The gospel. Two words that bring joy to my heart. Two words that changed my life.
Lately, I have been reading through the gospels with one of my friends. We finished Mark and now we are halfway through Luke! Reading through the gospels has been such a wonderful journey for me. All throughout the gospels, one thing that has consistently stood out to me is the emphasis that Jesus puts on sharing the good news with others.
Jesus’ purpose of coming down to earth as fully God and fully man was not to judge the world, but to save it. And to preach the good news so that many would repent, believe and be saved.
In Mark chapter 1, Jesus tells the people that he must go to the next towns so that he may preach there also; for that is what he came for.
In Luke 4:43 Jesus says, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”
Although compassion and love compelled Jesus to perform many miracles and heal many people, his main purpose and focus was to share the good news!
I grew up in a Christian home and going to church hearing the stories of Jesus’ childhood, ministry, and crucifixion. But what I did not grow up knowing is the true gospel. I heard people talk about “sharing the gospel” or “the good news”, but I don’t think I quite knew what that actually meant until I moved to Texas my junior year of high school.
Understanding the gospel has changed my life. It has changed the way I see myself, other people, and God himself! When you are able to understand why the gospel is such great news, it changes everything. And you realize that Jesus is all you need. He’s more important than any type of earthly pleasure and he’s more important that any type of healing we could ever receive.
The gospel is good news because salvation doesn’t depend on us. If it did, I would never be able to make it. It’s good news, because it’s not about good works or being good enough. Because if it was, I couldn’t be good enough. We don’t have to be good enough, because Jesus was and he is! The gospel is not about what we have done, but what He has done. God sent his perfect and holy son down to this earth to save us. Jesus didn’t just die for our sins, but he took on our sins and they were nailed to the cross with him. The wrath of God, the wrath that us humans deserved for rebelling against a holy God, was poured out on the spotless lamb. Jesus took it all! He took it all on himself and he conquered sin and death, and rose again on the third day. He did this in obedience to his father and out of love for his creation. The good news is that there is now a way to the father. We can be in relationship with the Father because of the sacrifice Jesus made on that cross. And because Jesus took on the wrath of God, the wrath that we deserved, all of our sins have been laid on Jesus. And when God looks at his people, he sees us through the lens of Jesus. We are forgiven. We are no longer bound by sin, but we are free in Christ! And even though this earth is not yet perfected and it is tainted by sin, we will someday be reconciled with the Father and be made perfect. And until then, we can rest in the fact that Jesus has conquered the grave. He paid it all and we don’t have to earn anything, because he is enough!
This is good news. In fact, it is the greatest news! What Jesus did for me compels me to share this wonderful news with others. Not just people overseas, but people in the states. People in Texas, people in Lubbock, and people at my university.
The truth and beauty of the gospel is vital for living a life that is full of purpose. It changes everything.
I am thankful for this good news and I am thankful for the way Jesus has changed my life. As he continues to prepare my heart for this journey, I ask for prayers that the Lord would continue to give me courage to share the gospel with those I come into contact with here in the states. If I am not sharing here, what makes me think it will be any easier overseas?
This world is a mission field. Our neighborhoods, schools, and grocery stores are full of people in need of this good news. Let us, as followers of Christ, press on in the faith and let His love compel us to share the good news with all we come into contact with.
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Luke 10:2
Blessings!
