Everlasting Peace – Sermon 9 December, 2012

Everlasting Peace

Micah 5:2-5a, Luke 1:67-79, Gal. 5:22

The theme of the second Sunday of Advent is Peace. The Lord Jesus came to the world to bring us peace. The book by Leo Tolstoy “War and Peace” talks about the Russian Revolution and the social life during the attacks of Napoleon. The novel describes, in graphic detail, events surrounding the French invasion of Russia, and the impact of the Napoleon on Tsarist society, as seen through the eyes of five Russian aristocratic families.

Ironically the ideas of “Peace” and “War” are paradoxical.

During Christmas we celebrate the birth of the “Prince of Peace” and yet our children receive toy guns or computer war games as gifts.

Many gather together to have well planned family or social gatherings, but at the same time they dispute with each other, family members, neighbours, co-workers and colleagues. Peace and war don’t go together. But with God’s grace we can celebrate the birth of Jesus by having peace with God and one another. The Advent reminds us to get ready for the coming of Christ with peace.

But we should understand what the angel meant by saying to the shepherds that by the coming of Jesus “peace will prevail in the world”. Considering that since His birth, wars have continued, therefore the peace of Christmas has no relation to external situations. Jesus said: “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division” (Luke 12:51). This seems to be opposite to the angels’ announcement. How does the “Prince of Peace” bring division? The Lord Jesus came to bring peace between the believer and God and between people. But His advent brought conflict between Him and the followers of Satan. This conflict is seen more clearly in every Christmas, while unbelievers try to keep Jesus out of the picture as much as they can.

Christmas brings real peace to true Christians. Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you: my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not your hearts troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). People want to have peace. But the real peace is in the heart of the Christian, which happens by the presence of the “Prince of Peace”. It is only possible to have this peace through faith. If we believe in Jesus Christ we can have peace. But having peace does not mean that we will not have problems, pains, and sorrows. The peace of the Lord comes to us if we are in right relationship with the Father, which also leads us to have right relationship with one another.

Christians should not only have peace during the Christmas season, or when everything seems to be going well. They should have peace always. But why is it, that we feel ourselves in dispute. We have lost our direction and focus. We should first seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness; and only then we will have peace of heart and mind. If we give priority to Him, then He will bless us with a life of peace. Apostle Paul said: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angles nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39). Believing in Jesus Christ gives us inner peace, while there is a mad world around us.

Soon many people will celebrate Christmas without having an inner peace. They don’t know that many years ago the child born in Bethlehem is the “Prince of Peace”. They build their future by trying to be good, which leads them to be defeated in spirit and to never have peace. If we have peace with the Lord, we have to speak about that peace and lead people to the “Prince of Peace”.

The peace that Jesus brings is everlasting, because it is valuable. For Joseph and Mary it cost losing their comfort, for the mothers of Bethlehem and the surrounding area, it cost the death of their new born. But it cost the most for the Father, through His Son’s sacrifice.

Today, let’s give praise for the peace of Christmas. Let’s be ready to pay a price to keep the peace that Jesus brings to us. Let us pass on the angels’ message of peace to those who are around us and praise our Eternal God. Let God be with us with His peace.

Jesus came to the world to bring peace into the hearts of the people. Centuries ago the prophet Isaiah had said that He will be called “Wonderful Councillor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace”. The Prophet Malachi talks about the difficult times when there was no sign of peace. But he prophesied saying that God will send His messenger to prepare the way before Him. John the Baptist was the messenger. Apostle Paul wrote about the experience he had with peace in good times and bad, in chains and in defending and confirming the gospel (Phil. 1:7). With Jesus he completes peace.

Frequently, regarding the message of the gospel we ask: “Where is that peace that Jesus had to bring”. If we look to newspapers, we see articles about war, disaster, death, hardships and health problems. There is no peace in the world and there will never be. We should understand that we are not exempted from pain, difficulties and crisis. The angels announced that there will be “Peace on earth”. Where is that peace? How is it possible to have the peace that Jesus brings in the world that is full of tragedy and crisis?

Three points to consider:

1. Prepare the way of peace

We have to remove all the obstacles and prepare His way.  There are many things that our hearts are filled with, which take away our peace; things that we had ignored. Maybe we have said things which have built walls between us and others. Or we have committed sins and wrongdoings and we have not asked forgiveness from God. The Apostle John says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all our unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

2. He is at work in our lives

The apostle reminds us that Jesus is at work. We usually forget what he said: “The one who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:9). Today there are many who live under the clouds of judgment saying: “I don’t know if I could survive this”, “I am always in struggles”, “What will happen if God does not hear my prayer”, “What will happen to me if I am not able to do this or that”, “I am always sad” and “I don’t have peace”. This is a wrong way of thinking. Let us remember that He has started to work in our lives and he will continue.

3. To receive his peace

Paul says: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace; and be thankful” (Col. 3:15). “Let rule” means that the Lord should have His proper place in our lives, so that he rules over us and takes away from us all our pains, pressures, worries and uncertainties. This will be possible if we make Jesus our Lord and ruler. John includes the following words of Jesus in his gospel: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I don’t give to you as the world gives. Do net let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

Today we need peace; a peace which is everlasting and true. Let us be sure that the Lord can give us the real peace if we let Him. In this Christmas season let us ask God to give us a lasting peace.

Krikor Youmshajekian