"Bethlehem: Back to the Future"

Sermon by Pastor David Layman

December 23, 2007

Luke 2:8-20

My name is David. I'm a shepherd from the hills outside of Bethelehem. Through time travel, I'm able to bring this report to you folks who live some 2,000 years later in Indiana. I've been spending some time trying to get acclimated to the changes that have taken place in the last 2,000 years, and to what life is like for you folks. Because I want you to really take to heart what happened in Palestine 2,000 years ago. Taking a page from my favorite author, Luke, I want you, like Mary, to ponder these things in your hearts!

I and my shepherd friends were what you would consider blue collar folks. We'd be quite at home today in the hills of Kentucky or southern Indiana. If we lived in a town, it would be a place like Laurel or Brownsville. Back then we walked everywhere we went, and were considered to be a bit on the rough side. Today, we'd drive pick up trucks, and spend too much time in bars. I cleaned myself up, shaved and picked the burrs out of my robe to speak with you this morning.

We were out in the hills keeping watch over our sheep one night, when all of a sudden this man appeared before us, with a blinding light shining behind him, and we were thunderstruck. We didn't have a clue what was going on. The first thing the man said was "Don't be afraid!" That was easier said than done! But he continued "I'm bringing you good news of great joy for everyone: To you is born this day in the city of Bethlehem a Savior, the Messiah, the Lord." Today, to see a newborn baby, you'd go to a hospital or birthing center, ring the buzzer and ask admittance. In my day, we didn't have hospitals. So babies were commonly born in homes, with the help of mid wives. But the messenger said we were to go to a manger--to a cattle stall, and find this baby in such a humble setting.

Then, before you could say "Jack Sprat", there were a huge number of folks praising God and saying "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors." As suddenly as they appeared, they were gone! We found ourselves with mouths wide open and staring at one another. I was saying to myself "They'll never believe this down at the VFW! And my mother will be sure I've been drinking." We were babbling about "Did you see that man and the bright light?" And "Man, I can't believe they came and announced this to us. We're nobodies!" One of the shepherds snapped out of it and said "Let's go to Bethlehem and see for ourselves!" We went racing into town, and pretty soon heard a baby crying. It wasn't a strong, piercing cry. You had to listen closely to hear it. Our leader approached the man and woman quietly, respectfully, and shared what the angels had told us. Each and every one of us, stepping into the manger area, was feeling like "I don't belong here. There's something very holy and special that has just happened here." It was a tender moment. The man's name was Joseph, the mother's Mary. And this tiny, newborn baby, lying in a manger.

I was just 18 at the time. I found myself staring at the baby with tears running down my face. I looked around and realized the other shepherds had moist eyes too. I know I keep repeating myself, but the baby was so tiny. And weak. And defenseless. I began to think of the angel's words. This baby is a savior, the messiah, God's anointed leader. I thought of the big, well armed Roman soldiers that were occupying our land. How's a tiny baby going to save us from them, I wondered. What is God thinking?, I found myself wondering. And lots of babies die and never make it. Furthermore, this couple was obviously working class poor. There will be no silver spoon for this baby!

I was one of the youngest shepherds that was present. And up until that time I hadn't been a very religious person. It was hard to follow all the religious rules and teachings when you're out in the hills most of the time, and with the rough group of men I hung out with. But I began to talk with rabbis and did everything I could to learn more about the God of Israel. 30 years later, after most of the shepherds I had been with had died, I heard about a man named Jesus, son of Joseph and Mary, who had begun teaching and healing. And I listened to him every chance I got. One day I went up to Jesus and told him about seeing him when he was just born. Jesus was interested in hearing that I'd been there at Bethlehem. I told Jesus of how the messengers had sung of "Peace, among those whom [God] favors." And that I wanted to be one of the ones God favored so I could be among those experiencing peace. A broad smile broke out on Jesus' face, and he said "Listen to my teaching, live as I show you, and you'll experience that peace." I began to experience it right then and there!

We Hebrews have a special word for peace: shalom. Shalom is not merely the absence of war and outward conflict. Shalom is health, prosperity, security, spiritual completeness which comes from God. The peace Jesus spoke of and embodied is something far greater than anything a Henry Kissinger or Condolezza Rich could negotiate. Peace becomes possible with the presence of God. The prophet Isaiah (32:17) said "The effect of righteousness will be peace." Jesus showed again and again that righteousness and peace went hand in hand.

As I followed Jesus, I came to see the peace Jesus spoke of, took his lifetime, death and resurrection to accomplish. Just before your World War II, British leader Neville Chamberlain went to negotiate with Adolf Hitler, and left his meeting claiming he had an agreement which would bring "peace in our time". But peace doesn't come when a naive political leader negotiates with a dictator. Jesus didn't negotiate with the chief priests and Roman governor and Herod to achieve peace. Jesus sacrificed his life on the cross and died for our sins to bring peace. We can't do anything to earn or buy peace! That comes as a free gift from Christ, announced when he said from the cross "Father, forgive them. They know not what they do."

What we can do to achieve peace is to humbly confess our sins and short comings to God. Freed of the burden of pretension, we have empty hands to receive his mercy and grace. We lay down our grudges and anger at the cross. We say "God, I can't do it without you." And we begin to receive peace. But Jesus asks us to do more than receive peace. He calls upon us to be "peace makers", to share His reconciling love with others. The world has a long way to go to receive this kind of peace!

Your world today has terrible conflicts going on. Hundreds of thousands of American soldiers have served in Afghanistan and Iraq, in a conflict that has lasted longer than America's participation in World War II. Government-sponsored genocide and mass murder have killed about 120,000,000 people in the 20th century, 2/3 of that total in the communist Soviet Union and China. (Christianity Today, December 2007) People in places like Bosnia, the Sudan and the Middle East hate one another, and that hatred has never brought about peace.

Many in Jesus' day were similar to radicals in the 21st century who think they can bring about righteousness by murdering and killing those they consider their enemies. Barabbas may well have been such a Zealot, advocating the violent overthrow of Rome. One of Jesus' disciples, Simon, was a Zealot. Jesus foresaw the end result of such violent tactics when he prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem, which indeed took place in a violent revolution against Rome some 30 years after his death.

Jesus took a far different approach to Rome than most Jews. Jesus taught his disciples to "go the second mile" by carrying a Roman soldier's gear twice as far as the law commanded. The Roman soldiers whose gear Jesus carried a second mile were stunned that he would do more than the law required. During that second mile Jesus would engage the Roman soldier in conversation. The soldier would be struck by the inner strength, self confidence and peace of a Jew who was different from others they'd met, who treated him as a human being, not as an object of fear and loathing. Little wonder a Roman centurion approached Jesus to heal his servant, and another at the cross proclaimed "Surely he was the son of God!" (Matthew 27:54)

What would Jesus say to your world today about peace? I can't claim to have the wisdom of God when it comes to facing your challenges today. But I had the opportunity to know Jesus personally, and this is what I think Jesus would say to the 21st century:

Your world is too quick to resort to violence, and too slow to seek to live as followers of Christ. People in your day haven't really tried the way of Christ and found it lacking. They've found the way of Christ challenging and haven't tried it. You think violence and material power can insure peace. But the peace of Christ can't be achieved through violence and domination. Jesus always had a heart for the weak and suffering. He'd be the first person to help someone in need. Jesus would also be quick to stand in the way of someone doing violence against someone else. He'd be willing to suffer himself to help save someone else. That's what Jesus did when he went to the cross! He bore our sins in his body on a terrible cross, and suffered a violent death. Jesus believed in the ultimate justice of God. Jesus taught that God would ultimately overthrow the powers of darkness. Jesus didn't tell soldiers that they must immediately lay down their weapons, because he knew we live in a sinful world where governing authorities have to exert some force to restrain evil.

Your world has examples of people trying to be the peace makers that Jesus called blessed. There are "Christian Peacemaker Teams" where volunteers bravely seek to bring about peace in the world's most violent settings. Such peacemakers have lived in the Palestinian city of Hebron for 10 years. They seek to befriend both Jews and Palestinians, walking children to school in neighborhoods where gunfire has often struck down the wrong targets, sitting in houses threatened with illegal demolition. 4 Christian Peacemaker Team members were kidnapped in Iraq by militants in 2005. The body of Tom Cox was found in Baghdad; the other three were eventually released. Being a peacemaker is not easy or safe in our world. Christ gave his life making our peace possible; we must also take up our crosses to follow him. Our Quaker Friends have long had a presence in Israeli controlled Ramallah, seeking to be a witness for peace. Many soldiers have done what they could to try to create good will and a better world for civilians caught in the midst of terrible conflict.

The peace of Christ makes a difference in the lives of believers today. Indianapolis Colt's coach Tony Dungee doesn't yell at his players and seek to intimidate them. He doesn't have to medicate his pain with alcohol and drugs. He isn't perfect. But he's come to see that winning games and earthly success isn't the most important thing in life. Tony Dungee can even face the terrible pain of losing a son to suicide and continue to move forward and focus on others. There's a man who's living the peace of Christ.

"Peace" is more than a word on your Christmas cards. When I visited with Jesus and prepared to leave, Jesus would say "Go in peace". (Mark 5:34) Shortly before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus said to his disciples "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." (John 14:27) The risen Christ greeted his disciples by saying "Peace be with you." (John 20:19)

When I heard those words from Jesus just before his own arrest, "My peace I give to you", I had a flash back to the fields outside of Bethlehem, "Do not be afraid", and "Peace on earth among those whom he favors." God favors those who humbly acknowledge their need of him, those who seek to do what's right and risk themselves to help others.

The peace of God only takes effect when we receive it! May that gift be yours this Christmas!

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