Peace on Earth
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“Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” This was the question posed by Charlie Brown in the Christmas classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Linus takes the stage and boldly explains what Christmas is really all about; Jesus! Linus says,
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' 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… That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
A beautiful response to a significant question (including Linus’ moving act of dropping his security blanket the moment he quotes the angels saying “Fear not”). Here, Linus is quoting Luke 2:8-14 of the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. From this passage, verse 14 has become a very popular adage, “Peace on earth and good will toward all men.” However, did Jesus really bring peace on earth? In the same Gospel of Luke, Jesus says in the 51st verse of chapter 12, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” So why the apparent contradiction? And what is Jesus talking about when he invokes “peace?” Is there a deeper meaning?
Before exploring Jesus’ statement in Luke 12:51 and the deeper meaning of Christmas, we must first look at Luke 2:14. The KJV translation of this verse is misrepresentative of the actual meaning as found in the original Greek manuscripts. Most modern scholars have come to the conclusion that the translators of the KJV erred in their translation of the text and that the more accurate and literal meaning of it reads "on earth peace to men of good will," or as in the ESV translation of Luke 2:14 reads, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
This fact is that Luke 2:14 is actually referring to God’s peace resting on those who please Him and indicates a clear restriction to a particular group of people, God’s elect, and not as the KJV presents the verse, making it seem as though Jesus came to bring world peace. If this was the actual interpretation of the verse, it would indicate that either Jesus failed in bringing world peace or a case for the heretical theology of universalism, claiming Jesus’ act brought reconciliation to all mankind (every single individual).
Now that we have a more accurate understanding of Luke 2:14 and can see why it is in fact not a contradiction to what Christ says later in the chapter, we must ask, what “peace” is Jesus referring to? For more detail on Luke 12:51, we can review the parallel account in Matthew 10:34-36 which reads, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.”
Clearly, Jesus was teaching that the truth He brings will cause division. But that does not mean a follower of Christ is without peace. In fact, Luke 2:14 promises peace for those that please Him. John 14:27 describes this peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” So, Jesus brings a peace that is not of this world. His followers will experience this joy and right standing between them and God. However, the world will not understand this peace, this joy, this need for reconciliation. In Romans 5:1, it is made clear that in order to experience God’s peace, one must be born again and justified by faith: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The deeper meaning of Christmas is not that Jesus came to bring universal peace among all sinners in the world. The deeper meaning is that Jesus came with a mission to serve, to be the innocent lamb of God who would endure the Wrath of God to save His sheep. His perfect work on the cross will bring peace to those who repent and put their trust in Him. Believing He was raised from the dead on the third day by the Father and surrendering one’s life to the Lordship of Jesus (Romans 10:9-10) allows us to experience a peace that surpasses all understanding. And this peace is found in Philippians 4:6-7 which says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
That is the deeper meaning of Christmas.