Weblog Entry - 08/28/2005: Volume 81 - The Gospel of Jesus Christ by Chris Pridham

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08/28/2005: Volume 81 - The Gospel of Jesus Christ by Chris Pridham"

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

"The Gospel of Jesus Christ" is a title we Christians are all too familiar with. The word Gospel is of Greek origin and simply means "To Announce Good News". So what is the Good News that Jesus Christ came to announce? Often we hear the story of his life, death, resurrection and the need for us to repent and believe in Him. Mark 1:1 opens up with the line "The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God". Instead of looking at the good news as simply being about Jesus Christ, I would like to look at the good news Jesus Christ, the Son of God, announced.
Jesus Christ came to the land of Israel where the view of God the Father was very different from the life and view presented by His Son. A popular story showing the contrast in views was the woman caught in adultery as told by John in his gospel.
Moses wrote - Deut 22:22 "If a man is found lying with a married woman, then both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman; thus you shall purge the evil from Israel." NASU
The Son of God said - John 8:10-11 Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you? She said, 'No one, Lord'. And Jesus said, I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more." NASU
The good news Jesus Christ announced to this woman and all others who had ears to hear was that He did not condemn her. He did not think she should be killed or removed from Israel. Now that is good news! Can you imagine how this woman must have felt? The guilt and shame she must have felt being caught in the middle of the act of adultery? The man was left in the room while she was pulled out alone. She was brought to the teacher, Jesus, to be judged. In her mind, the God of Israel, because of what she had done would want her killed and removed from Israel. Then to hear the man of God say "I do not condemn you". How awesome!
Some more good news announced is found in the story of the new commandment.
Moses wrote - Deut 5:7-21
You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol.
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
Observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
The Son of God said John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." NASU
That's good news! Jesus did not tell them like little children what not to do but he gave them limitless number of ways to love one another. How wonderful! Jesus did not simply tell them to love one another. He was able to show them how to love one another. It was not that he was doing away with the list Moses had given the people. Those are all acts of love. Jesus defined the reason for the list. All the Father had ever really desired for and from his people was love. Now Jesus was able to show them how the Father loves and he said "follow me".
Moses wrote - Gen 38:7 "But Er, Judah's firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD took his life." NASU
That statement alone is enough to give anybody nightmares about the Father.
The Son of God says - Matt 5:43-45 "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy'. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." NASU
You mean the Father loves his enemies? He causes the sun to rise on them and blesses them with rain? You mean he doesn't go around killing his enemies? Now this is a higher and greater revelation announced by Jesus Christ. This, my dear brother and sister, is very, very good news that Jesus Christ announced and showed to us.
And lastly, the good news that the Son of God announced to the people of this earth was about the identity of his family.
Moses wrote - Ex 9:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and speak to him". Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, "Let My people go, that they may serve Me". NASU
The Son of God said - Matt 12:48-50 … "Who is my mother and who are my brothers?" And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother." NASU
Jesus, the Son of God, announced that imperfect and flawed men and women who follow him are his brothers and sisters. You see; the will of the Father is not simply something we do but it is someone and his name is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the will of God, and we, my dear brothers and sisters, have a portion of Him inside us.
We continue to announce and show the light of the expression of Christ who is the expression of the Father. We do not talk about ourselves but Christ Jesus our Lord and ourselves as his family. For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness", is the One who is expressed in our hearts to give the Light. This Light is the knowledge of the glory or expression of the Father through Christ who has found a home inside of our earthly flesh This is the will of the Father in Christ Jesus who is made visible on this earth through his family who has pressed into the kingdom of God. God is our Father; we are his children. We come as we are and live with Him in His Kingdom. This is the gospel that Jesus Christ through his younger brothers and sisters continues to announce.
Written by Chris Pridham