“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:13-14)
How could the angels proclaim ‘good news’ and peace on earth?
The world still dwelt in darkness and under the power of sin and Satan. There were still wars, hunger, disasters and suffering. The Jews were still lost under the Law, and the Gentiles were still without God and without hope.
God became a baby. He had to be born as a baby, helpless, defenseless and dependent. He was the Son of Man. He was exposed to the dangers of the world, sought by the devil and marked for death.
When the angels sang, Herod had not yet sent his troops to seek and kill Him. The family had not yet fled into Egypt, a long and dangerous journey. He still had not grown in wisdom and stature. He still had not become a carpenter.
He still had not been filled with the Holy Spirit. He hadn’t defeated the temptations of the devil. He hadn’t lived a sinless life. He had yet to heal a single person or cast out a single demon. He still had not been rejected by those of His own hometown.
He still hadn’t agonized in the Garden and sweat drops of blood. He still hadn’t been betrayed by Judas and suffered an illegal trial, being beaten and mocked. He still hadn’t gone to the cross.
He had yet to be made sin and be made a curse. He had yet to suffer the stripes which heal us. He had yet to be forsaken of God, die, and descend into the depths of the earth. He had yet to conquer the grave, rise again and sit down at the right hand of God, victorious.
When the angels sang, nothing had happened yet. A baby had been born. But they proclaimed God’s own words: “Peace on earth, good will toward men.”
How?
“God, …… calls those things which be not as though they were.” (Rom 4:17)
God had faith in His Word. The Word became flesh, and God’s faith proclaimed the end from the beginning: “Peace on earth, good will toward men.”
Peace came as a Seed, and when believed and received in the human heart, there is peace with God and peace within ourselves. This is God’s gift to the world.
Barry Bennett is an instructor- Charis Bible College Colorado. He is a graduate of Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas, and has been serving the Lord since 1972. He and his wife, Betty Kay, have served on the mission field in Mexico, Guatemala, and in Chile, where they spent almost 12 years before returning to Texas in 2001.
