By Pastor Naomi Mitchell
For Carter County Times
“Glad tidings” is an old-fashioned phrase that means to share important news or information that is likely to be welcomed. If someone says, “I bring you good tidings!” it probably means they have information to share that you’ll probably like.
The phrase “good tidings” is often used in the context of Christmas. For example, in the 16th century carol, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, there is a line that goes “Good tidings we bring to you and your kin”. In the King James Bible, Luke 2:10 features the phrase “good tidings of great joy” when an angel delivers news of the Savior’s arrival.
Christmas is a time when we remember a wonderful story in the Bible from the shepherds that were watching over their flock at night. I’m sure that night wasn’t any different than any other night. Maybe they counted all the sheep to ensure there were no strays that had wandered off. They might have been checking the sheep for any injuries and tending to their needs. Later there was supper around a fire eating their bread and cheese. They were keeping their eyes open for any wild animals that may be lurking nearby. Just the normal routine evening, nothing out of the ordinary.
All of a sudden, out of nowhere, an angel appeared unto them and the glory of the Lord was bright all around them, and they were really afraid. Luke 2:10-11, “And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.’”
The good tidings of great joy that the angel delivered to the shepherds and that the angel declared to them was, “For unto you this day is born in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
The angel goes on to tell the shepherds the babe would be wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. Suddenly there were with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
The shepherds talked among themselves about what had just happened to them. They decided to go check out the news from the angels and found it so. They found Mary and Joseph and the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. The shepherds were telling many people what they had witnessed and seen. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
A seven-hundred-year-old prophecy given by Isaiah had come to pass. Yes, it was “good tidings” of great joy to all people. Jesus Christ is the source of great joy for all people. He is central to God’s plan for His children. Amen. So be it.
JOYFUL House of Prayer, 2519 Quicksand Road, (P.O. Box 856), Jackson, Kentucky 41339. Send Comments/Prayer Requests: Pastornaomi4god@gmail.com. FB: JoyfulHoprayer. Services: 10am Sunday and 6:30pm Thursdays. Radio Broadcast: WJSN 97.3 FM & WEKG 81.0 AM Sundays 1-2pm.
