By Dr. Robert C Crowder
Reading:
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.
Luke 2:8-14 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 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. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Reflection:
Seven centuries before the angels appeared to the shepherds, Isaiah prophesied, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given… and his name shall be called… The Prince of Peace.” On the hills of Bethlehem, that prophecy became a proclamation. The angelic announcement that night is one of the most familiar passages in all of Scripture, yet its theological depth is easily missed in the beauty of its simplicity. The shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks by night; ordinary men doing ordinary work, when suddenly the glory of the Lord shone round about them. Heaven broke onto earth. The eternal invaded time. And the message delivered that night revealed the inseparable connection between God’s glory and humanity’s peace. What Isaiah foretold, the angels announced: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
The angel began with a command that appears frequently when God reveals Himself: “Fear not.” The natural human response to the unveiled glory of God is deep alarm, awe, or dread. We are creatures of dust standing before the infinite, holy Creator. Isaiah cried out, “Woe is me! for I am undone.”[1] John fell as though dead when he saw the risen Christ.[2] The glory of God exposes our smallness and our sinfulness. But the angel’s message was not one of judgment. Instead, it was one of joy: “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
Notice the scope of the announcement: “to all people.” The gospel does not limit itself to one nation, one tribe, or one class. The Jewish shepherds heard the message first, but God intended it for every tongue, tribe, and nation. This is the cosmic scope of the incarnation. The Savior born in Bethlehem came to redeem men from every corner of the earth. The peace He brings is universal in its offer, though particular in its application; received by faith, rejected in unbelief.
The content of the good news is precise: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”Three titles in one declaration.
- He is Savior; the One who delivers from sin, death, and the wrath of God. Humanity’s deepest need is not political liberation, economic prosperity, or social reform, though these may follow. Our deepest need is salvation from the guilt and power of sin.
- He is Christ; the Anointed One, the Messiah promised through the prophets, the fulfillment of every Old Testament type and shadow.
- And He is Lord;Kurios in Greek, the term used in the Septuagint to translate the covenant name of God, Yahweh. This baby in the manger is deity wrapped in flesh, the Lord of heaven and earth lying helpless in human hands.
Then came the heavenly chorus: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
The structure of this doxology[3] is significant. Glory ascends to God; peace descends to earth. The two are not in competition; they are complementary. God is most glorified when His peace reigns in human hearts. And true peace only comes when God receives the glory due His name. Without glorifying God, every attempt to find peace will fail. We cannot have Earth’s peace while robbing heaven’s glory.
The phrase “good will toward men” has been debated, some manuscripts read “peace among men with whom he is pleased” or “peace to men of good will,” that is, to those who receive the Savior by faith. This is not universal peace granted indiscriminately. It is covenantal peace extended to those who believe. The peace announced by the angels is the peace purchased by the blood of the Lamb and applied by the Spirit to all who trust in Christ.
The Savior born in Bethlehem came to end the hostility between heaven and humanity. Adam’s sin brought enmity; Christ’s obedience brought reconciliation. The first Adam plunged the race into war with God; the last Adam made peace through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20). When we give glory to God; acknowledging His holiness, His justice, His mercy, and His grace, peace fills our hearts and begins to permeate our relationships, our homes, and our world.
Every believer who yields to the lordship of Christ becomes a living echo of that angelic song. We are called to glorify God in all we do[4] and to be peacemakers who reflect the character of our Father.[5] The message of the angels was not only for that spring night in Judea; it is the message of the gospel for all time. Glory to God produces peace on earth, beginning in every heart that bows before the Savior.
Prayer:
- Ask God to let His peace dwell richly in you and overflow through you to others.
- Pray for His help to live in a way that brings glory to His name, understanding the eternal connection between His glory and your peace.
Consider:
Tonight before bed, read Luke 2:14 aloud.
Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Thank God specifically for the peace Jesus brings peace with God through justification, the peace of God through sanctification, and the hope of eternal peace in glorification. Write down one way you can be a peacemaker in your home, church, or community this week.
[1] Isaiah 6:5
[2] Revelation 1:17
[3] Doxology – A hymn or form of words expressing praise to God. From the Greek doxa (glory) and logos (word or speaking). A doxology is a short expression of praise that glorifies God, often used in worship. Examples include “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost” and the final verse of many hymns beginning with “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”
[4] 1 Corinthians 10:31
[5] Matthew 5:9
Robert C. Crowder Ministries 
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