ADVENT: Getting Ready for Jesus


12/11/2011 - Peace



One of my favorite Christmas stories took place in Europe on Christmas Eve, 1914. It happened on a World War I battlefield in a region called Flanders which is now part of Belgium. German, British, and French troops were all settling down for the night after a long day of fighting when a young German soldier started softly singing "Silent Night."

"Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht. Alles schlaft. Einsam wacht." Soon other German soldiers started joining in and when they had finished singing "Stille Nacht" the British and French began to sing their own Christmas carols.

And before long the artillery in that region went silent. The guns ceased firing. Men from both sides put down their weapons, crawled out of their muddy trenches, and met in the middle of the battlefield. They shook hands, exchanged gifts of whiskey and jam, cigars and chocolate, and even shared pictures of their families.

Informal soccer games broke out in what was called "no man's land." Imagine, men who just a few hours before were trying to kill each other now playing soccer together! A joint service was held to bury the dead on both sides. It was an amazing scene!

Of course, the generals weren't happy. Enemies who get to know each other's names and see pictures of each other's families aren't as eager to want to kill each other. So following that magical night, the men on both sides spent the next few days simply firing their guns into the air. The impromptu truce spread to other areas as well and lasted through Christmas night or in some places even until New Year's Day. Then the war went back to normal and continued for three more bloody years.

Yet the story of that Christmas Eve in 1914 has lingered until today. It was indeed a silent night when the angels really did sing of peace on earth.

Folksinger John McCutcheon wrote a song about that night in Belgium called "Christmas in the Trenches" from the perspective of a young British soldier. A few verses go like this.

The song they sang was "Stille Nacht," "Tis Silent Night," says I.
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky
"There's someone coming towards us!" the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one lone figure coming from their side
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shone on that plain so bright
As he bravely strode unarmed into the night.

Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's land
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well
And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell.
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played his squeeze box and they had a violin
This curious and unlikely band of men.

Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night
"Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had now been crumbled and were gone for evermore.

Christmas is a time for peace even in the midst of a world at war. Christmas is a time for all of us to stop fighting, to come out of our trenches, and together make the hope of peace on earth a reality.

This morning we continue our Advent series with a teaching on peace. Two weeks ago we started with a focus on hope. And then last week it was joy. And next week it will be love. Those are the four themes of Advent. But today is the day of peace. And so to represent that theme we light the candle of peace.

During this series we've already seen that our God is a God of hope and our God is a God of joy. But our God is also a God of peace and he wants us to be at peace with him and with ourselves and with each other.

The apostle Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, May God himself, the God of PEACE, sanctify you through and through.

At the center of the universe is this peaceful God who lives in perfect harmony between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It's a happy home where there's no conflict, no fighting, no war, no issues, just love expressing itself in peace that pulsates throughout all of God's creation. And he wants his peace to live in us. He wants his peace to sanctify us through and through.

The Hebrew word for peace is the word "shalom." It's a beautiful word. It's the way Jewish people have greeted each other for millennia, "shalom, peace." But it's much more than just a greeting like "Hey" or "Yo" or "Wazzup?" The word "shalom" is pregnant with meaning. It's a blessing more powerful than any other blessing in Scripture.

Shalom means good health and prosperity, safety and wholeness, contentment and tranquility, peace in our relationships with God and with one another. Shalom is everything we could ever want. To wish someone shalom is to wish them the experience of all that God is, peace and wholeness in every possible way.

Numbers 6, a passage that I remember teaching on the first Sunday of 2008, the great Aaronic blessing, is a desire for shalom. This is how God wanted the priests to bless the people of Israel and this is the blessing that I wish for all of you today.

Numbers 6:24-26, The Lord bless you and keep you; 25the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26the Lord turn his face toward you and give you PEACE.

God is the God of shalom. It's who he is and it's what he wants for you and for me. But it's more than that. All creation is headed for the day when God's great shalom will cover the whole earth like the waters cover the sea. All that's broken in this world and in us will one day we fixed, healed and whole. That's good news!

Shalom is the hope of the prophets, the day when God's enemies are vanquished, when injustices are made right, when hurts are healed, fears are calmed, creation is set free, and nations prosper. The great shalom is the day when our peace making God comes down from heaven and sets up his peaceable kingdom on a peace filled earth. It's the day when our prayers are finally answered, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

In Revelation 21, God's kingdom is described as the New Jerusalem, the great "City of Shalom," that's what Jerusalem means in Hebrew, coming down out of heaven from God like a bride beautifully dressed coming down the aisle for her husband.

God's kingdom is coming to this earth one day in all its fullness. That's what we call the dream of God. And as representatives of God's kingdom we have the privilege of bringing some of that shalom, some of that peace to this world right now.

And it all starts with Jesus. The first advent of Jesus made that peace all possible. And so the great prophet Isaiah looks down the tunnel of time and says in Isaiah 9:6-7, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of PEACE. 7Of the increase of his government and PEACE there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Jesus is the prince of peace, "Sar Shalom" in Hebrew, who's bringing his government of peace to this world one day. It will happen because God Almighty is zealous about it.

Jesus is the one who makes peace possible. Peace with God. Peace with ourselves. Peace with one another and the ultimate peace that will eventually cover the whole earth which prompts the angels to say in Luke 2:14, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth PEACE to those on whom his favor rests.

The good news of the gospel is that "Sar Shalom" has come. The Prince of Peace has arrived and his kingdom is wide open to you and to me and to anyone and everyone who believes that the prince died on the cross for their sin and rose again. We are made right with God through faith alone in Jesus.

The apostle Paul captured it this way in Romans 5:1, Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Shalom with God. How great is that!? And it comes through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. That's something to celebrate! God is not angry with us. God is not against us. God loves us. God is for us. And our relationship with him has been reconciled because Jesus took our punishment on himself and gave us peace.

The punishment that brought us PEACE was on him, and by his wounds we are healed, Isaiah 53:5 says.

Jesus came to give us peace with God. Do you have that peace this morning? I hope so. If you don't put your faith in Jesus now. And if you need help with that please talk with me or someone here in the Valley View community. There are plenty of people that can help you find that peace through faith in Jesus.

Jesus came to give us peace with ourselves. The fruit of the Spirit is peace. Galatians 5:22-23 says, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, PEACE, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control.

Will all need peace, don't we? I know I do. My heart can get so troubled so quickly. Stress is part of life. Jesus experienced great stress and said we would too. Stress comes when things get beyond our control and that happens a lot. Much of life is designed to be out of our control.

This week I read someone who said, "It's astounding to contemplate how many things that form and shape our lives are truly and completely beyond our control. It begins before we are born. We have no control who our parents are or when or where we are born. Our parents pass on to us a set of genes that determines what we look like. Will we be male or female, tall or short? Will our skin and hair be that of the majority or that of a persecuted minority? Will we be born physically or mentally challenged? Will we be born in a free land with many opportunities for education and wealth or will we have to endure a harsh, rock-scrabble existence? All of us are dealt a hand at birth, and God expects us to play that hand to the best of our ability.

"Even long after birth, we still have no control over the majority of peace busters. We have no control over whether our nation goes to war or the stock market crashes. What can anyone do about weather that produces a drought or a sudden flood? Can we halt a terrifying, life-changing tornado, hurricane or earthquake that can shatter the lives of thousands of people without even a rumble of warning? (We've seen plenty of those this year.)

"Even in the intimacy of personal relationships, our control over the attitudes and behavior of others is minimal. How many of us have actually been successful in getting someone to change or to quit an addiction? Our minds become troubled because we fear what is happening or may happen to us or to a loved one. We worry that the consequences will be difficult to overcome, embarrassing, physically painful, damaging to our reputation or that we will be overwhelmed and suffer great loss."

Can anybody relate to that? I can. I've felt some of those feeling this week and had conversations with others feeling that way as well. Yet in the midst of a life that is beyond our control we are called to live in peace. Peace with ourselves. But how do we do that?

Isaiah 26:3 says, God will keep in perfect PEACE those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trusting in God is what gives us peace.

Jesus put his spin on it in John 14:27, 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. Trust in God, trust also in me.

Trust in God is the key to peace. But what do we trust about God that gives us peace? We trust that he is Emmanuel, "God with us." God for us. We trust that he loves us and knows what we're going through. He is intimately acquainted with all our ways. We trust that he won't put us through more than we can bear. We trust that the Judge of all the universe will do right. We trust that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. We trust that ultimately he is in control and working out his plan to advance his kingdom in this world which is far more important than my plan for my little world. His will trumps my will every time. And we trust that the grand story we all live in has a happy ending when God makes all things right and brings his great shalom to this world. There is plenty to trust God for.

"I have told you things things," Jesus said in John 16:33, "so that in me you may have PEACE. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Jesus came to give us peace with God, peace with ourselves and peace with one another.

Romans 12:18 says, If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at PEACE with everyone.

During this Advent season the best thing some of us could do is to crawl out of our trenches and make peace with our enemies who may be in our own families or people at work or in our neighborhoods. Someone has said, "Peace is harder to make than war." And that's true. It is. But making peace is worth every effort because peace on earth is only possible when individuals like you and me live at peace with those around us.

I can't make peace with Iran or Iraq or Afghanistan. I can't settle the Arab/Israeli conflict that's been raging for centuries. But I can make peace with the people in my little world. I can extend the olive branch to those in my circles. I can be a peacemaker.

It was a year ago when I spoke on Jesus' words in Matthew 5:9, Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS, for they will be called children of God. Peacemakers are a chip off the old block, because that's what God is. He's a peacemaker. And his Son is "Sar Shalom," the Prince of Peace." If you want to be just like your Dad in Heaven, pursue peace in all your relationships. Remember, a tug of war takes two people so drop the rope and extend the olive branch.

About two months ago, Roy Nealings passed away. Roy was Ginny Johnson's father. He was in his mid-90's and out lived his wife by five or six years. The last few years of his life Roy lived with Mark and Ginny and was pretty much confined to his room and then at the end, confined to his bed. And there many times during that stretch when we thought he was about to leave us, but he always bounced back and kept on going. We called him the "Energizer Bunny."

Roy was a delight to visit. Every time I saw him I always came away encouraged. In fact, I think that was the role God had for him over those last few years. He brought joy to all who those knew him. The world needs more Roy Nealings.

I'd always ask him what Scripture he wanted me to read and his answer was always the same. In fact, it got to be a joke because he always wanted me to read Philippians 4 and that great passage on peace. So now I can't read Philippians 4 without thinking of Roy Nealings. It's a great passage that talks about the peace of God and the God of peace. And I want to close this teaching by reading it to you.

Philippians 4:4-9, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Questions of the Week

  • Have you ever considered the idea of shalom that Bruce discussed in the teaching? How would you describe it? How do you think it differs from the concept of peace that we have today?
  • What does peace look like in our personal lives? How does the gospel of Jesus speak to our need for peace on a personal level?
  • How does the command to love our enemies relate to the virtue of peace? Why is it an important part of the Christian faith? What are some ways that we are called to practice this in our lives?
  • What do you think it means to be a peacemaker? How can we at Valley View be a community that values peacemaking?