The "Gospel"

The word "gospel" is easily misconstrued. It comes from the Greek word euangelion, meaning good (eu) news/message (angelion). The New Testament writers repeatedly use "gospel" to speak of their message about Jesus. Perhaps because we are so removed from their world, we often hear "gospel" and think it means "that which is pleasant to our ears."

In New Testament times, the word "gospel" was used to announce the inauguration of a ruler. Thus, there was the "gospel" of Caesar Augustus. Given this use of the word, we could say that there was a "gospel" of Joseph Stalin in 1929 and a "gospel" of Adolf Hitler in 1933. Obviously, to think of "gospel" simply as "that which is pleasant to our ears" is a mistake.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the announcement that Jesus' reign has begun. Said differently, Jesus is Lord and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Interestingly, this is indeed great news for us. Jesus is the King who forgives our past transgressions against Him and against His commandments. Furthermore, He is the King whose reign makes us truly free. (See especially the third chapter of 2 Corinthians.) Such freedom is not the ability to "do what we want," but rather the ability to be who we were really made to be. 

We were made to love our Creator above all else and to love our neighbor as ourselves. With Jesus as our King, we are free to do this without fear. As our King, Jesus establishes a community of mutual love under His rule. This community (the church) hears and obeys His Word. In the meal known as the Lord's Supper, this community feeds on Him as its Bread of Life. And on the Last Day, Jesus will lead His community into the heavenly Kingdom of God.

And so the gospel of Jesus really is "that which is pleasant to our ears." However, it is pleasant in a way that is quite different from our imaginings.  Jesus is not merely a nice guy who makes us feel good. He is our Lord, and His reign sets us free from sin and death. Good news indeed.