IS THE GOSPEL GOOD NEWS? PART 1

IS THE GOSPEL GOOD NEWS?

The word gospel itself means good news; yet, today there doesn't seem to be much good news in the world. Christians don't seem to be burning with any good news they just have to share. So I have been asking myself, "When did the gospel stop being good news, or even no news?"

In this first installment, we are going to look closely at the beginning of the gospel. Most Christians are very, very familiar with the story, because it is told every Christmas. If this is you, you may be tempted to stop reading right here. But I am going to implore you to read it as if you are reading it for the very first time. Ask the Holy Spirit to breathe life into the story. Put yourself in the story. Be there.

Part 1: The Announcement

The Old Testament ends with the writings of the prophet Malachi, and for the next 400 years God does not speak. He sends no prophets. For 400 years the people hear nothing from God, until one night God breaks that silence; He has something to say to His people, something major, something important, something fantastic! So He sends the angel of the Lord to make this announcement that will change everything for His people, the Jewish people. We might expect that God told the angel to rush this important news to Caiaphas, the Jewish High Priest. But He didn’t. Well then, perhaps God thought it was news that should more properly be first announced to the Sanhedrin, the supreme council and court of ancient Israel. Presided over by the High Priest and composed of 70 men drawn from the chief priests, scribes and elders, the Sanhedrin was the crème de le crème, the final arbiter of all things Jewish. Certainly we can understand why God would speak to this group first. But He didn’t. Now we are a bit baffled. He didn’t tell the angel to go to the High Priest or to the Sanhedrin. So who’s left? Of course! The king! That must be it! God told the angel to go tell King Herod. Nope, wrong again.

No, this earth shattering news was to be delivered to shepherds who were looking after their sheep in the fields near Bethlehem. God passed over the High Priest, the Sanhedrin and the king, telling the angel to make the announcement that would change the world to a group of shepherds.

Can you imagine their shock when the angel of the Lord appeared to them that night? It’s just another night in the somewhat boring life of a shepherd. They are just ordinary men doing their very ordinary jobs, watching their sheep, perhaps talking among themselves. Then suddenly the sky lights up with God’s glory and the angel of the Lord is standing there right there in front of them!  Luke 2:9 tells us they responded as we most likely would – with sheer terror!

Seeing that they were terrified, the angel quickly reassured them, saying,

"Do not be afraid, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’”        Luke 2:10-14 (NIV)

After the angel and the heavenly host left as suddenly as they had come, the shepherds looked at each other with astonishment. Having overcome their initial terror at this miraculous display (they were still alive, after all), they excitedly compared notes about what they had just seen and heard. Remember, God had been silent for 400 years, and now His angel came to talk to them? mere shepherds? Was it real? Did it really happen? The angel said this baby was “a Savior, the Messiah, the Lord!” Could it be true?  Luke tells us they left “hurriedly” to find this baby the angels had told them about. I like the way The Message expresses it: “They left, running…!” 

The angel of the Lord said that the arrival of this baby, Jesus, was good news, great news, even joyous news, and it was for "all the people!" A Savior is born! The Messiah is come! The Lord is here! And He's here for everyone! After the shepherds found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, they just had to share this good news with everyone they met. Scripture says,

“… they returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:20, NIV)

These very ordinary men were chosen to be the first to hear the good news, and they were the first to begin to spread the good news. Each Christmas we remember their encounter with the angel and the angel’s proclamation of good news. We read about it in the book of Luke, we tell it to our children, sermons are preached, and songs are sung. Our hearts soar with “Joy to the World” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and many, many other wonderful hymns that speak of this miraculous intervention of God. For a few weeks we immerse ourselves in this good news, and we feel its excitement, joy, love, and power. Christmas is such a wonderful time of year because, if we are celebrating it properly, our focus is on Jesus, the most wonderful gift of all.

The Old Testament is complete. The New Testament is being birthed.

This is the beginning of the story of the gospel of Jesus Christ – the good news!

THOUGHTS FOR REFLECTION

• Am I excited about the gospel today?
• Is my heart so full of the love of Jesus I just have to share it with someone?
• Have I glorified or praised God lately?

Join us next week for

Part 2: If Its’ Such Good News, Why Do So Many Think It’s Bad News?

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I pray you are blessed by today’s sharing, and I invite your comments and prayer requests. (Please do check the guidelines first, though. They are important, and can be found in the "About" section.) I hope to meet you here again next Monday.

Love, Hugs, and Blessings!

Syandra