On the occasion of Jesus’ birth, God sent an angel to announce to the world in Luke 2: 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth among those whom he favours!” Peace means freedom from disturbances. It is God’s gift of tranquility. It is God’s power of righteousness. God sent his peace on earth when Jesus was born in order to placate the world’s spiritual chaos. God’s peace through Christ Jesus has no restraint and it is available to only those he loves or favours.
Who are God’s favourites?
Those God favour have spiritual peace which transcends understanding. It cannot be replicated by any being or spirit. The peace of God is not subject to money, position, power, influence, race, colour, height, weight, sex, gender, age, education, profession or anything on earth but sound relationship with Christ Jesus judged by the heart. It is solely given at God’s discretion by grace and not by works or deeds. No other person has been appointed by God besides Jesus through whom the world would have God’s peace. All other alleged claimants are false prophets and fake, not heavenly sanctioned.
Are there biblical contradictions?
Jesus said in Luke 12: 51 “Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. (Division means war.) Certainly, peace is not division so Jesus was referring to worldly peace against heavenly peace. What the angel spoke of was heavenly or divine peace. Jesus’ reference to division was about conflict between good and evil; right and wrong; righteousness and iniquity; light and darkness; God and Satan. These are never partners nor complementary.
Why we need God’s peace on earth
The enemy incessantly wages spiritual wars against us and we need the peace of Christ Jesus to stabilize our situation. Paul said in Ephesians 6:12, we are not contending against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and rulers of darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. God’s peace through Christ Jesus was therefore to be our spiritual strength in a world of chaos.
Psalms 83: 1-2 say O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! Even now your enemies are in tumult; those who hate you have raised their heads. God’s peace rests in the name of Christ Jesus. Paul said in Philippians 2: 9, God also exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. When all knees bend at Jesus’ name, peace would be restored to us by grace.
How God’s peace comes through Christ Jesus
Paul said in Colossians 1: 20 through him (Christ Jesus) God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. Therefore peace comes from reconciliation with God through Christ Jesus. God sent his peace on earth because the person through whom he was to reconcile the world to himself was Jesus Christ the Messiah. This is the fundamental truth which all must accept even if unpalatable to the ear and belief.
What is the nature of God’s peace?
God’s peace through Christ Jesus has no barrier because it is spiritual in nature. Jesus said peace be still to the winds and the sea, Mark 4: 39; my peace I leave with you, John 14: 27; in me you may have peace, John 16: 33; peace unto you, John 20: 19, 21, 26. All biblical references to God’s peace through Christ Jesus on earth have spiritual character which is entirely different from what the world knows.
Worldly peace is short-lived. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5: 3 when they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! We may pronounce peace on earth but without God, it would be short lived or it would not have any effect. God’s peace which he gave to the world when Jesus was born settled all matters finally so let us share God’s peace with one another not only by word but by deed.
Why must we make peace?
Jesus said in Mark 9: 50 have salt in yourselves; and be at peace with one another. Paul also said in Romans 12: 18 if it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peacefully with all. We are in a season of God’s peace on earth through Christ Jesus and not a season of division and war. Let us forgive one another and enjoy the peace of Christ Jesus our Lord. Pursuing peace is God’s command. What crises or chaos confronts us? Jesus has come with God’s peace to those whom he loves. Are we part of them?
Prayer
Our dear heavenly Father, in this chaotic world, we need your peace. Grant us the grace to inherit your peace. Take away fears, doubts, and restlessness and in our confused state, speak your peace into our situation. Prepare our hearts to be obedient to you so we may be your favourites. We pray through Christ Jesus our Lord in whose name you have given us your peace, Amen!!
