The Way of Peace

Malachi 3: 1 - 4

Luke 1: 68 - 79

December 8, 2024

Advent II

It had been a rough year for Zechariah. It all had started out so well. Zechariah was a priest serving in the division of Abijah. In Israel there were 24 divisions of priests corresponding with the 24 grandchildren of Aaron – the first high priest. Each division, in addition to service during the four weeks of high festival service, formally served in the Temple for 2 weeks each year.

These two weeks of service meant that there were only 14 opportunities each year for a division priest to be selected for the high honor of going into the Holy Place – one of the two rooms within the Holy of Holies – to perform the once in a lifetime for that priest honor of attending to the ritual sacrifice at the Alter of Incense.

The Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept, was deemed to be the dwelling place of God.

Outside the Holy of Holies was the room known as the Holy Place where the Bread of the Presence was kept. 12 loaves of unleavened bread, one prepared by each of the 12 tribes of Israel, was placed here every Sabbath Day signifying both that God was their provider and that God desires to have close fellowship with God’s people.

Along the facing wall was the golden menorah of seven candles that signified God’s constant presence amongst the covenant people.

Between the Table of the Bread of Presence and the golden menorah was the Alter of Incense. The burning of the incense symbolized the prayers of Israel rising up to God every day. The selected priest cleaned out the ashes remaining from the previous day’s incense, put in incense for the new day, and then offered the daily prayer. The priest would then go outside, sacrificial work completed, to offer those who awaited his return a blessing.

Zechariah had been selected – this was always done simply by drawing lots. He came into the Holy Place to perform his duties, but instead had his own appointment with an angel announcing God’s plans for the birth of Jesus. Zechariah, who was advanced in age had no children. He and his wife had given up hope. He is told that his son, their son, would be the one who would prepare the way for the Lord, the Messiah, Jesus who would soon be born.

Oh, Zechariah is on a roll! Selected – a once in a lifetime opportunity, many priests died never being given this honor of offering the sacrifice – Zechariah is now going to have a child, and not just any child but the forerunner of the Messiah! He is on a roll of epic proportions! Might have been a good day to go out and buy a lottery ticket.

Yes, quite a roll, but then Zechariah falters. He seeks a sign, proof that all this will happen. Instead of believing – an angel in the Holy Place should have been enough. But it wasn’t. Zechariah asks for a sign of proof and is struck dumb – unable to speak. Who knows, maybe his wife Elizabeth now thought she was on a roll!

Zechariah remains that way until the 8th day after the birth of John the Baptist when Zechariah, after affirming Elizabeth’s instructions that the baby is to be named John, is once again able to speak. And speak he does!

This is where our second text comes from. It is known as the prophecy of Zecharaih – a prophecy that speaks of the role of his son in preparing the way for the Messiah. John will be a part of bringing light to those who sit in darkness, of bringing life to those find themselves in the shadow of death. John will point to the Messiah who will guide our feet into the way of peace.

Jesus will guide our way into the path of peace. But what peace? Jesus has come and gone. Yes, Jesus continues in ministry. Yes, the teachings of Jesus point us to righteous living. Yes, Jesus sits with God in glory interceding on our behalf. All that is true. Because of Jesus, we have been reconciled to God and one another. Yes, our eternal destiny is secure. But what about peace?

How is that whole peace thing working for us?

The Norwegian Academy of Sciences commissioned a study employing scientists from Great Britan, France, Germany and India. Their task was to survey the last 3400 years of human history to measure the accumulated time of global peace.

In the past 3400 years there have been only 292 years of global peace. Peace here is described as the absence of conflict that resulted in more than 1,000 deaths. I guess you have to draw the line somewhere, but I would think that if you were one of the less than 1,000 total deaths you would not think your life ended in peace. But, on we go.

In the last 3400 years we have had 14,351 regional and global conflicts that have had more than 1,000 deaths attached. It is estimated that 3.64 billion people have been killed; that the value of the property destroyed could today purchase a belt made of pure gold 97.2 miles wide, 33 feet thick, that could wrap around the entire globe – that is 24,901 miles of gold.

Now yes, Jesus comes 1400 years into that measured process so maybe things improved. Not really. Let’s just look at the time period of July 4, 1776 until today. In the United States, the U.S. has had only 17 years of peace. We might think that we are a particularly warlike people, but the United Kingdom has only seen 23 years. The times of peace for France and Germany are similar.

So peace – and Jesus as the Prince of that desired Peace – has been an elusive goal. But friends, is that really true? It is….. only if you believe that peace is defined by the absence of war. Our faith offers a different definition of peace. Peace for the believer is “eirene” - the Greek word used in the New Testament which is actually based on the Hebrew word – “Shalom.” Shalom – a peace where God’s goodness, righteousness prevails. Shalom, where life is as God intended it to be. Shalom, where humanity flourishes in the midst of God’s intentions.

THAT is peace. The questions for us today; for a people living at a time when 21 conflicts are raging around the world resulting in a minimum of 1,000 deaths annually; the question to ask is whether God’s peace, the peace of Jesus, Eirene peace, shalom peace is even available to us in the midst of our broken and conflicted world. And the answer to that question is yes, yes, YES!

And we meet that peace right here at the communion table – a table grounded in a body broken and blood shed for you. A table that reminds us of sacrifice – a body beaten, hung, and crucified – an act so horrendous that the Romans themselves outlawed crucifixion in the 4th century.

Romans 5 tells us that we have peace, reconciliation, the restoration of an eternal relationship with God through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Philippians chapter 4 tells us that there is a peace available for us in Jesus that will keep our hearts and minds at peace no matter how wildly the storms rage around us. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, provides a way for us to be at peace with one another in Colossians, chapter 3. Ultimately, Isaiah speaks of a culmination of human history when, because of Jesus, the wolf shall dwell with the lamb and the leopard lie down with the young goat, a time when humanity – far too accomplished at the arts of war - will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks.

This is the peace both that will come AND is available to us now.

Friends, dear ones, many of us find ourselves in difficult – anything but peaceful situations. Physical difficulties, some of us are in the midst of illnesses, struggling to recover from surgeries, or anticipating lifegiving but complex surgeries. Some of us have lost loved ones or fear the loss of loved ones. Some of us struggle to make sense of employment or relational difficulties or at war with our own personal mental health issues or addictions. We are a divided and conflicted people.

We desperately need the peace that Advent reminds us Jesus will bring.

So come to the table this morning and experience the peace of God. Come to the table knowing that you are met by the One who holds the final page. Come to the table and encounter the One who brings reconciliation with God, peace with one’s self and others and shalom for the whole world. Come to the Table believing – knowing – trusting - that the One who meets you here can bring to you that peace that we all long for, but cannot generate for ourselves.

Come, for the Prince of Peace waits to meet you here. Amen.