WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.040 Bowie turned up at the taping of Bing Cosby's last ever Christmas special 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:09.820 and was told Bing wants to do a duet on Little Drummer Boy. 00:00:10.679 --> 00:00:13.519 And David Bowie says, I absolutely hate that song. 00:00:13.980 --> 00:00:15.500 Can't we sing something else? 00:00:16.059 --> 00:00:18.039 And so the producer of the show went away. 00:00:18.379 --> 00:00:22.480 They took an hour and they wrote the little sub-song that's in it, Peace on Earth. 00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:28.859 And that really is what sets it apart, isn't it, from the normal run-of-the-mill traditional Christmas fare. 00:00:29.859 --> 00:00:33.719 You might have had some difficulty hearing some of the words for the rum-pum-pum-pums. 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:39.340 And so I'll put them up on the screen there just so we get a flavour of what it was that Bowie was singing about. 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:43.519 He's taking the words of the shepherds from Luke chapter 2. 00:00:44.140 --> 00:00:47.579 I'm thinking about it and thinking, well, is this realistic? 00:00:48.859 --> 00:00:52.039 The angel sang about peace on earth. 00:00:52.379 --> 00:00:55.399 Is that something in our day we can see? 00:00:55.500 --> 00:00:57.939 And they were hoping that perhaps it would be. 00:00:57.939 --> 00:01:06.459 As throughout much of the 20th century, people thought, if only we can get the technology right and get people talking together, we can have peace on earth. 00:01:07.500 --> 00:01:09.060 Well, it hasn't really happened, hasn't it? 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:09.759 Has it? 00:01:10.359 --> 00:01:17.799 This year, wars have claimed around 50,000 lives in Syria, 35,000 in Afghanistan, 20,000 in Iraq, 00:01:17.799 --> 00:01:30.000 11,000 in Central Africa, Nigeria and so on with Poco Haram, 6,000 in Yemen, 6,000 in Mexico from drug wars, 4,500 in Ukraine, and I could go on and on. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:38.799 And every single one of these statistics was a son or daughter, a husband or wife, a father or mother. 00:01:39.879 --> 00:01:46.299 Peace on earth, as we look around, is something that we really haven't seen in our time. 00:01:46.519 --> 00:01:48.859 Guys pressed the wrong button there, apologies to the guys at the back. 00:01:48.859 --> 00:01:56.840 So what did the angels get it wrong when they sang about peace on earth? 00:01:57.299 --> 00:01:59.359 Well, let's look at what they actually sang. 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:06.260 You remember the context, which was that the shepherds were out in the field looking after their flocks, 00:02:06.260 --> 00:02:12.700 and the angel, single angel to begin with, appeared to them and said, with the glory of God shining round about, 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:19.640 and said, don't be afraid, for unto you is born today in the city of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord. 00:02:20.340 --> 00:02:25.599 And then the great multitude of the angels appear in the skies, and this is what they sang, 00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:34.860 glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests. 00:02:34.860 --> 00:02:43.280 So they didn't actually say that there would be peace on earth in the sense of absence of war. 00:02:44.220 --> 00:02:54.320 Rather they said that what was given to us through Jesus was peace for those on whom God's favour rests. 00:02:54.380 --> 00:02:57.820 We'll come back in a minute to think about what that means. 00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:02.540 But let me just for a second talk about something different in the angel's song. 00:03:02.539 --> 00:03:06.879 Because hidden away in it, there are two military themes. 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:11.199 Now it's not very obvious if we think about angels, shepherds, songs about peace, how it is military. 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:14.579 But there are two things of military significance. 00:03:16.019 --> 00:03:18.899 And the first is we think of the angels as a heavenly choir, 00:03:19.739 --> 00:03:23.340 but actually what it says is a multitude of the heavenly host. 00:03:24.099 --> 00:03:27.739 And what that really means is it's a multitude of heaven's army. 00:03:27.740 --> 00:03:36.840 In the Old Testament, the traditional versions, many, many times it talks about God as the Lord of hosts. 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:43.280 If you read a more modern version, it may well say something like the Lord of heaven's armies. 00:03:44.180 --> 00:03:48.140 And the angels who appeared there, the heavenly host who appeared there, 00:03:48.360 --> 00:03:50.600 I'm sure they didn't have their sword face or anything like that, 00:03:50.599 --> 00:03:59.039 but it was a show of divine strength, of the great multitude that God had to call on as his messengers, 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:04.060 as his people, and if necessary, as his army. 00:04:04.139 --> 00:04:07.560 It was heaven's army that was appearing in the sky. 00:04:09.299 --> 00:04:10.939 The second thing was down on earth. 00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:15.000 The shepherds would probably, if they heard the word peace on earth, 00:04:15.099 --> 00:04:18.879 might well have recognised and thought about something called the Pax Romana. 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:22.120 The Pax Romana was peace of Rome, 00:04:22.639 --> 00:04:27.379 and it was something that started by Caesar Augustus about 20 years before the Lord was born, 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:29.379 and lasted for about 200 years, 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:32.319 and it was the principle in which the Roman Empire was founded 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:35.779 that they wanted to have peace within their boundaries. 00:04:36.740 --> 00:04:41.019 They weren't constantly going to look and aggressively extend the boundaries of their empire, 00:04:41.019 --> 00:04:42.139 it was already huge, 00:04:42.519 --> 00:04:46.639 but what they wanted to do was to ensure peace within the boundaries, 00:04:46.639 --> 00:04:49.099 not to have nations rising against them, 00:04:49.399 --> 00:04:53.959 and to have a civilisation where people felt that they could live peacefully, 00:04:54.399 --> 00:04:57.060 and that they were protected by Rome. 00:04:57.860 --> 00:04:59.139 Now that worked to an extent, 00:04:59.599 --> 00:05:02.379 and there were no great wars most of the time, 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:05.300 but of course there were pockets of resistance, 00:05:05.479 --> 00:05:07.839 there were pockets of resistance in Israel among other places, 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:11.979 and they were put down with great brutality by the Romans. 00:05:11.980 --> 00:05:16.360 So although there was the semblance of peace externally, 00:05:17.140 --> 00:05:19.520 actually it was a peace that came from fear, 00:05:20.020 --> 00:05:22.939 and from the knowledge that if you dared to disturb that peace, 00:05:23.379 --> 00:05:26.300 then really nasty things would happen to you. 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:28.980 There was a Roman philosopher called Epicitas, 00:05:29.860 --> 00:05:30.980 and he said this, 00:05:30.980 --> 00:05:35.340 While the emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, 00:05:36.100 --> 00:05:40.540 he is unable to give peace from passion, grief, and envy. 00:05:41.379 --> 00:05:43.100 He cannot give peace of heart, 00:05:43.540 --> 00:05:49.360 for which man yearns more than even for outward peace. 00:05:50.280 --> 00:05:52.540 So the Romans could have a semblance of peace, 00:05:52.600 --> 00:05:55.500 they could have an absence of war in their empire, 00:05:55.900 --> 00:06:00.120 but the regime that they had didn't bring real peace. 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:03.019 What the angels were saying to the shepherds is, 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:05.060 we have something today to bring to you 00:06:05.060 --> 00:06:09.540 that will bring real peace to those who will receive it. 00:06:10.040 --> 00:06:12.319 Not just the absence of war, 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:15.899 but that peace of heart that people are looking for, 00:06:16.459 --> 00:06:21.360 that peace that can see us through the hardest times in our lives. 00:06:21.780 --> 00:06:24.579 It is the peace from God. 00:06:25.780 --> 00:06:27.220 Trust me, that I want to think about, 00:06:27.220 --> 00:06:30.780 as we think about what the shepherds were told. 00:06:31.640 --> 00:06:32.460 First thing is, 00:06:32.740 --> 00:06:35.640 the importance of having peace with God. 00:06:36.680 --> 00:06:38.820 Now the angel said to the shepherds, 00:06:39.080 --> 00:06:44.040 that there will be peace for those on whom God's favour rests. 00:06:44.460 --> 00:06:46.520 Who are those on whom God's favour rests? 00:06:46.840 --> 00:06:49.040 They are those who are willing to receive him, 00:06:49.400 --> 00:06:51.480 and in particular who are willing to receive 00:06:51.480 --> 00:06:53.780 that baby who was born in Bethlehem, 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:57.259 who went on to be the saviour of the world. 00:06:57.480 --> 00:06:59.860 So Paul writing to Christians in Rome could say, 00:07:00.300 --> 00:07:05.480 we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:07:06.460 --> 00:07:07.980 And Jesus came into the world, 00:07:08.259 --> 00:07:09.040 he was born, 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:10.660 he lived a perfect life, 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:12.819 he died our death on the cross, 00:07:12.819 --> 00:07:16.080 so that we could have peace with God. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:19.939 So that what had been created by our rebellion against God, 00:07:20.019 --> 00:07:21.199 what we would call our sin, 00:07:21.560 --> 00:07:24.599 what had been done through that which had separated us from God, 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:26.219 could be done away with, 00:07:26.479 --> 00:07:29.300 and through the death of the Lord Jesus taking our place, 00:07:29.659 --> 00:07:30.839 taking our sins, 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:35.479 we could come to a position of peace with God. 00:07:36.339 --> 00:07:37.879 And the second thing that was offered 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:39.659 as Jesus came into the world 00:07:39.659 --> 00:07:41.839 was the peace of God. 00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:43.919 So you have peace with God, 00:07:44.060 --> 00:07:45.979 you have a relationship with God 00:07:45.979 --> 00:07:48.659 that is living and is active, 00:07:48.979 --> 00:07:51.399 and then you can experience in your life 00:07:51.399 --> 00:07:54.479 the peace that can only come from God. 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:56.879 These are the words of Jesus I put up on the screen 00:07:56.879 --> 00:07:58.879 from just before he died, 00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:00.399 he was in the upper room with his disciples, 00:08:00.919 --> 00:08:01.719 and he said this, 00:08:01.819 --> 00:08:03.099 peace I leave with you, 00:08:03.620 --> 00:08:05.000 my peace I give you, 00:08:05.459 --> 00:08:07.879 I don't give you peace as the world gives, 00:08:08.659 --> 00:08:10.620 do not let your heart be troubled, 00:08:10.620 --> 00:08:13.879 and do not be afraid. 00:08:15.480 --> 00:08:18.100 And what Christ can offer us this Christmas 00:08:18.100 --> 00:08:20.319 is peace with God, 00:08:20.840 --> 00:08:22.920 the peace of knowing that our relationship with God 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:25.519 has been restored as we have put our trust 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:26.800 in the Lord Jesus. 00:08:27.660 --> 00:08:30.699 And he can offer us the peace of God, 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:33.100 the peace that in whatever circumstances 00:08:33.100 --> 00:08:34.659 we find ourselves in life, 00:08:34.940 --> 00:08:36.980 we can know that God is with us 00:08:36.980 --> 00:08:40.320 and we can enjoy his presence. 00:08:41.340 --> 00:08:42.740 Over the last year or so, 00:08:42.840 --> 00:08:44.440 there have been five ladies 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:45.940 from our church fellowship here 00:08:45.940 --> 00:08:48.399 who have gone to be with the Lord through death. 00:08:48.440 --> 00:08:50.420 I was privileged to be with a couple of them 00:08:50.420 --> 00:08:53.080 in hospital in the last few days of their life 00:08:53.080 --> 00:08:54.039 to visit them there, 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:57.940 and I was very struck by the peace that they had. 00:08:58.519 --> 00:09:00.259 They had absolute confidence 00:09:00.259 --> 00:09:03.220 that when they left this world, 00:09:03.799 --> 00:09:07.259 when the illnesses they had finally took them, 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:10.340 that they would go to be with the Lord Jesus, 00:09:10.939 --> 00:09:13.879 and that would be for them much better. 00:09:14.419 --> 00:09:16.740 And they didn't look forward to death with fear 00:09:16.740 --> 00:09:19.319 and with wonder of what was going to lie beyond it. 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:21.419 They looked forward to the fact 00:09:21.419 --> 00:09:24.259 that the sufferings of this life would be behind them. 00:09:24.259 --> 00:09:27.360 They would go to be with Jesus. 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:29.919 That's an example of the peace of God 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:33.039 as peace we can also have in our everyday life. 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:35.519 If we know Jesus, if our trust is in him, 00:09:35.799 --> 00:09:39.679 and if we're following him and depending on him. 00:09:40.659 --> 00:09:43.259 If you want to know more about this peace, 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:45.100 we have a couple of books we'd be very happy 00:09:45.100 --> 00:09:45.659 if you took away. 00:09:45.939 --> 00:09:47.740 Many of you have got this one as you came in, 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:48.980 if I remember to hand it to you. 00:09:49.259 --> 00:09:51.399 A Very Different Christmas by Rico Tice. 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:53.159 Some of you may have got the red one 00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:54.939 through the doors, the gospel by Luke, 00:09:55.299 --> 00:09:56.620 and the full story of Jesus. 00:09:57.019 --> 00:09:58.120 If you haven't got them, 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:00.679 please do take them when you leave this evening 00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:02.299 and read them. 00:10:03.179 --> 00:10:07.179 I want to finish though by changing the words of Epicitas 00:10:07.179 --> 00:10:09.659 and thinking what they mean for us 00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:11.740 if we know the Lord Jesus. 00:10:11.899 --> 00:10:13.480 Perhaps it could go something like this. 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:19.699 While Jesus doesn't promise peace from war on land and sea, 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:22.839 he is able to give peace from passion, 00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:28.899 grief which man yearns more even than for outward peace. 00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:31.879 May we know that peace and the joy 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:35.139 that comes through the Lord Jesus this Christmas. 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:36.419 Let's pray together. 00:10:40.299 --> 00:10:42.179 Our Father, we thank you for the peace 00:10:42.179 --> 00:10:43.600 that the Lord Jesus brings. 00:10:44.299 --> 00:10:46.079 We thank you it is much more important 00:10:46.079 --> 00:10:47.659 even than peace from war. 00:10:48.459 --> 00:10:50.839 It is the peace of knowing that we have a relationship 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:52.280 with the living God. 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:54.980 It is the peace of knowing that our future 00:10:54.980 --> 00:10:56.580 is eternally secure. 00:10:57.200 --> 00:10:58.860 It is the peace that comes 00:10:58.860 --> 00:11:02.480 from having the presence of the Lord Jesus with us. 00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:06.500 We pray that each of us may know that peace this Christmas, 00:11:07.300 --> 00:11:10.160 that we may think something of what the Lord Jesus 00:11:10.160 --> 00:11:11.259 has done for us, 00:11:11.259 --> 00:11:15.279 and that we may make sure that our trust is in him. 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:17.899 And now may the God of hope 00:11:17.899 --> 00:11:21.139 fill us with all joy and peace 00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:22.960 as we trust him 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:25.899 so that we may overflow with hope 00:11:25.899 --> 00:11:28.879 by the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:30.179 Amen. 00:11:30.179 --> 00:11:30.419 Amen. 00:11:30.419 --> 00:11:30.620 Amen. 00:11:30.620 --> 00:11:30.899 Amen. 00:11:32.539 --> 00:11:32.899 Amen. 00:11:32.899 --> 00:11:33.699 Amen. 00:11:33.779 --> 00:11:34.059 Amen. 00:11:34.059 --> 00:11:34.899 Amen. 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:35.159 Amen. 00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:36.219 Amen.