“Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16.33)

New Testament Challenge, Day 18 – John 11-16
We completed today’s reading with these words of comfort spoken by Jesus Christ. Today’s readings are sandwiched between these words of encouragement and Christ’s words to His disciples, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps.” (John 11.11) We must make special note of this hope that Christ bestows to us today. Death is only sleep and God has conquered the world. Can there be any other good news than that!?

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is more than just a story about God coming to the Earth, living for a few years, and returning back to His throne. The Gospel is about the hope that God bestows to all who believe in Him that He has conquered death and that we can live with Him forever in eternity. This life, which is full of turmoil, pain, suffering, lying, burglary, sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence – you name something bad and evil and this world offers it on a silver platter in attempt to get us to partake – has come to an end in the ministry of Christ. In our baptism we have been united to God and set free from this world.

And that….is Good News!