A DIVIDING PEACE
Luke 2:13-14, "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
One of the best things about Christmas has always been that people were kinder and more generous at Christmas than at any other time of the year, but all that has changed today. The peace on earth and good will toward men is fast disappearing as people become more and more self-centered and throw up walls around them to keep others from getting into their space. It’s as though we are sitting on a powder keg, with a lighted fuse, just waiting for an explosion of tempers from those around us, even at the slightest error.
The long lines of people waiting to check out at the stores where there are over-worked clerks, tired of being on their feet all day helping irate customers; and the increasingly heavy traffic on the streets; along with all of the hustle and bustle of preparing for the holidays begins to take its heavy toll on the patience of each of us.
A lot of people who are normally kind, gentle and quiet, suddenly undergo a change as though they had a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality, and now they are pushing and shoving to get that toy that they just have to get, and they don’t mind telling you off if you beat them to it. Whatever you do don’t take more than two seconds to pull off when the light turns green or you will hear an orchestra of out-of-tune car horns behind you.
All of this sounds so incongruous to the words of those angels to the shepherds on the hillsides of Bethlehem on the night that Jesus was born.
On that night, so long ago, the shepherds had finally settled the sheep and had gathered together to just talk of the day’s events, or maybe to plan where they would move their sheep the next day, to help them find greener pastures. Everything was quiet, dark and still. The din of city life in Jerusalem was a long way off. Out here, on the quiet hills surrounding Bethlehem, the sky was clear and stars were like diamonds brightly shining overhead. The precision marching and sounds of the Roman legions upon the stone paved streets weren’t heard on that hillside. The shepherds may not have been the cream of society in Israel but they enjoyed a quiet, peaceful life, away from everyone else.
These shepherds were content just to live as simple shepherds. They didn’t desire to have the biggest mansions, the best clothes or the best food. They were living a life that was hard but at least they had purpose, and most of all, they had peace.
Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning and the clash of tremendous thunder, the angels of Heaven burst forth in a flash and the peaceful night was shattered as the glory of Heaven shone around them and the voices of a multitude of heavenly angels thundered from the sky! The glowing, shimmering body of these angels was a fearful sight to behold.
It’s no wonder that the angels had to calm the fears of the shepherds. I might still be running if it would have been me on that hillside that night, either that or I might still be frozen in terror.
And so it came to pass, on the night that Jesus was born, Mary brought forth her son, who was also the Son of God. Jesus was described in Isaiah 9:6 as, "… The Prince of Peace."
But this little baby named Jesus, the Prince of Peace, was born into circumstances that were anything but peace. He came into a dark, troubled world that was caught in the death grip of Satan and sin with no way of escape.
Where was that peace that angel’s declared? Where was that good will toward all men that they announced?
Look at what was going on in Israel at Jesus’ birth.
1)There was an occupying military power that held Israel in its iron fist. The Roman Army was in control of the government. In effect, every man, woman and child of Israel were little more than Roman slaves.
2)The Jewish Temple was filled with turmoil and unrest. The High Priest of Israel was a corrupt man. Most of the priests of the Sanhedrin Council were corrupt and rebellious in their behavior. It was so of these same people that Jesus said in Matthew 23:27-28, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."
3)King Herod was on the rampage and eventually ordered the murder of every child in and around Bethlehem that was two years old and younger.
4)Families all over Israel had been uprooted and commanded to return to the place of their birth for the census and to be taxed to support the corrupted government of Rome.
I don’t know about you but that doesn’t sound like a peaceful setting to me.
What could the angels have meant by announcing peace and good will to all men? Peace was an elusive commodity and good will could only be found when there was something to gain by being good to another person. I believe that there was just as much self-centeredness in the hearts of people back then as there is now.
Mentioning the name of Jesus doesn’t bring peace in the middle of the worldly crowd. Jesus’ name is a powerful name and every time it is spoken Hell trembles and Heaven breaks forth in praise – and, in the heart of man, there is a stirring that must be answered by a decision either to accept Jesus as Lord or reject him one more time.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace but he is also the greatest dividing force in the world. He knew that he was going to be the source of ridicule, rejection and rebellion. Jesus understood that most people would never accept him for who he was. Yet he came to seek and save those who would accept him. Jesus knew that the divisions would be there too.
Jesus even told us in his own words in Matthew 10:34, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." He also told us in this in Luke 12:51, "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:"
In John 7:38-43 Jesus said these words also, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified) Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, this is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? So there was a division among the people because of him."
John 9:16 also speaks of the division that Jesus brings, "Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day. Others said, how can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them."
In John 10:17-19, Jesus was speaking once again when he said, "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings."
Didn’t those angels announce peace and good will on every man? Where was that elusive peace?
Jesus’ coming in that manger of Bethlehem has not brought this world into a utopian peace. In fact, just the opposite is true. Since the birth of Christ this world has continued to be locked in mortal combat. The world is a stage, and mankind is nothing more than a pawn, in the battle between good and evil that has raged from the time that Satan rebelled against God in Heaven and that battle won’t end until God brings time to an end and sets up his eternal kingdom.
The Prince of Peace didn’t come into this world to bring peace in the sense that this world thinks of peace.
Even the very mention of his name brings division. If you don’t think that’s true just start talking about Jesus and watch the reactions you will receive.
It doesn’t take much to notice the controversies surrounding Christ and Christmas. The Christ-child is being asked to leave more and more places. But isn’t that what the first Christmas was really like? A child is born into the world and most of the world ignores him or becomes hostile toward him. At the time of the first Christmas Jesus was unwelcome, and many wanted to destroy him and erase his name from the earth.
This was the very Son of God, the Prince of Peace who was born but he is still rejected today.
Many are misinterpreting our laws to mean that it is not legal to mention his name. His teachings are still regarded as dangerous. We are supposed to celebrate Christmas, but we are not supposed to remember why. And we find that Christ is just as unwelcome in our world today as he was when he was born. He is just as unwelcome in the Inns of America as he was the Inn at Bethlehem. There is no room for him in any public place. People are still offended by him. People still reject him. People still try to forget him and ignore his presence. It is easier to just pretend he never came and does not exist.
Christmas cards are decorated with birds, candles, snow, and winter scenes; everything but Christ. Their message carefully avoids any mention of the One whom Christmas is all about.
So what is the PEACE that the angels announced?
The peace that Jesus brings is not the peace that is defined as the absence of fighting, trouble, or turmoil in this earth. It is not the peace that can be shattered by one instance of violence.
The peace that Jesus came to bring is a peace of the heart and soul. It is a peace between man and his Creator. It is a peace that is beyond the understanding of man to know how it works in every trial and circumstance.
Jesus came to give this world peace. Peace on earth will come – a time when there will be no more wars or fighting. That will be in that great day when the lion shall lay down by the lamb and time shall be no more. We all look forward to that day.
But in a far greater sense, Jesus has come and has given this world peace – at least for those who will accept him. For those who accept Christ as Lord and Savior, there is a peace that cannot be broken. They are sheltered in his arms and the circumstances of life can’t shake them.
That’s the peace that we need! That’s the peace that we all long for! We can only have it as we remember that the baby, born in a manger in the little village of Bethlehem, was much more than a baby.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. We must accept him for who he is and then we will know what real peace is all about.
Disclaimer:
Due to the large amount of sermons and topics that appear on this site I feel it is necessary to post this disclaimer on all sermons posted. These sermons are original to the author and the leading of the Holy Spirit. While ideas and illustrations are often gleaned from many sources including those at Sermoncentral.com, any similarities and wording, including sermon titles, that may appear to be the same as any other sermon are purely coincidental. In instances where other minister’s wording is used, due recognition will be given. These sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely. May God richly bless you as you read these sermons. It is my sincere desire that all who read them may be enriched. All scriptures quoted in these sermons are copied and/or quoted from the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Pastor James May
