” … he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God … ” (Luke 8:1).
The Gospel is not bad news or sad news but glad news. The Gospel is good news and glad tidings. It is the joyful sound because of:
ITS PROCLAMATION
It has to be preached. Luke tells us in the book of Acts that this proclamation was first spoken by the Lord Himself. Grace is poured from the lips of our blessed Lord. It is glad tidings, for as Peter tells us, it was a message of ” … peace … “(Acts 10:36).
It is glad tidings, for its proclamation knows no limitation. The Lord Jesus proclaimed it as the text says, in ” … every city and village … “
ITS REVELATION
Christ not only preached the ” … glad tidings … “, but He shewed (revealed) them. The tidings in their shewing demonstrate their gladness. Light is always gladness, and the entrance of this word of the Gospel gives light, and in that light we see more light. This same message of ” .•. good tidings of great joy … ” (Luke 2:10) led the shepherds to Christ, the Light of the world; and they went and shewed to others what they had heard and seen (Luke 2:17).
This description ” … glad tidings … ” of the Gospel is peculiar to Luke. He could never forget the angelic revelation recorded in his Gospel alone.
ITS INAUGURATION
The Gospel is the inauguration of the kingdom of God. That is what it does in the heart of its recipients. It not only brings us near to the kingdom, but opens its door and brings the receptive hearer into the very kingdom of God itself. ” … Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3)
Are you in? If not, enter in today. As the Israelitish worshipper rejoiced to hear the joyful sound- the bells on the high priest’s robes – demonstrating that the high priest lived because his work was acceptable by God on behalf of Israel – so you can have the same assurance that your great High Priest lives to make intercession for you.
“Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance” (Psalm 89:15).
-The Gospel Standard-