Every year we hear Linus quote the KJV of the passage, to tell us of the night that Jesus was born. That Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem for a government census, and that while they were there she went into labor, and gave birth to a son, and had to lay the child in a manger because they had no place to stay but a stable. At that very moment, shepherds in the field saw a group of angles praising God, who then announced the birth of the Christ child to them and invited them to come and see that it was true, but in the KJV account there is a misnomer, “peace on earth goodwill toward men.” Let’s look at the verse afresh, along with Luke’s entire account of the birth of Christ:
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 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 among those with whom he is pleased!"
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2.1-21)
In Romans 5.1-11, and again in Ephesians 2.14-18 the thought is expressed that since the fall of Adam in the garden humanity has not been at peace with God. From that moment on, sin separated humanity from God. It was not just because they ate fruit, and not just because they disobeyed a rule, but because the betrayal was an attempted to overthrow God as King of kings and Lord of lords. The serpent’s temptation was, “You will be like God.” Actually, Adam and Eve were already like God, but the serpent sowed distrust, and doubt in us toward God. He implied that God was withholding something from them that was better than what they had now. “Eat and you will be your own God,” was the implied message he was selling. Furthermore Adam’s decision was not out of deception, Eve it says was deceived, but Adam’s sin was the greater sin because he knew what he was doing, and he committed a treasonous act against God willfully. Romans chapter seven squarely places the blame on Adam, not Eve. From that time onward humankind has lived as an enemy of God. However, through Christ, mankind can choose to return to God. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is the peace accord between humankind and God. When we surrender to the Prince of Peace, the terms of surrender are, let God be God, and put your heart, your will, your strength, your possessions under his control, and in return he will give eternal life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. That is the message of Jesus’ birth.
When you pull back all the sentimental imagery of the manger and Christmas, it is about the birth of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. This is about dominion, the change of the global order, and life and death. That is why King Herod sent out soldiers to murder every child under the age of two when he found out about the Christ child being born. That is why the three Magi came from the east in the first place. (More about them on Christmas Eve), but the coming of Jesus Christ was a powerful watershed event, the clash of kingdoms, and it was ultimately the reestablishment of the Kingdom of God on earth under the leadership of the Prince of Peace, who reconciled humanity to God, and gave the gentle terms of surrender. For those who surrender to God’s goodwill there is peace.
The central question for us today is, are we surrendered to Jesus Christ? Are we at war or at peace with God? This promise of peace is not a gift of warm-fuzzy peaceful feelings, or inner tranquility; this is the peace that comes to those who are no longer struggling to be god of their own life. This is the peace of not being the enemy of God. This is the peace, of knowing that when judgment comes, that according to the terms of surrender you will not be tried for high treason. Because one day, Philippians 2.9-11 tells us, the whole world will be subdued, and every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I believe that is why we read that the ordinary Joes, and the humble parents of Jesus, were the first to receive this good news. The three magi don’t come until almost two years later. That first night it was Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds along with a few animals. Not because God is opposed to either wealth or power, he has both. If however, we are honest, there are few poor people in the world who believe them selves to be invincible, or in charge, or self-sufficient. It is easier for those who are poor or powerless to accept the gospel of Peace, the terms of surrender to Jesus are much more palatable than the terms of surrender that have been shoved down their throats repeatedly by the harsh realities of life, by government, and everything else that they perceive as oppressing them.
For those with power and wealth, the terms of surrender are the same, but as Proverbs 10 & 18 point out many perceive their wealth or power as a strong tower, as a shield, as impenetrable. Many with wealth or power perceive themselves as not in need of rescue. They do not see the need for surrender. Its not that God opposes people because of wealth or power, but that God opposes those who are proud. Often the rich and powerful are never humble enough to surrender. As lords, as kings, of their own destiny, there is nothing more difficult for a king to do then become the vassal of another king.
There is a scene in the movie Brave Heart, where a group of British lords is coming out to greet the Scottish King and nobility. So oppressed are the Scotts that the British King no longer comes to greet the King of Scotland, he just sends an English lord to receive the annual payment and pledge of loyalty to avoid destruction. At that point the English lord makes sport of the Scottish King and tells the other lords in his company that they will watch a King kiss their behinds. To their surprise the Scotts rebel, and a war begins, but the attitude of both in the movie reflects the lack of humility of Kings and Lords everywhere, and the general refusal of those in power to surrender their power, even if its costs them everything. The famous missionary, Jim Elliot, once said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." The inverse is also true, if you fight to keep what you cannot take with you, rather than surrender to gain what you cannot loose, that makes you a great fool.
Thinking about those ordinary Joes working the late shift that night, those shepherds, (despite Christmas lore), were the low men on the social ladder. Working all night, watching a bunch of stupid stinking sheep, their own lives potentially in danger for a bunch of cattle. As ordinary as they were, they got to see the glory of God, they got to see angels, and they saw the Christ child. Likewise, when you and I humble ourselves, when we surrender to the kingdom of God, we too can see the glory of God displayed. We get to see God work, not because we are powerful, rich, or something special in our own right, but because we have recognized that we are not. We have seen our need for God, we have humbled ourselves, let God be God, let God be King and Lord of our lives, and in that process we too get to experience the works of God.
Have you ever wondered why people see greater miracles in Africa, or Latin America or China? I believe that it has to do with oppression. The people in those places are so crushed by oppression that without God they have no hope. Therefore they are completely dependent on God. Especially if following God has come at a price of social exclusion or some kind of additional oppression by worldly rulers and authorities. I would submit to us that Advent is a time for us to renew our commitment, to review the terms of surrender. It is a time of putting God in charge, of believing that God’s governance is better than our own, and of believing that just as God sent angles, and demonstrated his love for those humble shepherds and Jesus’ earthly parents, that God also desires to show his glory to us who surrender themselves today, as we await his soon return.
To go back to my childhood question, peace on earth is something that belongs to those who have surrendered to God’s will. Making peace with God is the way for us to prepare not only for Christmas, but also for Jesus’ imminent return.
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