Luke 2:1-20; focus 2:14
By Pastor Richard Choy
Luke 2 presents us with the beautiful and uplifting story of Christmas. In the opening verses, we read that Caesar had decreed that every person in the Roman Empire go to their ancestral town to register. Among those travelling was a couple named Mary and Joseph, who went to their forebears’ town to register. While there, Mary, who was expecting a baby, gave birth to her firstborn. She wrapped the baby in cloths and laid him in a manger. Shortly after that, an angel appears to the shepherds nearby, announcing the baby’s birth and explaining to them the meaning of the birth, and then, along with that angel, a whole multitude of angels appeared and praised God. Finally, Luke tells of the reaction of the shepherds to the angels’ birth announcement and explanation.
Let’s focus on the last part of the angels’ profound statement, the words with which the whole multitude of them praise God: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:14 (ESV). This declaration captures the heart of Christmas, conveying its most important truth. Yet, despite its significance as the concluding and encapsulating statement in the angels’ announcement, it is frequently misunderstood and often taken in a way that it was not meant to be taken. However, to see the true beauty of Christmas, it is crucial for us to know and to understand these words’ meaning as it was intended.
Throughout the years, this often-used sentence has found its way into countless songs and greeting cards, usually stated like this: “Glory to God, and peace on earth, goodwill towards men.” Expressed in this way, it has become an acknowledgment of the season – that it is indeed Christmas, and because it is Christmas, we wish one another the joy that comes from a higher power, meaning God. We wish peace on earth, and we wish goodwill toward our fellow human beings. To be sure, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with this sentiment that marks the season – it is certainly heartwarmingly kind of us at Christmas time to extend to one another blessings from on high, along with earthly peace. What could be better than to wish freedom from trouble, and also to foster kindness from one to another? This is what Christmas has become, by and large, for most people in our day: God or some higher power is nice, and we should be nice to others.
However, we need to see that in the context of Luke’s Christmas narrative, this is not the intention of the sentence. If being nice is all that Christmas is and means by it, then the true meaning, the true significance of Christmas and the profound impact that it makes on our lives, is lost. Christmas would just become a mere call to be nice people during the holidays, because there is a kindly old God out there somewhere who is a symbol and reminder that we should be nice to one another. But shouldn’t we be nice and extend kindness at all times? Is Christmas necessary as a reminder to make a special effort to be good to one another?
The sentence, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” is not a wish – its intent is not to wish glory to God, nor to wish peace to human beings. It is a statement! A statement of the truth of the event of the birth of Christ. It is an assertion of the way things are, now that Christ is born. The statement asserts two things about the baby who is born a Saviour in Bethlehem, the city of David, who is Christ the Lord. The first assertion is that this event, this birth of the Saviour, is for God’s glory. The second assertion is that this event, the birth of the Saviour, is for peace among those with whom God is pleased.
Let’s consider “Glory to God” first. Interestingly, it took only one angel to announce the news of Christ’s birth to the shepherds. But to truly respond to and articulate the implications of that news, it took a multitude of the heavenly host, or literally, an angel army – many, many angels! And how exactly did the angels respond to the news of the birth of the Saviour, Christ the Lord? They erupted in praise with the words, “Glory to God in the highest!” The Incarnation – that is, the birth of the Saviour – God’s coming as a human baby, to live and grow on earth, living a sinless life that perfectly fulfills God’s law, and then dying on the cross in our place to pay for our sin was the most remarkable display of God’s glory ever! And the angels knew it!
What is it that you think of when you think of God’s glory? Is it the thought of God parting the Red Sea so that his people, whom the Egyptians were chasing, could escape? Is it when he brought the walls of Jericho tumbling down? Is it when he turned water into wine at a wedding in Cana? Is it when he called forth his friend, Lazarus, from the dead after he had already been laid in the tomb for four days? Perhaps, like the angels, when we think of God’s glory, and when we want to praise God for his glory, we should speak and sing of the birth of the Son of God, our Saviour, Christ the Lord – on that first Christmas Day in a little town called Bethlehem.
For it was there, in that event, that God’s plan of the ages broke in on the earth, revealing his glory as never before: God become man. God in the flesh before our very eyes, living among us. John, in his gospel, says, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (ESV). And the writer of Hebrews said, But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. Hebrews 1:2–3 (ESV).
Christmas is the Son of God breaking into the world. It is God coming among us as one of us, identifying himself with us as a human being. It is the beginning of the earthly journey of our Saviour to the Cross in order to gain our salvation. And it would be a salvation that outshines every other miracle that ever has been and ever will be, because it perfectly satisfied God’s justice as a holy God who cannot tolerate sin, and perfectly displayed God’s love in providing himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin in the place of sinners. So, the angels praised God.
The second assertion of the angels was, “peace on earth among those with whom he is pleased.” What is the peace that the angels are talking about? I remember, as a tween, at grade six or seven, that I often fought with one of my cousins, who was a particularly difficult individual. One evening, while our parents were out, all he would do was complain, pout, and shout his displeasure about the snacks, and about our games, and about the TV program, and about the rest of us who were trying to accommodate him. At the height of his bad behaviour, he complained that all he wanted was some peace! I had had it, so I retorted, “Peace, you want peace! And you are crying and ranting and making so much noise and being a nuisance! You say you want peace! You are the reason we have no peace!” And then we had peace!!
But is that what the angels meant by peace? For those of you who are constantly overwhelmed by the demands of work and family, and long for a quiet weekend or day off, is that what peace is? For those who are part of the military who long for the end of all fighting between countries, nations, and factions, is that peace?
Brothers and sisters, the peace on earth that the angels refer to is specific – it is “on earth”, that is, it is peace for the world at large. It is also peace on earth that is defined by the words “among those with whom he is pleased.” Look with me at something that the biblical writer Luke said later in his gospel. In Luke 10:5-6, Jesus says as he sends his disciples out two by two on a mission of healing and sharing the gospel, Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. Luke 10:5–6 (ESV). The narrative sense here is that a “son of peace” is someone who has found the peace that comes with salvation from sin. Could that be the peace for which the angels praise God? In Luke chapter 10, we are told that Jesus sent out his disciples to all the places he himself was about to go. The implication is that those who welcome his disciples actually welcome Jesus, and those who reject the disciples actually reject Jesus. The son of peace, who has found the peace that comes with salvation from sin, is the one who welcomes Jesus.
This welcome of Jesus is made more apparent by the apostle Paul. In Romans 15:13, we read, May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13 (ESV). Peace comes to us by believing. The context of this verse in Romans is that Christ is the hope of Jews and Gentiles, who attain that hope by believing, by putting their faith in Christ. This, of course, means peace comes by faith in the Christ of Christmas; faith in the baby born a Saviour in the city of David, Christ the Lord!
One more verse, Hebrews 11:6: And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (ESV). And there we have it, the explanation of what “those with whom he is pleased” means. God is pleased with those who have faith, that is, faith in the Son of God, the Christ of Christmas, the baby born a Saviour, Christ the Lord – the one who is God come as a human being to identify with men and women, and who brings us forgiveness and redemption from sin by the sacrifice of himself in our place so that we would be at peace with God, bringing him the glory, all the glory that is his in the first place, for being the one who devised and implemented this plan of salvation in eternity past which centres on the sending of his Son.
So the angels praise: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Won’t you join that chorus! Glorify God! Glorify him by gaining the peace that he gives to those with whom he is pleased. He is pleased with all who put their faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as Saviour from sin, and Lord of life. Turn from your sin, and put your faith in him. He is the one who saves you from your sin and brings you the peace of salvation.
This is the glory and peace of Christmas! May you have it today, this Christmas, and always. God bless you!
Author References:
Richard Choy is grateful to God for His grace in serving as the Lead Pastor to the English-speaking Congregation at North York Chinese Baptist Church in Toronto for 39 years. He and his wife live in Thornhill, Ontario. They are blessed with three children and their growing families.