Christmas is often called the season of goodwill — and perhaps we see a hint of that in gifts, day to day generosity, or more support for charitable causes at this time of year. And those are good things. But where does this idea of goodwill come from? Well, at that first Christmas, angels delivered the great news to the shepherds, saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men”.

So, what was this goodwill they spoke of? It was God sending Jesus to earth — not so we could have nativity plays and Christmas holidays — but so we might have a Saviour. You see, our sin (all the wrong we have done), had separated us from God and left us destined for hell. We were due to pay for our own sin. But God, in His loving kindness, sent Jesus to die in our place. That’s quite some goodwill!