What was the angelic hosts' message? What does "...peace to
men on whom His favor rests," mean? Earlier translations
rendered Luke 2:14 as either, "peace, good will toward men." or "peace
to men of good will," but several modern translations
including the NIV, NEB, and NLT translate it somewhat differently using
essentially the same wording, "...peace to men on whom his favor
rests." That translation sums up the essence of the good news
of what Jesus was and is all about. It makes sense that the
angelic host would tell us what His birth meant.
So, what is this favor, what is the peace it talks about,
and how does His favor rest upon someone? His favor is His
grace towards us -- it's the relationship with Him that He gives us as
a free gift. That gift includes the forgiveness of all our
sins -- of everything that breaks the harmony of His perfect
love. It restores our relationship with Him. In
that relationship we experience a wonderful peace that the scripture
says, "...passes all understanding." That peace isn't world
peace. It isn't the absense of hostilities between nations or
even between people (though a Christian living in God's grace will be a
peacemaker). It is the personal peace that we have knowing
that God loves us and forgives us, that Jesus is the Lord of our lives
and gives us a solid rock foundation for living.
And how is it that his favor "rests" on
someone? His favor, His grace is available to all
men. Many are not interested, have no time for God.
His favor doesn't rest on them. It's been rejected.
However, as soon as one turns to God and accepts Him as Savior and Lord
of their lives, His favor, His grace rests upon them.
Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives and as
our Savior opens our lives to God and gives us incredible personal
peace. That's such an exciting message from God to us humans
that the innumerable hosts of heaven praised God and announced it
directly from heaven! It is the "good news" of God
-- the gospel message of grace. |
