Good News of Great Joy

Good News of Great Joy

Luke 2:1~20

□ Praise and Sharing

Hymn 115 I am glad the Savior has come

 

How did you spend last week?

 

When you listen to the news, you hear a lot of bad news due to various incidents and accidents. Nevertheless, there is good news of great joy that will bring great joy to the whole world. This is the news that the Son of God has come to this earth as God promised. This is because Jesus, the King of kings, came to this earth and drove out the dark powers of sin and death and brought forth the light of life. With the coming of Jesus, the glory of God was revealed and the peace of heaven became a reality on this earth. This is good news of great joy that must be shared with all people.

 

□ Words and Sharing

1. Good news of great joy is delivered to Bethlehem, David’s town (verses 1-14).

1) Why did Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem (verses 1-5)?

1 At that time a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be registered.

2 This registration was first done when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3 Everyone returned to his hometown to register.

4 Joseph also went from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, for he was of the house and lineage of David.

5 When he and Mary, the betrothed, went up to register, she was already with child.

 

Caesar Augustus issued a decree to register all the world, so Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to register.

 

2) What is the ‘good news of great joy’ that the angel delivered to the shepherds (verses 10-11)?

10 The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.”

11 Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord.

 

The ‘good news of great joy’ that the angel brought to the shepherds was that in the city of David a Savior has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord.

 

3) What do the countless angelic hosts praise (verses 13-14)?

13 And suddenly a multitude of the heavenly host was praising God with the angel, saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those with whom he is pleased.

 

A multitude of angels praised, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those with whom he is pleased.”

 

<Sharing 1> Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to register their families due to the emperor's order, but in fact, those steps were steps to prepare for the birth of the Messiah and true king who would come as a descendant of David (Reference Micah 5:2 Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, from you will come to me one who will rule over Israel, whose origins are from ancient times, from eternity.)

Let’s talk about why it is good news for me that Jesus is the true ruler, not the human power represented by the Roman emperor.

 

The rulers of the world confuse the country with martial law to maintain their power, but Jesus, the true king, is the Son of God, but to save us, he gave up his high and high throne and came to this lowly earth and loved us even to the point of dying for us.

 

<Sharing 2> Jesus came to reveal the glory of God, which is different from the glory of the Roman emperor, and to achieve peace in the kingdom of God, which is different from the peace of Rome. Let’s share the glory of God that I have realized and the peace of God’s kingdom that I have come to enjoy thanks to the gospel. Let's also talk about how it differs from worldly glory and peace.

 

The joy and peace of salvation that I have come to realize thanks to the gospel is a joy and peace that the world cannot know or give. Worldly glory and peace are temporary pleasures, but God's glory and the peace of God's kingdom are eternal and forever.

 

2. The shepherds go to confirm what the angels said (verses 15-20).

1) How do the shepherds act after hearing the good news of great joy (verses 15-17)?

15 When the angels had departed and ascended into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has revealed to us.”

16 Go quickly and find Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger.

17 When they saw this, they told them what the angel had told them about the child.

 

The shepherds quickly went to Bethlehem, found Mary, Joseph, and the baby in the manger, found them, and told them what the angel had told them about the baby.

2) What was the reaction of the people who heard the ‘good news’ from the shepherd (verses 18-19)?

18 And all who heard were amazed at what the shepherds had said to them.

19 And Mary pondered all these words in her heart.

People found the shepherds' words strange, but Mary kept all these words and pondered them in her heart.

 

<Sharing 3> The shepherds accurately conveyed what they saw and heard and gave glory to God for all of this. Let us share to whom and how we are sharing the gospel we have received. And let us pray that those who hear the gospel will accept it.

 

In keeping with the digital age, the gospel was preached through YouTube and text messages, and the gospel was also preached to children at playgrounds. We pray together so that they can all believe in Jesus as their Savior and be saved.

 

□ Let's pray together

Lord, help us to abundantly enjoy and share the gospel that reveals the glory of God and brings peace to the earth!

Let us spread the good news of great joy that will be brought to the whole world to everyone, and let those who hear the gospel receive the power to accept Jesus as their Savior and become children of God!

 

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