The Announcement Of Peace

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.