Dear Christian friends:

You hear bad news often, especially when you read the newspaper or watch the news on T.V.: Robbery, murder, earthquakes, oil spills, inflation. Not often do we hear good news. But sometimes we hear good news. Christmas Eve is a good time to hear good news.

On the first Christmas night God sent His angel to tell some shepherds who were watching their sheep near Bethlehem good news. The angel said to the shepherds, "I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone!" (verse 10, TLB)

Let us again this Christmas Eve 1976 listen again and attend to that Good News:


This best news ever announced comes from God. It does not come from man. It comes from God Himself. God sent the angel for bringing the Good News to the Shepherds. We know it is true. God never lies. We can depend on it.

The Best News is for everyone. God sent the angel to tell the shepherds first. They were the first ones to hear it. Nobody else had heard it. But the angel says, "It is for everyone." Not only for the shepherds, but for all Jews and all other nations. Not only for people who lived 1976 years ago, but also for all people who lived since and for all people who live on earth today. That's why God through the Holy Spirit told Luke to write in the Bible the exact words the angel said to the shepherds. God wanted that Good News kept for all people who live in the future. That Good News must not get lost. So, that Good News is also for you and me who live on the earth today.

So what is this Best News ever announced and which is for everyone? The angel says, "The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem!" (verse 11) The Savior God promised long before to Adam and Eve, to Noah, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and to David now finally has come from heaven and has been born.

We need a Savior because we are sinners. Now the Savior has come. God loves us. He will not punish us as we deserve. He forgives all people their sins. Now we have peace with God. No more enmity or anger, but peace, and friendship again.

After the angel told the Shepherds the Good News many, many angels joined with the one praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven,” they sang,“and peace on earth for all those pleasing him.” (Luke 2:14)

Tonight we say, "Merry Christmas" to one another. That's a fine good greeting. We are happy to hear the Best News ever announced. But maybe we ought to say to one another, "Christ our Savior is born!" Or maybe say, "Glory to God in heaven and on earth peace to men!"

So hear the Best News! Rejoice because of it! Tell it to others! Show it to others! How? Love others and forgive those who have sinned against you. As God in Christ forgives you your sins; the same you now forgive others their sins! That's how we have peace on earth.

Amen.