Where Is the Peace? January 4 Readings: Luke 2:8-38

Today's Readings

Context

Every saga, whether book or movie, tends to have two key points. The first is the engagement, the moment the battle is joined, and then comes the crisis moment when everything hangs in the balance, when the battle is decided once and for all. In our story, we call those moments Christmas and Easter. Though all of this was purposed in eternity past, the battle was joined on Christmas day when Jesus was born and the light declared war on darkness which had overwhelmed and enslaved this world since the first pair chose sin. The war raged throughout Jesus' time on earth and climaxed at the Cross where Jesus won an utter and eternal victory over the enemy.

The familiar story of Jesus' early days continues in Luke 2 in today's readings. The dark night on Bethlehem's hills was shattered by the glory of an angel who announced the birth of a Savior to the shepherds. Immediately, a host from heaven joined him loudly praising God for the wonderful thing that had happened. Battle was joined and heaven's joy could not be contained.

The theme of yesterday's lesson - that God chooses the ordinary for his kingdom - is reinforced here, and is contrasted with the indifference of the rich and powerful. The announcement came to low-class shepherds, culture's outcasts, not to the priests or the business barons of Jerusalem, only a few miles away. While the Temple's intelligentsia ignored the baby, Simeon and Anna worshiped him.

Devotional - Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth?

Whatever happened to the peace on earth? Did Jesus fail? Was he just another one of the hundreds of fraudulent Jewish prophets who claimed more than they could deliver? It is 2000 years ago and the world seems to have less "peace on earth" than it did when Jesus was born. We have worldwide peace movements, disarmament movements, armistices, alliances, and despite it all there are "wars and rumors of wars" that seem to increase in an alarming way.

What are we to conclude?

The problem is not with the promise, but with our failure to understand what the angels said. They did not say that the birth of this baby would bring an immediate Utopian peace to earth. Look at their specific words.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.

Note first the order of the words. Glory to God precedes peace on earth. It is only when we put God first and give glory to him that we experience peace. Peace on earth will come when the glory of God is fully displayed on earth. When my life glorifies God, my life is at peace. When my home glorifies God there is peace in our home. If our church glorifies God it will experience peace...true peace. Peace follows the glory of God because obedience pleases God.

May I live my life to please you in everything, Lord, that in this year to come to peace of the Lord Jesus Christ may be a reality in me every second of every day. 

Think about It:

Look at the names that the angel gave to Christ. What do they mean? Do a little reading and try to identify the meaning of each.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." 

What does it mean that Jesus is a Savior?
What does it mean that he is Christ (Messiah)?
What does it mean that he is Lord?