“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” – Mark 1:15

When Jesus was born, the Jews were living under Roman rule, and waiting for the promised King to save them from their oppressors.

Here’s the good news announcement from Luke 2, with my notes:

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

• “terrified” – not the harmless baby angels we depict in art

¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

• “good news” – this is “gospel”, the exact word the Romans used to announce the coming of their empire into new lands

¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

• “Messiah” in Hebrew = “Christ” in Greek = the anointed one, the King

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

• “Host” = “Army” – the NIV consistently translates this word as Army or War, except when it refers to God or his angels, then it’s translated as Hosts. Hosts is just a medieval English word that means Army.

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

• A more direct translation is “with whom He is pleased” – think of a whole army of angels announcing that, and the implications if He’s not pleased

Joy to the world. The Lord is come. Let earth receive her King!