CityPoint 12-11-22 Advent - Luke 2:13-14 Reflection
Now in our church’s second week of Advent, Michael Gentosi led our Sunday discussion looking at praise in response to the Messiah. Looking at the angel’s announcement to the shepherds in Luke 2:8-20, in particular we see a worshipful proclamation rooted in Scriptural language.
Luke 2:13–14 (ESV)
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
This angelic proclamation recorded in Luke continues with the OT connections that Luke already has been making so far. In Chapter 1 Luke already referred to Mary as a virgin twice (1:27, 34), not only to show that Jesus’ conception was an act of God but was also directly tied to prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 (ESV), “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” He continues making these connections here through recording the angel's song, which echoes the language found in Isaiah 6:3 (ESV), “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
But there’s a different message that the angels are announcing to the shepherds, and it’s one of peace. But what exactly does this peace entail, and why is it important enough to be proclaimed in such a way? Looking back to the beginning of the proclamation shows us more, in Luke 2:10–11 (ESV) “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
This peace is for all people! “It is a message of joy because a Savior and Lord has arrived to save and reign over us, including even those not born of Jewish descent. It is a message of joy because this Savior and Lord is the One who brings peace and acceptance from God himself (v. 14). To receive the good news of the gospel is to come to understand that, despite our background and failures, God reaches out to us with the loving message of peace. Receiving the gospel is not just understanding an abstract idea but it is believing by faith that the glorious God of the universe is now pleased with us and speaks peace into our personal lives. The result is release from fear (v. 10) and entry into freedom, joy, and an eager seeking after this Lord (v. 15)” [GTB].
This loving message releasing us from fear is the Gospel of peace, this initial proclamation from the angels for all people. Paul tells us to put on the Gospel of peace as part of our spiritual armor (Eph. 6:15), which tears down the walls of hostility between us and God and us and our neighbor (Eph. 2:13-18). “The good news of peace is that when Christ died and shed his blood for sin, two kinds of enmity were overcome. The enmity between God and repentant sinners was brought to an end. And the enmity between races and factions in Christ was brought to an end. So Christ became our peace. That is the gospel of peace” [John Piper].
The meaning of peace, or shalom in Hebrew, carries the idea of wholeness or completeness, and similarly in Greek (eirḗnē), the ideas of well-being, harmony, and security. This is the unique and glorious reality of the Messiah, that He Himself came into our mess, not only making a way to rescue us, but doing the work to restore us into wholeness and right relationship with our Creator and with one another regardless of who we are or where we’re from. That’s why the Christmas message of peace is so wonderful, but how much more so when built on the reality altering truth of the Messiah who Himself bore our burdens and paid for our debts. So, may the peace of Christ be central to our worship and celebration of Christmas, pointing us to the coming victory of the Cross that we celebrate on Easter.