Peace On Earth: The Second Week Of Advent

Discover the true meaning of peace on earth this Advent season as we look at the message the angels proclaimed at Shepherd’s Field and the gift of God’s Shalom through Jesus Christ.

Before I visited Israel, I always pictured Shepherd’s Field, where the angels announced Jesus’ birth, as a wide, grassy plain straight from a Christmas card. I imagined calm beauty and a soft, open landscape.

The reality, however, surprised me.

Shepherd’s Field today is rocky and sun-washed, scattered with scraggly brush and a few determined, weathered trees. Two sloping hillsides meet in a narrow ravine, and the landscape reminds me that many things described in the Bible differ from the scenes I once pictured.

The Ordinary Transformed

On an ordinary evening, in a rugged field in Israel, ordinary men of low position did their everyday work. They were probably much like any of us heading into another shift with responsibilities, worries, and hopes. It was simply another evening on the outskirts of Bethlehem two thousand years ago. And these humble men became the first to hear the greatest announcement ever given to humanity.

It was there that God stepped into their ordinary night. He had an announcement, and like a proud Abba, He told them His Son had been born. Here, the familiar ended, and the extraordinary began.

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the city of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

These men were the first to hear that the long-awaited Savior had finally come.

To understand the weight of this message, it helps to consider how deeply meaningful these words were in ancient Jewish culture.

• City of David – Bethlehem, meaning House of Bread, prophesied as the birthplace of the Messiah.
• A Savior – The One foretold by prophets, who would save His people.
• Christ – The Greek equivalent of Messiah, meaning the Anointed One, signifying kingship and divine purpose.
• The Lord– Meaning owner and creator. A declaration of Jesus’ divinity.

This wasn’t just good news. It was the best news. After generations of longing and hardship, the Savior had arrived, not only for Israel but for all people.

Peace On Earth

The angelic chorus proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth among men with whom He is well pleased” (Luke 2:14).

We often shorten this verse to “peace on earth,” yet the full meaning is rich and life-giving. The peace spoken here is shalom, a Hebrew word that describes wholeness, completeness, and restoration.

This peace is far deeper than a quiet moment or the absence of conflict. It is reconciliation with God Himself. Jesus came to mend the relationship between a holy God and a broken humanity.

And the most comforting truth is this: this peace does not depend on anything we can earn. Through Jesus’ death on a cross, God freely offers eternal peace and restoration to all who believe.

An Invitation To Seek

The shepherds were the first to hear the angel’s message and acted on it immediately. They sought the Savior and found Him, A tiny baby lying in a manger, lowly and humble, just like them.

Are you seeking peace this Advent season? Jesus promises that if you seek Him, you will find Him.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” (Luke 7:7-8)

Ask God for His peace. Seek Him with your whole heart. Knock on the door of a relationship with the Savior, and He will welcome you.

Shalom This Advent

As I reflect on my time in Shepherd’s Field, I am reminded of how God steps into ordinary places and moments and makes them extraordinary. This Advent season, I wish you shalom—God’s peace that brings wholeness and joy.

Let’s carry these words in our hearts this week:
“Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth among men with whom He is well pleased.” (Luke 2:14)

May this season of Advent bring you deep peace and joy as we prepare our hearts for the Savior.

Merry Christmas!