Peace on Earth
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INTRO
INTRO
It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
While it’s masked with flashing lights, seasonal music, “Christmas Cheer”, good tidings, hot chocolate, and family gatherings…what’s makes Christmas so wonderful is none of these things.
It’s not the busyness, nor the consumerism, nor the gifts and shiny tinsel.
What makes Christmas so wonderful is Jesus!
What makes Christmas so Merry is Jesus!
What makes Christmas not just another holiday or a chance from time off from work is Jesus!
Jesus is the reason for the season!
We celebrate Christmas because of what Jesus’ coming into our world means for us...
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom he is pleased!”
1) Desperation for Peace! (Isa. 9:2-4)
1) Desperation for Peace! (Isa. 9:2-4)
We live in darkness…in deep darkness.
Broken world
Russia, Ukraine, China, Taiwan, Israel, Gaza, Washington, Pawhuska
Yoke of our burden
Racial Tensions, Victim mentalities, substance abuse, theft, homelessness
Even the Church is broken
Pride, arrogance, laziness, doctrinal compromises, selfishness
All of the brokenness we see is not the darkness, but merely a symptom of the darkness.
The darkness of the world is but an outward manifestation of an inward condition.
The world is broken because we are broken.
Sin is the darkness in which we live. It’s not an “out there” problem… it’s an “in here” problem.
John 3:19 “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”
We are desperate for peace yet the more we seek to find peace in all the wrong places the more our desperation grows.
“What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself” [Pascal, Blaise. Pensees (New York; Penguin Books, 1966), pg. 75.] (Pascal was a 17th Century French Philosopher)
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” - Augustine of Hippo, 398 AD
Cease-fire vs. peace
I am my own worst enemy.
Paul would cry out: Romans 7:24–25 “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
2) Divinely Given Peace! (Isa. 9:6, Luke 2:1-7)
2) Divinely Given Peace! (Isa. 9:6, Luke 2:1-7)
Peace can only come from one place - God!
God is holy, holy, holy.
God is righteous.
God is merciful and faithful.
Peace is only found in one person - Jesus!
The reason we celebrate Christmas is because when Jesus came, He brought peace!
You may look around and wonder where this peace is, but the peace Jesus brings is not of this world and it is not a peace for this world, but rather a peace for you and for me.
There will be a time when Jesus will come again and will bring peace to all the nations and all the wars and conflicts and brokenness will disappear forever, but at that time there will be no more peace offered to individuals.
The peace that Jesus gives now is for the individual!
Sin breaks peace with God and therefore God in order to bring peace to our lives has to break sin’s hold on us.
Jesus, lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death so that sin’s hold on our lives could be broken.
The baby Jesus in the manger is the same Jesus who died on the cross and rose again three days later and after 40 days returned to heaven in a glorious ascension where He awaits the appointed time for a second coming.
God did through Jesus what we could not do for ourselves… shine the light of hope and peace into our darkness.
3) Declaration of Peace! (Luke 2:8-14)
3) Declaration of Peace! (Luke 2:8-14)
This peace is not available only to a select few. Peace is available to all who are willing to lay down their darkness and walk in light.
Being born in the flesh bring with it the darkness and turmoil in which we live our lives.
Being born again in Christ brings peace and light!
The angels said to the shepherds, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
God declared to the lowest of the low the message of the greatest joy!
Why would the Lord of all Creation come as a vulnerable baby, to a lower class family in obscure Nazareth, born in Bethlehem at a time of Roman occupation, and allow Himself to be laid in a feeding trough in a stable?
Because He wanted it to be known for all time that Jesus is for everyone!
Peace is declared for all people and is found in this Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
CALL TO RESPOND
CALL TO RESPOND
Despite the chaos and brokenness of this world there is peace on earth. This peace is only found in Jesus.
Nothing else and no one else can bring rest to the turmoil in your own soul…only Jesus.
The only way you can know peace is to place your faith and your trust in Jesus and be born again in Him.
DO YOU KNOW PEACE? DO YOU KNOW JESUS?
KNOW JESUS; KNOW PEACE | NO JESUS; NO PEACE