Day 4: The Gospel-Beginnings
“So, good news – I saw a dog today! Have you seen a dog? You probably have.” Buddy the Elf is never at a loss for words, and delights in sharing good news with others. We use the word “gospel” a lot and sometimes seem to forget that it means “good news”. So, what’s your good news? For Mary Magdalene, it was simple: “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18).
Ask three people what the Gospel is and see what they say. Hopefully, each would include this core piece of good news from Mary: He is risen! Actually, because Jesus changed everything, we might do better to call it the “Great Announcement”. On the day of Pentecost a few weeks later, Peter’s telling of the Gospel has six “chapters”. What stands out here is that the gospel isn’t a set of doctrinal statements to agree with; rather, it is one big story to adopt.
Peter said, “You are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed’” (Acts 3:25). This is a story with a past at least as old as Abraham, a present with Jesus the Messiah among his people by the Holy Spirit, and a future with God blessing all the families of the earth.
It might seem strange, but the Gospel doesn’t start by mentioning Jesus! It starts with a story, and that story includes every person who has ever been born. God called Abraham and blessed him as he left his home and all he had there. Jesus said, “Come, follow me,” and the fishermen James and John immediately left their nets. And now he calls you to join the story. How will you respond?
Question to Consider:
Ending (not beginning) with the birth of Jesus, how would you tell the story of what God had been up to?
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for delivering the Good News to me personally. Remind me that no matter what happens today, you are good and want what is best for me. Help me to be a herald of the Good News to others.
By Dr. Bob Stallman