DECEMBER 20, 2024

On a cold, wet Christmas Eve in 1914, men of the British Expeditionary Force shivered in their muddy trenches on the Western Front of the First World War. They had spent countless nights in sleeplessness and fear, haunted by the sounds of battle and death.

This night, across a dark, barren landscape, they saw lights appearing and heard Christmas carols being sung. Soon greetings were shouted and cautiously, officers approached one another in no man’s land.

Other soldiers joined them. Gifts were exchanged, small trees were decorated with lights, songs were sung, and when daylight came, photographs were taken and even games of soccer were played.

British soldier John Ferguson recalled, “Here we were laughing and chatting to men whom only a few hours ago we were trying to kill!”

German Lieutenant Kurt Zehmisch, a schoolteacher, wrote, “How marvelously wonderful, yet how strange it was. The English officers felt the same way about it. Thus Christmas, the celebration of Love, managed to bring mortal enemies together as friends for a time.”

Other impromptu ceasefires took place all along the Western front that Christmas involving French, German, Belgian, and British soldiers. A Time magazine article on the 100th anniversary of the “Christmas Truce” claimed that as many as 100,000 soldiers took part.

When Christmas was over, the soldiers returned to their trenches and the killing began anew.

The newborn king promises a much longer-lasting “truce.” The promise of future peace among all people and all nations, a peace that emanates from God through Christ, and through us as ambassadors and heralds of this peace to all peoples and nations.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. (2 Corinthians 5:12-21)

Jesus’s birth inaugurated the reign of the Kingdom of God. This kingdom is characterized by a lasting peace and by peacemakers who “sow in peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.” (Matthew 5:9; James 3:17-18).

Jesus instructed His follower to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44). He told them to forgive those who sinned against them (Matthew 6:12-14; Colossians 3:13). He even asked God to forgive those who were in the process of murdering Him. (Luke 23:34). Jesus wanted people to be reconciled with God and through Him to be reconciled with each other.

Paul encouraged followers of Christ to be at peace with one another and to have that peace be a witness to the world of Christ’s peace.

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Ephesians 4:1-6

When we think of Christ this Christmas, remember that He will be the one in whom “the nations will put their hope.” (Matthew 12:18-21). Under His rule all wars will one day cease and peace will reign upon the earth.

 

“He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.”
Isaiah 2:4

 

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • In a world of conflict and division, do you truly believe that Jesus can bring peace?
  • How have you been a messenger of that peace?
  • When have you sought reconciliation over conflict in your life?

 

Church Reading Plan:

  • Today, December 20: Zechariah 7; John 10
  • Saturday, December 21: Zechariah 8; John 11
  • Sunday, December 22: Zechariah 9; John 12