Good news of great joy for ALL people!

Reflecting on Luke 2:8-14

"Good news that will cause great joy for all the people." (Luke 2:10)"

What are some examples of news that is good for all, or many people?
When an abducted child is found and released, unharmed.
When a major hurricane is coming, but then dissipates in the ocean?
When COVID was finally worked out, and we could meet in person.
When a ceasefire was announced after a major world war?
These last two come the closest to being good news for all the world.

That the birth of a baby is called good news is not unusual.
Most of the time a baby’s birth is good news to some people.
But the angel declares Jesus’s birth as good news for all the people.
The word for people (laos) is broader than a specific group of people.
It describes humanity in general (it is where ‘laity’ comes from).
Jesus’s birth will have an impact on all humanity.

“I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9)

Jesus comes for, and belongs to all humanity.
He is for the Jews AND the Gentiles (non-Jews, or everyone else).
He is for the Samaritans, the Romans, the rich and the poor.
He is for the religious and the irreligious, the men and the women.
Any and every distinction we create is broken down by Jesus.

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 3:28)

“Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” (Colossians 3:11)

This is the big news that sets Jesus apart from all other religions.
Jesus breaks down the walls to rebuild God’s family.
What unites this worldwide family is the love of God for all people.
Jesus is God’s invasion of love in a fragmenting world.
Jesus is God offers of love, and invitation to love.
Love is how we are received, love is how we participate.

This is good news for all people, for all people need love.
It is the loss of love that causes our world to be such a mess.
Every bad thing that happens is somehow a crisis of love.
Humanity is caught as slaves in a tyranny of unloving abuse.
Humanity is sick and dying because of the plague of unloving selfishness.
Like a world-wide war, or a world-wide pandemic, it affects us all.

Jesus comes for, and belongs to… what groups today?
Good news for Muslims, Hindus, Atheists and Zoroastrians?
Good news for people who identify as LGBTQ+?
Good news for Catholics, Baptists, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses?
Good news for the wealthy, the poor, the healthy, the sick?
Good news for the oppressed, the abused, the enslaved, the shunned?
The good news is more than ‘repent or you will go to hell!’
That is not what the angels sing about.
Good news, great joy, peace for everyone graced (favor) by God.

We seem so eager to tell people bad news.
In reality most people already feel the bad, even if they don’t understand it.
Most people sense they need help, and are desperately seeking it.
Bad news comes in many shapes and forms; it incarnates all around us.
But in Jesus we see a different kind of news incarnate – becoming real.
A radical, self-humbling, other-serving, self-giving, other blessing love.
A God that is not against us, that we have to appease, but a God that is for us.
All the religions of the world are more warning than comfort.
Do this, do that, and then God will love, bless or help you.
(Sadly, many Christians view Jesus’s message this way too).

What sets Jesus and the Jesus Way apart from all the rest is: GRACIOUS LOVE!
To a people that are struggling, suffering, perishing, God comes in love.
To a people trapped by their own failures and follies, God steps in to help.

Jesus is good news for me, in all my failures and follies.
Jesus is good news of great joy and peace for me, but also for you.
We need to stop using religion to attack or diminish others.
We need to stop offering conditional love – if you, then God!
We need to join the angels in singing about God’s unconditional love!
For this is how God’s glory and goodness are revealed.
The glory of God’s love is revealed in His gracious gift of peace to all people.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. (Luke 2:14)

I want to be a messenger of this good news… FOR ALL THE PEOPLE!

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, there are some people that the church is more bad news than good news. Help me to be good news especially to those that are overlooked, shunned or condemned by the church. Use me to spread Your good news of great joy for all the people, Your message of peace to all the graced (favored) people on earth.