Christmas - Good news!

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 2:10,11 (NKJV)

Good news – What?

Christmas. The word today has come to mean so many different things to different people. Presents? Christmas trees? Lights? Decorations? Stars? But what is Christmas? We have all come to identify Christmas as a festival celebrating the birth of Jesus. Looking at the passage given here, the angel announcing the birth of Jesus called it good news, which is rather interesting to note, because, as we have come to expect in today’s world, no news is good news! Interestingly enough, it was pretty much the same in those days too (as we shall soon see) and what was good news over two thousand years ago is good news ‘which will be to all people’ even today. 

Good news – Why?

To understand this properly, a quick history lesson is in order. The people of Israel had been attacked left, right and center by every nation around them, defeated again and again, and had so many different masters that it looked like a different world power ruled them every few years. What kept them going were prophesies from over 700 years ago by prophets Isaiah and Micah that proclaimed that the Messiah would come, who they believed, would deliver them from their political (that he would establish a kingdom), economic (they would become prosperous again)(there had been absolutely no word from God for the last 400 years) problems. and religious

Good news – How?

Do not be afraid!

In a time and age governed by fear, here came a super-natural being who proclaimed that the Savior was born, and he told people to not fear. The wait was finally over! They did not have to fear anymore. The advent of Christmas reminds us every year, to not be afraid. 

Great joy!

The birth of Jesus brought great joy in the hearts of the people of Israel back then, and it continues even today; when people accept Christ as their Savior, He is born in their hearts, and the joy of finally having your sins forgiven is unspeakable. Why? True happiness does not depend on whether India wins the World 20-20. It has its roots in contentment, in peace, which comes from reconciliation with God. Think about it. If you have wronged someone, there is always a part of you which will continue to feel guilt until you have been forgiven. It is the same here. We were created by a sinless God, who naturally expects us to follow in His footsteps. We, on the other hand, have been born in sin, and live in sin. Though we do not realize it for most part, there is a huge wall of guilt that keeps us from being joyful. Christ came to break down that wall; so that you and I can be joyful.

Have a wonderful Christmas!