Good News for Whom?

His [Jesus’s] message has been described as a “great reversal” in which those who are benefitting from privileged status lose their benefits and those who are weak and vulnerable are elevated. In this “upside down” kingdom Jesus announces that one achieves greatness not by advancing to the top of the social hierarchy, but by acts of service to the community. Given this kind of message, it is not surprising that the wealthy and privileged of Jewish society opposed Jesus and ultimately killed him. He was a danger to a social order in which they were deeply invested and wanted to preserve. While his message might have been good news to those at the bottom, it was not good news for them.