14 - Advent
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
Christmas–Advent 2023
Day 14 | GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY
Christmas–Advent 2023
Day 14 | GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY
GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY
Luke 2:10
“And so the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.’”
The first thing the angel of the LORD had to tell the shepherds was NOT to be afraid.
I imagine that these angels – spiritual beings created by God – looked very imposing. Though the image we have of them – pudgy, cherub looking, wearing white robes, and playing a harp – is something from a cartoon.
But then the angel says: “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.”
Again, we’ve heard this line MANY times in church, but as I ponder it a little, I am reminded of a few important things.
This announcement was “good news of great joy.”
The word “gospel” literally means “good news” and is used 93 times in the New Testament, and many times at church. Yet church visitors – if they hear that word or the Christmas story – might wonder WHAT that news of great joy is.
Most specifically, the gospel is the good news concerning Christ and the way of salvation.
To understand why the gospel is such good news, we must start with the bad news. The bad news is that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” and that the “wages of sin is death.” (Romans 3:23, 6:23) The laws of the Old Testament were so stringent that no one could measure up completely. Despite our “goodness” or “badness” relative to each other, we are all in the same spiritual boat… we all have sinned and the punishment for sin is death, i.e. separation from God for eternity.
The Good News is that Jesus was born and (think Good Friday and Easter) paid the price so that by accepting Him, we might be saved.
Prayer: LORD, I could never do enough “good works” to measure up to your standard. Thanks for the good news of great joy, Jesus Christ, my LORD and Savior. Amen.
Luke 2:10
“And so the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.’”
The first thing the angel of the LORD had to tell the shepherds was NOT to be afraid.
I imagine that these angels – spiritual beings created by God – looked very imposing. Though the image we have of them – pudgy, cherub looking, wearing white robes, and playing a harp – is something from a cartoon.
But then the angel says: “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.”
Again, we’ve heard this line MANY times in church, but as I ponder it a little, I am reminded of a few important things.
This announcement was “good news of great joy.”
The word “gospel” literally means “good news” and is used 93 times in the New Testament, and many times at church. Yet church visitors – if they hear that word or the Christmas story – might wonder WHAT that news of great joy is.
Most specifically, the gospel is the good news concerning Christ and the way of salvation.
To understand why the gospel is such good news, we must start with the bad news. The bad news is that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” and that the “wages of sin is death.” (Romans 3:23, 6:23) The laws of the Old Testament were so stringent that no one could measure up completely. Despite our “goodness” or “badness” relative to each other, we are all in the same spiritual boat… we all have sinned and the punishment for sin is death, i.e. separation from God for eternity.
The Good News is that Jesus was born and (think Good Friday and Easter) paid the price so that by accepting Him, we might be saved.
Prayer: LORD, I could never do enough “good works” to measure up to your standard. Thanks for the good news of great joy, Jesus Christ, my LORD and Savior. Amen.