For some, the Christmas story is "Good News".
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| Fairly typical I think, even if creator misunderstands |
For one person in
particular (John the baptiser), the welcomed coming of Jesus was (eventually) bad news. It transpired sadly to trigger the evil circumstances of his
arrest (and murder). After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee and told the good news that comes from God.[a] He said, “The time has come! God’s kingdom will soon be here.[b] Turn back to God and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:14-15, CEV). John had done his work. The waiting time was over. For all who listen(ed) to Jesus, the new pattern was emerging; a clear way was opened.
Jesus, the unknown messenger, went about telling his own people (his co-religionists) they needed to have a change of mind; to whole-heartedly heed what their Law and Prophets told them of God; to truly understand God and accept his message and to trust God's mercy. The opportunity was there to become children of God. Time for a new start; time for hope.
Not so long after that Jesus shocked some people by saying: For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me (John 6:38, CSV). Just who exactly did he think he was? Their incredulity could turn into rejection.
Way back on the day of Jesus' birth there had been a good news announcement to a small group of workers or small-holders, insignificant shepherds: And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 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 Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 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 among those with whom he is pleased!”[d] Luke 2:8-14, ESV). God intended that people would be able to experience and know his goodwill. A life-changing unremarked happening in the "back-blocks" of Roman dominated Judea and, at that early stage, probably few heard the good news of great joy. Luke evidently researched the Jesus' birth events; perhaps Mary was his source. (And - there would be no way to collect authentic artefacts from the moment for later treasuring! That would divert from the point.)
Years later Paul summarised the heart of the event: But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[b] Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[c] Father.” (Galatians 4:4-6, NIV). The time was right; the consequences were eternal. In the same letter he made it very clear indeed that being adopted into God's family is open to all, not only those labouring under the iron rule of God's Law.
Jesus, the unknown messenger, went about telling his own people (his co-religionists) they needed to have a change of mind; to whole-heartedly heed what their Law and Prophets told them of God; to truly understand God and accept his message and to trust God's mercy. The opportunity was there to become children of God. Time for a new start; time for hope.
Not so long after that Jesus shocked some people by saying: For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me (John 6:38, CSV). Just who exactly did he think he was? Their incredulity could turn into rejection.
Way back on the day of Jesus' birth there had been a good news announcement to a small group of workers or small-holders, insignificant shepherds: And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 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 Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 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 among those with whom he is pleased!”[d] Luke 2:8-14, ESV). God intended that people would be able to experience and know his goodwill. A life-changing unremarked happening in the "back-blocks" of Roman dominated Judea and, at that early stage, probably few heard the good news of great joy. Luke evidently researched the Jesus' birth events; perhaps Mary was his source. (And - there would be no way to collect authentic artefacts from the moment for later treasuring! That would divert from the point.)
Years later Paul summarised the heart of the event: But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[b] Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[c] Father.” (Galatians 4:4-6, NIV). The time was right; the consequences were eternal. In the same letter he made it very clear indeed that being adopted into God's family is open to all, not only those labouring under the iron rule of God's Law.
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| Japan 2019 - Aussie with fried chicken advertising mannequin |
A birth may be a welcome happening and cause of celebration - that is the plan! At this long remove from the Christmas event it is a little remarkable that celebrations are in order in many places! After all, the birth is long over! It is part of our inherited European culture of course and such is the strength of the event (or of commercial marketing) that even in lands of different cultures the "season" holds power. Modern variants of celebrations at Christmas are just that, modern. In
fact, celebrations may be of celebration! For example, that rather amazing
current image re advertising in Japan.
Actually, God demonstrated his love and made mercy readily accessible to all: When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God (Romans 5:6-11, NLT). Paul, the Apostle, is very blunt there. God made it crystal clear in the Son.
Is it therein lies the significance which has ensured the prominence amongst us of the "Season"? So some like to say, or fondly imagine. (I am sceptical of that wishful thinking.)
Good news? That Jesus came; that God's mercy can be accessed freely and directly; that adoption into God's household (kingdom) is available; that a filial relationship to God is offered to you and to me.
The ancient testimony of John has Jesus' own explanation of the "why":
Then Jesus cried aloud: “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, (John 12:44-48, NRSV). There is indeed a day coming, but Jesus came not to judge; to save from judgement.
Who? When we call him Saviour we call him by his name. He came that first time to connect persons in living relationship to God, to open our blind eyes and to save, to divert from our due consequence. Something to celebrate! More important - a timeless reality to accept, take in and trust.
Actually, God demonstrated his love and made mercy readily accessible to all: When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God (Romans 5:6-11, NLT). Paul, the Apostle, is very blunt there. God made it crystal clear in the Son.
Is it therein lies the significance which has ensured the prominence amongst us of the "Season"? So some like to say, or fondly imagine. (I am sceptical of that wishful thinking.)
The ancient testimony of John has Jesus' own explanation of the "why":
Then Jesus cried aloud: “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, (John 12:44-48, NRSV). There is indeed a day coming, but Jesus came not to judge; to save from judgement.
Who? When we call him Saviour we call him by his name. He came that first time to connect persons in living relationship to God, to open our blind eyes and to save, to divert from our due consequence. Something to celebrate! More important - a timeless reality to accept, take in and trust.
Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
Scripture quotations marked (CSB) are from the Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission.
All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Note: I retain in the publishers' text where they occur the references to footnotes, but usually not the notes. You can check footnotes out by viewing the text on-line. Often they are replicated in different translations.
Bible passages accessed via BibleGateway.com
Images: self & personal correspondence
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission.
All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Note: I retain in the publishers' text where they occur the references to footnotes, but usually not the notes. You can check footnotes out by viewing the text on-line. Often they are replicated in different translations.
Bible passages accessed via BibleGateway.com
Images: self & personal correspondence
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