Really Good News 📰

Back in the time of Jesus' birth, the Romans were "in charge", as a sort of occupying force over the Jews.

While it wasn't exactly the same as the situation with the Egyptians that predates the first Christmas by about a couple millennia, one could argue that the Israelites of the day were under a different kind of slavery.

Whichever way you looked at it, or regardless of how you could spin it, it wasn't a situation that they would have wanted or chosen for themselves and many longed to be, once again, set free.

The desire for liberation from the oppressive rule and tax regime of Roman rule was strong.  Many yearned for a liberator, a Messiah... a Saviour.

This is what sets the stage for a massive case of irony... the kind that it seems Jesus likes to orchestrate to flip the status quo upside down.

At its origin, the word "gospel" means "good news", "good message" or a "good report".  It's the kind of thing that would get heralded at the end of a battle when a messenger made it back from the battlefield to declare that their army had been successful.

The Romans, therefore, developed a habit, as they conquered/claimed/inhabited new territory to declare the "good news" to both Romans as well as those now being "incorporated" under Roman rule, that they need not fear... as a result of being defeated by the Roman army, they would now be a part of the Roman empire.  This was the 'good message" that they would declare and spread far and wide for all to know.  This was their gospel.

With that in mind, we can all have an even warmer and more joyful feeling when we think of the fact that what has been entrusted to those who choose to believe in and follow Jesus Christ, is the spreading of a different kind of Gospel.

In fact, when we look at that scene depicted in Luke 2: 8-14, it echoes some similarities to what the Romans would have declared, as the angels declared to lowly shepherds that they need not fear... they bring good news (or a Gospel) of great joy. 🎊

The angels were entrusted with that Gospel and they delivered it as they heralded the birth of Baby Jesus... and it changed the world.

The first Christians were entrusted with that Gospel and they delivered it to Jews and non-Jews alike after the resurrection of Jesus... and it changed the world.

We, who live, here and now, in this century, as believers in the same Jesus have been entrusted with that same Gospel.  That means, that if we learn from history and keep the trend going, all we have to do, is to deliver the Gospel... and it will change the world.

Jesus' success in His mission, lays the foundation for us to have success in our mission.

Let us, therefore, be diligent in fulfilling the Great Commission... going into all the world and telling everyone about Jesus.  After all, it's REALLY Good News. 😉