When Luke tells us the Christmas story, he begins with some background information to set the stage. He says, “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world” (Lk 2.1).
Caesar Augustus was a fascinating character who did two remarkable things. First, he had himself declared “Saviour of the World.” That takes some chutzpah. Second, he declared world peace. It was known as Pax Romana. In 27 B.C., he closed the temple that was dedicated to the Roman god of war, and by doing so, made a statement: There will be no more war.
Ironically, the way he maintained the peace was to kill anyone who stepped out of line in the most violent ways imaginable.
We are going to have world peace around here if I have to kill every last one of you!
That’s one way of doing things. And it continues in some places today. Peace is often kept through coercion, bullying and violence.
Everyone from politicians to Miss World seems to want world peace, and one way of going about it is to simply declare it and rule with an iron fist — in government, in churches, in homes. But the cross of Christ shows us another way — a better way.
Later in his retelling, Luke tells us about the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night. You remember that part, right? It’s the part Linus reads in A Charlie Brown Christmas. The angel’s words are particularly what we’re interested in today: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests” (Lk 2.14).
Jesus was born into a world where people who were in charge screamed, “We will have world peace if I have to kill every last one of you!” The One who is the true Saviour of the world brought peace in a different way, by bestowing favour on us and by dying in our place.
Who deserves that favour from on high? Absolutely no one.
Who gets this favour from on high? Absolutely everyone who will receive it.
Caesar Augustus offered to kill in order to get peace.
Jesus of Nazareth offered to die in order to get it.
Guess whose peace still prevails?
Prayer
Lord, You are the source of true peace. In this fallen world, there is so much alienation through hostility, enmity, strife, anger, unforgiveness, impatience, selfishness, envy, slander and malice. And this lack of peace in relationships spreads like a virus to larger social arenas. It produces a world in which there is little real peace. Without You, I would have no hope of a solution, because this lack of peace with ourselves and others stems from a lack of peace with You. But You have opened the way to reconciliation by bringing peace through the death of Your Son. You did what we could never hope to do by opening up the way of access and acceptance before You. I thank and praise You for Your boundless love, mercy and forgiveness that have transformed me from a condemned criminal to Your beloved child.
In Jesus’s name, Amen
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