Good News in the Bible

GOLDEN TEXT: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”—Luke 2:10

LUKE 2:1-14—In this beautiful story of the birth of Jesus we have a marked contrast between present reality and what God, through his angel, promised for the future. The promise was “good tidings” for all people because a Savior had been born; but, as for the Savior himself, there was “no room for him in the inn.” The promise of an opportunity of salvation for all still holds true, but in all the centuries since Jesus was born there has continued to be little room for him in this world of sin and selfishness.

True, millions have taken his name, and the world over which Satan is the prince has been named “Christendom” in an outward recognition of him, yet only in the hearts and lives of his truly consecrated people—in all, but a “little flock”—has the Savior of the world found genuine acceptance.

It is also interesting to note the lowly character of those whom the Lord selected to receive the angelic announcement of the birth of Jesus. They were not among the great and honored of the time. The scribes and Pharisees were passed by and this outstanding message of all ages was delivered to shepherds who were watching their flocks by night. To these it was given to hear those reassuring words, “Fear not.”

Fear has plagued the world from the very beginning of man’s downward course into sin and death, and the chaotic state of human affairs today presents frightening aspects to those who think seriously as they look forward to the things coming upon the earth. We are truly living in a fear-filled world, even as Jesus said would be true of the present time. The only remedy for this state of fear is to be found in Jesus, and in the fulfillment of the promises of God through him.

However, when the angel said to the shepherds, “Fear not,” the fear alluded to was probably not that almost universal disease of fear which has afflicted the human race throughout all the ages, but rather, that they inevitably would be suddenly startled by this manifestation of the miraculous. Angels had appeared to various of God’s servants in the past. Sometimes they brought messages of joy, but on other occasions the reverse was true. The angels which reassured Abraham concerning the birth of Isaac also told him, and later Lot, of the destruction of Sodom.

When the shepherds realized that they were being honored by the visit of an angel, they naturally would be fearful that it might be an indication of dire calamity soon to come upon them, so the angel quickly assured them that all was well—“Fear not,” the message we have for you is a good one, one that will cause you to rejoice; and besides, ultimately all mankind will rejoice because of what I am about to announce, for it is “good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.”

These “good tidings” consisted primarily of the fact that a “Savior” had been born—a Savior whose power to save would bring everlasting life within reach of every member of the human race. In order to be this Savior of the world it was necessary that Jesus be “made flesh for the suffering of death.” Not many of earth’s millions as yet have had their opportunity to accept the provisions of divine love through Jesus, but eventually all nations will be blessed by him and will join in saying, “We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”—Isa. 25:9

Mary was told that she should call the child Jesus, meaning Savior, and in Luke’s account of his birth we find the angel explaining to the shepherds that he was the Christ of promise. The title Christ means “anointed,” and the thought is that he was the one appointed and sent by Jehovah to be the Savior of the world. One of the prophecies stated that his name would be Emmanuel, which means “God with us,” and he truly was God’s representative among men, and in due time will manifest God’s love by giving all mankind an opportunity to live forever.

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Isaiah’s prophecy of the birth of Jesus refers to him as “The Prince of Peace,” and surely peace will yet come to the world as a result of his birth—peace among the nations and within nations; peace in human hearts, and above all, peace between God and men. This will be during the thousand years of his reign.

Frequently the expression, “good will toward men,” is interpreted to mean good will “among” men, but this evidently is not the correct thought, although there shall be good will among men when universal peace is established. We think that here the Lord is telling us of his good will toward men, expressed through the gift of his beloved Son to be the Redeemer of the human race. Surely it was a wonderful token of his love, and how thankful we should all be for this unspeakable gift!

QUESTIONS:

Have messages from God, delivered by angels, always been “good tidings”?

Primarily, what constituted the angelic message “good tidings”?

When will the promise of peace on earth be fulfilled?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |