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“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men.”
--Luke 2:14
I want to tell you about a problem I have when it comes to the traditional reading of the biblical Christmas story. On the surface, it seems like such a small issue. But when you really think about it, it’s pretty significant.
Traditionally, the Christmas story tells us in Luke 2:14 that the angels sang at the birth of Jesus, “… and on earth peace, good will among men.” That verse sounds good, and that’s probably how most people remember it. But the problem is, if that’s what the angels said, they were wrong. Jesus didn’t establish universal peace on earth. And there’s still a lot of not-so-goodwill toward men!
Well, as you can imagine, I don’t think the angels were wrong. But I do think that verse has been misread for many years. You see, if you really study what the angels sang that night, you’ll discover a much better translation of their song is “peace on earth among men of good favor.” That is, “peace on earth to men upon whom God has favor.”
The English Standard Version of the Bible puts it this way: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.”
Do you see the difference? Those who have experienced God’s grace are the only ones who truly experience the peace of Christmas. It’s not a peace that does away with conflict, but a peace that exists despite conflict. And if you’re in Christ, that’s the peace you have today!
“Not for Himself”
Friday, December 13, 2019
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”
Daniel 9:25–26
In Babylon where he had been taken as a young man, the elderly Daniel received an angelic visitation with news about the future. Daniel was given a great deal of information regarding the world empires that would later arise, especially the Greeks and the Romans. He was also given a timetable as to when the arrival of the Messiah could be expected. It is very likely that it was this information, recorded by Daniel, that sparked the interest of the wise men from the east to follow the star that announced the birth of the King of the Jews.
But Daniel received information about more than just the timing of Christ’s coming. He was also given a very clear description of the purpose—to die, not for His own sins because He had none, but for ours. He would be a ruler, a “prince” but more than that Jesus would be a sacrifice. This was all part of God’s plan even before the world was created. There could be no salvation apart from His substitionary death. As Jesus hung on the cross, those who hated Him attempted to mock Him, but in so doing they expressed a profound truth. “Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save” (Mark 15:31). Jesus could have saved Himself, but chose instead to save us.
Today's Growth Principle:
The story of the birth of Christ is the story of God’s sacrificial love for us.
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