Bad News... Fake News... Good News...

When you are excited about something, what do you do with the news? Maybe you’re getting a new gadget that you’ve saved for. Maybe you get to see your favorite music artist after years of waiting. Or maybe, you came across an incredible deal that has you overly excited… What do you do with that news? 

If you’re anything like me, you tell people about it. When I get a deal I look for even the slightest opening in the conversation to tell the other person about the deal I got. When I found out that my wife and I were pregnant (both times) I was filled with excitement and had a hard time not dominating the conversation with others about the good news. 

When you have good news, it’s natural to share it. 

I once heard N.T. Wright talk about his excitement when watching England defeat Australia in a rugby tournament. He was so excited that he rushed down to his hotel lobby to celebrate with others. While in the lobby he encountered three men… The first was from Australia - it was the worst day ever for him. The second was from Britain - It was the best day ever for him. And the third was an American - he didn’t care at all. Wright concludes, “News means different things to different people.” 

Regardless of how that news is received, it doesn’t make it wrong to share the news. Most people could care less that I went to a country music concert. Many people were excited about the birth of my two boys. People respond differently to different news. 

So, when you decide to share the news that Jesus has resurrected from the grave and that victory over death and evil is made possible through belief in Jesus… You will get different responses. Some will try to say “Quit trying to shove your religion down my throat.” Others might respond with, “I’m skeptical.” While others will be overjoyed at the news and respond with excitement and acceptance. 

No matter how they respond, you are never wrong to share good news with the world. 

In fact, sharing good news is essentially what Jesus tasked each of us to do if we have chosen to follow Him. Here were his exact words, 

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NLT)

What’s it mean to be a witness? It means to confirm or attest to something on the basis of personal knowledge or belief. In other words, Jesus is literally telling his disciples, “Go tell everyone (the ends of the earth) about your personal knowledge of me… Go tell them the good news, which had over 500 witnesses (no fake news here! - see 1 Corinthians 15:6), that I’ve conquered the grave!” 

We share the good news of life in Jesus, because we care for others and want them to experience and realize the same good news that we have. When we share Jesus, it’s really no different than bragging about the vacation, the promotion, or whatever we deem to be good news. When we share the good news of Jesus, it’s like getting a deal of a lifetime and not being able to shut up about it. Except this time, it’s the of deal of eternity. 

So let me encourage you today. If you share the news of Jesus’s resurrection from the grave, you are giving witness to what you’ve seen and experienced in Him. You’re sharing the news that you have found life in Him. You’re not forcing anyone to believe. You’re not trying to change anyone by your own power… You’re simply sharing what you’ve seen and experienced with Jesus because it’s been good news in your life. And you can pray that they will receive it as good news as well.  But how they receive the news, is ultimately up to them. 

Keep sharing the good news.