Luke 2: 8-20
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
THE MESSAGE OF PEACE:
1. The meaning of Jesus’ birth:
Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
THE MESSAGE OF PEACE:
2. The
Luke 2:11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a SAVIOR, who is CHRIST the LORD.
Matthew 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
John 1:1-2,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
The name “Jesus” means “The
THE MESSAGE OF PEACE:
3. The
Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
THE MESSAGE OF PEACE:
4. Three Dimensions of Peace:
Peace with
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have PEACE with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Peace with
Matthew 5:9 God blesses those who work for PEACE, for they will be called the children of God.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect PEACE, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
THE MESSAGE OF PEACE:
5. The Messengers of Peace: the
Luke 2:8-9 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Peace is too
Luke 2:17-18 Now when they had seen Him, they made WIDELY KNOWN the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
1 Corinthians 1:27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
Psalm 138:6 Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.
The shepherds returned to their fields,
Luke 2:20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
The world needs more
James 3:18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
Acts 4:13,18-20 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished.
18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
Isaiah 54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of PEACE be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
Conclusion:
The birth of Christ is the ultimate announcement of peace—peace with God, peace with others, and peace within ourselves. The angels’ message challenges us to glorify God and become peacemakers in a world longing for shalom.