The One of Peace is coming

Micah 5:2-5a

2 But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
    who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
    when she who is in labour has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
    to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
    to the ends of the earth;
5 and he shall be the one of peace.

The Messiah, Jesus, would been born in the unimportant place of Bethlehem. One of the unimportant places that no one pays attention to. Unimportant places where nothing ever happens. From such lowliness and insignificance will come one who will bring about the restoration of all things. The renewal of all things.

The great and the powerful, the important and the beautiful – our world says they are the ones who matter, they are the ones everyone should pay attention to. But this passage says, watch the unimportant, the insignificant, they are the places where the signs of hope, the signs of God’s working will appear. The Messiah came from ancient roots, but no one was paying attention to a stable in Bethlehem.    

But from that place of unimportance, God brought the Messiah who brought restoration and renewal, and who will bring peace. The way of peace does not come with might and power, not at the point of a gun or through laws and rules. Peace does not come by edicts and orders. Peace comes when Jesus rules in people’s hearts. Because at the heart of peace stands forgiveness. Without forgiveness there is no peace. Without giving up the right to revenge there is no peace. Without being able to say, as Jesus said on the cross, “Father, forgive them”, there is no peace. 

PRAYER:

O God, we thank you that it was in lowliness and humility that your Son, Jesus Christ, entered the world, to bring peace and reconciliation. We rejoice that we have been forgiven, we rejoice in the mercy that has come to us in Jesus Christ, shape us into people who live that mercy and forgiveness with those around us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.