The Peace of Christmas

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord… And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

Luke 2:9-10,13-14

Would you say that you have peace in your life? Do you have peace in your home and family? Could you look around and say that you’re at peace with everything going on in the world today?

It would be difficult for most people to answer with a yes.

Peace is that one thing everyone wants but throughout history it has proven to be the most elusive thing to achieve or hold on to. People have put a lot of time, effort and money into trying to keep peace and stability in the world, but it sometimes seems like we’re in a losing battle.

Billy Graham accurately observed:

“The world doesn’t give peace, for it doesn’t have any peace to give. It fights for peace, it negotiates for peace, it maneuvers for peace, but there is no ultimate peace in the world.”

But even with uncertain times and unrest in many parts of the world, there seems to be one time of the year when peace doesn’t seem like such an impossibility.

Something Special About Christmas

What is it about Christmas?

Someone needs to explain why Christmas seems to be the most popular and loved holiday in the world and why “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” as originally sung by Andy Williams.

Why do people go all out to decorate their homes, businesses and even our streets with the most beautiful colors and lights? Why do people spend months planning Christmas events and shopping for Christmas gifts?

People love Christmas so much they even try to extend it. Instead of starting the season and decorating in December, many people now put their Christmas trees and lights up as soon as Halloween is over.

In an effort further extend and recreate that wonderful Christmastime feeling, we now have Christmas in July!

What originated as a creative summer camp activity in 1933 has become so popular that the Hallmark Channel has now made Christmas in July a television tradition, running their special brand of Christmas movies for the entire month.

Even in our home, I keep lobbying for us to keep our Christmas lights up until Chinese or Lunar New Year, I just haven’t succeeded yet.

There’s this wonderfully calming and peaceful effect that Christmas seems to have on people – a sense of awe and wonder that we don’t find during any other season.

The famous Christmas Truce of 1914 illustrates this effect. While in the trenches during the first Christmas Eve of World War I, British troops heard enemy German soldiers singing Christmas carols on the front lines. They were so moved that they came out of their dugouts without their commander’s permission and met the Germans out on the battlefield. They began singing carols, exchanging tobacco and gifts, taking photos and even playing soccer. Amazingly, they were able to make this peace last until the New Year when they were eventually ordered back to the trenches to continue fighting. 

The Mystery of Christmas

As the angels announced the birth of Jesus on that first Christmas Eve, they invited us all to come experience a peace not found anywhere else in the world. They introduced the birth of God’s Son who would bring us peace with God, peace with ourselves and peace with each other.

Billy Graham used to say in many of his campaigns around the world:

“Christ alone can bring lasting peace – peace with God – peace among men and nations – and peace within our hearts.”

The message of Christmas brings such relief and resonates with so many around the world because it speaks of an all-encompassing peace we so desperately need.

That God would choose to make this grand announcement of peace in the middle of the night to a group of shepherds is also an intriguing part of the mystery of Christmas that must be explored.

 The Life of a Shepherd

While ancient shepherds had an important job, it was mostly thankless and they weren’t the most influential in society. Their life and means would be considered humble, and they were sometimes considered unclean because of their daily contact with animals and insects. Yet, to God and in Jewish society, they are given a valuable place in the Bible.

Key heroes of our faith in the Bible, such as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses, and David were all connected with shepherding. Jesus even called himself The Good Shepherd who protects and lays his life down for the sheep.

Announcing Christ’s birth to these shepherds and allowing them to be the first to witness this miracle baby for themselves speaks a message for all of us that:

1. No matter your background, even if you are not valued by the world’s standards. God values and esteems you.
2. Even if your life has been hard and full of pain, God’s peace is for you.
3. Others may have rejected you, but God accepts you.
4. Even if your life is full of regrets from sin and past failures, you can now have the peace that God gives through Christ.

Jesus said in John 14:27:

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you;
not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

This Christmas

There’s a classic Christmas pop song from the 80’s by Wham called “Last Christmas” that expresses the often bitter pain of failed relationships in our past. You may know this familiar lyric:

“Last Christmas, I gave you my heart,
But the very next day, you gave it away.
This year, to save me from tears,
I’ll give it to someone special.”

You may have memories of Christmases past that are painful and difficult to reflect on. You may have fallen on tougher times this year or even have family members that aren’t speaking with one another.

Amid all these challenges and difficult relationships, this Christmas can be different.

You can experience and be filled with the peace that Jesus gives, that the angels announced that day.

My prayer for you this Christmas is that as you reach out to Jesus in this season and make a renewed commitment to Christ, to your loved ones and to your neighbours – that you experience and enjoy that wonderful peace with God, peace in your heart and peace with those around you.

And as we celebrate The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, we look forward to that most wonderful day of our Lord’s return with this last thought from Billy Graham:

“One of these days the sky is going to break open and the Lord Jesus Christ will come back. He will set up His reign upon this planet, and we’re going to have peace and social justice. What a wonderful time that’s going to be”.