Pastor Tom Johnson, December 24, 2015
We all long for peace on earth—well, at least I'd like to think so. One person’s understanding of peace may differ from another. One culture may have a vision for peace that they are striving for while another culture may have a very dissimilar one. One group envisions peace as the rule of law, citizens complying with that order, and victory over those who oppose their plan. Another group envisions peace as the liberty to say and do whatever they please as long as no one is harmed along with freedom from violent opposition. I’d like to believe that all humanity is working toward peace on a global scale. But, sadly, it does not seem to be the case. We end this year with headlines of terrorist attacks, political tension, war between nations, violence between citizens of the same nation, and name-calling.
Peace on earth eludes us. Peace in our communities eludes us no matter how we define it—whether we long for security, or prosperity, in our homes—whether we work for safety, or justice, on our city streets. There is strife in our homes and tension at the workplace. There is unrest and turbulence in our own private thoughts and lives. But the good news of the angels tonight is that we seem unable to create, God gives as a free gift!
Tonight we boldly sing the angelic Christmas carol: “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth.” Together, we announce to the world the vision and promise of God’s peace—God’s shalom.
You’ll remember that the angels proclaimed “Peace on earth” to shepherds working the graveyard shift, “Peace on earth” to the land of Judea which was forcibly occupied by a foreign military imposing its laws and religion, “Peace on earth” at time when a new census was being taken to raise taxes, “Peace on earth” to a young man and young pregnant bride who had just made a long, difficult journey and soon must travel again as refugees to Egypt to escape genocide, “Peace on earth” to shepherds who had as much, if not more, reason to hear those words with skepticism and cynicism. Maybe that is why God sent a choir of angels to illuminate the dark sky—they saw a foreshadowing of glory to foreshadow peace.
It was custom in the Middle East then, and still today, to greet people with the word peace: Salaam in Arabic and Shalom in Hebrew. Those two words are undeniably rooted in a shared Semitic ancestral word. The arrival of the Baby born in the manger comes with this greeting of peace. But even more than a simple greeting or coming in peace; this newborn King comes for peace. He comes to usher in peace to a fractured, violent, and turbulent world. This Child is the Prince of Peace. He will bring peace—the fullness and essence of true peace—true Shalom—peace which is completeness, wholeness—of both the individual as well as the community.
Peace is not the absence of violence but the presence of empathy and care for one’s neighbor—no matter how foreign or distant. Peace is not the silencing of our adversaries but reconciliation and understanding. Peace is not freedom from another’s domination but binding together and partnering for a shared enjoyment of the gift of life and all God’s creation. Peace is not something we create; peace is an earthbound package we have received all wrapped up in swaddling cloth.
Peace is the Child born in the manger—from heaven to earth—a divine gift—a peace-offering from our Creator. Peace is the mission of this Messiah who comes to seek and to save not the righteous but the unrighteous, the sinner, and those who are lost. Peace is the gift to every nation, tribe, tongue and people. Peace is the Savior who confronts all our adversaries and obstacles to peace. No matter who we are—no matter how diverse, we all share the same enemy of evil, sin, and death. The Prince of Peace will cast out our demons, heal our bodies, mend the broken-hearted, and preach the good news that we no longer have to live our lives captive to the power of hatred, discord, or strife. We have the gift of true, heavenly peace. Peace is the Lord who will battle to the death on the Cross of Calvary for us. He overcomes death for us. And He is our Victor over the grave. He triumphantly rises from the dead to assure us that the world-wide storm will soon be over.
Christ is our peace on earth. The Seed of peace has been sown into the earth at Bethlehem and the hill of Calvary. It grows in our hearts. It spreads to God’s people. And like the angels, we have the privilege of being his ambassadors and messengers of his peace. Glory to God in the highest, indeed,
and peace on earth!
No comments:
Post a Comment