Lk 2:11 NET Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. 2:12 This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” 2:13 Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!”
Jesus said it clearly, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth, but a sword" (Mt 10:34). Is there a contradiction here? We're the heavenly messengers mistaken? Are we somehow misled? NO! Jesus will indeed bring peace to this troubled earth, completely and finally - one day, but not today, and not this "Christmas Day" when the shepherds came.
Israel's Messiah came to Israel knowing she would "nationally" reject Him, yet because God so loved her, He came to her wanting her even though she rejected Him. THINK ABOUT IT! In the over all plan of God, how could He more easily and effectively get the good news spread abroad, through the Jews, with their history and reputation of pride and arrogance and their consideration of Gentiles as "DOGS", or through the Gentiles who would be absolutely overwhelmed that Almighty God would so love them as to "make them a people which were no people..." or to use the Gentiles to make the Jews jealous? The Jews have only a religion nationally, but we have a relationship spiritually - both Jew and Gentild, and that is the "...peace among the people with whom He is pleased" for "without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please Him.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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