“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14
Don’t you just love hearing this verse? And we hear it so often this time of year. It evokes feelings of such serenity, such, well, peace. When I hear this verse, I also tend to imagine what it must have been like to see the glory of the angels when they appeared to the shepherds that holy night. Actually, I can’t imagine that scene. It’s beyond my comprehension. But it must have been incredible! When the first angel appeared God’s glory “shown all around.” So what must that glory have been like when there was a whole choir of angles? Have you ever been in the dark and suddenly had a light shine in your eyes? Sometimes it’s so bright it even hurts. That must pale in comparison to what the shepherds saw.
However, there are a couple of things that used to bother me about this verse. The first is that it seems like a lie. Hang on! Don’t crucify me yet. I’m not saying it is a lie, but at first glance it seems like it. I recently heard of a Jewish man who believes that Jesus lived on this earth, that He did all the miracles, etc. But he doesn’t believe Jesus is the Messiah because the Messiah is supposed to bring peace on earth and we just don’t see that. Well, the Hebrew word used in the Old Testament for peace usually does mean an external, situational peace. But the Greek word used in the New Testament, including this verse, means an inner tranquility and reconciliation in relationships, especially our relationship with God. So when the angels spoke these words to the first century shepherds living in poverty under Roman oppression, they weren’t promising that their external situation would change. They were talking about something much greater, more important, longer lasting. They were talking about an eternal peace with the Almighty God.
The other thing that used to bother me is that it seems unfair. Once I understand that God didn’t mean there would be peace on the whole earth, then I see that there is an inner peace, but not for everyone. It’s only for certain people. It kind of makes me think that God has “teacher’s pets.” If He likes you, if He picked you out of the lineup, then you get His peace. If not, well, tough luck. But this verse could also be worded, “in whom He takes pleasure.” Think of loving parents with two children. One is a loving, caring child who makes good choices. The other chooses a path of rebellion, wanting nothing to do with his parents unless he needs money. Which one will the parents love? Both, of course. But which one will receive their pleasure? The one with whom they have a true relationship. That’s what this verse is saying. When our relationship with God is reconciled through the sacrifice of Jesus, we will know a peace that the world cannot steal, or even dim. As we move toward Christmas, let’s live out of that inner peace and tranquility.