Most of the world has taken this statement to mean the proclamation of peace and goodwill is something that should be extended from one person to another. Certainly, this is a good thing when there is peace in the world and kindness and honesty between people. But the context here is God making a declaration of peace between the Creator and His creation as He extended goodwill towards us through the Price of peace. It coincides with the Savior of the world, born that night, taking on human form, and eight days later being named the name above all names ... Jesus. It's a mysterious occurrence that can be challenging to wrap our minds around. But the story unfolds and becomes alive within our hearts as God reveals it to us by His Spirit who bears witness to of the Word who became flesh.
