The Heavens and Earth Declare His Glory: The Christmas Eve Message from Apollo 8

The crew of Apollo 8, as seen during training before their launch on Dec. 21, 1968. (Image credit: NASA)

On December 24, 1968, in the midst of the Cold War's "Race for Space," the Apollo 8 astronauts—Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders—became the first humans to orbit the Moon. As the world watched in awe, these brave individuals embarked on a groundbreaking mission, capturing mesmerizing images of Earth and delivering a powerful message of unity and faith during a live broadcast on Christmas Eve. As the spacecraft emerged from the dark side of the Moon, Earthrise unfolded before their eyes—a breathtaking sight that deeply impacted their perspectives. Against the stark lunar landscape, our fragile, blue planet hung suspended in the vastness of space, evoking a profound sense of unity and the insignificance of human conflicts in the grand scheme of the cosmos.

One of the photos sent back from Apollo 8. (Image credit: NASA)

In a rare opportunity to address the entire planet, the astronauts reported back what they were able to see to the country. James Lovell the command module pilot stated, "The vast loneliness is awe-inspiring and it makes you realize just what you have back there on Earth." The astronauts ended their broadcast by taking turns to read the account of creation from Genesis 1 (you can listen to the full broadcast at this link). Here are those closing words:

William Anders:

"For all the people on Earth the crew of Apollo 8 has a message we would like to send you".

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness."

Jim Lovell:

"And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day."

Frank Borman:

"And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good."

Borman then added, "And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you - all of you on the good Earth."

The broadcast resonated deeply with people worldwide, transcending mankind's self-appointed boundaries, while emphasizing themes of hope, unity, and the interconnectedness of humanity. It was a moment that united hearts and minds, offering solace and inspiration during a turbulent era in history. Drawing from this historical event, one can reflect on the enduring message of unity, peace, and faith during the Christmas season. Just as the astronauts conveyed a message of hope and unity to the world, the Christmas story does the same. It encapsulates the message of God's love for humanity—bringing light into darkness, hope into despair, and unity among all people through the birth of Jesus Christ.

These astronauts marvelled over God’s perfect creation of the earth, and Christmas time is a time to marvel at his perfect love for it. The arrival of Jesus into the world signifies the ultimate demonstration of God's love, as articulated in the biblical verse John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." The incarnation of Jesus, the embodiment of divine love and grace, reflects God's incredible mission to redeem, reconcile, and save a wayward humanity back to himself. Through Jesus, God revealed His boundless love by entering into humanity, experiencing our joys and sorrows, and providing the path to eternal life.

As we celebrate this Christmas, may we embody the spirit of unity and extend goodwill to all, echoing the astronauts' message of hope and peace. Let us strive to be agents of love and reconciliation, following in the example of the One who came to begin the process of making all creation new, so that it will once again be declared "very good."