Someday at Christmas
When we think of peace on earth, some think of it with a very personal meaning, perhaps even a therapeutic context assuming that Jesus bringing peace on earth is about calming our own inner turmoil. And while a reorientation of our lives around being Jesus’ family together can certainly result in substantial inner peace, that’s much too small of a reason to describe why Jesus came.
Others think of peace on earth as global peace between all peoples and nations, brought about from within, as incremental progress is made through good ideas and strong community. And while, as part of God’s household, we are called to be His loving family, with one another and to the world, the scriptures are clear that this is not how peace on earth is brought to full completion.
When we read in 1 Cor 6, where Paul tells the church they will judge the world and angels, we tend to conjure up images of courtrooms and black robes. But that's not what Paul meant. When Jesus returns He will establish his rule on earth, not with a gavel, but with a sword, ready to battle evil and live up to the phrase inked on his leg, "King of Kings and Lord of Lords". (Rev. 19:16) It is difficult for us to envision this powerful transition of the ages.
We tend to think of Jesus' return more like a scene from a Marvel movie, where he shows up, snaps his fingers and everything is instantly made right. But that concept ignores implications of the incarnation (God becoming human) and the resurrection (God remaining human, but in a glorified physical body). God has always chosen to work within the context of his creation to bring about his plan (the unfolding covenants with Abraham, Israel, David, reoriented around Jesus and his new family made of all peoples). This “snapture” idea ignores much of the imagery from the book of Revelation (Rev 19) about what Jesus’ final judgment will look like. God isn’t going to just suddenly diverge from that plan right at the end. He’s not going to just skip over the context of the world he created and set us on task within.
Jesus will finally rule on this earth, bringing about peace. But the way he will achieve that, when he returns as Judge and King, is by going to battle with evil. Did we really think evil was going to look at him and just roll over? No, it will raise up its head and resist him with everything it has, right to the end, but he will win the long battle.
The film The Return of the King communicates this idea a scene where some of the Kings of Middle Earth have finally trapped one of the evil rulers in his tower, and suddenly the voice of this evil ruler becomes sweet and inviting, asking why we can’t just have peace. Then the King who has just watched the armies of this evil person decimate his people, gives his answer.
“We shall have peace… We shall have peace, when you answer for the burning of the Westfold, and the children that lie dead there! We shall have peace when the lives of the soldiers whose bodies were hewn even as they died against the gates of the Hornberg are avenged! When you hang from a gibbit for the sport of your own crows…! We shall have peace.” - From the film, The Return of the King based on the book by J.R.R. Tolkien
So as we sing about peace on earth this season, let's not get carried completely away by the warm nostalgia of mangers, young livestock and calmn nights, but let’s remember that he has placed us here with a task to be carried out before he will return. Living our lives together as family, out in the midst of our neighborhoods, cities and cultures, helping to create authentic, stable community where none exists, which reflects God’s eternal wisdom to all who are watching. Let’s remain on task and get to the work, together.
Because someday at Christmas… Jesus will not lie in a manger, but sit on a throne. Ruling with power. Once and for all, bringing peace on earth.