Peace on earth, goodwill toward men! The meaning
of these familiar words can become lost over time
sometimes because we’re so familiar with them. And
so it is a good and right thing to meditate on them.
What does it mean that a multitude of angels
proclaimed to men the goodwill of God in heaven?
Perhaps you might become more confused when you read that Jesus himself said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” To understand however, one must understand the contexts to which each of these are speaking. Jesus, when saying he does not bring peace, is speaking those who would deny Him before men and place family and earthly situation above loyalty to Christ. On the other hand, when the angels proclaimed peace on earth, they were speaking to the nature of sin and its deleterious effect on man’s relationship with God. Because of sin, man has no peace with God. God has, in fact, condemned man to death. All deserve the wrath of God, which is most certainly not peace.
But Christ was sent by God to make peace with God on our behalf. It is this which we celebrate at Christmastide. Thanks be to God for sending his son, Jesus Christ, to live sinlessly, and sacrifice Himself for our sins! This is, indeed, true peace on earth.