Christmas Eve

ON EARTH HEAVENLY PEACE

Text: Luke 2:14: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."

Dr. Carl C. Fickenscher II

You know, when you stop to think about it, it's a remarkable thing that a guy and a pregnant lady on a donkey could walk along, out in the open, down rural roads, for a two or three day journey, sleep a couple of nights under the stars, and actually arrive at their destination without being mugged or robbed or otherwise harassed. Couldn't do that today.

It was an amazing era, when one man in Rome could issue the order for all the people of the western world--so many nations, natural enemies--to get up and move, to be registered for, of all things, taxes, and everybody would just go along with it, quietly, peaceably, without uprising, without rebellion. Today the United Nations, the symbol of world peace, can't even collect its dues from its own members.

And then it was such a peaceful, quiet scene around the manger: the still of the night, the big, gentle animals.

Such were the times when Jesus came into the world, the time of the great Pax Romana, the peace of Rome, when Roman legions were able to maintain peace and order throughout the empire for some two hundred years. Few wars, surprisingly little crime. And then, to top it all off, when the world had already achieved the greatest peace it had ever known, the Prince of Peace comes and a choir of angels announces, "On earth peace."

Somehow, the earth didn't become any more peaceful. In fact, it may never have been as peaceful since. Tonight, as, I suppose, every Christmas past, people are still looking for peace on earth.

It's not really so difficult to see. Folks are just looking for the wrong thing. In the Christmas Gospel, the angels give us a window to glimpse the peace they proclaimed.
 

IT WAS HEAVENLY PEACE THAT THE ANGELS DECLARED.
 

I.   A peace declared amid terrible struggle

  1. On earth...peace--of a kind

"Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright round yon Virgin Mother and Child, Holy Infant so tender and mild."

  1. Don't let that scene deceive you--look past, look through window heaven angels give (13a)

"And suddenly there was...a multitude of the heavenly host."

    1. This was army heaven
      1. Gr. word translate "host" means "army"
      2. Angel soldiers, perhaps more than 100,000 strong
    2. Behind idyllic scene on earth, war in heaven
      1. Book Daniel speaks angel Michael struggling against God's great adversaries
      2. Revelation says "was war in heaven", Michael/his angels doing battle against Satan/his
      3. That's figurative/picture language, we can't understand how such war be fought
      4. But imagine how violent war must be
        1. Once in II Kings one angel God destroyed 185,000 Assyrians
        2. Imagine war between two armies 100,000s angels
    3. Yet these 100,000s good/evil angels only skirmishers
    4. Real war being fought by baby in manger
      1. Even as lay virtual captive bound up swaddling clothes, Jesus fighting heavenly war against devil
      2. Already in manger, Jesus fighting war climax cross
      3. Can we ever imagine violence/atrocities heavenly hosts witnessed as watched last battle?!!
        1. Horrors crucifixion itself only tastefully edited portion earthly eyes able bear
        2. Hosts heaven saw Satan inflict Jesus full casualties hell
    5. Like any true peace, heavenly peace not without price

Meanwhile, on earth peace.

II.   A peace between God and man

  1. You know worldly sentiments about Christmas
     
    1. Every year this time hear some news anchor wrap up broadcast/some celebrity conclude special with hope goodwill/cheer season might someday become universal--people/nations finally achieve "peace on earth"
    2. And, course, usually true wars take break these days
      1. One most famous pictures American Revolutionary War G. Washington standing prow boat crossing Delaware
      2. Know why Washington able win such victory when got other side?
      3. Because was Christmas, Hessian mercenaries (being Germans they were) celebrating
      4. No one would attack Christmas! cheating!
    3. Fact is, as long world sinful, never be earthly peace
      1. Not what angels talking about
      2. Not what Jesus fought His war to win
         
  2. Heavenly peace/peace angels announcing/peace Jesus died for is peace between God/man
     
    1. See angels? angels stand as seam between earth/heaven
      1. Symbol that heaven/earth, God/man connected
      2. Like wonderful story (OT)--Jacob saw ladder reaching up heaven, angels ascending/descending, self bottom/God top
    2. Suspect you didn't come here tonight desperate to hear hope of peace on earth (end wars/street violence)
      1. You know won't happen
      2. We're so secure (country/neighborhood) my guess you're not worried about
    3. Other hand all do come tonight desperately needing peace with God
      1. Maybe realize/maybe don't
        1. Maybe feel uncertainty about what after die
        2. Maybe something telling life isn't what ought
        3. Maybe feel great/satisfied/don't think need anything/anyone
      2. Truth, if going have any good thing any kind, (this life/eternity) receive from God
      3. Means need peace with God
      4. Don't get gifts from enemy
    4. That means need forgiveness
      1. Sin what created great chasm between heaven/earth, God/man
      2. Sin what made enemies God, cut us off from all His gifts
      3. And we know sinners because don't get along with people around us
        1. Nations make big wars
        2. We make little wars
        3. We're jealous, say cruel things, sometimes even become violent
      4. If we're those things, need forgiveness
    5. That's what heavenly peace is when comes to fallen mankind--forgiveness
      1. Sin taken away
      2. Separation God/man removed

Heavenly peace,

III.   A peace that, despite all appearances, is now on earth.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play
Wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth good will to men.

  And in despair I bowed my head.
"There is no peace on earth I said,
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth good will to men."
  1. It's true--no earthly peace and any hope of it only illusory dream
     
  2. But when God came to earth as baby brought better peace
     
    1. Angels words not hope/wish/prayer
    2. Are declaration of peace

"On earth peace."

      1. On earth there is peace
      2. God's peace/His forgiveness rests upon mankind
      3. "God/sinners reconciled"
    1. Already at Christmas, was accomplished fact
      1. On earth war just beginning--most violent battle yet ahead
      2. But take glimpse heaven--look again
        1. You don't see army battle array
        2. You see them parading victory
      3. Heavenly host sees beyond limits time
        1. Already in eternity in very presence resurrected Christ
        2. See victory won/devil defeated/peace secured
      4. God didn't have wait to declare peace
         
  1. We have heavenly peace now
     
    1. Tonight at Christmas and yesterday and tomorrow we are at peace with God
    2. Our sins are forgiven
    3. We have heaven
    4. And have reality that peace even as continue live/sin in sinful/violent/dangerous world

Don't let the idyllic scene of the manger fool you; it wasn't that easy. But neither let the violence, the wickedness, the trouble of our world deceive you; the heavenly peace which you sense here tonight is your real life every day here on earth and forever.

 

This Page Was Last Revised: 31 January, 2000
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