Luke 2.
4[1] and 19.
38[2].
Throughout the length and breadth of our land this evening some mention will be
made of the Christmas message in our Churchs and Chapels and whatever may be
the opinion of some of our dear brethren[3] I for
one to rejoice at the thought of this. It is a sad thought to me that there is
so much celebration of Christmas with no thought of Christ who is the centre of
it all, and I am praying that He may become more precious to us all, because of
the celebration this year, and the gifts given, and received should bring
before us God’s great gift to an undeserving race of men and to bring about in
all our hearts a consciousness of the debt of love we owe.
Now in
the two texts before us this evening Peace is the central thought, and one
refers to peace on earth and the other peace in heaven, and we will notice that
the messengers of both are from the opposite sphere. Heavenly beings sing peace
on earth when our Lord the Prince of Peace descends to earth in the body of
flesh prepared by God, and prefers their grand and glorious message with a
definite declaration of the glory of God, and earthly beings (led by God’s Holy
Spirit undoubtedly) declare peace in heaven, and again express glory in the
highest when He who came from heaven is wending His way towards the place
called Calvary. And it is very easy for our Carol singers to go from house to
house singing this message All glory be to God on high. And to the earth be
peace. Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men. Begin and never cease[4], but it
is not easy to grasp the importance of the message. Let us just look at
Proverbs 8 which gives us a word picture of our Lord in the glory with His
Father[5], and
then contrast it with a word picture of Him here admits the sin and the
terrible consequences on earth. This one-time beautiful place ere sin had come
in and marred and devastated the fair picture. Do not think I failed to see the
beauties of earth and all the evidences of God’s fair creation. Its majestic
scenery of hill & valley clothed in spring with returning evidence of life
and moving on to mature vegetation followed by the lovely autumn tints. I see it
all and marvel at its grandeur but within a few moments of time one can lose
sight of this and see the squalor and misery of our slums and the depression
clearly marked upon the faces of men and women as they travel to and fro in
their quest for worldly gains[6]. On all
hands there is unrest and little satisfaction and amidst all this He came from
that fair scene of His Father’s presence. What a change. We see Him before the
world was when all here was chaos and nothing was formed or formal. Darkness
was upon the face of the deep[7] and He
above it. Daily His Father’s delight, but ultimately after sin had blighted
God’s fair creation and left its terrible mark upon God’s greatest creative
work. MAN and we find Him been made [sic] in the likeness of sinful flesh. And
the angelic singing God’s praises as He came and declaring PEACE ON EARTH AND
GOODWILL TO MEN. His coming is a proof of God’s goodwill towards us. Do you see
that terror-stricken band of brothers standing before Joseph in Egypt[8]. Their
sin brought vividly to mind by the declaration that He is Joseph their brother.
And all Joseph’s pent-up feelings are eager to establish peace in those
conscience stricken brethren of his. Such was the coming of our Lord to this
world. The great burden of His loving heart was to establish peace in earth,
and so He commenced by commanding a multitude of the heavenly host to appear to
those ordinary individual Shepherds by night[9], while
all the world was wrapped in sleep and quiet that there be no discordant note
to their glory song of praise to our God. PEACE, what a sweet word this is.
What did this mean to our own beloved land at the close of the two great wars.
Visions of a return to family life again when long empty chairs would be filled
again with fathers, sons and brothers[10]. Yes
but this message of peace means more than that. God had a controversy with man.
Did we not read in our Friday’s portion Hear O heavens and give ear. O earth,
for the Lord hath spoken. I have nourished and brought up children and they
have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner and he asked his master’s
crib, but Israel doth not know my people tough not consider[11]. Yes
God hath spoken, but He has spoken again, and this time it is a message of
peace. Spoken by heavenly beings to earthly men. The great gulf is about to be
bridged. A ladder is to be set up on earth whose top shall reach heaven
and the Angels of God shall ascend and descend upon the son of man[12]. There
is access to God for a new and living way is opened up, and wonder of wonders
those who ascend by faith are assured there is peace in heaven, for God in
heaven and sinners on earth are reconciled. The great work is about to be
accomplished in the Lord Jesus Christ to give Him his full and rightful name is
on His way to Jerusalem for the last time and this time on that green hill far
away, outside the city wall[13] He is
to die that we might live. He is bear in His body our sin and remove it forever
so that heavens doors may be thrown open wide to admit us to His Holy presence.
And God is to be glorified thereby. Because inside that blest place we sinners
of earth shall make known the riches of His grace in His kindness towards us,
through Christ Jesus[14]. Yes
Peace perfect peace in this dark world of sin. The blood of Jesus whispers
peace within[15].
And He who was ushered into this world with the heavenly anthem has made peace
through the blood of His cross, and that He regarded this as His greatest
achievement is shown by the way He used the word again and again to His loved
disciples in those resurrection days. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give
unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid[16]. AMEN
[1] actually 14
[2] These two verses are cross-referenced in Scofield
[3] Exclusive brethren do
not celebrate Christmas. JN Darby the founder of the 'exclusives' wrote "The
church gives a yearly round of fasts and festivals, so that mere outward events
may be before the mind without any dealing of God with the individual soul
…Christmas having been – and it is still celebrated in heathen countries – the
worst of heathen festivals, to celebrate the return of the sun from the winter
solstice, without a pretence that Christ was born that day" http://www.mybrethren.org/doctrine/framholi.htm
later on the same page is a poem concluding with these words
So "Merry Christmas" has no place
With me a sinner saved by grace;
Christ in the glory claims my heart;
With Him alone I'd seek a part.
Dead to the world, I turn away
From mocking, merry Christmas day.
This address is at least in part a response to this dour anti-Christmas rhetoric
[4] from While shepherds watched their flocks by night
[5] Scofield says of this passage "That
wisdom is more than a personification of an attribute of God, or of the will of
God as best man, but is a distinct adumbration of Christ, be sure to the devout
mind"
[6] There is a clear anti-urbanism recognizable here. I also experienced this in an encounter with his son Bert when I accidentally met him in Camberwell in the early 1990s
[7] Genesis 1:2
[8] Genesis 45:3
[9] Luke 2:8
[10] This, of course, would have been a personal experience for Lloyd. His son Bert fought in the second world war as a medical auxiliary in the African and Italian campaigns and experienced the horrors of Anzio, although his other son old enough to fight Reg was in a reserved occupation as a plumber on the London docks. Lloyd himself was not past fit for frontline service during the first world war (because of his poor hearing) but joined the Pioneer Corps where his experience with electricity proved useful see January, 29 1956 address
[11] Isaiah 1:2-3. Presumably
Friday's portion means the Scripture Union Bible reading notes which here would
appear to be operating as a kind of lectionary which everybody would know!
[12] This evokes the dream of Jacob in Genesis 28
[13] The well-known hymn by
Cecil Frances Alexander
There is a green
hill far away,
outside a city
wall,
where our dear
Lord was crucified
who died to save
us all.
[14] Ephesians 2:7
[15] From the hymn by the
Victorian Anglican clergyman Edward Bickerstaff
Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.
Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.
Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus' bosom naught but calm is found.
Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?
In Jesus' keeping we are safe, and they.
Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.
Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.
It is enough: earth's struggles soon shall cease,
and Jesus call us to heaven's perfect peace.
[16] John 14:27