WEBVTT 00:00:00.660 --> 00:00:01.060 Wonderful. 00:00:01.919 --> 00:00:05.299 Well, since he's not here, let me just extend my thanks to Peter, 00:00:05.400 --> 00:00:08.500 who worked so hard on that as well behind the scenes. 00:00:08.859 --> 00:00:11.200 He would never say that publicly by himself, 00:00:11.259 --> 00:00:14.200 but he worked so hard to put that together along with the rest of the team. 00:00:14.259 --> 00:00:15.040 How good was that? 00:00:15.040 --> 00:00:18.780 Folks, just think this time last year we hadn't even heard the word Zoom. 00:00:19.780 --> 00:00:20.559 And there we are. 00:00:20.660 --> 00:00:25.120 Let's hope this time next year there's some kind of swear jar Zoom equivalent 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:27.500 that every time we mention it, something goes in the pot. 00:00:27.500 --> 00:00:32.579 But let me just take us in for 15, 20 minutes from thinking about that nativity, 00:00:33.539 --> 00:00:36.159 just reflecting on some of the things that we've seen. 00:00:36.980 --> 00:00:41.480 And let me tell you about a rainy day which happened on a Saturday afternoon 00:00:41.480 --> 00:00:43.500 a few weeks ago in our house. 00:00:44.480 --> 00:00:47.980 It's the kind of afternoon, I guess, you get them a lot this time of year in Scotland, 00:00:48.179 --> 00:00:51.340 where you're going to just accept that you're in for the day. 00:00:51.400 --> 00:00:52.219 You know those kind of days? 00:00:52.659 --> 00:00:53.420 You're just going to in. 00:00:54.019 --> 00:00:56.679 One o'clock in the afternoon, the whole kind of afternoon's ahead of you, 00:00:56.679 --> 00:00:58.520 but no, we're going to just stay in. 00:00:58.640 --> 00:00:59.820 So we decide we're staying in. 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:02.119 We say to the kids, kids, how about a film? 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:04.040 And they say, we'd love a film. 00:01:04.180 --> 00:01:05.719 We say, well, what film would you like? 00:01:06.579 --> 00:01:09.019 Knowing that we've got kind of a few days left on Disney+, 00:01:09.019 --> 00:01:10.039 hoping that we go for that. 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:12.599 And so they say, well, how about, we'd love to watch Aladdin. 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:16.439 And inside I'm containing myself, thinking, all right, okay, 00:01:16.460 --> 00:01:17.560 we can put that on if you like. 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:21.120 But inside, okay, I'm going, yes, Aladdin, right? 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:23.159 My favourite Disney film when I was growing up. 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:24.960 Absolutely loved Aladdin. 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:26.439 So I'm delighted with their choice. 00:01:26.919 --> 00:01:29.679 And it comes to the point in the film, which is my favourite scene. 00:01:30.639 --> 00:01:32.579 It might be your favourite scene as well, if you've seen it. 00:01:33.159 --> 00:01:36.179 It's the one where Aladdin, dressed as Prince Ali, 00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:38.039 he's been transformed into Prince Ali, 00:01:38.139 --> 00:01:40.179 and he's kind of waltzing up to the palace. 00:01:41.060 --> 00:01:41.259 Okay? 00:01:41.260 --> 00:01:46.560 And you've got that scene of there's bright colours, there's fanfare, 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:48.980 there's dancing, there's animals, 00:01:49.180 --> 00:01:51.640 and it's all to that kind of really catchy song, you know, the one. 00:01:52.700 --> 00:01:54.320 And I'm watching this, and I'm thinking to myself, 00:01:54.439 --> 00:01:56.900 oh, man, that is what I'd call a king's entrance. 00:01:57.700 --> 00:01:57.840 Okay? 00:01:57.860 --> 00:01:59.960 If I was a king, if I was going to go for it, 00:01:59.960 --> 00:02:02.060 that's how I would enter the stage. 00:02:02.060 --> 00:02:06.640 And kind of there is Aladdin with the princess in his mind, 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:10.400 and he's the street boy who's aiming high. 00:02:11.939 --> 00:02:15.140 And I guess as I've kind of reflected on that this week, on Aladdin, 00:02:16.259 --> 00:02:18.379 reflected on the Christmas story, 00:02:19.099 --> 00:02:21.680 it strikes me and it struck me once again 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:25.219 that the entrance of God's king into the world 00:02:25.219 --> 00:02:27.860 was profoundly the opposite. 00:02:27.860 --> 00:02:32.260 Here's what the Christmas story does. 00:02:32.520 --> 00:02:36.300 It invites us to come and encounter the living God 00:02:36.300 --> 00:02:41.060 who has his heart set on the lowly. 00:02:42.740 --> 00:02:44.540 Okay, here's this man, 00:02:44.960 --> 00:02:47.820 this first century doctor-cum-historian called Luke, 00:02:47.940 --> 00:02:50.840 which is kind of where the nativity's taken from. 00:02:51.540 --> 00:02:55.240 Luke, who has most likely been employed by this man called Theophilus. 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:57.160 You get this right at the start of this gospel. 00:02:57.159 --> 00:03:00.319 He's been employed to historically and accurately 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:02.120 look into the things about Jesus, 00:03:02.439 --> 00:03:03.460 to authenticate them. 00:03:03.539 --> 00:03:04.819 Did these things really happen? 00:03:04.919 --> 00:03:05.639 Who is this man? 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:08.800 So that this man, Theophilus, can have, 00:03:08.840 --> 00:03:10.139 and the key word in Luke's gospel 00:03:10.139 --> 00:03:13.039 is that word certainty that you get right at the top. 00:03:13.340 --> 00:03:14.359 Luke's written this account 00:03:14.359 --> 00:03:17.539 so that this man and every reader ever since 00:03:17.539 --> 00:03:21.280 can have certainty about this man called Jesus. 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:24.259 Okay, and into our world of fake news, 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:27.139 and into our world of fact-checking, 00:03:27.159 --> 00:03:29.419 isn't it wonderful to reflect on the fact 00:03:29.419 --> 00:03:30.199 that we can, 00:03:30.819 --> 00:03:32.759 we have something here that we can trust, 00:03:32.859 --> 00:03:35.000 we have something here that we can stake our lives upon, 00:03:35.379 --> 00:03:38.259 and that has transformed the lives of countless people 00:03:38.259 --> 00:03:39.539 across the world, 00:03:39.859 --> 00:03:40.939 down the ages, 00:03:41.500 --> 00:03:43.780 as people encounter Jesus, 00:03:43.900 --> 00:03:45.800 as they come to encounter God's reliable 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:47.579 and trustworthy word. 00:03:47.580 --> 00:03:49.840 The living God, 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:52.020 whose word this is, 00:03:52.700 --> 00:03:56.500 and whose heart is set on the lowly. 00:03:57.680 --> 00:03:59.660 And we're straight into that in the Christmas story. 00:03:59.740 --> 00:04:00.439 I mean, you read it, 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:03.280 and it's almost as if Luke's gone out of his way 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:05.800 to show us that every person 00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:08.100 and every character in this story 00:04:08.100 --> 00:04:09.480 should surprise us. 00:04:10.580 --> 00:04:12.320 Think about what we've just seen. 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:16.219 Okay, think about Elizabeth and Zechariah, right? 00:04:16.599 --> 00:04:18.959 Not your young and up-and-coming trendy family, 00:04:19.540 --> 00:04:20.800 2.4 children, 00:04:21.159 --> 00:04:22.599 living the suburban dream, 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:24.300 you know, the kind you'd expect to see 00:04:24.300 --> 00:04:26.279 on an advert for a Jet 2 holiday, right? 00:04:26.540 --> 00:04:27.759 That isn't these guys. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:31.560 They're a couple with pain in their past 00:04:31.560 --> 00:04:33.139 and perhaps shame in their present 00:04:33.139 --> 00:04:34.959 because they are old 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:36.319 and they have no child. 00:04:37.039 --> 00:04:38.259 It's not as if they're bad people, 00:04:38.420 --> 00:04:39.360 they're good people. 00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:41.740 And the angel appears and says, 00:04:41.840 --> 00:04:42.600 what's the first thing? 00:04:43.139 --> 00:04:44.759 God has heard your prayer. 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:46.180 What do you think that prayer was? 00:04:47.100 --> 00:04:47.300 Right? 00:04:48.080 --> 00:04:49.759 Just laying his soul before the Lord. 00:04:50.920 --> 00:04:53.020 The pain, the questions of life. 00:04:53.220 --> 00:04:54.500 And think about Mary. 00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:56.139 She's not the aspiring young professional 00:04:56.139 --> 00:04:57.819 living up in the penthouse suite 00:04:57.819 --> 00:04:58.920 in the big city, is she? 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:01.259 Up at 6 a.m. for a Zumba class 00:05:01.259 --> 00:05:02.319 and straight into work. 00:05:03.580 --> 00:05:05.360 She's likely this young teenage girl, 00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:08.639 probably with not a lot going for her in life 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:09.919 except that she's in love 00:05:09.919 --> 00:05:13.199 with the young village carpenter. 00:05:13.300 --> 00:05:15.039 Into the bargain, she's from Nazareth. 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:17.500 People in the Bible, you get it. 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:17.879 I love it. 00:05:18.519 --> 00:05:20.079 They make jokes about that place. 00:05:20.899 --> 00:05:23.259 Who would come from Nazareth? 00:05:23.259 --> 00:05:26.099 What good could come from there? 00:05:28.279 --> 00:05:29.339 And that's why, friends, 00:05:29.379 --> 00:05:30.879 if you're here today and you're hurting 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:35.159 and you're worried and you're scarred 00:05:35.159 --> 00:05:38.620 and your future you think is looking bleak, 00:05:38.740 --> 00:05:39.759 what is going to happen, 00:05:40.719 --> 00:05:43.120 then I want you to know that you're in good company 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:47.620 because this is the original Christmas cast. 00:05:47.620 --> 00:05:49.899 And I have to say, 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:53.300 I love the realism of the Bible. 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:57.060 I love the rawness of the Bible. 00:05:57.259 --> 00:05:58.819 You know, a few Fridays ago, 00:05:58.899 --> 00:06:00.699 Alex and I were sitting with our newborn 00:06:00.699 --> 00:06:02.340 trying to bounce her. 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:04.120 We thought we'd just put something on the telly. 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:06.699 Friday night, we thought we'd just flick through the channels. 00:06:06.840 --> 00:06:07.360 What's on? 00:06:07.899 --> 00:06:08.680 The One Show. 00:06:09.300 --> 00:06:09.480 Okay. 00:06:09.639 --> 00:06:10.519 Ever watched The One Show? 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:11.899 Me neither. 00:06:12.280 --> 00:06:12.459 Okay. 00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:13.680 So we're watching The One Show. 00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:15.220 And who's on The One Show? 00:06:15.220 --> 00:06:16.680 So this is kind of what got us interested. 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:17.620 There's Robbie Williams. 00:06:17.720 --> 00:06:18.460 He's on The One Show 00:06:18.460 --> 00:06:20.320 and he's talking about his new Christmas song. 00:06:20.980 --> 00:06:22.420 Apparently he's got a new Christmas song out. 00:06:23.320 --> 00:06:24.400 Presenter asks him, 00:06:24.900 --> 00:06:26.140 Robbie, thinking about your lyrics, 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:27.880 is it fair to say that 2020 00:06:27.880 --> 00:06:30.240 hasn't been an enjoyable year for you? 00:06:31.400 --> 00:06:32.620 And Robbie's put this song together, 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:33.960 apparently to kind of, 00:06:34.020 --> 00:06:36.580 it's kind of given voice to his frustration this year. 00:06:36.580 --> 00:06:37.600 And do you know what he said? 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:39.980 He said, I've decided what I'm going to do with 2020 00:06:39.980 --> 00:06:42.400 is I'm just going to wipe it out of my memory. 00:06:43.260 --> 00:06:45.060 I'm going to pretend that it doesn't exist. 00:06:45.220 --> 00:06:46.380 And everyone around the sofas is going, 00:06:46.460 --> 00:06:47.240 that's a great idea. 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:48.520 That's a great idea. 00:06:49.780 --> 00:06:51.220 But watching it thinking to myself, 00:06:52.200 --> 00:06:53.840 if only life was that simple. 00:06:55.480 --> 00:06:55.840 Okay. 00:06:57.360 --> 00:06:59.840 It's okay to say if you've got a lot of cash in the bank, 00:07:00.260 --> 00:07:01.620 a lot of security there, I'm sure. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:04.140 But if only life were that simple, 00:07:04.140 --> 00:07:06.960 we could just wipe out the bits that we didn't like. 00:07:08.400 --> 00:07:10.180 My friends, some of us will have scars 00:07:10.180 --> 00:07:13.280 and emotional memories from this year 00:07:13.280 --> 00:07:16.259 that will stay with us for the rest of our days. 00:07:17.420 --> 00:07:17.579 Okay. 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:19.139 And it seems to me that escapism 00:07:19.139 --> 00:07:22.460 is not a very good place to go. 00:07:23.300 --> 00:07:24.860 And that's why I love the Bible, 00:07:25.300 --> 00:07:28.220 because it is real and it is raw. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:31.139 And it presents us with life as we know it. 00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:31.519 Okay. 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:34.579 And it presents us not just with life as we know it. 00:07:34.579 --> 00:07:36.000 It presents us with a God 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:38.399 who didn't just look on from a distance. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:41.560 Sympathetically, you might say, 00:07:41.599 --> 00:07:44.339 but no, he didn't look on sympathetically from a distance. 00:07:44.859 --> 00:07:47.519 It presents us with a God in the person of Jesus, 00:07:47.899 --> 00:07:49.199 God in the flesh, 00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:52.519 who entered our lowliness, 00:07:53.180 --> 00:07:56.740 who became weak and vulnerable, 00:07:57.379 --> 00:08:01.259 who came down into our world of pain and questions. 00:08:01.259 --> 00:08:04.560 This is Jesus, God in the flesh. 00:08:04.740 --> 00:08:05.779 But back in the story, 00:08:05.899 --> 00:08:06.620 Mary's pregnant, 00:08:06.779 --> 00:08:07.879 but not because of Joseph, 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:10.539 but because the God who in the beginning 00:08:10.539 --> 00:08:12.860 formed life itself from nothing 00:08:12.860 --> 00:08:16.259 has caused a life to form in her womb, 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:18.899 which is a sure and certain way of showing us 00:08:18.899 --> 00:08:20.740 that the hope that's dawning on the world 00:08:20.740 --> 00:08:22.120 that's about to break in 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:24.360 is nothing of man's doing. 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:25.759 It is all of God's doing. 00:08:26.159 --> 00:08:27.659 Jesus, the clue's in the name. 00:08:27.660 --> 00:08:31.340 His name means God saves. 00:08:31.820 --> 00:08:33.000 God saves. 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:36.759 It's not a boat from the blue either. 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:37.920 Mary gets this. 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:40.279 She connects the dots. 00:08:40.379 --> 00:08:42.040 She gets that this is God 00:08:42.040 --> 00:08:44.100 making good on the promise 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:45.860 that we read right at the start. 00:08:45.940 --> 00:08:47.920 We heard read of the nativity, 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:50.740 the promise that he'd made to his people 00:08:50.740 --> 00:08:52.440 that one day through them, 00:08:52.620 --> 00:08:53.700 centuries before to Abraham, 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:55.200 he was going to act 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:57.480 to bless the peoples of the nations 00:08:57.480 --> 00:09:00.000 and save his people. 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:03.740 And this is what makes Mary burst into song. 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:06.120 She understands what's going on here. 00:09:06.379 --> 00:09:07.560 And as we cast an eye 00:09:07.560 --> 00:09:09.020 over the lyrics of her song, 00:09:09.080 --> 00:09:09.940 and if you've got a Bible there, 00:09:09.980 --> 00:09:11.580 you might want to check in at this point. 00:09:12.060 --> 00:09:13.720 Beginning at verse 46, 00:09:14.820 --> 00:09:16.300 Mary's song of praise, 00:09:16.400 --> 00:09:17.220 her magnificat, 00:09:17.300 --> 00:09:18.000 here's the question 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:20.040 that we need to ask ourselves. 00:09:20.039 --> 00:09:23.899 The question surely can't be, 00:09:24.199 --> 00:09:25.599 do we have her life? 00:09:26.699 --> 00:09:27.819 Because we don't have her life. 00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:31.139 We don't know what she was going through. 00:09:31.219 --> 00:09:33.299 What we've got is the details we have here. 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:34.019 The question is not, 00:09:34.139 --> 00:09:34.959 do we have her life? 00:09:35.019 --> 00:09:36.759 The question surely is, 00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:38.879 do we share her song? 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:43.419 This God has done great things for me. 00:09:44.419 --> 00:09:46.139 Joy has invaded her soul. 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:48.500 Hope has burst into her heart. 00:09:48.500 --> 00:09:50.000 And let me just say, 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:52.840 this is what knowing the God of the Bible does. 00:09:54.220 --> 00:09:56.519 The constant refrain in the Psalms, 00:09:56.639 --> 00:09:57.440 as you read them through, 00:09:57.700 --> 00:10:00.980 that at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 00:10:01.259 --> 00:10:03.019 That you put more joy in my heart 00:10:03.019 --> 00:10:04.500 than when their grain and wine abound. 00:10:04.580 --> 00:10:07.179 This God is joy giving. 00:10:08.299 --> 00:10:09.500 And here's what she exclaims. 00:10:11.179 --> 00:10:11.919 Verse 46, 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:22.599 Notice the threefold repetition of my there. 00:10:23.819 --> 00:10:28.259 Okay, this is no kind of generic burst of praise. 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:30.199 This is a deeply personal for Mary. 00:10:30.319 --> 00:10:31.279 He's my Savior. 00:10:31.419 --> 00:10:32.299 He's my God. 00:10:32.379 --> 00:10:35.139 He's making good on his promises for me. 00:10:35.139 --> 00:10:37.699 And really quickly, 00:10:37.799 --> 00:10:39.159 let me just pick out two things 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:40.580 that make Mary's heart sing 00:10:40.580 --> 00:10:42.319 as we see it in her song here. 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:43.120 Here's the first one. 00:10:43.199 --> 00:10:45.039 She's singing that her king 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:48.439 is coming with mercy in his eyes. 00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:49.100 Do you see it? 00:10:49.639 --> 00:10:50.220 Verse 50, 00:10:51.980 --> 00:10:54.679 his mercy extends to those who fear him 00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:57.639 from generation to generation. 00:10:59.220 --> 00:11:01.580 Her king's coming with mercy in his eyes. 00:11:01.580 --> 00:11:02.600 That word mercy there, 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:05.000 it's the Lord's compassion, 00:11:05.780 --> 00:11:07.440 his love, 00:11:07.580 --> 00:11:09.280 his undeserved favor, 00:11:09.420 --> 00:11:10.360 his grace. 00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:14.600 And this God shows it to those who what? 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:15.960 Acknowledge his existence. 00:11:16.259 --> 00:11:18.560 No, he shows it to those who fear him. 00:11:18.820 --> 00:11:19.860 Okay, two different things. 00:11:21.560 --> 00:11:22.720 God's mercy is for those 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:25.080 who would reorientate their lives 00:11:25.080 --> 00:11:28.040 and live them in light of who he is. 00:11:29.820 --> 00:11:30.879 And that mercy, 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:31.919 do you see how she reflects 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:33.340 on the fact that it extends? 00:11:35.019 --> 00:11:36.460 Okay, it extends. 00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:37.879 It keeps on going. 00:11:38.500 --> 00:11:39.419 Do you not love an extension? 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:40.799 Right, not talking about a house. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:43.700 Okay, eat out to help out. 00:11:43.779 --> 00:11:44.379 See, when I found out 00:11:44.379 --> 00:11:45.539 that was going on for another month, 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:46.759 extended, delighted. 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:47.539 Okay. 00:11:49.820 --> 00:11:52.039 This invitation that God makes 00:11:52.039 --> 00:11:53.600 to come and experience his mercy 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:54.659 as you come to know Jesus, 00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:56.360 it keeps on going 00:11:56.360 --> 00:11:58.340 from generation to generation. 00:11:58.340 --> 00:11:59.779 So the question we have to ask 00:11:59.779 --> 00:12:02.059 is have we entered in 00:12:02.059 --> 00:12:03.319 to celebrate his mercy? 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:07.139 There's a constant refrain in the Bible 00:12:07.139 --> 00:12:08.879 that thrills the soul of God's people 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:11.039 that this God does not treat us 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:13.720 as our sins deserve. 00:12:14.379 --> 00:12:16.039 Rather, he is compassionate 00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:17.439 and he is gracious. 00:12:17.699 --> 00:12:18.860 He is slow to anger. 00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:21.180 He is abounding in love. 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:25.120 And that truth that thrills the souls 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:26.000 of God's people 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:27.980 is reaching its pinnacle right here 00:12:27.980 --> 00:12:29.919 in the coming of Jesus. 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:32.639 He's remembered, 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:34.759 sorry, he has helped his servant Israel, 00:12:34.919 --> 00:12:37.580 remembering to be merciful. 00:12:37.800 --> 00:12:37.879 Right? 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:39.700 So God's not some kind of politician 00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:42.439 who's made some massive promise 00:12:42.439 --> 00:12:43.720 years ago 00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:44.779 and then tried to wriggle out 00:12:44.779 --> 00:12:45.419 of that promise 00:12:45.419 --> 00:12:46.899 before somebody picked them up on it 00:12:46.899 --> 00:12:48.639 and then the politician said, 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:50.559 oh, well, I guess I should make good on that. 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:52.879 Mary's saying, 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:54.759 God, you said you'd do this 00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:55.820 and you've done it. 00:12:58.039 --> 00:12:58.860 You've done it. 00:12:59.080 --> 00:13:02.100 You've followed through on your promise. 00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:03.480 You've made good on your word. 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:04.200 Friends, do you know what? 00:13:04.220 --> 00:13:05.220 I'm discovering more and more 00:13:05.220 --> 00:13:06.360 as I go on in the Christian life 00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:07.379 that the God of the Bible 00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:09.480 is always so much greater 00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:10.960 than I think he is. 00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:14.240 Mary's singing. 00:13:14.379 --> 00:13:15.940 She's rejoicing that her king's coming 00:13:15.940 --> 00:13:17.259 with mercy in his eyes 00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:19.139 and she's singing secondly and quickly 00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:20.639 because her king is coming 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:21.820 with might in his arm. 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:22.379 Do you see that? 00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:23.060 Verse 51. 00:13:24.340 --> 00:13:25.740 He has performed mighty deeds 00:13:25.740 --> 00:13:26.440 with his arm. 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:28.300 He's scattered those 00:13:28.300 --> 00:13:29.340 who are proud 00:13:29.340 --> 00:13:32.740 in their inmost thoughts. 00:13:34.740 --> 00:13:35.960 So she's recalling here 00:13:35.960 --> 00:13:36.860 that her God 00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:38.960 always has a track record 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:40.519 of getting the victory. 00:13:42.420 --> 00:13:43.600 She reflects on it, right? 00:13:43.800 --> 00:13:44.740 God saved us 00:13:44.740 --> 00:13:45.980 from captivity in Egypt. 00:13:46.180 --> 00:13:48.080 He led our ancestors 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:49.360 through the Red Sea 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.280 which is the event 00:13:50.280 --> 00:13:50.980 that defines 00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:52.240 the very nation of Israel. 00:13:52.780 --> 00:13:53.639 And she's reflecting 00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:54.540 the fact that this God 00:13:54.540 --> 00:13:55.660 is at it again. 00:13:56.940 --> 00:13:57.100 Right? 00:13:57.120 --> 00:13:58.680 An impossible situation. 00:13:58.900 --> 00:13:59.720 Nowhere to go. 00:13:59.800 --> 00:14:00.440 But somehow 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:01.580 this God 00:14:01.580 --> 00:14:02.700 has made a way. 00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:03.100 Right? 00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:07.060 And this God 00:14:07.060 --> 00:14:08.600 has scattered the proud 00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:09.180 in the thoughts 00:14:09.180 --> 00:14:09.920 of their hearts. 00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:10.740 Those who think 00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:11.620 that they've made it. 00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:14.220 Those who are worshipping 00:14:14.220 --> 00:14:14.800 themselves. 00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:16.620 Those who are lifting 00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:17.740 themselves up. 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:18.920 He'll bring down 00:14:18.920 --> 00:14:19.420 the mighty, 00:14:19.580 --> 00:14:20.040 this God. 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:22.120 And he'll lift up 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:22.560 the humble. 00:14:24.860 --> 00:14:25.320 Okay, of course, 00:14:25.400 --> 00:14:26.000 in Mary's world, 00:14:26.100 --> 00:14:26.940 the supreme power 00:14:26.940 --> 00:14:27.500 of the day 00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:29.940 is Rome. 00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:32.120 Just reflect on this 00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:32.420 for a minute. 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:33.060 It's Rome, right? 00:14:33.059 --> 00:14:33.859 Top of the tree 00:14:33.859 --> 00:14:35.539 is Caesar. 00:14:35.699 --> 00:14:35.819 Now, 00:14:36.219 --> 00:14:39.059 never in a million years 00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:41.599 would you have conceived 00:14:41.599 --> 00:14:42.079 in this day 00:14:42.079 --> 00:14:43.479 that 2,000 years later 00:14:43.479 --> 00:14:45.639 people's first thought 00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:46.879 when they hear 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:47.759 the word Caesar 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:48.239 today 00:14:48.239 --> 00:14:49.859 is salad. 00:14:53.699 --> 00:14:54.139 Okay, 00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:55.059 a few bits of lettuce, 00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:56.319 a sprinkling of croutons. 00:14:56.419 --> 00:14:57.579 That's what we understand. 00:14:58.119 --> 00:14:58.619 The first thing 00:14:58.619 --> 00:14:59.339 that we think of 00:14:59.339 --> 00:15:00.199 when we hear 00:15:00.199 --> 00:15:01.379 the word Caesar. 00:15:01.379 --> 00:15:01.960 And yet, 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:03.159 here we are today 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:04.419 and this baby 00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:05.059 to be born 00:15:05.059 --> 00:15:06.179 to this peasant girl, 00:15:06.259 --> 00:15:07.220 not only are we still 00:15:07.220 --> 00:15:08.460 talking about him, 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:10.259 but apparently 00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:12.259 2.7 million 00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:13.439 new people each year. 00:15:13.539 --> 00:15:14.259 No idea how 00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:15.039 they figure that out 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:15.460 and I'm sure 00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:16.120 that figure will be 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:16.600 much higher 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:17.159 because it doesn't 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:17.820 account for the 00:15:17.820 --> 00:15:18.759 underground church. 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:20.980 2.7 million 00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:22.159 new people each year 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:23.220 choose to follow him 00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:23.820 and there are 00:15:23.820 --> 00:15:25.600 2.4 billion people 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:26.519 alive today 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:27.720 across the world 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:29.059 who call him 00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:30.000 Lord. 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:32.100 Why? 00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:34.259 Because of what 00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:35.259 the angel said 00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:36.500 at verse 33 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:41.259 of his kingdom. 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:41.840 Remember, 00:15:41.940 --> 00:15:42.500 this is a 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:45.379 baby yet to be born 00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:48.320 who will come 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:48.799 next week, 00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:49.220 we'll see, 00:15:49.419 --> 00:15:50.299 arrive in the manger 00:15:50.299 --> 00:15:51.659 of his kingdom. 00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:53.039 There will be 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:54.940 no end. 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.120 And I'd say 00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:59.080 the proof is in the pudding 00:15:59.080 --> 00:15:59.679 of that one. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:01.720 Here is 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:04.620 a magnificent song, 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:06.879 a heart response 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:07.740 to a quite 00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:09.879 incredible bit of news. 00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:10.860 Mary is singing 00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:12.759 that her king's coming 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:14.340 with mercy in his eyes 00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:15.200 and she's singing 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:16.000 that her king 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:16.860 is coming with 00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:18.460 might in his arm. 00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:20.120 And both of those things 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:21.200 will be so perfectly 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:21.940 embodied 00:16:21.940 --> 00:16:23.179 in the child 00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:24.460 that Mary will bear, 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:25.320 Jesus. 00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:28.080 the king who is 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:29.500 all mercy 00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:31.320 and the king 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:31.760 who is 00:16:31.760 --> 00:16:32.420 all 00:16:32.420 --> 00:16:33.480 might. 00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:35.680 And the king 00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:36.340 gloriously 00:16:36.340 --> 00:16:37.220 who didn't just 00:16:37.220 --> 00:16:38.440 look on the lowly, 00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:40.080 the God 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:40.420 who 00:16:40.420 --> 00:16:42.540 would become 00:16:42.540 --> 00:16:43.900 lowly. 00:16:45.060 --> 00:16:46.280 God made 00:16:46.280 --> 00:16:47.020 low. 00:16:47.019 --> 00:16:49.519 you know, 00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:50.340 essentially the story 00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:50.819 of Aladdin 00:16:50.819 --> 00:16:51.659 it ends with, 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:52.039 doesn't it, 00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:53.220 the boy born in poverty 00:16:53.220 --> 00:16:54.159 becoming the boy 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:55.039 who gets the riches. 00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:56.860 That's right, 00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:57.199 isn't it? 00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.240 Street rat, 00:16:58.340 --> 00:16:59.579 that's what he calls himself. 00:17:00.199 --> 00:17:01.439 Makes it right to the top. 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:03.480 Friends, 00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:04.039 the gospel 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:05.720 is all about 00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:06.200 Jesus, 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:07.840 the one who knew 00:17:07.840 --> 00:17:09.160 all riches, 00:17:09.580 --> 00:17:09.680 right? 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:10.420 John 17, 00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:11.180 the one who 00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:12.400 knew that he had 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.100 an experience, 00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:13.799 glory 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:15.019 with his father 00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:16.160 before the foundation 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:17.140 of the world. 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:19.180 Giving that 00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:19.820 up 00:17:19.820 --> 00:17:21.500 and becoming 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:22.200 the boy 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:22.620 born 00:17:22.620 --> 00:17:23.779 in poverty. 00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:26.400 And he would go 00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:27.160 even lower 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:28.180 all the way 00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:28.980 to the cross 00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:30.900 so that in him 00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:32.160 we who are 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:32.820 poor 00:17:32.820 --> 00:17:34.160 might 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:35.180 become 00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:36.259 rich 00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:37.759 as we know 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.480 the forgiveness 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:40.060 and the loving kindness 00:17:40.060 --> 00:17:40.820 of being 00:17:40.820 --> 00:17:41.740 right 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:42.720 with our 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:43.500 creator. 00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:46.920 And so here's the question 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:48.100 as we leave Mary's song. 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:49.700 Here's the question. 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:51.920 Not do we have 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:52.540 her life 00:17:52.540 --> 00:17:55.200 but as we come 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:56.080 into another advent 00:17:56.080 --> 00:17:56.740 and maybe even 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.600 for the first time 00:17:57.600 --> 00:17:58.200 this morning 00:17:58.200 --> 00:18:00.360 asking yourself 00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:00.979 do you share 00:18:00.979 --> 00:18:01.459 her song? 00:18:03.199 --> 00:18:03.959 My soul 00:18:03.959 --> 00:18:05.179 glorifies 00:18:05.179 --> 00:18:05.839 the Lord 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:07.759 and my spirit 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:08.759 rejoices 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:09.439 in God 00:18:09.439 --> 00:18:10.339 my saviour 00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:12.179 for he has done 00:18:12.179 --> 00:18:13.240 great 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:14.000 things 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.639 for me. 00:18:15.639 --> 00:18:16.339 Let's pray. 00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:18.419 And maybe 00:18:18.419 --> 00:18:19.000 let's just use 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:19.319 this moment 00:18:19.319 --> 00:18:20.219 just to reflect 00:18:20.219 --> 00:18:20.779 on some of the 00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:21.299 things that we've 00:18:21.299 --> 00:18:21.799 thought about. 00:18:21.899 --> 00:18:22.459 This God 00:18:22.459 --> 00:18:23.500 he has done 00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:24.559 wonderful things 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:24.919 for me. 00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:28.980 And so 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:29.539 heavenly father 00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:30.200 we worship you 00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:30.640 this morning 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:31.620 for who you are 00:18:31.620 --> 00:18:33.220 the God 00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:33.960 of all grace. 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.680 And thank you 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:38.340 for advent 00:18:38.340 --> 00:18:40.039 and being able 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:40.720 to celebrate 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:41.620 and having our own 00:18:41.620 --> 00:18:42.140 language 00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:43.080 and be able to read 00:18:43.080 --> 00:18:44.380 the account 00:18:44.380 --> 00:18:46.300 of the arrival 00:18:46.300 --> 00:18:47.480 of your king 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:47.980 your son 00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:49.100 Jesus 00:18:49.100 --> 00:18:49.980 into the world. 00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:51.720 and so father 00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:52.259 I pray for 00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.000 for some of us 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:53.539 here today 00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:54.140 who perhaps 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:54.940 don't know you 00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:55.680 perhaps who 00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:57.000 maybe the fire 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:57.620 in their heart 00:18:57.620 --> 00:18:58.180 that was once 00:18:58.180 --> 00:18:58.400 there 00:18:58.400 --> 00:18:58.819 the joy 00:18:58.819 --> 00:18:59.160 of knowing 00:18:59.160 --> 00:18:59.420 you 00:18:59.420 --> 00:19:00.960 is no longer 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:01.240 there. 00:19:01.360 --> 00:19:02.059 Father I pray 00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:03.000 that this Christmas 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.980 we would recapture 00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:04.740 something 00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:06.180 of the heart 00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:07.039 of Mary's song 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:07.360 here 00:19:07.360 --> 00:19:09.599 that my soul 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:11.039 greatly rejoices 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.839 in the Lord 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:13.099 because he 00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:13.799 has done 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:15.099 great things 00:19:15.099 --> 00:19:15.599 for me. 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.799 Father thank you 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:18.579 that you hear us 00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:19.740 and we pray 00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:20.240 these things 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:20.720 in Jesus' 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:21.779 precious name. 00:19:22.839 --> 00:19:23.259 Amen.