Unto us A King is Born: Peace
Unto Us A King is Born • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Do you know the story behind Silent Night?
In 1816, Austrian priest Joseph Mohr wrote the lyrics to “Stille Nacht” to commemorate the coming of peace.
The poem was inspired by a walk he took through a quiet, winter town.
Mohr wrote the poem to convey hope that God cared for his congregation, who were poor, hungry, and traumatized after 12 years of the Napoleonic wars.
The song’s message of peace resonated strongly in the war-torn region where it originated, highlighting the power of a peaceful song even during times of conflict.
The people of ancient Israel would know what his feels like.
The readings for our devotional today take us to the last book of the Old Testament.
Malachi wrote approximately 450 years before the birth of Christ.
So the people of Israel still had longer to wait and anticipate the coming Messiah, something we now by looking back from the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
After Malachi wrote there would be a brake of 450 years where God no longer spoke to His people.
Then suddenly one night in Bethlehem news of the Messiah came to people.
It brought a hope of peace in a time when the people were yet again in bondage, this time to the Romans.
However, the message of our reading would seem to not be one of peace.
Malachi wrote during a time when the people were still rebuilding, they were still under Persian leadership, so God sent his people a message — Malachi 3:1-4
1 “Behold, I am sending My messenger, and he will clear a way before Me. And the Lord, whom you are seeking, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of armies.
2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire, and like launderer’s soap.
3 And He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.
4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old, and as in former years.
Are you ready for the message God has for us today?
Cool the get your Bible, a pen, the sermon sheet, and let’s dig in!
Why? — The people will be unprepared for the Messiah — Malachi 3:2
2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire, and like launderer’s soap.
However, instead of preparing the people they find themselves once again at odds with God — Mark 7:6-8
6 But He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘this people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me.
7 ‘and in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”
Wow!
The priests had not been doing their job just as God prophesied. — Malachi 3:3
3 And He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.
There are two messengers in Malachi 3.
The first — Malachi 3:1a
1 “Behold, I am sending My messenger, and he will clear a way before Me. And the Lord, whom you are seeking, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of armies.
This is John the Baptist.
Jesus himself says this is true — Matthew 11:8-11
8 But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces!
9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet.
10 This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I am sending My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way before You.’
11 “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Just as God had said John suddenly appeared with this message of preparation.
The second messenger was Jesus Malachi 3:1b
1 “Behold, I am sending My messenger, and he will clear a way before Me. And the Lord, whom you are seeking, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of armies.
3 And He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.
John the baptist tells us this about Messiah — Matthew 3:12
His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Do you think that I came to provide peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division;
So it depends on what you mean by peace.
If you define peace as the world does — freedom from disturbance; tranquility; a state or period in which there is no war or a war has ended.
Then I would say no, Jesus did not bring peace.
But what about the angels in Luke 2:14?
14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.”
This peace is a peace that is a blessing or favor from God.
4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old, and as in former years.
The intent was to bring peace between people and God.
The peace the world expects will never happen in a fallen and broken world.
Conclusion
Yet peace between God and man now that is possible.
Not because of anything we do but because of Jesus.
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
2 just as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I am sending My messenger Before you, Who will prepare your way;
3 the voice of one calling Out in the wilderness, ‘prepare the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight!’ ”
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
I would like to invite the worship team back up to sing.
So, what are you going to based upon what God has said today?
