The Peace of Bethlehem
Last week the scouting organization in the Czech Republic had a rendezvous with scouting representatives from Austria at the border to transfer the Peace of Bethlehem light into the Czech lands. They took this light by train across the country, making intermittent stops according to an announced schedule. You could meet at the various stops and light your own lantern from this primary lantern and carry the peace of Bethlehem to your own home or to your church or school. The Peace of Bethlehem lantern originates in Bethlehem in Israel and travels throughout Europe each year, transferred across borders by their respective scouting organizations. It’s a lovely tradition that turns 32 years old this year here. The light was first brought into the country during the 1989 revolution and carried onto Wenceslas Square(the site of the famous protests/celebrations).
As beautiful as this tradition is, I have to ask the question, “What peace?” It’s all well and good to talk about peace and everyone living harmoniously in the world, but if ever there were talk about defining what that actually means, negotiations toward that end dissolve rather quickly. Peace to some means instituting their own very narrow political philosophy, peace to others means refraining from eating animals, while peace to others still would come only at the elimination of Israel itself. So it turns out peace is far more elusive than a candle being passed across borders. I dare say we each would have a rather self-focussed definition of what peace means. We might define it in terms of everything being rightly ordered in our own world. Yet, even if our own little world were to be just the way we want it, we would be very short-sighted not to realize that this peace is not enjoyed by so many in the world. Where is the peace for those in Afghanistan being hunted and murdered by the Taliban tonight? Where is the peace for the hundreds of thousands of women and children who are being trafficked and abused? Where is the peace for the Uyghurs in China, or for the starving citizen of North Korea? I imagine we could fill pages and still be just getting started. I’m reminded of Jeremiah 16, which states,
They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially,
Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
But there is no peace.
Were they ashamed because of the abomination they had done?
They were not ashamed at all,
Nor did they know even how to be ashamed.
Peace is a rather elusive thing it turns out. Yet, Immanuel whom we celebrate this Christmas was also called the Prince of Peace. What peace?
The peace that matters. So distorted does our perspective become, when we conflate our good feelings with spiritual truths! The peace that matters is the one that lasts into all eternity, the one that eliminates enmity between God and man, and the one that satisfies God’s wrath entirely. As long as we are alienated from the Prince of Peace, we stand as debtors condemned to everlasting death. When we are found in him, we inherit everlasting life, a right relationship with God, even friendship with Him, and the ability to truly live. This peace passes all human understanding. I will preach and proclaim it until my own earthly death, yet I have little hope that I will ever be able to fully lay hold of its richness in the meager years of my lifespan.
Oh that you would know the peace of Immanuel this Christmas, the true peace of Bethlehem! Indeed this peace overflows into joy, gratitude, generosity, and all spiritual fruits. It is the key, the coin, the cornerstone, the compulsion to love our neighbors, yay, our enemies, and thus usher peace into our very own world.
And with that, may Cari and I and all the Wendel family wish to you and yours a most Merry Christmas! And may the new year find you seeking, serving, and celebrating our savior in whom all things find their purpose and rest.
We hope these advent devotional reflections have been of some benefit to someone somewhere! If not, they were beneficial to ourselves as we’ve been able to commit to our times of devotion in preparing them. If you’ve ever considered partnering with our ministry in Czech Republic, but have been reluctant to make that commitment, we hope that you would. Health insurance rates are skyrocketing again, and we could use the financial partnership of someone like you. Above all however, we hope that you will pray for the millions of souls in Czech Republic who have yet to engage with the gospel of Christ. We plead with our savior to rescue so many more. Amen.
