In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.   (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)   And everyone went to his own town to register.  So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.   He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.   While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.   An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.   But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Luke 2:1-16

When Jesus was born, due to the census; all of the people in Israel were traveling to their ancestors land in order to be accounted for.  Bethlehem was so crowded that first Christmas night that there was no room at the inn for this very pregnant and probably laboring woman.    

Imagine the inn keeper, with a house full of bustling and excited guests, opening his door during this most lucrative season to find a poor man and his very young wife in the throes of labor.  It must have been a touching site and yet he denied them; made no room for them in his home.  But don’t you think he had a room that night?  I’ll bet his tummy was full and his toes were warm as he crawled into bed that infamous night?

He didn’t outright reject them, so we know his heart wasn’t completely hard.  He sent them out to take shelter among his livestock.  He offered them his lowest priority place.  The area that he knew couldn’t possibly be used in any more profitable way that evening.

Don’t we do the same?  It’s legitimate, we are busy.  Our days are non-stop.  Our calendars are full.  True, we don’t purposefully reject Him, but we do banish Him to the stable…assigning Him the lowest priority in our days. 

In every stage of His life Christ offered peace for our busy lives, if only we will make room for Him.  In His birth, life, death, resurrection and in His very name His message for us was peace.

"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Luke 2:14

In His birth, the angels declared that peace was for those “on whom His favor rests”.

On whom does His favor rest?  It’s on you; it’s on me.  We are the apple of His eye, the crown of His creation.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

In His life, He says His words are so that in Him we may have peace.  That word ‘peace’ in the Greek is “tharseo” which means “cheerfulness and joy”.  Isn’t that what everyone is searching for at this time of year?

“But he was wounded and crushed for our sins.  He was beaten that we might have peace…”

Isaiah 53:5

In His Death, He purchased peace with his blood.  “He was beaten that we might have peace…” 

Imagine your husband has had his eye on this spectacular diamond necklace for you for Christmas.  So, the day after Thanksgiving, he heads out to fight the crowds and bring it home for you.  He returns with cracked ribs, a black eye, bruises and scratches; but he has that necklace.  Now, what if you looked at it briefly then tossed it in a drawer and never gave it another thought.  That would be quite an insult to not cherish something for which such a high price was paid.

How much more so with the gift of peace He purchased for us on Calvary?

Paul says in Colossians 1:20 (in the Hebrew Names Version, which is simply the ASV with the Hebrew names inserted where applicable), “…having made shalom through the blood of His cross.”  (I want to come back to this word shalom in a minute, so don’t forget it.)  He is not waiting to create peace in our lives; He purchased it 2000 years ago on the cross.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"   After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.  Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you!”

John 20:19-21

In His resurrection, His first words to His disciples echoed His angelic birth announcement, “Here is peace...take it!”   He says it to them twice, just in case they missed it the first time. 

Shalom is a Hebrew word, so much richer in its range of meanings than the English word “peace,” which usually refers to the absence of outward conflict or to a state of inner calm.  The concept of shalom includes these ideas but goes beyond them, meaning “wholeness,” “completeness,” “finished word,” “perfection,” “safety,” or “wellness.”  Shalom comes from living in harmony with God.   The fruit of that harmony is harmony with others, prosperity, health, satisfaction, soundness, wholeness, and well-being.   When you pray to Yahweh Shalom, you are praying to the source of all peace.  No wonder his Son is called the Prince of Peace.

~Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler

His very name, Yahweh Shalom, is peace.  You should know that in each of the verses cited thus far, the HNV translates the word peace as shalom.  He himself is our peace (Eph. 2:14).   Peace is not something Christ gives, peace is who Christ is.

Did you ever stop to think that Christ did not come for Christmas?   He didn’t come so that we could have this  cozy time of year full of friends, family, parties, food and gifts.  He came for you.  His desire is for you to come to Him and acknowledge that without Him you can’t.  All those tasks, all those burdens, and those cares can’t be attended to without Him. 

It was my five year old son’s turn to set up the Nativity scene this year, so I handed him the box and pointed to the table were it was to be displayed.    Busy with other Christmas preparations, I didn’t get around to seeing how he had done until the next day when I glanced down in passing.  There were all the shepherds, angels, wise men, animals, Mary and Joseph crowded in a tight circle around the manger.  With a knowing chuckle, I carefully rearranged them the ‘right’ way and went on with my day.  The following day I noticed that, again, the entire Nativity cast was crowded into one group around the manger.  As I began to put them back in their proper places; the shepherds on the left with their sheep, the angels facing out near the stable, and so on, my son came up behind me.

“What are you doing, mom?”

“Well, I’m just setting up the Nativity the way it is supposed to be.” and I began to explain where all the figures went.

With his sweet little face showing great concern he said, “But I thought they all came to worship baby Jesus.”

My kids have a way of doing that.  A way of saying what I need to hear in a way that can only be straight from Him.  

Christmas is not about the outward appearances, celebrations or traditions.  It’s about Him.

He came and the world was too full and busy for Him.  Will He find it the same with us this Christmas?

He did the work He was sent for and now He waits for us to take it.

Can I encourage you to spend some time with Him this season?  Grab your Bible and read the Christmas story in the books of Matthew or Luke.  Go to Isaiah and read the prophecies about the Messiah’s coming.  Do a topical study on peace (I didn’t include half of the wonderful verses that I could have). Talk to Him as you read.  Reflect on it.  Meditate on His Word. 

In these last days before Christmas, I challenge you to find some quiet time to sit with your Savior.  He offers the gift of peace to you…will you make the time to sit with Him and open it?