Good News, Not Good Advice (Luke 2:10)

This week, we’ll be rolling out 7 blog posts on Advent, helping us all to worship and wonder at our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Here is post #1 on the good news of great joy…

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people…” – Luke 2:10

The angel of the Lord, with the glory of the Lord shining all around him, delivers good news to the shepherds in the fields outside of Bethlehem (Luke 2:9-10).

The word translated, “I bring…good news” is the common word in the New Testament for preaching the gospel. In Isaiah, the word is used for the salvation of God’s people by the Messiah (Isa 40:9; 52:7; 61:1). The word “gospel” means “good news.” 

So, the gospel is good news, not good advice. 

It is not a command, a moral principle, or a pep talk. It is unbreakable and eternal divine truth, a heavenly message about something that has happened, something historical. 

The gospel is, therefore, not dependent on us in any way. It is not about something we have to do. It is about what God has done through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Both Zacharias, in his prophesy about Christ (Luke 1:68-79), and Mary, in her praise of God for Christ (Luke 1:46-55), acknowledge this God-centered, historical reality to the gospel. . . .God has done this and that in the past and now in the present through the birth of Christ. And God will do this and that in the future through His Son. 

And whoever testifies about the gospel, wherever they’re at, talks about what God has done and will do, what His Son has done and will do.

So, the gospel is good news, not good advice. 

And it is good news characterized by great joy. It is about the most joyous reality. So, it produces the greatest joy in the hearts of people.

The Sunrise from on high has visited us in darkness (Luke 1:79). The light of the glory of God in the face of Christ has shone on a world enshrouded by sin and death.

For those who, by God’s grace, respond by faith to the good news, there is an explosion of joy. A joy that passes understanding – what Peter calls a joy “inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Pet 1:8).

So, the gospel is good news, not good advice. 

This is a cause for much rejoicing. Because we could never get ourselves out of darkness. Because that darkness is actually within each of our hearts, keeping us from responding rightly to Christ! But good news has come. The Light has broken through the world and through our sin-darkened hearts to bring us to new life. 

So, remember the good news of Christ this Christmas season. Don’t turn the good news into something primarily about us or something we have to do. Receive the news of Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection. And rejoice in Him and all He’s done for you.