The Shepherd of Peace is here.

 

Sermon for Christmas Day, 2023

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Micah 5:2-5  ²But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, from you, will go out the one who will be the ruler for me in Israel.  His goings forth are from the beginning, from the days of eternity.  ³Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when the woman who is in labor bears a child.  Then the remaining survivors from his brothers will return to the people of Israel.  ⁴He will stand and shepherd with the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.  They will dwell securely, for at that time he will be great to the ends of the earth.  ⁵This one will be their peace. (EHV)

The Shepherd of Peace is here.

Dear fellow redeemed,

            After turning away from trusting the God of their forefathers, the rulers of Israel and Judah sought peace in all the wrong places, which led to their downfall and the destruction of their countries: Israel was scattered to the far corners of the middle east, and Judah was forced into exile in Babylon.  Seven hundred years later, the Roman Empire was famous for its Pax Romano, or peace of Rome.  Rome relied on its strict legal system, quick justice, strong army, and elaborate system of roads to provide reasonable peace for its citizens.  However, that peace was often under attack and, at best, provided only an uncertain peace for those who were not Roman citizens.

At Christmas time, it is common for many of us to desire a time of peace in which everyone in the family gets along, and no trouble or illness bothers anyone.  However, in this world, peace will always be a nebulous thing, because sin infects every person on earth leading to conflicting desires, emotions, aspirations for power and wealth, and the curse of sin still reigns.  Our God, on the other hand, desired to give us peace that will never end, true peace that lasts on into eternity in heaven.  Therefore, God laid out a plan to establish that peace through His Son.  Therefore, by the fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy, The Shepherd of Peace is here.

In the midst of warning the people of Judah, especially the movers and shakers of the land,  to turn away from their idolatry—and warning them of the coming destruction—Micah brought a prophecy intended to point the world to Jesus: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, from you, will go out the one who will be the ruler for me in Israel.  His goings forth are from the beginning, from the days of eternity.”  The little village of Bethlehem, of little significance to the world, would be the birthplace of God’s promised Savior.  Because of this prophecy, anyone born in any other location is unqualified to be the Messiah, or to be the One King of Israel who would rule forever.  Known as the city of David because King David had been born there, when Jesus was born, the religious leaders of Judah confirmed that they knew about this prophecy, for they pointed the wise men of the east to Bethlehem as the place to find the prophesied King of Israel.

God chose that little, insignificant village to further His salvation plan.  Jerusalem was the important city of the south—Samaria in the north, but neither would welcome God’s anointed, eternal King.  That honor was given to little Bethlehem.  On more than one occasion later in history that honor caused grief and destruction to that little town as the enemies of God destroyed first its children and then the whole city, but Jesus being born there fulfilled one of many prophecies that pointed the world to the Messiah who would win peace between God and mankind.

God told us much more about the Messiah, though, than just His birthplace.  This promised King would rule God’s chosen people not for Himself or for earthly glory, but for the Lord Almighty.  The glory would be to God alone.  Furthermore, God’s appointed Champion was someone completely different than any other King ever to rule a kingdom on earth.  This appointed Messiah would be “from the days of eternity.”  More than just from the old days of the world, His origin is from before the creation of time, which points us to the truth that this Savior to be born in Bethlehem is the Son of God for Only God Himself is outside of time.

Micah then announced another warning for the Judean nation, “Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when the woman who is in labor bears a child.  Then the remaining survivors from his brothers will return to the people of Israel.”  The northern kingdom was the first to go to its destruction, but the southern tribes would soon follow.  God was turning His back to the people He had so vigorously defended throughout the centuries.  It wasn’t that God no longer cared about them; rather, He turned away from a people who refused His help or intervention, His forgiveness and salvation.  Therefore, God would let them be at the mercy of their heathen neighbors until the time when the virgin would give birth.  Micah didn’t give us any more reference to the mother of this amazing Child, but you and I know the rest of the story.  Jesus is that Child of peace, truly the King and Shepherd of Peace.  The rest of His brothers are all those who come to believe in Jesus, who by faith enter into God’s kingdom as members of His chosen people, Israel.

We celebrate this morning because The Shepherd of Peace is here.  The waiting is over for Jesus’ birth.  God’s Son has already come, and He has accomplished everything God promised He would do.  Jesus lived for us and died for us, and He restored peace between God and man.  He served the Lord God with perfect devotion and perfect trust and paid the price for all the sins of the world by the shedding of His blood on the cross.  Then, after accomplishing our forgiveness and salvation, Jesus returned to His Father’s side in heaven to rule over all things until the end of time. 

But, just as Jesus has come, so He promises that He will be here.  He assured His disciples saying, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)  Micah prophesied, “He will stand and shepherd with the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.  They will dwell securely, for at that time he will be great to the ends of the earth.  This one will be their peace.”  In the same vein, Jesus promises His followers everywhere, “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)  Therefore, you and I can be absolutely confident that wherever His Word is faithfully proclaimed, The Shepherd of Peace is here.  In this, Jesus is carrying out Micah’s prophetic words to this very day.  St. Paul confidently assured us that “in all things” our Shepherd of Peace “works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Of course, if you’ve been paying any attention to the news lately, you likely haven’t heard much about peace anywhere in this world.  With wars in a number of places, and various groups promoting division among the people of our land, the mockers and those who hate God are growing bolder and more defiant everywhere. 

In a similar way, the elite of Micah’s time wanted nothing to do with God’s prophets.  God’s messengers kept proclaiming doom for those who had wandered away from the true God, but the movers and shakers of the day didn’t like the rebuke.  They didn’t think any god would judge them guilty, and they certainly weren’t ready to believe that their little nation would be judged by someone more powerful than any earthly king. 

Likewise, today, the educated elite of our world often stand on their soap boxes and mock the idea that any power could have authority over the ideas of men.  You don’t have to look very hard to find someone announcing the foolishness of those who still believe in God.  Yet, our Redeemer lives.  The creator of the world will not be mocked; indeed, those who mock Him will be judged. 

Just as God promised to send His Shepherd of Peace through the little town of Bethlehem, He has promised that His Son will return to this world in judgment, coming back through the clouds in the same manner as He left this world at His ascension to His throne in heaven.  Furthermore, God promises that “Every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.” (Revelation 1:7)

But, my message for you is this same Good News that Micah proclaimed way back around twenty-seven hundred years ago: “He will stand and shepherd with the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.  They will dwell securely, for at that time he will be great to the ends of the earth.  This one will be their peace.”  By His life, death, and resurrection from the grave, Jesus made Himself our peace.  He took away every sin and every guilty stain our human nature caused in us, and by the power of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus has sent from His Father in heaven, you and I were given faith in the Shepherd of Peace which brings us peace with God above.

So, dear friends, what troubles darken your joy this Christmas morning?  Do you worry about politics, economics, or warmongering enemies at home or abroad?  Do you worry about physical ailments or getting older?  Do you worry about persecution, or failure, or sudden death?  Let go of your fears and place all your troubles and cares at Jesus’ feet, for Jesus has authority over every aspect of this world, and He will work it all for your everlasting good. 

Jesus truly is your Good Shepherd.  Turn all your worries, fears, and needs over to His all-knowing, all-powerful love.  Then, use your faith in Jesus to deflect all of Satan’s attacks and the devil’s accusations against you, for Jesus has already paid for all your sins and guilt.  Consequently, the Father has already declared you innocent for Jesus’ sake.  Through your faith in Christ and the Baptism that washed you clean as the Lord adopted you into His care, the Lord of heaven and earth has marked you as His own dear child.  So, trust your loving God to deal with the trials and hardships of this world.  He has your best interests in His plans.  Believe that this One who lived and died and rose again for you is also taking care of your every need, for The Shepherd of Peace is here to carry you safely home to dwell in everlasting peace in His Father’s mansions in heaven above.  Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting.  Amen.