On Christmas Eve 1914, during the First World War, the guns fell silent along a 30-mile stretch of the Western Front. Soldiers peered cautiously over the tops of trenches while a few emerged to repair their positions and bury the dead. As darkness fell, some German troops set out lanterns and sang Christmas carols. Men on the British side applauded and shouted greetings.
The next day, German, French, and British troops met in no man's land to shake hands, share food, and exchange gifts. It was a brief respite from the war that soon ended when the artillery and machine guns roared to life again. But no one who experienced "The Christmas Truce", as it became known, would ever forget how it felt and how it fueled their longing for lasting peace.
In Isaiah's prophecy of the coming Messiah, we read, "His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9:6). By His death on the cross, Jesus removed the "no man's land" between us and God. "For He, Himself is our peace" (Eph. 2:14). In Jesus, we can find lasting peace with God and harmony with each other. This is the life-changing message of Christmas! Only in Christ can true peace be realized.
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