December 8, 2024
“Are We There Yet? Adventures in Advent”
“Week 2 : Peace : Calm in the Chaos”
Luke 2:8-20
Service Overview: Angels burst into the shepherds’ night with a message of peace. In a world filled with chaos, discover how Jesus silences our fears and offers true, lasting peace.
Memory Verse for the Week:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV)
Background & Technical Insights:
- [Shepherds] weren’t even considered part of the “in” group because their work in the hills kept them from the religious ceremonies in town. (Reuben Welch, Beacon Bible Expositions, Volume 3: Luke, 36)
- Due to the proximity to Jerusalem, some scholars have suggested that the flocks here are the temple flocks raised for sacrifice. In any case, this narrative would have challenged the values of many religious people, who despised shepherds (the earlier examples of Moses and David notwithstanding); shepherds’ work kept them from participation in the religious activities of their communities. (Craig S. Keener, Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 297)
- The fact that Mary travelled with Joseph indicates that they were now married, but the description of her as pledged to be married shows that they had not yet consummated the marriage (cf Mt. 1:25). (D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary, 984)
- That the message came to shepherds first, and not to the high and mighty, reminds us that God comes to the needy, the poor in spirit. Shepherds were despised by the “good,” respectable people of that day. According to the Mishnah, shepherds were under a ban. They were regarded as thieves. The only people lower than shepherds at that particular time in Jewish history were lepers. Scholars speculate that the only reason the flocks were so close in was because these men were keeping the sacrificial animals for the temple. (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Luke, 93)
- God had promised that the Savior would be a human, not an angel (Gen. 3:15; Heb. 2:16), and a Jew, not a Gentile (Gen. 12:1–3; Num. 24:17). He would be from the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10), and the family of David (2 Sam. 7:1–17), born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14) in Bethlehem, the city of David (Mic. 5:2). (Warren Wiersbe, Be Compassionate: Luke 1-13, 28)
- Pasturing of flocks at night indicates that this was a warmer season, not winter (when they would graze more in the day); Christians may have later adopted December 25 as a time to celebrate Christmas in part to coopt a pagan Roman festival scheduled shortly before that time. (Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 297)
What kind of peace did Jesus come to establish, and why does it matter during Advent?
- Inward peace: Shalom to the chaos within.
(Psalm 46:10; Isaiah 26:3; Romans 8:6; Galatians 5:22-23; Colossians 3:15; Phil. 4:6-7)
There is only one place where that angry, reactive, overwhelmed self can be transformed – the same place that Mary chose – the feet of Jesus… When I get into His presence, the whole world looks different. When I draw close to His heart, I find mercy when I know I deserve judgment; I find forgiveness for all my petty, selfish ways; I find grace for all my inadequacies; I find peace for my troubled heart; I find perspective for my distorted views. In Him, I find an eye in the midst of the storm. Oh the storm around me may not immediately subside; but the storm within me is made calm. (Nancy Leigh DeMoss, A Place of Quiet Rest, 44)
God can work peace through us only if He has worked peace in us… Those who are in the best of circumstances but without God can never find peace, but those in the worst of circumstances but with God need never lack peace. (John MacArthur, Matthew 1-7, 214)
- Outward peace: Shalom to the chaos around.
(Matthew 5:9; Mark 9:50; Romans 12:18; Ephesians 4:3; James 3:18; 1 Peter 3:11)
We must take the initiative to restore peace. Jesus taught that it makes no difference whether you have wronged your brother or he has wronged you. Either way, you are always responsible to initiate efforts toward peace (see Matthew 5:23-24 and 18:15). If we are serious about intently pursuing peace, we won’t be concerned about which of us is the offending party. We will have one goal: To restore peace in a godly manner. Unresolved conflict between believers is sin and must be treated as such; otherwise, it will spread throughout the body like cancer until it requires radical spiritual surgery. Far better to deal with it when it is easily contained. (Jerry Bridges, The Practice of Godliness, 164)
- Upward peace: Shalom between sinners and God.
(Is. 53:5; Acts 10:36; Rom. 5:1; 8:1; 2 Cor. 5:18-19; Col. 1:20; Eph. 2:14-16; 1 Tim. 2:5)
There is no peace like the peace of those whose minds are possessed with full assurance that they have known God, and God has known them, and that this relationship guarantees God’s favor to them in life, through death and on forever. (J.I. Packer, Knowing God, 27)
Luke’s inclusion of this part of the birth narrative reflects his concern for the salvation of all mankind: for the poor, the outcasts, the have-nots, The shepherds in the hills heard angels proclaim God’s salvation through One who was himself a Shepherd, the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep (John 10:11) and who rejoices when the lost is found (Luke 15:4-7). (Reuben Welch, Beacon Bible Expositions, Volume 3: Luke, 37)
Conclusion… How can we embody the peace Jesus came to bring?
- By drawing near to Jesus when chaos grows within.
(Matthew 11:28-30; John 14:27; 16:33; Romans 15:13; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; 1 Peter 5:7)
The great antidote to anxiety is to come to God in prayer. We are to pray about everything. Nothing is too big for Him to handle, and nothing is too small to escape His attention. (Jerry Bridges, The Practice of Godliness, 159)
Contentment, then, is the product of a heart resting in God. It is the soul’s enjoyment of that peace that passes all understanding. It is the outcome of my will being brought into subjection to the Divine will. It is the blessed assurance that God does all things well, and is, even now, making all things work together for my ultimate good. (A.W. Pink, Comfort for Christians, 85-86)
The angel said that the “good news” was “for all the people.” Whoever you are, he can deliver you, help you, save you. “Because he continues forever . . . he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:24, 25). (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Luke, 94)
- By acting like Jesus when chaos abounds around.
(Psalm 34:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:13; Hebrews 12:14; James 3:18; 1 Peter 3:11)
Because peace is a fruit of the Spirit, we are dependent upon the Spirit’s work in our lives to produce the desire and the means to pursue peace. But we are also responsible to use the means He has given us and to take all practical steps to attain both peace within and peace with others. (Jerry Bridges, The Practice of Godliness, 166)
The gospel being what it is and always will be, “the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19), our churches should be the most reconciling, peaceable, relaxed, happy places in town. We are so open to enemies, so meek in the face of insults and injuries, so forgiving toward the undeserving — if we do make people angry, let this be the reason. We refuse to join in their selfish battles. We’re following a higher call. We are the peacemakers, the true sons of God (Matthew 5:9). (Ray Ortlund, Blog Post: The Ministry of Reconciliation, April 19, 2012)
Peace should be a hallmark of the godly person, first because it is a Godlike trait: God is called the God of peace several times in the New Testament. He took the initiative to establish peace with rebellious men, and He is the author of both personal peace as well as peace among men. Peace should be part of our character also because God has promised us His peace, because He has commanded us to let peace rule in our lives and relationships, and because peace is a fruit of the Spirit and therefore an evidence of His working in our lives. (Jerry Bridges, The Practice of Godliness, 155-156)
Gospel Connection…
True and lasting peace—inward, outward, and upward—is only possible by turning to and trusting in Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
(Is. 53:5; Acts 10:36; Rom. 5:1; 8:1; 2 Cor. 5:18-19; Col. 1:20; Eph. 2:14-16; 1 Tim. 2:5)
What peace can they have who are not at peace with God? (Matthew Henry, Daily Communion with God, 163)
The [Christian] message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity – hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory – because at the Father’s will Jesus became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross. (J.I. Packer, Knowing God, 58)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- Which of the three types of peace—inward, outward, or upward—do you feel most challenged by right now? Why?
- How do you typically respond to chaos within your heart? How might turning to Jesus transform your response?
- What steps can you take to build peace with someone you are at odds with?
- How can you act as a peacemaker in your family, workplace, or community?
- Why do you think the angels emphasized “peace on earth” when announcing Jesus’ birth?
- What role does repentance play in experiencing peace with God?
Quotes to note…
God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 31)
By His death on the Cross, Christ has become the Lamb that was slain for us, our Redeemer, the One who has made peace between us and God, who has taken our guilt on Himself, who has conquered our most deadly enemy and has assuaged the well-deserved wrath of God. (Mark Dever, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, 75)
The baby Mary carried was not a Caesar, a man who would become a god, but a far greater wonder—the true God who had become a man! (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Luke, 89)
What was the good news? Not that God had sent a soldier or a judge or a reformer, but that He had sent a Savior to meet man’s greatest need. It was a message of peace to a world that had known much war. The famous “Pax Romana” (Roman Peace) had been in effect since 27 BC, but the absence of war doesn’t guarantee the presence of peace. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Compassionate: Luke 1-13, 30)
This “Savior, who is Christ the Lord,” (v. 11, RSV) brings true peace to men’s inner lives as they are brought into right relationship to God and into harmony with one another. It means more than absence of conflict; it means harmony of the entire life. Insofar as Christ’s saving lordship is recognized and accepted, His peace rules, His harmony prevails both in the inner life and in society. Apart from Him, as our dark history tragically reveals , is not peace, but war and strife and restlessness and rebellion. (Reuben Welch, Beacon Bible Expositions, Volume 3: Luke, 37)
Joseph and Mary capsulized the mystery of grace—the King does not come to the proud and powerful but to the poor and powerless. As it is so often in life, things were not as they seemed to the world around them, because humble Mary and Joseph were the adoptive father and birth mother of the King of kings. (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Luke, 88)
These shepherds are good examples for us to imitate today. They received by faith the message God sent them and then responded with immediate obedience. After finding the Baby, they reported the good news to others, “glorifying and praising God.” They took the place of the angels (Luke 2:13–14)! Then they humbly returned to their duties, new men going back to the same old job. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Compassionate: Luke 1-13, 31)
Through the birth of the Messiah God extends his favour to people who have done nothing to deserve it; and he graciously grants them peace. Peace expresses the nature of salvation as the restoration of good relations between God and sinful people and the consequent reception of his blessings. (D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary, 984)
It is not enough to hear about Jesus. It is not enough to peek in the manger and say, “Oh, how nice. What a lovely scene. It gives me such good feelings.” The truth is, even if Christ were born in Bethlehem a thousand times but not within you, you would be eternally lost. The Christ who was born into the world must be born in your heart. (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Luke, 95)