CHRISTMAS
Peace on Earth – Luke 2:13-20
“Peace on earth…” Really? Mankind has foolishly persuaded himself that ultimately we
can achieve peace for our time apart from God! The phrase "peace for our time" was spoken on
September 30, 1938, by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, in his speech concerning the Munich Agreement
and the Anglo-German Declaration. The phrase echoed Benjamin Disraeli, who upon returning from the Congress of
Berlin in 1878, stated, "I have returned from Germany with peace for our time." It is primarily remembered for its
ironic value; less than a year after the agreement, following continued aggression from Hitler and his invasion of
Poland, Europe was plunged into World War II.
The world longs for peace. However, the peace of Christmas is not based upon a
pseudo-peace forged out of a manmade treaty, but a sovereign work of God! (v.14)
"Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased." (NLT). “Well
pleased” literally means “satisfied” or “delights in.” The angelic host was referring to
the fact that Christ was born for our justification, thus providing everlasting peace with
God! When we are justified through faith in Christ, according to 2 Corinthians 5:21,
God charges our sins to Christ and credits us with the righteousness of Christ. Romans
5:18 declares, "Through one Man's righteous act, the free gift came to all men,
resulting in justification of life!"
Christ is called the “Prince of Peace” because ultimate peace – peace with God – can
only be found in Him! (ttt) Isaiah 9:6, 7. [The Prince of Peace] This Hebrew expression
denotes the fact that His administration would restore and perpetuate (prolong
indefinitely), peace between God and man! This expression distinguishes him from
every other king or world leader, past, present or future, because His peace is eternal!
(v.7a). The Peace of Christ is Everlasting, increasing without end!
There is a popular bumper sticker which reads, “Visualize World Peace!” It reminds me
of the song “Just My Imagination” by the Temptations, years ago. Human visualization
or imagination is not enough to attain true peace! Speaking to the end times, Jesus
said there would be a lot visualizing going on, but all in vain. For when they say, "Peace and
safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not
escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:3) The Society of International Law, in London, states that during the last 4,000 years there
have been only 268 years of peace in spite of good peace treaties. In the last three centuries there have been 286 wars on
Should mankind then cease from his
efforts to attain peace? “Certainly not!” However, rather than the lack of peace
alerting us to our need for God, mankind has grown more insolent (disrespectful) of
God! Our visualization and imagination woefully ignore the fact that without the
Prince, lasting peace between nations and races is an impossibility! Why? Because only
God can rid us of the “enmity” of sin. (ttt) Ephesians 2:14-18. “Enmity” = echthra:
“hostility; a reason for opposition.” (New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance).
the continent of Europe alone. (J.K. Laney, Marching Orders, p 50.).
Christ was born to remove the hostility – the enmity – of sin between mankind and
God, and mankind and His brother. True peace can only be established in Christ (v.7b).
The Hebrew word for “establish” means “to support.” The zeal of the Lord, through
the birth of Christ, has “established” our peace! Not only that, but God has also
“ordered” it. The word for “order” means “to erect, to set up.” The peace which God
grants us, through faith in Christ, has been established by God and ordered by God;
therefore, it can never be stolen or lost. It remains forever!
Satan knows that the peace of God is essential to our faith in Christ, because apart
from “rest” (peace), we can never bear fruit to the glory of God! Abide in Me, and I in you. As
the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. (John
15:4) As the
branch rests in the vine, so we must rest in the assurance of God’s peace in
Christ! There are many things, if left unchecked by the word of God, that can rob us of
our emotional and mental stability in Christ. Here are eight:
(1) Suspicion and resentment. Nursing a grudge can be a major factor in unhappiness. (2) Living in the past. An
unwholesome preoccupation with old mistakes and failures leads to depression. (3) Wasting time and energy
fighting conditions you cannot change. Cooperate with life, instead of trying to run away from it. (4) Isolation.
Resist the temptation to withdraw and become reclusive during periods of emotional stress. (Proverbs 18:1a) “A
man who isolates himself seeks his own desire…” (5) Self-pity. Accept the fact that nobody gets through life
without some sorrow and misfortune. (6) An uncultivated life. Cultivate old-fashioned virtues – love, humor,
compassion and loyalty. (7) Expecting too much of yourself. When there is too wide a gap between self-
expectation and your ability to meet the goals you have set, feelings of inadequacy are inevitable. (8) Selfcenteredness. Self-centered, egotistical people often score lowest in any test for measuring happiness.
Here is the application of everlasting peace. Notice: The shepherds pursued Christ.
Luke 2:15-20 – They went to see this peace God had made known to mankind and
made it known to the world! Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in
Him! (Psalm 34:8) (v.17). In order to rest in the peace we have in Christ, there must be a
consistent pursuit of Christ. You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because
he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength. (Isaiah 26:3-4) We
cannot make known what we do not know personally. Notice: The peace made known
to them, the peace which they pursued, resulted in the glorification and praise of God!
This is the authentic byproduct and witness of everlasting peace! (v.18, 20).
The night Christ was born was filled with anxiety, not only due to the tumultuous
environment in the town of Bethlehem, as people were frantically seeking lodging due
to Caesar Augustus’ tax decree, but also the anxiety of a young virgin, giving birth for
the first time. Yet, in the midst of all this, God declared everlasting peace! And so it is
with us today: Despite the turmoil in our lives, God offers to mankind everlasting
peace, through faith in His Son! Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do
I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)
The peace of God is relational, not circumstantial. The Christian apologist Ravi
Zacharias once said, “Sometimes God is most present when our suffering can make
God seem most absent.” Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
Prayer and thanksgiving is the
means by which we maintain a consistent pursuit of Christ; the persistent pursuit of
everlasting peace!
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
CONCLUSION: Peace on earth can be yours today! It all begins when we turn away
from our sins, to the Savior – “The Prince of Peace!”