The Gospel Is Literally Good News
Many joke formats are built around the basic formula of setup and punchline.
Children learn this format early in life through a corny Knock Knock Joke paradigm. Let’s try one:
Knock, Knock.
Who’s There?
Boo.
Boo who?
You don’t have to cry, it’s only a joke!
Henny Youngman owned the one-liner joke format in the 20th century. When escorting his wife to a radio show on which he was performing, he asked a stagehand to escort his wife to a seat by saying, “Take my wife, please.” That line became his signature joke.
The Good News / Bad News joke format of humor is another simple and effective two-part comedic construct built on a setup and a punchline.
Here are a couple of examples and to keep it safe, we’ll source these from the genre of church humor.
Upon returning to work from an illness, the church secretary informed the Pastor of some GOOD NEWS: “The Woman’s Auxiliary voted to send you a get-well card”, she said. “What’s the BAD NEWS? the pastor asked. She answered, “The vote passed by 31-30.”
Here's another one from the late Donald Bastian, a Free Methodist Pastor:
A pastor reports to his congregation on Sunday morning that he has both good news and bad news for them.
He tells them: “The BAD NEWS is that last night’s storm blew a huge hole in the roof and there is a lot of water damage in the choir room.” The people respond with a concerned murmur.
The pastor goes on: “But there’s GOOD NEWS. The GOOD NEWS is that we have all the money we need to repair the damage.” The people brighten.
“However,” the pastor adds, “the BAD NEWS is that the money is in your pockets.” Spontaneous laughter erupts but sounds a little nervous.
The reality masked by the comedic form of Good News/Bad News jokes is that the news is really Bad news.
There was plenty of bad news in the first century when the Roman empire was in power. Most rural people lived at a subsistence level, constantly in danger of hunger or starvation if their crops failed. Infant mortality rates were high.
In Classical Rome, a third of babies died before their first birthday, and half of children died before their tenth. Those who survived could look forward to a life expectancy of somewhere around 50-60 years of age. Malnutrition often made infections and accidents more deadly. Illnesses, such as internal parasites, were difficult to treat.
In his book, “Life In Year One—What the world Was Like in First-Century Palestine”, author Scott Korb writes, “For the average Jew life was impoverished, taxes crushing, hygiene abysmal, crime outrageous, rulers—both Roman and Jewish—rapacious or deranged, and death was gruesome.
It was into this existential despair that a messenger was dispatched directly from God to a group of shepherds one night in the Judean hillside and delivered this message found in Luke 2:10:
“FEAR NOT: FOR, BEHOLD I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY, WHICH SHALL BE TO ALL PEOPLE.”
Good tidings of great joy to all people.
If you ever played the part of the Angel dressed in a white bed sheet in a Christmas play when you were a child, this is the line you struggled to memorize and deliver.
Because Greek was the common language of the world in the first century, especially in philosophy, science, and literature, the New Testament was written in Greek.
The Greek word Luke wrote for “Good tidings” was the word “Euangelion.”
Eu meaning “Good”. Angelion meaning “message”.
Note the presence of the two-syllable “Angel” in the middle of the word, Euangelion. We refer to these heavenly beings as Angels, but the word for Angels in the New Testament means “Messenger” They are heavenly messengers.
So, an Angel, a messenger, delivered a message to the Shepherds and it was a GOOD message.
While the King James Version uses “Good tidings” in the Christmas story, most Bible translations since the 1970’s use the phrase: “Good News” — a much better translation.
“FEAR NOT: FOR, BEHOLD I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY, WHICH SHALL BE TO ALL PEOPLE.”
As language travels across the centuries and different cultures, the meaning of words can survive even though the words are written differently and even presented in a different alphabet.
When the Greek word “Euangelion” was translated into Latin, the language of the Roman empire, it was written as Evangelium. From this Latin Evangelium our English words Evangel, Evangelist, Evangelistic, Evangelism, Evangelize, and Evangelical derived.
Centuries later when the Greek “Euangelion” and the Latin “Evangelium” was translated in Anglo-Saxon, or Old English, it was written as “gōdspel” – “gōd” meaning “Good”, “spel” meaning “Story” or “Telling”. Good Story, or “Good Telling”.
The Old English “gōdspel”, when translated into modern English usage was written as “Gospel”, and that’s how the word “Gospel” came to us.
“Gospel” is one of those inside, “church” words whose meaning is not necessarily self-evident to people outside of the church. But everyone understands what “good news” is.
So, for instance, when Mark begins to write his account of Jesus’ life, which we know as the Gospel of Mark, he writes in the very first verse:
“THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD.”
The Greek word Mark wrote for “Gospel” is the word, “Euangelion”.
So in Mark 1:1, Mark really wrote:
“THE BEGINNING OF THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD.”
So, when you read the word, “Gospel” in scripture, it means good news.
The Gospel is —LITERALLY— Good News.
It’s not like generic good news, like your stock portfolio is up, you passed the exam, your roof survived the storm, or you’re being promoted.
It is clear from scripture that the “Good News” is Jesus – the Good News of His coming to earth, His life on earth, His crucifixion, death, and resurrection, His defeat of sin and death, His ascension to Heaven and His promise to return and to host us in His Father’s House forever.
The “Gospel” is Good News. Full stop.
The Gospel is Good News for the World. How so, you might ask?
To begin with, anytime someone declares and proves their love for you, that’s very good news. We know from John 3:16 …
“For God so loved the world He gave his Only Son, that whosever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
When we accept God’s love and become a member of the body of Christ, known as His church, we learn to love like He loved, and serve like He served. And just as He was GOOD NEWS to the lame He made to walk, the blind eyes He made to see, the dead He brought back to life, His church is also GOOD NEWS to a world in need it touches in His name.
There are too many examples to list this morning, but one provides an excellent representation of how the Church blesses our world.
Within 24 hours of a major earthquake, tidal wave, hurricane or other natural disaster, cargo planes are in the air, trucks are on the roads, and boots are on the ground mobilizing relief efforts from organizations like World Vision, World Relief, Samaritan’s Purse, Food For The Hungry, Compassion International, Salvation Army, and many other church-group-specific relief efforts. Food, shelter, clothing, infrastructure repair & installation are freely given and supported by donors who give billions of dollars to make these efforts possible.
Not every humanitarian effort is Christian, but these are and they are significant. These efforts, and the dollars that fund them, come from a foundational belief that we must pass the GOOD NEWS along—tangibly—to those in need.
Not only is the Gospel GOOD NEWS for our world, it is GOOD NEWS for our NATION.
Again, the evidence of the wonderful contributions the Church of Jesus Christ has made to America is too immense to adequately cover in this setting.
So, lets focus in on a small piece of American history which is wonderfully documented in the #1 New York Times Bestselling title by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian, David McCullough, entitled, “The Pioneers — The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought The American Ideal West”.
After the Revolutionary War had ended and the 13 United colonies declared their independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776, a peace treaty was signed between the new confederation of 13 American states and Great Britain in 1783 that resulted in all the lands controlled by the British west of the Allegheny Mountains and northwest of the Ohio River east of the Mississippi, be ceded to the United States. Until 1783, the US federal Government did not own a single acre of land. This peace treaty conveyed some 266,000 square miles of raw, unbroken wilderness; instantly doubling the size of the United States. It would eventually become six states: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota.
A pastor of a Christian church in Massachusetts had a vision for this new land. His name was Manasseh Cutler. David McCullough’s bestselling book chronicles Cutler’s efforts to lobby the Continental Congress to pass a landmark piece of legislation in 1787 known as THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE.
When the Northwest Ordinance passed the Continental Congress, the Congress (as we now know it) had yet to form, the Constitution was not yet ratified, and there was no President of the United States.
Even a cursory examination of the legislation shows how the Gospel was Good News for America. In fact, it was providential.
Among other things, this landmark legislation known as the Northwest Ordinance:
• Outlined the process for territories to become states
• Guaranteed civil liberties, including freedom of religion, trial by jury, and habeas corpus.
• Established publicly funded higher education (State Universities – University of Ohio at Athens, Ohio was the first). In Article 3 of the Ordinance, it states:
“religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”
These elements of the Northwest Ordinance were significant in the founding of our nation; but there was one more. The Northwest Ordinance …
• Outlawed slavery in the new territories.
It was the banning of any slavery that was met with fierce opposition. But pastor Manasseh Cutler persisted in his conviction that if we’re going to say that “All men are created equal”, we’re going to honor that belief in our action and policies. His views came straight from the scriptures. And even though slavery was legal in all the original thirteen states, Manasseh was determined to break that model.
So serious about this were He and his cohorts that the very first settlement in the Northwest territory—situated at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers in present day Marietta, Ohio—was carved out of the wilderness with zero slave labor.
All the clearing of land, hewing of trees, building of homes and shops, plowing, sewing, growing and harvesting of crops, chopping of wood and hauling of water was done with the blood and sweat of free people.
Just across the river in Virginia (now West Virginia), slavery was still legal and active. But these pioneers were undeterred; a conviction that endured as five new states, a territory as large as the original thirteen states, would have no slavery, thanks to the passionate faith of a Congregational Minister of the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ named Manasseh Cutler.
We often hear that America is a nation of laws. In the 39 sessions of Congress convened since World War II, Congress has enacted bills totaling 195 million words of NEW LAWS; enough words to fill 650,000 pages bound in 3,000 average-length books.
We are a nation of laws. But that is not all we are and it is certainly not enough. For we know too well, especially of late, that laws can easily codify immorality and even be used to send virtuous and religious people to jail. Just because something is legal doesn’t guarantee that it is moral.
Our founders knew we needed more than laws. We needed people of conscience who were driven by their religious, moral values to do the right, moral thing. And all this had to be done without establishing a state religion.
James Madison, a founding father, our 4th president, drafter of the constitution and the Bill of Rights, and co-author of the Federalist Papers, said:
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Dr. Albert Mohler, a contemporary theologian, former Southern Seminary president, broadcaster, and author wrote just last week:
“The foundations that gave birth to the American project of ordered liberty were grounded in Christianity. Frankly, there was no alternative. Even those who considered themselves as infidels acknowledged the nearly universal commitment to Christian morality. The language of the Declaration of Independence may not be explicitly Christian, but it is decidedly not secular.”
Without God-fearing, moral leadership, like Manasseh Cutler and James Madison, America doesn’t work as designed; and evils like slavery—and worse— can take root and grow.
The Gospel was, and is, GOOD NEWS for America.
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Just as the Gospel is good for our World and good for our Nation, it is also good for us as an assembled body of believers in this congregation we call Trinity Methodist.
The GOOD NEWS gives us a reason to exist and distinguishes us from any another social or membership organization. The gospel of Jesus Christ focuses our allegiance, defines our agenda, and priorities. It informs our financial behaviors and charitable efforts in the community and around the world.
Along with other congregations in our town and region, we meet and touch people from all walks of life who need the Good News of Jesus and need our smiles, arms, and shoe leather to show them God’s love.
As you look at the good that is done in this community, you can easily trace the involvement and influence of Trinity Methodist because many of you are the “Good News” to people in need.
But, the gospel is also GOOD NEWS for you, personally.
For centuries, the wealthy and powerful have created ways to isolate themselves in restricted environments that celebrate their privilege and allow them to fraternize only with those like them.
Whether a stuffy, gilded club in Manhattan, a country club community in Bel Aire, or a Yacht Club in Monaco, the common denominator in these cloistered communities is wealth.
The Yellowstone Club in Montana is a private ski and golf community in the Rocky Mountains. Members are required to purchase property of $2 million plus, pay an initiation fee of $400,000 and $44,000 in annual dues. Their unofficial slogan is “private powder”; alluding to the pristine ski slopes unmarred by the skis and snowboards of the “unwashed masses”.
But there is a better membership organization with a list of unparalleled benefits. It is the church of Jesus Christ and its members hail from every tongue and tribe and from ever era of history.
· The initiation fee is the most expensive price that can be charged, and it has been paid in full by its founder, Jesus Christ.
· Chapters meet worldwide and members enjoy full, reciprocal privileges wherever they go.
· Your net worth is immaterial.
· You’ll enjoy total, irrevocable forgiveness of your sin debt, paid in full by Jesus Christ.
· Membership comes with full assurance of Salvation and the secure hope of eternal life in Heaven.
· There are no membership tiers or hierarchy. The ground at the cross is level.
· Membership immediately confers upon you the official status as a Child of God.
· Peace of mind comes with your membership and a joy that endures even life’s toughest circumstances.
· Fulltime protection is standard with 24/7 onboard assistance by God the Holy Spirit to help teach you the Word of God and prompt you to correct your course when you stray. All calls for assistance are immediately answered, no busy signal ever, no voice mail, no snooty receptionist.
Indeed, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is GOOD NEWS for those of us who have put our faith in Christ.
Now, there may be some hearing this message who have yet to join this body of believers, the Church of Jesus Christ. With no reservation, I can tell you that this same Gospel is GOOD NEWS for you, and you can change your spiritual status from “Lost” to “Found”.
Scripture tells us that Jesus, “… the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.
As the two parables in our main scripture text about the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin illustrate, you are precious enough to God that His Son, Jesus, stopped at nothing to bring you back home where you belong.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ – the GOOD NEWS of JESUS CHRIST – is a road map for those who are far away, lost, and unable to find their way back home.
It is a lighthouse to the sea captain who is tossed in the sea’s angry waves, unable to get his bearings, and desperately seeking safe harbor.
To a hunter deep in the winter woods whose has lost all direction in the
onset of a winter storm, it is the repeated blast of a horn sounded by search and rescue to help him find his way to safety.
I’m reminded of a song the Williams Brothers, a black gospel trio, recorded entitled, “Back to the Cross”.
The song featured a story in spoken word about a little boy who was playing ball by himself in his grandmother’s front yard when he chased the ball down the street, through the neighborhood, and eventually wandered far enough that he was lost.
A lady in the neighborhood heard him crying and asked him what was wrong, and he told her, I’m lost.
She asked him where he lived, and he didn’t know his address or his phone number. So, she called the police for assistance, and they came and an officer asked the little boy, “Can you remember anything nearby where you live?”
The little boy thought for a minute and said, “The only thing I can remember is a white church with a big white cross on top. If I can just get back to that cross, I can find my way home.
A more contemporary setting from Anne Wilson and Chris Tomlin says it this way:
Everybody's got a list at least a mile long
Of every scar and every sin from everywhere that we've gone wrong
But there's reason for rejoicing, and the reason is because
That list was nailed to the cross
It is with great confidence and joy that I say to you no matter how many scars you have, no matter what you done, or how miserably you’ve failed, I’ve got some GOOD NEWS:
The arms of Jesus can reach farther than you can fall.
The Bad News?
Well, for God’s children, there is no bad news.
No Setup.
No Punchline.
No Joke.
