'Peace on Earth', what it really means
by Upatissa Attygalle
Every Christmas we see and hear the message "Peace on earth and
goodwill among men" in Christmas cards, newspapers, magazines, display
material on radio and TV. Even wars are halted by mutual consent of the
parties concerned. Such temporary ceasefires are considered to represent
the 'peace on earth' significance of Christmas.
First, let us see what man considers 'Peace' to mean. Primarily,
peace is considered a state in which people co-exist without
hostilities. The world is said to be at peace when there is an absence
of war among states and nations. But the individual expects much more of
peace. He expects to be free from want of money, food, clothing, shelter
and other necessities of life. He wants to enjoy good health, to have
security of employment and safety of his bodily self and possessions. In
fact, man expects peace to be a life free of worries and problems.
Next, let us find out how the popular belief that the message of
Christmas is 'Peace on Earth' became accepted. In his Gospel St Luke
records the message brought by an angel to some shepherds on the day
that Christ was born in Bethlehem - "An angel of the Lord" appeared to
them. They were terribly afraid, but the angel said to them, "don't be
afraid! I am here with Good news for you, which will bring Great joy to
All the people. This very day in David's town your Saviour was born -
Christ the Lord!" (Luke 2.9-11)
Man's Saviour
The Christmas message was that man's Saviour was born. Luke records
the praises to God sung by a great army of heaven's angels soon after
the message was delivered to the shepherds. "Glory to God in the highest
heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!" (Luke
2.14). It is from this passage of Scripture that man has extracted the
section which reads "peace on earth" and made it to be the Christmas
message. The reason for all misinterpretation of Bible text by man is
that he removes a particular section of Scripture out of its context and
then reads in or out a meaning to his satisfaction.
In this case it is because most men, including Christians are really
not concerned about Salvation - the assurance of eternal life with Jesus
after physical death. Man forgets how uncertain and short his earthly
life is - "Never boasts about tomorrow. You don't know what will happen
between now and then" ( Prov 27.1). "We are like weeds that sprout in
the morning that grow and burst into bloom, then dry up and die in the
evening "Psalm 90.5,6. Man also forgets that he is not here to make
himself comfortable but to make himself conformable to Jesus Christ.
"Fear God, and obey his commandments because this is all that man was
created for"(Eco 12.13). Therefore, man finds it more comforting to
think the message of Christmas to be the peace they expect on earth.
Now let us go back to the Bible and carefully study St Luke's record
of the Christmas message. The message was universal in nature as the
angel said that it was good news which should bring great joy to All
people. The message itself was that the Saviour of man was born on that
day. The Saviour was Jesus Christ - God in human form (1Timothy 3.16) .
Did the birth of Christ bring peace on earth as expected by man? No! On
the contrary it brought the exact opposite. Jesus said, "Do not think I
have come to bring peace to the world. No. I did not come to bring peace
but a sword.
I came to set sons against their fathers, daughters against their
mothers, daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law; a man's worst
enemies will be the members of his own family" ( Matt 10. 34-36 ).
The sword is the word of God - "the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God" (Eph 6.17). "The word of God is alive and active, sharper
than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through to where soul
and spirit meet to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the
desires and thoughts of a man's heart" (Heb 4.12). Jesus' teachings
turned the world upside down. They exposed man's hypocrisy and left him
naked and helpless. This hurt man's pride, for her preferred to rely on
his own good deeds and righteousness for his salvation.
Jesus demanded total commitment to him - "Whoever loves his father or
mother more than me is not fit to be my disciple, whoever loves his son
or daughter more than me is not fit to be my disciple. Whoever does not
take up his cross and follow in my steps is not fit to be my disciple.
Whoever tries to gain his own life will lose it; but whoever loses his
life for my sake will gain it" (Matt 10.37-39). Whoever who believes in
Jesus Christ makes those around him very uncomfortable.
This is why Jesus said the first to oppose a believer would be the
members of his own family and those who are close to him. Jesus too
experienced this - "Not even his brothers believed him" (John 7.5). "A
prophet is never welcomed in his home town." (Luke 4.23).
Next, let us find out from the Bible what the "peace on earth"
referred to in the angels' praise meant. When we read Luke 2.14
carefully we see what the angels actually said was, "peace on earth to
those with whom he is pleased!" It was not a universal proclamation but
a conditional one. The events that immediately followed the birth of
Christ show us clearly that it was not peace as expected by man that was
proclaimed by the angels. Jesus' birth first shattered the peace of mind
of Herod and others in Jerusalem - "When King Herod heard about this, he
was very upset and so was everyone in Jerusalem" (Matt 2.3).
Then followed the terrible massacre of all male children of two years
and under in Bethlehem and its neighbourhood (Matt 2.16). So we see what
the first Christmas brought was not peace but violent death and bitter
weeping (Matt 3.18). Yet the angels had used the words "peace on earth
to those with whom he is pleased." This means that those with whom God
is pleased with peace while on earth.
What is the cardinal difference between the peace of God and the
peace the world gives? It is this, the peace the world gives man depends
on the circumstances affecting him. If the circumstances are favourable
to him, he enjoys peace. If the circumstances are unfavourable to him,
he has no peace. The peace of God however does not depend on the
circumstances affecting man. He can have the peace of God under all
circumstances - adverse or favourable. How can man have the peace of
God? The Bible tells us how - "You, Lord, give perfect peace to those
who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you" (Isaiah 26.3).
This answers another question. The angels said, "peace on earth to those
with whom he is pleased!" Now with whom is he pleased? With "those who
keep their purpose firm and put their trust in God."
The peace of God while not being affected by circumstances has
another wonderful aspect to it. It frees man from worry and fear. Jesus
says that when a man has the peace of God, he does not need to worry, be
upset or be afraid (John 14.27). Paul too says, "Don't worry about
anything" (Phil 4.6). The Bible reveals the reasons for this: nothing
can happen to him, nor can anyone do anything to him, unless God permits
it. This means that nothing ever happens by chance - "For only a penny
you can buy two sparrows, yet not one sparrow falls to the ground
without your Father's consent." ( Matt 10.29 ), everything that happens
in this world happens at the time God chooses" (Ecc. 3.1).
. There is a blessing in all things that happen to him even though he
may not realise it immediately - "And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8.28); "It is good for
me that I have been afflicted; that I may learn thy statutes" (Psalm
119.71); "God teaches man through suffering and uses distress to open
their eyes." (Job 36.15).
God's gift
.Through thick and thin, the ups and downs of life, God is with him.
God never leaves him - "I am with you always, even unto the end of the
world" (Matt 28.20) .
. No one can care for Him or love Him more than God - "My father and
mother may abandon me, but the Lord will take care of me." (Psalm
27.10);
. Jesus said that we should be afraid only of God - "So do not be
afraid of people - do not be afraid of those who kill the body but
cannot kill the soul; rather be afraid of God, who can destroy both body
and soul in hell."
(Matt 10.26,28).
We must not forget, however that a man can lose the peace of God he
has even though it is not affected by circumstances. This happens when
he strays from the path shown by Jesus and puts his trust elsewhere.
Peter was able to walk on water as long as he kept his trust in Jesus.
The moment Peter looked away from Jesus and looked at the waves, fear
entered him and he began to sink (Matt 14.29,30). But man is able to
regain this wonderful peace of God by turning back to Jesus and again
trusting him completely. Peter realised his inability to save himself,
he turned back to Jesus and cried out, "Save me Lord!" At once Jesus
reached out and grabbed hold of him and said, "How little faith you
have! Why did you doubt?" (Matt 14.31).
The message of Christmas is now very clear. "This very day in David's
town your Saviour was born, Christ the Lord!" (Luke 2.9-11). On this day
God offered man a gift of his Son Jesus Christ - "For it is by God's
grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of
your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it."
(Eph 2.8,9). All man has to do is accept God's gift and be saved from
his sins. Man can then have the peace of God on earth.
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