Luke 2:1-20
We might be shocked if we saw the reality of the nativity. Our romanticized, nostalgic images painted in soft pastels and neat, friendly confines bear no resemblance to the reality of that first Christmas. We might not be far from the truth to say we get nothing right in our imagination of the nativity. That is also true for verse 14; popular understanding gets almost nothing right. This verse which has been so poorly translated and used completely out of context so that it has all but lost it’s meaning. From the KJV and the popular quotations we have “Peace on earth and good will to men”. We take that as something of a silly universalism where, because of the Messiah’s birth peace, which we do not define, has descended on earth like fairy dust. Popularly “good will” is some vague emotion that can’t be defined but is warm and fuzzy. We don’t define what “good will” means; it will flow out of somewhere from someone to anyone. Even the vilest sociopaths like the sound of that. The problem is that is not what Luke 2:14 says.
The words of the angels were much less general and sappy! The NASB translates it, “And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” This is not a blank check for everyone on earth to have vague warmth about divine beneficent. Rather, this is to say God’s good pleasure or peace is uniquely directed toward those who have made it their objective to please Him. The God who has humbled Himself for our salvation, who has done everything possible to draw us into a relationship, will bless with His favor those who respond. This is not a promise that peace will come on earth with accompanying feelings of warmth and sentimentality. So long as we live in a world with wickedness, we can’t expect God’s favor or harmony between men. It is not unlike the greeting “Grace and Peace”. When we accept the grace we discover the peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment