Out Give – Week 3

Sunday, December 18, 2011

The Gift of Peace
Luke 2:14

For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone
who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 HCSB

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!
Luke 2:14 HCSB

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of
darkness, a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2 HCSB

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on
His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father,
Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 HCSB

Introduction
Many people find this time of year to be extremely hectic. Work is busy and children are
wrapping up school assignments for the holiday. There are Christmas programs at
school and at church that compete for time in an already busy schedule. Then there is
Christmas shopping, Christmas parties and get-togethers that can be stressful. Finally,
there are the financial worries of the season, not to mention the bills that will come due
in January.

For others Christmas is a lonely time. Christmas is a season to spend time with family
and friends, but if relationships are frayed or estranged, or loved ones live far away, it
can be an emotionally dark time. Some people just long to be home for the holidays and
the separation from family and friends rob them of peace.

Lastly, one of the gravest issues people face as they seek peace is a disquieted heart
that is unsettled by sin. Sin naturally makes most human beings feel guilty, ashamed
and even condemned and makes them long for the peace only God provides. Those
individuals who no longer feels convicted of their sin and whose heart has grown cold to
movements of God never really experience lasting peace in their life.
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During the holiday season most of us begin to yearn for world peace. As we conclude
2011 there were 27 ongoing wars or conflicts going on throughout the world. Being
separated from loved ones, while being stationed on the field of conflict somewhere else
in the world, is a tough way to spend Christmas. Many of our favorite secular Christmas
songs were written during World War II as military men and women dreamed of being
home for Christmas.

In Isaiah’s prophecy the time leading up to the coming of Jesus the Messiah (Christ is
the Greek term for Messiah) was a time of spiritual darkness. With the advent of Jesus
a new day dawned. The new messianic day brought with it a peace that would be
provided by the Prince of Peace. The old saying: “No Jesus – No Peace. Know Jesus –
Know Peace” is actually very true. With the coming of Christ, peace – real peace –
could be experienced by people for the very first time.

The one gift everyone wants to receive from God this Christmas is peace. Everyone
would love to hear the words stated by the angels in Luke 2:14, “peace on earth to
those God favors.” God out gives our wildest dreams when He gives us, through Jesus,
the gift of peace.

Discussion Starters I
• If you could have anything this Christmas, is peace on the list?
• How could you use a little more peace in your life?
• What makes peace an elusive idea for you?
• How can you experience peace?

Understanding the Terms

The word for peace in Hebrew is Shalom. The word for peace in Greek is Eirene. The
Greeks understood peace as the cessation of war. The word is found 91 times in the
New Testament. When there is peace there is order. When there is peace there is no
conflict. Peace brings a time for potential prosperity.

The Hebrews, on the other hand, had an expanded definition for peace. Shalom was
not so much the opposite of war, but the balance where there was no disturbance to
personal or communal well-being of the nation. Shalom provided inner peace.

As a new day broke through the darkness, Jesus Christ ushered in a new day in which
humanity might live at peace with each other and have inner peace as well. The most
incredible gift that the Messiah offers is peace, not just within us or with others, but with
God.

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A Human Problem: We Are Not At Peace With God

Read Romans 8: 1-11. In this passage you will see that Jesus brings us peace with
God. Without Jesus, we are all “Hostile” to God. Therefore, we are at war with God.
Now read, Colossians 1: 13-23. In this passage Paul tells us that - before someone
becomes a Christian- they are a citizen of the “domain of darkness.” He goes on to
reveal that we are alienated from God and hostile in mind because of our evil actions”
before we have a relationship with Jesus. Jesus brings us peace with God.

The reality of sin leads us to understand that “as sinners” we are hostile to God.
Because God “gave” us Jesus, we are able to have peace with Him.

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 HCSB

Discussion Starters II
• How does a sinful nature steal your peace with God?
• As you have grown in your relationship with Jesus, have you experienced greater
peace?
• What adjustments do you need to make to experience God’s peace more
profoundly in your life?

The Angel’s Message

Luke 2:1-20 is probably the most familiar passage of the Christmas story. Linus recites
it in A Charlie Brown Christmas. In schools and churches across the country children
act out the narrative dressed in bathrobes and bedecked with cardboard wings. It is a
passage that reveals the promise of peace.

On the night Jesus was born in Bethlehem there were shepherds about six miles
outside the city tending their sheep. Luke likes to use double words and he literally says
they were “watching the watches of the night.” They tended their sheep just below the
snowline in the mountainous regions between Bethlehem and the Dead Sea.
Throughout the history of the church, Bible scholars argued that shepherds only tended
their sheep from March to November. Because of this many scholars felt that Jesus was
actually born in the spring.

Recent scholarship has discovered that there was a major exception to this practice. A
large heard of sheep were kept year-round outside in the hills around Bethlehem. These
sheep were used for year-round sacrifices in the Temple. To ensure the sheep for

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Passover would be ready by the spring, the sheep would need to be pastured for
maximum health. The flock was so large that the inhabitants of Bethlehem complained
of the smell. In light of this new scholarship it is assuring to think that the “Lamb of God”
– Jesus – was born at the same time and in the same area of Judea that the Passover
lambs for the following spring were being born.

Since we know that Jesus was crucified at Passover another historical item comes to
play. Rabbinical scholars maintained that prophets lived a “complete” life. What they
meant by this was that the time they died was consistent with the time they were born or
the time they were conceived. If Jesus was born in December it meant he was
conceived in April. A study of the Passover calendar reveals that the celebration most
frequently occurs in April. Hence, Jesus, when crucified at Passover would have gone
full circle from his conception. Now, this is based on rabbinical traditions and not
scripture, but is does cause us to stop and ponder the perfect alignment of God’s plans.

The angel’s message to the shepherds was one that called for them not to be afraid
because the Messiah had been born in Bethlehem. Then a multitude of angels praised
God saying,

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!
Luke 2:14 HCSB

The shepherds needed a message of hope and peace. Even though King David had
been a shepherd, they were not people who held socially acceptable positions. Many
shepherds were rustic men who lived most of their lives outside. They were a familiar
group of people. Everyone knew about them and needed them, but felt they were not to
be trusted. When flocks of sheep passed near a settlement food would disappear as
well as valuables. So a word of peace meant a lot. They were words of kindness.

Being men of the land they were highly familiar with nature. While they may have been
believers in God, not all wrote psalms and meditated on the wonders of God as David
did. In fact, many were probably rather superstitious. Sitting there is the dark, “watching
the watches,” and listening for wild animals and thieves the shock of celestial beings
appearing out of the darkness of the night left them a bit unnerved. They were afraid
and they welcomed a word of peace.

The message the angels gave the shepherds was that the Christ, the Messiah, had
been born. The personification of peace, that was promised to humanity and would
bring peace with God, lay swaddled in a manger in the town of Bethlehem. God gave us
peace in Jesus. Without Him, there would be no peace.

Getting the Message

All humans, throughout history have sought peace, but never found it, nor keep it. When
the angels told the shepherds that, Today a Savior, who is Messiah (Christ) the Lord

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was born in the city of David (v.11), it was the fulfillment of centuries of looking and
waiting for salvation, deliverance, forgiveness and peace. Jesus could bring peace
because He was the Messiah and as the Messiah, He was and is the Savior.

The angel’s message to the shepherds also told them not to be afraid. The Bible
describes a multitude of angels praised God saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people He favors (v.14)! Where there is peace there is no fear.

The shepherds needed a message- good news of great joy that promised hope and
peace. Even though King David had been a shepherd, they were not people who held
socially acceptable positions. Many shepherds were rustic men who lived most of their
lives outside. They were a familiar group of people. Everyone knew about them and
needed them, but felt they were not to be trusted. When flocks of sheep passed near a
settlement food would disappear as well as valuables. So a word of peace meant a lot.
They were words of kindness.

Being men of the land they were highly familiar with nature. While they may have been
believers in God, not all wrote psalms and meditated on the wonders of God as David
did. In fact, many were probably rather superstitious. Sitting there is the dark, “watching
the watches,” and listening for wild animals and thieves the shock of celestial beings
appearing out of the darkness of the night left them a bit unnerved. They were afraid
and they welcomed a word of peace.

The message the angels gave the shepherds was that the Christ, the Messiah, had
been born. The personification of peace, that was promised to humanity and would
bring peace with God, lay swaddled in a manger in the town of Bethlehem. God gave us
peace in Jesus, without Him, there would be no peace.  

Turning the Key and Unlocking the Truth

Step I

In the space below, write down all the ways our world and the people in our world are in
need of peace …

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Step II
Read Matthew 5:9. As Christians we should become diligent examples of peacemakers.
How can you bring peace to the following areas of your life?

• Your family

• Your workplace

• Your neighborhood

• Your church

• Your life