Merry Christmas everyone! What a great day to be in church celebrating the birth of Jesus Christmas on a Sunday. It hasn’t happened since 1994 and won’t happen again until 2011. So, it is a special day and we’re glad you can all be with us here at Life Church.
On that first Christmas night, an angel appeared to some shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus. After that angel had given his message, Luke tells us that, NLT Luke 2:13-14 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others– the armies of heaven– praising God: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.” Notice that phrase, “peace on earth.” Somehow the birth of Jesus had to do with bringing peace on earth. Notice that Jesus doesn’t bring peace on earth to everyone, but to all whom God favors. I want to be one for whom Jesus brings peace, so I need to learn what I must do to receive God’s favor for my life.
Seven hundred and forty years before Jesus’ birth, the Hebrew prophet Isaiah said, NLT Isaiah 9:6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The last title of Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He is the King destined to bring peace on earth for all those willing to receive it.
Today I’ve entitled my message “Jesus – The Peace of God.” The picture shows a dove carrying an olive branch and comes from the book of Genesis. When God judged the wickedness of the world with a flood, Noah was rescued and a dove brought him an olive branch signifying that God’s judgment was over and peace had come. Peace is something we all yearn for.
Peace is the absence of conflict and the presence of harmonious relationships. We want to be at peace with ourselves, we want to have peace in our hearts and not be torn with inner conflicts. We want peace in our families, not squabbling or quarrelling. We want peace in our world. We hate to hear of killings, wars and conflicts. Those desires were put in our hearts by God who said in NIV Psalm 34:14b Seek peace and pursue it.
People everywhere want peace in the lives, families and world, but many do not know where to find this peace. So where can we find peace in today’s world of conflict? How can we pursue peace for our families and ourselves?
To hear more about this topic, listen to my December 25, 2005 message entitled Jesus – The Peace Of God