‘But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?’  Malachi 3:2.   That’s anything but a promise of peace.  Interesting then how it relates to the theme of ‘peace’ from which we hear from the Word of God this week.  Part of the answer is that God’s peace offers a lot more than the world’s peace… and bringing this peace decisively, including in a refining way (Luke 3:3),  was necessary in the person and work of Jesus Christ so we can fully share in the peace of God which surpasses all understanding.