "I wish my son could go to college someday and become a doctor." "We'll pay his way," replied Churchill's parents.
Years later when Sir Winston was prime minister of England, he was stricken with pneumonia. Greatly concerned, the king summoned the best physician who could be found to the bedside of the ailing leader. That doctor was Sir Alexander Fleming, the developer of penicillin. He was also the son of that gardener who had saved Winston from drowning as a boy! Later Churchill said, "Rarely, has one man owed his life twice to the same person."
How many time we owe to the Lord our Lives? For his numerous saving experience. Certainly we ought to share what we know about the Saviour all the time and especially at Christmas.
2. Glory to God
The angels' doxology to God, and congratulations of men, upon this solemn occasion, Luke 2:13-14). The Doxology was sung by the heavenly angelic Choir as a Chorus.
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" was the powerful Chorus ever sang on the universe in any language. Glory is the Greek word dóxa, which means "praise, recognition, honour, worship".
This is the height of reverence and adulation that we could give to God. Figuratively of the highest possible status. In view of God's superior rank and power it is an appropriate descriptive Name of God. He is the Most High which also emphasizes His dwelling is in the highest heavens far exalted above all other things.
We have two universes functioning parallel to one another. One universe consists of glass and steel and wool clothes and leather briefcases and the smell of freshly ground coffee. The other consists of God, angels and spiritual forces and heaven and hell. We palpably inhabit the material world. It takes faith to consider oneself a citizen of the other, invisible world.
3. Peace on Elected One
In Most translations of this verse connect the "peace" being proclaimed to God's pleasure with a certain group. This is phrased as "those with whom he is pleased,"(ESV), “everyone who pleases God.” (CEV). "Those on whom his favour rests," or "people He favours."(CSB). The King James translation inverts part of the phrase, indicating a broader "good will toward men." “Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.”(MSG), “And on earth, peace among all people who bring pleasure to God!”(VOICE).
???a ?? ???st??? ?e? ?a? ?p? ??? e????? ?? ?????p??? e?d???a?.
The Greek word “e????? - Eirene” indicates to join or bind together that which has been separated or divided and thus setting at one again, expression of one “having it all together”. It follows that peace is the opposite of division or dissension. Peace rests on those whom he is pleased with.
It was against the “Pax Romana,” or “Roman peace” lasted for approximately 200 years, perhaps the longest period of peace in human history from 27 BC. The absence of war doesn't guarantee the presence of peace. The Stoic philosopher Epictetus said, "While the emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, he is unable to give peace from passion, strong barely controllable emotion, grief, and envy. He cannot give peace of heart for which man yearns more than even for outward peace."
The problem in translating Luke 2:14 has to do with the last word in the Greek text of the verse, some manuscripts uses “e?d???a? - eudokias” (a genitive) but some manuscripts use eudokia (a nominative). Debates raged hot and heavy for centuries and continued till 1940’s and settled by textual scholars with the help of Dead Sea Scrolls (first discovered in 1947). Thus, the reading eudokias, is clearly the original reading, and the variant, eudokia, was created when the “s” was dropped.
Eudokía means pleased or good will or pleasure. Eudokia speak of that which pleases. Of course, ultimately the only way for an unholy sinner to be pleasing to the Holy God is to be clothed in the garments of salvation, dressed in the perfect, God pleasing righteousness of Christ.
This gospel message continues to be available to ALL men, only those that enjoy goodwill before the Lord, by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation and trusting in the name of the only begotten Son of God for the forgiveness of sins, will enjoy the peace on earth.
Peace with God and the favour of God comes by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. Peace with God comes through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Isaiah 26:3 says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” In other words, the person who has peace has two things: (1) a mind focused on God, and (2) a complete trust in God.
This translation fits perfectly with the Old Testament prophecies and predictions of the coming Messiah, who was foretold to be a warrior for God, delivering God’s people while destroying His enemies (Psalm 2:6-12; Isaiah 11:4; 63:1-6).
Furthermore, in Matthew 10:34, Jesus said, “Do not assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Also, in Luke 12:49-53, he said, “...Do you think that I have come to bring peace on the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division...” But, more importantly, it has a specific, or special, benefit for a particular group of people here in v.14. —‘Those with whom he is pleased’.
Illustration
In Korean in ancient times when people get older and aged to death, their sons would carry them to the top of the mountain and leave them there to die. Once a son told his elderly mother who was sick that he is going to take her to the mountains to see the splendour, and colourful flowers. She was so excited. She got on his back, and they walked a very long miles through the thick forests mountains.
The mother realised that her son is going up on the mountain top leave her over there. But she doesn’t say anything to him, instead she picked pine sticks from the trees and dropped them on the ground as they went up the mountain. Finally, they arrived at the top. He laid his mother on the ground and told her that he would be back. But mom told him son follow the sticks to reach home safely otherwise you would be lost. Even though she was on the way to her death, she never stopped loving. This love is a reflection of the love we received from the one who went up a hill knowing that he would die. He never stopped loving those who were leading Him to His death. The way to peace is the way of repentance. We cannot buy it, we cannot earn it, and we cannot inherit it. It is simply a gift He gives those on whom His favour rests.
Conclusion:
Revelation of the Birth of Jesus to Shepherds indicates that God chooses the smaller and less powerful over places of status and position. The true message that was shared on that Bethlehem hillside, was that these good tidings which spoke of joy to mankind and peace on earth were for a particular group of people. God has promised peace to men with whom the Lord is well-pleased; those that are saved by grace through faith in Christ.
