December 23 | Glad Tidings
“I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” - Luke 2:10
Fake news is the buzz word these days. Its partisan politics main weapon these days to advance their agenda. Consumers of fake news have nothing genuine and real to base their sentiments or emotions upon. Because no matter how good or bad sounding fake news is, it is still fake news.
The news of the Lord’s birth more than 2,000 years ago was not fake news. It was good news then, just as it is still good news today! The people that could verify the veracity of this miraculous birth were unimpeachable. There was, of course, Joseph and Mary who “treasured up” every bit of her experience as the mother of Jesus. The shepherds own eyewitnesses account of what they saw at the manger was beyond question. Also, the magi were equally credible witnesses of the truthfulness of the Lord’s miraculous birth. No could dispute what they saw on the day they set foot inside the inn and saw the infant, Savior. And how about the corroborating testimonies of Simeon and Anna about the day the duo saw Jesus at the temple? They could not have mistaken Jesus for another baby, especially Simeon who was “guided by the Spirit.”
Unlike fake news, the good news of Jesus’ birth is a source of true and real joy for us who believes, proclaims and lives it daily! It is the “glad tidings!” The host of angels who first proclaimed this good news were undoubtedly joyous! The shepherds could not contain their excitement hearing this life-changing news for the first time. The true gospel is joyous in its essence and its proclamation and practice must be equally joyous too!
As believers, the proclamation and practice of the gospel is the fountain of our joy. We are most joyful and satisfied when the good news of Jesus is heard and seen in us. Let’s keep it that way!
The news of the Lord’s birth more than 2,000 years ago was not fake news. It was good news then, just as it is still good news today! The people that could verify the veracity of this miraculous birth were unimpeachable. There was, of course, Joseph and Mary who “treasured up” every bit of her experience as the mother of Jesus. The shepherds own eyewitnesses account of what they saw at the manger was beyond question. Also, the magi were equally credible witnesses of the truthfulness of the Lord’s miraculous birth. No could dispute what they saw on the day they set foot inside the inn and saw the infant, Savior. And how about the corroborating testimonies of Simeon and Anna about the day the duo saw Jesus at the temple? They could not have mistaken Jesus for another baby, especially Simeon who was “guided by the Spirit.”
Unlike fake news, the good news of Jesus’ birth is a source of true and real joy for us who believes, proclaims and lives it daily! It is the “glad tidings!” The host of angels who first proclaimed this good news were undoubtedly joyous! The shepherds could not contain their excitement hearing this life-changing news for the first time. The true gospel is joyous in its essence and its proclamation and practice must be equally joyous too!
As believers, the proclamation and practice of the gospel is the fountain of our joy. We are most joyful and satisfied when the good news of Jesus is heard and seen in us. Let’s keep it that way!
