Holy Night: Who Needs Peace?

Jesus has come to bring us peace within, because he makes peace between.

the word “advent” means “coming”

Nothing is impossible with God

Show First Scene from “Holy Night”: The Social Rejection of Shepherds

Because we do know that it was hard out there for a shepherd at the time of Jesus.”

Shepherds: they were lowly within the grand scheme of societal structure.

Can you imagine what was going on within these shepherds?

The battle that raged in their heads and their hearts?”

I am of little worth.
I am worthless.
I am unwanted.
Unloved.
Unclean.

You and I have a lot in common with a shepherd.

Wasn’t just a socially-dire situation; it was spiritually-dire, too.

“It’s because of people like you that the Messiah has not come…”

Pharisee :"Due to your sin — due to the things you’ve said and left unsaid, done and left undone — it’s not just people who are disgusted by you, but God himself, too."

"And so it’s not just people who are dismissive of you, but God himself, too. He’s done with you, because you’re just too far gone.”

Sin is a very real thing.

But you’ll need to point out that a perfect lamb could only do so much for men and women. Something greater was needed. Someone.

Can you imagine what was going on within these shepherds?
…Of course you can.

Because while you might not be a shepherd, you are a human being…

While you might not be a shepherd, you are a human being…

Luke 2:8-15
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 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.”

for all the people…All...Even shepherds.

How perfect it is — that the first people to hear of Jesus’s birth are the shepherds.

It was the way for God to drive home the idea that the Messiah was for “all the people” — for everyone.

You might not be a shepherd, but all of this is for you, too.

He came for us.

Jesus has come to bring us peace within because he makes peace between — between us and ourselves, and between us and God.