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Response
Luke 2:1–20 recounts the events of Jesus Christ’s birth in Bethlehem. Following Mary giving birth to baby Jesus in a modest stable outside the inn, Luke shifts to the fields where humble shepherds are watching over their sheep at night. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appears among them, shining with God’s glory, and tells the frightened shepherds, “Do not be afraid, for I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11;NKJV).
The expression “bring you good news” (NKJV) or “bring you good news” (NIV, ESV, NLT) is translated in Luke 2:10 from a Greek verb (euangelizomai), which means “to announce, proclaim, or convey a message of positive information about recent and important events.” This term is the origin of the English word evangelize. In the literal Wycliffe Version of the New Testament, the angel declares, “I bring you great joy.”
Luke frequently uses this verb meaning “to bring good news” in his Gospel and the book of Acts (Luke 2:10;Luke 3:18;Luke 4:18,43;7:22;8:1;9:6;16:16;20:1;Acts 5:42;Acts 8:35;Acts 11:20;17:18;etc:). Each time, it signifies the wonderful message that the Savior of humanity has arrived. The gospel message itself eventually became known as “good news.” The English word gospel originates from an Anglo-Saxon term (godspell) meaning “glad tidings.” This term, translated as “good news” or “glad tidings” in English, is derived from the Greek noun evangelion, which literally means “good news.””Good message” or “good news.” Before this time, the term was primarily used to declare military triumphs, but the New Testament authors gave it a new significance—the positive announcement of salvation brought to the world through Jesus Christ.
The angel proclaimed the arrival of Jesus Christ to all people, and it was a proclamation of “great joy.” The English term “great” is derived from the Greek word “megas,” signifying something remarkable or extraordinary in degree, magnitude, or impact. Joy is a feeling of intense happiness and pleasure. Great joy denotes an exceptional level of happiness and pleasure. This “great joy” pertains not only to an individual human emotion but to the ultimate eschatological joy of recognizing that the messianic era had begun (c:f: Luke 4:43; Luke 10:17; Luke 24:41,52;Mark 1:14-15).
During this period in Israel’s history, shepherds had become marginalized in society. Shepherding was a solitary and humble profession. Why did God opt to deliver His good news of great joy to these marginalized shepherds? By appearing to them first, God revealed that the exceedingly significant message of His grace was intended for all humanity, including the most humble shepherds and the poorest outcasts of society. “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:27-28).
Good news of great joy signifies the arrival of the kingdom of God in Jesus Christ. In the kingdom of heaven, the poor, meek, humble, and persecuted are invited to enter and encounter indescribable and magnificent joy Matthew 5:3-12;1 Peter 1:8. This kingdom is not reserved for the wealthy and upper-class members of society «Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. », Matthew 19:23, but for those who enter by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ Ephesians 2:4-9. Jesus would extend God’s invitation to join His kingdom not just to Jews but to Gentiles and all people in the whole world: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” Matthew 24:14;see also Matthew 28:19;Mark 14:9;Luke 24:47.
