Reading With the People of God #8 PeaceSample

Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. (NIV)

The Evangelist Luke records two occasions when God’s “good pleasure” (in Greek, eudokia) is mentioned. One of them is during the ministry of Jesus, when “he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will [eudokia]’” (10:21). The first and earliest mention was on the night Jesus was born, when “a multitude of the heavenly host” praised God and sang, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor [eudokia] rests” (2:14, NIV).

How fitting that in both of these contexts, those who heard the song and those of whom Jesus spoke were not the high and mighty but the humble and lowly: little children and shepherds. This is not because the “little people” of this world are especially deserving of God’s good pleasure. Rather, they are singled out because God’s way of working in this world is to bring all of us low, to diminish us, to empty us of ourselves, that we might receive in humble faith his good pleasure toward us in his Son, who fills us and enriches us with himself. As the mother of Jesus sang, “He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate” (Luke 1:52).

PEACE IN JESUS IS NOT SIMPLY THE ABSENCE OF CONFLICT OR FEAR , BUT THE FULLNESS OF LOVE.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,” the angels sang, for he alone is worthy of glory. And how does God show his glory? By sending his favor, his good pleasure, down to earth as a flesh-and-blood baby born in lowly circumstances. The Father’s glory in the highest heaven descends to us on earth in Jesus to give us peace. Peace in Jesus is not simply the absence of conflict or fear but the fullness of love. A fullness that fills us when we are brought low and emptied of self. A fullness that incorporates us into the life of God so that we might be the children of our heavenly Father. The good pleasure of heaven, the favor of our Father, rests upon us as we rest in Jesus, born for us that we might be reborn in him; this is true peace.

Good and gracious Father, fill us with your favor and grant us your good pleasure as we rest in the love of your Son, at peace with you. Amen.