Please turn in your Bibles this morning to Luke chapter 2 as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on this Christmas morning. I pray that you have been blessed and that as you celebrate Christmas you thank and praise the Lord for what He has done in your life. Our focus this morning is going to be PEACE ON EARTH, something that this world has not seen much of throughout its history and yet longs for. And when you look at the statistics regarding the number of years this world has enjoyed peace, it is not good. We are told:
The Personnel Journal reported this incredible statistic: since the beginning of recorded history, the entire world has been at peace less than eight percent of the time! In its study, the periodical discovered that of 3530 years of recorded history, only 286 years saw peace. Moreover, in excess of 8000 peace treaties were made—and broken.
- Moody Bible Institute’s Today In The Word, June, 1988, p. 33
I know, not a great Christian message so far but folks, people are truly looking and longing for peace today. You see, the Lord lead me down this path as I was listening to the news a few weeks back and there was this survey of what people wanted this year for Christmas and it caught me by surprise. Listen to the top three requests. They are:
1. A COMPUTER
2. PEACE ON EARTH
3. A BIG SCREEN TELEVISION
You see, two of the three I could understand, but that third one really surprised me. People are longing for peace on earth as a Christmas gift and not just material things. As I meditated on this the Lord brought me to Luke chapter 2 and the announcement of the birth of Christ, the Savior of the world and what the angels proclaimed to the shepherds out in the field as they were tending to their sheep. So with that as our background, let’s begin reading in Luke chapter 2, starting in verse 8 and see what the Lord has for us on this Christmas morning as we study His Word.
It is very unlikely that these shepherds were out in the fields in late December, by then it was the rainy season. The latest they would be out is probably September. Then why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25th? Because we don’t know the exact date of our Lord’s birth and even though this date has pagan roots, we do know it took place, the Bible tells us so and thus, we celebrate with thanksgiving for what the Lord has done for us because of His great love for sinful man.
These shepherds would watch over their flocks day and night, protecting them. In fact, these shepherds were probably watching over the temple sheep, caring for them and it is these sheep that would become the sacrificial animals in the temple. And you have to love the way the Lord does this. As they are caring for these sacrificial lambs an angel of the Lord appears to them and the Bible tells us they were afraid. No kidding, can you imagine how they felt?
And in their fear the angel of the Lord tells them not to be afraid because he is bringing to them good news, “good tidings” or literally the Gospel message! But who is this message for? Some would argue it is for the Jewish people, but that is not the case. You see, the angel tells them that this Gospel message, that this good news is “to all people.” In other words, it is as Jesus said in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
Now what is this good news, this Gospel message that has come into the world, and that is for us all? The angel tells these shepherds, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11. Notice what the angel told them, that a Savior has been born into this world. Now many wonder why a Savior, there are so many other things we need and they needed back then. Let me sum it up like this, “If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.”
Folks, there are many educators out there. There are many scientists out there. There are many economists out there. There are plenty, more than enough entertainers out there, but none of those are even close to our greatest need. We don’t need them, but what we do need is a Savior and the reason is simple. Sin separates us from God and thus, man needs to be saved from his sin and that can only be done through a Savior and only through Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God who has come to take away the sins of the world. Interestingly enough, these shepherds who were watching over these sacrificial lambs, the ones that were to be sacrificed in the temple for sins, were now told to go and see the Savior! You see, there is only one sacrificial lamb who will not cover the sins of man but take them away completely, having paid for them on the cross of Calvary and thus, they will be cast as far as the east is from the west to be remembered no more!
Now of all the people in the world, shepherds were not the most honest people. In fact, Morris tells us, “As a class shepherds had a bad reputation . . . More regrettable was their habit of confusing ‘mine’ with ‘thine’ as they moved about the country. They were considered unreliable and were not allowed to give testimony in the law courts.”
When you think about this, how would we announce the birth of a king? We would probably not go to people like that, like shepherds but influential people. We would go to a leader or a person of high reputation that has a lot of influence, but not the Lord, he chose shepherds! I don’t know about you but I am thankful that is how God works. He uses common people, not very influential, not very rich, not really that good, He uses people like you and me! And what does He use us for? To bring forth good tidings, to bring forth the Gospel message to the people of this world just as He was doing with these shepherds!
Now, how are they going to find, how are they going to locate this Savior, this Messiah? He is going to be found not in a five star hospital surrounded by bodyguards, news people, the paparazzi and-so-on! Nothing even close to that. God is going to give these shepherds “the sign” and not “a sign.” And the sign that He will give them is that this Messiah, this Savior will be found in a feeding trough for animals and wrapped in swaddling clothes. Not exactly what you would expect and yet the Savior of the World, God Almighty became flesh and was born in a manger and wrapped in these linen strips!
As this angel finishes it seems like the angelic hosts of heaven are just waiting to burst forth with praise unto God and that is exactly what takes place here. They just can’t hold back any longer and they shout, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:14.
Here it is, in black and white, it is in the Bible, Jesus came to bring peace on the earth, peace to all men! Thus, what happened? Yes, it is a great thought and men are longing for peace, but once again it has eluded us even after the birth of Christ, but why? Because that phrase “And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” is not correct. It is better translated, “And on earth peace towards men of good will.” Or as The Amplified Bible puts it, “and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased [men of goodwill, of His favor].” You see, God’s peace is not given to those who have good will nor to all, but to those who are recipients of God’s good will, His grace, His favor that they have received into their lives by faith in Him. Folks, the Bible is very clear on this, that His peace is not going to be received by all. In Isaiah 48:22 we are told, “‘There is no peace,’ says the Lord, ‘for the wicked.’”
In fact, Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:34-39, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man's enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”
Now that is not the Jesus that many recognize and yet He did say these words, why? Because when a person comes to Christ many times their family, their friends, their co-workers don’t like it and there is no peace between them because they are rejecting your faith in Christ and thus, the light of God shines upon their sin and they don’t like it and fight against it! And isn’t that what we see today, this hatred for good and the embracing of evil and those who love what is right are looked down upon!
But in saying that, it does not stop people from longing after peace. There was a sign up on Rapids Road that said, “Peace, not War!” We do want that but men’s hearts are evil and that is not going to happen apart from Christ! Yes, we are tired of war, of the toll that war brings to families but to try and bring about a peace apart from Christ is to bring about a false peace. There are even Christians today that are promoting a peace plan for this world, a peace plan that is apart from Christ, and like I have said, it will never work. Now I am not judging their motives or their heart, but all I am saying is that this goes contrary to the Scriptures and thus, it will not work, it is a false peace.
Let me show you what I mean. On the Charlie Rose show, Rick Warren was interviewed and he explained to Charlie Rose his Global Peace Plan. He said that his:
“man of peace” concept . . . that every village, every government, every place has a man (or woman) of peace. ‘The man of peace is open and influential . . . and here's the other thing, the man of peace does not have to be a Christian believer . . . could be Muslim, could be Jewish.”
Warren said that Jesus sent out his disciples to go find the man of peace in every village. He said Jesus sent them out to find people who would work with them on solving poverty, sickness and the other problems of the world. (He said that they did not have to agree with the disciple’s message or beliefs.) In the same vein, Warren said that we don't have to have the same religion or moral beliefs to work with people on poverty, disease, etc. As an example he said he just met with the President of the gay-activist group ACT UP, and asked him, “Eric,[Sawyer] how can I help you get your message out?” Sawyer answered, “Use your moral authority.” Warren then said to Rose, “I'm working with these guys . . . I'm looking for a coalition of civility, which means let's get back to the original meaning of tolerance.
Warren has made a terrible distortion of what Scripture actually says. Jesus told his disciples to go out and call people to repentance whereas Warren is suggesting that we are to ignore our differences (including moral differences) and work together for peace (peace was not a goal that Jesus gave the disciples but rather was a blessing the disciples could give to a house that received their message):
These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. . . . Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” Matthew 10:5-15.
“Who's
the man of peace in any village - or it might be a woman of peace
- who has the most respect, they're open and they're influential?
They don't have to be a Christian. In fact, they could be a Muslim,
but they're open and they're influential and you work with them
to attack the five giants. And that's going to bring the second
Reformation."
- Lighthouse Trails Publishing, Rick Warren, May 23, 2005, Pew Form on Religion
Folks, there is no peace apart from the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. And there will be true peace one day, true peace in this world and it won’t be through our efforts or our programs but it will happen when Jesus Christ returns to this earth and sets up His kingdom and righteousness will fill this land. It truly doesn’t matter what any leader or any Christian says, if it contradicts the Bible then it is not of God, period! And there will always be those who try and proclaim peace, but may we learn the lessons from the past. I'm reminded of what happened just prior to World War II. Neville Chamberlain, the British prime minister, had a policy of appeasement in regards to Nazi Germany. Whatever Hitler wanted he gave in return for a guarantee of peace. As he got off the airplane he waved in the air the peace treaty signed by Hitler. He spoke bravely of “peace with honour” and “peace in our time.” Just two weeks later Hitler's armies invaded Czechoslovakia. Winston Churchill was the only one who recognized there was no peace and he was blackballed for his stance! May we learn the lesson and listen to the Lord instead of man!
And please understand that I too long for peace, but as Jesus said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” The Amplified Bible puts it like this, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”
Folks, if you want peace in your life you need to come to Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior because apart from Him there is no peace. In the world we will have tribulation, but in Christ we can have peace. Paul put it like this in Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” And I really like the way The Amplified Bible puts these verses, “THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.”
You see, first you must make peace WITH God and that can only be done through Jesus Christ, the Mediator between God and man and then the peace OF God will fill your life! It is after you have made peace WITH God that Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
And once again, listen to how The Amplified Bible expounds on this and drives home this point, “Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition ( definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
You see, first you must make peace WITH God through Jesus and then you can receive the peace OF God into your life, a peace that surpasses any earthly understanding because this peace is found in Christ. In the midst of the storms we face, we have His peace! What does that mean? Let me explain it like this:
Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered. The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled. As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd. A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.
The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace? A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power. A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.
- Berit Kjos, A Wardrobe from the King, pp. 45-46
That is the peace that God has for us, one that truly surpasses all understanding and it is only found in Jesus. Now, man not only wants external peace, but also he longs for that internal peace of the soul. Even the pagans of the first century world sensed this need for peace and a savior. Epictetus, a first century pagan writer, expressed this: “While the emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, he is unable to give peace from passion, grief, and envy; he cannot give peace of heart, for which man yearn for more than even outward peace.” Folks, that outward peace that is coming when Christ returns is what we long for, but also, we can enjoy that internal peace that only comes from the Lord here and now!
Back in our story in Luke chapter 2, as these angels depart, what do these shepherds do? Do they go out and party hearty? Maybe think this is some kind of joke? Just blow it off? Or maybe wait for another sign? No, God touches them and they go to Bethlehem. You see, God told them of this good news and now they want to go and see the Messiah, the Savior of the world! They didn’t even hesitate, which is interesting because they were to tend the sheep and they left them to go and see the Lamb of God! Thus, to Bethlehem they go!
And as they get to Bethlehem, there is Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus lying in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes. Again, from a human perspective, you would not picture a king like this and yet, they had God’s Word and thus, they believed! May we have God’s Word impact us like that, that what God has said to us we believe and do! You see, I think these Jewish shepherds knew the Scriptures, the prophecies of the Messiah and it impacted their lives in such a way that we are told, “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” Luke 2:20.
You see, Jesus is the fulfillment of what the prophets said and especially Micah, who wrote some several hundred years before the birth of Christ, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” Micah 5:2. Micah specifically tells us that the Bethlehem the Messiah was to be born was the one in Judah and not the one up north.
And not only that, but this babe in the manger did not come into existence that day, but He is eternal! Listen to how The Living Bible puts this verse, “O Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are but a small Judean village, yet you will be the birthplace of my King who is alive from everlasting ages past!” Micah 5:2. You see, it speaks of Jesus being eternal, from beyond the vanishing point and yet, one day in history, God became flesh and dwelt among us! It is as John 1:1-3 tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” And The Living Bible tells us, “Before anything else existed, there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. He created everything there is-nothing exists that he didn't make.” I think that is very clear, Jesus is God. He is eternal!
And as these shepherds saw the Lord, the Messiah, they had no problem in proclaiming the Good News and as Christians, may we have that same joy and praise God for all he has done as we share Christ with others. What a gift God has given to us.
If you don’t have that peace WITH God, if you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, God is calling you today to take that step of faith and receive the free gift He has for you. All you need to do is come before Him and ask Him to forgive you of your sins and to be Lord and Savior of your life. And He will! Your sins will be forgiven, every last one of them! And what a Christmas this will be for you!
As I begin to rap things up this morning, let me share with you these words from the editor of Decision magazine from several years back. We are told:
Christmas is the season of the year when we scurry around trying to find gifts to buy and give to our families, friends and others. Sometimes we buy the “perfect” gift for someone (“It’s just exactly what she has been searching for. She’ll love it!”), and sometimes we buy a “desperation” gift, a last-resort gift, for someone (“At least he’ll have a package to open. He can always take it back to the store.”).
This is also the season of the year when we celebrate the very best gift of all: Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Because of the birth and death of Jesus, we can have the gift of salvation, the gift of life eternal. Jesus is God’s “indescribable gift” to us.
Jesus is our “perfect” gift – in all of our searching in life, Jesus is perfect to meet all our needs and wants. And Jesus is our “desperation” gift – often it is in desperation that we turn to him as a last resort (but he is a gift we don’t return!).
If God has given us a gift so wonderful, so “indescribable,” what can we possibly give him in return? We can scurry around and scurry around and never find anything that even approximates the value and significance of his gift to us.
But we don’t need to look for something to give him – we already possess what we can give to God. And Christina Rossetti, a 19th–century poet in England, knew that too:
“What can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb:
If I were a wise man,
I would do my part;
Yet what I can give him –
Give my heart”
So, at this very special time of the year, have you received God’s perfect and “indescribable gift” of Jesus? And have you in turn given him all that you have: your heart?
- Decision, December 1998
Folks, don’t receive the false peace that the world is trying to give to you, but receive the Prince of Peace, give Him your heart and by making peace WITH God through Jesus Christ you can enjoy the peace OF God in your life! I know that it is hard to believe that this gift is free, but it is as this story tells us. We are told:
I remember hearing of a young man who went to a minister of Christ in great distress about his spiritual state. He said to the minister, “Sir, can you tell me what I must do to find peace?” The minister replied, “Young man, you are too late.” “Oh!” said the young man, “you don't mean to say I am too late to be saved?” “Oh, no,” was the reply, “but you are too late to do anything. Jesus did every thing that needed to be done twenty centuries ago.”
- The Wonderful Word
And so I pray that you will leave here this morning knowing Jesus, that He is your
Lord and Savior and because of that you will proclaim the Good News, the Gospel Message to the lost, to those that don’t know Jesus! Because apart from Him, apart from Jesus, there is no peace. Remember what Luke told us this morning, and this is from The Amplified Bible, “But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people. For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord! [Mic 5:2.] And this will be a sign for you [by which you will recognize Him]: you will find [after searching] a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. [1 Sam 2:34; 2 Kings 19:29; Isa 7:14.] Then suddenly there appeared with the angel an army of the troops of heaven (a heavenly knighthood), praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased [men of goodwill, of His favor].” Luke 2:10-14. There is not much good news in this world today but God has given to us the best news, everlasting life with Him and a peace that can only be found through Jesus!