Senwes Scenario December 2017 - March 2018 | Page 35

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F O O D F O R T HO UG HT • •
Good news that
brings great joy
READ: Luke 2
FEW THINGS IN LIFE ARE
BETTER THAN GOOD
NEWS. IT UPLIFTS YOU,
MAKES YOUR DAY. WHEN
YOU GET GOOD NEWS
IT FEELS AS IF YOU ARE
WALKING ON CLOUDS,
AS IF YOU ARE FLOATING.
WHEN A STUDENT HEARS
THAT HE PASSED OR SHE
THEIR EXAMS, OR WHEN
GRANDPARENTS HEAR
ABOUT THE BIRTH OF
A NEW GRANDCHILD.
HOWEVER, THE BEST
NEWS OF ALL WAS THE
BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST.
WHY? DO WE ASK.
THE ANSWER IS IN THE
BIRTH STORIES OF BOTH
MATTHEW AND
LUKE.
REV WILLIE BOTHA
I
n Matthew the good news is
received by the star-gazers.
They probably were astrologists,
who studied the stars for indica-
tions of future events in the lives
of individuals and nations. It is
the only place in the gospel where
Jesus is described by heathens as
the King of the Jews. It is also
striking that God even used the
cosmos to bring this glorious
news to the heathens. Herod was
crowned as king by the Romans,
while Jesus was born as King.
Compared to the learned star
gazers, the shepherds, described
in Luke 2, were simple people.
However, they were not excluded
from the good news! The glory of
the Lord was there when the angel
brought them the good news:
“Do not be afraid. I bring you
good news that will cause great
joy for all the people. Today in the
town of David a Saviour has been
born to you; he is the Messiah,
the Lord."
The importance of the message is
clear when a heavenly host pro-
claim with the angel: “Glory to
God in the highest heaven, and
on earth peace to those on whom
his favour rests.” God's good news
is goodwill to all men, deliverance
from our sins, God's revelation to
the world.
The news get the star gazers
and the shepherds moving. The
importance of the news results in
the star gazers paying tribute
to Jesus by bringing Him gifts
of gold, frankincense and
myrrh, which was but a small
acknowledge­ment of His impor-
tance. The shepherds were also
enraptured. They departed for
Bethlehem without delay. As is
often the case with good news,
they shared the appearance of
the angels with joy. When they
returned, they praised and wor-
shipped God.
The good news of Christmas and
the birth of Jesus is, in a way,
different to other good news. The
good news never ends! It brings
inspiration and hope for every
generation and every nation and it
is timeless. May this Christmas be
a time of good news and joy for
you and your loved ones and may
it get you moving, time and time
again!
SENWES Scenario • DEC 2017-MAR 2018
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