| “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). |
| “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division” (Luke 12:51). |
| When the Lord Jesus was born in the manger in Bethlehem, we read in our first verse that the angels came and told the shepherds, who were out keeping watch over their flocks at night. Then suddenly the angels spoke, telling everyone that this occasion meant glory to God, and peace on earth. What a wonderful message this was! Men had been fighting ever since sin entered this world. How nice it would be to have peace on earth! |
| Yet we find later on in the same gospel of Luke that the Lord Jesus warned people that He had not come to give peace on earth, but rather division. What had happened? Why could He not give peace on earth? Had the angels really said something that the Lord Jesus was not ready to do? |
| The answer is that the Lord Jesus came into the world as the rightful King of Israel. If He had been accepted by the nation of Israel, He would have set up His kingdom and reigned over this world. But people, especially the Jewish nation, did not want the Lord Jesus. They eventually said, “We will not have this man to reign over us” (Luke 19:14). They wanted to get rid of the Lord Jesus, because He reminded them that they were sinners and needed a Savior. |
| But thankfully some people did believe on the Lord Jesus, and this produced the division that the Lord Jesus speaks of in our second verse today. Ever since the Lord Jesus has come into this world, it has been divided between those who are saved and those who are lost. As the Lord Jesus pointed out, sometimes even families are split on this most important decision. |
| The world today continues to be divided on the Lord Jesus. Some do not want Him, and do not want to be reminded that they need a Savior. Others who know Him as Savior love Him, and love to hear about Him. To which group do you belong? |
