Advent

One of the things I love about Christmas is the different nativity scenes. And one of the things about nativity scenes is that they seem so peaceful. 

It’s hard to imagine a more peaceful scene than Joseph and Mary with newborn baby Jesus, surrounded by sheep and shepherds under the night sky. We even sing about peace in one of the most popular Christmas carols: “Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright. Round yon virgin, mother and Child, Holy Infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.”

We all desire peace, and yet peace is sadly lacking in our world. People are full of worry and anxiety. Relationships are full of conflict and stress. This world is full of conflict and wars.

But that’s where Jesus comes in. Because Jesus is not only our hope at Christmas, He is also our peace. And it is only in Christ that we will ever truly obtain peace. As someone said: “There will never be agreement at the peace tables of the world or rest in the individual heart until the Prince of Peace reigns supreme in the hearts of everyone!