“Hey, listen up! What do you want first – the good news or the good news? Because I’ve got good news. Good news for all people!” (Luke 2:10, Wobbly Translation Version).
The angel told the shepherds that the birth of Jesus was going to bring joy for all the people.
Everybody.
Not just some. Not only a few. Not merely a certain kind, class, type, category, brand, or breed.
Joy for all of us. This is good news 4 allofus.
That’s because Jesus was God coming into the world to redeem and reconcile all people so all people can have God with them. And that makes it possible for all people to be remade from the inside out into God’s image and transmit God’s life-giving energy throughout the world (see Genesis 1:27-28 and Hebrews 2). Restoration, renewal, resolution 4 allofus.
Sadly sometimes this good news has been misunderstood. To some people it sounds like Christians are saying “we’re right and everyone else is wrong.” Many Christians do say that and revel in defeating and dominating people who don’t believe Jesus is the only savior for all. But those Christians are wrong. The good news is not a set up of us vs. them. We are all in this together. The good news announces the act of salvation for all of us because all of us need salvation – restoration, renewal, and resolution. I hope you will clearly hear that angel’s words, instead of anyone else’s – “good news of great joy which will be for all the people.” Joy 4 allofus.
The eternal Son of God took the action to come into our world so the whole world can experience the presence of God – God with us, God 4 allofus.
The Son of God left his glory so he could bring about this new way of life (God with us). We correctly point out that the Son gave up his place of divine majesty and power (Philippians 2:6-8). Yet there was more to it than that. Just before Jesus was arrested and crucified, he prayed to his Father (John 17). One of the things he prayed about was, “You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (verse 24). Not only did the Son leave the place of divine majesty and power, but also the place of divine love. He was, shall I say, accustomed to existing in perfect love. He “emptied himself” of that and came into a world of selfishness, egotism, me-firstism, my-wayism, as well as hatred, rebellion, revenge, and abuse. Yet, he did not leave love behind. He came in love with love for the whole world (John 3:16). Jesus went on in his prayer: “I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:26). God’s love to, in, and among all people. Love 4 allofus.
Christmas really is good news. The birth of Jesus really is good news. It means there’s hope for redemption, joy, and love 4 allofus.
“Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing…” (Isaac Watts)