AP

Luke 2:10-14 But the angel said to [the shepherds], “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”  

A group of poor, insignificant shepherds going about their daily work were hit by a supernatural experience that both frightened and exhilarated them: bright lights and voices piercing the dark sky, and proclaiming things that, if true, were history-shattering.  The fact that they all saw and heard the same thing convinced them that they were not hallucinating.  The message itself was so far removed from their humdrum situation that they could not have concocted it, and they were soon to have its authenticity soundly verified anyway!  They were about to witness for themselves God’s highest glory revealed in the humblest way through his appearing among them in human form.

If this wasn’t enough, it was going to be in the strangest conceivable way: in a newborn baby lying on straw in a cattle feeding trough in the inconspicuous town of Bethlehem.  In contrast with all this was the announcement that this event was to be the source of peace to their war-torn and war-weary world!

All this was more than 2,000 years ago – so what happened to the ‘peace’ that was to come to and among men?  The clue is that it would be peace on God’s terms.  After all, the prime cause of conflict and strife and turmoil in the world has always been our alienation from our Maker; everything else emanates from this single source: man against man; man against nature; man against himself.

As the only possible remedy, God sent his Only Son into the world to die for its redemption and renewal – to be the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6-7); so God’s terms must begin with him.  This is what is implied in the final phrase of the angels’ proclamation, whether we read it as “men in/with whom he is (well) pleased”, or “good will toward men”, or “men on whom his favour rests” (all are valid translations of the original Greek).

World peace, peace in the neighbourhood, peace in the home, personal peace of mind, are only possible when Jesus is acknowledged as Prince of Peace.  These are God’s terms, and apply equally to all people.  The nation of Israel today, along with the rest of the world, longs (and prays) for lasting peace in that so troubled part of the world, but it can only be found on God’s terms: in Jesus!  Is the Lordship of Christ, as the Lamb of God, and the risen and only Saviour, the goal towards which we strive and pray in every part of our own lives and in all our areas of concern today, and especially that Jewish people will come to that realisation?  There is no other hope of peace – it can only be found on God’s terms.  Let us make Jewish evangelism a top priority in our prayers and in our witness.

– Bruce Christian