“Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace”

Luke 2:8-14

Pastor Tom Johnson, December 24, 2014

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” This is the profound song of celebration the angels sing: “glory to God in the highest…peace on earth.” The angels are God’s messengers; that is what “angel” means. Their message is a beautiful summary of the Christmas story: God’s glory and humanity’s peace. What makes this song so special is that it comes from a heavenly perspective. From our human perspective, another baby is born. It may be unusual to give birth in a stable and place a newborn infant in a feeding trough. There may not be anything too remarkable about the birth of this child. Mary has her firstborn child. Joseph is now a loving and proud stepfather.

The angels’ song gives us a fresh, otherworldly perspective. They sing about unspeakable and indescribable realities. They are in full celebration when they appear to the shepherds. It is as if they finally have the opportunity to share what has been welling up in their angelic hearts for what may be aeons.  “Glory to God in the highest!” Their song originates from the highest heaven. They want the shepherds to know that this “good news of great joy for all the people” comes from God. And the One who is Born is Savior, Messiah, and Lord. From our perspective, the great miracle is Immanuel—God with us—the incarnation of the eternal Son of God. From the angels’ perspective, the great miracle is God who stands outside of time and space who has now become human. Glory to God in the highest! To God alone be the glory, honor, and praise! His brightness is so bright that even the angels have to shield their eyes. Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds look upon the face of God now veiled in human flesh. The angels want the shepherds, Mary, Joseph, and all people not to miss this monumental event. Mary will spend a lifetime treasuring these truths and pondering them in her heart.

The angels invite us into this same thoughtful reflection and exuberant celebration through their song: “Glory to God in the highest…and peace on earth.” In the highest heaven there is wholeness, perfection, goodness, and eternal life. It must be heartbreaking for the angels to visit a world broken by sin, evil, and death—a lack of peace on earth. This Christmas song is for people longing for good news, hope, and a future. It’s good to be reminded by the angels that Christmas is not first about getting together with family and exchanging gifts. It is about healing for the nations. It is not about a series of Hallmark moments and mere holiday cheer. It is about a world starving for true and godly peace even if we aren’t aware of it. It is about God who wants to deliver the Prince of Peace himself wrapped in swaddling cloths in a manger. “For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son.”

“Peace on earth”—reconciliation between adversaries—those in authority and those with whom they serve—deliverance from cycles of violence—both within communities and those directed at those who enforce the law—we need peace. “Peace on earth”—a heart no longer weighed down by the burden of guilt—a clear conscience before a holy God as we journey through this life—the assurance of God’s presence now into all eternity. This is what we all need: peace. “Peace I leave with you,” says the Christ Child, “my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). God gives heavenly peace—peace for a troubled world. He gives peace between God and humanity. Peace between warring nations. Peace for dysfunctional families. Peace for troubled and anxious hearts. Peace for an exploited creation. The Peace born into this world is a universal Peace—Peace for every individual no matter where they are on their pilgrimage—a peace for all peoples no matter their tribe, language, or place of origin. This angelic song is a juxtaposition of two worlds—God’s glory and our need for peace—highest heaven and a lowly manger on earth—the eternal Son of God and a human Child. There is enough truth in these few words to treasure and ponder in our hearts for a lifetime: “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth.”

Maybe later this evening or tomorrow morning you will gather around a Christmas tree with friends or family—or remember doing so as a child. The tree is lit up like the starlit sky and crowned with the Star of Bethlehem or an angel. “Glory to God in the highest” our tree proclaims! The tree tries to express the glory of the Christmas story. It’s ever-green promise reminds us of the eternal dwelling of God. It’s fragrant aroma fills our nostrils with the whiff of a new creation. It’s height reminds us of how far out-of-reach God’s realities can be to our human understanding. It’s a prickly reminder of our creaturely limitations. The stars and the angels lead us to the Source: Glory to God in the highest heaven! And on earth peace. There beneath the tree—under the canopy of heaven—on the surface of the ground—there on the floor—is a gift individually wrapped for you and for me. He is wrapped in swaddling bands of cloth—in “swaddling clothes” the Old English says. He is wrapped in skin, flesh, and blood. His name is Jesus. Here God gives his glorious gift to all humanity and each living soul. In this Babe lying in a manger we have forgiveness, eternal life, and true and abiding peace. “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth!”