We continue today with the angels’ announcement to the shepherds. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” is yet another ­favorite song packed with meaning.

Four words in the middle of the first stanza could easily be overlooked: “. . . God and sinners reconciled.” This profound truth speaks volumes about Jesus’ mission and God’s great plan to save us from sin and death.

Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 5 that God has reconciled us to himself through Christ. Ever since the fall of humanity into sin (Genesis 3), our relationship with God was broken. Yet God wanted to restore that relationship. And the only way to do that was through the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16).

When the angels announced the birth of Jesus, they spoke about the peace that Jesus brings. And with this peace comes reconciliation between God and all who believe. In Jesus, God comes to us, to reconcile us to himself so that we can live in relationship with him again.

Paul says that because we are reconciled with God, we also have the task of sharing the message of reconciliation. We are “God’s ambassadors.” Having been reconciled, we can share with others the good news that our relationship with God is restored. Jesus, who had no sin, became sin for us so that we may live for him.