WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.419 Good morning, Christ Family Church. 00:00:02.660 --> 00:00:07.040 It is, as always, a pleasure to be able to share His Word with you. 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:11.779 ! Turn with me, if you have a copy of God's Word, to Luke chapter 1. 00:00:14.780 --> 00:00:15.960 Luke chapter 1. 00:00:18.740 --> 00:00:20.620 We'll be starting in verse 36. 00:00:22.080 --> 00:00:28.879 And interestingly, 109 years ago, the very first words to be spoken over AM radio 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:32.119 were some of the words that we're going to look at this morning. 00:00:32.600 --> 00:00:33.799 We're going to see some of these words. 00:00:34.539 --> 00:00:40.299 A guy named Reginald Fessenden, of all people, was the one who invented the AM radio. 00:00:41.119 --> 00:00:43.899 And at first, all it could do was transmit Morse code, 00:00:44.500 --> 00:00:48.259 which is a pretty big deal back then to transmit anything over radio waves. 00:00:49.320 --> 00:00:55.719 He was one of Thomas Edison's chief inventors and having been let go for financial reasons. 00:00:56.519 --> 00:00:58.460 He began to do this work on his own. 00:00:58.460 --> 00:01:03.579 He began to work out all the details of being able to communicate over the airwaves. 00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:09.420 And ships all up and down the Atlantic coast would hear the tap, tap, tap, tap of the Morse code 00:01:09.420 --> 00:01:12.500 as they were sailing their ships up and down the Atlantic. 00:01:14.019 --> 00:01:16.340 So he worked out this new way of communicating. 00:01:17.219 --> 00:01:23.319 But on Christmas Eve in 1906, he believed that he had his invention amped up enough 00:01:23.319 --> 00:01:26.159 to be able to transmit human voice. 00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:36.599 And so on Christmas Eve, 1906, with no press release, no email blasts, no billboards, no news media, 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:42.159 just the silence of AM radio in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve, 00:01:42.780 --> 00:01:46.699 Reginald Fessenden opened his Bible to Luke chapter 2. 00:01:46.700 --> 00:01:50.240 And to the very same chapter we're going to read. 00:01:50.380 --> 00:01:54.620 We are going to be in one, so if you're turning, I need to turn there just yet. 00:01:54.700 --> 00:01:55.859 But we're going to start in one. 00:01:55.939 --> 00:01:56.799 We're going to go into two. 00:01:57.520 --> 00:02:01.540 And into the silence of the night came the Christmas story. 00:02:03.540 --> 00:02:07.120 Very first words ever spoken over radio broadcast. 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:13.960 Can you imagine being a ship captain out on the Atlantic and you're used to just hearing the tap, tap, tap, tap of the Morse code 00:02:13.960 --> 00:02:15.259 coming through your AM radio. 00:02:15.539 --> 00:02:18.259 And all of a sudden on Christmas Eve, you're all alone. 00:02:18.340 --> 00:02:23.099 You're up on your, what do you call it, a bridge and you're sailing your ship. 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:26.659 And all of a sudden, you start to hear a human voice. 00:02:27.540 --> 00:02:31.400 A human voice sharing great news of great joy. 00:02:31.400 --> 00:02:36.240 A Savior has been born to you and he is Christ the Lord. 00:02:38.439 --> 00:02:43.439 I think what I love about that story the most is that it reminds me of the way that Jesus came into the world. 00:02:44.420 --> 00:02:54.240 There's no news broadcast, no front page cover story, just Mary and Joseph, a humble couple with a humble child born into humble circumstances. 00:02:55.040 --> 00:03:01.319 And just a few shepherds who are fortunate enough to hear of the good news of great joy. 00:03:01.400 --> 00:03:06.620 For unto you a child is born and he is Christ the Lord. 00:03:07.719 --> 00:03:08.719 Beautiful story. 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:11.500 That's the way it was on that night. 00:03:11.620 --> 00:03:14.219 There was nothing particularly special about that night. 00:03:14.860 --> 00:03:17.280 There was nothing perfect about that night. 00:03:17.879 --> 00:03:20.040 They only had a manger to lay him in. 00:03:21.099 --> 00:03:26.200 But there was one thing perfect about that night and it was the child. 00:03:27.480 --> 00:03:28.819 He was perfect in every way. 00:03:28.819 --> 00:03:36.439 And so I think for us to fully appreciate that moment in history, the moment when Jesus was born, we have to travel back several hundred years. 00:03:36.979 --> 00:03:41.139 And we are, our focus this morning, by the way, is on the love of Christ. 00:03:41.620 --> 00:03:43.139 It's our Advent focus for this morning. 00:03:43.819 --> 00:03:48.659 So we want to be focusing on his love by taking a look first and foremost at his birth. 00:03:48.659 --> 00:03:52.900 But to fully appreciate that, we have to look at some of the prophecies foretelling Christ. 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:57.039 There are many, there are hundreds of prophecies foretelling the coming of Christ. 00:03:57.120 --> 00:03:58.979 We're only going to look at two this morning. 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:00.340 We really only have time for two. 00:04:01.079 --> 00:04:04.439 And as I read these, I want you to consider two threads that run throughout Scripture. 00:04:05.060 --> 00:04:09.319 One of them being promise and the other one being fulfillment. 00:04:09.319 --> 00:04:13.359 And so as I read these, I want you to consider these two things. 00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:18.219 The promise being much of the Old Testament would fall into that category of promise, 00:04:18.219 --> 00:04:26.459 while the New Testament is the recording of the fulfillment of those promises given hundreds or sometimes even thousands of years before Jesus was ever born. 00:04:27.399 --> 00:04:32.199 And so we have these prophecies that stem back as far as even Genesis chapter 3. 00:04:32.199 --> 00:04:39.779 We talked about this even with our children in Aletheia Way, where we're talking about, we talk about the snake crusher, right? 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:41.519 The snake crusher that was to come. 00:04:41.779 --> 00:04:45.300 Even back in Genesis 3, we have prophecy of Jesus. 00:04:46.819 --> 00:04:56.659 And so as I read these promises, I want you to consider that not a single one of the Old Testament writers knew a single one of the New Testament writers. 00:04:56.660 --> 00:05:02.300 There's too much of a gap between them for them to have known any of them, to have known each other. 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:07.760 So the Old Testament writers couldn't have even known that there would be a New Testament during their time. 00:05:08.820 --> 00:05:14.960 And so it's not like someone came along in the Old Testament and saying, I'm just going to fabricate this elaborate story. 00:05:15.060 --> 00:05:16.500 We're going to get a bunch of people together. 00:05:16.600 --> 00:05:20.700 We're going to write several books, and we're going to see how far this thing can go. 00:05:20.760 --> 00:05:22.860 We're going to trick people and see how far we can get with this thing. 00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:24.900 There's no way that this could have happened. 00:05:24.899 --> 00:05:31.719 There's no way that authors could have come together to try to tell this one story in a way that just fashions itself together. 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:35.519 The Bible is not actually a book. 00:05:35.599 --> 00:05:48.799 We think of it like a book sometimes, but it's really a compilation of 66 different books with over 40 different authors and all of them telling the same story, the story of God's redemption for his people. 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:58.079 So when people come to me, sometimes people say, well, Kyle, I don't really believe the Bible. 00:05:58.759 --> 00:06:02.439 I have a hard time understanding what exactly that they mean by that. 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:04.660 What exactly do you mean that you don't believe the Bible? 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:05.980 You don't like the books of history? 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:12.560 Because so much biblical history, in fact, all biblical history goes hand in hand with extra biblical history. 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:13.920 We see that. 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:18.759 We can compare different texts outside the Bible to the Bible, and everything lines up perfectly. 00:06:19.540 --> 00:06:20.780 Is it the books of poetry? 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:22.879 You just don't happen to like poetry? 00:06:23.100 --> 00:06:23.819 I don't know. 00:06:24.199 --> 00:06:25.120 Is it the prophecies? 00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:27.199 Many of them have been fulfilled. 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:33.319 In fact, all of them about the person of Christ have been fulfilled through Christ. 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:34.899 Is it the gospels? 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:46.539 You have a hard time believing four separate accounts, all telling the same stories of the same man who died upon the cross for our sins, which, by the way, all perfectly line up together. 00:06:46.659 --> 00:06:55.019 The reason why the whole story lines up together, and I want you guys to get this this morning before we jump into the text, before we even begin to start reading scriptures, 00:06:55.019 --> 00:07:02.519 the reason why all of it works together is because God's word is truth, and we can take it as truth this morning. 00:07:03.039 --> 00:07:06.000 And it rings into our lives unlike anything else. 00:07:06.579 --> 00:07:08.339 So we're going to take a look at Isaiah 714. 00:07:08.479 --> 00:07:09.479 You don't have to turn there. 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:13.560 Just keep your hand inside of Luke chapter 1 for now. 00:07:14.120 --> 00:07:19.799 Isaiah 714 is a short prophecy, but it reveals so much about who Christ was supposed to be. 00:07:19.899 --> 00:07:24.740 So Isaiah 714, written roughly 700 years before Jesus was born. 00:07:25.019 --> 00:07:27.799 Before the birth of Christ, it says this, 00:07:28.099 --> 00:07:31.159 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. 00:07:31.979 --> 00:07:38.759 Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and call his name Emmanuel. 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:45.859 So God says the answer to this sin problem, and we all of us have a sin problem. 00:07:45.859 --> 00:07:53.359 The answer to this sin problem is Emmanuel, which literally means God with us. 00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:53.939 God with us. 00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:55.939 God with us. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:00.180 And so we see from this prophecy that God is coming into human history. 00:08:00.939 --> 00:08:02.960 He's going to dwell among his people. 00:08:03.060 --> 00:08:04.340 He's going to visit the planet. 00:08:04.840 --> 00:08:07.720 And how will we know that this Emmanuel has come? 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:11.680 According to Isaiah, you look for the virgin mother. 00:08:12.960 --> 00:08:17.420 It says the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and call his name Emmanuel. 00:08:17.420 --> 00:08:22.860 Micah 5.2, also written roughly 700 years before Jesus was born. 00:08:24.199 --> 00:08:28.340 But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah. 00:08:28.699 --> 00:08:33.139 From you one will go forth for me to be a ruler in Israel. 00:08:33.700 --> 00:08:37.200 His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity. 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:46.740 And so from these and other prophecies, the expectation and the anticipation was that a hero was coming, a savior, a child. 00:08:47.480 --> 00:08:52.160 He was going to be born from a virgin mother in the town of Bethlehem. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:54.259 Now that's pretty specific, right? 00:08:54.860 --> 00:08:59.780 A lot of things had to happen in order for this child to come into the world. 00:08:59.779 --> 00:09:04.879 And everyone was anticipating and awaiting the miraculous appearance of God. 00:09:06.220 --> 00:09:08.360 Hundreds of years before he would ever arrive. 00:09:09.259 --> 00:09:17.819 In that 700-year period of time, there is a 400-year gap between the two Testaments, between the Old Testament and the New Testament. 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:26.740 For thousands of years, in this gap that we see, God has essentially fallen silent. 00:09:26.740 --> 00:09:33.659 For hundreds of years before this, God had been working in and through his people in tremendous ways. 00:09:33.820 --> 00:09:35.580 God made covenants with his people. 00:09:35.700 --> 00:09:38.080 He spoke audibly at times to people. 00:09:38.680 --> 00:09:44.120 He designed an intricate sacrificial system by which they were to use to atone for their sins. 00:09:44.539 --> 00:09:47.240 He worked through kings who were faithful to him and his word. 00:09:47.740 --> 00:09:49.860 He spoke mightily through prophets. 00:09:50.419 --> 00:09:54.080 Seventeen books dedicated in the Old Testament to prophecy. 00:09:54.080 --> 00:10:02.580 Prophecies of a coming king who would be born of a virgin in the town of Bethlehem who would go forth as a ruler among the people. 00:10:03.400 --> 00:10:07.879 And then as suddenly as all this communication from God had begun, it just stops. 00:10:09.340 --> 00:10:11.320 400 years of silence. 00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:16.759 Imagine the questions that must have been going through the minds of the people of God. 00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:19.500 Where has God gone? 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:22.820 Why did he stop communicating to us? 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:23.980 Was it something that we did? 00:10:24.059 --> 00:10:25.059 Was it something that we said? 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:29.019 And then think of the longing they must have experienced. 00:10:29.720 --> 00:10:30.720 This longing. 00:10:31.700 --> 00:10:33.259 To see the prophecy revealed. 00:10:33.340 --> 00:10:34.539 To see this coming Messiah. 00:10:35.179 --> 00:10:36.759 To see this Emmanuel. 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:40.279 100 years go by and you think, 00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:42.379 well, maybe God's just been busy. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:43.919 Maybe he's just been off doing something else. 00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:44.659 Maybe he's just been off doing something else. 00:10:44.659 --> 00:10:47.179 Handling some other galaxy or whatever happens to be. 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:50.979 After 200 years, they're wondering if God's ever going to come. 00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:55.000 And at 300 years, you've got to know the people of God are starting to lose hope 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:57.559 that it's ever going to happen. 00:11:00.179 --> 00:11:03.279 This, by the way, is why we celebrate Advent. 00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:07.639 We celebrate Advent because of this time of longing 00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:12.120 and hoping and waiting for the advent of Christ. 00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:18.139 We spend four weeks in our services here at Christ's family 00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:19.799 or in other traditions. 00:11:20.299 --> 00:11:25.039 Four weeks awaiting and preparing to celebrate this time in our year. 00:11:27.139 --> 00:11:31.360 These people spent 700 years from the time that this prophecy was told 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:32.559 until he was born. 00:11:32.699 --> 00:11:33.639 700 years. 00:11:34.599 --> 00:11:38.240 I want you to imagine with me the whole world weary. 00:11:39.240 --> 00:11:41.579 Weary from dealing with their sin. 00:11:41.580 --> 00:11:46.980 Weary from figuring out and struggling how to get through this redemption. 00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:53.759 Longing and hoping and awaiting this long-expected Savior. 00:11:55.379 --> 00:11:57.400 And imagine with me as we read this story, 00:11:58.259 --> 00:12:02.600 the thrill of hope as one by one people begin to realize 00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:05.720 that God is not only fulfilling prophecy here, 00:12:06.100 --> 00:12:08.400 that he's fulfilling every single prophecy 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:10.779 through the person of Jesus Christ. 00:12:12.319 --> 00:12:14.860 So Luke 1 verse 26 says this. 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:18.419 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel... 00:12:19.419 --> 00:12:20.799 I don't want to stop too soon, 00:12:20.980 --> 00:12:22.559 but we've got to stop and talk about Gabriel. 00:12:23.659 --> 00:12:24.919 Because Gabriel is kind of a big deal. 00:12:25.779 --> 00:12:27.799 Gabriel is up there in terms of angels. 00:12:27.939 --> 00:12:29.860 He is a leader among angels. 00:12:30.079 --> 00:12:31.779 Scripture refers to him as an archangel. 00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:35.179 So he is kind of a big deal as far as angels go. 00:12:35.179 --> 00:12:36.879 And so when God picked Gabriel, 00:12:36.959 --> 00:12:39.199 we already know that this is a pretty important mission 00:12:39.199 --> 00:12:40.139 because God said, 00:12:40.679 --> 00:12:42.739 this mission, not just anybody will do, 00:12:42.839 --> 00:12:44.819 I'm going to send Gabriel to do it. 00:12:46.359 --> 00:12:50.339 And so Gabriel was sent from God to the city of Galilee named Nazareth 00:12:50.339 --> 00:12:53.259 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph 00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:54.959 of the house of David. 00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:57.579 And the virgin's name was Mary. 00:12:57.699 --> 00:12:59.079 Then it says in verse 28, 00:12:59.080 --> 00:13:05.379 You'll notice that there's no gap between God telling Gabriel to go 00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:06.980 and Gabriel being there. 00:13:07.100 --> 00:13:10.300 God says, go, and boom, Gabriel's there. 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:13.280 Wouldn't it be nice to kind of be in the spiritual realm 00:13:13.280 --> 00:13:15.879 where God tells you to go do something, 00:13:15.980 --> 00:13:18.620 God tells you to go to Afghanistan or somewhere in the Middle East 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:19.879 to share with a people group, 00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:20.820 and you can just be there. 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:21.700 You don't have to pack your bags, 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:22.540 you don't have to get on the airplane. 00:13:22.680 --> 00:13:25.280 What a wonderful thing it would be to be able to do that. 00:13:25.400 --> 00:13:26.560 Gabriel doesn't have to do that. 00:13:26.559 --> 00:13:29.159 God just says to Gabriel, Gabriel, here's the mission. 00:13:29.319 --> 00:13:30.859 Gabriel says, done, and boom. 00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:31.859 Mary? 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:34.739 It's that quick. 00:13:34.859 --> 00:13:38.459 And when God speaks, things immediately go into motion. 00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:41.059 And so Gabriel came to Mary and said, 00:13:41.219 --> 00:13:43.239 Greetings, O favored one. 00:13:43.599 --> 00:13:45.739 The Lord is with you. 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:49.599 Now some passages in Scripture are real easy to skip over 00:13:49.599 --> 00:13:52.239 and not realize the significance of the passage. 00:13:52.619 --> 00:13:54.259 And this is one of those passages. 00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:57.620 It's real easy for us to think, oh, well, he's just greeting Mary, right? 00:13:57.939 --> 00:13:58.919 Greetings, O favored one. 00:13:59.179 --> 00:14:00.259 The Lord is with you. 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:03.319 It's easy just to read over that and not recognize the significance. 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:05.659 But if you know anything about angels, 00:14:06.259 --> 00:14:10.419 you know that this is highly unusual behavior for angels 00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:15.019 to say this as the first sentence that they said to a person. 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:19.200 Angels don't normally say, greetings, O favored one. 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:26.220 The first thing angels typically say is, do not be afraid or fear not. 00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:28.160 Pretty much the same statement, right? 00:14:28.400 --> 00:14:30.620 Do not be afraid or something to that effect. 00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:34.000 In fact, every other recorded time in Scripture, 00:14:34.420 --> 00:14:36.160 when an angel appears before a human, 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:39.560 they say, do not be afraid or fear not. 00:14:40.340 --> 00:14:42.060 This is the only recorded exception, 00:14:42.059 --> 00:14:48.239 which begs the question, why would Gabriel respond to Mary in this way? 00:14:48.339 --> 00:14:49.779 Why would he greet her differently? 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:52.119 We don't know for sure, 00:14:53.119 --> 00:14:57.039 but we do know that Gabriel probably had some knowledge of the prophecies, right? 00:14:57.099 --> 00:14:57.919 That's access. 00:14:58.319 --> 00:15:00.419 We have access to the prophecies, 00:15:00.479 --> 00:15:03.979 so we have to understand that most likely angels have access 00:15:03.979 --> 00:15:06.599 to the same prophecies that we do. 00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:11.019 And so we can safely assume that the angels have some knowledge 00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:14.500 of what God is planning to do through the prophecies, 00:15:14.560 --> 00:15:15.139 at the very least. 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:17.180 Angels are not omniscient like God. 00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:18.100 They don't know everything. 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:20.980 But I think, and maybe I'm reading between the lines here, 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:23.540 I think that based on Gabriel's response, 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:26.800 when he heard the message that he was supposed to deliver, 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:29.740 and he heard what God was about to do, 00:15:30.139 --> 00:15:32.860 knowing full well the prophecy of God, 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:34.420 I think it's possible, 00:15:34.420 --> 00:15:35.720 and this is just a figure of speech, 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:39.080 but I think it's possible that his angelic drawl hit the floor 00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:41.019 when he heard what he was supposed to do. 00:15:44.019 --> 00:15:45.620 And boom, he's there. 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:47.519 And the first words out of his mouth, 00:15:47.580 --> 00:15:49.660 it's almost as if he couldn't help but to say them, 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:50.060 is, 00:15:50.540 --> 00:15:52.220 Oh, favored one, 00:15:53.420 --> 00:15:55.700 the Lord is with you. 00:15:58.660 --> 00:16:01.259 Mary didn't look highly favored. 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:04.340 She looked highly under suspicion. 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:08.320 She didn't look highly favored. 00:16:08.420 --> 00:16:09.240 She was with a child. 00:16:11.160 --> 00:16:12.500 She was not married yet. 00:16:13.180 --> 00:16:14.540 She didn't look highly favored. 00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:17.080 She was just an average young lady. 00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:18.800 And in verse 29, it says, 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:19.799 but she, Mary, 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:21.459 was greeted, 00:16:22.199 --> 00:16:22.500 sorry, 00:16:22.579 --> 00:16:24.219 was greatly troubled at the saying, 00:16:25.099 --> 00:16:28.459 and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:29.779 The angel said to her, 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:30.279 and here it is, 00:16:30.299 --> 00:16:31.659 what angels normally say first, 00:16:32.039 --> 00:16:33.240 do not be afraid, 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:33.620 Mary, 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:36.859 for you have found favor with God. 00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:38.219 And behold, 00:16:38.319 --> 00:16:39.659 you will conceive in your womb, 00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:40.339 and bear a son, 00:16:40.359 --> 00:16:42.039 and you shall call his name Jesus. 00:16:43.099 --> 00:16:44.000 And he will be great, 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:45.979 and he will be called son of the most high. 00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:49.240 And the Lord God will give him the throne of his father, 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:49.659 David, 00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:52.500 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. 00:16:53.060 --> 00:16:53.759 Of his kingdom, 00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:54.879 there will be no end. 00:16:55.580 --> 00:16:56.680 And Mary said to the angel, 00:16:56.800 --> 00:16:57.840 how will this be, 00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.680 since I am a virgin? 00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:02.759 So, 00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:03.320 so far, 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:06.620 we have a virgin mother carrying a male child, 00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:07.579 and according to prophecy, 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:08.140 so far, 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:08.660 so good, 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:08.940 right? 00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:10.400 Well, 00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:10.640 wrong. 00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:11.279 There's a problem. 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:12.740 There's a problem right now. 00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:15.819 And the problem is that, 00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:17.859 Mary and Joseph live in Nazareth. 00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:19.819 They reside there. 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:23.120 The child is supposed to be born in Bethlehem, 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:26.079 meaning that they're about 100 miles away, 00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:27.460 from fulfilling prophecy. 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:31.140 And a day when there's no buses, 00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:31.880 no airplanes, 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:32.759 there's no cars, 00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:34.160 there's no fast transportation, 00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:36.160 that's a long way to walk. 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:36.859 100 miles, 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:37.599 when we all agree, 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:38.859 that's kind of a long way to walk, 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:39.059 right? 00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:42.319 And I don't know about you, 00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:44.519 but I'm kind of thinking right now that, 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:46.059 that Mary's pregnant. 00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:49.500 The women in this room who have, 00:17:49.659 --> 00:17:52.399 who have had babies know, 00:17:52.679 --> 00:17:54.119 they're probably already thinking about this, 00:17:54.179 --> 00:17:55.599 that this is a difficult journey. 00:17:55.859 --> 00:17:56.919 It's like you and I just, 00:17:57.019 --> 00:18:01.259 just up and decided today to go take a nice general stroll to Chattanooga, 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:01.720 Tennessee, 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:03.619 100 miles away, 00:18:04.139 --> 00:18:06.480 with a pregnant wife. 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:08.140 I know we just had a child, 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:09.460 which is pretty amazing. 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:10.539 But, 00:18:11.860 --> 00:18:12.500 I don't, 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:16.519 I can imagine traveling with my pregnant wife, 00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:20.380 100 miles in these last several months that we've had, 00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:22.819 with her expecting. 00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:24.740 It would be a really difficult task. 00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:26.339 It would be a challenge. 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:29.079 And if you're reading through this for the first time, 00:18:29.120 --> 00:18:29.500 you're thinking, 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:32.339 how in the world is God going to pull this off? 00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:34.160 How is this going to happen? 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:37.900 And what we're going to see as we move from chapter one into chapter two, 00:18:38.040 --> 00:18:41.160 is that through a series of seemingly unrelated events, 00:18:41.840 --> 00:18:47.120 God works it out so that prophecy would be fulfilled for Mary and Joseph to 00:18:47.120 --> 00:18:50.120 make the 100 mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:55.019 Look at what happens in chapter two, 00:18:55.100 --> 00:18:55.500 verse one. 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:57.160 In those days, 00:18:57.279 --> 00:19:01.700 a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:05.799 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:07.839 And all went to be registered, 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:09.059 each to his own town. 00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:11.019 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, 00:19:11.400 --> 00:19:12.359 from the town of Nazareth, 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:13.019 to Judea, 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:14.319 to the city of David, 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:16.059 which is called Bethlehem. 00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:18.920 Because he was of the house and lineage of David, 00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:21.259 to be registered with Mary, 00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:22.460 his betrothed, 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.599 who was with child. 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:26.000 And while they were there, 00:19:26.459 --> 00:19:28.399 a time came for her to give birth. 00:19:28.939 --> 00:19:32.679 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths 00:19:32.679 --> 00:19:34.179 and laid him in a manger. 00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:37.399 Because there's no place for them in the end. 00:19:37.419 --> 00:19:37.839 By the way, 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:39.759 there's a little myth out there. 00:19:39.899 --> 00:19:42.459 And I think it's mostly because of our Christmas plays. 00:19:42.719 --> 00:19:45.039 We run out of things for the kids to beat, 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:46.219 roles for the kids to play. 00:19:46.419 --> 00:19:48.079 There's actually no innkeeper in scripture. 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:48.759 Did y'all know that? 00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:50.099 It's one of those things, 00:19:50.179 --> 00:19:52.319 those myths that we oftentimes believe. 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:56.559 We don't actually see an innkeeper rejecting Mary and Joseph in scripture. 00:19:57.559 --> 00:20:07.200 Another thing is that a common myth that we have in the Christmas story is we so often think that Mary and Joseph were coming into Bethlehem while Mary's basically in labor. 00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:09.639 That's kind of the picture that we get. 00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:11.539 She's walking into Bethlehem, 00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.220 you know, 00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:13.720 having the labor pains. 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:15.440 And they just barely get there on time. 00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:18.879 We don't have any sense of that in scripture at all. 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:19.220 In fact, 00:20:19.259 --> 00:20:28.359 it's probably not true because Joseph would probably have been the kind of person who would have brought her in and gotten her there in plenty of time in order to have this child. 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:30.359 But continuing on, 00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:31.039 in the same region, 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:34.759 there are shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night. 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:41.179 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were filled with fear. 00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:43.240 And the angel said to them, 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:44.099 and here it is again. 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:47.879 This is what angels normally say to people the first time they see them. 00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:50.980 Fear not for behold, 00:20:51.100 --> 00:20:59.440 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, 00:20:59.540 --> 00:20:59.980 the Savior, 00:21:00.520 --> 00:21:01.860 who is Christ the Lord. 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:03.880 And this will be a sign to you. 00:21:03.900 --> 00:21:07.040 You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. 00:21:08.120 --> 00:21:10.340 And suddenly there was with the angel, 00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:17.800 a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those. 00:21:17.880 --> 00:21:19.960 With whom he is pleased. 00:21:21.020 --> 00:21:23.100 This is good news to the shepherds in that evening. 00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:24.860 And it's good news for us today. 00:21:26.080 --> 00:21:27.480 It's great news for us today. 00:21:28.060 --> 00:21:29.220 For unto us, 00:21:29.660 --> 00:21:30.640 a Savior was born. 00:21:31.620 --> 00:21:34.380 This first person that's mentioned here is Caesar Augustus. 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:38.040 He's the grandnephew and adopted son of Julius Caesar. 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:40.300 Most of us have heard of Julius Caesar. 00:21:40.800 --> 00:21:41.680 That's a very, 00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:43.800 all these people are really historical characters. 00:21:43.900 --> 00:21:46.580 We can find extra biblical information about them. 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:51.900 He was Caesar Augustus is the grandnephew and adopted son of Julius Caesar. 00:21:52.260 --> 00:21:53.880 He started off as a tyrant, 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:55.380 but really ruled better than most, 00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:56.300 not a believer, 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:57.020 not a Christian, 00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:58.380 but better than most. 00:21:58.940 --> 00:21:59.720 The second person, 00:22:00.040 --> 00:22:04.520 Quirinius is essentially Caesar's enforcer in a Syrian region. 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.540 And together, 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:07.620 they're tasked to, 00:22:07.620 --> 00:22:12.580 to give a census of enforcing a census in all the land. 00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:15.639 And so today we're familiar with what a census is, 00:22:15.699 --> 00:22:15.859 right? 00:22:15.939 --> 00:22:16.059 We, 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:18.599 some of us have participated in a census before. 00:22:18.699 --> 00:22:18.899 We've, 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:21.460 where we gather demographic information. 00:22:21.460 --> 00:22:24.599 We primarily use it for statistical and demographic purposes today. 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:26.059 In that day and age, 00:22:26.159 --> 00:22:29.299 it was not a particularly godly motivation to do it. 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:31.919 They did it primarily for wealth and for power. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:33.860 As far as wealth goes, 00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.080 they, 00:22:34.140 --> 00:22:35.440 they know if they have, 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:37.140 they know how many citizens that they have, 00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:37.820 um, 00:22:37.820 --> 00:22:38.800 in the whole region. 00:22:38.800 --> 00:22:42.400 And so that they can tax the people for everything that they're worth. 00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:44.560 As far as power goes, 00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:47.539 it stands to reason that they know how many adult males are in that region. 00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:51.620 And they know how many soldiers descend to that region to maintain power and control. 00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:52.539 So this, 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:54.200 don't see this as a great thing. 00:22:54.320 --> 00:22:57.039 This is not an innocent type of census that we think of today. 00:22:57.120 --> 00:22:58.920 This is all about wealth and power. 00:22:58.920 --> 00:22:59.400 However, 00:22:59.800 --> 00:23:00.440 Joseph and Mary, 00:23:00.560 --> 00:23:04.940 the second set of people in this passage are completely opposite from the first two. 00:23:05.360 --> 00:23:06.740 They were poor, 00:23:06.860 --> 00:23:07.560 not rich. 00:23:08.060 --> 00:23:09.039 They were lowly, 00:23:09.120 --> 00:23:09.820 not powerful. 00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:11.440 They were humble, 00:23:11.900 --> 00:23:12.880 not proud. 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:15.279 And they were worshipers of God, 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:17.120 not the ones being worshiped. 00:23:18.600 --> 00:23:20.480 Joseph was just a carpenter, 00:23:21.320 --> 00:23:21.539 Mary, 00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:22.519 a simple peasant girl, 00:23:22.580 --> 00:23:26.600 but there was something extraordinary about Mary and Joseph. 00:23:26.599 --> 00:23:29.819 And it was that they found favor with God. 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:39.599 And so the government requests the census requiring Mary and Joseph to make their 100 mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. 00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:44.279 And it's amazing to me how everything works together in this story. 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:51.559 So the prophecy will be fulfilled as it was foretold 700 years prior to his coming. 00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:58.519 And what makes this even more amazing is that all of this happens during the time called Pax Romana or Roman peace. 00:23:58.959 --> 00:24:01.000 When there are highways that connect nations, 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:02.179 there's a common language. 00:24:02.599 --> 00:24:05.980 People can travel widely without a lot of fear and without barriers. 00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:10.759 And so Jesus is born at a time when news of him can spread like wildfire, 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:13.559 unlike any other time up to this point in history. 00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:18.339 And so that is the historical truth of the birth of Jesus. 00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:23.039 Christianity is rooted in historical facts. 00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:25.500 And you're probably thinking, 00:24:25.620 --> 00:24:25.640 well, 00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:26.120 that's great, 00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:26.319 Kyle. 00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:27.620 We've all heard the Christmas story. 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:28.960 We've heard it multiple times. 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.480 What's the big deal? 00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:32.880 And here is why this is a big deal. 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:34.380 This morning, 00:24:34.520 --> 00:24:35.360 as I've mentioned before, 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:38.380 our Advent focus is on the love of Christ. 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:45.720 And I chose to begin with the Christmas story at the beginning of Jesus's life for a purpose. 00:24:47.060 --> 00:24:50.280 We so often think of the Christmas story as being just that. 00:24:50.560 --> 00:24:52.180 We think of it as just a story. 00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:56.700 And what's more is that we so often think of God as a distant God, 00:24:57.040 --> 00:24:57.640 unrelational, 00:24:57.880 --> 00:24:59.140 unable to relate to us. 00:24:59.140 --> 00:25:01.759 And to every other religion, 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:04.880 their concept of God is just that, 00:25:05.100 --> 00:25:05.780 unrelational, 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.880 unable to understand what it means to breathe, 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:10.800 unable to be overwhelmed with emotion, 00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:12.880 what it means to feel pain. 00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:15.700 But the historical story of Jesus Christ 00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:20.860 demonstrates that that is not the case with our God, 00:25:21.280 --> 00:25:23.160 with the one true and holy God. 00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:27.820 We have a God who wants to get involved with our lives. 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:30.600 And for some of you this morning, 00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:32.880 that might be exactly what you need to hear. 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:37.100 I don't know what you brought into this place this morning, 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:38.220 where you're coming from, 00:25:38.300 --> 00:25:39.220 where your backgrounds are, 00:25:39.420 --> 00:25:43.680 but some of you might need to hear that God wants to be involved with your life. 00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:48.580 And what it means for us is that none of us can look at Jesus and say, 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:49.160 you know what? 00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:51.440 You don't really understand what I'm going through. 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:54.160 You don't understand where I've been. 00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:57.799 You don't understand what it's like to be poor or to be in need. 00:25:58.220 --> 00:26:02.039 You don't understand what it's like to be downcast or rejected. 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:06.539 You don't know what it's like to go through what I've been through. 00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:10.740 And I think Jesus' right response would be to say, 00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:12.840 actually, I do. 00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:16.519 I understand every intimate detail. 00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:19.720 I know what it's like to suffer. 00:26:19.879 --> 00:26:22.079 I know what it's like to be ridiculed, 00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:23.579 to be the outcast. 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:25.420 I know what it's like to feel pain 00:26:25.420 --> 00:26:28.180 and finally die as a sacrifice for you. 00:26:30.879 --> 00:26:32.279 You see, we have a God, 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:34.019 unlike any other concept of a God, 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:35.279 who understands. 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:37.119 He gets it. 00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:39.240 He lived like you and I do. 00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:41.559 He breathed like you and I do. 00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:43.379 He ate like you and I do. 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:45.159 He needed rest like you and I do. 00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:47.399 But unlike you and me, 00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:49.859 He was sinless. 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:53.039 That's the difference between Him and us. 00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:54.940 At least one of the major differences between Him and us 00:26:54.940 --> 00:26:56.159 is He was without sin. 00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:58.039 He was tempted like we were. 00:26:59.639 --> 00:27:02.079 But He didn't give in to the temptation. 00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:04.119 He said yes to the will of the Father 00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:06.639 and no to the temptation of the world. 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:10.380 And so my hope for you as a congregation this morning, 00:27:10.840 --> 00:27:11.840 December 20th, 00:27:11.840 --> 00:27:14.220 is that you see the Christmas story 00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:16.360 as more than just a story. 00:27:17.080 --> 00:27:19.300 And that you see the baby that was born 00:27:19.300 --> 00:27:22.600 in this story as more than just a baby. 00:27:23.560 --> 00:27:25.259 Because He is so much more. 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:29.100 You see, this was only the beginning of His life. 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.860 Fast forward 30 years 00:27:31.860 --> 00:27:34.480 and you see this baby grown into a man 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:36.460 and making radical statements like, 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:37.960 greater love has no man 00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:40.539 than he who lays down his life for his friends. 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:42.480 Knowing full well 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:43.900 that that was what He was going to do. 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:46.860 And the statements like, 00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:48.000 for God so loved the world, 00:27:48.120 --> 00:27:50.519 God so loved the world 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:52.720 that He gave His only Son 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:54.140 that whoever believes in Him 00:27:54.140 --> 00:27:56.160 will not perish but have everlasting life. 00:27:57.640 --> 00:27:58.259 So the first, 00:27:58.660 --> 00:28:00.620 we're going to spend the rest of this morning 00:28:00.620 --> 00:28:03.640 kind of focusing in on this love of Jesus. 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:07.360 And focusing in on this love 00:28:07.360 --> 00:28:09.640 that ultimately drove Him to the cross. 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:12.680 The first principle that I want us to see 00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:15.680 is that the love of Christ is undeserved. 00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:18.160 The love of Christ is undeserved. 00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:22.360 We have done nothing in our lives to earn it. 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:25.920 There's nothing that we can do to earn it. 00:28:26.779 --> 00:28:28.380 None of us in this room deserve it. 00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:31.400 Romans 3.23 leaves us without question in this matter. 00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:33.559 For all of us have fallen short of the glory of God. 00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:36.079 What's the cost of our sin? 00:28:36.179 --> 00:28:38.019 Our wages of sin is death. 00:28:38.679 --> 00:28:41.079 Every person in this room deserves death, 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:42.440 including me. 00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.759 There's not a single person, 00:28:44.879 --> 00:28:47.200 man, woman, boy, girl, or infant in this room 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:50.679 that deserves the love of Christ. 00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:54.759 And I realize this statement sounds really harsh, 00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:58.440 but that truth demonstrates the greatness of God's love. 00:28:58.920 --> 00:29:01.960 It truly demonstrates the greatness of His love 00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:03.680 because He chose us anyway. 00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:06.640 Despite the fact that we didn't deserve it, 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:07.619 Christ chose us. 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:10.059 Romans 5.8 tells us that God demonstrates 00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:11.700 His own love toward us, 00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:13.500 that while we were still sinners, 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:15.859 Christ died for us. 00:29:15.859 --> 00:29:19.699 Isn't that incredible? 00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:23.859 A perfect and holy God sent His perfect and holy Son 00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:26.279 to die for an undeserving people. 00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:30.359 Think about what depth of love that is. 00:29:30.479 --> 00:29:32.859 Think about what extension of grace. 00:29:32.859 --> 00:29:35.779 which leads us to our next truth. 00:29:36.339 --> 00:29:38.519 The love of Christ is surpassingly great. 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:41.679 The love of Christ is surpassingly great. 00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:45.079 There's so many passages that we can go to here. 00:29:46.199 --> 00:29:48.479 So many passages all over the Old Testament, 00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:49.500 all over the New Testament. 00:29:49.619 --> 00:29:50.479 But for the sake of time, 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:51.759 we're only going to focus on a couple. 00:29:52.979 --> 00:29:53.759 One of my favorites, 00:29:53.879 --> 00:29:57.939 and I almost feel like a child for bringing this one up, 00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:59.380 but I just love parables. 00:30:00.080 --> 00:30:03.380 And this particular parable is my favorite parable. 00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:06.820 It's the story of the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15. 00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:08.019 If you want to go ahead and turn there, 00:30:08.600 --> 00:30:11.500 we're going to kind of camp out there for just a few minutes. 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:14.840 And the reason why I love this story 00:30:14.840 --> 00:30:17.080 is because it so clearly demonstrates 00:30:17.080 --> 00:30:19.039 the love of God for us. 00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:21.440 Most of us know this one, 00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:23.200 or at least have heard it before. 00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:26.259 And the way that I like to teach this passage 00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:27.519 to my discipleship guys 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:29.740 when I'm doing discipleship with people 00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:30.799 and we get to this passage, 00:30:31.460 --> 00:30:33.180 is I like to ask people 00:30:33.180 --> 00:30:35.859 if they know what the word prodigal means. 00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:38.660 Because a lot of times, 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.480 and more often than not, 00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:41.379 the answer that I get for what prodigal, 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:44.139 what the definition of prodigal probably means 00:30:44.139 --> 00:30:46.980 is wayward or sinful, 00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:48.559 something to that effect. 00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:50.700 That's not what the word prodigal means, however. 00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:54.559 The word prodigal actually means lavish. 00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:56.299 It means lavish. 00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:59.419 And so when we understand the proper definition 00:30:59.419 --> 00:31:00.519 of the word prodigal, 00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:02.859 we get to understand that the prodigal son 00:31:02.859 --> 00:31:04.919 isn't the only one prodigal in this story. 00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:08.339 He's not the only lavish person in this story. 00:31:08.899 --> 00:31:10.539 So as we read through this, 00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:11.740 I want you to pay close attention 00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:13.119 and see if you can figure out 00:31:13.119 --> 00:31:15.500 the characters in the story that are prodigal. 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:16.980 There's more than one. 00:31:17.379 --> 00:31:18.299 I'll give you a hint there. 00:31:18.299 --> 00:31:21.839 Verse 11 of chapter 15 in Luke. 00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:24.419 There was a man who had two sons. 00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:26.000 The younger of them said to his father, 00:31:26.159 --> 00:31:28.259 Father, give me the share of the property 00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:29.619 that is coming to me. 00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:32.159 And he divided his property between them. 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:33.599 Not many days later, 00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:35.259 I'm thinking maybe like maybe two, 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:36.940 not very long. 00:31:37.339 --> 00:31:39.879 The younger son gathered all that he had 00:31:39.879 --> 00:31:41.940 and took a journey into the far country. 00:31:41.940 --> 00:31:44.440 And there he squandered his property 00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:45.920 in reckless living. 00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:47.580 Verse 14. 00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:49.100 And when he had spent everything, 00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:52.180 a severe famine arose in that country. 00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:53.180 Bad luck or something 00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:54.799 because he just had spent everything 00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:56.140 and then a famine arises 00:31:56.140 --> 00:31:58.019 and he began to be in need. 00:31:58.340 --> 00:32:01.080 So he went and hired himself out 00:32:01.080 --> 00:32:02.640 to one of the citizens of that country 00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:06.519 who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 00:32:07.660 --> 00:32:10.000 And he was longing to be fed 00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:12.940 with the pods that the pigs ate 00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:15.980 and no one gave him anything. 00:32:16.819 --> 00:32:20.279 He wanted to eat the slop of pigs 00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:22.700 and even the pigs were better fed 00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:24.119 than the prodigal son. 00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:27.660 He's in a low place, to say the least. 00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:30.420 But when he came to himself, 00:32:30.859 --> 00:32:31.440 he said, 00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:33.160 How many of my father's hired servants 00:32:33.160 --> 00:32:34.460 have more than enough bread, 00:32:34.660 --> 00:32:36.200 but I perish here with hunger. 00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:38.119 I will arise and go to my father 00:32:38.119 --> 00:32:39.400 and I will say to him, 00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:39.920 and by the way, 00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:41.780 this is not him speaking to his father yet. 00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:43.820 This is him rehearsing his speech. 00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:45.340 He's just rehearsing it right now. 00:32:45.420 --> 00:32:45.580 He says, 00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:47.680 Father, I have sinned against heaven 00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:48.519 and before you. 00:32:48.820 --> 00:32:50.080 I am no longer worthy 00:32:50.080 --> 00:32:51.060 to be called your son. 00:32:51.620 --> 00:32:53.440 Treat me as one of your hired servants. 00:32:54.140 --> 00:32:54.960 And he arose 00:32:54.960 --> 00:32:56.620 and came to his father. 00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:58.720 But while he was still 00:32:58.720 --> 00:33:00.320 a long way off, 00:33:00.860 --> 00:33:02.300 his father saw him 00:33:02.300 --> 00:33:03.900 and felt compassion 00:33:03.900 --> 00:33:06.480 and ran and embraced him 00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:07.420 and kissed him. 00:33:07.420 --> 00:33:09.700 And the son said to him, 00:33:10.340 --> 00:33:10.640 Father, 00:33:11.300 --> 00:33:13.539 I have sinned against heaven 00:33:13.539 --> 00:33:14.240 and before you. 00:33:14.300 --> 00:33:16.240 I am no longer worthy 00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:17.920 to be called your son. 00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.840 You'll notice something here. 00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:21.960 This isn't his whole rehearsed speech. 00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:24.259 He didn't get through all of it. 00:33:24.700 --> 00:33:25.779 But in verse 22, it says, 00:33:25.779 --> 00:33:27.619 But the father said to his servants, 00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:29.440 Bring quickly the best robe 00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:30.339 and put it on him 00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:31.960 and put a ring on his hand 00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:33.119 and his shoes on his feet 00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:34.599 and bring the fattened calf 00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:35.200 and kill it 00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:37.319 and let us eat and celebrate 00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:40.019 for this my son was dead 00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:41.579 and is alive again. 00:33:42.180 --> 00:33:43.839 He was lost and is found. 00:33:44.579 --> 00:33:46.480 And they began to celebrate. 00:33:47.879 --> 00:33:50.059 So with the proper definition 00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:50.740 of prodigal, 00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:53.259 we see there are really 00:33:53.259 --> 00:33:54.720 three prodigals in the story. 00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:57.000 The first and most obvious 00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:58.559 is the son, right? 00:33:59.480 --> 00:34:00.220 The prodigal son. 00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:02.339 That's the one that 00:34:02.339 --> 00:34:04.460 has been named for. 00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:05.519 The story has been named for. 00:34:05.579 --> 00:34:06.480 He was lavish 00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:08.699 in the way that he squandered his wealth. 00:34:08.820 --> 00:34:10.639 He lavishly spent his money. 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:12.019 He squandered it all 00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:13.820 on what the scripture refers to 00:34:13.820 --> 00:34:14.699 as loose living. 00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:16.739 This might be the worst way 00:34:16.739 --> 00:34:17.380 to be prodigal. 00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:18.139 I'm not sure. 00:34:19.139 --> 00:34:21.079 But nonetheless, 00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:22.099 it's prodigal. 00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:23.460 He's prodigal in the way 00:34:23.460 --> 00:34:26.019 that he just had spent 00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:27.319 all of his wealth so quickly. 00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:29.319 There's a prodigal brother 00:34:29.319 --> 00:34:30.199 in the story. 00:34:31.059 --> 00:34:31.739 We're not going to focus 00:34:31.739 --> 00:34:33.420 a lot on him this morning, 00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:34.279 but he was lavishing 00:34:34.279 --> 00:34:35.079 this jealousy 00:34:35.079 --> 00:34:36.360 of his wayward brother. 00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:37.360 If we had time 00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:38.319 to continue on the story, 00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:38.840 we'd see more 00:34:38.840 --> 00:34:39.679 about the prodigal brother. 00:34:40.519 --> 00:34:41.299 He represents 00:34:41.299 --> 00:34:42.860 all the super religious people 00:34:42.860 --> 00:34:44.019 in the story. 00:34:44.460 --> 00:34:45.960 The people who are legalistic 00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:47.199 and legalistically 00:34:47.199 --> 00:34:48.039 go through motions 00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:49.239 and always do the right thing. 00:34:49.239 --> 00:34:49.899 And then they scoff 00:34:49.899 --> 00:34:50.379 at the people 00:34:50.379 --> 00:34:51.500 when they go off 00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:52.359 and they squander their wealth 00:34:52.359 --> 00:34:53.199 in the foreign country. 00:34:53.359 --> 00:34:54.319 And they scoff at them 00:34:54.319 --> 00:34:55.339 when they try to come back. 00:34:56.179 --> 00:34:56.859 We're not going to spend 00:34:56.859 --> 00:34:57.439 a lot of time again 00:34:57.439 --> 00:34:58.379 because that's another sermon 00:34:58.379 --> 00:34:59.139 for another time. 00:35:00.299 --> 00:35:00.859 But then there's 00:35:00.859 --> 00:35:01.739 the prodigal father. 00:35:02.819 --> 00:35:03.839 The prodigal father. 00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:05.839 And I think that this might be 00:35:05.839 --> 00:35:07.599 who the story's actually about. 00:35:08.279 --> 00:35:09.559 So if we were to rename this, 00:35:09.579 --> 00:35:10.159 and these titles 00:35:10.159 --> 00:35:11.019 that we have in scripture, 00:35:11.319 --> 00:35:13.079 they're not canonical, right? 00:35:13.099 --> 00:35:13.959 So they were added 00:35:13.959 --> 00:35:15.939 to give us good sections 00:35:15.939 --> 00:35:16.479 of scripture. 00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:18.780 They're added at a later time. 00:35:18.860 --> 00:35:19.500 So it's not like 00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:21.340 we're changing the name, 00:35:21.579 --> 00:35:23.159 changing scripture here. 00:35:23.260 --> 00:35:25.840 But if I were to rename this story, 00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:26.900 I would have called it 00:35:26.900 --> 00:35:28.659 the story of the prodigal father 00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:31.840 because that's what this story's 00:35:31.840 --> 00:35:32.360 really about. 00:35:33.820 --> 00:35:35.199 How is the father lavish? 00:35:36.139 --> 00:35:37.300 He's lavish in the way 00:35:37.300 --> 00:35:39.099 that he loves his children. 00:35:40.519 --> 00:35:42.139 He's incredibly lavish 00:35:42.139 --> 00:35:44.880 in the way he accepts his son 00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:46.219 after being in a distant country, 00:35:46.219 --> 00:35:47.139 after squandering 00:35:47.139 --> 00:35:48.559 all of his inheritance 00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:50.299 on loose living 00:35:50.299 --> 00:35:51.859 and coming back home. 00:35:52.099 --> 00:35:53.199 He's lavish in the way 00:35:53.199 --> 00:35:54.179 that he embraces him. 00:35:54.579 --> 00:35:56.379 He demonstrates his love 00:35:56.379 --> 00:35:58.439 so well by making a feast 00:35:58.439 --> 00:35:59.319 and by sacrificing 00:35:59.319 --> 00:36:00.759 the very best animal he owns 00:36:00.759 --> 00:36:03.819 and because he's so elated 00:36:03.819 --> 00:36:05.339 that his son has returned. 00:36:06.619 --> 00:36:08.639 It should be abundantly clear to us 00:36:08.639 --> 00:36:10.839 that the father in this story 00:36:10.840 --> 00:36:13.440 is representative of God, 00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:16.539 God's love for his people. 00:36:18.180 --> 00:36:19.579 Because every one of us 00:36:19.579 --> 00:36:22.019 have been in the prodigal son's shoes. 00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:23.780 We've all been wayward 00:36:23.780 --> 00:36:25.539 at some point in our lives, 00:36:25.900 --> 00:36:27.240 completely hopeless, 00:36:27.960 --> 00:36:28.860 apart from Christ. 00:36:28.860 --> 00:36:32.700 There's a fourth prodigal here. 00:36:33.860 --> 00:36:34.920 When I ask people to guess 00:36:34.920 --> 00:36:36.780 who the fourth prodigal is, 00:36:36.840 --> 00:36:37.740 the most common answer 00:36:37.740 --> 00:36:39.280 is the pigs 00:36:39.280 --> 00:36:41.059 or the swine. 00:36:42.360 --> 00:36:42.720 And maybe, 00:36:42.920 --> 00:36:43.400 I don't know, 00:36:43.480 --> 00:36:44.740 maybe the pigs are a prodigal. 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:47.500 Sometimes I believe 00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:48.420 the fourth prodigal 00:36:48.420 --> 00:36:51.059 is difficult to guess 00:36:51.059 --> 00:36:52.700 because he's not in the story, 00:36:53.200 --> 00:36:54.300 but rather he's the one 00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:55.620 telling the story. 00:36:55.619 --> 00:36:59.099 And this is Jesus here. 00:37:00.259 --> 00:37:01.839 Jesus is speaking 00:37:01.839 --> 00:37:03.279 because the reality is 00:37:03.279 --> 00:37:04.119 that God could have 00:37:04.119 --> 00:37:05.359 given us this story 00:37:05.359 --> 00:37:06.719 however he wanted to. 00:37:07.339 --> 00:37:08.819 He could have given it 00:37:08.819 --> 00:37:09.400 to the prophets 00:37:09.400 --> 00:37:10.139 to write down 00:37:10.139 --> 00:37:10.779 and we could have it 00:37:10.779 --> 00:37:12.839 in scripture for eternity. 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:15.000 It is in scripture 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:15.759 for eternity, 00:37:15.839 --> 00:37:16.400 but he could have given it 00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:16.839 to the prophets. 00:37:16.940 --> 00:37:17.799 He could have written it 00:37:17.799 --> 00:37:18.599 on a stone tablet 00:37:18.599 --> 00:37:19.420 like he did the law. 00:37:19.819 --> 00:37:20.779 He could have presented it 00:37:20.779 --> 00:37:21.679 to us in a vision. 00:37:21.759 --> 00:37:22.559 Every single one of us, 00:37:22.579 --> 00:37:23.279 he could have come to us 00:37:23.279 --> 00:37:24.139 in a vision somehow 00:37:24.139 --> 00:37:26.000 or through an angel. 00:37:27.239 --> 00:37:28.059 But this is what 00:37:28.059 --> 00:37:29.019 is so amazing 00:37:29.019 --> 00:37:30.039 about this story to me 00:37:30.039 --> 00:37:31.079 that out of all the ways 00:37:31.079 --> 00:37:32.179 that God could have presented 00:37:32.179 --> 00:37:33.819 the story of the prodigal son, 00:37:34.779 --> 00:37:35.219 he has said, 00:37:35.480 --> 00:37:36.639 forget all the other ways. 00:37:36.839 --> 00:37:37.839 I'm just going to come 00:37:37.839 --> 00:37:39.219 in the form of a human 00:37:39.219 --> 00:37:40.559 and tell it to them myself. 00:37:42.219 --> 00:37:43.619 And if that's not prodigal, 00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:45.339 I don't know what is. 00:37:46.480 --> 00:37:48.219 In case you're not convinced yet, 00:37:48.379 --> 00:37:49.940 Isaiah 53, 4 through 6, 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:51.000 again, another prophecy 00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:52.719 about Jesus. 00:37:52.719 --> 00:37:54.279 It says, 00:37:54.679 --> 00:37:56.179 Surely he has borne our griefs 00:37:56.179 --> 00:37:57.719 and carried our sorrow. 00:37:58.559 --> 00:38:00.500 Yet we esteemed him stricken, 00:38:01.039 --> 00:38:02.099 smitten by God, 00:38:02.399 --> 00:38:03.299 and afflicted. 00:38:04.359 --> 00:38:05.619 But he was wounded 00:38:05.619 --> 00:38:06.639 for our transgressions. 00:38:06.759 --> 00:38:07.539 He was crushed 00:38:07.539 --> 00:38:08.819 for our iniquities. 00:38:09.179 --> 00:38:10.759 Upon him was the chastisement 00:38:10.759 --> 00:38:12.659 that brought us peace. 00:38:13.459 --> 00:38:14.519 And with his stripes, 00:38:14.879 --> 00:38:15.959 we are healed. 00:38:16.179 --> 00:38:18.239 What part of this was fair 00:38:18.239 --> 00:38:20.299 on God's side of the equation? 00:38:20.300 --> 00:38:22.560 None of it. 00:38:23.060 --> 00:38:23.740 He was pierced 00:38:23.740 --> 00:38:25.519 for our transgressions. 00:38:26.080 --> 00:38:27.800 This was because of us. 00:38:28.019 --> 00:38:28.560 He was crushed 00:38:28.560 --> 00:38:29.300 for our iniquities. 00:38:32.200 --> 00:38:33.100 But upon him 00:38:33.100 --> 00:38:33.860 was the chastisement 00:38:33.860 --> 00:38:35.300 that brought us peace. 00:38:35.300 --> 00:38:35.860 Peace. 00:38:38.860 --> 00:38:39.980 And with his stripes, 00:38:40.140 --> 00:38:40.620 we are healed. 00:38:40.760 --> 00:38:41.240 Like sheep, 00:38:42.140 --> 00:38:42.900 we have gone astray. 00:38:43.220 --> 00:38:44.100 We have turned 00:38:44.100 --> 00:38:44.940 every one of us 00:38:44.940 --> 00:38:45.860 to his own way. 00:38:46.539 --> 00:38:47.140 And the Lord 00:38:47.140 --> 00:38:48.700 has laid upon him 00:38:48.700 --> 00:38:49.440 the iniquity 00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:50.600 of us all. 00:38:52.140 --> 00:38:53.120 What great love 00:38:53.120 --> 00:38:54.480 it must require 00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:55.400 for a perfectly 00:38:55.400 --> 00:38:56.160 sinless 00:38:56.160 --> 00:38:57.340 being 00:38:57.340 --> 00:38:58.380 to take on 00:38:58.380 --> 00:38:58.780 all 00:38:58.780 --> 00:38:59.800 of the sins 00:38:59.800 --> 00:39:01.019 of human history. 00:39:01.019 --> 00:39:02.960 He exchanged 00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:03.460 himself 00:39:03.460 --> 00:39:04.119 for us, 00:39:04.179 --> 00:39:05.039 placing our guilt 00:39:05.039 --> 00:39:06.099 on himself 00:39:06.099 --> 00:39:07.619 and replacing it 00:39:07.619 --> 00:39:08.219 with the 00:39:08.219 --> 00:39:10.139 sinless 00:39:10.139 --> 00:39:10.559 innocent 00:39:10.559 --> 00:39:11.460 of a spotless 00:39:11.460 --> 00:39:11.820 lamb. 00:39:13.619 --> 00:39:14.820 The third truth 00:39:14.820 --> 00:39:15.739 this morning 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:16.300 is that the love 00:39:16.300 --> 00:39:16.820 of Christ 00:39:16.820 --> 00:39:18.179 leads us 00:39:18.179 --> 00:39:18.840 to genuine 00:39:18.840 --> 00:39:19.559 and radical 00:39:19.559 --> 00:39:20.139 worship. 00:39:21.019 --> 00:39:22.000 The love of Christ 00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:22.880 leads us to genuine 00:39:22.880 --> 00:39:23.920 and radical 00:39:23.920 --> 00:39:24.400 worship. 00:39:25.759 --> 00:39:26.679 When confronted 00:39:26.679 --> 00:39:27.380 by a love 00:39:27.380 --> 00:39:28.259 so great, 00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:28.880 what else 00:39:28.880 --> 00:39:29.559 can we do? 00:39:29.559 --> 00:39:32.219 but to respond 00:39:32.219 --> 00:39:32.639 to him 00:39:32.639 --> 00:39:33.880 in worship 00:39:33.880 --> 00:39:35.079 and proclamation 00:39:35.079 --> 00:39:36.440 of his truth. 00:39:37.860 --> 00:39:38.320 His love 00:39:38.320 --> 00:39:39.000 should lead us 00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:39.579 to proclaim 00:39:39.579 --> 00:39:40.179 his greatness, 00:39:40.320 --> 00:39:41.420 not just in this room, 00:39:42.320 --> 00:39:42.519 right? 00:39:42.659 --> 00:39:44.000 This worship here 00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:44.579 at Christ's family 00:39:44.579 --> 00:39:45.000 is great. 00:39:45.059 --> 00:39:45.699 It's great for us 00:39:45.699 --> 00:39:46.179 to gather 00:39:46.179 --> 00:39:47.239 corporately together 00:39:47.239 --> 00:39:48.059 to worship him, 00:39:48.139 --> 00:39:49.019 to gather around 00:39:49.019 --> 00:39:49.539 his word. 00:39:50.679 --> 00:39:51.900 But this love 00:39:51.900 --> 00:39:52.500 should compel us 00:39:52.500 --> 00:39:52.920 to worship 00:39:52.920 --> 00:39:54.420 and proclaim him 00:39:54.420 --> 00:39:55.840 everywhere that we go, 00:39:56.059 --> 00:39:57.159 not just in this room, 00:39:57.340 --> 00:39:58.259 but as we exit 00:39:58.259 --> 00:39:58.699 from here, 00:39:58.699 --> 00:39:59.819 as we go away 00:39:59.819 --> 00:40:00.239 from here, 00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:01.139 his love 00:40:01.139 --> 00:40:02.679 should compel us 00:40:02.679 --> 00:40:03.419 to proclaim him 00:40:03.419 --> 00:40:04.099 to the world, 00:40:04.480 --> 00:40:05.519 to all the nations, 00:40:05.619 --> 00:40:06.199 to all the people 00:40:06.199 --> 00:40:06.739 that we encounter 00:40:06.739 --> 00:40:08.419 everywhere that we go, 00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:09.739 whether it be at home 00:40:09.739 --> 00:40:10.779 in family worship, 00:40:11.099 --> 00:40:11.659 whether it be 00:40:11.659 --> 00:40:13.079 in your workplace, 00:40:13.539 --> 00:40:14.319 wherever you work, 00:40:14.460 --> 00:40:15.719 wherever your mission field is, 00:40:15.819 --> 00:40:16.500 wherever the sphere 00:40:16.500 --> 00:40:17.219 of influence is 00:40:17.219 --> 00:40:18.299 that God has given you, 00:40:18.559 --> 00:40:19.679 that's where we go, 00:40:19.939 --> 00:40:20.919 that's where we worship, 00:40:21.179 --> 00:40:22.919 that's where we proclaim him 00:40:22.919 --> 00:40:25.139 because of the hope, 00:40:25.819 --> 00:40:26.579 because he is the hope 00:40:26.579 --> 00:40:27.159 of the world. 00:40:28.699 --> 00:40:31.000 And the hope of the world 00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:31.759 and the greatest love 00:40:31.759 --> 00:40:32.639 ever known 00:40:32.639 --> 00:40:33.759 in human history 00:40:33.759 --> 00:40:35.819 now resides within us 00:40:35.819 --> 00:40:36.779 as believers. 00:40:37.659 --> 00:40:39.139 And it means that we no longer 00:40:39.139 --> 00:40:40.939 have this little bitty concept 00:40:40.939 --> 00:40:41.559 of God. 00:40:41.719 --> 00:40:42.819 We no longer have this 00:40:42.819 --> 00:40:43.939 little bitty worship 00:40:43.939 --> 00:40:45.819 of our little bitty concept 00:40:45.819 --> 00:40:46.259 of God. 00:40:46.480 --> 00:40:48.059 We understand that we have 00:40:48.059 --> 00:40:49.059 a great God 00:40:49.059 --> 00:40:50.259 and that we have 00:40:50.259 --> 00:40:51.500 a tremendous God 00:40:51.500 --> 00:40:52.960 whose love was so great 00:40:52.960 --> 00:40:53.980 and our worship 00:40:53.980 --> 00:40:55.879 should also be great 00:40:55.880 --> 00:40:56.640 in according 00:40:56.640 --> 00:40:57.420 with his greatness. 00:40:58.440 --> 00:40:59.440 It leads us 00:40:59.440 --> 00:41:00.000 to repentance 00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:01.380 and then it leads us 00:41:01.380 --> 00:41:02.500 to radical response 00:41:02.500 --> 00:41:03.000 and worship 00:41:03.000 --> 00:41:04.440 and proclamation. 00:41:05.940 --> 00:41:07.119 Not merely because 00:41:07.119 --> 00:41:08.160 of what he has done 00:41:08.160 --> 00:41:08.800 for us, 00:41:09.300 --> 00:41:10.860 but because he is worthy. 00:41:11.960 --> 00:41:12.940 Because he is worthy. 00:41:12.940 --> 00:41:16.220 I hope you are encouraged 00:41:16.220 --> 00:41:16.639 this morning. 00:41:16.720 --> 00:41:17.980 I hope that you are 00:41:17.980 --> 00:41:19.380 in awe of Jesus 00:41:19.380 --> 00:41:20.460 this morning 00:41:20.460 --> 00:41:22.659 at his great love 00:41:22.659 --> 00:41:23.400 for the world, 00:41:23.480 --> 00:41:24.360 a love that ultimately 00:41:24.360 --> 00:41:27.079 led him to the cross 00:41:27.079 --> 00:41:29.000 to die as a sacrifice 00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:29.980 for our sins. 00:41:31.320 --> 00:41:32.720 And I think it all began 00:41:32.720 --> 00:41:34.840 in such humble circumstances, 00:41:35.480 --> 00:41:36.360 a small baby 00:41:36.360 --> 00:41:38.260 who had nowhere to lay 00:41:38.260 --> 00:41:39.360 except for a manger, 00:41:39.360 --> 00:41:41.440 two humble parents 00:41:41.440 --> 00:41:42.800 who could not 00:41:42.800 --> 00:41:43.800 have ever guessed 00:41:43.800 --> 00:41:45.860 what their son 00:41:45.860 --> 00:41:46.760 would accomplish 00:41:46.760 --> 00:41:48.599 in his lifetime. 00:41:50.099 --> 00:41:51.220 Jesus was the hope 00:41:51.220 --> 00:41:51.800 of the world 00:41:51.800 --> 00:41:52.620 on that day 00:41:52.620 --> 00:41:53.840 and he remains 00:41:53.840 --> 00:41:55.320 the hope of the world 00:41:55.320 --> 00:41:55.820 today. 00:41:57.280 --> 00:41:58.360 He lived the life 00:41:58.360 --> 00:41:59.140 that we should have lived. 00:41:59.220 --> 00:42:00.120 He died the death 00:42:00.120 --> 00:42:01.539 that we should have died. 00:42:02.680 --> 00:42:03.780 We have so much 00:42:03.780 --> 00:42:04.500 to celebrate 00:42:04.500 --> 00:42:06.019 in this Advent season, 00:42:06.140 --> 00:42:06.880 brothers and sisters. 00:42:07.440 --> 00:42:08.559 So much to celebrate. 00:42:08.559 --> 00:42:10.480 So let's respond to him. 00:42:11.119 --> 00:42:12.579 Yes, as we partake 00:42:12.579 --> 00:42:13.380 of the Lord's Supper, 00:42:13.739 --> 00:42:14.679 as we worship 00:42:14.679 --> 00:42:16.159 corporately together, 00:42:16.380 --> 00:42:17.659 as we gather again 00:42:17.659 --> 00:42:18.539 on Christmas Eve, 00:42:18.940 --> 00:42:20.219 yes, all those things. 00:42:20.519 --> 00:42:21.539 But let's respond 00:42:21.539 --> 00:42:23.019 in our personal lives 00:42:23.019 --> 00:42:24.019 as we go into 00:42:24.019 --> 00:42:24.900 the world this week, 00:42:25.079 --> 00:42:27.219 as we worship at home, 00:42:27.420 --> 00:42:28.320 in our own personal 00:42:28.320 --> 00:42:29.139 worship at home. 00:42:29.500 --> 00:42:30.380 Let's respond 00:42:30.380 --> 00:42:32.059 in celebration of Advent 00:42:32.059 --> 00:42:33.199 as we go away from here. 00:42:34.039 --> 00:42:34.799 Let's pray together.