“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” (Isaiah 52:7)

The message of Jesus is “Good News.” Today our headlines mostly are filled with bad news. Yet, in the midst of all the bad news, Jesus has come to offer us “Good News” in the hope He provides through the cross and the resurrection. We who have come to faith in Jesus Christ have been given this message, therefore Jesus calls us to be His witness to the world. “But 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)

When Isaiah looked ahead to the coming of Jesus Christ, He also saw those who would bring this “Good News” to the world. He said that the feet of those who bring this “Good News” are beautiful. While our physical feet may not be beautiful, it is our message which is beautiful to the ones who hear the message and respond with faith to the message.

Let us take a moment and look at this “Good News” which Isaiah described. It is a message of peace. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Jesus knows the trouble we face in this world as He took all the sin of mankind upon Himself as He died on the cross. When He rose from the dead, peace was established for all who come to him by faith. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” (Romans 5:1-2) Once we have received Christ and His peace, we can proclaim this peace to others.

God also brings to us good tidings, and good things. “This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.” (Titus 3:8) It is these good things which are shown through our good works which God has prepared for us. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

We are to proclaim the salvation which has come to us through Jesus Christ. This is the hope from God for all people. “I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” (Romans 1:14-17)

We bring this “Good News” because God is the one who reigns over the universe now and the new one to come. His is God and He loves the world. He provides life for all who come to Him by faith.

“Then a voice came from the throne, saying: ’Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both great and small!’ Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!’” (Revelation 19:5-7)

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block