The birth of Jesus, born in the world as a human being, was announced as good news bringing great joy. 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 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 (Luke 2:8-11).
News of great joy? The One who was born came to suffer bitterly. He died on a cross (it was a Friday). Three days later He rose from the dead, and thereby conquered death. Every year we commemorate the day on which Jesus died, and we call it “Good Friday”. It was indeed a good Friday, because on that day Jesus paid for our sins, so completely as if we ourselves had hung on the cross, as if we had paid for our sins ourselves, so that we would be resurrected with Him. Since we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him (Rom 6:8).
The news of great joy was indeed the most wonderful news ever. The sacrifice of Jesus was the expression of God’s love for us. Jesus came to show us that God is for us, not against us, and that He doesn’t keep track of our sins. Therefore we never need to be afraid of God anymore – the death of Jesus in our place reconciled us with God. If we have accepted this gift from God, nothing will ever separate us from the love of God (Rom 8:39). He asks each one of us to come home, to be his child.
Jesus tells the following story to illustrate God’s love for each one of us: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’… I tell you, the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:4-10).
The picture which Jesus gives us, is one of God who even calls the angels in heaven together and says: “Rejoice with Me, because I have found my lost child.” If I let God find me and believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins too, everyone in heaven knows about me. My name is mentioned in heaven.
And to assure us that God will never forget us, He says: I can never forget you! I have written your name on the palms of my hands (Isa. 49:16).
All this is possible because there was a message of “good news”, of a “Good Friday” that was to come.
Our heavenly Father, thank you that we can again be assured that You love us very much, and that we have a Good Friday to be celebrated with great joy. Amen.
Gert Berning
