– Introduction:Whether it be printed on a greeting card or emblazoned on a sign outside a church, the proclamation of “peace on earth and goodwill to all” often comes to the fore around Christmas time. These few short words sum up for many the warm feeling that is synonymous with Christmas, conveying an implicit hope, a spirit of generosity and a kindly disposition towards others. Another ubiquitous feature of the modern season of goodwill is the Christmas song, which often alludes to this universal seasonal sentiment.
– If we lift our heads above the tinsel and trappings and take a cold, hard look at the world around us, the frequently used words of comfort and cheer seem hollow-a mere platitude. Where the peace and goodwill are so often alluded to? Unfortunately, armed conflict and interpersonal strife are ever present in our world.
– Heralding Peace: Centuries before Jesus was born, his birth was foreseen by the prophet Isaiah. In a section of the Bible often read in churches at Christmas, we find this proclamation: “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom.” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
– So where is this peace that the birth of Jesus is meant to have brought and that so many religious people refer to at this time of year? Unfortunately, focusing on a cute, harmless baby in a manger creates little more than a mirage of peace. The Christmas scenes, nativity plays and greeting-card pictures have immortalized Jesus in the minds of many as a baby. As Charles Wesley put it in his hymn “Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild,” “the world shall always see Christ, the Holy Child, in me.”
– English writer Steve Turner wrote a poem titled “Christmas is really for the Children.” It begins by detailing the holiday’s appeal to youngsters, with its animals, stars, babies, kings, etc. However, the poem takes a darker turn when describing Easter, we are told that it “is not really for the children unless accompanied by a cream filled egg. It has whips, blood, nails, a spear and allegations of body snatching.” He concludes by suggesting that children had best not ask “what Jesus did when he grew up or whether there’s any connection” between traditional Christianity’s two most important holidays.
– The birth of Jesus, meant to be but part of the story of His life, has been given so much importance in its own right that it is virtually devoid of context and real meaning. It is not surprising that, faced with the harsh realities of life as depicted on the news or experienced first-hand, increasing numbers reject the religiosity of Christmas as a sham, a pretence of peace and goodwill. Of what relevance is the image, the concept, of “baby Jesus” beyond being comfort food for the soul? What is Christmas but a temporary Band-Aid for all of life’s problems-problems that will return with a vengeance once the lights and tinsel are put away for another year? Seeing this, many reject all that the Bible has to say on the subject of peace and hope.
– The irony is that Christmas actually hides from people the real plan for bringing peace to this earth. It may come as a surprise to some that nowhere in the Bible is there any indication that we should celebrate the birth of Jesus. Instead the Bible is clear on setting out an annual schedule of festivals that picture, among other things, God’s plan to usher in a time of peace. These are the same festivals that Jesus Himself kept, as did His original disciples and early followers. They are still kept today by those who choose to try to live “by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
– The irony is that Christmas actually from people the real plan for bringing peace to this earth. It may come as a surprise to some that nowhere in the Bible is there any indication that we should celebrate the birth of Jesus. Instead the Bible is clear on setting out an annual schedule of festivals that picture, among other things, God’s plan to usher in a time of peace. These are the same festivals that Jesus Himself kept, as did His original disciples and early followers. They are still kept today by those who choose to try to live “by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
– It is interesting to note that “Peace on earth and goodwill to all men” is actually a mistranslation that has been accepted and repeated without question over the years. The proclamation made by the heavenly host, witnessed by the shepherds while they watched their flocks, is more correctly translated “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” (Luke 2:14). God is pleased with us when we do our best to obey His laws and commandments rather than following our own traditions (Mark 7:6-9).
– War Baby: Jesus was born into a part of the world that had seen a succession of military overthrows by conquering assailants, a place where warfare had been rife for millennia. At the time of His birth, Judea and its king, Herod, were subject to Roman rule. Herod, fearful of a rival king, tried to trick the magi from the East into telling him the whereabouts of this new-born king. They did not, and later Herod murderously decreed death for all boys up to the age of two (Mathew 2:16). To escape this fate, Jesus’ parents fled with Him into Egypt.
– This was the world into which Jesus was born. All of these events took place during the reign of Roman emperor Augustus (27 B.C.E.-14 C.E), a period that began what was subsequently dubbed PaxRomana,or “Roman Peace.” Under this arrangement the Roman Empire protected and governed individual provinces, such as Judea, permitting each to make and administer its own laws while accepting Roman taxation and military control. Of course, only those who did not oppose Roman rule experienced “peace” under this system. Much as now, it was in reality a world devoid of true peace.
– During His ministry, Jesus, doubtless to the dismay of His followers, made it clear that He had not come to overthrow and replace the Roman overlords of the Jewish State. Instead He taught submission and respect to those in authority. On one occasion the Jewish secular and religious leaders tried to trick Him into pitting Himself against their Roman oppressors with regard to paying taxes to Caesar. But Jesus did not take the bait and confounded them by saying, “Give to the emperor the things that are emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”(Mark 12:17).
– Likewise when brought to face Pontius prior to His crucifixion, Jesus declared that His disciples were not going to fight for His release: “My kingdom is not from this world,” He said “If My kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my Kingdome is not from here.” (John 18:36)
– “God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4).
– Clearly Jesus did not bring peace to the world simply by being born as a baby. Neither did He have any wish to create an uprising of the sort we have seen sweep much of the Arab world over the past year.
– The Peace Plan: After His death and resurrection Jesus appeared to His disciples, at which time they asked Him, displaying a somewhat parochial outlook, if He was now going to restore the kingdom to Israel. He replied that it would be up to His Father in heaven to determine the right time to intervene. In the meantime, the disciples had a job to do, spreading the good news of God’s coming kingdom across the whole earth.
– When He had ascended into heaven, angels appeared and told the disciples that He would one day return. It is this time that will herald a new world order, when Jesus Christ returns as King and Ruler and takes up the reins of government. It is then that Isaiah’s prophecy concerning true peace will begin to be fulfilled on a worldwide scale, as will the prophecy that says, “Nation shall lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4). Isaiah was also inspired to write: “Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quite resting places” (Isaiah 32: 16-18).
– Conclusion: The birth of Jesus was a wonderful event and one that signalled another phase in God’s plan for rescuing humanity. It did not, however, usher in a time of peace. Although God does indeed call us to live peaceful lives at present, the fulfilment of the promise of peace for the whole world is yet future. Christmas, with its mixture of biblical fact and human error and misconception, along with pagan ritual and rampant commercialism, serves only to obscure the truth-namely, that a time of peace is coming. God speed that day.
Rev. Fr. C Joseph-Counsellor
St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama
