Spreading The Good News

From the experience of Paul and Silas, we have seen these facts, among many others.

Suddenly, while preaching the Gospel News in a place to which the Holy Spirit has guided and led them, they are met with ill will - hostility and life-threatening danger – from the very people to whom they have brought the Good News of Jesus.

Overnight, without prior warning, servants of God have been sent off to another destination, a place which was not in their plans. Without resistance, these servants, whose mission did not come to the conclusion they had thought would be, leave not with defeat, regrets, or deep feelings of not completing their work. They leave with complete faith and confidence in the Holy Spirit, doing as He directs and wills. Greater and more diverse fruit is borne.

In the Christmas Story, we will be looking at three events, two well-known by many, and one that is not as well known.

First Well-known Event

The first one shows us the Wise Men or Magi, who had not planned another route back home. I have quoted some relevant verses for you. Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him. Matthew 2: 7 – 8. Remember, the Magi had gone to Herod for assistance, pertaining to the Birth of the King of the Jews.

As absolutely ridiculous as this may sound to some, the fact is that King Herod never left his palace, his home to go to the Magi, on the other side of the world. These Wise Men, on the other hand, had left their homes to come to the West, to where Herod was. They were the ones who first sought favour from Herod, and he had obliged. Now he has sought favour of them and the truth is that they would have been looking forward to taking the Good News of great joy to Herod.

They are all prepared to be respectful, courteous and faithful to King Herod by returning to him information about the same King of the Jews, as he had requested. Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him. Matthew 2: 7 – 8. Is this voice of Herod, part of their worshipping? Is this request of his, part of the evangelizing scheme which Sovereign, Father God has planned for them? Are they to be the first earthly messengers to take the Good News of Great Joy to King Herod?

Here’s a point of divine interest, to latch on to. Just as the shepherds only went out to spread the Good News, after they had personally witnessed it, in that they were not second or third hand receivers, but first-hand believers, so too with the Magi. They were returning to spread the Good News to Herod after they had become first-hand witnesses to Truth. 

Similarly, you and I, like Paul and Silas, can only be true witnesses to the Gospel message we take to others, when it is real, alive and bearing fruit in us.

Holy Spirit, bring us to truth about our being witnesses of the Living, Reigning, Ruling, King Jesus. Amen!