
December 10th 2023 – Peace
Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15A
Message: Mark 1:1-8
Sermon Title: The Pursuit and Practice of Peace.
What is peace?
The typical definition:
Freedom from disturbance; tranquility. (A freedom from war or conflict)
A Biblical view of peace:
Old Testament:
Shalom – The state of being whole.
Physical Health
Psalm 38:3 (LSB)
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your indignation; There is no health (shalom) in my bones because of my sin.
Well-Being of one another
Genesis 29:6 (LSB)
6 And he said to them, “Is it well (shalom) with him?” And they said, “It is well (shalom), and here is Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep.”
Tranquility before death (the righteous)
Genesis 15:15 (LSB)
15 “As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace (shalom); you will be buried at a good old age.
Political Peace
Joshua 9:15 (LSB)
15 And Joshua made peace (shalom) with them and cut a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore [an oath] to them.
To complete something
1 Kings 9:25 (LSB)
25 And three times in a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace (shalom) offerings on the altar which he built to Yahweh, burning incense with them [on the altar] which [was] before Yahweh. So he finished (shalom) the house.
Most often describes relationships between people and God or to other people.
Isaiah 54:10 (LSB)
10 “For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace (shalom) will not be shaken,” Says Yahweh who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 59:8 (LSB)
8 They do not know the way of peace (shalom), And there is no justice in their tracks; They have made their paths crooked, Whoever treads on them does not know peace (shalom).
New Testament:
Eirene (Air-A-Nay) – The state of well-being.
Isaiah 9:6,7 (LSB)
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of [His] government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will accomplish this.
1. True
will only ever be found in Christ.
Mark 1:1-8 (LSB)
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY; 3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’” 4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the region of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair and [wore] a leather belt around his waist and was eating locusts and wild honey. 7 And he was preaching, saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals. 8 “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Context of Mark:
Mark 1:1-3 (LSB)
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY; 3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’”
Gospel: Euangelion
“An inscription found in Priene, in modern-day Turkey, referring to Caesar Augustus says: “the birthday of [Augustus] has been for the whole world the beginning of the gospel (euangelion) concerning him.” (Priene 150.40-41) This inscription is found on a government building dating from 6 B.C.” —unknown
Mark 8:27-29 (LSB)
27 And Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He was asking His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others [say] Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.” 29 And He [continued] asking them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”
Isaiah 40:3 (LSB)
3 A voice is calling, “Prepare the way for Yahweh in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.
Malachi 3:1 (LSB)
1 “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says Yahweh of hosts.
Malachi 4:5-6 (LSB)
5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of Yahweh. 6 “And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to [their] children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land, devoting it to destruction.”
John 1:21-23 (LSB)
21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Therefore, they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
Matthew 11:11-14 (LSB)
11 “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen [anyone] greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. 13 “For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 “And if you are willing to accept [it], John himself is Elijah who was to come.
Luke 1:16-17 (LSB)
16 “And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 “And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
2. The origin of the Gospel is found in
.
Mark 1:4-5 (LSB)
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the region of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
3. Wholeness begins with
of where we are broken.
Mark 1:6-8 (LSB)
6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair and [wore] a leather belt around his waist and was eating locusts and wild honey. 7 And he was preaching, saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals. 8 “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
2 Kings 1:8 (LSB)
8 And they said to him, “[He was] a hairy man with a leather girdle girded about his loins.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”
Zechariah 13:4 (LSB)
4 “And it will be in that day, [that] the prophets will each be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies, and they will not put on a hairy mantle in order to deceive;
Acts 1:5 (LSB)
5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
4. The good news is that
things are made
in Christ.
The Practice and Pursuit of Peace.
A
is not peace.
Luke 12:51-53 (LSB)
51 “Do you think that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; 52 for from now on five [members] in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 “They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Peace can only be found in the
.
a. Acknowledge and confess our sins
b. Accept Christ as God and savior
c. Ask that He forgive and lead you
Peace is an
pursuit.
1 Peter 3:10-12 (LSB)
10 For, “THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT. 11 “HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT. 12 “FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”
Matthew 5:9 (LSB)
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.