A group of Greco-Romans issued a proclamation commemorating the birth of the savior as a matter of good tidings and good news. An inscription placed on a government building in 6 BC declared Caesar Augustus to be divine, savior, and the beginning of the good news [the gospel] for all people on Earth. Romans celebrated Augustus’ birthday as the beginning of the gospel for the whole world.
Sound familiar! We also celebrate a birth that happened in the same year, 6 BC, as this proclamation about Caesar. This is the most probable date for the birth of Jesus. Mark declares in his account of Jesus’ life, The beginning of the gospel [good news] of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1:1). The Gospel of Jesus Christ was a direct challenge to the gospel of Caesar Augustus.
When the angel of the Lord suddenly stood before the Shepherds, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:9, 11). The word for good news or gospel (the same Greek word) wasn’t a new word the Jews had never heard. In the Roman empire, the word for good news was used for official announcements. It carried military overtones and meant a Military Victory. The town criers who conveyed the news would begin their announcements, “And now the Good News of the First Legion.” From the time of Alexander the Great, good news was used to refer to history-making, world-shaping reports of political, military, or societal victories.
It is no coincidence the Holy Spirit inspired the writers of the four Gospels to use this same Greek word. When an angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias, he told him that he and his wife would have a son. The angel said, I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news (Luke 1:19). Their son John the Baptist later preached the good news and gospel to the people (3:8).
When we understand the term gospel or good news, and how it was used in the ancient Greco-Roman world, we can begin to understand that the Gospels were written in such a way to present Jesus as the true divine King, the Savior who came to bring true salvation to the whole world. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John wrote a direct challenge to the so-called ‘gospel’ of Caesar,which did not provide any salvation. As Christians celebrate Christmas, we should remember it was the beginning of a long conflict between Caesar and Christ.
After His victory over temptation for forty days in the wilderness, Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14). He entered the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath. An official handed Him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He stood and read 61:1, 2. God’s Spirit is on me; he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, To set the burdened and battered free, to announce, “This is God’s year to act!” (Luke 4:18, 19 MSG). He sat down and declared His good news, “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” The Apostles proclaimed the same message in Acts. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching [announcing the good news] Jesus as the Christ (5:42).
When Paul preached the Gospel in Thessalonica, that Jesus was the Christ the risen Savior and coming King, some of them were persuaded. They joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women. The Jews became jealous and took along some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. They attacked the believers dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities. The charge was they were directly challenging the gospel of Caesar. “These men who have upset the world have come here also; and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus” (Act 17:1-9).
Caesar Augustus went by the name Prince of Peace, but his peace in Rome was enforced through brutality. The ‘gospel’ of Rome is still proclaimed, but where is the peace in our world today? Jesus warned that many would come in His name, false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead (Matt 24:24). We are surrounded by the gospels of Caesar and Rome who claim to have good news and promise peace. Yet, they never deliver. Only Jesus has good news and only the true Prince of Peace can give us peace.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Embrace His good news—God’s Spirit is on me; he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, To set the burdened and battered free, to announce, “This is God’s year to act!”