With cancer so prevalent these days, almost all of us know someone who has suffered from such a horrible disease.  Many of us wonder what we would do if we heard news from our doctor that our bodies are infected.  Let me ask an interesting question: Would such news be good?  In one way, we would say of course not! But it depends does it not?  No one would wish for such a diagnosis,  but it were there, it would be foolish to reject the news from a wise doctor.  And who would not welcome the news if a cure were available?  In fact, discovering such a horrible thing would be very good news, especially for those self-medicating the pain with Advil and Tums!

Many people did not want to hear the gospel (“good news”) Jesus proclaimed.  Why not? Because it required the humanly impossible task of admitting we have spiritually terminal cancer. It was incredibly difficult for the self-medicated outwardly healthy to admit. Because of prayer and fasting and giving money to the poor and serving in the church and keeping the law perfectly, they had no need for a doctor.  There was no cancer… so it seemed.

No wonder these were offended most when Jesus told the cheaters and “sinners” that their sins were forgiven and the religious that he “did not come to call the righteous...” 

This good news is no less offensive today, to those who desire in their hearts to be right with God by what they do. You will find these outwardly healthy church goers very proud of their goodness, wanting any and all to know what they have done.  You will find these hiding their inconsistencies, their weaknesses, and their faults.  You find them minimizing their sin and maximizing that of others.  You will find them proud and judgmental.  You will find them with no need of help or counsel or advice.  You will find them with no need of grace, and unfortunately, no need for Jesus.  

I pray this is not you.  C.S. Lewis once said that, “when a man is getting better he understands more and more clearly the evil that is still left in him.”  Do you see it was your and my evil inside of you and me that led the righteous Son of God to accept the wrath of the Father?  Do you see that death and wrath should be yours and mine?  Do you see you are totally spiritually sick?  If so, let us prostrate our selves before our holy God like Isaiah, and rise up and accept this good news that Jesus died for ruined sinners such as you and I! 

And being now dead to sin, emptied of self, and alive in Christ, let us now go forth with great humility and gentleness, proclaiming together this Totally Good News to our terminally sick friends, neighbors, co-workers, and world.