The First Evangelist

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’” Luke 2:10

“Merry Christmas!” This is the phrase most commonly used among believers to celebrate the birth of our Savior. However, if you notice, the word “Christmas” is not even mentioned by the angels who first heralded the birth of Jesus. Instead, the first words are these, “I bring you good news…” Those five words in the English language are just one word in the Greek. It is the word that gives us the word evangelism. So, when you read Luke 2, you are looking at and listening to the first evangelist in history, because evangelism is simply bringing Good News.

Evangelism has gotten a bad rap. It is not badgering or bullying someone. It isn’t about forcing your beliefs on anyone. It is not coercing or pressuring anybody to believe anything. Evangelism is just bringing the Good News of Jesus. When you truly experience Christmas and the depth of what it means, you want to express Christmas by sharing this Good News with others.

The angel in Luke 2 doesn’t just say he is bringing good news, but, “Good news that will cause great joy for all people.” There is nothing extraordinary about good news bringing great joy. All good news brings joy to someone; but it is something else when you say good news brings great joy to everyone. So why is the angel’s announcement that, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you…” good news for all people? The birth of Jesus is good news for all people because in Him everyone on the planet, from the beginning to the end of time, can find all he or she will ever need. This need can be expressed in one statement: We are all sinners in need of a Savior and that Savior is Jesus Christ.

Christmas is good news for Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Gentiles, Atheists, and Agnostics, rich, poor, black, white, male, and female because the one thing that unites us all is our imperfection before a holy God. We were all born in sin; and Jesus was born on the earth so that we can be forgiven of our sin and born again into His Kingdom. Everybody in this world is a sinner who needs a Savior. And because of the Good News of Christmas, we have a Savior who has been born to set us free.

Dear Lord, I want to be intentional this Christmas season to evangelize with other people. So I ask that you give me boldness, courage, and opportunity to do that so that other people can experience the hope that comes with the gospel message. In Jesus' name, amen.