ADVENT – Part 2: PEACE
Donkeys have often been referred to as an animal of peace. In the ancient world they were used for ceremonial purposes whereas horses were used in war, donkeys often were symbols of peace. Some attributes given to these animals are that of humble sufferers of hardship, victims of cruelty and neglect, deserving of care and rescue. We can see some of these characteristics in Jesus. A King who has become a humble servant to endure the hardship of humanity. A warrior who peacefully accepted the cruelty and neglect that we ourselves were deserving of. The final time Jesus traveled into Jerusalem he rode in on a donkey, arriving as the humble Prince of Peace. In the Old Testament donkeys were used by rich men and kings used to ride in on them. However, in Christ’s time, horses were now used for kings who preferred them, so the poor would ride donkeys.
Zechariah 9:9 says, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
And Isaiah 9:6 proclaims, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Christmas is about Christ Jesus being born. It calls us to rejoice! In a world of complete chaos, total instability, His peace surpasses understanding.
Consider this: A King who chooses to die, to be humiliated for you is a truly beautiful thing, a gift too great to repay.
What does this mean moving forward?
The question we must ask is “How do we humble ourselves to the level of Christ humility?” And the answer is found In Philippians 2:1-11, where Paul calls us to imitate Christ’s humility.
Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
I encourage you to try this out. It is a difficult thing to live out, but the benefits outweigh the difficulties. Humility and Peace go hand in hand, find peace in this season and those that follow.
Read Isaiah 9:2-6 for some additional insight to the leading up to the birth of Jesus.
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