On the official “Breedlove Advent wreath,” the fourth candle reminds us of the angels’ declaration of peace. After announcing the birth of the Messiah to the shepherds, the heavenly army sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.”
Why peace? Why did the angels declare peace to God’s people, and not hope, salvation, or joy? All these would have fit the situation—why did they choose to sing “peace”?
In pondering this question, it is worth remembering that biblical peace is far more than the absence of hostility. In the Bible, peace is pictured as all things restored, everything in perfect harmony. It is pictured as the barren giving birth, the lame walking, lions and lambs playing together, poisonous snakes ceasing to be dangerous to children, tears being wiped away, sickness eradicated. It isn’t just the absence of war; it is the positive presence of everything as it was created to be.
This is what the angels declared to the shepherds. The Messiah ushers in this all-things-restored peace. The peace is offered to those with whom God is pleased, and God is pleased with all those who simply trust him (Heb. 11:6). It is true that the peace offered will only reach its full culmination in the return of Christ, but even now, he brings true peace to us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The next few days are a whirlwind for most of us, and often are sprinkled with sadness even in the midst of joy. Christmas has a way of offering both joy and sadness, especially for those who are alone. In the moments of exhaustion or discouragement, remind yourself of the peace the angels declared. The Messiah came to put all things to right, and even if we have only been given a foretaste of what this will mean, his peace is greater than anything we can achieve for ourselves. Cling to him in faith, and he will give you his peace.
Steven+
Advent Reflections: The Joy of the Shepherds
On the third Sunday of Advent, we light a pink candle, which represents joy. On the official “Breedlove Advent wreath,” the joy of the third candle is connected to the shepherds, because it was to the shepherds that the angel declared, “I bring you good news of great joy!”
We know the end of the statement; we know why the news was a declaration of joy. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” But perhaps these words are so familiar to us that we have lost sight of the joy. We frequently need to slow down, so that we can remember again and rejoice.
“Unto you.” From the beginning it is explicit—God is not just for those who deserve it, for some more worthy people. The Messiah is for you, his life is on your behalf. The poor shepherds were likely stunned, just as we should be, “For me? He is actually for me?”
“Is born this day in the city of David.” This is not a pleasant fiction, a story we tell to feel better. On a specific day, at a particular moment in history, in a particular place, the Messiah was actually born. He lay in his mother’s arms as real as every other baby, needing to be cleaned and fed and soothed. His tiny limbs and heart would bear the hatred and sin of the world, but he was real—God actually in the flesh, vulnerable and small.
“A Savior.” We spend our energy in a frantic attempt to secure life, to save ourselves. Yet every day is a testimony to the fact that we cannot ever do enough. We did not author life, and it is not under our control. We need a Savior, and it is a Savior who was born for us.
“Who is the Messiah, the Lord.” The shepherds didn’t need to be told why the birth of the Messiah was an occasion for joy! The arrival of the anointed one, the promised one, who would usher in the kingdom of God, reign from the throne of David, and restore God’s people was an obvious cause for celebration. But it should be staggering to us that we have been included in the kingdom of this anointed one. This Lord has said to us, “I want you to be one of my people, one of my restored ones.”
Every time Mary was confronted with the glory of her son, she treasured and pondered the moment in her heart. Do the same with the declaration of the angels and rejoice in what they said! “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Steven+
Advent Reflections: The Faith of Mary and Joseph
On the official “Breedlove Advent wreath,” the second candle symbolizes the faith of Mary and Joseph. The word “faith” likely brings to mind certain familiar phrases from the Bible, like “we walk by faith, not by sight” (II Cor. 5:7) or “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).
Familiar verses pose a certain danger. The beautiful verse, by virtue of its frequent use, becomes a platitude, easily ignored even as it sits in plain sight, inscribed on coffee cups and t-shirts. The answer to the familiar becoming a platitude is to slow down, and wrestle in the presence of God with his word. Is it really true that “whatever does not proceed from faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23)? How can I learn to do the dishes from a posture of faith?
Another danger—not about platitudes, but instead about our understanding of faith—exists in our culture. Many people, even many Christians, talk about faith as if faith itself (instead of what the faith is in), is what matters. For many, “having faith” is more or less synonymous with “I believe things will work.” “You just need to have faith” is a flimsy sentiment (things don’t always work out!), but the real danger is that the object of faith is mistaken. A desired outcome has taken the place of God.
Mary and Joseph help us here. Their faith is strong and beautiful, the sort of faith we all should have, but what makes it worth emulating isn’t primarily its strength. Instead, it is what they directed their faith towards. They were willing to step into a situation of incredible uncertainty, where being misunderstood and rejected by friends and family was highly likely. Mary would forever be branded as unfaithful to Joseph, and Joseph as weak. What is more, Simeon told Mary, “a sword will pierce through your own soul,” hardly words that might inspire the faith equals things will work out in the end posture of our culture.
Mary and Joseph’s faith should be emulated simply because it was directed towards God himself. They were willing to bank everything on him, regardless of the outcome of the situation. This is what Biblical faith is, not platitudinous optimism. When Hebrews 11 speaks of faith, it is describing people willing to take God at his word, whether they receive his promises in this life or the next. The “I am banking everything on him” posture is what pleases God (Heb. 11:6), even if it is coupled with “and I have no idea how or when this will work out.”
God’s word is trustworthy. His character is trustworthy. He is the only one faithful enough to warrant our faith. This week, as we await the celebration of Jesus’ first advent and the arrival of his second, bank on God. He will not fail you, even if you pass through a period of uncertainty like Mary and Joseph.
Steven+