Perfect Peace in a Chaotic World
Historic center of the City of Bethlehem
December 24, 2024 | Media Inquiries: press@mctxgop.org
by Pastor Jason J. Nelson, Grace Woodlands Church
Isn’t it interesting how we often interpret Luke’s account of the birth of Christ as one of absolute tranquility and serenity? We frequently read the story of Jesus’ birth and think, “Ah, what a perfectly peaceful night.”
Over the centuries, poets and musicians have even painted this perfect picture of peace in our Christmas songs. In the carol “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” we sing, “The world in solemn stillness lay…” In “Silent Night,” we claim, “All is calm, all is bright.” And then there’s this popular lyric, “O Little Town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie.” Silent. Still. Calm. Really? I’m not buying it, and I’ll tell you why.
Luke tells us in his Gospel that “Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world…and that everyone went to his town to register.” Everyone? That’s insane.
Biblical scholars estimate that the population of the Roman Empire at the time of Jesus’ birth was around 85 million people and Caesar just demanded they all register in their hometowns. That’s more than the total number of people who traveled a few weeks ago for Thanksgiving; but, instead of traveling by planes, trains, and automobiles (with expediency), the entire Mediterranean world was commanded to trek through the gauntlet (that is, the Roman Empire) by horse, donkey, camel, or foot. Can you imagine the confusion and frustration? And for what? Taxes. Shocker, right? Some things never change. This is a mass movement of many unhappy campers.
Then there’s Bethlehem. It’s just as chaotic there as a result of Caesar Genius’ bright idea. It’s not surprising to read that there’s no room in the inn (or any other inn for that matter). “We’ll leave the light on for you” isn’t a phrase floating around at this time. Bethlehem is bustling, not still. On this night, the City of David is overpopulated, understaffed, and out of space. Mary and Joseph resort to staying in a stable, undoubtedly surrounded by livestock since they lay their newborn baby in an animal trough.
And what are their accommodations like? Well, have you ever been to a petting zoo? It’s not exactly a calm, quiet, and peaceful experience, is it? Mary and Joseph aren’t staying in a bed and breakfast. This isn’t a silent night. How can it be with all the mooing, baaing, clucking, and neighing of cattle, sheep, chickens, and donkeys?
Luke also writes, “There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby keeping watch over their flocks by night.” Fields? Are you kidding me? This isn’t Green Acres or fields of gold. This is the wilderness. These guys aren’t lying around stargazing and shooting the breeze. The word watch in Hebrew means guard. The shepherds are battling their environment, tenaciously fighting off loud, vicious predators and thieves. Their work conditions are inhospitable and fierce—the wilderness is wild. There’s a lot of ruckus and racket on earth the night Jesus is born.
Also, have you ever wondered what heaven was like on the day of the Incarnation? Just think about it for the fun of it. Thousands of angels have been enthusiastically, and worshipfully, preparing for what…several millennia for this big day? Finally, it’s show time (i.e., the fullness of time). The heavenly host is about to perform a magnum opus that would surpass any performance of Handel’s Messiah sung by the greatest choirs of all time, combined. When the angels finally do brilliantly break into time and space and matter, announcing, “Peace on earth good will to men,” how do you think the shepherds and sheep react? At minimum, I’m certain the sheep lost their minds.
In a nutshell, it’s rather chaotic throughout the Roman Empire…in the town of Bethlehem, at the inn, in the stable, in the wilderness, and maybe even within the angelic realm. Yet, into the midst of this pandemonium, God’s one and only Son, the Prince of Peace is born.
Perfect peace descends from heaven to earth and all is calm and all is bright, not necessarily in the external world, at first, but within the hearts of Mary and Joseph, the minds of the shepherds, and then of all those who come into contact with the Prince of Peace.
Jesus provides and pours His peace into the hearts and minds of all who ask for it. In this obnoxiously loud and frenzy-filled world, Jesus offers humanity a peace that can drown out the cacophony of worldly sounds so that all is calm and all is bright within the hearts and minds of those who call him King.
This Christmas, wrap yourself in His calming, soothing peace. Then give it away. As an agent and ambassador of the Kingdom, let His peace fill you, fuel you, and flow through you. Jesus has authorized and empowered you to announce and bring His peace to a highly hostile and anxious world.