Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him,  Luke 8:1

…the things that you have seen, the blind see, the lame walk, the leapers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who not offended because of me.  Luke 7:22

I will admit that I am sort of a news “junkie.”  On the cable system that  I watch, there are over 20 different full time channels that offer a constant deluge of “news.”  When you couple that with the internet outlets for news, there literally is a countless number of resources for keeping up to date.  Also understand, we all approach news, “from a point of view”, both we who consume as well as those who distribute the news, do so through a filter.  It is that filter which we all use that allows us and/or forces us (psychologically) to put our “spin” on the incidents with which we are bombarded every day.  That “spin”, that is that meaning of the events, the importance that we place on them, the hidden agendas we seek to uncover (either within the purveyor of the news or if we are wise within ourselves as we take in the news) will greatly impact our behavior as a result of that news.

Given the nature of news broadcasting today, can you imagine some of the “teasers”, “tag lines” or “headlines” that might come from Gospel happenings:

Leaders choice of meeting location puts listener’s health at risk!  (Jesus preaching to 5000 in a remote location, where he also miraculously fed them).

Leader endorses cannibalism! (Jesus discussing the spiritual eating of His Body and Drinking of His Blood)

After quick start, poll numbers shift decidedly down for Leader! (The Israelites calling for Jesus to be crucified)

Leader’s tomb broken into, body missing! (The resurrection)

In the Gospel, we are told that Jesus Christ announced the Good News.  What is that Good News?  I think a snapshot of the Good News is given, when Jesus Christ, outlines to John’s disciples, what Jesus has been doing in his ministry.  But of course it does not stop there.  All of Jesus Christ’s teachings, His healings and of course, His Sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection are the Glad Tidings of Good News, that the Savior has come and had completed His mission.

So what is our spin on this?  In other words; what importance do we place on this news and how is it going to impact our behavior.  In answering that question, I would implore everyone to read Romans Chapter 8.  Starting off with “There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…….., the chapter goes on to outline other joyous consequences of Christ’s Good News as well as proper responses, ending in an immeasurably powerful summation that starts with:  Yet in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  Know that the love in that sentence which is past tense is changed to the present tense in the very next line.

Let it be for all of us who call upon Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, that we wholly and completely accept the Good News of Jesus Christ’s Gospel.  That we choose to disregard the “spin” of this world which would have us believe that at best the Gospel is the story of a “good man” and at worst is a human made up fairy tale.  Our life here and for all eternity hinges all how receive that Good News.

Our Most Gracious and Heavenly Father, we are inundated with more happenings, more opinions, and faced with making more conclusions than ever before.  As Your Son, Jesus Christ warned, as he discussed wars and rumors of wars, we would find ourselves faced with ever conflicting messages.  We thank you, Most Merciful Father, that You have given us the True Good News of the Gospel of Your Kingdom.  That You have seen fit to provide us with clear guidance to a life with communion with You which brings joy, even in the direst of circumstances.  Thank you for the never ending Love and Relationship that is spelled out in Your Message.  Give us the strength to cling to and live ever closer to the words of Love and Life which You have made known to us.  That in living that life, we would bring Praise and Honor to Your Most Holy Name we pray.  In the Name of The Son who You Gave to be Our Savior Jesus Christ.

Amen