Today your Savior is born. It’s good news of great joy for all the people!

Christmas Eve 2017

ILL: A small boy was writing a letter to God about what he wanted for Christmas. “I’ve been good for six months now,” he wrote. But after a moment he crossed out “six” and wrote, “three.” After a pause, he crossed that out, and wrote, “two weeks.” There was another pause, and he crossed that out too.

He got up from the table and went over to the little nativity scene. He picked up the figure of Mary and went back to his writing and started again: “Dear God, if ever you want to see your mother again…”

Merry Christmas! I think this little guy was on the naughty list. How many of you were on the naughty list this year? Oh…I see we’re all living in denial!

I think I spent some time on both lists this year—naughty and nice. Anyone with me? I’m never as good as I want to be, and sometimes badder than I wish! Naughty and nice—that’s us and that’s why the Christmas story is such good news!   We began by reading the familiar story of the birth of Jesus in Luke 2—and heard that wonderful meditation by Shantell. Let’s look again at what the angel said to the shepherds.

Luke 2:10–11 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: 11 Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord.”

What was the “good news that brings great joy to all the people?” Look at the next five words: “Today your Savior is born.” There’s the good news: Your Savior is born. We need a savior. I know that offends some people. I know some people don’t want to believe that they are on the naughty list—that they are sinners in need of a savior. I know some people insist that we don’t need a savior; we need to fix it ourselves. But have you noticed that there are some things that you can’t fix yourself? Ever been there?

Today your Savior is born. Jesus is our Savior; what did He come to save us from? Here’s what the angel told Joseph.

Matthew 1:20–21 An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of Davi