Good News For The World

Again we have the advantage of looking at, the before and after ministry of Jesus Christ. Isaiah gave his depiction of the coming of Christ, as a prophecy. Luke gave his account of the gospel, to the Greek of his day.I felt this should be mentioned,to show the importance placed on race. The gospel had to come from someone like themselves, for people to be receptive. Much like the problem in our society today.Many times we miss the message, trying to classify the messenger. Luke had the distinction of being the only non-Jew, that gave one of the synoptic gospels. The Jews were uppity and conceited in the law.Up until the time of Jesus,they had been Gods chosen people.The Greek were the scholars of that time. They were more in tune to their intelligence, than they were the will of God.I would imagine Gnosticism was prevalent among them. In todays lesson we see how the gospel is good news to everyone.

Passage Isaiah 61:1-2:

Isaiah 61
1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

It is discussed in another forum that this is not the voice of Isaiah, I think it was. All that Isaiah had said about Jesus to this point was prophetic.What's the difference now? I don't think it was a coincidence, that he spoke the same exact words in the above passage.That Jesus did himself, in Luke 4:18-19.In my opinion it just adds legitimacy to what he says. In a atmosphere of doubters and unbelievers. In hindsight it just served as further proof, that the prohecy was real.The message was the same regardless who said it. It proclaimed the mission of Jesus, and who it was for. To everyone that accepts, believes, and confesses.

Passage Luke 2:8-12:

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.



Here we begin Lukes account of the birth of the saviour. This speaks of an angel of the lord coming in the night. To tell some sheperds tending their flock, about the saviour Jesus Christ. In Matthew 2:1 they referred to these sheperds as wise men.In the Christmas stories they always say, three wise men.I wondered where the three wise men came from. I couldn't find it anywhere in the bible.Someone has more information, than given in scripture.Or else they made it up.The fact that Luke only referred to them as sheperds.I believe it was for a reason. I think it was due to him being Greek. He wouldn't consider Jewish sheperds as being wise men, or someone being responsible for bringing the good news to the Greeks.The sheperds were given a sign to validate what the angel said. Where they would find the baby Jesus, and what he would be wearing.


Passage Luke 2:13-15:

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

The angel bringing the message wasn't alone. There were many other angels who joined him in praise. These sheperds were so impressed with what they had just seen.They decided to go to Bethlehem to look for what they had been told about.


Passage Luke 2:16-20:

16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

They went and found Mary,Joseph and Jesus in a manger. Today we would refer to it as a stable. I have even heard people describe the manger, as sweet smelling hay.That couldn't be farther from the truth.If you've ever been to a stable, the hay smells anything but sweet.After these men had seen what was revealed to them by the angel of the lord.They were excited by their revelations and couldn't wait to tell others.Others weren't as excited as the sheperds were, but they listened. When it said Mary pondered. That raised question marks for me.On last week we established Marys'faith.What could she possibly not be sure of, after all she had been through? After giving it more thought, I came up with this. That was an example of undying faith. She had trusted God up until that point. Why would she stop now? It was just another step in her life confirmed, in her service to God.The sheperds were off and running. They began evangelizing on all they had heard and seen.