"Christmas on the Big Screen: Peace"

I mean cramming a dozen or fifteen or twenty people who are all related into the same house for even one dinner is crazy enough let alone 2 or 3 days with people who don’t normally spend much time together. People who if you think about it, even if they did live in town, you’re not sure you’d hang out with except for Christmas. Putting all of them into your house for 2 days, all together, with 7 kids running around and someone else's dog is a recipe for disaster.

Now here’s what’s funny. Our topic today is all about finding peace this Christmas. And to be honest, as I wrote this, I chuckled a bit because when it comes to family at Christmas, most of us if we’re honest plan for a wee bit of war - not peace at Christmas time. And you know, even without family in the picture, peace is a little hard to find during what for most of us is the busiest season of the year.

Christmas in my world and probably in yours seems to accentuate the busyness of our lives because what we do is we take our normally busy lives and stack on 50% more activity, simply because it’s Christmas. Now here’s a dare. I dare you to open up your day-timer and look at the extras in the last two weeks or in the next week; Christmas pageants and Christmas programs and Christmas parties and Christmas shopping and Christmas decorating and Christmas baking and Christmas pictures. Our calendars are already full. But this is the Christmas season and so we crank it up a notch. And I think we do it all for good reason, don’t get me wrong. We’re trying to do the right things with all of these choices.

See, our hope is that somehow all the activity will let us enjoy a few days of rest and quiet between Christmas and New Year’s.

A day or two of stillness is really what we’re after and maybe a quiet moment or two of peace; peace we can feel way down deep.

Now, I got thinking about all of this un-peaceful stuff that tends to happen to us and around us at Christmas time and then in order to prepare for this message I read and then re-read the Christmas story from the bible. Quite a remarkable story really. You know, so often when we see a nativity scene or when we get Christmas cards with the pictures of the manger scene where Jesus was born, it all looks so perfect. On every card there is this very peaceful glow about it with starlight filtering through a nice little window to a perfect family surrounding a beautiful baby who is lying on the nicest looking little pile of hay you could imagine. I mean our picture of that first Christmas night is one of a near perfect situation that illuminates peace and calm and tranquility.

But, like I said, this week I re-read the Christmas story and as I did I found nearly the exact opposite picture of what we see on Christmas cards. The reality is that that first Christmas was far from perfect and a long ways from calm. Let me explain. See, for several months Mary and Joseph, Jesus’ parents, had been dealing with the pressure of her being pregnant before they were married which in their very strict Jewish families and in their very strict Jewish church would not have been a simple thing to deal with. In fact, it would have been terrible. They also came from a small town, rural area, and you probably know what small towns are like where everybody knows everybody and the rumors would have been flying about that young Joseph and how he always looked a little slick and poor Mary – her parents must be so embarrassed and on and on.

For months they would have been dealing with that stuff in a very unforgiving religious community. Then if you’ll notice, in her ninth month because of some new law, the government wanted to take a population count/census. They, Joseph and Mary, had to travel over land for a couple days: in her 9th month, traveling 2 days on the back of a donkey.

Now fellas, I don’t know about you, but I have a pretty gracious wife. I do. But, I would have never tried a 2-day trip on the back of a donkey when she was 9 months pregnant. That would have been a recipe for disaster or some other d-word.

And so you can see that as I’m reading all that this week I didn’t see the nice perfect peaceful Christmas pictures that we see on Christmas cards at Christmas.

Then the Bible says they get to Bethlehem for this census thing and the hotels were all full and I mean no room in the inn at all. So one hotel guy looks and sees how pregnant Mary is and he turns and says to Joseph, “Hey buddy. Here’s a tip. Next time call for a reservation”.

The hotel guy says I have no rooms available but you can stay in our barn with all the animals. Remember, she’s 9 months pregnant and historians tell us that this stable or barn was probably just a cave dug out of a hill with a dirt floor. A damp, dark, cold stable/cave full of cows and donkeys and other animals, not a perfect clean fresh manger scene like we always see.

And then she actually goes into labor there and Jesus is born on that night in that stable, under those conditions. Now think about it. When she went into labor, what do you think Joseph was thinking; being young with no kids – a teenager. Don’t you think Joseph was going, “can this be any worse? Can I mess this up any more?”

First the embarrassment we’ve faced for these last months then that long trip then the hotel thing. And it doesn’t say this but I bet there was a line up at the restaurant that night too! A hungry pregnant women is not a pretty picture. Then the stable, and now she’s gonna have a baby in a strange town in a barn.

My bet is Joseph and Mary were feeling like peace and tranquility were a long way from them on that first Christmas night. Here’s what’s strange. What’s strange is that as you read the Christmas story you actually don’t get a sense at all of worry or panic or even undue negative stress in Mary and Joseph at all. Interesting.

And at the same time as all this is going on with Mary and Joseph the bible says an angel is telling a bunch of shepherds outside of town the big news. That angel has this great line. He says to the shepherds as we read it last week:

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of Bethlehem a savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests."

In the middle of what I would say was a pretty stressed out peace-less time for Mary and Joseph that first Christmas that angel says “no, this night will not be remembered as a night of stress and turmoil and pressure” The angel says “no, this night will be remembered as a night of peace”. Because of Jesus there will be peace no matter what circumstance we’re in.

And so as I read all that I got thinking about all of you this week and I don’t know all your stories, but perhaps your situation this Christmas may not be all that different than Mary and Joseph’s that first Christmas. Maybe you’re looking for peace in the middle of a pressure filled season. Maybe you’re single for the first time this Christmas and it feels lonely or maybe you’ve got family all around, but you still feel alone or maybe you’re just weary of the grind of life and it feels like solutions and next steps are evading you or maybe your facing health challenges and you fear bad news is coming your way. Or, maybe your home has no peace in it at all – it’s tense, and your marriage is in trouble and you haven’t told anybody and it’s all bottled up inside and it’s ripping you apart. Or maybe your life is just great and every thing is going better than you thought it should be but you’re still not at peace inside.

People, if any of those things describes you during this season then keep listening and keep looking for peace because it is available this Christmas.

Anyway, all this stuff got me thinking about what peace really is and I have a few thoughts on that. Stick with me.

Folks, peace is one of the hardest concepts to comprehend and yet it is most vitally needed. Peace is often thought of as an emotion or something that simply happens to us during a moment of tranquility. Well, it is much more than that. Peace is actually defined by action and it is grown by faith. In a way, peace is something we have to fight for and work at.

Johan Arnold, in his book, Seeking Peace said this, “Peace has nothing to do with passivity or resignation. It is not for the spineless or self-absorbed, or for those content with a quiet life. Peace demands that we live honestly before God, and before others. Peace is a relentless pursuit kept up only with hope and courage, vision and commitment. To seek peace means to seek harmony within ourselves, with others, and with God.”

Arnold would tell us that peace is a quest. It isn’t something we realize and attain suddenly, but instead, peace is gained as we walk hand in hand with God every day. It’s a process and it comes from an awareness that God is with us: Emmanuel – God with us inside - and all is well no matter what circumstance we are facing.

This kind of peace was not only spoken to the shepherds that first Christmas but this peace theme continues throughout the entire bible. Isaiah the prophet, hundreds of years before Jesus was born, prophesied this about His birth:

Isaiah 9:2 and 6, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned; peace has dawned. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the only One who can truly give peace out at will.

Philippians 4:7 says that as we walk with God, there comes into our lives a peace that passes understanding that only God can give.

In John 16:33, Jesus is talking to His disciples, His closest friends and followers and He says, “I have told you these things, so that in me, you can have peace.”

Folks, the truth of the matter is that God has been desiring to give real peace to His people for thousands of years. We’re just a little slow at receiving it. His desire has always been that His peace would enter our hearts as a very bright light as we walk through even the darkest parts of life, that the quest for peace is on-going whether we are in good times or hard times.

So, let me tell you what happens when His peace comes into your heart and mine. Folks, your life will become a different place when Jesus’ peace enters it:

· You will begin to look at people differently, view them with a bigger and softer heart
· You will notice changes in your relationships; you will give more grace and you will give more peace
· You will notice changes in your attitudes about life
· You will notice changes in your stress levels and worries
· You will, as peace settles in, begin to sense a deep change of heart that is filled with love, joy, hope, faith, and an overwhelming sense of peace – a peace that passes understanding.

The bible says that receiving peace is an act of faith; that as your faith expands peace will begin to expand as well. As you allow Jesus more and more into your life and into your circumstance then His peace will follow and all these life changes and attitude changes that I just described will become reality no matter what your circumstance. But, it is in that sequence - in that order, peace follows faith. As you receive Jesus, then the peace that passes understanding will settle into the center of your soul. That kinda peace is available this Christmas except you won’t find it in stores or catalogues or shopping malls. You will only find it in one place this Christmas.

There is a Christmas song that says, “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” Yes, peace is a quest but it is also personal and individual. So, I guess what I’m saying is if you feel a little bit lost this Christmas or confused about the future or maybe you’re lacking a little direction; if you question whether your family is gonna hold it together over the long haul or even over the next 10 days or maybe you’re just longing to find some answers to some nagging spiritual questions, maybe you need to activate some peace in your heart this Christmas - a new kind of peace - that isn’t pictured on a Christmas card. Peace in the midst of real life, peace that works in the center of stress, peace that calms in the middle of the realities of any and every situation we might encounter.

This story might help us a bit. A friend found this for me this week.

Picture of Peace

By Catherine Marshall

There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The king looked at all the pictures. But there were only two he really liked, and so he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake and the lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds and all who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains too, but these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell and in which clouds and lightning stormed. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.

When the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny tree - a bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest and there in the midst of the rush of angry water and rain and storm sat the mother bird on her nest in perfect peace.

Now, which picture do you think won the prize? Well, the king chose the second picture. Do you know why?

“Because,” explained the king, “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace.”

So folks, that’s the message today whether you find yourself in the best place you’ve ever been in this Christmas or if you are facing the worst of conditions and the biggest storm and some severe anxiety in your life this Christmas. My hope is that you will activate the peace of Jesus today; that your faith would expand and as your faith expands, peace will begin to expand. As well, as faith flows, peace will follow and grow no matter what circumstance you might be facing.

Now, the key to unlocking peace is activating your faith. Simple what I’m saying: if you want peace this Christmas you gotta ask for it. I had a couple of thoughts this week about how to close out this time together.

Here’s what I’d like to do. I’d like to pray for you and pray for peace in you.
So, here’s how this could happen. Stand everyone, close your eyes. There are two groups I want to pray for specifically:

1. If you are in a circumstance that is a tough spot, a stormy place where finding peace is hard right now, raise your hand – I’ll pray for you

2. If you know your faith needs to expand before peace will come and you know this is a faith issue not a peace issue, if you want to ask Jesus to be more real and more alive in you life, raise you hand and I’ll pray with you as you take that faith step.