While Advent candle traditions vary from congregation to congregation, this week our congregation lit the candle of Peace. For others, the second candle is called the Bethlehem candle as a reminder of the journey of Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Regardless of what word is used, the significance is the same. For Mary and Joseph were able to take that journey with the peace of knowing that, despite the uncertainty of what was to come, the Lord was with them.

Mary was deeply troubled when she received an unusual greeting from an unusual messenger – the angel Gabriel. She was also full of uncertainty as to how the things he told her about could possibly happen. However, by the end of their conversation, Mary was willing to confess in Luke 1:38, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” She was at peace, because she was willing to trust the plan of the Lord even though it was difficult to understand.

When Joseph first learned that Mary was pregnant, he had determined to divorce her quietly. However, in a dream, the angel of the Lord commanded him in Matthew 1:20, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Joseph, too, found peace by trusting the plan of the Lord.

The Advent hymn by Charles Wesley, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” speaks of this peace. It begins with an expected mission of the Messiah, “Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, Born to set Thy people free.” Everyone expected that the Messiah would come to deliver God’s people. He was the promised King that would rescue them out of their captivity. However, many had expected this Messiah to simply free them from their physical enemies, like Rome, but God had something much greater in mind.

The second part of the verse goes on to explain our greatest source of bondage, “From our fears and sins release us; Let us find our rest in Thee.” The Messiah came to set us free from our sins and from fear. It is fitting, then, that before Joseph and Mary could carry out their part of God’s plan, He first had to set them free from fear. It is impossible to obey the Lord if we live in fear of the world. Mary and Joseph found peace when they came to a place of resting in God’s will.

It is this reason that the Lord Jesus instructed His disciples to pray in what we refer to as the third petition, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” For it is this prayer that brings us peace. The greatest hindrance to living a life of peace is constantly praying instead, “my will, not thine, be done.”

The hymn concludes with the hope that this peace would extend to all nations beginning with God’s people: “Israel’s Strength and Consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.” These final words of verse one echo the covenant promise God gave to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 that “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

In these trying times, we need to pray in expectation that the Lord would continue to rescue His people. We pray He will continue to watch over and protect His people in every nation. We pray He will also be “Israel’s Strength and Consolation” at this time. This prayer for the peace of Jerusalem is two-fold. First, we pray for physical peace. We pray that the Lord, in His mercy, would enable the Palestinian people to seek out leaders that would truly desire peace, as the end of hostilities is not possible if both sides don’t genuinely desire peace. Second, and more importantly, we pray for spiritual peace. We pray that all nations, including Israel, and all peoples, including the Palestinians, would find their peace in Christ. It is the desire for that peace that causes us to pray, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.”