WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.339 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:10.500 ! Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us. 00:00:12.099 --> 00:00:12.900 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.179 It's a special nature, God's supernatural work in the world. 00:00:36.840 --> 00:00:49.480 Perhaps just as remarkable as His special nature is the mission that this special baby is given for His life. 00:00:51.159 --> 00:00:56.379 Notice as we read this time what He is born to do. 00:00:56.380 --> 00:01:01.660 Matthew chapter 1 at verse 18. 00:01:26.379 --> 00:01:48.099 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet. 00:01:48.099 --> 00:01:54.000 Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel. 00:01:55.239 --> 00:01:57.979 Which means, God with us. 00:01:59.339 --> 00:02:02.819 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. 00:02:03.179 --> 00:02:06.679 He took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. 00:02:07.759 --> 00:02:10.379 And he called His name, Jesus. 00:02:11.340 --> 00:02:13.979 Thus far, God's holy word. 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:15.240 Let's ask for His help. 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:22.520 Father, thank you for the reminder of this passage. 00:02:23.580 --> 00:02:27.659 Thank you for the reminder of who this child we celebrate is. 00:02:29.700 --> 00:02:36.780 By your Spirit, would you speak your truth to us that our hearts would hear what they need this morning, 00:02:36.780 --> 00:02:41.120 would know Him, and find hope and life in Him. 00:02:41.740 --> 00:02:43.580 For we ask it in the name of Jesus. 00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:44.780 Amen. 00:02:45.240 --> 00:02:45.740 Amen. 00:02:48.740 --> 00:02:50.659 What's in a name? 00:02:52.520 --> 00:03:01.980 Shakespeare's Juliet famously asks that as she feels kept from the man she loves because of his family name. 00:03:02.219 --> 00:03:02.300 Right? 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:05.840 It's the person, she says, not the name that really matters. 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:12.080 But in the Bible, names are often really significant. 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:20.939 Abraham gets a new name that means father of a multitude because of God's promises to him. 00:03:20.939 --> 00:03:24.439 Naomi's name means pleasant. 00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:32.199 But she goes through really tough seasons where she feels she needs to change her name to bitter. 00:03:32.199 --> 00:03:33.199 God's names. 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:39.199 God's names often reveal aspects of his character. 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:40.639 Like the God who sees. 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:42.299 The God who provides. 00:03:42.299 --> 00:03:44.099 The God who is strong. 00:03:44.099 --> 00:03:53.719 And then here, our special, supernaturally conceived child gets two names. 00:03:53.719 --> 00:03:56.819 Before he's even born. 00:03:56.819 --> 00:03:56.900 Before he's even born. 00:03:56.900 --> 00:04:01.300 And Matthew explains, these are coming from God. 00:04:01.300 --> 00:04:05.719 God, his father, has significance for both of them. 00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:08.139 So we want to look at this morning. 00:04:08.259 --> 00:04:08.620 Who is he? 00:04:08.659 --> 00:04:10.300 What do his names tell us? 00:04:10.379 --> 00:04:13.080 First, there's the name Emmanuel. 00:04:14.259 --> 00:04:17.360 First given by the prophet Isaiah. 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:25.259 But Matthew, you'll notice, goes out of his way to define for us what Emmanuel means. 00:04:25.480 --> 00:04:32.980 And so he highlights that this Jesus is the long-awaited promised one. 00:04:32.980 --> 00:04:37.819 This is the arrival of God with us. 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:40.560 Maybe you already knew that. 00:04:40.660 --> 00:04:43.759 Maybe you already filled in the blanks before I even told you. 00:04:43.980 --> 00:04:46.900 You already sang Emmanuel this morning. 00:04:47.020 --> 00:04:47.379 I know. 00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:48.580 Not new information. 00:04:49.140 --> 00:04:53.280 But I want us to consider for a minute what it means about Jesus. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:05:01.220 First of all, don't skip over the fact that Matthew is telling us that this baby is God. 00:05:02.100 --> 00:05:02.600 God. 00:05:02.980 --> 00:05:03.420 God. 00:05:03.420 --> 00:05:04.220 With us. 00:05:05.020 --> 00:05:07.160 This is a stupendous claim, right? 00:05:07.220 --> 00:05:11.080 But it's repeated all over the Bible in many different ways. 00:05:11.480 --> 00:05:18.439 Some people will tell you these days that this is just something that Jesus' followers made up. 00:05:19.080 --> 00:05:24.300 You know, they wrote in these claims of divinity on Jesus' lips as an adult. 00:05:24.520 --> 00:05:25.980 His receiving of worship. 00:05:26.860 --> 00:05:29.580 The accusations of blasphemy and all of that. 00:05:29.620 --> 00:05:31.740 It was just made up by his followers. 00:05:31.740 --> 00:05:36.220 I've got to tell you, that explanation is incredibly far-fetched. 00:05:36.819 --> 00:05:41.780 It requires a remarkable amount of faith to believe contrary to all evidence. 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:43.220 Something like that. 00:05:43.639 --> 00:05:49.639 See, first century Jews are among the least likely people in the history of the human race 00:05:49.639 --> 00:05:53.620 to have believed that a man could be God. 00:05:54.540 --> 00:05:57.460 Nothing could be further from their imagination. 00:05:57.460 --> 00:06:01.500 They're not polytheistic like many of the peoples around them. 00:06:01.740 --> 00:06:06.340 Who would have believed that sometimes the gods showed up in human form. 00:06:06.740 --> 00:06:08.139 They scoffed at that. 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:12.240 They were passionately monotheistic. 00:06:12.540 --> 00:06:16.079 Believing in one God who can't be seen. 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:20.600 Who is far above, distinct from his creation. 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:29.060 They would not have believed that Jesus was God without extraordinary evidence of that very fact. 00:06:29.060 --> 00:06:37.860 On the other hand, they wouldn't have made it up when all that most of them got for sticking to that story was what? 00:06:38.699 --> 00:06:39.920 A death sentence. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:47.519 I mean, you'd think if they have just made it up, someone would have given up the hoax to save his hide, right? 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:49.759 But no, not a one. 00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:59.019 Instead, those who lived with him, walked with him, ate with him for three years are absolutely convinced that he's God. 00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:04.839 Matthew says, God come to be with us. 00:07:04.839 --> 00:07:07.019 That's who this is. 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:13.779 Now maybe the Jews at this time didn't anticipate exactly how it would happen. 00:07:14.659 --> 00:07:21.259 But this idea of God being present with his people has been his plan from the very beginning, hasn't it? 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:24.439 This is not new when we turn to Matthew. 00:07:24.439 --> 00:07:27.800 It's a plan, listen, it's an amazing plan. 00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:30.639 To remove loneliness forever. 00:07:32.019 --> 00:07:35.939 To end hopelessness once and for all. 00:07:36.139 --> 00:07:39.959 To cure insignificance in every single one of us. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:48.180 Because the creator, the ruler, the God of all is with us. 00:07:48.540 --> 00:07:50.779 You're here, God. 00:07:50.779 --> 00:07:50.859 God. 00:07:51.939 --> 00:07:53.539 We talk about this a lot. 00:07:53.799 --> 00:07:56.899 This relationship with God, right? 00:07:57.699 --> 00:08:05.159 Remember scripture's grand narrative where God creates us to walk and talk with him. 00:08:05.599 --> 00:08:07.439 That's why we exist. 00:08:07.779 --> 00:08:12.979 We're there in his good creation with him until we rebel against him. 00:08:13.219 --> 00:08:15.079 And the penalty of our sin is what? 00:08:16.299 --> 00:08:18.859 Separation from God. 00:08:20.779 --> 00:08:25.079 So all along, we're longing to get back to what we were created for. 00:08:25.159 --> 00:08:25.959 Back to Eden. 00:08:26.699 --> 00:08:27.839 Back to God. 00:08:28.159 --> 00:08:35.459 And more importantly, more hopefully, God is working through this whole story to be with us. 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:39.500 Just think about Moses early on. 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:42.379 Leading God's people towards the promised land. 00:08:42.379 --> 00:08:46.519 And he moves only when God's presence moves. 00:08:46.680 --> 00:08:51.379 Because God, it is only your going with us that makes us special. 00:08:51.700 --> 00:08:54.660 Yahweh, you're the one that sets us apart. 00:08:54.659 --> 00:09:03.939 When they're fighting in the promised land under Joshua, it is the Lord with them that makes them strong and courageous. 00:09:04.899 --> 00:09:08.379 It's God's presence in the ark that brings blessing. 00:09:09.179 --> 00:09:15.039 God lives and journeys with his people in the tabernacle and then eventually in the Jerusalem temple. 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:20.539 For his exiled people then far away from the temple. 00:09:20.539 --> 00:09:32.120 It is only his promise through the prophets, I will be with you, that keeps them from fear, from despair in that far away place. 00:09:32.199 --> 00:09:38.240 That is part one of the story that God gives glimpses of this presence, this relationship. 00:09:38.599 --> 00:09:41.059 God being with them, being restored. 00:09:41.059 --> 00:09:43.419 But it's just glimpses, isn't it? 00:09:45.619 --> 00:09:48.299 Then there's the first Christmas. 00:09:49.739 --> 00:09:59.500 The word who was God became flesh and made his dwelling for a while tabernacled among us. 00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:04.719 Jesus in the flesh as God with us in a brand new way. 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:10.259 In a way that he takes on our sorrows and our infirmities. 00:10:10.259 --> 00:10:12.259 That he understands our struggles. 00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:15.259 That he actually feels our pains. 00:10:16.379 --> 00:10:17.019 Emmanuel. 00:10:18.019 --> 00:10:19.879 In a brand new way, Emmanuel. 00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:30.960 And then, that God with us idea is not only God's plan from the beginning, but also, it's where it's all headed. 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:32.899 It's his goal at the end. 00:10:33.580 --> 00:10:39.279 It's what Jesus prays for, that we will be with him where he is with his father. 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:42.079 It's what he promises the thief on the cross, right? 00:10:42.279 --> 00:10:47.319 Today you will be with me in paradise. 00:10:47.799 --> 00:10:55.939 It's the hope for all of us as we consider the brevity of life here and the eternal future that we have. 00:10:56.019 --> 00:10:59.899 The promise, so we will be always, what? 00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:02.899 With the Lord. 00:11:02.899 --> 00:11:13.620 That's the promise of which the birth of Emmanuel into our world is the dawn of the fulfillment. 00:11:14.419 --> 00:11:15.360 It's started. 00:11:15.699 --> 00:11:18.240 It's only getting more brilliant, right? 00:11:18.459 --> 00:11:22.179 As this child grows up and lives and dies and rises. 00:11:22.819 --> 00:11:24.399 God with us. 00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:27.419 Now that's big picture. 00:11:27.579 --> 00:11:28.899 That's the big story. 00:11:28.899 --> 00:11:32.840 I want us to think more personally about Emmanuel. 00:11:33.639 --> 00:11:34.579 God with us. 00:11:34.679 --> 00:11:38.079 How does that really transform every situation you face? 00:11:38.199 --> 00:11:43.519 What difference does that make in your life if God is with you? 00:11:44.659 --> 00:11:50.899 The great pastor and hymn writer John Wesley was on his deathbed when he said, 00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:55.759 the best of all is God is with us. 00:11:57.579 --> 00:11:58.139 Clarity. 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:00.840 When you're dying, isn't it? 00:12:02.620 --> 00:12:08.899 I was with dozens of people at the hospital this week as a friend of ours died. 00:12:08.899 --> 00:12:17.799 And we looked to God with us for comfort even in the valley of the shadow of death. 00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:19.299 Psalm 23. 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:21.799 With us. 00:12:22.659 --> 00:12:24.259 Y'all, there's no other comfort. 00:12:25.179 --> 00:12:27.980 If he's not, then this is the end. 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:29.319 It's over. 00:12:29.320 --> 00:12:36.620 But it's not just when we die that we need this. 00:12:37.100 --> 00:12:42.520 There are many of us who are certain that God has abandoned us and left us alone. 00:12:43.280 --> 00:12:45.120 That he's not with us. 00:12:45.260 --> 00:12:51.720 And for those of us who struggle, he assures us he will never leave us nor forsake us. 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:55.480 When we try to run away from him. 00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:57.180 Any of you tried that for a season? 00:12:57.179 --> 00:12:57.299 Amen. 00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:04.159 Just as the mother of the runaway bunny, God assures us. 00:13:04.339 --> 00:13:05.439 Psalm 139. 00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:10.779 Everywhere we are, he leads us and he holds us. 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:15.139 Can you remember feeling afraid? 00:13:16.139 --> 00:13:18.799 Maybe you don't have to think back very far. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:21.159 Fearful for yourself. 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:23.740 Fearful for your kids. 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:26.339 Fearful about our world. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:29.839 What do we do when we're afraid? 00:13:30.039 --> 00:13:32.639 What does God's word say over and over? 00:13:32.719 --> 00:13:36.839 God knows there are situations that cause fear to rise in us. 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:39.459 And so he repeatedly over and over says, 00:13:39.839 --> 00:13:41.120 Do not fear. 00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:43.699 Not because it won't hurt. 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:47.479 Not because it's all going to work out just the way you hope. 00:13:47.599 --> 00:13:47.819 No. 00:13:48.819 --> 00:13:49.439 What does he say? 00:13:49.439 --> 00:13:50.899 Over and over. 00:13:51.559 --> 00:13:54.359 Because I am with you. 00:13:54.360 --> 00:14:05.259 When we're gathered as his people, even two or three of us, he is with us to confirm the unity of our purpose. 00:14:05.700 --> 00:14:06.419 Matthew 18. 00:14:06.419 --> 00:14:13.539 When we sing to him, we rejoice together in that truth that he is with us. 00:14:13.539 --> 00:14:18.699 For instance, Psalm 46, a very present help in trouble. 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:19.360 We delight. 00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:21.199 God with us. 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:22.200 When we're sent out. 00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:30.600 When we're sent out by Jesus on mission to the world that may seem overwhelming, may seem like an undesirable mission. 00:14:30.820 --> 00:14:31.980 He promises what? 00:14:32.060 --> 00:14:34.660 To be with us always. 00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:46.959 If God himself is actually with us, then we can't be lonely, alone anymore. 00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:59.100 Then your day at home, your day at work, your day at the retirement community, or at the nursing home, or the hospital, or the hospice room is never insignificant. 00:14:59.100 --> 00:15:06.659 And no matter how bad things are, they are never truly hopeless. 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:12.100 The best of all, God is with us. 00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:17.519 It kicks out the loneliness and the insignificance and the fear. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.740 He's with us. 00:15:22.560 --> 00:15:25.840 At least that's what we say this time of year, right? 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:28.100 Emmanuel, and what do you do? 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:29.440 Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel. 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:30.920 Rejoice! 00:15:32.040 --> 00:15:34.120 It's good news, isn't it? 00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:37.480 Is it? 00:15:41.740 --> 00:15:47.560 Sometimes when I'm leaving the house, I will say, hey, y'all, I'll be back in just a few minutes. 00:15:48.680 --> 00:15:51.180 Or, I'll be home for dinner tonight. 00:15:53.920 --> 00:15:55.620 I'll be with you tonight. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:16:03.980 I'll say, and my witty wife is known to respond with a twinkle in her eye. 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:07.720 Is that a threat or a promise? 00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:13.639 Is that a threat or a promise? 00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:15.519 That's a good point, isn't it? 00:16:16.660 --> 00:16:20.580 Because my, my, yes it is. 00:16:20.580 --> 00:16:26.139 It's a rhetorical question. 00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:35.960 My being with you could be a threat or a promise. 00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:39.720 It all depends on our relationship, doesn't it? 00:16:41.020 --> 00:16:41.160 Right? 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:46.620 Whether I'm for you or against you, it's going to make a huge difference. 00:16:47.839 --> 00:16:54.139 In the movie Braveheart, there's a great scene that is not historically accurate, shockingly. 00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:57.840 But it portrays this reality really wonderfully. 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:04.779 The Scottish rebels are lined up for battle against the English king and his soldiers. 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:07.000 They're already outnumbered. 00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:12.019 In addition to all the English troops, all of a sudden, here come the Irish. 00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:19.099 Weapons drawn, threatening, racing toward the Scottish line, yelling. 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:21.200 Just watch. 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:23.200 Irish. 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:40.279 Irish. 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:40.400 Irish. 00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:46.259 The Irish are coming. 00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:50.120 Is it a threat or a promise? 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:55.799 It turned out for the Scots to be a promise. 00:17:56.120 --> 00:18:01.620 They'll fight for us, not against us, even though it looked like it. 00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:10.920 See, back in Isaiah's day, when this prophecy about Emmanuel is first given to God's people, 00:18:11.340 --> 00:18:14.200 it started as a threat. 00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:17.120 Let me just explain briefly. 00:18:17.120 --> 00:18:20.640 I won't get too confused with a bunch of crazy kings you don't know about. 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:26.640 But Ahaz was the king of Judah, the leader of God's people. 00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:29.680 But he had no regard for God. 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:40.519 There were two nearby kings, Pekah of Israel, Rezan of Aram, and they allied against Judah to attack Ahaz. 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:47.559 So Yahweh, through his prophet Isaiah, came to King Ahaz and said, trust me. 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:49.619 It will be okay. 00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:51.200 I will be with you. 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:56.379 Ahaz said, I'm not so sure. 00:18:56.380 --> 00:19:01.220 So Isaiah said, listen, it's true. 00:19:01.540 --> 00:19:05.240 God will give you a sign so that you'll know that. 00:19:06.760 --> 00:19:09.520 Ahaz said, no thanks. 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:13.100 I'm actually, I'm going to take what I can see. 00:19:13.420 --> 00:19:17.360 I'm going to get help from the current superpower, Assyria. 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:21.539 They will protect me against Israel and Aram. 00:19:21.679 --> 00:19:23.159 I can see them. 00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:24.919 That's what I'll trust. 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:35.439 And so that's when God ends up saying, I'll give you a sign of my presence anyway. 00:19:36.159 --> 00:19:38.179 Emmanuel, a child. 00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:47.080 But what's going to happen, Ahaz, is that you're going to be delivered from Israel and Aram as I promised. 00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:52.980 But because you won't trust me, I will be with you for judgment. 00:19:54.060 --> 00:19:56.740 My presence with you is a threat. 00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:00.519 And sure enough, as you read through chapter 8, that's what happens. 00:20:00.860 --> 00:20:05.420 Assyria is not only going to protect them from those other two kings, 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:09.259 but then they're going to swarm through Judah, take charge. 00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:12.440 God's people plunged into thick darkness. 00:20:13.360 --> 00:20:15.680 And it's only when you reach chapter 9, 00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:20.880 and another child promised to be born, a son given, 00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:27.140 that Emmanuel will actually then lead to rescue of God's people 00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:31.740 through the wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace 00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:33.600 that we read about earlier. 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:40.759 God with us can bring great fear, can't it? 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:47.099 Just ask the Israelites who knew God's presence as a cloud or fire, 00:20:47.699 --> 00:20:53.259 who were told they couldn't see God or be in his holy presence, 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:55.599 or they would certainly die. 00:20:56.359 --> 00:21:00.419 Who learned when the high priest went into God's presence once a year, 00:21:00.420 --> 00:21:02.779 they would tie a rope around his ankle. 00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:09.200 Even though we've seen all of these wonderful truths, 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:13.680 and they are about Emmanuel, God with us. 00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:18.240 Whether God's presence with you is a threat or a promise, 00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:20.820 all depends on your relationship. 00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:26.019 So here's where I think we live. 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:31.980 Some of us rest peacefully, when we hear that, 00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:35.720 in the loving arms with God, with rarely a struggle at all. 00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:41.019 We knew all along the Irish were on our side. 00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:42.379 There were no doubts at all. 00:21:42.460 --> 00:21:44.399 I always am comfortable with God. 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:46.639 Some, some of us. 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:53.720 Others of us, we know that we're at war with God. 00:21:55.720 --> 00:22:01.620 Attacking his ways, actively preferring to find life in our own paths. 00:22:01.820 --> 00:22:05.800 We are quite certain that the Irish are against us. 00:22:06.360 --> 00:22:07.440 And it's scary. 00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:10.660 Sometimes we're afraid. 00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:17.940 But I think actually most of us are somewhere in the middle. 00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:24.860 Most of us, most days, live just kind of at a distance, a bit uncertain, 00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:30.580 needing reassurance of God's acceptance, of God's delight, 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:33.800 of God's nearness to me and my life. 00:22:34.060 --> 00:22:37.440 Kind of wondering how we would get something like that. 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:43.180 Kind of hoping that we're standing close to someone who's worse than we are 00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:46.100 so that we'll look pretty good in comparison. 00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:48.279 Maybe God will pass me over. 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:53.279 I really don't need to get too close to God, most of us feel. 00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:58.920 I mean, if he got close, he might see what I did or hear what I said 00:22:58.920 --> 00:23:00.860 or read into my mind. 00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:05.279 I just need to, you know, get by. 00:23:06.219 --> 00:23:07.579 Get on with my life. 00:23:08.919 --> 00:23:11.579 I'm going to keep my weapons drawn but my head down 00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:14.219 and then hope that the Irish go after someone else. 00:23:14.639 --> 00:23:18.000 That God stays at a safe distance, maybe. 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:27.019 If you feel that way today, if you recognize relating to God like that 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:31.079 or if you've ever felt like that, welcome to the club. 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:33.480 We struggle with that. 00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:38.640 Emmanuel could go either way, threat or promise. 00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:41.619 And so we need to hear the second name. 00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:43.779 Verse 21. 00:23:44.839 --> 00:23:54.459 You shall call his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins. 00:23:55.159 --> 00:23:55.599 Jesus. 00:23:56.619 --> 00:23:58.839 The Hebrew word Yeshua. 00:24:00.379 --> 00:24:00.859 Joshua. 00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:04.899 But this time, not just another Joshua. 00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:06.000 There were many. 00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:09.739 Another reminder that Yahweh saves. 00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:19.039 No, no, this time the Redeemer who actually saves his people from their sins. 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:21.940 From their sins. 00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:29.120 See, sins alerts us to our problem, doesn't it? 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:34.279 For those of us wondering whether God is for us or against us, 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:41.200 we should recall that sin was the very thing that first separated us from God. 00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:43.259 It is our problem. 00:24:43.859 --> 00:24:47.700 God cannot countenance sin in his holy presence. 00:24:48.119 --> 00:24:50.299 We are in big trouble. 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:55.500 God with us rightly sounds like a threat. 00:24:55.500 --> 00:25:08.759 Except, except, except that Jesus comes to save his people from their sins. 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:11.960 Jesus comes to save us from our sins. 00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:15.640 Notice that we don't avoid all the outgrowths of sin, 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:18.500 the death and brokenness of the world that we experience. 00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:23.779 I mean, God's people then likely thought that what they really needed to be saved from was Rome. 00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.779 Right? 00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:28.299 From physical struggles, from oppression. 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:31.639 And Jesus certainly does some of that. 00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:38.720 But the primary thing that Jesus comes to do is to attack the root problem. 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.799 Where all that comes from. 00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:43.579 The sin that separates us from God. 00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:46.619 If he can kill the root once and for all, 00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:48.819 then death will lose its sting. 00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:51.779 Curse will be replaced in time by blessing. 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:55.779 Blessing and tears will one day be wiped away. 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:59.099 We'll be with God again. 00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:03.639 That's big picture. 00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:08.519 Let's make sure we make this personal as we did with Emmanuel. 00:26:09.899 --> 00:26:14.799 Sin is certainly the powers arrayed against us and crouching at our door. 00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:18.559 The broken systems of the world that lead us away from God. 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:19.960 It's not less than that. 00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:25.480 But sin is also your personal failures to spend time with God. 00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:34.119 Our coveting the possessions or positions or relationships that others have. 00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:39.759 It's our neglecting to serve our neighbors because we're thinking only of ourselves. 00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:45.779 It's our lustful thoughts, our lost tempers, our loose tongues. 00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:54.859 It is any time for the sake of our own comfort, we disobey God's commandment. 00:26:56.059 --> 00:27:05.839 It is a personal disaster for every one of us because it moves our hearts away from the God of perfect holiness. 00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:11.959 It separates us from the one that we were made to be with and there's nothing we can do about it. 00:27:15.959 --> 00:27:17.539 Until Jesus. 00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:22.980 What's in a name? 00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:30.039 Friends, in the name Jesus, there is an eternity. 00:27:31.660 --> 00:27:39.799 An endless supply of comfort and joy in the name Jesus. 00:27:40.940 --> 00:27:44.779 John 3.16, you've heard it before but just hear it again. 00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:54.240 God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:57.819 For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world. 00:27:58.579 --> 00:28:03.500 But in order that the world might be saved through him. 00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:07.339 He comes to save, doesn't he? 00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:08.599 From the very beginning. 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:12.019 Not coming as a threat but as a promise. 00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:14.639 He comes to save him. 00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:18.039 His people. 00:28:19.180 --> 00:28:24.200 Not just saving generally or hypothetically throwing some saving around. 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:34.319 But saving the ones he has called by name because their names are written on the palms of his hands. 00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:38.519 Hands that we will be held in securely. 00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:47.619 Because the sin that separates us from him is paid for once for all on the cross of Jesus Christ. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:52.279 Where the sin bearing one is forsaken by his father. 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:56.579 So that we who deserve to be forsaken apart from God. 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:58.099 Separated forever. 00:28:58.639 --> 00:29:01.519 Never will be separated from him. 00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:01.740 Amen. 00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:02.299 Jesus. 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:04.099 Jesus. 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.460 Jesus. 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.079 Jesus. 00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:09.000 The one that I need. 00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:12.940 Because Christ Jesus came into the world. 00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:13.279 Why? 00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:20.180 To save sinners of whom I am the foremost. 00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:22.740 That's why Christmas. 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:25.900 That's why you can rejoice at Christmas. 00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:27.620 So that Christmas happened. 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:30.779 So that God could be with us. 00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:38.279 And amazingly, people like us could still be safe. 00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:52.740 Y'all, the longer I live, the more aches I feel, the more griefs I experience, the more disappointment I endure, 00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:55.920 the more problems I can't solve, 00:29:55.920 --> 00:30:08.120 the more amazed I am that God's solution for our problem involves him personally coming into this world himself. 00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:13.580 This painful, broken, difficult world. 00:30:13.840 --> 00:30:16.320 He enters in, doesn't he? 00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:21.680 He must really want to be with us. 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:24.160 Otherwise, he'd come up with another way. 00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:27.480 It's hard to believe, isn't it? 00:30:27.660 --> 00:30:28.880 But it's true. 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:32.120 He enters in and does so as what? 00:30:32.560 --> 00:30:33.620 As a baby. 00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:41.759 Could he be any clearer that he comes not as a threat, but as a promise? 00:30:43.360 --> 00:30:47.460 Not to destroy, but to deliver. 00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:51.160 Not against us, but for us. 00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:55.560 Oh, how he longs to be with us. 00:30:55.920 --> 00:31:01.279 Let that reality of Christmas sink into your heart for just a minute. 00:31:03.140 --> 00:31:08.740 The best of all is God is with us. 00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:11.259 It really is a promise. 00:31:11.600 --> 00:31:13.500 It really is true. 00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:16.519 God so wanted to be with you. 00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:21.359 God so wanted to be with you, not just once, but always, that he crossed heaven and earth, 00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:28.299 that he fought your greatest enemies, that he removed every obstacle keeping you from him. 00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:37.059 May we not respond to that with a halfway, half-hearted reply to him. 00:31:37.859 --> 00:31:45.519 May we not just consider him every so often and show up once in a while when it's convenient. 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:49.879 May we daily make time to be with him. 00:31:49.880 --> 00:31:53.120 Friends, he made time to be with you. 00:31:54.960 --> 00:32:01.820 May we learn how to live in step with his spirit while we live every day with the things he puts before us, 00:32:01.900 --> 00:32:02.620 whatever they are. 00:32:04.800 --> 00:32:11.820 See, the reality that Jesus has saved you from your sins at your very worst and at your least deserving 00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:15.159 has got to mean something practically. 00:32:15.159 --> 00:32:19.919 It means that there is no time that you can't trust him, right? 00:32:20.439 --> 00:32:21.740 It's never going to come. 00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:24.179 You're not going to be bad enough. 00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:29.359 You're not going to be undeserving enough that you can't come to him and trust him. 00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:31.379 You know what else? 00:32:32.639 --> 00:32:36.220 There is nobody that you can't bring to him. 00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:40.299 He loves to be with sinners. 00:32:41.860 --> 00:32:43.500 He knows how to handle sin. 00:32:45.600 --> 00:32:49.579 There's no situation that you can't turn to him in. 00:32:49.640 --> 00:32:54.360 No matter how big a mess you've made of it, no matter how unfair they have been to you, 00:32:54.600 --> 00:32:59.720 no matter how far away God feels, just you remember Christmas. 00:33:00.140 --> 00:33:00.880 You can remember that. 00:33:00.880 --> 00:33:10.640 Christmas, Emmanuel, God with us, came all the way in order to be Jesus to save us from our sins. 00:33:11.100 --> 00:33:18.320 If you ever start wondering whether Emmanuel, God with us, might be a problem for you, 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:25.180 might be a threat to you, just remember Jesus and God's delighted embrace of you 00:33:25.180 --> 00:33:27.360 when you deserve to be chased away. 00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:34.779 You know what happened when God got really close to you? 00:33:37.119 --> 00:33:38.859 When he saw what you did? 00:33:39.899 --> 00:33:42.259 When he heard what you said? 00:33:42.779 --> 00:33:46.399 When he read the thoughts of your mind? 00:33:46.539 --> 00:33:47.240 Can you imagine? 00:33:47.539 --> 00:33:48.519 It can be fearful. 00:33:48.659 --> 00:33:49.919 You know what actually happened? 00:33:49.920 --> 00:34:02.400 He gave his son for you, who gave his life for you, which gave sin the boot in your life, 00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:09.159 removed far away as far as the east is from the west, so that he could stay close to you, 00:34:09.240 --> 00:34:15.579 where sin wouldn't be anymore, so that he could draw even closer and have you with him forever. 00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:18.599 Don't you want to be with someone like that? 00:34:19.279 --> 00:34:25.079 With someone who treats you like that, who loves you like that at your very worst? 00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:26.759 You can. 00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:35.599 You can come actually this morning to this table where God is with us in order to save us. 00:34:35.819 --> 00:34:36.960 Both of those things. 00:34:37.279 --> 00:34:39.400 Listen, listen, remember, look at them right here. 00:34:40.059 --> 00:34:43.279 It is the body and blood of Jesus. 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:47.480 He's really with us by his spirit. 00:34:49.160 --> 00:34:51.540 But it's his body broken. 00:34:52.800 --> 00:35:01.180 And it is his blood shed, not yours, because he came to save us from our sins. 00:35:02.680 --> 00:35:07.160 It's what he was explaining to his disciples that night he was betrayed. 00:35:07.159 --> 00:35:11.379 When he took bread, he broke it, and he gave it to them. 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:15.039 As I'm ministering in his name, give this bread to you. 00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:16.619 He said, take and eat. 00:35:17.199 --> 00:35:19.259 This is my body given for you. 00:35:19.679 --> 00:35:21.339 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:35:22.879 --> 00:35:28.079 And then after the supper, he took the cup and said, this cup is the new covenant in my blood. 00:35:28.519 --> 00:35:31.239 Shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. 00:35:31.639 --> 00:35:33.119 Drink from it, all of you. 00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:40.019 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 00:35:40.199 --> 00:35:42.940 You proclaim that he came once for you. 00:35:43.019 --> 00:35:47.420 And he's coming again to be with me forever. 00:35:47.659 --> 00:35:49.119 If that is what you proclaim. 00:35:49.559 --> 00:35:51.519 That God is with you. 00:35:51.719 --> 00:35:52.819 And that's not a promise. 00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:53.659 That's not a threat. 00:35:53.659 --> 00:35:57.039 But it is now a promise because of Jesus. 00:35:57.299 --> 00:35:59.399 Not because you're better than anyone else. 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:02.339 But because you're hidden in Christ. 00:36:03.859 --> 00:36:10.460 If that's your hope, then whether you're a member of this church or any other church that preaches Jesus as the savior of sinners. 00:36:10.579 --> 00:36:11.659 The friend of sinners. 00:36:11.659 --> 00:36:16.139 Then you come and eat with him and with a bunch of other saved sinners. 00:36:16.139 --> 00:36:24.779 If that is not your hope, first, I'm so glad that you're here this morning. 00:36:25.699 --> 00:36:27.579 And I pray it will be your hope. 00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:34.639 One day, even by the time you leave here today, that can be your hope. 00:36:34.639 --> 00:36:45.699 Jesus came so that people like you and me who don't have it all together can yet have eternal hope. 00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:47.639 Real life. 00:36:47.799 --> 00:36:48.759 It's yours today. 00:36:48.900 --> 00:36:50.699 You just receive it. 00:36:51.539 --> 00:36:57.719 Just lay your weapons down and say, God, thank you for embracing me because of Jesus. 00:36:58.039 --> 00:37:03.339 I don't want to see your presence as a threat any longer, but rather as a promise. 00:37:03.340 --> 00:37:05.440 I want to know that life. 00:37:06.780 --> 00:37:11.820 Don't take this bread and wine this morning that represent Jesus. 00:37:12.700 --> 00:37:13.539 Receive him. 00:37:14.320 --> 00:37:16.640 Come if you'd like and pray with us. 00:37:16.720 --> 00:37:17.539 We would love that. 00:37:17.720 --> 00:37:20.980 Or if you'd prefer, just stay seated where you are. 00:37:21.780 --> 00:37:24.220 But consider the child of Christmas. 00:37:25.019 --> 00:37:26.019 Born Emmanuel. 00:37:26.600 --> 00:37:27.920 God with us. 00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:29.039 And Jesus. 00:37:29.039 --> 00:37:29.279 Jesus. 00:37:30.239 --> 00:37:33.460 Because he'll save his people from their sins. 00:37:33.559 --> 00:37:35.659 Let me pray and then we'll celebrate together. 00:37:38.099 --> 00:37:43.900 Jesus, for this gift to remind us of the reality of your presence, we give you thanks. 00:37:43.900 --> 00:37:56.380 By your spirit, would you take normal bread and wine and juice and use it in a special way in our hearts. 00:37:57.180 --> 00:38:04.460 That no one here would leave today feeling alone or hopeless. 00:38:04.460 --> 00:38:09.840 Because the God of the universe is with us. 00:38:10.659 --> 00:38:12.059 And with us to save us. 00:38:12.500 --> 00:38:13.720 What a great gift. 00:38:14.619 --> 00:38:15.420 Meet with us now. 00:38:15.559 --> 00:38:16.340 In Jesus' name. 00:38:16.860 --> 00:38:17.139 Amen. 00:38:18.619 --> 00:38:22.159 For more information, visit us online at southwood.org. 00:38:22.159 --> 00:38:29.539 www. Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth