Good News, Bad News

Luke 4: 21-22 “Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.”

Have you ever been asked: ‘Do you want the good news or the bad news first?” We might wonder if hearing good news first makes the bad news not as bad or we might think hearing bad news first will make the good news even better. When we are processing and reacting to news, it probably does matter how we receive it and who we receive it from. In a world of information overload, we need to discern carefully everything we hear.

In the Bible, Jesus preached the good news of God’s love and mercy for the whole world. Yet, the people in his own hometown considered that to be bad news because they wanted special privileges and blessings kept for themselves. They didn’t understand that the greater mission of Jesus was actually good news for all of them, and for all of us. Good news is good news when it lifts up, honours, and includes all people. Thanks be to God.