Who of us can still hear Linus’s voice etched in our memory banks as he shares the passage from the Gospel of Luke standing on that huge stage in the Charlie Brown Christmas Special.
“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields...keeping watch over their flock by night.
And behold, and angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid.
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:8-11)
Talk about an impressive birth announcement! And to the least likely group of ‘nobodies’ if we look upon them as human nature tends to do.
And what was their message to these shepherds? “We bring you good news”.
Usually, when someone is delivering good news, there is some degree of elation or joy associated with it and sure enough...that is included in the same sentence...good news of ’great joy’.
But the message does not stop there. It informs us as to who this ‘good news’ is directed to and we read that would be ‘for all people’. Again, that would be: All. People. Everywhere.
Regardless as to where you stand on the ‘belief scale’ in all this, it’s pretty hard to dismiss the fact that two thousand years ago, there was one who was born and given the name of Jesus of Nazareth; and it’s hard to argue He left a significant mark on this world.
But according to the angelic announcement to those distraught shepherds in the field that one night, the birth of this Jesus was to be considered ‘good news...for all people’.
So let’s address a legitimate question pertaining to that statement. Why...was it ‘good news’?
I mean, there is ‘news’. And then there is ‘good news’. When I read or hear of a birth announcement related to people I do not know, I just consider it to be...news. I’m not affected either way by it.
Now...when my grandsons were born some 15 months ago...that was Grand news...and worthy for all the world to hear about. Or so their Nonna and PaPa would say.
But what makes news...’good news’ as opposed to just news? Especially if it is for ...’all people’.
If there is anything I have come to learn over the years, we humans would much rather hear ‘good news’ over ‘bad news’ any day of the week. Although the case can be made that people pay good money to have bad news piped in to their homes and hearts 24/7. I do think though, we are living in a time where people are feeling the weight and oppression of so much bad news in the world regardless of where you live.
But here’s a new flash for us all...throughout history, there has always been tragedy and sadness and war and hunger and loss and sickness and sorrow along with all the darkness.
Every generation has their own portion to deal with. Much like the people who heard this angelic announcement on that lone night over 2000 years ago. For them, back then...much of their burden dealt with the Roman occupation of their country at the time when this news came. They also had to contend with all the other challenges as do we today, living in a broken world.
Admit it...when someone informs you they have ‘good news’ for you, something in you perks up. You want to know more. Granted, if that announcement comes with a qualifier that they also have ‘bad news’ along with the ‘good news’, you are often asked which you want to hear first. Most prefer the ‘bad news’ first...so that it can be followed up with something to ‘hang their hat on’ that we call ‘hope’. Or...’good news’.
The Psalmist penned this line...’weeping may endure through the night, but joy comes in the morning’. (30:5). So many people are overly familiar with the long, dark nights of weeping. Yet they cling to the hope that morning will come and the sun will rise and at some point, they too, might have their tears wiped away and their broken hearts healed and the weight of darkness lifted from their souls.
Guess what? ... I have the same good news to share with those of you that the shepherds heard angels deliver to them...good tidings of great joy...Christ has come. And here is where the message often gets blurred. Why is this good news? Take a look at Matt. 1:21 –it follows a previous angelic appearance to Joseph who was about to take Mary as his wife. He had just been informed that he was about to become a ‘step-dad’, filling him in on the news of her pregnancy. The angel then delivers this key statement as to why this news is not just ‘news’, but incredibly and wonderfully ‘good news’.
“She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (21)
If you don’t mind, please say aloud, even if in a whisper, these words: “He will save His people from their sins.” I would submit to you today, that this message has been grossly misunderstood.
I would like to encourage you to whisper that line to yourself throughout the rest of today and ask the Holy Spirit to truly open your eyes and hearts to what all this means for you and I.
Sometimes, upon receiving ‘good news’, we tend to have a blank stare as if the light does not come on, or maybe the dots don’t get connected and we fail to see why that piece of news is significant or ‘good’ or how it might affect us. So context can be helpful.
If I inform you that a firetruck just pulled up in front of your home, and tell you I have ‘good news’ because a firetruck just pulled up, you might be puzzled and ask why that piece of news is ‘good news’. You need some context. Granted, if the local FD is just in the neighborhood and happens to stop in front of your house because a child’s ball rolled in front of the street, then yes, that is just...trivial news. But...if I inform you of some bad news first...telling you that your back yard shed is on fire and flames have jumped to the roof of your house, this piece of ‘news’ just became really, really ‘good news’. You are about to be saved from the destructive fire.
You do agree it would be possible to be in your own home and unaware of such an event taking place...like a fire spreading that would soon affect you, yes?
Many people today...are clueless as to why this arrival of Christ the Savior was...good news. They are nestled up in their homes, struggling through life just trying to make ends meet and holding on to a thread of hope longing for better days ahead. They too, are oblivious as to why the arrival of Christ was ‘good news’ in the same way an uninformed family whose house is about to be engulfed in flames can’t see why a firetruck out front is ‘good’ news. That is, until they hear the bad news first.
One more example. Imagine being on the Titanic that fateful night as it journeyed across the cold and dark Atlantic ocean and was about to hit an iceberg. You are down in the dining area enjoying a delightful meal when a staff member comes and whispers into your ear that a large fishing vessel was seen approaching close by and wanted everyone to know they were there.
Your response would be a casual shrug of indifference over this seemingly piece of useless news. At what point though...would this have become ‘good news’ to you? ( That was an easy one, yes?)
Here is why I am convinced the message of the newborn Savior is lost on so many people today. There are casual shrugs of indifference from the non-believers and many ‘believers’ alike. The reason for this truly being ‘good news’ was lost on so many because for multiple reasons, they just did not grasp or understand or, in many cases, never heard...the bad news first.
People don’t like to hear bad news. And churches are no different. Preachers are faced with the same dilemma that the prophet Isaiah faced back in his day when the people chided him for trying to convey the truth that God wanted declared. “Tell us pleasant things, preacher...give us smooth stories and words to make us feel good...get off this path of what is right and holy...” (paraphrased- Isa. 30:9-11).
Did you know the word ‘gospel’ literally means...’good news’. I just have a serious concern as to which ‘gospel’ we all heard? For many people, they heard a presentation, said a prayer, and in their minds, received a ‘get out of jail card for free’ for when they die. Then, thanking the local fireman who handed them the card, or that staff member at the table in the dining room of the doomed ship, returned to what they were doing previously, and failed to see the full impact of what was made available to them.
Feel like you could use a refresher as to why the coming of Christ really is good news for ‘all people’? Join me tomorrow...I’ll give you the bad news first. ;- )
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