Nougat 30

How do we receive the news of Jesus‘ birth? Is it good news, and if so, what do we do with it? Please receive today’s Holy Nougat

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Good News of Great Joy

As I reflected on our Nougat, it struck me that the lead angel told the shepherds two critical things that are often overlooked 1) what the angel said was positive and eternal; and 2) the child mentioned was ‘theirs’. (See Part 2 tomorrow).

1. Good News of Great Joy for All People

A people under Roman occupation, low level workers, the shepherds were not necessarily the traditional recipients of good news. Think about it, the angel’s visit occurred in the night. It was dark prior to the angelic visit, and the fact that the shepherds were watching the sheep indicates that predators existed. Despite what David faced down as a warrior on his father’s farm (lion and bear), it is very likely that predators included humans. Good news might not have been on the frightened shepherds’ minds.

Of course, we may recognize that the term ‘good news’ also points to the angelic messengers, as the root word for news is also the root for angel. One commentary puts it this way ‘euaggelízō (from 2095 /eú, “good, well” and angellō, “announce, herald”) – properly, proclaim “the good message” …’

Could it be that the shepherds were being commissioned as human messengers of divine news? Yes indeed.

But it wasn’t just Good News. The news created ‘great joy’, or rather, it would reveal God’s ‘complete’, ‘largest’, ‘mega’, ‘magnificent’, favour. It was the most delightful news ever! The long-expected, long-awaited messiah had come! One Whose birth would liberate the people under Roman occupation, transform the lives of others and usher in Hope for the despairing.

It was good news for the people! Obviously not only for the rich, as shepherds generally worked for someone else.

There is somewhat of a caveat to ’the people’, as some scholars contend that ‘laós’, (used in the Greek text), specifically references ‘people’ chosen for ministry (eg laity). ie ‘God’s chosen people’. That would include the new evangels – the shepherds – as well as future evangels: you and me.

And while this may not sit well with many of us, we do recognize that for Herod and such likeminded folk, Jesus’ birth was not good (positive) news. Moreover, there are those who don’t see the ‘Gospel of Jesus’ as Good News. Nevertheless, it was given to the shepherds, affirming its access to all interested in obeying God.

So, we know that the shepherds understood and carried out their assignment. The question then is, do we recognize Jesus’ existence as Good News? And can we find God’s complete largesse, God’s mega-magnificent favour amidst all Life’s Lifing? If yes, what will we do with it?

Blessed Christmas everyone! May we experience the Mega-Magnificent Joy of the Christmas Gospel daily in our lives!

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May all we seek be found in Christ