What makes God’s news “good,” and worth hearing and receiving? How is it different from all other “good news”? First, God’s Good News is for all people. More specifically, for those who don’t see themselves as deserving Good News: the poor, afflicted, brokenhearted; all imprisoned by their own desires, addictions, and wounds. Jesus also teaches God’s Good News is for our enemies; those we determine to be undeserving of His favor (Luke 4:16-30).

Secondly, God’s Good News does not change over time. The world makes lots of promises and then changes the terms. God does not do that. Even in the midst of difficult circumstances God’s Good News reminds us that He knows, and “makes everything beautiful in its time” (Ecc. 3:11). Jesus had to reassure John the Baptist (while in prison) that God’s Good News would deliver people from far worse prisons than the physical ones, and so to remain faithful, despite his suffering. He then went on to give John the highest praise he ever gave a human being—because John, like so many of the prophets before him, would not get to experience the benefits of living on the other side of the cross of Jesus Christ (Luke 11:1-18). Which leads to the final point.

God’s Good News is not just words - its a person, Jesus Christ, and his transformational work in our lives. Unlike John the Baptist’s experience, Jesus no longer ministers outside the prison cell, he is in the prison cells, delivering inmates from their spiritual captivity, and abides with them whether they remain there or are released. He no longer just heals physical eyes, he gives sight to all people who are spiritually blind. He no longer just raises the dead, only for that person to die again, he gifts eternal life to those who are spiritually dead, through faith and repentance. In Isaiah 61:1 it says the Messiah (The one “anointed” to proclaim the Good News) will make people “oaks of righteousness,” exchanging their mourning with gladness, despair with praise. It is the Lord’s work, over time, from beginning to end, so that He may be glorified.

God’s Good News is worth hearing and receiving because it is for all people, it never changes, and it is transformational.