The Bad News of Jesus

In church circles, we like to talk about the "Good News" of Jesus.

And we should! The Word Gospel actually means "Good News"

And we actually learned last night at our youth group that "The Bible is the story of God and what He has done for us!"


The Gospel (the Good News that things don't always have to be this way) bought hope to many people in the First Century and continues to penetrate the hearts of sinners 2000 years later.

But...... The Gospel is offensive.... because it demands change. It demands us to forgive and to love (even when we don't want to).


In fact, I want to make the claim that the Gospel of Jesus meant to bring Good News is Bad News to the powerful. I mean that's at least what I see in the Bible. It's hard not to see this "political" side of the Gospel when I read certain accounts (like The Gospel according to Luke).


After Jesus' Baptism and temptation in the desert He goes to the temple. He declares a powerful word, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor."

Whats Good News to the poor? Money! Right?

Not really. Good News to the poor is they are no longer poor. Good News is they don't need to worry about their next meal. They don't need to be in debt to someone else.

There's A LOT more to this in Luke 4 (go read it!) but I want to continue on to Luke 5.

It's in Luke 5 that Jesus starts calling his disciples to follow him. He starts with fishermen.

Matthew and Mark rush through this story but Luke tells it in such detail.

Peter is fishing and has not caught a single fish. So, a Jewish Rabbi (name Jesus) tells him if he wants to catch fish to put his net on the other side of the boat!

Now, I'm not an expert in the skill of fishing however I know that makes no sense. But Peter does it.

He lets his net down on the other side of the net and catches so much fish that he needs his fishing partners to come out and help him carry the fish back to the shore!

What a powerful story!

And then Jesus brings the hook, line, and sinker (sorry for the bad pun). "From now on you'll be fishing for people."

You will be releasing hope into their lives and I will teach you how!


Wait, us? The untrained fishermen (who haven't showered in a month). I'm sure there is someone more qualified.


There are so many miracles in Luke's Gospel (Luke the Doctor btw) that He tells them in great detail. But notice who is getting healed... The lepers, the paralyzed, the blind.....the sick...the unclean.....

Even the Parables in Luke's Gospel tell the story of the poor and brokenhearted being saved. (The Lost Coin, the Lost Sheep, and the Lost Son).


So what's the bad news? Why would anyone oppose this Jesus?

Believe it or not Jesus was not the most liked man of his day. He was powerful yet humble. He hang out with sinners yet never sinned. And didn't waste time with the systems men created.

For example, the Sabbath. You know don't work on Sunday (except for them it was Saturday). Work to the Jews was as simple as walking too far.

Jesus didn't care. He saw people that were hurting and didn't check his pocketbook before performing a miracle. It's almost as if he was trying to prove a point.


Jesus and the Religious leaders of the day were at odds. The Religious leaders were in control. And they abused the system.

Jesus came and he rocked the boat. And to them it was BAD NEWS.

If you are in control you don't want any rebels. You don't want anyone to point out you are doing an injustice. 2000 years later and we have the same problems. (Yes, EVEN IN AMERICA). We say those fighting the system are not being American when being American is actually being a rebel. Do you remember the Boston Tea Party?

Jesus' call for us to come to him was bad news for those in control because it meant they had to give up control. You know, "Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me."

Or "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."


And in that moment we must choose. 

When there is an injustice taking place, when we are trying to serve ourselves over our neighbor, or when we are trying to force our agenda over following God's plan. 

What will we do?

What did they do? They killed him. 

Jesus wasn't listening. He refused to fit into their man-made religious box. And they hang him to a tree. 

The Religious Leaders could no longer take the threat. They knew uproar would come from the followers of Jesus. And if that happened Rome would step in and squash Israel like the little cockroach they were. 

Maybe the Gospel of Jesus is both Good News and Bad News to us today. 

It's bad because we must give up control (this is really hard for us Americans who like to fight for freedom, independence, and autonomy).   We must look at all the ways we are privliaged and chose to fight for those who have been abused. 

Who is being overlooked in your town? Is it the eldery? The youth? The young adult? The poor? The widows? Reach out to them and bring them hope. 


Yet the Gospel remains Good News. As we lay down our lives to follow Jesus, we know that new life begins. He brings hope to the hopeless situation. He brings joy when all we can muster up is tears. 

And His promise to us is in the future we will live in a world with no more injustice and no more pain and no more grief. 

And the Good News for us who believe in Jesus? We get to be a part of bringing that culture to our society (You know like Jesus prayed, "May your kingdom come your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven).