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耶稣出生的那个时代，牧羊人的生活很艰难。他们夜以继日地从事着照看羊群的枯燥工作。社会轻看他们，认为他们卑微和无能。他们没有理由感到喜乐。

但是，天使给牧羊人带来了令他们大大喜乐的好消息：有一位救主降生了！这是神认同卑微者、社会底层和边缘人群的方式。那天晚上，当天使们一起唱道：“在至高之处荣耀归与神……”无论牧羊人面对的是怎样的黑暗，都变成了他们所见过的最美丽的光芒。对伯利恒野外的那些牧羊人来说，生命从此不再一样了。

或许在这个圣诞节，你很难感觉喜乐。或许你家里的一个座位空了。或许你想到一个远离主的教会家人，或者这个人已经不再是你生命的一部分。或许你被诊断出一种严重的疾病……无论是怎样的原因，你都不会想要庆祝。

如果是这样，那么圣诞信息正是为你而来的。它对你来说，也是大喜的信息。为什么呢？因为救主来了，祂要将一切反转。祂来是要医治伤心的人，将光明带进你生命的黑暗。

At the time when Jesus was born, life for shepherds was hard. Their days and nights were spent in the dreary routine of taking care of sheep. Society looked down on them as lowlifes and scoundrels. They had little reason to be joyful.

But shepherds were the ones to whom the angel brought the good news that would cause great joy: A Savior had been born! It was God’s way of saying that he identifies with the down and out, the outcasts of society, the undesirables. And on that night, whatever darkness they were facing was transformed into the most beautiful light they’d ever seen, as the angels of heaven joined in singing, “Glory to God in the highest…” For those shepherds out in the fields of Bethlehem, life would never be the same.

Perhaps on this Christmas Day you are finding it difficult to feel joy. Perhaps there is an empty chair at your table. Perhaps you’re thinking about a family member who has turned away from the Lord or is no longer a part of your life. Perhaps you have been diagnosed with a terrible illness… Whatever the reason, you don’t feel like celebrating.

If so, the Christmas message is for you. There is good news with great joy also for you. Why? Because the Savior came to make things right. He came to heal the brokenhearted, to bring light into your darkness.