One of the phrases that come to mind when we think of Christmas is good news.
This idea of good news wasn’t something that began with the Advent of Christ. It is rooted in the Old-Testament as God’s story of redemption is unveiled. The word in the Old-Testament in the Hebrew is bazar. This word literally means “to bring good news”. In its noun form it is “the one who brings good news” or it can mean, “the act of bringing good news.” This word in its root occurs about thirty times in the Old-Testament. For example in Psalm 96:2, the poet/psalmist declares: “Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.” (Psalm 96:2)
Not only do you see the Psalmist use this word bazar, but also the prophets. For example the prophet Isaiah declared: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns." (Isaiah 52:7)
So the poets and the prophets employ this word bazar (good news) over and over again declaring our God is coming near, there is good news coming. But then there is a long span of time of nothing- complete and utter silence. The poets are not writing, the prophets are not speaking – for four hundred years there is no messenger from God saying bazar, Good News! For four hundred years, the people wait. But then one day – one ordinary normal day as it were - there was a man named Zechariah and he was a priest and was chosen by lot to enter into the Temple and burn incense. And what happens – behold, all of a sudden an angel – a messenger of God shows up. It is Gabriel and he says: “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.” There is the word again, except now it has changed from bazar to euangelion – from the Hebrew to the Greek expression of bringing good news. Later there were these shepherds – simple shepherds out in the fields watching over their sheep that would be used for the Temple sacrifice. Then suddenly messengers from heaven - first an angel and then a host of angels and they say: “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)
This is the Good News story of Christmas. God Himself shows up- in the midst of our lostness, in the midst of our loneliness, in the midst of our darkness, in the midst of our brokenness - He shows up - the hope of God, the freedom of God, the reality of God breaks into the world. And this is good news of great joy for all the people!
After the death, burial, resurrection, and subsequent ascension of Jesus back into heaven – this phrase to be a messenger of good news is used exclusively for one group of people -no longer the poets, no longer the prophets, no longer the angels, no longer even Jesus in a primary sense - but exclusively for followers of Christ – you and me!
Christmas is a Good News story! We are to proclaim the Good News that was promised by the poets and prophets and was fulfilled in the coming of Messiah and now this message has been handed down to us. So, when we become those kinds of churches, when we become those kind of people – churches and people who own the role of messenger sent by God to declare and live out the good news, then there will be more joy in our lives, in our churches, in our families, in our schools, in our places of employment, and in our community.
Surely, we can see in our cultural moment of increased conflict, confusion, isolation, despair, and a world otherwise devoid of good news - the tremendous need for the church (our churches) to be unremitting conveyers of good news. Therefore, let us as individuals and as churches of the CBA make this Christmas and every Christmas, and all the days in between – let us make it about the Good News – living the Good News and proclaiming the Good News!
Paula and I want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
In His Service,
Dr. Wes Rankin
Association Mission Strategist