“I heard the bells on Christmas Day...”

In 1863, in the midst of the American Civil War, the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote “Christmas Bells”. 

It's a poem that explores Advent peace, contrasting the peace promised by God with the terrible violence Longfellow witnessed as his country fought itself.

After all, if Jesus’ birth marked the arrival of the “Prince of Peace,” how could such horrible events like the Civil War (which claimed more than 700,000 lives) take place? 

Or, thinking about our own day, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza or the anxiety surrounding AI?

Can peace be found amid such difficulty? 

The Advent answer is a resounding yes.

Peace on Earth?

At the time of Jesus’s birth, Caesar Augustus, Emperor of Rome, ruled Israel. Because of this, the Romans had more power over the land than its own people. Even the Israelite king, Herod, was a puppet ruler put there by the Romans.

And then on the night of Jesus’ birth, angels appear to the shepherds nearby, and what do they say?

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)

Peace on Earth? While Caesar reigns? How was that possible?

It was possible because the peace the angels proclaimed was a subversive peace, one that cuts to the depths of the human soul.

Advent Peace

The Greek word for peace in Luke 2:14 is eiréné. While similar to the English word it also includes a sense of “wholeness” or “completeness.”

Think about that on a spiritual level for a second, in light of the work of Christ. 

He came to restore us to God, to make our souls complete and whole through His work on the Cross. This is a peace not dependent on what’s happening in the world but on the person and work of Jesus Himself.

In this, the peace of Advent is twofold. 

On the one hand, it calls to the eternal peace Jesus will surely bring - but on the other, it speaks of a peace already here.

It’s a peace that perseveres under the horrible oppression of Rome. Or the oppression of sickness, war, trauma, death, uncertainty, loneliness, and the like. It’s a peace in the form of a humble baby in a dirty barn and the opportunity He’s given us.

His peace isn’t dependent on external circumstances but on His Gospel, His victory in past, present, and future. 

Such peace gives us the strength to live, even when things are at their worst. Or, as Longfellow so wonderfully put it:

And in despair I bowed my head;

"There is no peace on earth," I said;

"For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men."

See you tomorrow, and be blessed.

Jon,

Theophilus Newsletter