Good news of great joy
Thoughts about Christmas and our broken world
Hi friends,
The other night I was watching the news before bed, and found myself saying, “Good lord, isn’t there any good news?” There have been so many tragic stories in the news, from natural disasters, to car accidents, to school shootings. And this particular night, as if all that wasn’t terrible enough, there was a story about the accidental shooting death of a six-year-old and an update about a case involving a man charged with strangling an infant. If that doesn’t make your heart hurt, I don’t know what will.
After all that bad news, there was an uplifting story about a 108-year-old WWII veteran receiving special recognition. Yet even that uplifting story could only be told because of horrific events from roughly 80 years ago.
So often good news springs from bad news. A child recovers from a traumatic injury, neighbors help neighbors after a devastating storm, a local group raises money to help struggling families at Christmas. In books as well as life, the good news often only comes after tragedy. Or if not tragedy, at least a significant amount of pain and struggle. We read stories because we want to believe that people—including ourselves—can rise above it all and come out victorious. We seek books and movies with happy endings because everyone knows that bad news is always going to be a part of life. But nobody wants the bad news to be the end of the story.
Almost since the beginning of creation there has been bad news. News of a fallen and broken world in need of redemption. Anyone who’s taken a history class knows that human history is fraught with ugliness and strife, and that continues today. We see it in daily life and news cycles over and over and over. We see it in our cities, neighborhoods, in our homes, and in ourselves. But we don’t give up trying do better because we long for that happy ending. We have hope that the world will see an end to darkness and suffering.
There is a line in one of my favorite Christmas songs, “O, Holy Night,” that says, “A thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”
That new and glorious morn came about because the birth of a baby boy. When Jesus was born all those centuries ago it was because God promised to send a savior to redeem our broken world. It was “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
Jesus is the good news that springs from the bad news. The bad news is that we are fallen and broken and separated from God. The good news of Jesus is that he offers us redemption. Yes, the world is still fallen and broken and full of darkness. But he is “the true light that gives light to everyone” that came into the world. He was the good news of great joy on that day so long ago, and he still is today for anyone who chooses to seek him. Yes, the world is still broken. Yes, there is still plenty of bad news. But Jesus assures us that the bad news is not the end of the story.
Merry Christmas, friends. Whether you celebrate or not, I hope this season is filled with joy and hope, and that the coming year brings with it more good news than bad.
Some children’s books celebrating the birth of Jesus
Happy Birthday, Christmas Child! (board book) by Laura Sassi, illustrated by Gabi Murphy
‘Twas the Evening of Christmas by Glenys Nellist, illustrated by Elena Selivanova
The Stable Where Jesus Was Born by Rhonda Gowler Greene, illustrated by Susan Gaber
Who Was Born this Special Day? by Eve Bunting and Leonid Gore
Thank you, Rebecca, for spreading the Good News of the Gospel. This is the most important message that we can share, especially in these violent and frightening times. I know so many people who think that humanity can fix this broken world without bowing to our Saviour Jesus Christ. Some of them are family members and close friends of mine. I thank the Lord that my beloved wife is not one of those people who mock and turn their backs on God. I can see that the Spirit of God is in you. Peace be with you, and may the Lord richly bless you and all those dear to you.