“Glory to God on high and peace on earth” (Luke 2:8-14)

Luke 2:8-14

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"Announcement to the shepherds" (circa 1600) Abraham Bloemaert

Pastor Tom Johnson, December 24, 2022

“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 twofold 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, there may not be anything too remarkable about the birth of this child. It may be unusual to give birth in a stable and place a newborn infant in a feeding trough. 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. 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 has now become human. Glory to God in the highest! To God alone be the glory, honor, and praise! In heaven, the angels have to shield their eyes because the eternal Son of God’s brightness is so bright. Now on earth, 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. It is Christ’s glory to humble himself and take on our humanity. Jesus himself says that it he is glorified when he is lifted up on the Cross to deliver us from the power of death, evil, and our sin. It is his and our glory to rise victoriously from the dead. 

In the highest heaven there is wholeness, perfection, goodness, and eternal life. 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.” 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 peace—peace for the world and healing for the nations. This is a peace that is wide and deep. It is not about a series of Hallmark moments and mere holiday cheer. It is about a world starving for authentic peace.“For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son”—the Prince of Peace gift-wrapped in swaddling cloths. “Peace on earth”—reconciliation between adversaries—those in authority and those with whom they serve—deliverance from cycles of violence. Peace within communities and peace to and from those who enforce the law—we need peace.

This Christ brings heavenly peace on earth—peace for a troubled world. He gives peace between God and humanity. He offers peace to warring nations and peace for dysfunctional families. He extends peace for our troubled and anxious hearts. He even wants to bring his peace to an exploited and abused 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, their social status, their language, or their place of origin. 

The angels sing, “Peace on earth”—the healing of broken relationships—peace when we admit our flaws and failures—peace when we give and receive forgiveness—peace that makes our friends family and makes our family friends. “Peace on earth”—peace to our restless hearts—peace to our anxious souls. Peace that surpasses human comprehension—the peace of letting go of the resentment—the peace letting go of the guilt—the peace of a clear conscience knowing that we are forgiven in Christ no matter what we have done. “Peace on earth”—the peace of Christ’s presence—now into all eternity. “Lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age.” “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). It is God’s glory—it is his joy and delight to bring Christ’s peace to the world and to each individual. It brings him great glory—and it brings Christ to earth—when this peace rules in our hearts, our homes, and in our world.

Glory be to God for his indescribable gift! Christ’s peace to you. Christ’s peace through you to all the earth.

“Doubting John” (Matthew 11:2-15)

Matthew 11:2-15

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Serbo-Byzantine fresco from Gračanica Monastery, Kosovo, c. 1235

Pastor Tom Johnson, December 11, 2022

During Advent, John the Baptist prepares the way of the Lord. He prepares people for the Messiah’s first coming. He also prepares us for his second coming. One of the unlikely ways he prepares us is by his honest struggle with who Jesus is. John the Baptizer is human—a little odd, perhaps, but flesh and blood nonetheless. He is a child of God…who doubts. He asks, “are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another.” This is the same John who proclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” But John is now in prison. He knows that he likely will be executed. In the midst of his suffering John asks, “Are you the Messiah? Or is someone else?” John desperately needs assurance of grace. He needs a word of affirmation from Jesus and about Jesus. He needs to be reassured that the good news is true.

John once filled our imagination with the hearts of children turning to their parents and parents to their children. John promised a world where every crooked path is made straight, every mountain low, and every valley high—evening out the terrain for God’s international highway leading all humanity to the true and living God. But the Roman Empire still occupies Israel. All the people of God live in the prison of Roman occupation and police state. King Herod is not a legitimate king but a Roman puppet and tyrant. Herod already has John’s head on a proverbial platter. The religious leaders lay the heavy burden of Mosaic Law on the people. They are held in the prison of shame and guilt for their sins. They are held captive to the lie that they need to make themselves righteous. They are also held captive to the lie that Yahweh is an angry and demanding god. 

It does not look like Jesus and his cousin John are winning. John is in prison. And people have already tried to throw Jesus off a cliff and stone him. Soon Jesus will also be arrested and in prison. The trajectory of their story does not look good. It looks like they are going to lose everything they have worked so hard for. In this moment, it seems John’s faith in Jesus may all be for nothing. John speaks some hope when he asks if someone else is come along. But he is vulnerable enough to speak the fear that troubles his mind.

This is good news. You are not alone in your troubling and doubting thoughts. We are not alone in our questions, our despair, our struggles, our suffering. Even the greatest of prophets have their doubts. This is good news. Jesus does not scold John. Jesus does not shame him because of his doubts. Jesus is so secure in himself, he is more concerned about elevating John and those around him than he is being defensive and building a case for himself. You too, dear child of God, are not alone. You too are safe with Jesus—safe to cry out your own doubts and despair. You are safe to cast all your burdens upon him because he cares for you. God’s love for us is stronger than our doubts.

Jesus answers John’s question if he is the Christ by assuring that he is the one to come. But Jesus also turns John’s question on its head. He says, “What did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes—a suit and tie? Suits and ties are for politicians. Truly, I tell you, you went out to see a prophet.” This is good news. Jesus has more faith in John than John has in himself. Jesus has more faith in John than John has in Jesus. Jesus tells us John is unlike any other prophet. John is the greatest. John is a greater prophet because his ministry immediately precedes the unveiling of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.

It’s interesting how many people want to understand John’s question in any other way than a struggle with Jesus’ identity and his own mission. But it should not be surprising since John is only human. We can even find John’s doubts comforting. It tells us that we are in good company when we doubt. John is also in good company. 

You’ll remember the father of a boy who was oppressed by an unclean spirit—how Jesus told the father that his son would be healed if he believed. And the father said, “I believe, help my unbelief.” And so Jesus both healed the boy as well as helped to strengthen the man’s faith. 

You’ll remember how Thomas refused to believe that Jesus rose from the dead and said, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe” (Jn 20). It was that same Thomas, who when he saw Jesus in his glorious, new Body gave us one of the greatest confessions of faith. He said, “My Lord and My God!” Jesus strengthens Thomas’ faith. 

You’ll remember Peter how he showed faith and unbelief on the same day. When Jesus said that he will be killed by the leadership in Jerusalem, Peter said, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you!” (Matt 16).  But it was that same Peter, who when asked who Jesus is, said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said that Peter was blessed and that his faith was a gift, and that the Church will be built on that solid rock of faith —the faith Jesus gives.

And so there will be times when our faith is the size of a mustard seed. And, as Jesus says, mustard seed-sized faith is enough.  We have unanswered questions to many of life’s riddles. But here is the good news: that’s okay. It’s normal. As Scripture says, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to everyone” (1 Cor 10:13).

It was even common for the great prophet John. Jesus was there for John. Jesus is there for you. Even when we feel least in the Kingdom of heaven, Jesus says, we are greater than John. Jesus raised John up with words of praise. Jesus raises us up higher. He says, “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Jesus will always has more faith in you than you have in him. And so we should not be afraid to pour out our doubts and despair. His answer? He calls you and me the greatest. He sends his Word and Spirit to lift us higher and higher. He comes to elevate us into the life the world to come—we daughters and sons of the most high. 

And so we pray. Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus.