THE PRINCE OF PEACE ARRIVES

ILLUSTRATION: Tell the story of a strange Christmas tradition you have.

Christmas is a lot like eggnog— it’s really good at first but somehow loses its appeal by the time it’s over.

There are only so many calories you can handle, right?

At its core, Christmas can be a little chaotic.

Too much time with family leads to fights.

Purchasing a lot of gifts can lead to debt.

Loss in your family leads to sorrow when sitting at a table with an empty seat.

Lack of solid friendships leads to loneliness.

As a matter of fact, Christmas is known to be one of the most depressing seasons for many people.

TENSION

Here is something that I’ve learned over the years.

While Christmas may be the most wonderful time of the year, this season is very difficult for some families.

Christmas brings conflict.

Christmas breeds chaos. Christmas is very difficult for people with family strain, financial hardship, or emotional mourning after the loss of a loved one.

During Christmas, we celebrate peace on earth, but some people cannot find peace in their own lives.

Many of us have a peace problem. We act as though Jesus brings peace to all mankind, but somehow, it misses us.

• As we discussed last week, the word Advent simply means “arrival.”

• In traditional churches, they would walk through the lighting of five candles for every service in December.

• One candle would represent prophecy, one would represent love, one would represent joy, one would represent Jesus, and one would represent peace.

• People were waiting on the arrival of the “Prince of Peace” ever since his coming was foretold by Isaiah.

• The people of Israel craved peace — but they were stuck in endless wars.

• We deal with a similar tension in our own lives.

• It’s ironic that we can celebrate peace on earth while struggling to find peace in our hearts.

• Let’s examine the story of God’s arriving peace that was announced to some unlikely people that needed it the most.

• The shepherds were watching over their fields in the middle of the night. Then suddenly, a light broke through the darkness.

• The shepherds gathered around a tiny campfire, but nothing could compete with the laser and firework show put on by the angels in the night sky.

• God showed up in the middle of the dark. Light broke through the night.

• Think of the darkest surroundings you have ever been around.

• We love lights around Christmas, right?

• There are lights on our houses. Lights scattered over our bushes. We place a dead tree covered in luminous lights in our living room.

• It’s beautiful, it’s comforting, and it’s a powerful metaphor for the coming of Christ.

• Have you ever seen how the smallest amount of light dispels darkness? From the glow of a cell phone to the flicker of a candle, even a little light destroys darkness. Just like the lights in our home, Jesus destroys the darkness in our hearts.

• You may be going through a dark time.

• Some of you are going through Christmas in a broken home.

• Some of you are going through this season after losing a loved one.

• Some of you are feeling lonely this season.

• Just like the glowing star and angel choir illuminating the night sky in Bethlehem, the light broke through the night. Jesus shows up in people's darkest moments.

• The shepherds faced both literal darkness and metaphorical darkness.

• They were out casted from their families.

• They were stuck working the night shift.

• They existed in the lowest cast and class of society.

• No one wanted to be their date to prom.

• They felt lost, directionless, and stressed.

• Do you know what they didn’t feel? Peace.

• When Isaiah prophesied the coming of Jesus, he called him “the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

• When the angels announced Jesus’ birth, they said that peace had come to the entire planet. What I love about this particular passage is the specific people who received the announcement.

• It wasn’t religious leaders. It wasn’t political powerhouses. It wasn’t social media influencers.

• The angels announced the birth of Jesus to a bunch of shepherds working in the middle of the night.

• The shepherds are some of the most unlikely people to receive this good news.

• While the angels were singing about peace, these men were inevitably facing three very relatable problems.

Pressure

• Being a shepherd was a super stressful occupation, especially working the night shift. These sheep were their entire lives and income.

• They had to protect them, but do you know who finds sheep tasty?

• Lions, bears, wolves… and me.

• They felt an unbearable pressure to protect their flocks, especially at night which is when the angels showed up.

• What kind of pressure are you facing tonight?

• Whether it’s stress from the holidays or chaos from your family all gathering together…

• Know this: God can bring peace to your pressure.

• God can even bring peace to our problems — which brings us to point number two.

Pain

• Due to Jewish customs, these men were marked as ceremonially unclean. What does this mean?

• Under ancient laws, a person who had to work with dead animals was marked as “unclean.”

• An unclean individual was untouchable. They could not go into the market. They had a hard time getting married. They were completely outcast from society.

• Can you imagine the pain they felt every day?

• They were isolated every moment of every day.

• Maybe some of you feel the same way?

• Sure, maybe you have not been labeled unclean by a religious order. However, you have started to let your pain cause you to withdraw.

• You spend most of your time alone.

• You can go for a whole day without getting a single text.

• Your time alone has started to make you question your whole purpose in life.

• Sometimes your pain has morphed into almost a personality trait; it’s tragic.

• Your injury is not your identity. You are not defined by your pain in life.

• I can confidently say that you have a purpose, however that’s something else our shepherds struggled to see.

Purpose

• Kids in those days probably wanted to be business owners, rabbis, or camel racers when they grew up.

• They certainly didn’t want to become shepherds.

• These shepherds inevitably struggled with their purpose in life since they were stuck in a dead-end career.

• Despite the fact that these unlikely men dealt with pressure, pain, and purpose, a heavenly army of angels showed up with a message of hope for all of mankind.

• The shepherds were the first to know. God specifically chose them to be on the front row of a miracle.

• What does this mean for us?

• Regardless of the pressure we feel, we can find calmness in the Prince of Peace.

• Regardless of the pain you have experienced, you can experience progress.

• Even if you feel like you have no purpose, God has a perfect plan for you.

• There is something fascinating about these shepherds.

• They were abiding by their flocks in the fields right outside of Jerusalem.

• This was the religious capital of Judaism, where sacrifices were carried out day-in and day-out within the temple.

• These shepherds were likely watching over temple sheep— lambs that were specifically bred and protected to be sacrificed at the temple.

TALK IT OUT Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stuff.

How does your family decorate for Christmas?

Why are the holidays such a tough season for some families?

How can you be a light for Jesus through someone else’s darkest times?

When you are experiencing suffering, how can you turn to Jesus?

Commit to being a source of hope and love for someone who is struggling this Christmas. What can you do for them?

• Jesus, the Prince of Peace, went from the cradle to the cross.

• Jesus was crucified in that same city— bridging the barrier between God and man.

• This wasn’t like a temple sacrifice that had to be repeated over and over. This was one final and perfect sacrifice that ultimately brought reconciliation to all of mankind.

• Colossians 1:20 celebrates that, “God made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross.”

• Jesus’s death and resurrection changed the trajectory of the universe. His death brought you life. His scars brought you healing.

• His resurrection seals your spot in eternity in perfect union with Him.

• Jesus can bring you peace. • Peace despite the chaos of Christmas.

• Peace for your broken heart.

• Peace in your family.

• Peace despite your pain.

• Peace despite the pressures around you.

• We can find peace in a personal relationship with Jesus.

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

Genesis 3:14-15

Luke 1:46-56 2

Corinthians 8:9

John 6:38

Philippians 2:5-7

Romans 11:33-36

Revelation 19:6-10

Do the following with each passage:

ASK– God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down and inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you today.

READ– the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT– on what grabs you. How does this passage personally relate to your own life and experiences?

RESPOND– to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered