Bad News

Saint Simon's light in Brunswick, Georgia was built in 1811, destroyed during the Civil war, and re-built in 1872. The light from it's 104 foot tower carries good news to mariners at sea.

In the 8th Century B.C., The Prophet Isaiah spoke of the joy of bringing good news to those desperately hoping for it.

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, Your God reigns!"

What was the good news? The answer came 800 years later in a Jewish synagogue on a Sabbath Day in the City of Nazareth. Jesus stood up to read. He unrolled the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah and read,

"The spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, sat down, and said:

"Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing"

Last night, Val and I went to "Resonate", a Good Friday Service at Emmanuel Faith Church. It was not good news. Jesus had been put on trial, illegally convicted, beaten, executed by crucifixion, died, and was buried.

What a wasted life! Nothing good would ever come from this. Isaiah's words were empty. Jesus' claim to be the fulfillment of the prophecy proved impossible.

True, some very odd things happened that day. From noon until 3 pm, a strange darkness fell over the land. When Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom. There were earthquakes. Tombs were opened, dead bodies came back to life and were seen by many people in Jerusalem.

But still, Jesus was dead, wrapped in linen, and buried in a tomb. Sealed and guarded by a Roman Custodian, a squad of hand-picked soldiers.

Bad news.