As we began our preparations for this year’s Christmas celebration, I set up our traditional Manger Scene (or Nativity). Although we have collected a number of nativities over the years, the most meaningful one – and the first one we set up each Christmas – is the one I made out of balsa wood for our first Christmas together. (A half century ago, during the last millennium).
As I looked at it, I was struck by how peaceful the scene is: Mary and Joseph watch over the newborn Jesus, who is lying (asleep) in the manger. The shepherds are to the right side of the scene, one kneeling quietly, the other peacefully watching the also-peaceful sheep. Even the cow (too dark to see in the photo) is at ease, lying peacefully in its stall. On the other side, the Wise Men are watching or bowing peacefully, unaware that they are there two years too early, before the infant Jesus will be in a house with his mother (Matthew 2:11). The excitement of the angel and the heavenly host has passed, and now a peaceful night has returned. (Note that there is no angel present.)
We usually think of Jesus’s birth as a peaceful one, as portrayed in nativities and songs. After all, the prophecy about Jesus’ birth promised the arrival of the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). And the angel that night proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14).
For example, these classic songs speak of peace:
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- “Silent Night” – Mentions “sleep in heavenly peace.”
- “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” – Describes “peace on the earth, goodwill to men.”
- “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” – Includes the line “peace on earth, goodwill to men.”
- “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” – Refers to “peace on earth, and mercy mild.”
- “O Little Town of Bethlehem” – Mentions “the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight” and references peace thematically.
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That’s how I always pictured Christmas, because in my experience, people seemed a little nicer and a little happier; they greeted each other with smiles and small acts of kindness, and with the words “Merry Christmas!”
But, then three things happened. First, I grew up, and became aware that not everyone was happier, more jolly, nor even a Christian. Second, I became aware of the news, of political division in our country, and of the reports of conflicts and wars across the globe (46 currently), or as Jesus put it, “wars and rumors of wars” (Mark 13:7). And then the third thing was, I actually paid attention to the words of one of the hymns that mentions “peace on earth.”
That song was I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. I had always sung (and heard) just the first verse of the song:
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
That sounds like a normal, upbeat, jolly, Christmas carol. But then the radio played the rest of the song. The jolliness faded:
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
What? What happened to the “visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads?” How does a song with such a downer message become popular? I looked up the history of the song and found it was written by the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow during the Civil War.* He saw the carnage that was bleeding our country, made personal when his own son returned home from the war with a serious bullet wound. While tending to his son’s injury, he heard church bells and wrote the lyrics to the song.
But whether in the song, or in the violent world around us, we must not stop with “For hate is strong and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men.” Our God did promise that Jesus is the Prince of peace, and that his birth would bring peace to the earth. Why has that not been realized, even after the 2000 years since Christ was born? The song answers that in the next verses:
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
This assurance is proclaimed in Colossians 1:19-20, “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
It was through a violent, “non-peaceful” act, the crucifixion, that God solved the problem of sin and reconciled to himself everything, in heaven and earth, to himself, making “peace by the blood of his cross.” This is the ultimate peace, greater than any peace treaty, truce, or armistice that people can contrive (and break). It is not a temporary cease-fire, but an eternal peace with the God who created and loves us. This divine peace will ultimately bring reconciliation to mankind as well:
“to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ” (Ephesians 1:10).
The fulfillment of this promise has not yet happened, so in the meantime our Lord commands us to be peacemakers:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).
And, to be reconcilers:
“and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
By this, we may become instruments of peace:
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
The message of peace at Christ’s birth was not an empty promise nor a cruel joke. He who promised will deliver; right now in reconciled relationships with his people, and ultimately with all creation. That is the promise of Christmas!
Now may the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you PEACE! Amen.
Read: Luke 2, Matthew 2, Colossians 1:20.
* For the full story of this song, see the archives in the column to the right of this blog: December 25, 2021, titled, “Did You Hear the Bells?.”