Isn’t it wonderful to receive good news! Positive stories and events are something to celebrate and smile about. What is the best news you’ve received so far this year? Maybe share it with the people sitting nearby so they can rejoice with you. Good news is great. It’s something that, on the whole, we like to share with others – we pick up the phone or post on our social media about it – and it brings a smile to our faces.
The story told in the Bible is one of good news. Right at the beginning of creation we are told that after God had created the world and everything in it, he declared it was ‘good’. Then things got even better! Having saved the best till last by creating humankind, creation was now described as being ‘very good’. As it should be. Fit for purpose. News to be celebrated! And despite all our human disobedience and messiness, God continued in relationship with human beings, even sending his own son, Jesus Christ, to share the good news of salvation, redemption and restoration with us all.
When we celebrate Christmas, a real good news story, the angels described it as such to the shepherds.
‘And there were shepherds residing in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the city of David a Saviour 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 favour rests.”
‘When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”’
(Luke 2:8-15)
When they heard the good news, the shepherds were unable to stay where they were, to remain as they had been. Their response was to go and see what it was the angels were talking about, a decision that resulted in them being maybe the very first people, outside of family, to encounter Jesus. And then they simply had to tell others about it too (Luke 2:17).
Isaiah 52:7 says this:
‘How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”’
Isaiah the prophet, writing many years before Jesus was born, highlighted how important and special the messengers were who brought the news that God, Yahweh, had not abandoned Israel in the land of Babylon; he would bring salvation. To the exiles who had all but lost hope that they would ever be free again, the one who announced good news, peace and salvation was ‘beautiful’. ‘Mebasser’ is the Hebrew word used here for ‘[messenger of] good news’ which was translated into the New Testament Greek word ‘evangelion’ by the first Christians. This is where our word ‘evangelism’ comes from (and incidentally our word ‘angel’).
When Jesus started his ministry, we read in Luke 4:18-19 that he read from the scroll of Isaiah:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
Jesus was to be the principal messenger of the good news, telling and showing others of his Father’s love.
The thought of evangelising to others, sharing the good news, might be something that comes naturally to us and brings us joy. Or we may be terrified by the prospect. Or most likely somewhere on the spectrum between these two extremes.
But it’s not something we do in our own strength. Our help comes from the Lord. As we listen to this lovely song, ‘Tell the world of his love’, pray and ask God to bring to your mind someone with whom you can share the good news and how to reach out to them.
REFLECTION
Finish with a time of reflection by playing the song ‘Tell the world of his love’ by The Trina Belamide Network (5:17).
