Jesus, Prince of Peace

Luke 2:8-14

It’s Christmas morning. Merry Christmas! We wish people a “merry” Christmas. Why should Christmas be merry? Why makes us happy on Christmas? Why is it a “merry” Christmas?

Is it because we get all jittery in the holiday season? Because of Santa? Because lovers go on romantic dates? Because we eat delicious foods? Because we give each other presents? Because we go on long holidays?

The above things happen in the Christmas season, which causes some confusion, but the real reason we are merry and joyous on Christmas is because something truly amazing happened on the first Christmas. This event completely turned our fortunes. 

This is how the angel of God describes the birth of Jesus: 

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God with us’).” (Matthew 1:23)

God came to earth in human form. This is the very meaning of Christmas. God is with us—Immanuel! This is the very reason we are merry and joyous on Christmas. 

On the first Christmas God Almighty entered the finite human world; Christmas is therefore the arrival of God, who is without sin, into this sinful world. 

The angel of God says, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son.” This is how Jesus Christ came to earth. It means that Christ did not enter this world suddenly as a fully grown adult. 

Jesus, the Son of God, did not skip any stage of human life. He was conceived, grew inside Mary’s womb in the form of a fetus, and was finally born as an infant. He also had a childhood, became an adult, and finally began His public ministry.   

Some may claim He did not experience old age; but He was instead with those whose lives end too soon, unjustly. He was welcomed; but He was also scorned. He had followers; but He also had opponents and enemies. 

He was betrayed, whipped, wrongfully accused, insulted by angry crowds, and executed on the Cross, even though He was innocent. He defeated death, something impossible for man, and finally rose again, giving a new hope to every man on earth.  

Immanuel—our joyful cry that God is with us—celebrates the birth of this Son of God. 

Jesus knows our every weakness, every wrong we have ever experienced, all our joys, griefs, pain, and despair.

Therefore the Bible says:

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Therefore, the coming of Jesus, the Son of God, to earth is a blessing to the world. The groaning will be released from their groans. The sick will be healed. Those in pain will be saved. Those trembling before the power of sin and death will have life and peace. 

Therefore Christmas is a day for rejoicing. It is a merry day. Not because we give each other presents, but because the Son of God came to us like a gift.   

So we happily cry out, “Merry Christmas!”

What is the second reason we sing and happily cry out, “Merry Christmas”? Today’s Scripture introduces the lyrics to the song sung by the angel and the great company of the heavenly host, who appeared to the shepherds in the field on one starry night when the Son of God was born: 

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)

The reason Christmas is joyous is because peace came on earth. Christmas was the moment when Shalom, “Eirene,” was fulfilled.  

The angel describes this incident as “good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

Where does the news of peace come from? 

The rulers of this world have claimed that peace comes when wars between countries end. But their explanation conceals the fact that it was their own greed that started the wars in the first place. 

For their own interest and gain, rulers start wars; then they advertise that they have the solution and know the way to peace.

They also stress that peace is a state where the people listen to and obey the rulers. Rulers have also taught that disobeying them will lead to chaos and a disturbance of peace. They also claim that peace is a state where the people surrender to authority, where the rulers can do as they wish.  

When Jesus was born, Rome stressed such a peace. The rulers of the time believed that peace could be established by Pax Romana—that is, by defeating other nations through wars with a powerful army and an overwhelming force and by making the subject peoples surrender to the authority of Caesar. 

Peace by, and through, force! This belief was pervasive in Rome. Though this is an insult and humiliation to the subject peoples, the world has legitimized endless wars through the notion that peace is maintained by force.  

But the angel and the company of heavenly host sing about a different peace. 

God could have mobilized His army of angels to defeat the Roman army and establish His Kingdom on earth, but God did not do so. 

Interestingly, the Bible proclaims that peace arrived with the birth of Jesus. 

It does not proclaim that peace came when Jesus started His public ministry. Nor does it state that peace came when Jesus was teaching. Peace did not arrive when Jesus breathed His last on the Cross. Nor did it come when Jesus was resurrected. 

The Bible does not connect the arrival of peace with Jesus defeating death, or Jesus boldly fighting the forces of evil, or Jesus bravely facing death, or Jesus overcoming such belligerent situations.    

The Bible declares that peace came on that very first Christmas when an infant, baby Jesus, lay in a manger wrapped in cloths, this peace will come on those on whom God’s favor rests. 

Peace is not a method or a process. Peace is a Being. Baby Jesus, Christ Himself, is peace. Therefore, the moment Jesus came to earth was the very moment that peace arrived. It is because Jesus is peace. 

Our Lord said:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

The Greek for peace here is “Eirene (εἰρήνη),” which is also the Greek word for “peace” in Luke 2:14 which proclaims the birth of Jesus: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 

Jesus did not teach us how, or through what action plans, peace may be fulfilled. He did not teach us how peace can be attained; nor did He command us to build peace through certain methods.  

We must remember this. Peace belongs to Jesus; Jesus gives it to us. Therefore peace is a gift from God. 

That very gift, that peace, was given to us through the birth of Jesus. It is because peace begins inside us through Jesus Christ. 

Therefore, Hymn 412, “Far Away in the Depths of my Spirit,” sings: 

Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight

Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;

In celestial-like strains it unceasingly falls

O’er my soul like an infinite calm

Peace! Peace! wonderful peace,

Coming down from the Father above;

Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,

In fathomless billows of love.

I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,

Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;

For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,

And His glory is flooding my soul. 

Peace! Peace! wonderful peace,

Coming down from the Father above;

Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,

In fathomless billows of love.

Ah! soul, are you here without comfort or rest,

Marching down the rough pathway of time?

Make Jesus your friend ere the shadows grow dark;

Oh, accept this sweet peace so sublime. 

Peace! Peace! wonderful peace,

Coming down from the Father above;

Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,

In fathomless billows of love.

God creates a whole new world within us through Jesus Christ. This is peace. 

Then in what form did this Prince of Peace come to this world? 

1. He made Himself nothing, taking the nature of a servant (being made in human likeness). 

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8)

The order Jesus showed us is love. The new order He showed us is sacrifice. The new ruling method He showed is service. The new leadership our Lord showed us is humility. 

“This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12) 

The angels say that baby Jesus lying in a manger wrapped in cloths is a sign. This means that Jesus’ humility is the sign of the good news. This is the sign of peace.  

Jesus lying in a manger, a place where what lies there gets eaten, is a sign. This is the start of peace. 

“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” (John 6:35)

“But the angel said to them, ‘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 Savior 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.’” (Luke 2:10-12)

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)