Here’s what is recorded in Luke 2:10, but the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. (GNB)
From the above mentioned verse, the word that I would like to highlight for our meditation is the word ‘good news’. Everybody irrespective of who they are, look forward to, and earnestly are expecting some kind of good news. For example for those without jobs, finding a job is good news, for those who lie sick in hospital, the fact that there is a cure for their ailment is good news, and for those who are in turmoil, the announcement that peace is close at hand is good news, for the ones in bondage to sorcery and the occult, the fact that there is deliverance is good news, and for the one who are entangled with sin, the truth that they can be set free is good news.
Strangely what is good news for one may not be as such to someone else. Let me explain it this way. To someone who is hungry the fact that there is food is good news, but if the same person has had his fill, the thought of having more food may not be good news.
God made everything good and all will be good when the end comes
In Genesis 1:31, we read, And God saw everything that he had made and that it was very good. (GW)
Have you noticed students when they receive the corrected answer sheets from their teachers, if the teacher commented and said ‘good’ the student is happy, but when the teacher remarked ‘very good’ the student is elated. When God created the world and everything in it, he beheld all of it and said, ‘it was very good’. This was God’s will from the beginning of creation for that is how the Lord intended for the world, and all of us to be, very good.
Let us read in Revelations 22:3, There will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and the lamb will be in the city. His servants will worship him (GW)
When we read the last book of the Bible namely Revelation, taking note of the above mentioned verse, which describes the end of the age, we understand that on that final day God will remove every curse, God will be exalted on His throne, and his servants will worship him continually. Therefore, when the end comes, it will once again be very good and glorious for the children of God.
However, to those of us who are living right now, we are caught in this period of time between the beginning and the end. No wonder then that as we struggle through this time we realize that there is so much of chaos and confusion; conflict between husband and wife, parents and children, financial crisis, and hardships of various sort that oppress us. The Lord assures us that as we plod along this difficult path, He is with us, and can certainly change everything that is imperfect or bad to become perfect and good.
The testimony that we should desire to receive from the Lord is that each one of us is very good. It is therefore good to analyze ourselves to see if this is so, or if we are still struggling with sickness, poverty, bondages and sin. It is the will and longing of God that each one of us should prosper in every way, and lead the life of fullness that He intended for us to live.
As human beings the first emotion that grips us when faced with adversity of various kinds is that of fear. The word of assurance from the Lord is ‘don’t be afraid,’ and this declaration is not just for a few select people, but for all men, and most certainly envelops any hardship that may confront us, be it sickness, division, sorrow or any other hardship that we may encounter. When the Lord begins to work in our lives, the good news is that everyone around us will be filled with joy.
What is this Good News?
We read in Luke 2:11, For to you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Webster)
The good news that the angels declared that day was the wonderful announcement that a Savior has been born. The word ‘Savior’ implies that He is someone who is born to save us from all of our troubles, struggles, emptiness, conflict, bondage or sin.
Sadly the world today is more ready to accept bad news, rather than the good news. So many are living empty lives, in debt, not realizing that if they could believe in this Savior and accept Him as Lord of their lives, he can transform any and every appalling situation.
1. The good news that Jesus can turn our emptiness to fullness
This is what Peter told Jesus in Luke 5:5 a "Master," Simon answered, "We worked hard all night long and caught nothing. (GNB)
We read in Luke 5:5-6, But if you say so, I will let down the nets." They let them down and caught such a large number of fish that the nets were about to break. (GNB)
Peter and his partners had fished all night, worked real hard, but had caught nothing. The Lord was willing to intervene in Peter’s desperate situation. Though Peter had labored hard, and had also washed his nets putting them out to dry, when Jesus instructed Peter to go to the deep to cast his nets again, he obeyed only because the Lord asked him to do so. The outcome was that his nets were so full of fish that the nets were about to break. Not only were his nets full, he had to call his partners to share this bountiful catch. The good news for Peter that day was that his empty nets were now brimming with fish, for the Lord had turned his emptiness to overflowing fullness.
There are those who are working so hard, but are unable to enjoy the fruit of their labor. The Lord can come in, and do the impossible if we allow Him to. Some resign themselves to the lie that their life is on a downward spiral because of their fate. When encountered with difficult situations, instead of turning to God, there are many who are running after men, who offer temporary solutions. May we like the Psalmist David seek the Lord to undo our emptiness so as to make our cups full and over-flowing.
The secret to the miracle Peter received was his willingness to obey unquestioningly, and if we too obey the Lord implicitly, He is sure to do the astounding deeds in our lives.
2. The good news that Jesus can change our sickness to health
We read in Mark 5:25-26, There was a woman who had suffered terribly from severe bleeding for twelve years, even though she had been treated by many doctors. She had spent all her money, but instead of getting better she got worse all the time. (GNB)
We also read in Mark 5:27-29, She had heard about Jesus, so she came in the crowd behind him, saying to herself, “If I just touch his clothes, I will get well.”She touched his cloak, and her bleeding stopped at once; and she had the feeling inside herself that she was healed of her trouble. (GNB)
Here was a woman who had been suffering from severe bleeding for twelve long years, and had become weary of going to doctors as they could offer no cure. All that happened to her at the end of all her ordeal was that she only got worse, and in addition had to spend all her money on doctors and medication hoping to be healed.
Having been a recipient of bad news from physicians for twelve long years, suddenly she heard the good news that she could go to Jesus, who she believed could do the impossible for her. Though society had laid several restrictions on her, she still went ahead anyway, not expecting Jesus to touch her or notice her, but to by faith touched the hem of His garment. There was a huge crowd that thronged Jesus, but this woman’s touch of faith, made her completely well, and she was healed instantly.
The Lord Jesus gives good news to those who are struggling with sickness and ailments that by His stripes we are healed. Jesus alone can make the good news a reality in our lives, irrespective of what our situation might be. The good news that the birth of Jesus brought to this world is that we don’t need to linger in our emptiness, sickness, failure or sin for He came to deliver us, and set us free from all that burdens us to keeps us down. Jesus came to put back in order all that Satan destroyed at the beginning of creation. If we allow Him to take over our lives, and are willing to obey His word unreservedly, He will come in to set everything in order.
3. The good news that Jesus can bring peace when there is turmoil
We read in Mark 6:48 a, “And He saw them being distressed in the rowing, for the wind was contrary to them.” (LITV)
It is recorded in Mark 6:51, “Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped.” (TLV)
The disciples and Jesus were travelling by boat from one place to the other, and were challenged by a fierce storm. The disciples were distressed with the rowing, and were filled with fear and dread. However, the Lord was with them, and He was able to take them safely to the other shore. For the disciples who were caught in the midst of an intense storm, the good news was that the Lord was able to rebuke the winds and the waves to bring a calm so they could reach their destination safely.
There are some who got married expecting a smooth ride, and are faced with conflict that almost prompts them to quit or give up. Here’s a word of encouragement, regardless of what difficulties pile up in our lives, when the Lord is with us, He will steer us on through all of it to the place of peace and safety.
4. The good news that Jesus can forgive our sins and set us free from guilt
We read in John 8:5, In our Law Moses commanded that such a woman must be stoned to death. Now, what do you say?" (GNB)
The woman who was brought to Jesus that day was caught in adultery, and the ones who brought her to Jesus were the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. As they came they also brought stones with which they had decided to put her to death, for that was what the law required. When the woman was first brought to Jesus everyone’s eyes were turned towards her with the one intention to do away with her, but the Lord directed their attention towards him, and away from her by writing on the ground. He later guided their attention to themselves, and challenged them that the one who was without any sin should be the first one to throw a stone at the woman. The only one who had the right to stone her was the Lord Jesus who was sinless, and yet He forgave her, setting her free from her guilt and sin. The good news that this woman received from Jesus was the truth that He is able to forgive her, with no condemnation and hence can walk away free from guilt or shame.
There are some who are in a similar situation, where there are people all around looking for reasons to hurl stones to hurt and destroy. If the Lord is with us, not one of these stones that are aimed at us, will be able to cause us any harm. People can accuse or scheme to distress us, but if like the woman we are close to the feet of Jesus, He will not allow any of these things to come near to us. There are many, who are guilt ridden for many long years, not aware that when the Lord chooses to forgive us, Satan thrives on condemning us, for He is the accuser of the brethren. He is constantly confusing us with the lies that some situations in our lives are a result or consequence of our sins. Let us boldly say that we have confessed our sins to the Lord, He has forgiven us, we are made righteous by the blood of Jesus, and therefore none of the devil’s accusations holds good any more.
The good news that the angels declared was that the Jesus the Savior was born, and He alone is able to forgive us of all our sins, which is the root cause for most of our problems. Let us give room for Jesus to come into our hearts, and take complete control of our lives. All one has to do is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, confess their sins, repent, get baptized, be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so we can be His witnesses. When we do so our names will be written in the Lamb’s book of life, and no one can snatch us out of the Father’s hand. Jesus is the Lamb of God who came to bear the sins of the whole world, and that includes each one of us personally. We are the children of God, and therefore there is no condemnation for us but victory for the Lord is able to bring good news, to every situation where things are looking bad.
All of us irrespective of who we are have received this good news from the Lord, but, like the disciples of Jesus may we allow Jesus to come into the boat of our lives to bring peace in the midst of our storms. Like the woman who suffered for twelve years, may we have faith on the Lord Jesus, to change our infirmities to wholeness and health. Like Peter, may we decide to leave behind our emptiness, and follow Jesus to a life of over-flowing fullness and like the woman caught in sin, may we come and surrender at the feet of Jesus, to receive forgiveness and be clothed with His righteousness.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
