“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27)

Peace.

That sounds good. That sounds really good for December 2020.

There are two things we need to know about the peace that Jesus gives.

1. Jesus gives us a peace that is unlike the peace that the world offers – “I do not give to you as the world gives”
2. Jesus gives us a peace that the world is incapable of giving – the part that is translated as “I do not give to you as the world gives” in the Greek literally reads, “Not as the world gives, I give to you.” The sense is that Jesus offers us a peace that the world cannot give, a peace that the world is incapable of giving

Let’s take a look at these two things.

First the peace that Jesus offers is unlike anything that the world can offer. The world’s offer of peace is completely dependent upon circumstances and situations. When things are peaceful, we have peace. When things are not peaceful, we have no peace. Peace is dependent upon situations that are outside of our control.

The peace that Jesus offers is not like that at all. This is the peace that is founded on the bedrock foundation of God’s absolute certainty and love. This is a peace that has already been established through the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is why we’re told in Romans:

“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?…

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?…

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:31-39).

Nothing can steal nor disturb the peace that God offers us. This is a peace that has already been ushered in and purchased by the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Second, Jesus gives us a peace that the world is incapable of giving. Only Jesus can offer us this peace because only Jesus died for sinners. But the tragic thing is we keep looking for peace in this world. We look for peace in finding the right person, the right job, the right home, the right salary, etc.

All these things are transient, temporary, and flighty. They are incapable of giving us peace. In fact, the very temporariness of these things disturbs peace.

Peace is found only in the one who has already made peace a reality by dying on the cross and rising from the dead.

Peace has a name. His name is Jesus Christ. It is when you bow your knee before him, and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior that you too can experience God’s peace.

“For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

“For nothing is impossible with God.”

These were the words the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary when he announced that Mary would be the mother of the Savior of the world.

Only one problem: Mary was a virgin.

You have trouble believing in the virgin birth? You’re not the only one, and neither are you the first. The first doubter of the virgin birth was Mary herself.

Mary asks the angel, “How can this be since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34).

If anyone knew Mary was a virgin, it was Mary. She knew she had never been with a man.

Gabriel tells Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God…For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:35, 37).

For nothing is impossible with God. This is the key. This is the turning point for Mary. Once Mary concedes that nothing is impossible with God, everything is possible with God!

• A universe comes into being through a word.
• A barren woman can bear a child.
• A virgin can conceive.
• The Lord can enter into human history as a babe.
• From a tomb can come the resurrection

Nothing is impossible with God.

And this is the good news of Christmas.

Do you find yourself in an impossible situation? You’re in the right place because nothing is impossible with God.

• Your marriage is on the rocks? Nothing is impossible with God.
• Your children have strayed from the Lord? Nothing is impossible with God.
• Addictions have enslaved you and no matter what you try, you can’t seem to find a way out? Good news! Nothing is impossible with God.
• Tragedy and turmoil has rocked your world? Nothing is impossible with God!
• Covid-19, social distancing, not seeing your friends and loved ones got you down? Nothing is impossible with God.

Christmas – the Christ coming – is the good news to the poor, the release of the captives, and the proclamation of the year of the Lord’s favor! Everything changes because of Jesus, because nothing is impossible with God.

“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.'” (Luke 1:30-31).

Santa Claus is anti-Christmas?!?! What in the world are you talking about, James?!?!

That is blasphemous! That’s ridiculous! That’s crazy!

I know. But give me three minutes to explain.

For modern day Americans Santa is the epitome of Christmas. Pretty much no Santa, no Christmas.

The verse of the day comes from the telling of the first Christmas. This is the angel Gabriel explaining to Mary that she will be the mother of Jesus, the Christ of Christmas.

• The name Jesus comes from the Hebrew word Yeshua which literally means Savior, Deliverer, Rescuer.
• When Gabriel tells Mary that she has found favor with God, the Greek word for favor is charin which is the noun form of charis, meaning grace.

Gabriel tells Mary that God’s grace has found her. And that is the story of all of us: God’s grace comes to us to find us. Grace is always unmerited and undeserved, otherwise it wouldn’t be grace. The story of the first Christmas is the story of how God’s grace comes to sinners. God’s grace comes to sinners not because we merit God’s grace and favor. Christmas is so amazing because it’s all about God’s amazing grace, God’s unmerited grace and favor toward sinners.

So, what does all this have to do with Santa Claus?

You all know the song: Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

You better watch out. You better not cry.
You better not pout. I’m telling you why.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice,
to find out who’s naught or nice.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He sees you when you’re sleeping and he knows when you’re awake.
He knows if you’ve been bad or good. So be good for goodness sake.
Santa Claus is coming to town.

Santa is all about whether we’ve been naughty or nice. When we’re naughty we get coal. Only when we’ve been nice and good we get nice presents.

This is the opposite of grace.

This is the opposite of God’s favor.

This is the opposite of what God offers in Jesus Christ.

Christmas is all about God’s favor of sending Jesus to die for sinners. Christmas is all about grace.

Santa Claus is the epitome of anti-grace. The message of Santa Claus is the very opposite of the message of God’s grace in the person of Jesus Christ. Santa Claus is the opposite of the message of grace in Christmas.

Thank God for Jesus! Thank God for grace! Otherwise, as Pastor Brad says, “We’d all be hosed!”