WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:05.299 Thank you very much, guys. And let me add my welcome to Graham's. 00:00:05.940 --> 00:00:10.000 Let's just bow and pray one more time before we take a look at God's Word. 00:00:12.259 --> 00:00:16.199 Father, this morning as we come to your Word, we come from different weeks, 00:00:16.359 --> 00:00:20.100 some of us from good, some of us from bad, and we ask for your strength. 00:00:21.059 --> 00:00:24.260 Lord, we ask that in this service that the words of our mouth, 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:28.859 that the meditations of our heart would be pleasing in your sight. 00:00:28.859 --> 00:00:33.340 Our Lord, our Rock, and our Redeemer. Amen. 00:00:36.100 --> 00:00:41.200 Christmas is often an absolutely crazy time of the year, isn't it? 00:00:41.619 --> 00:00:46.000 So my wife Sabina and I, we recently moved closer into the center of town, 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:52.340 and two weeks ago on a Saturday, we had a wonderful idea that we were going to walk around town. 00:00:53.260 --> 00:00:54.700 Not a good idea at all. 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:58.659 See, we thought that we'd just wander a little bit around the Christmas market, 00:00:58.859 --> 00:01:03.380 that we would run a few errands on Prince's Street and be home in no time. 00:01:04.180 --> 00:01:05.599 And we, how wrong we were. 00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:09.799 See, the town was packed. 00:01:10.379 --> 00:01:12.439 People are running all over the place. 00:01:12.539 --> 00:01:13.799 Cars are honking their horns. 00:01:13.900 --> 00:01:18.460 The Christmas market is what we describe probably as a human maze. 00:01:18.459 --> 00:01:20.599 It's unbelievably busy. 00:01:20.739 --> 00:01:22.500 It was noisy and it was busy. 00:01:22.659 --> 00:01:26.939 And so we decided, as everyone, every normal person would do probably, 00:01:27.039 --> 00:01:30.099 is to go sit in a coffee shop, find some peace somewhere. 00:01:31.539 --> 00:01:35.539 And so I stood in line for about 20 minutes on the Costa Coffee on George Street. 00:01:36.339 --> 00:01:39.780 Christmas music blaring at full blast on the speakers. 00:01:39.780 --> 00:01:42.780 There was no peace to be found in this city at all. 00:01:42.780 --> 00:01:46.540 But that's Christmas nowadays, isn't it? 00:01:47.019 --> 00:01:47.879 It's just busy. 00:01:47.980 --> 00:01:48.480 It's noisy. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:49.120 It's frantic. 00:01:50.320 --> 00:01:57.579 The last words that pop into our minds when we think about Christmas are silent night and peaceful. 00:01:59.780 --> 00:02:06.099 But this morning we're going to look at a portion of Luke's gospel that leads up to the Christmas story. 00:02:06.099 --> 00:02:09.620 And we see a completely different tale than what we live today. 00:02:11.219 --> 00:02:13.539 We do actually find silence. 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:19.859 The beginning of Luke is quite strange because we see two songs that praise God, 00:02:20.019 --> 00:02:23.079 but both of them have two different backstories. 00:02:24.139 --> 00:02:28.099 So last week we looked at Mary's song earlier on in Luke chapter 1. 00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:30.719 And it would be helpful if you have that chapter open in front of you. 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:35.699 And maybe you remember how the angel appeared to her in verse 28. 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:41.599 And then in verse 38 you hear her response to the news that she's going to have a son. 00:02:42.819 --> 00:02:44.560 She believed the angel. 00:02:45.699 --> 00:02:49.259 Despite her fear, despite her confusion, 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:54.060 despite this being impossible that a virgin would have a son, 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:55.280 she believed. 00:02:55.280 --> 00:03:00.960 And this morning we're going to look at the story of a priest. 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:03.280 And in sharp contrast with Mary, 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:08.860 Zechariah the priest didn't believe what the angel said when he appeared to him. 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:14.800 And so although both Mary and Zechariah sing songs of praise to God, 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:18.520 the beginnings of their songs, the context of their songs are very different. 00:03:20.060 --> 00:03:24.159 So just before we dive into the song, let's look at that context very briefly. 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:30.840 So as we break into the life of Zechariah and Elizabeth in Luke chapter 1 verse 5, 00:03:31.359 --> 00:03:37.579 we're told that Zechariah is a priest and that his wife is of priestly descent. 00:03:38.419 --> 00:03:42.079 Verse 7 tells us that these two were godly people. 00:03:42.859 --> 00:03:46.599 See these were the kind of people you wanted at every single prayer meeting. 00:03:47.159 --> 00:03:50.340 Every single word they said would kind of lift you up. 00:03:51.539 --> 00:03:53.419 They were the people you wanted to be like. 00:03:53.419 --> 00:03:54.659 They were godly examples. 00:03:56.459 --> 00:03:57.259 And what does it say? 00:03:58.079 --> 00:04:01.039 They were righteous in the sight of God. 00:04:01.679 --> 00:04:06.319 And they obeyed the laws and commandments blamelessly. 00:04:07.339 --> 00:04:08.479 These are godly people. 00:04:09.859 --> 00:04:11.219 But there were two problems. 00:04:12.079 --> 00:04:14.879 One personal problem and one global problem. 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:18.019 So in verse 7 you see the personal problem. 00:04:18.500 --> 00:04:21.800 It tells us that Elizabeth was not able to conceive. 00:04:23.139 --> 00:04:25.779 And so undoubtedly for them they struggled. 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:28.360 This was a discouragement. 00:04:29.899 --> 00:04:33.399 And even in their struggles and pain they're still godly examples. 00:04:34.680 --> 00:04:36.420 So that's their personal problem. 00:04:36.420 --> 00:04:43.319 And then the second problem is that Zechariah is a priest during a time where God was not speaking. 00:04:43.319 --> 00:04:50.399 This happens at the end of 400 years of silence from God. 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:58.899 They had what we know as the Old Testament and they studied it because it spoke about and it taught about God. 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:01.659 And so they devoured the Old Testament. 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:10.239 And that's why when Zechariah's song was read out to us you probably noticed that this man seems to have done some thinking about the Old Testament. 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:25.180 And that's exactly what happened because not only was God silent but in the months running up to John's birth Zechariah was silent. 00:05:26.220 --> 00:05:29.639 So look at verse 11 of chapter 1. 00:05:30.340 --> 00:05:36.420 An angel appeared to Zechariah as he was in the temple and we know from verse 19 that that's the angel Gabriel. 00:05:36.420 --> 00:05:42.520 And Gabriel says that he will have a son and they are to call him John. 00:05:43.379 --> 00:05:50.920 Now step back from this a second and what would you expect from this godly, blameless man in the sight of God to respond? 00:05:52.420 --> 00:05:55.660 Surely you'd expect him to believe and to be enthusiastic. 00:05:57.720 --> 00:05:58.560 Sadly not. 00:06:00.780 --> 00:06:01.680 Verse 18. 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:03.920 How can I be sure, Zechariah says. 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:08.699 And as a result of his unbelief, Gabriel says in verse 20, 00:06:09.180 --> 00:06:15.600 the Zechariah will be silent and not be able to speak until all of that has come to pass. 00:06:16.740 --> 00:06:19.920 So imagine the next nine months for Zechariah. 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:23.500 He was mute and you see that in verse 22. 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:27.280 He was also deaf and you see that in verse 62. 00:06:28.680 --> 00:06:31.620 For about nine months Zechariah was silent. 00:06:31.620 --> 00:06:34.980 And that means that he had time to ponder. 00:06:35.939 --> 00:06:37.680 Time to contemplate. 00:06:38.500 --> 00:06:40.699 And time to think about his unbelief. 00:06:41.079 --> 00:06:44.980 Time to think about the promise given to him by Gabriel. 00:06:45.220 --> 00:06:48.120 And time to ponder the greatness of God. 00:06:48.699 --> 00:06:50.240 And God's faithfulness. 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:56.879 Just imagine for a second if this Christmas time we took time to be silent. 00:06:58.780 --> 00:07:04.160 As the world buzzes around us, as people rush around buying that last minute Christmas gift. 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:08.160 Because the 10,000 underneath the Christmas tree aren't enough. 00:07:09.840 --> 00:07:14.060 Imagine if we just took a little time to be silent and ponder who God is. 00:07:14.060 --> 00:07:19.959 And what he has done and what he has promised to do. 00:07:20.519 --> 00:07:22.680 Because that is exactly what Zechariah did. 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:24.199 Now he didn't have a choice. 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:33.340 But I wonder if our response after a time of thinking, a time of silence, would produce such a wonderful song of praise. 00:07:33.339 --> 00:07:37.259 And so Zechariah's son is born. 00:07:37.619 --> 00:07:42.899 And they take him to the temple on the eighth day to be circumcised and named as was the custom in that day. 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:47.519 And Elizabeth says that his name is to be John in verse 60. 00:07:48.579 --> 00:07:50.779 The people asked Zechariah what he thinks. 00:07:51.059 --> 00:07:53.579 And he wrote on a board in verse 63. 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:55.500 His name is John. 00:07:55.500 --> 00:07:59.100 And then miraculously his mouth was opened. 00:07:59.459 --> 00:08:06.180 And out came this marvelous song about what God has done and what God will do. 00:08:07.420 --> 00:08:09.800 So that's how Zechariah starts his song. 00:08:10.019 --> 00:08:14.100 By praising God for what God has done. 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:16.800 Verses 67 to 75. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:18.680 What God has done. 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:25.259 So this whole song is about God saving his chosen people. 00:08:25.500 --> 00:08:30.779 The song is sometimes referred to as the benedictus or the blessing. 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:35.200 Because Zechariah starts his song by praising God for the things that he has done. 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:39.519 So in Mary's song she said that she was blessed in verse 48. 00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:45.700 In the beginning of this song Zechariah turns to bless God for his faithfulness. 00:08:45.700 --> 00:08:48.440 To give thanks to God for his faithfulness. 00:08:49.980 --> 00:08:55.379 But the question that I was pondering is how and what exactly is Zechariah talking about? 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:59.299 Well verse 68 answers our question. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:01.000 It says this. 00:09:01.940 --> 00:09:10.379 Praise be to the Lord the God of Israel because why he came to his people and what did he do? 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:11.519 He redeemed them. 00:09:13.879 --> 00:09:19.279 Now when in Israel's history did God come and redeem or save his people? 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:24.720 Well one of the most well known times is probably the Exodus story. 00:09:25.439 --> 00:09:29.120 In the Old Testament Israel were slaves in the land of Egypt. 00:09:29.439 --> 00:09:31.860 And they were told beforehand by God that that would happen. 00:09:31.959 --> 00:09:33.559 They would be there for 400 years. 00:09:34.459 --> 00:09:37.839 Then God sent his servant Moses to take the people out of Egypt. 00:09:38.059 --> 00:09:42.159 And into the land that he had promised them in Genesis chapter 12. 00:09:42.259 --> 00:09:43.339 You can look that up later. 00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:46.700 But Pharaoh wouldn't let Israel go. 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:48.680 He'd lose his workforce. 00:09:49.379 --> 00:09:50.700 Who would build his temples? 00:09:50.860 --> 00:09:52.040 Who would build his empire? 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:54.879 No he said I will not let my people go. 00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:58.300 And so what did God do? 00:09:58.460 --> 00:10:00.759 Well he came and he saved. 00:10:02.019 --> 00:10:05.920 He sent plagues on the land and the last one was the worst of all. 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:15.319 All of the first born sons in the houses in Egypt would be killed unless they sacrificed a lamb and put its blood on a doorpost. 00:10:17.179 --> 00:10:25.759 God stepped into a terrible situation of enslavement and rebellion against him and he rescued his people. 00:10:27.099 --> 00:10:31.740 I think that's the event that Zechariah is singing about in this first part of the song. 00:10:31.740 --> 00:10:38.180 The big event of history in the history of Israel where God stepped in and saved his people. 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:43.220 God has been faithful and Zechariah knows that. 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:51.560 And so God must be praised for his goodness and his faithfulness to his covenant, to his promise to his people. 00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:55.820 That he would bless them and that they would be a blessing to the world. 00:10:55.820 --> 00:11:03.560 And God promised to raise up what Zechariah calls in verse 69 a horn of salvation. 00:11:04.900 --> 00:11:09.320 Now this horn is an Old Testament image of strength and of power. 00:11:10.560 --> 00:11:15.280 The Psalms use this language to describe God as the one who saves his people. 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:19.519 And these Psalms also point forward to the promised one. 00:11:20.199 --> 00:11:26.600 The one who would come and bring about salvation from our lasting enemies, sin and death. 00:11:28.220 --> 00:11:31.139 But that's me jumping ahead a wee bit, getting too excited. 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:38.220 See at this point Zechariah is stating that God promised years before this song even left his lips, 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:41.000 that he would send someone to save his people. 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:49.179 And that he would do that from the lineage and family of David, that Old Testament king, the king after God's own heart. 00:11:51.159 --> 00:11:52.440 So what has God done? 00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:59.419 Well, he set in motion a plan years and years before David was even born. 00:12:00.340 --> 00:12:05.919 That one day a horn of salvation, that God would come and would redeem his people. 00:12:06.539 --> 00:12:10.379 One who would deliver God's people from their enemies, verse 71. 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:14.740 One who would show mercy to Israel's ancestors, verse 72. 00:12:16.179 --> 00:12:20.679 One who would redeem God's, remember God's covenant with Abraham. 00:12:20.899 --> 00:12:24.360 One who would rescue God's people from their enemies, verse 74. 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:33.879 And one who would enable people to serve God without fear, in holiness and in righteousness, verse 75. 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:37.639 Who is this promised one? 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:40.320 And what has God done? 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:43.460 Well, God promised to come and redeem his people. 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:53.179 And he did that at the Exodus, but he also did that because he set the plan in motion to send Jesus Christ, his own son, God in the flesh, into the world. 00:12:53.179 --> 00:13:00.559 God in the flesh stepped into the mess and ruin that we call life on this earth. 00:13:01.319 --> 00:13:02.719 And he saved us. 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:12.779 See, Zechariah grasped that Jesus coming was a long promised visitation from God and saw that God was being true to his word. 00:13:12.779 --> 00:13:19.879 He rejoiced in God's faithfulness, singing about it because it is so wonderful that he couldn't keep it in. 00:13:21.939 --> 00:13:23.860 And his silence was broken. 00:13:24.779 --> 00:13:30.159 And what burst forth through his lips was a song that was months in the making. 00:13:31.459 --> 00:13:37.819 Months of contemplating who God is and what he has done in the past and months of thinking about God's faithfulness. 00:13:37.820 --> 00:13:48.000 God promised to come down and save his people from the enemies that stopped them from serving God without fear and in holiness and righteousness. 00:13:48.940 --> 00:13:50.680 That is what God has done. 00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:53.260 That was God's plan all along. 00:13:55.620 --> 00:13:57.740 What's your response this Christmas? 00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:03.740 Zechariah is praising God for his plan to come and redeem the world. 00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:11.340 He's telling us about this great, trustworthy and faithful God who created this world and who deserves our praise. 00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:17.200 But God doesn't save people for them to come to him and be passive. 00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:24.139 God has come and saved his people for them to be active, for us to serve him. 00:14:25.820 --> 00:14:30.379 God's plan is far bigger than what we celebrate on December 25th. 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:38.480 There is a huge backstory of God's faithfulness and God's deliverance and of God's calling people to himself. 00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:43.259 Time and time again, what is your response this Christmas? 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:48.159 Will you consider who God is and what he has done? 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:53.100 I'd encourage you this Christmas time to be silent. 00:14:53.100 --> 00:14:58.940 To sit just for a few moments or a few hours and ponder. 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:10.840 The truths that this song declares of a faithful, promise-keeping, trustworthy God who calls people to himself and who frees them from their enemies. 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:15.580 This is the God that planned Christmas. 00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:20.259 And who is calling you to himself. 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:22.519 Will you listen and will you respond? 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:27.580 Or if you are a Christian this morning, are you living out these truths? 00:15:28.220 --> 00:15:32.320 It's so easy for us to pass by the significance of the Christmas story. 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:35.060 God has called us to himself. 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:42.800 He came into the world and saved us so that we can serve him without fear, in holiness and with righteousness. 00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:45.779 So how can you be serving God? 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:47.940 How can we be serving God with our lives? 00:15:47.940 --> 00:15:58.760 Well, a small step is that this time of year gives us the perfect opportunity to go and tell the world the great news of our great God. 00:15:58.759 --> 00:16:04.139 Take the leaflets that you received on your way in to the carol service. 00:16:04.139 --> 00:16:08.860 Pray for friends and family members to give them to and then give them to them. 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:16.639 Pray for people to invite to a life explored course that will be running at the end of January, beginning of February. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:21.080 Where we discuss the big questions of life and think about who God is. 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:29.500 Take the opportunity this Christmas time to tell people about the great God that you serve. 00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:33.419 And to tell them about the significance of Christmas. 00:16:33.419 --> 00:16:36.039 Tell your story. 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:41.599 And tell them of God who is trustworthy, who is mighty. 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:44.819 Tell them about the horn of salvation that he has raised up. 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:48.860 The God who shows mercy and the God who has freed us from our enemies. 00:16:50.219 --> 00:16:51.699 That is what God has done. 00:16:52.319 --> 00:16:56.419 He has come down and he has redeemed his people. 00:16:56.419 --> 00:17:07.500 The second thing that we see in this song is what God will do in verses 76 to 79. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.779 What God will do. 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:13.180 Now remember that this song was written before the birth of Jesus. 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:20.500 And so as we think about the truths that Zechariah is singing, we need to remember that they're in the past for us. 00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:22.099 But they were yet to come for him. 00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:26.419 So Zechariah changes focus in this section of the song. 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:30.879 And he first of all praises God for who his son will be. 00:17:31.459 --> 00:17:35.000 And then he praises God for who will come after his son. 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:41.559 So in verse 76, Zechariah sings and rejoices in the office of his son. 00:17:42.339 --> 00:17:46.579 He is to be a prophet of the most high. 00:17:46.719 --> 00:17:49.699 Meaning that he is to be a spokesperson of God. 00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:56.160 So a prophet is someone who foretells and forth tells the message of God to his people. 00:17:56.759 --> 00:18:02.220 Now remember there'd be no prophets, no spokesperson of God for 400 years. 00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:06.299 And so this is marvelous news. 00:18:07.299 --> 00:18:13.279 And so you can imagine Zechariah's excitement, can't you, to know that there's going to be a new revelation of the God that he loves. 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:17.440 New information about who he is serving. 00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:20.599 A new revelation of what God is going to do. 00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:28.980 And then imagine that excitement increase as he realizes that his own flesh and blood will be that mouthpiece. 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:33.879 What is this boy going to do? 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:42.340 Well his name will be John and in verse 76 it says that he will go before the Lord to prepare the way for him. 00:18:44.320 --> 00:18:54.180 Now if you've ever been to a large music concert, you go, you pay to see, you pay usually tons of money to go and pay, to go and listen to one band. 00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:58.240 But as you arrive is normally an opening act. 00:18:58.940 --> 00:19:00.580 See they're usually less well known. 00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:02.779 They play similar music. 00:19:03.860 --> 00:19:08.840 And they are to, they're kind of a warm up event for what is to come. 00:19:09.620 --> 00:19:11.880 They set the stage for the real deal. 00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:18.799 They create the atmosphere of excitement and expectation for the headline band that will soon be on stage. 00:19:19.940 --> 00:19:21.320 That is what John was. 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:22.880 He was an opening act. 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:27.120 John is the show that leads to the main event. 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:31.200 He is just a sign pointing to the main attraction. 00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:33.660 And his job is to prepare people. 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:37.240 To whet their appetites for what is to come. 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:44.820 John's job is to give people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:47.100 Because that is the world's biggest problem. 00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:53.039 Sin is the thing that cuts people off from God. 00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:58.480 That is the fatal diagnosis of every single human heart in this world. 00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:06.360 That each person in this world at their very core is in rebellion against God and cut off from him. 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:13.979 And John is the one to come and proclaim that that problem as big as it is can be solved. 00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:18.799 That this fatal diagnosis has a cure. 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:26.079 Now John isn't the one who can grant salvation or the one who can forgive people of their sins. 00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:31.039 He is just the voice preparing the way for the one who can forgive sins. 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:38.460 And the one who unveils the mystery of God and his plan to reconcile people to himself. 00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:46.500 So that's Zechariah's praise of God and rejoicing in his son who is to point to a greater sent one. 00:20:47.700 --> 00:20:55.900 A greater person, a greater truth because by the mercy of God, verse 78, the rising sun will come from heaven. 00:20:57.559 --> 00:21:01.279 Now there's something special about seeing the sun rise, isn't there? 00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:07.400 Not normally at this time of year because it happens at nine o'clock when we're all sitting in our desks at the office. 00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:15.000 But in the summer, so I'm told, if you wake up early enough and you climb off the sea and it's a lovely clear day 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:19.320 and you see the sun come over the horizon, you can't help but smile. 00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:22.660 You see the beauty of God's creation. 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:27.120 The sun rising is an indication of something new. 00:21:27.840 --> 00:21:28.840 It's a new day. 00:21:29.820 --> 00:21:35.259 It's another opportunity to live, another opportunity to enjoy the good things that God has given us. 00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:41.339 And verse 78 describes the arising sun coming from heaven. 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:42.859 And what will this sun do? 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:51.619 It will shine on those in darkness, on those living in the shadow of death to guide our feet. 00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:52.000 Where? 00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:54.000 To the path of peace. 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:58.680 What does this mean and who is this sun? 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:03.839 Well, just like the rising sun is a sign of a new day and a new beginning, 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:08.940 so too the birth of Jesus is a sign that something new is going to happen. 00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:12.559 And Zechariah catches a glimpse of that in his song. 00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:18.220 He praises God for the glorious new thing that is going to begin with the life of Jesus. 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:23.160 And that thing is that Jesus has come to bring light. 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:29.259 See, the Bible describes our natural state before God as us being in darkness. 00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:33.720 As us separated, cut off from God and in a terrible situation. 00:22:35.360 --> 00:22:38.500 And the truth is that the Bible says we actually love our darkness. 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:44.279 Psalm 107, you can look that up later, 00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:48.180 it uses this language to describe humanity in terms of in prison. 00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:50.279 We are bound in chains. 00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:55.759 Cut off from the world and all that is good. 00:22:55.859 --> 00:22:57.960 Cut off from light, but living in darkness, 00:22:58.059 --> 00:23:00.899 a place of pain, a place of affliction, 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:03.399 a place of suffering and turmoil. 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:09.440 And the truth is that each of us is naturally born into this darkness. 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:15.320 That state of separation and rebellion against God. 00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:18.680 That is the diagnosis of every human heart. 00:23:19.820 --> 00:23:22.500 And yet the glorious truth of the Christmas message, my friends, 00:23:22.580 --> 00:23:24.120 is that Jesus Christ was born. 00:23:25.100 --> 00:23:25.880 To do what? 00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:28.400 To shine light into our darkness. 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:34.480 This Christmas, when you see pictures of a cute little baby Jesus in a manger, 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:42.299 as you watch nativity scenes of this weak, crying infant that seems so helpless and dependent on people, 00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:49.660 remember that he would grow up to be the person who shines the light of truth into the darkness of human hearts. 00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:55.559 Remember that he is the one who would cast out darkness by the power of God. 00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:59.440 And he is the one who would defeat darkness. 00:24:00.399 --> 00:24:03.639 As he hung on the cross and he cried his last words, 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:05.480 it is finished. 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:11.819 And my friends, the glorious truth is that that means death is defeated. 00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:15.099 Sin forgiven. 00:24:16.419 --> 00:24:17.679 Satan destroyed. 00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:18.639 Life given. 00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:20.339 Relationship restored. 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.339 This is Jesus. 00:24:23.899 --> 00:24:25.259 The light of the world. 00:24:25.879 --> 00:24:27.599 This is who we celebrate. 00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:32.099 This Christmas, look beyond the crib to the cross of Jesus 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:35.599 and see how, through his sacrifice, we've been brought near. 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:40.039 How once we were in darkness and enemies of God, 00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:46.139 but now we've been offered to become his children and given a place at the table. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:49.099 All because of Jesus. 00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:52.339 Jesus, thank you. 00:24:55.559 --> 00:25:02.099 This psalm gives us a marvelous account of what Jesus would do before he was even born. 00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:06.339 An account of how God came to save his people. 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:08.179 Jesus, God in the flesh, 00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:12.819 stepped into this broken world of darkness to save his people, 00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:14.000 verse 68. 00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:16.700 Release them from their fears, verse 74. 00:25:17.099 --> 00:25:19.019 Forgive their sins, verse 77. 00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:21.559 Take people from darkness to light, verse 79. 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:25.359 And to guide them on the path of peace, verse 79. 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:27.879 This is Jesus. 00:25:29.079 --> 00:25:33.940 This is God's great plan of salvation that has been in motion for thousands of years. 00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:36.299 And this is the true meaning of Christmas. 00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:39.460 What's your response? 00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:47.180 Will you listen to Zechariah's words and see how great God is? 00:25:47.840 --> 00:25:51.460 See the great things that God has done and the things that he will do? 00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:58.380 We are in a better place than Zechariah was because we stand on this side of the cross. 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:05.120 We can look back and see the life of Jesus and we can see the fullness of God's mercy. 00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:10.860 We see and we know the end result of God's salvation plan. 00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:14.840 That people have been reconciled to God. 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:16.400 That is the call of Christmas. 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:18.279 Will you listen? 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:26.399 As we draw to a close this morning, Christmas gives us the great opportunity to sit and to ponder. 00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:33.220 And I'd encourage us all this Christmas to take some time and be silent. 00:26:34.379 --> 00:26:36.879 Forget the hustle and bustle of the Christmas period. 00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:41.379 Find even just a few moments to remember the significance of Christmas. 00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:47.460 Go beyond the crib and look to the cross. 00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:56.000 If you're a Christian, rejoice and give thanks because Christmas is the time that God stepped down and redeemed his people. 00:26:58.480 --> 00:27:03.619 And your identity is no longer to be found in darkness or in imprisonment or lost. 00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:05.019 But you are found. 00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:07.220 You're in the light. 00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:10.180 Your new identity is found in Jesus. 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:14.940 Tell people that groundbreaking reality. 00:27:16.060 --> 00:27:19.440 Share with people your story and your joy for Christmas. 00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:22.960 Tell people the reason for the season. 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:28.500 And if you're not a Christian, I'd encourage you to do the exact same thing. 00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:30.259 Take time. 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:32.759 Even today and be silent. 00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:41.600 Think about how for thousands of years, God was waiting and working out a plan of salvation to save people. 00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:46.079 A people who constantly reject and rebel against him. 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:54.659 Take time to ponder how God didn't just send anybody to solve the problem of alienation from God. 00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:59.779 But God took it upon himself and stepped into this world. 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:05.439 These aren't the actions of a man in the sky who rejoices in people's suffering. 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:09.279 These aren't the actions of a God who doesn't care. 00:28:09.380 --> 00:28:12.080 But these are the actions of a God who loves his people. 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:17.900 And who wants them to be in right relationship with him. 00:28:20.380 --> 00:28:21.900 Think back to Zechariah. 00:28:22.900 --> 00:28:25.740 And how after months of silence he sang. 00:28:26.860 --> 00:28:31.140 How after months of pondering he praised. 00:28:31.140 --> 00:28:35.759 I pray that this is our response to God this Christmas. 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:40.860 As we take time to be silent and to ponder who God is and what he has done. 00:28:43.560 --> 00:28:45.800 As we go into a week of busyness. 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:47.780 Of frantic shoppers and of noise. 00:28:48.100 --> 00:28:49.780 Let's take time to ponder. 00:28:50.540 --> 00:28:51.540 Time to be silent. 00:28:52.580 --> 00:28:56.140 And think about the amazing truth that God came. 00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:58.620 And God redeemed his people. 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:00.360 Let's pray. 00:29:01.140 --> 00:29:08.980 Just take this opportunity to spend a minute in silence. 00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:11.340 Pondering the significance of Christmas. 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:14.660 And the God who came and redeemed his people. 00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:21.700 Our great God. 00:29:23.120 --> 00:29:25.259 Creator and redeemer of this world. 00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:26.100 We honor you. 00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:29.160 We praise you and we adore you. 00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:37.400 We thank you that at Christmas we celebrate how you came into our messy world of darkness. 00:29:37.400 --> 00:29:38.360 And you redeemed. 00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:42.480 You brought light into our darkness. 00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:46.340 And you brought life to death. 00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:51.839 Thank you that we can look beyond the crib to the cross of Jesus. 00:29:51.839 --> 00:29:58.459 And see how you in your great mercy chose to save a sinful people like us. 00:29:59.579 --> 00:30:01.959 Jesus, thank you. 00:30:01.959 --> 00:30:03.759 Amen.