A SONG OF PEACE

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INTRODUCTION:

Christmas can be the most beautiful time of the year that is if we celebrate it the way God intended for us to. Christmas has always been a special time for me. I remember when I was a child how excited I would get as it got close to Christmas wondering what my gift would be. On Christmas Eve it would take hours to fall asleep and at the crack of dawn I would be in my parent’s bedroom trying to haul them out of bed so I could open my presents.

Of course later on I went through the same thing with my own children.

But Christmas isn’t just about getting gifts. As much as we all love to open our presents on Christmas morning there’s something more.

Christmas isn’t just about the beautiful decorations. We love to decorate our homes, we love to look at all the beautiful lights and decorations around town we even decorate our church and I must say it really looks beautiful this year.

But Christmas is more than presents and decorations.

Christmas is a time of celebration; it’s a time of praise and worship to God for giving us the gift of His son Jesus.

I love to sing the Christmas carols there are so many it’s really hard to fit them in to one month.  But did you notice they all have a common theme. “Joy to the world the Lord is come” “Hark the Herald angel sing glory to the new born King” “Angels we have heard on high” “Away in a manger” etc.. Jesus is the common theme found in every Christmas Carol.

We celebrate Jesus birth with songs of praise.

And over 2000 years ago on a hillside just outside Bethlehem on that first Christmas Eve there was singing. Perhaps the most beautiful singing ever to take place on the face of this earth. On that first Christmas Eve the angels sang.

Many times I’ve wondered what it would have been like to have been there to hear their song. No wonder the shepherds were so excited.

The angels sang Luke 2: 14. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men, with whom He is pleased.” (NLT)

WHEN THEY SANG

But what was the world like when the angels sang? What kind of a world was Jesus born into? We’d like to think that Jesus was born into a world that was filled with peace.

We look at the beautiful nativity scene here at the front of our church we see the tiny baby Jesus surrounded by Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and wise men along with all the animals and angels hovering above complete with halos we feel peace. Seems so tranquil and peaceful.

Yes it looks so beautiful but so far from the truth. The world Jesus was born into was anything but peaceful. That same night as the angels sang the wicked King Herod was on the throne. A man who was filled with hatred. Already Herod had murdered his own wife, mother and children. And he would do whatever he could to eliminate any thing or anyone who posed a threat to his power and that included the baby Jesus.

Peace was not the word to describe what the world was like that night. The world was not a peaceful place.

Jesus was born into an evil and corrupt society. Jesus birth came at a time of Spiritual darkness. Even the so called religious leaders were blind to the truth. Most of Jesus opposition came from the religious leaders. Godliness was the last thing on their list of priorities.

The angels sang their song of joy to a world that lived in darkness but Jesus had come to bring light to a world that was dark.

Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people who walked in darkness have seen great light, those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.”(NIV)

The world of Jesus day wasn’t much different that the world we live in. These people needed to hear the song of God’s peace, they needed to hear the angels’ song and we need to hear their song today. We need to listen to their song of peace.

No not much has changed since that night Jesus was born, we may have advanced in technology but as far as attitudes are concerned we haven’t changed very much at all. Hatred still exists. People are still filled with greed and lust. We see it every day. People still turn their backs on God. We need to listen to the angels’ song. Their song of peace and joy.

WHERE THEY SANG

The shepherds were the first to heat the angel’s song. Lowly shepherds out in the fields faithfully watching over their flocks. Sincere honest people. I believe these shepherds were symbolic of the “Good Shepherd Jesus Christ” who was willing to lay down His life for the sheep.

But I believe there were others who heard the angel’s song that night. They may not have been there with those shepherds on the hillside but they heard the son in their heart.

I believe Mary and Joseph may have heard it in the stable at Bethlehem.

I believe the wise men may have heard in the desert as they followed the star which led them to Bethlehem.

And I believe there were others who had been praying for the coming of their Messiah. They must have heard the song in their hearts.

But no song was heard in Herod’s palace. Herod wouldn’t recognize it if he did hear it because his thoughts were evil.

And today the angels still sing, even in the midst of turmoil and strife they still sing and if we listen we will hear their song. The song of peace, joy and hope continues to ring out.

Their song is for anyone who will listen. Their song is for all those

Who seek a savior, for those who desire forgiveness and freedom from sin.

Wherever men and women are honesty searching for light and truth they will hear the angels.

If we will just pause and listen in faith, we too can hear their song.

WHAT THEY SANG

The angels sang a song of praise: “Glory to God in the highest.”  Their song was a song of praise to God for His great gift of love. A song of

Worship, adoration and thanksgiving, “On earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

Their song was a blessing for any one who would listen and accept the peace that it brings. It was the peace that Jesus offered us through his death on the cross.

 “Jesus, the ‘Prince of Peace’ came to give peace to every person and every Nation that would walk in His way of truth.

The Bible tells us that “If we are faithful we shall have the “peace of God which passes all understanding.”

WHY THEY SANG

God’s love was demonstrated in an unmistakable way in the birth of

Christ. It was “Good news of Great joy. “

People ask the question: “Does God really care for us? ““ Is He concerned with suffering people? “

Yes! God does care. Jesus birth proved it. 1 John 4: 9-10 says, “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”(NLT)

Paul wrote in Romans 5: 8 “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (NLT)

In 1 John 3: 16 Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. “

The Angels sang about it! Luke 2: 11 “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” (NLT)

Earlier on the angel told Joseph, in Matthew 1: 21, “And you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (NLT)

When Jesus came he brought us the gifts of life and joy. One of the last things Jesus said to his disciples before ascending into heaven was John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (NLT)

And then he told them to John 15:12 “Love each other in the same way I have loved you.” (NLT)

Charles Wesley expressed that joy well when he wrote the beautiful Carol that we sing so often. “Hark the Herald Angels sing Glory to the New Born King “It’s become a favorite for many.

THE RESULTS OF THEIR SONG

The shepherds believed in the angels’ message. They didn’t waste any time they went right to Bethlehem seen the baby Jesus in the manger and began to worship. And they witnessed to everyone about their life changing experience.

Luke 2: 17-18.  “All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished.” (NLT)

When the shepherds returned to work they were changed. They had a new song in their heart. A song of joy and peace and hope. They had an encounter with Jesus Christ.

We too can experience this joy. We too can have a song in our heart. Have you heard the angels sing? Is their song in your heart? If we listen reverently we too will hear their song and our life will be made new. Filled with joy, love, and hope.

(All Scriptures taken from Bible Gateway.com)