And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2: 8-12

Christmas isn’t God’s plea for attention or an effort to make His plan of salvation attractive. Christmas was simply a statement of fact that God sent His only Son to us as Savior. He was born – Immanuel, God with us.

In the passage above, the angel makes a powerful statement. He was the first to announce the “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Good news for all found only in the “Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Yes, He was a baby. Yes, He did live as a man. Yes, He did teach others. But, the most important reason for the arrival of God with Us is that we need a Savior. Every one of us has that same need and that is the announcement!

The angel’s message encouraged the shepherds to “go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us” (Luke 2:15b).

The shepherds listened to the announcement and the song glorifying God that followed and then they acted on what they heard. 

We have heard the announcement of the Savior. What’s next for us?