Peace in the Manger
Luke 2:10-14
10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”*
NKJV
The news of Christ’s birth is the most blessed news ever told. (The one exception that is even better was the good news that He had risen from the dead!) We have heard the familiar declaration, “Peace, goodwill to men,” for so many years that we have failed to absorb the deep truth that was embedded in those words.
After Adam and Eve had sinned in the garden, all of humanity was plunged into separation and judgment from God. Sure, we see recorded in the Old Testament, examples of people who found favor with God. We read about people who walked with God, and of people on whom the Spirit of God would rest seasonally. But an ongoing, dispensation of peace and goodwill being offered from the Almighty to man, had been destroyed by man’s choice to sin.
But now, on this most blessed night in history, angels (sent ones) dispatched from heaven heralded a life-altering truth. God was once again extending the opportunity for man to have peace and goodwill from God! Not just for a certain few who were able to uphold the tenets of the law, but an opportunity for all to come! Just as we are, without any special righteousness of our own!
The Good News that Christ proclaimed during His earthly ministry was that the Kingdom of God had come. Messiah, the deliverer, was here. God had heard the cry of His people, and at long last, had sent the solution- in the form of a precious, tiny baby.
There are so many life lessons in the Christmas story. One of which is that the answer to our prayers may not always take the form that we desire. But the answer will always be what we need based on the superior knowledge and understanding of a loving Father. The people needed a mighty warrior deliverer (they thought.) God sent a precious newborn- gentle and lowly. He went about healing and loving. He was not the King that they expected on this Earth, but he arose from the dead- triumphant, victorious, and with all authority to rule and reign.
A second truth that we can glean from Christmas, was that Jesus came that we might have peace. Deliverance from our sinfulness and failures are all available in Him. Nelson’s Bible Dictionary defines the peace that Jesus brought:
In the New Testament, peace often refers to the inner tranquility and poise of the Christian whose trust is in God through Christ. This understanding was originally expressed in the Old Testament writings about the coming MESSIAH (Isa 9:6-7). The peace that Jesus Christ spoke of was a combination of hope, trust, and quiet in the mind and soul, brought about by a reconciliation with God.
(from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
That kind of peace is the total package! All that we can ever need is found in Him. Many people struggle with anxiety, fear, and depression. And, unfortunately, the holidays stand to increase, rather than decrease, these feelings in some. As we recall the glorious events of His birth, we must always remember to proclaim His offer of peace to those who are disquieted and without hope.
As we recall the birth of Jesus, let us go on to understand all that His birth meant, as He lived the truth out before them until His ascension. His peace is extended to you and me! We can have that tranquility, hope, trust, and quiet in our mind and soul. We, through Him, are reconciled to God!
Dear Lord, thank you. Thank you for coming. Thank you for humbling yourself to come as a lowly child born into humble circumstances. Thank you for bringing peace and reconciliation to my sin-tattered heart and life. Help me to show Your peace to others. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
May you have a Merry Christmas, and a joy-filled New Year!
So true, Sherri; true peace can only be found in Jesus. May we keep our eyes fixed on the founder and perfecter of our faith.