“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.'” (Luke 2:10-11)
This has to be one of my favorite bible verses to read and meditate on around Christmas time. The reason? It is one of the most hope-filled messages I find anywhere. It’s not theological. It’s not political. It’s not cultural. It’s not even religious. It is simply a message of the Good News of Great Joy tied to a little newborn!
The good news is that a little baby has been born, and He is promised to be the One who has the answers to all our hurts, pains, depression, sins, and ailments. And that brings great Hope and great Joy to everyone who wants Him to help them. Isn’t it just like God to come among us as a weak and vulnerable child?
John 3:17 says, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” This is good news indeed! If it were the other way around, none of us would stand a chance. But now He has come to Save and NOT to condemn anyone.
The Israelites had been waiting for the Messiah, the Savior, to come for a long time. But not everyone was excited. Jesus had one natural parent, born in a shabby stables, and had nothing royal about Him. He was a threat to the religious system, and a threat to people who were trying to win God’s favor by being better than others. Why? Because Jesus spent much of His time hanging out with outcasts and sinners, saying that these people were accepted by the Father ahead of the religious elite.
Who were excited about Jesus’ arrival? Those who knew they needed Him. Those who thought they could do without had a terrible time with Jesus, because He exposed how lost they were.
The Good News of Christmas is the Great Joy we find when we recognize that Jesus came as a baby to identify with each of us, and to re-write humanity from a heavenly perspective. Let us rejoice with the angels that He has already come, and has already done everything needed to set us free to have Great Joy this season!
