Why? Because Jesus is still the hope of the world. Be expectant everyday of Jesus, Immanuel, coming to earth to live with us, as one of us.
Let’s talk about peace on earth. The peace that passes understanding.
There’s been a lot of talk about peace recently, mainly because we don’t see enough of it and we so desperately want it for ourselves and everyone in our world.
There’s also a lot of debate about what peace really is and how it plays out in our world. In the Christian space you have some people praying for peace in a way that just makes the noise go away, for the fighting and wars to stop, but then you have others who say we cannot possibly have peace without justice, without things being put right first. I certainly believe justice is an integral part of the process of getting to real peace. So often it's injustice that steals peace, or tries to steal peace. Jesus came as part of a redemption plan, of putting things right, so justice and peace go hand in hand.
This year there has been much written about the angels words to the Shepherds when they said “Peace on earth” and people saying that we have never seen this peace and we are still not seeing it. Reminds me of some song words from 40 years ago, ‘wars and rumors of wars ever since time began.’ Also having complete peace will not happen this side of heaven. Sin prevents that. Jesus also said, ‘in this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world.’ But we get to keep praying ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’ We get to keep pulling God’s Kingdom into the here and now and we get to be living it all out each and every day. We get to make peace happen by being peace makers!
I sat and reflected on what peace would feel like and look like to me. These words and phrases came to mind:
Filled with hope
Filled with love
Feels like safety
Feels like something for everyone
Feeling protected from harm
Life
Deep and strong breaths
Joy
Justice for all
Shalom
Mutual Flourishing
Fairness
Tasting freedom
Arms open wide
Twirling in the wind
Windblown hair
Big smiles
Cheesy grins
Restfulness
Shouting from the mountaintops
Happy chatter
Solutions abounding
For the common good
Humanity in every action
Wrongs made right
Truth replacing lies
Walls repaired
Some walls smashed down
Giving back what’s been taken
Forgiveness
I’m sorry
Feeling cared for
Comforted
Compassion and empathy
When I think about God’s peace, it’s a peace that passes understanding. It’s way beyond any description I can think of. There’s also no fear in that peace. It’s in the presence of perfect love. Perfect love drives out fear.
When Jesus arrived as a baby and his kingdom was established on earth, and the angels announced, peace on earth, it was Jesus and everything about him and his kingdom and everything about it that was being spoken about. He was born into a place of huge conflict, occupation, cruelty, hatred, power struggles and control of people. It was an empire looking out for itself and no-one else. Anyone who did not support it was done away with. It had a focus and that was to grow in strength and power and might. Jesus being spoken about as a king with a kingdom certainly did not fit into this picture at all and so the plan was to get rid of him from the start. He lived 100% human life, the good, amazing, bad and ugly. He knows and understands what we go through. He came and experienced it himself.
Jesus does not give peace like the world gives peace.
When we think of peace on earth or when we pray for peace on earth, we need to be thinking what Jesus meant when he used the word peace. If we are not doing that, then we are praying for worldly peace which will never be lasting and complete.
It can also never be calm and quiet when you are changing such radically different kingdoms. Empire always wants to hold onto power and control. So, it’s a struggle and a fight and a journey to change everything.
But his peace is not the end result of a negotiation process, it’s the journey and the struggle and it’s about the here and the now. His peace is available in amongst all of that. So, when the announcement of peace was made, peace had arrived in the body of Jesus. That’s the difference. He comes now with peace. We don’t have to wait for it.
His very coming to earth, his presence, who he was and the kingdom he established, that brought the peace. It has to be our choice to grab onto that peace. To choose Jesus and his ways. To choose his kingdom and all it stands for – that’s where the real peace comes from.
Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus.
He leads us with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. What are the cords and ties between us on earth? Are they kind and loving?
There are many Advent readings around at the moment. Each one so poignant and giving opportunity to be still and know God. To reflect on his great love and sacrifice.
In the Lectio 365 they were talking about John and his father’s prophetic words when he was born.
The sunrise will visit us from on high. (Sunrise is always filled with hope, light, wonder, beauty, newness, warmth)
To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
To guide our feet into the way of peace.
(Reminds me of the words of the Christmas Carol – ‘the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.’ And yes, even in the little town of Bethlehem in 2024.)
And it’s all because of his tender mercy to us. Luke 1:76-79
And that tender mercy stands in stark contrast to the harshness of our world today. It would be pretty accurate to say that we are all craving simple kindness, gentleness and grace. And living out these words from Psalm 103:8 to be compassionate, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love. Lectio 365
Henri Nouwen had these words to say: “A gentle person is someone who treads lightly, listens carefully, looks tenderly and touches with reverence. In our tough and often unbending world, our gentleness can be a vivid reminder of the presence of God among us.”
Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus.
In Luke 19 Jesus arrives as King in Jerusalem. We can never be quiet in announcing his coming, just like John who made it clear what his mission was, to prepare the way for Jesus. To announce his coming. Announcing someone always comes with volume. He was to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins. That was a big task. People knew Jesus was coming.
Christmas should always be an announcement and reminder of his coming. No matter how bad things seem. In fact, maybe I should say, because of how bad things are. Jesus, you’re still the hope of the world. Even more reason to make a noise about you coming to earth and establishing your very different kingdom with the answer to peace.
When the Pharisees asked Jesus to keep his disciples quiet about announcing Jesus, he said if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out! It will be announced. In amongst everything. In the mess, in the chaos, the hate, war and rubble.
Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus.
So let’s not be quiet in shouting loudly this Christmas! Announce his coming. His Kingdom. His reign and rule. Our world certainly needs the hope he promises. Then follow it all, and then as a result of following Jesus, his ways and the Kingdom of God, we will have peace on earth, on whom his favor rests! The responsibility of those who say they follow Jesus is huge. We have found the answer, we need to now live it and keep announcing it to others, so the peace can spread.
Jesus cries over Jerusalem because so many still didn’t see who he was, even after all the announcing that had gone on. He must have been heartbroken. He prophesied there would be tumult and chaos because of it. Jerusalem will not know peace until Jesus is recognized as Messiah. The peace was for those who recognized that God came down and to live with them.
We have been given so much direction in the Bible as to how to live as followers of Jesus. We have, to name but a few, the Lord’s Prayer, the Beatitudes, the new covenant (birth, death and resurrection of Jesus) and a new commandment of loving God with our heart, mind and soul and loving our neighbor as ourselves.
So much to show us the way of God’s kingdom.
Peace comes from all that.
All of the kingdom.
Peace is an integral part of it all.
It will never come from control and domination. His kingdom is entirely and completely different.
So, if we are praying for peace, let’s pray for all of Jesus in that prayer, and all of God’s kingdom into what we are praying for. Be expectant for God to come close and to use us as vessels of his love, peace and justice in the process.
Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus. We long for all of you and all of your kingdom.
We are reminded with joy and thankfulness of your advent/arrival at Christmas and to us personally on a daily basis. May we be known by our love and peace making while on this earth.
(Top artwork by Evelien Burger.)
