Sermon snippet – Peace at Christmas
INTRODUCTION – The third installment of our Hallmark Channel series of Christmas messages is entitled “Peace at Christmas.” This peace is more than an absence of fighting, although that is a good place to begin. God’s peace is something even better, for it is His best to us.
- THIS PEACE PREPARES US FOR CHRISTMAS
In Luke 1:76-79, Zecharias prophesies that his son, John the Baptist, will “prepare the ways” for the Savior, Jesus Christ. The message of John would be the same as that of Jesus, including “to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Thus, even before the birth of Jesus, this ministry of peace was unfolding. The nativity of John would inaugurate this fresh revelation of God’s best to us and would point all people (“them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death”) to the acme of God’s best – God the Son Himself coming to save us from our sins.
- THIS PEACE IS A CRUCIAL PART OF THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS
In Luke 2:13-14, a large number of angels reinforce the good news of Jesus’ birth and specifically speak of “peace.” The quiet response of Mary (verse 19) and the buoyant praise of the shepherds (verse 20) both indicate the real and immediate impact of this peace.
- THIS PEACE IS PROFOUNDLY PERSONAL AT CHRISTMAS
The account of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35) occurs just “eight days” (verse 21) after the first Christmas. This godly man (verse 25) had been promised a glimpse of the Messiah; only after that appearance would Simeon die (verse 26). We do not know that Simeon was an old man (as he is portrayed in T. S. Eliot’s famous poem “Song for Simeon”), nor do we know if his death occurred shortly after this holy visitation. What we are certain of is that Simeon understood that this Messiah was and is God’s best, for his response in verses 29-30 is really quite remarkable. It is also logical, for what is greater than God’s eternal “salvation? To “depart in peace” is to depart into God’s everlasting best.
CONCLUSION – The end of Simeon’s prophecy (verses 34-35) reminds us of the terrible cost that underlies the offer of God’s best to us – the death of God the Son on the Cross on our behalfs and in our places. Colossians 1:20 tells us that Jesus, fully God (verse 19), “made peace through the blood of His cross.” May each one of us enter into that peace through a saving relationship with Jesus, and may we like Simeon rejoice in and reside in this peace, this peace that is God’s best to us. Then, “if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:18).