Good News of Great Joy to All the People

Text: “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which

will come to all the people” (Luke 2:10 RSV).

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8–14

Offertory Prayer: Thank you, Father God, for the blessed good news that a Savior has been provided. Thank you for the light that he has brought on the dark places of life. Thank you for the love that he has brought into our hearts. Thank you for the hope that we have through him. Today we would join with all of those who give of their time, talents, and resources for the advancement of your kingdom in the world. In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.

Introduction

Many people think of Christianity as being good advice for those who want to do good. But there is a great deal of difference between good advice and good news. The gospel is good news.

Benjamin Franklin is famous for giving good advice. The angels, the shepherds, and the apostles are famous because they communicated the good news of what God did and wants to do through Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ came into the world to communicate good news from God to all people.

I. Good news for other people.

From time to time we hear about good news that has come to others.

Like a promotion at work

Or a friend or acquaintance that gets a new car.

The angels announced some good news that had the potential of producing great joy for all people.

Up until this point Jewish people thought that their God belonged in a special way to them alone.

They did not recognize that their God was also concerned about the Gentiles, the pagans, and the outcasts.

John 3:16 ““For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

II. The Good News of Jesus is for all people.

Luke’s gospel is the gospel for the underdog, the outcast, and the underprivileged.

A. In Nazareth Jesus preached the good news to the people. He announced, “He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18 NIV).

B. To the sick Jesus came with health (Luke 4:40).

C. To the demon possessed he came as the liberator from demonic powers (Luke 4:41).

D. To the leper who was unclean and untouchable and consequently very depressed, Jesus brought cleansing, health, and wholeness (Luke 5:13).

E. To the paralytic Jesus forgave his sins and then enabled him to walk (Luke 5:25).

F. To Levi, the hated tax collector, Jesus extended a gracious invitation that lifted him from obscurity to significance and prominence when Jesus said, “Follow me” (Luke 5:27).

G. To the woman of the city who was a great sinner, Jesus granted the gift of forgiveness and cleansing (Luke 7:48).

H. To the demoniac who was possessed by a legion of demons, our Lord brought liberation and the restoration of a right inward attitude. He brought peace to him and then commissioned him to return to his home, there to give testimony concerning what God had done for him (Luke 8:39).

III. The nature of the good news Jesus brought.

Jesus brought good news regarding cleansing of the heart and soul from sin.

Deep in the heart of people there is a feeling of being unclean, unworthy, and unprepared to enter into the presence of a holy God.

Jesus came that we might be clean and acceptable to a holy God.

God sent him and made it possible for us to experience righteousness and grace through him (2 Cor. 5:21; 8:9).

2 Cor. 5:21

21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

2 Cor. 8:9

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.

Jesus brought good news regarding acceptance into God’s family.

Some children are cursed by having parents who are something other than they ought to be.

Some children are fortunate in the heritage they receive through birth and belonging to a good family.

On the day of our spiritual birth, we become the sons and daughters of the eternal God.

We are accepted into God’s family.

This gives us the privilege of belonging to God.

Jesus brings good news regarding spiritual resources for living.

Through faith in Christ, we receive the gift of a new nature, the gift of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, the gift of the spiritual power we need for coping with life, and the good news of an eternal home at the end of this life.

Romans 10:9-10

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Conclusion

The gospel is good news for all people.

Through this good news we receive the offer of forgiveness, the offer of life, the offer of acceptance into God’s family, and the assurance of God’s help and friendship.

Let each of us listen to the good news, believe it for ourselves, and respond affirmatively to it.