As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”
– Mark 5:18-19
If it bleeds, it leads.
That’s the old saying in the news business. Just check your smartphone or YouTube feed — or turn on your TV — and you’re bound to come across story after story about political corruption, natural disasters, job layoffs, and degenerate behavior. It’s no surprise since the media thrives on bad news and hyping the worst possible scenarios. After all, uplifting headlines rarely attract clicks or drive ratings.
Meanwhile, gloomy economic news can become self-fulfilling when the public becomes afraid of purchasing big-ticket items like an automobile — or even something more affordable like a pair of shoes. Of course, many people these days really ARE struggling against a variety of challenges. But don’t forget that unemployment, crime, sickness, and death have been part of the human experience since Genesis.
How about spreading some GOOD news for a change? We can do that through one of the Bible’s most-familiar passages: John 3:16:
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
As Christ-followers, our Good News (the Gospel) is that Jesus paid the price for our sins (past, present, and future) when he died in our place on a Roman cross. Three days later, just as predicted centuries earlier in the Old Testament, God resurrected him to forever defeat the power of sin and death in our lives. It’s this same power that will one day raise all Believers to eternal life and joy with our Creator.
“Death has lost the battle!” proclaimed the apostle Paul. “Where is its victory? Where is its sting?”
Does this Good News sound too good to be true? If so, you’re not alone. Even some of Jesus’ closest followers found it hard to believe when they heard — just days after witnessing his crucifixion — that their Master was alive. It’s in John 20 that we read about the skepticism (and later amazement) of a certain apostle, who to this day is known as Doubting Thomas:
Although Thomas the Twin was one of the 12 disciples, he wasn't with the others when Jesus appeared to them. So they told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But Thomas said, "First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won't believe unless I do this!"
A week later the disciples were together again. This time, Thomas was with them. Jesus came in while the doors were still locked and stood in the middle of the group. He greeted his disciples and said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and look at my hands! Put your hand into my side. Stop doubting and have faith!"
Are today’s bleak headlines getting you down? Now’s the time to start spreading the ultimate Good News — whether it’s to strangers far away — or to those who knew us before Jesus changed us.
No comments:
Post a Comment