We all long for peace in our lives, and yet peace is sadly lacking in our world. People are full of worry and anxiety. Relationships are full of conflict and stress. The world is full of conflict and wars. But that’s where Jesus comes in.
Part of the Christmas story, part of the Christmas message is that Jesus brings us peace. We will be looking at four aspects of the peace that Jesus brings this morning.
I) Jesus brings peace with God
– Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:26-30, 76-79; Romans 5:1
The Bible tells us our sins have separated us from God, and it is only through Jesus and faith in him that we are brought into a relationship of peace with our God and Creator. Romans 5:1
How did Jesus do this? By what Jesus did at the cross. Jesus was born into this world to die on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven, and we could be restored to a right relationship of peace with God. As we read in Isaiah 53:5
II) Jesus brings peace with self
– Luke 2:28-31; John 14:27; Philippians 4:6-7
Sin not only separates us from God. Sin also brings separation within our own being. We are conflicted beings. We are constantly fighting anxiety and stress and inner turmoil. We desperately need inner peace, and Jesus came not only to bring peace with God but also personal peace within ourselves.
Hear these beautiful words of Jesus: “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) Jesus not only brings peace with God. He also brings peace with self.
III) Jesus brings peace with others
– Matthew 1:20; Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 3:15
And then thirdly, Jesus brings peace with others. We have a wonderful example of this early in the Christmas story. When Joseph first heard that Mary was pregnant, he considered breaking off the engagement.
If Mary was pregnant with any other child, Joseph would most likely have broken the engagement. But this wasn’t any other child. Jesus, even before he was born, brought peace between Joseph and Mary and kept their marriage from coming apart.
As believers in Christ, we are called to follow in his footsteps. Paul says: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” (Colossians 3:15) Jesus brings peace with others.
IV) Jesus will bring peace on earth
– Isaiah 2:4, 9:6-7, 11:6-9; Luke 2:13-14; Colossians 1:19-20
The angels who announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds that first Christmas also proclaimed the peace that Jesus would bring to our planet. (Luke 2:13-14)
But it gets even better than that! Because the Bible tells us that Jesus will not only bring peace on earth but will bring peace to the whole universe and that he will reconcile all things to himself in heaven and on earth. We read in Colossians 1: “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20)
Closing:
Those verses in Colossians brings us right back to where we started. The reason Jesus can bring peace with God, peace with self, peace with others and peace on earth all goes back to the cross. Without Jesus being born as a baby at Christmas, there would be no cross. And without Jesus shedding his blood on the cross, there would be no peace.
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