As we read in our first advent reading a couple of weeks ago it was prophesied that Jesus would be known as the Prince of Peace. A hope humanity has resonated with for thousands of years. In Jesus we find the fulfilment of this longing for all things to realign with His Kingdom. In His words, “the Kingdom is near” we find peace that His will can be done here on earth as it is in Heaven. But as we wonder at the unfolding story we see that His arrival in this world was anything but peaceful when Herod was involved.
Similarly at that time Bethlehem was a small village, 6 miles from Jerusalem, with little influence in the world. This is where God chose for our Messiah, Jesus Christ to make His entrance, a little town that most of us would have probably overlooked. Sometimes it can be easy to misunderstand what He is doing in our lives because it doesn’t look like we expect. Herod was so threatened by the thought of someone diminishing his power he completely failed to recognise God drawing near. We see it again later in Jesus’ life as He starts up His ministry when people begin asking questions like, “isn’t he the carpenter from Nazareth, can anything good come from Nazareth?” They start laughing about Him because His background doesn’t match up to their expectations.
Just as we see His coming in an unlikely town and announced to unlikely herdsmen we find peace that God very often draws close to us in places and in ways that can be easy to overlook, maybe even the places that we think are God forsaken.
So as we reflect on the Prince of Peace drawing near, long may we be encouraged that there is nowhere too dark or too hidden that His peace cannot permeate and long may we find His peace when we seek His presence.
Luke 2 8- 14
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”