Holidays

God's Peace Offering

by James Carter II
12/22/19
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                                                             Jesus: The Peace Offering

     This Christmas season, I have been trying to take a closer look at the scriptures regarding the arrival of Jesus among us. Inspired by the sermons of my pastor, I became interested in the people surrounding this momentous occasion. In reading a book to my children, I found great interest in the description of the angels that appeared to the shepherds. The angels are recorded in Luke 2:14 (KJV) as saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” I used to take this, much like many people before me, as a call to have peace among men. However, the same verse in the ESV reads, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” The words are not all that different, but the meaning can be drastically altered. Considering what the angels are saying through the ESV translation, the peace seems to be solely for those who are faithful to God. This would mean that the angels were not telling the world to be at peace, but extending God's offer of peace to all who would be subject to him.
     This makes sense in light of James 4:4 (ESV), when James addresses sin within the body. He writes, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” The word enmity refers to literally being opposed or hostile to God. Another way to look at it would be to say that to have enmity with God is to be at war with God. Because all have sinned we enter this life being at war with God. When the angels in Luke 2 bring news of peace, it is much like God is offering a truce for those who will accept his will over their own. Jesus would live and die as a man, and become the ideal peace offering that allows God to draw near to man as man turns to him.