WEBVTT

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 Good morning, and God bless you. I am delighted to have this opportunity to speak to you, but I'm also fearful of not so much standing for people and talking about Christ and this glorious Savior that we just sung about, but the fear that we might miss the power and the glory of his presence in our hearts and our lives.

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 So I would ask for your prayers that as we share together that we might indeed be able to delight in his presence and to see his handiwork, not only in our own personal lives, but in the lives that all that will hear the word of God and be responsive to it.

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 Today, I think, is an exceptional day in the life of our church in that the scripture text reveals, that we're going to read together, reveals a loving response to the longing hearts of his people.

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 Specifically, the longing to be what God has created us to be, what we've all strove to be, and what we've all missed our mark in trying to be.

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 This scripture is for everyone who feels that, who's missed the mark of the intent of the good and a righteous life.

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 And I think it points us to a Savior that corrects and redefines and reshapes and remolds life for us.

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 May I adapt a statement that I found from Isaac Dennison, who said this,

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 He does not create, God does not create a longing or a hope without having a fulfilling reality ready for us.

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 God doesn't bring us together here in this act of worship.

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 He doesn't allow us to be inspired by music.

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 He doesn't allow that seed within our lives that says, I want more or long more, without already having prepared that.

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 And this is the joy of the passage that we're going to read and study.

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 We will get to it.

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 That in that it is God that has orchestrated this whole thing and that he comes to this historic divine moment to consummate all that he prophesied,

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 all that we'd hoped for, all that we'd longed for.

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 I hope that that would also happen here for all of us as we anticipate Christmas, as we anticipate his saving grace.

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 You know, the real question is not so much, is he ready?

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 But the question is, are you ready?

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 We talk about and we rehearse, even in our prayer times, the things that burden us, the things that escape, that cause, distract us from the joy and the celebration of this moment.

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 The hardships, the difficulties, the darkness in the world, the wars that we face, can all distract us from the reality of God's love and his grace for us.

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 Matthew, why is the passage in Matthew 1, 18-25 so, so vitally important?

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 I think Matthew, as we read it, will reveal the convergence, the convergence of God and humanity, which leads to the salvation of all who will embrace God's redeeming act of love.

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 Now, that doesn't sound new to those of you who are Christian, but I think that you would agree that having God and man coming together in one human form is hard to wrap your mind around.

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 And yet, that is what will be proclaimed today and what we will celebrate today and we will rehearse today in our own minds and our hearts.

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 The past two weeks of Advent studies, we consider the genealogy that affirms the links to Christ's origins, his kingships, his efficacy and his ability to save.

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 Even those who are outside the camp, even those who are outside the moral and social boundaries of established society,

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 we're invited to come in and to celebrate and to rejoice in the God of the salvation that we celebrate today.

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 Acts 1, 18-25 is this convergence of God and human that we call the incarnation.

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 God dwelling with us, taking up residence with us.

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 And as we believe that, as we affirm that, we must sense his dwelling with us in this moment, in this place, in our hearts.

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 And it ought to excite us, it ought to thrill us to think that God would do business with us even today in the midst of this worship experience.

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 God's purpose, then, is to reveal both what a healthy, whole, sinless life can look like

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 and provide the sacrifice worthy of us, the atoning of our sins.

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 God accomplishes what we're not able to do.

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 God accomplishes what we're not able to do.

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 Let's hear the word of God and not just talk about it.

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 God, found in Matthew, the first chapter, the 18th verse, the 20, 18 through 25, found on page 757 in your pew Bible.

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 Hear the word of God.

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 This is how the birth of Christ, the Messiah, came about.

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 His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph.

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 Before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

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 Because Joseph, her husband, was faithful to the law.

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 And yet he did not want to expose her to public disgrace.

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 He had in mind to divorce her quietly.

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 But after he had considered this, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,

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 Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife.

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 Because what was conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

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 She will give birth, give birth a son.

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 And you are to give his name, give him the name Jesus.

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 Because he will save his people from their sins.

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 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet.

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 The virgin will conceive and will give birth to a son.

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 And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means God with us.

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 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him.

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 And took Mary home as his wife.

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 But he did not consummate their marriage until he gave birth, she gave birth to a son.

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 And he gave him the name Jesus.

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 Shall we pray?

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 Holy Spirit, be our guide as we consider the truth your word has for us today.

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 May our motives for knowing these truths from your word be pure and unadulterated.

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 And in response to your willingness to unveil these glorious mysteries,

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 may we be inspired to surrender our wills to yours.

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 Regardless of what it cost us to submit.

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 We ask these blessings because we know that your plan for our lives is not only providence,

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 but it's the very essence of what it means to have a full and a meaningful life.

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 Give us eyes to see, ears to hear.

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 And passion to live what you teach us in this intimate moment of communion with you.

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 For we are bound together by your Holy Spirit.

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 And our hearts long to enjoy the embrace of your Holy Spirit.

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 And to be safely held in your arms.

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 May it be so.

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 For we ask it in the name of our precious Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 I want us to consider.

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 There are many ways we can look at the text this morning.

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 We can spend our time focused upon the dream itself.

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 Upon just telling the story verse by verse.

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 but what I would like for us to do is to consider it in perhaps a unique way.

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 First, let's acknowledge that this is really about the divine origin,

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 the beginnings of Christ, the human Christ here on this earth,

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 this transforming moment in human history where the Savior came to live,

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 the Savior, God, came to live among us.

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 And may we all affirm the greatest among them, among us,

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 was the most humble in that he was willing to come

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 and to humble himself to become a human being.

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 I want us to find breathing space in our minds and our hearts and our souls

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 as we study this and as we look at him.

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 And divine breathing space to understand not just the technical details of this passage,

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 but perhaps even more so the human aspect of it.

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 For God came in human form.

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 And I want us to appreciate the questions that that arises among us.

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 The interesting thing, and what I want to do as we dissect the passage,

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 is to look at the very purpose.

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 Why would God come to earth?

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 I mean, why would he bother?

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 Why would he have to bother?

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 Why not just create new human beings that would worship him,

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 that would not fail,

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 and that would just be submissive, unlike us?

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 Well, we can speculate about that.

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 But we do find an answer as to why he came to earth.

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 It's a simple phrase out of verse 21.

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 And it simply says,

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 For he will save his people from their sins.

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 Again, it's very hard to wrap our minds around this,

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 but he's saying not just his people,

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 the ones that sit here,

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 most of you who sit here this morning,

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 but he is saying the outsider as well, is he not?

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 As we read and remember the whole of the passages that we've read in Matthew thus far,

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 he has, who is his people?

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 It is those he's created.

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 And indeed, he has created us all by his loving act.

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 Here in Matthew,

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 Matthew is clarifying further the meaning of the genealogy

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 and every aspect of Jesus' origin from the beginning

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 to his sovereign hand.

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 the sovereign hand of the Father

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 in this story that superintends each aspect

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 of the coming of Christ,

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 this infant child,

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 into the world.

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 I want us,

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 as God superintends our thoughts today,

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 to attempt to move more deeply

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 into our text

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 and considering it this way,

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 the cast of characters.

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 that he has before us.

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 And my hope is,

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 is that you will want to see them

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 not just as

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 technical aspects

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 of bringing Christ,

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 the Emmanuel,

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 God with us into the world,

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 but I hope that you'll want to see them

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 and personalize them

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 as we look intimately and deeply

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 into their lives,

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 their roles,

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 and in this new beginning.

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 And I want to admit up front,

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 I will neglect

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 a couple of verses

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 that certainly the prophetic verses

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 that we read early,

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 that we've read and studied earlier.

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 I leave that to Tyler

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 and your remembrance of what he's done there.

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 And also,

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 of the angels,

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 there's a whole series of sermons

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 I think that one could do

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 on the role of angels

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 in this whole Christmas story.

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 So,

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 having said that,

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 what do I want us to do?

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 How do I want us to help define

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 and accomplish this moment

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 to deeply see these characters?

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 I recently listened to an interview

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 with David Brooks,

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 which is interesting about his new book,

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 How to Know a Person.

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 And I thought,

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 this is really what I want us to employ,

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 to use as a tool

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 that we want to use

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 to look deeply at this story.

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 He simply said in an interview,

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 there's one skill

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 that lies in the heart

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 of any healthy person

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 family, school, community,

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 organization, or society.

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 The ability to see someone else deeply

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 and to make them feel seen,

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 to accurately know another person,

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 to let them feel valued,

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 heard, and understood.

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 Now,

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 he goes on to talk about it

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 in this interview

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 and illustrate this

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 by referencing a series

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 called The Chosen.

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 Do you remember that?

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 It's stories about Christ

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 and the disciples.

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 But he was indeed impressed

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 by the role

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 that the character of Jesus played.

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 And I think it defines

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 this moment for us

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 because he talked about,

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 you know,

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 in the midst of the crisis

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 that Christ was born

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 into this world,

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 in the midst of all

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 the Roman oppression,

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 of all the things

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 that were taking place

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 around them.

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 He was able to,

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 and all the difficulties

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 of seeing people,

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 he chooses both his enemies,

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 Christ,

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 and those in desperate need

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 and his would-be disciples

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 to see them beyond

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 what they're talking about,

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 such as,

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 I immediately thought

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 of Zacchaeus

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 or the woman at the well

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 or Nicodemus,

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 all of whom

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 in which Christ

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 in this,

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 his story,

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 the narrative,

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 I'm sure that you've read it,

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 many of you,

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 but he looks beyond

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 the situation

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 like the woman at the well

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 and he says,

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 look,

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 it really is not

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 a matter about

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 where we worship

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 that you want to argue about,

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 meeting you haphazardly.

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 The real issue

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 is your heart

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 and the fact

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 that you're dissatisfied

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 and the fact

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 that you've lived

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 with several men

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 and you're still

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 not at peace

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 in your heart

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 and your soul.

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 Christ is able to do that.

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 So I want us

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 in this narrative

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 and in this story

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 to look deeply,

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 to look deeply

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 at the Father,

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 the Son,

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 the Holy Spirit,

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 Joseph and Mary

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 and to know them,

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 to try to know them

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 and to understand them

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 because in understanding them,

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 we understand ourselves.

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 We understand the questions

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 that really are being asked

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 perhaps

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 that would lead us,

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 our own desires,

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 our own longings

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 to be fulfilled

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 through being responsive,

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 through being loving

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 and as they are to us.

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 Let's hear the story

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 and see if this makes sense.

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 I know I'm kind of struggling here,

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 so you have to,

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 you know,

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 I'm used to preaching

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 in African American churches,

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 so you have to shout out

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 or, you know,

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 fix it.

00:18:46.120 --> 00:18:47.040
 Fix it means that,

00:18:47.080 --> 00:18:47.240
 you know,

00:18:47.280 --> 00:18:48.019
 you're not doing well,

00:18:48.100 --> 00:18:48.980
 you need to step it up.

00:18:49.340 --> 00:18:51.680
 Or, you know,

00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:52.900
 just words of encouragement.

00:18:52.900 --> 00:18:54.220
 So you can just say amen

00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:54.980
 anytime you want.

00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:57.360
 But I don't know if it'll help,

00:18:57.480 --> 00:18:58.019
 but we'll try.

00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:01.100
 Let's consider, though.

00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:06.300
 And I want you to look at

00:19:06.300 --> 00:19:07.140
 God the Father,

00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:07.780
 first of all.

00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:09.200
 And this whole story

00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:10.080
 fascinates me.

00:19:11.120 --> 00:19:12.480
 You have your Bibles open, right?

00:19:13.780 --> 00:19:15.420
 Because this,

00:19:16.060 --> 00:19:17.259
 each of these segments,

00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:18.680
 each of these personalities

00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:22.119
 are really one of the key words

00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:24.420
 that appears is origins

00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:25.799
 or new beginnings.

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.980
 And we find,

00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:30.279
 and I think Matthew rehearsed this

00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:31.240
 a few weeks ago,

00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:34.579
 about in chapter 1, verse 1,

00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:37.779
 you find the word origins or birth.

00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:40.039
 Birth is not really the best word

00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:41.700
 in either of the texts,

00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:43.259
 but in 1.1 you have origins.

00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:46.019
 Origins in 1.18,

00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:47.119
 as he talks about,

00:19:47.180 --> 00:19:47.839
 let's talk about

00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:50.720
 the beginnings of Christ.

00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.859
 It's a new beginning.

00:19:53.819 --> 00:19:54.839
 And what we see

00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:56.160
 is the parallel

00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:58.799
 that they paint for us

00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:00.599
 as they not only do the genealogy,

00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:01.660
 but as you look back

00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:02.759
 at Genesis 1.1,

00:20:02.819 --> 00:20:03.220
 it says,

00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:04.059
 in the beginning,

00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:05.119
 it was God

00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:07.039
 that began to create.

00:20:08.339 --> 00:20:08.539
 Amen?

00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:08.660
 Amen?

00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:09.680
 So,

00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:14.840
 and here's the great thing

00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:16.400
 that we need to wrap our heads around

00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:20.299
 if we're going to continue

00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:24.600
 in this kind of intimate relationship

00:20:24.600 --> 00:20:25.600
 with the Holy Spirit

00:20:25.600 --> 00:20:26.200
 at this moment,

00:20:26.560 --> 00:20:27.600
 that we understand

00:20:27.600 --> 00:20:28.560
 that the Ruach,

00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:29.779
 that the Spirit of God

00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:31.279
 breathes life

00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:33.160
 into this new beginning.

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:34.160
 The Father is there

00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:34.720
 creating,

00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.400
 organizing.

00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:37.299
 And why does he do all this?

00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:38.960
 Why do we get all these details?

00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:40.039
 Is it really to,

00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:41.660
 to simply to have a justification

00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:43.319
 of who created what?

00:20:44.660 --> 00:20:45.700
 His purpose

00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:47.720
 was in order

00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:49.880
 that he might have fellowship.

00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:52.480
 That he might have

00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:54.759
 an intimate relationship

00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:56.700
 with human beings.

00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:57.480
 About,

00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:58.880
 with human beings

00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:00.759
 that have been given a choice

00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:02.660
 to love them

00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:04.299
 or not love them.

00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:07.759
 And who often fail

00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:08.840
 to love them.

00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:10.379
 The whole of the Old Testament

00:21:10.379 --> 00:21:11.319
 as we rehearse it

00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:11.899
 is about what?

00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:13.220
 It's about God

00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:14.679
 reaching out

00:21:14.679 --> 00:21:16.079
 to human beings.

00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:17.039
 His created.

00:21:17.379 --> 00:21:17.899
 The ones

00:21:17.899 --> 00:21:18.819
 that he loves.

00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:19.659
 The ones

00:21:19.659 --> 00:21:20.919
 that he goes about

00:21:20.919 --> 00:21:22.859
 trying to redeem,

00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:23.819
 to buy back,

00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:24.839
 and,

00:21:24.939 --> 00:21:25.740
 and to,

00:21:25.919 --> 00:21:28.859
 and to bring

00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:29.859
 into his loving arms.

00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:40.979
 the question is,

00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:44.939
 the question is,

00:21:44.939 --> 00:21:46.679
 considering a God

00:21:46.679 --> 00:21:47.639
 like this,

00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:50.199
 is,

00:21:50.719 --> 00:21:52.759
 what do you consider

00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.619
 your origins?

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.219
 Do you believe

00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:57.059
 that a God

00:21:57.059 --> 00:21:58.200
 created you?

00:22:00.600 --> 00:22:00.860
 Can,

00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:02.140
 is it within

00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:04.000
 your ability

00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.000
 to comprehend

00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:06.460
 and appreciate

00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:07.380
 a God

00:22:07.380 --> 00:22:08.440
 who created you?

00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:09.000
 And if he did,

00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:09.779
 he created you

00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:10.519
 for a purpose.

00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:12.860
 He has a plan

00:22:12.860 --> 00:22:13.440
 for your life.

00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.319
 And for me,

00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:16.960
 in the darkness of night,

00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:17.839
 in the difficulties

00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:18.400
 of life,

00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:19.000
 it's,

00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:20.560
 it's good to know

00:22:20.560 --> 00:22:21.340
 that somebody's

00:22:21.340 --> 00:22:21.860
 got a plan

00:22:21.860 --> 00:22:23.340
 and that somebody

00:22:23.340 --> 00:22:24.220
 does care about me

00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:24.900
 and that somebody

00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:25.560
 does love me

00:22:25.560 --> 00:22:26.160
 and somebody

00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:27.400
 is not just somebody,

00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:29.200
 it's the very one

00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:30.140
 who created me

00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:31.920
 and loved me.

00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:37.640
 I,

00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:38.660
 I love not only,

00:22:38.820 --> 00:22:39.140
 and of course,

00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:39.980
 it is somewhat

00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:40.680
 in sequence

00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:41.500
 as we go down

00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:43.540
 through this story

00:22:43.540 --> 00:22:45.920
 of 18 through 25,

00:22:46.060 --> 00:22:46.920
 but you find also

00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:48.100
 just an allusion

00:22:48.100 --> 00:22:48.759
 to Mary.

00:22:49.860 --> 00:22:50.779
 Mary really is,

00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:53.200
 Matthew and Luke

00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:55.200
 have two separate agendas.

00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:57.980
 Luke is trying

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.720
 to tell more

00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.300
 of the story.

00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:01.980
 Matthew is really,

00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:03.940
 as we've heard,

00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:06.720
 reaching to Jewish people,

00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:08.200
 looking for that connection

00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:09.100
 in Jewish heritage,

00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:11.620
 focuses mainly on that.

00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:13.660
 But I want you to see

00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:15.660
 this young girl.

00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:16.640
 Again,

00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:18.040
 I'm not sure

00:23:18.040 --> 00:23:19.220
 we need to rehearse

00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:20.340
 all the,

00:23:20.340 --> 00:23:20.540
 the,

00:23:20.540 --> 00:23:21.400
 the backstory.

00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:22.960
 We know,

00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.060
 you've heard

00:23:24.060 --> 00:23:25.600
 about the engagements

00:23:25.600 --> 00:23:26.720
 and,

00:23:26.840 --> 00:23:28.240
 and how in Judaism

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:30.820
 they were legally bound

00:23:30.820 --> 00:23:32.700
 during that one year,

00:23:32.840 --> 00:23:33.560
 typically,

00:23:33.860 --> 00:23:34.720
 of engagement.

00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:36.060
 So,

00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:37.420
 we don't need to,

00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:39.420
 to invest much time there.

00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:42.460
 we also know,

00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.440
 we'll rehearse

00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.660
 because it is important

00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:45.240
 to the story

00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:47.400
 that,

00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:50.820
 Mary,

00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:52.220
 this young teenager,

00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:54.220
 was,

00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:54.279
 was,

00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:54.400
 was,

00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:58.360
 was,

00:23:58.620 --> 00:24:01.380
 13 years old.

00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:03.280
 and God

00:24:03.280 --> 00:24:04.000
 comes to her

00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:04.440
 and says,

00:24:04.580 --> 00:24:05.520
 you're the one

00:24:05.520 --> 00:24:06.520
 that's going to bear

00:24:06.520 --> 00:24:07.360
 a child

00:24:07.360 --> 00:24:08.500
 for me.

00:24:09.140 --> 00:24:09.780
 It's interesting

00:24:09.780 --> 00:24:10.920
 because it's hard

00:24:10.920 --> 00:24:11.880
 to wrap your,

00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.700
 your head

00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:14.060
 around this

00:24:14.060 --> 00:24:15.820
 and particularly

00:24:15.820 --> 00:24:16.400
 the,

00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:17.220
 the ideal of,

00:24:17.360 --> 00:24:18.360
 and where Matthew's

00:24:18.360 --> 00:24:18.880
 going here

00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:19.680
 is,

00:24:19.760 --> 00:24:20.740
 is the ideal

00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:22.120
 of the virgin birth.

00:24:23.020 --> 00:24:23.440
 I think

00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:24.340
 it's no longer

00:24:24.340 --> 00:24:25.500
 a leap of faith

00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:26.100
 for us

00:24:26.100 --> 00:24:27.780
 or understanding

00:24:27.780 --> 00:24:28.760
 to,

00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:30.400
 to appreciate

00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:32.360
 artificial insemination.

00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:33.480
 Most of you

00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.740
 medical doctors here

00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:36.400
 know about the process.

00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:37.759
 It's a very likely

00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:38.519
 possible thing

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:38.940
 to happen.

00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:40.620
 The miracle is,

00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:41.380
 again,

00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:42.460
 back to incarnation,

00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:42.980
 isn't it?

00:24:43.300 --> 00:24:44.600
 The fact that it was

00:24:44.600 --> 00:24:45.380
 the Holy Spirit

00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:47.820
 that planted the seed

00:24:47.820 --> 00:24:48.620
 within the egg

00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:49.140
 of Mary

00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:50.960
 and that

00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.100
 in the midst

00:24:52.100 --> 00:24:52.800
 of this,

00:24:54.180 --> 00:24:56.540
 both God

00:24:56.540 --> 00:24:58.519
 and man

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.220
 met.

00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:01.540
 and embodied

00:25:01.540 --> 00:25:03.519
 in human form.

00:25:08.280 --> 00:25:08.920
 Wow.

00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:11.900
 Well,

00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:13.860
 as we think about that,

00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:14.759
 I want you to

00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:16.000
 rehearse

00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.820
 some of the things

00:25:16.820 --> 00:25:17.900
 that Tyler

00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:19.100
 and Pastor Matthew

00:25:19.100 --> 00:25:19.660
 has already

00:25:19.660 --> 00:25:20.840
 helped us with

00:25:20.840 --> 00:25:21.480
 and to bring

00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:22.220
 into balance

00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:23.280
 the extremes

00:25:23.280 --> 00:25:25.180
 of now

00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:26.240
 understanding

00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:28.700
 this young woman

00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:31.960
 and who she was

00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:33.839
 and there's

00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:34.880
 the extremes

00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:35.620
 of

00:25:35.620 --> 00:25:37.019
 beautification

00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:38.599
 in these verses

00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:40.680
 and there are others

00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.359
 that,

00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:42.759
 as Baptists

00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:44.700
 and as Evangelicals,

00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:45.980
 we often spend

00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.599
 a great deal

00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:46.980
 of time

00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:47.700
 discarding

00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:49.980
 or debunking

00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:51.900
 Mary

00:25:51.900 --> 00:25:53.880
 and making her

00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:58.319
 beyond average

00:25:58.319 --> 00:25:59.920
 as a mother.

00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:03.160
 I like what,

00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:04.080
 there's a term

00:26:04.080 --> 00:26:05.039
 that I've adapted

00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.559
 for this

00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:06.860
 from Frederick

00:26:06.860 --> 00:26:07.940
 Birchner

00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:10.500
 and he says

00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:12.720
 that Mary,

00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:13.700
 and I say,

00:26:14.120 --> 00:26:14.900
 Mary deserves,

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.640
 and he says,

00:26:16.340 --> 00:26:17.160
 a just

00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:18.400
 and loving

00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:19.340
 attention.

00:26:19.339 --> 00:26:24.339
 As we talk

00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:25.399
 about the

00:26:25.399 --> 00:26:26.259
 convergence

00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:26.980
 of God

00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:27.500
 and man

00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:28.399
 in this

00:26:28.399 --> 00:26:30.959
 girl's womb,

00:26:32.199 --> 00:26:32.919
 I think we

00:26:32.919 --> 00:26:33.779
 indeed

00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:34.839
 must acknowledge

00:26:34.839 --> 00:26:36.519
 that she

00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:38.000
 does deserve

00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:38.959
 a just

00:26:38.959 --> 00:26:39.539
 and loving,

00:26:39.679 --> 00:26:40.439
 our just

00:26:40.439 --> 00:26:41.099
 and loving

00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:41.539
 attention.

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.119
 Her nobility,

00:26:43.379 --> 00:26:43.519
 I think,

00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:44.099
 is derived

00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:45.339
 not so much

00:26:45.339 --> 00:26:47.980
 for the birth

00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:48.539
 itself,

00:26:48.539 --> 00:26:49.559
 which is

00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:50.139
 profound,

00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:50.740
 I think,

00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:53.440
 and obviously

00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:54.000
 a miracle.

00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:56.799
 But to me,

00:26:57.379 --> 00:26:57.960
 as I look

00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.460
 deeply

00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.879
 into the

00:26:59.879 --> 00:27:00.339
 struggles

00:27:00.339 --> 00:27:02.299
 of who

00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:02.819
 she was

00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:04.899
 and why

00:27:04.899 --> 00:27:05.339
 God would

00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:05.680
 ask her

00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:05.960
 to do

00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.579
 such a thing,

00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:07.980
 I see

00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:09.200
 beyond having

00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:10.039
 grappled

00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:10.460
 with that,

00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.119
 her obedience

00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:12.619
 and then

00:27:12.619 --> 00:27:14.059
 her willing

00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:15.200
 to be

00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.200
 a mother.

00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:19.140
 and to

00:27:19.140 --> 00:27:19.539
 love

00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:20.600
 and to

00:27:20.600 --> 00:27:20.980
 nurture

00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:22.180
 not only

00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:22.900
 an infant

00:27:22.900 --> 00:27:23.539
 child,

00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:25.319
 but a

00:27:25.319 --> 00:27:25.700
 teenager

00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:26.420
 and a

00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:26.940
 young adult

00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:28.000
 to be

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.620
 the mother

00:27:28.620 --> 00:27:29.120
 till he

00:27:29.120 --> 00:27:29.840
 died on

00:27:29.840 --> 00:27:30.400
 the cross

00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:32.340
 of God,

00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:33.299
 our Lord,

00:27:33.900 --> 00:27:34.240
 and our

00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:34.539
 Savior.

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:38.480
 God

00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:39.240
 is

00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:39.559
 to

00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:39.579
 Mary

00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:40.240
 shares

00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:40.839
 in this

00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:41.420
 process

00:27:41.420 --> 00:27:42.279
 the struggle

00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:42.879
 that you

00:27:42.879 --> 00:27:43.279
 and I

00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.139
 often have.

00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:45.319
 You know,

00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:46.819
 I want to

00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:47.359
 preach Luke,

00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:47.700
 but we

00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.039
 can't.

00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:49.579
 You look

00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.000
 back at

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:51.240
 114 and

00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:51.539
 the angel

00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.359
 explains this

00:27:52.359 --> 00:27:52.859
 thing to

00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:53.759
 her and

00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:54.019
 he says,

00:27:54.119 --> 00:27:54.399
 what?

00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:56.579
 You want

00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.399
 me to

00:27:57.399 --> 00:27:59.139
 be the

00:27:59.139 --> 00:28:00.000
 mother of

00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:00.240
 God?

00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:01.119
 Now,

00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:01.859
 it's hard

00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:02.159
 for me to

00:28:02.159 --> 00:28:02.480
 wrap around.

00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:02.819
 I have

00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:03.460
 not only

00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:03.839
 two

00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:04.440
 daughters,

00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:04.819
 but I

00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:05.180
 have

00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:05.799
 three

00:28:05.799 --> 00:28:06.579
 granddaughters

00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:07.019
 and one

00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.279
 that's

00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:07.660
 14.

00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:08.539
 And I

00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:09.019
 can imagine

00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:09.620
 her coming

00:28:09.620 --> 00:28:10.860
 to me

00:28:10.860 --> 00:28:11.559
 and saying,

00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:11.759
 oh,

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.019
 by the

00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:12.180
 way,

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.440
 I'm

00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:12.759
 pregnant.

00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:15.000
 And God

00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:15.460
 did it.

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:15.900
 You know,

00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:18.380
 that would

00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:18.880
 be tough.

00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:23.420
 And I

00:28:23.420 --> 00:28:23.920
 say that

00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:24.380
 not just

00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:24.640
 to be

00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:25.279
 humorous,

00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:25.660
 but to

00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:25.900
 say,

00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:26.579
 to be

00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:26.880
 human,

00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:28.700
 that we

00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.279
 sometimes

00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:30.299
 so glorify

00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:31.039
 these

00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:31.819
 passages

00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:32.019
 of

00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:32.299
 scriptures

00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:32.960
 that we

00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:33.519
 distance

00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:34.119
 ourselves

00:28:34.119 --> 00:28:34.740
 from the

00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.500
 fact that

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.019
 this was

00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:36.379
 a young

00:28:36.379 --> 00:28:37.119
 girl struggling

00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:38.359
 with what

00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:39.319
 it means

00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:40.680
 to be

00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:41.399
 the mother

00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:42.240
 of God.

00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:44.460
 And the

00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:44.899
 daunting

00:28:44.899 --> 00:28:45.759
 responsibility

00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.859
 of having

00:28:46.859 --> 00:28:47.460
 to nurture

00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:48.879
 and strengthen

00:28:48.879 --> 00:28:50.099
 and care

00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:50.480
 for that

00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:52.339
 child until

00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:52.919
 God the

00:28:52.919 --> 00:28:53.659
 Father takes

00:28:53.659 --> 00:28:54.180
 him to

00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:55.839
 be in

00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.839
 active duty

00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.519
 in full-time

00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.200
 ministry the

00:28:58.200 --> 00:28:59.079
 whole time.

00:28:59.079 --> 00:29:03.139
 the key

00:29:03.139 --> 00:29:04.359
 to this

00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:05.259
 whole struggle

00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.119
 is one

00:29:06.119 --> 00:29:06.359
 thing.

00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:06.799
 It is a

00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:07.779
 common thread

00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:09.799
 that applies

00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:10.779
 to both

00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:12.139
 Joseph and

00:29:12.139 --> 00:29:12.599
 Mary,

00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:12.939
 and if you

00:29:12.939 --> 00:29:13.319
 go back to

00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:14.619
 Zechariah and

00:29:14.619 --> 00:29:15.839
 Elizabeth and

00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:16.720
 to others in

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:18.059
 these stories.

00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:20.259
 It again

00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:20.939
 comes to us

00:29:20.939 --> 00:29:21.399
 from scripture,

00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:22.559
 Luke 138.

00:29:22.679 --> 00:29:23.019
 It says,

00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:25.139
 she turns

00:29:25.139 --> 00:29:25.960
 to the

00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:26.619
 angel and

00:29:26.619 --> 00:29:27.240
 she says,

00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.519
 behold,

00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:31.180
 I am a

00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:32.379
 servant of

00:29:32.379 --> 00:29:32.819
 the Lord.

00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:34.519
 Let it be

00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:34.920
 to me

00:29:34.920 --> 00:29:35.480
 according to

00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:35.960
 your word.

00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:37.180
 Now I want

00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:37.839
 you to,

00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:39.279
 if you are

00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:39.759
 considering

00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.619
 becoming a

00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:40.859
 Christian,

00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:41.900
 I want you

00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:42.339
 to know that

00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:42.680
 you don't

00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:43.259
 have to have

00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:43.740
 your act

00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:44.039
 together,

00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:44.440
 that you

00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:44.819
 don't have

00:29:44.819 --> 00:29:45.079
 to have

00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.480
 all the

00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:46.019
 theological

00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:46.660
 principles

00:29:46.660 --> 00:29:47.440
 and details

00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:48.319
 even of

00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:49.339
 this event

00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:49.859
 or moment

00:29:49.859 --> 00:29:51.400
 in perfect

00:29:51.400 --> 00:29:53.820
 justification

00:29:53.820 --> 00:29:55.860
 to provide

00:29:55.860 --> 00:29:56.519
 you salvation,

00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:57.080
 but it is

00:29:57.080 --> 00:29:57.560
 a struggle.

00:29:58.040 --> 00:29:58.620
 It is one

00:29:58.620 --> 00:29:59.400
 that ultimately

00:29:59.400 --> 00:30:00.040
 you come to

00:30:00.040 --> 00:30:00.420
 the point

00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:00.940
 of saying,

00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:02.320
 having weighed

00:30:02.320 --> 00:30:03.560
 in the

00:30:03.560 --> 00:30:03.940
 balances

00:30:03.940 --> 00:30:04.560
 what this

00:30:04.560 --> 00:30:04.840
 is all

00:30:04.840 --> 00:30:05.180
 about,

00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.240
 you have

00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:06.560
 to say

00:30:06.560 --> 00:30:07.640
 like Mary

00:30:07.640 --> 00:30:08.060
 and like

00:30:08.060 --> 00:30:08.340
 Joseph,

00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:08.840
 look,

00:30:10.360 --> 00:30:11.500
 I believe

00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.180
 that I need

00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:12.580
 something,

00:30:12.880 --> 00:30:13.460
 I believe

00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:14.300
 and believe

00:30:14.300 --> 00:30:14.920
 the Holy Spirit

00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:16.000
 is convicting

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.480
 me of it

00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:16.740
 and I'm

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:18.660
 going to

00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:19.480
 follow you

00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:20.200
 wherever you

00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:21.100
 take me.

00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:25.960
 well,

00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:27.240
 let's be

00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:27.900
 quick because

00:30:27.900 --> 00:30:28.880
 I don't

00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:29.140
 want to

00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:29.519
 lose you.

00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:31.220
 I want

00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:31.440
 us to

00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:31.800
 consider

00:30:31.800 --> 00:30:33.120
 Joseph

00:30:33.120 --> 00:30:34.240
 for just

00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:34.640
 a moment

00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:35.820
 and reflect

00:30:35.820 --> 00:30:36.380
 on him.

00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:38.220
 For when

00:30:38.220 --> 00:30:39.400
 Joseph

00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:39.900
 discovered

00:30:39.900 --> 00:30:40.480
 Mary was

00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:41.000
 pregnant,

00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:41.960
 he reacted

00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:43.040
 in the

00:30:43.040 --> 00:30:43.460
 framework

00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:43.960
 of the

00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:44.300
 religion

00:30:44.300 --> 00:30:44.740
 in which,

00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:45.440
 the Jewish

00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:45.820
 religion,

00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:47.160
 his teachings,

00:30:47.580 --> 00:30:48.240
 his culture

00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:49.460
 and I think

00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:50.259
 that they

00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:50.880
 were very

00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:51.600
 emotionally

00:30:51.600 --> 00:30:52.520
 and spiritually

00:30:52.520 --> 00:30:55.340
 bound by

00:30:55.340 --> 00:30:55.960
 this

00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:57.720
 engagement

00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.380
 period.

00:30:58.540 --> 00:30:59.060
 I think

00:30:59.060 --> 00:31:00.340
 that he

00:31:00.340 --> 00:31:02.140
 loved her

00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:04.380
 and retribution

00:31:04.380 --> 00:31:05.440
 wasn't an

00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.560
 option for

00:31:06.560 --> 00:31:08.520
 Mary and his

00:31:08.520 --> 00:31:09.060
 heart and his

00:31:09.060 --> 00:31:09.340
 mind.

00:31:09.340 --> 00:31:09.860
 He was

00:31:09.860 --> 00:31:10.460
 wrestling with

00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:11.540
 this before

00:31:11.540 --> 00:31:12.240
 the angel

00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:13.180
 came to

00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:13.860
 reveal what

00:31:13.860 --> 00:31:14.160
 he was,

00:31:14.300 --> 00:31:15.120
 his intent.

00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:16.539
 and I want

00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:16.919
 you to see

00:31:16.919 --> 00:31:17.479
 it wasn't

00:31:17.479 --> 00:31:19.159
 an easy

00:31:19.159 --> 00:31:19.579
 decision.

00:31:19.699 --> 00:31:20.019
 Basically,

00:31:20.159 --> 00:31:20.399
 he was

00:31:20.399 --> 00:31:21.039
 trying to,

00:31:21.199 --> 00:31:21.679
 according to

00:31:21.679 --> 00:31:22.139
 Deuteronomy

00:31:22.139 --> 00:31:23.019
 24.1,

00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:24.599
 to put her

00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:25.439
 away privately,

00:31:26.599 --> 00:31:27.099
 divorce her

00:31:27.099 --> 00:31:27.539
 privately,

00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:29.000
 so that she

00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:29.699
 would not

00:31:29.699 --> 00:31:32.919
 be embarrassed.

00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:33.919
 She would be

00:31:33.919 --> 00:31:34.339
 embarrassed,

00:31:34.459 --> 00:31:36.000
 but humiliated.

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:40.200
 But the

00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:40.980
 important thing,

00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:41.359
 I think,

00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:41.720
 of the

00:31:41.720 --> 00:31:42.380
 rehearsal of

00:31:42.380 --> 00:31:42.839
 that story

00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:44.799
 is the

00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:46.140
 sight,

00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:47.359
 the insight,

00:31:48.420 --> 00:31:48.940
 into the

00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:49.799
 character of

00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:50.140
 Joseph.

00:31:51.059 --> 00:31:51.799
 Joseph was

00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:52.400
 just going to

00:31:52.400 --> 00:31:52.720
 be the

00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.220
 stepdad,

00:31:54.220 --> 00:31:55.880
 but he was

00:31:55.880 --> 00:31:56.799
 in and

00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:57.140
 committed,

00:31:57.599 --> 00:31:59.400
 even with

00:31:59.400 --> 00:32:00.440
 Mary.

00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:01.779
 He was a

00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:02.819
 man that

00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:03.740
 was just

00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:04.380
 wanting to do

00:32:04.380 --> 00:32:04.720
 the right

00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:04.920
 thing,

00:32:05.040 --> 00:32:05.860
 live a

00:32:05.860 --> 00:32:06.500
 right life.

00:32:06.580 --> 00:32:06.940
 He was a

00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:07.280
 righteous

00:32:07.280 --> 00:32:08.360
 person,

00:32:08.780 --> 00:32:09.220
 but he was

00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:10.020
 also merciful

00:32:10.020 --> 00:32:10.640
 and he was

00:32:10.640 --> 00:32:11.600
 always also

00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:12.060
 loving.

00:32:12.780 --> 00:32:13.420
 He was also

00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:15.120
 submissive to

00:32:15.120 --> 00:32:16.760
 the Lord

00:32:16.760 --> 00:32:18.960
 God.

00:32:20.020 --> 00:32:20.660
 So what does

00:32:20.660 --> 00:32:20.960
 he do?

00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:24.100
 Obedience,

00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:24.900
 right?

00:32:25.800 --> 00:32:27.300
 He says in

00:32:27.300 --> 00:32:28.400
 these final,

00:32:28.520 --> 00:32:29.340
 he doesn't

00:32:29.340 --> 00:32:29.680
 say it,

00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:30.120
 he gets up

00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:30.680
 and does it.

00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:31.480
 He says,

00:32:31.580 --> 00:32:31.860
 all right,

00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:32.840
 I'm going to

00:32:32.840 --> 00:32:33.760
 take Mary to

00:32:33.760 --> 00:32:34.160
 be my wife,

00:32:34.160 --> 00:32:34.480
 I'm going to

00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:35.060
 keep her,

00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:37.180
 bring her

00:32:37.180 --> 00:32:37.500
 into my

00:32:37.500 --> 00:32:37.800
 home,

00:32:38.600 --> 00:32:39.980
 and we're

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.220
 going to

00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:40.759
 face the

00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:42.060
 community and

00:32:42.060 --> 00:32:42.360
 the world

00:32:42.360 --> 00:32:43.019
 around us

00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:44.220
 and all the

00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:45.220
 questions that

00:32:45.220 --> 00:32:46.240
 arise as a

00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:46.700
 result of that.

00:32:46.800 --> 00:32:47.000
 What a

00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:47.240
 wonderful

00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:48.800
 testimony,

00:32:49.060 --> 00:32:49.360
 isn't it,

00:32:49.420 --> 00:32:49.720
 to the

00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:50.000
 community.

00:32:50.120 --> 00:32:50.680
 Oh, it's

00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:51.220
 God that is

00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:51.800
 active in the

00:32:51.800 --> 00:32:52.400
 world and the

00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:52.820
 Messiah is

00:32:52.820 --> 00:32:53.580
 coming through

00:32:53.580 --> 00:32:55.480
 her and

00:32:55.480 --> 00:32:55.740
 through the

00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:56.440
 baby that's

00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:57.340
 in her and

00:32:57.340 --> 00:32:57.900
 we're sharing

00:32:57.900 --> 00:32:58.800
 this road

00:32:58.800 --> 00:32:59.120
 together.

00:32:59.220 --> 00:32:59.580
 But they

00:32:59.580 --> 00:33:00.240
 struggle

00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:00.700
 together.

00:33:02.140 --> 00:33:03.240
 He too

00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:04.359
 becomes the

00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:05.099
 parent that

00:33:05.099 --> 00:33:05.700
 molds and

00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:07.660
 chafes the

00:33:07.660 --> 00:33:08.240
 carpenter's

00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:11.220
 son who

00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:11.660
 saves the

00:33:11.660 --> 00:33:11.960
 world.

00:33:13.420 --> 00:33:13.960
 Obedience

00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.359
 was the

00:33:14.359 --> 00:33:14.519
 key,

00:33:14.599 --> 00:33:15.019
 wasn't it?

00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:17.319
 As I

00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:17.900
 said before,

00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:18.819
 as with

00:33:18.819 --> 00:33:20.539
 Zechariah and

00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:21.240
 with Mary.

00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:21.339
 Mary.

00:33:28.220 --> 00:33:30.140
 There's one

00:33:30.140 --> 00:33:30.759
 other aspect

00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:31.380
 of this

00:33:31.380 --> 00:33:36.680
 that I

00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:37.319
 want you to

00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:37.859
 see.

00:33:39.339 --> 00:33:40.519
 That in the

00:33:40.519 --> 00:33:41.120
 midst of this

00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:41.839
 whole struggle

00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:43.240
 that Joseph

00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:44.620
 has, what

00:33:44.620 --> 00:33:45.120
 happens?

00:33:45.559 --> 00:33:46.079
 As with

00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:46.940
 Mary, the

00:33:46.940 --> 00:33:47.559
 angel comes,

00:33:47.660 --> 00:33:47.799
 gives

00:33:47.799 --> 00:33:48.299
 instruction,

00:33:49.079 --> 00:33:49.400
 and of

00:33:49.400 --> 00:33:49.820
 course with

00:33:49.820 --> 00:33:50.120
 Mary,

00:33:50.280 --> 00:33:50.600
 Elizabeth,

00:33:51.400 --> 00:33:53.060
 the older

00:33:53.060 --> 00:33:53.840
 cousin that

00:33:53.840 --> 00:33:56.259
 is pregnant,

00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:58.560
 also by an

00:33:58.560 --> 00:33:59.320
 act of God,

00:34:00.460 --> 00:34:01.140
 affirms,

00:34:01.420 --> 00:34:02.400
 encourages her,

00:34:02.900 --> 00:34:03.640
 strengthens her

00:34:03.640 --> 00:34:04.060
 in this

00:34:04.060 --> 00:34:04.360
 journey.

00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:06.320
 All of them

00:34:06.320 --> 00:34:07.480
 say yes and

00:34:07.480 --> 00:34:07.980
 are obedient,

00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:08.960
 but the

00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:09.900
 important thing

00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:11.180
 is that the

00:34:11.180 --> 00:34:12.860
 God that was

00:34:12.860 --> 00:34:13.420
 a God of

00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:14.400
 origins, the

00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:14.900
 God that

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:16.780
 started in

00:34:16.780 --> 00:34:17.900
 1-1 and

00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:19.079
 verse 18,

00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:20.059
 is the

00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:20.940
 same God

00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:22.400
 that guides

00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:23.559
 them, that

00:34:23.559 --> 00:34:24.160
 in his

00:34:24.160 --> 00:34:25.539
 hand, his

00:34:25.539 --> 00:34:28.039
 hand reaches

00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:28.480
 out to

00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:29.660
 them, helps

00:34:29.660 --> 00:34:29.940
 them to

00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:31.139
 understand, and

00:34:31.139 --> 00:34:31.680
 leads them to

00:34:31.680 --> 00:34:32.059
 the kingdom.

00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:34.019
 Jeremiah put

00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:34.599
 it this way,

00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:36.720
 you will seek

00:34:36.720 --> 00:34:38.480
 me and you'll

00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:40.059
 find me when

00:34:40.059 --> 00:34:40.740
 you search for

00:34:40.740 --> 00:34:41.240
 me with all

00:34:41.240 --> 00:34:41.800
 of your heart.

00:34:42.840 --> 00:34:43.780
 A part of

00:34:43.780 --> 00:34:44.200
 this whole

00:34:44.200 --> 00:34:45.260
 process of the

00:34:45.260 --> 00:34:45.620
 redemption

00:34:45.620 --> 00:34:47.120
 process, of

00:34:47.120 --> 00:34:48.600
 the roles

00:34:48.600 --> 00:34:48.900
 that they

00:34:48.900 --> 00:34:49.480
 play, the

00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:50.940
 reasons for

00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:52.180
 success, always

00:34:52.180 --> 00:34:53.540
 comes when we

00:34:53.540 --> 00:34:54.700
 are responsive to

00:34:54.700 --> 00:34:55.420
 the work of the

00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:57.240
 Holy Spirit in

00:34:57.240 --> 00:34:57.820
 our lives.

00:34:59.200 --> 00:35:00.180
 Well, let me

00:35:00.180 --> 00:35:02.120
 go quickly to

00:35:02.120 --> 00:35:02.560
 Jesus.

00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:07.000
 Because while we

00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:09.160
 could look at

00:35:09.160 --> 00:35:11.320
 the whole of

00:35:11.320 --> 00:35:11.820
 the New Testament,

00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:12.460
 we've covered the

00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:12.920
 Old Testament

00:35:12.920 --> 00:35:14.059
 through Tyler and

00:35:14.059 --> 00:35:15.800
 Matthew, I

00:35:15.800 --> 00:35:17.300
 want to rehearse

00:35:17.300 --> 00:35:18.220
 for you what

00:35:18.220 --> 00:35:20.519
 Matthew has

00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:21.320
 not done for

00:35:21.320 --> 00:35:21.619
 us.

00:35:25.420 --> 00:35:26.480
 Matthew does

00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:27.920
 not attempt to

00:35:27.920 --> 00:35:28.180
 explain how

00:35:28.180 --> 00:35:29.720
 Jesus Christ

00:35:29.720 --> 00:35:33.920
 could be both

00:35:33.920 --> 00:35:34.700
 man and God.

00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:35.460
 He simply

00:35:35.460 --> 00:35:36.019
 doesn't do it.

00:35:37.460 --> 00:35:38.079
 But what he

00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:39.380
 does do is

00:35:39.380 --> 00:35:40.000
 that he affirms

00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:40.219
 it.

00:35:41.300 --> 00:35:42.780
 And he

00:35:42.780 --> 00:35:43.980
 simply says

00:35:43.980 --> 00:35:45.699
 that of

00:35:45.699 --> 00:35:46.480
 him, of

00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:47.199
 Christ, in

00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:48.079
 verse 16, that

00:35:48.079 --> 00:35:48.739
 he was born of

00:35:48.739 --> 00:35:49.039
 Mary.

00:35:49.780 --> 00:35:50.739
 And in

00:35:50.739 --> 00:35:51.639
 verse 20, he

00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:52.480
 says, and he

00:35:52.480 --> 00:35:53.119
 was conceived

00:35:53.119 --> 00:35:53.880
 of the Holy

00:35:53.880 --> 00:35:54.239
 Spirit.

00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:55.739
 That should be

00:35:55.739 --> 00:35:56.800
 enough, shouldn't

00:35:56.800 --> 00:35:56.980
 it?

00:35:57.880 --> 00:35:59.840
 But it's

00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:00.820
 hard, again,

00:36:01.300 --> 00:36:02.780
 for us to

00:36:02.780 --> 00:36:04.500
 wrap our heads

00:36:04.500 --> 00:36:04.880
 around it.

00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:06.159
 We explain it in

00:36:06.159 --> 00:36:06.500
 many different

00:36:06.500 --> 00:36:07.340
 ways as we ask

00:36:07.340 --> 00:36:08.000
 these questions.

00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:08.659
 you know, the

00:36:08.659 --> 00:36:09.619
 second century

00:36:09.619 --> 00:36:13.239
 had Christians

00:36:13.239 --> 00:36:16.219
 and those who

00:36:16.219 --> 00:36:18.059
 studied scripture,

00:36:19.099 --> 00:36:19.780
 they came up

00:36:19.780 --> 00:36:22.260
 with a doctrine

00:36:22.260 --> 00:36:24.159
 that was called

00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:25.960
 Daucesanism.

00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:27.780
 And I didn't

00:36:27.780 --> 00:36:28.300
 pronounce that

00:36:28.300 --> 00:36:28.900
 correctly, did I

00:36:28.900 --> 00:36:29.159
 guys?

00:36:29.679 --> 00:36:33.679
 But anyway, it

00:36:33.679 --> 00:36:34.519
 was a sectarian

00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:35.159
 doctrine.

00:36:35.159 --> 00:36:37.039
 And that Christ

00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:38.279
 did not really

00:36:38.279 --> 00:36:39.219
 actually become

00:36:39.219 --> 00:36:39.659
 real.

00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:41.199
 That he didn't

00:36:41.199 --> 00:36:41.639
 really have a

00:36:41.639 --> 00:36:42.779
 natural body on

00:36:42.779 --> 00:36:43.940
 earth and that

00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:44.859
 apparently was

00:36:44.859 --> 00:36:46.179
 some type of a

00:36:46.179 --> 00:36:46.599
 phantom.

00:36:47.639 --> 00:36:48.279
 The doctrine

00:36:48.279 --> 00:36:49.179
 reached its

00:36:49.179 --> 00:36:51.299
 zenith in the

00:36:51.299 --> 00:36:52.399
 next generation

00:36:52.399 --> 00:36:53.460
 with agnostics.

00:36:55.359 --> 00:36:57.199
 And some

00:36:57.199 --> 00:36:58.019
 forms of it, I

00:36:58.019 --> 00:36:58.719
 think, are even

00:36:58.719 --> 00:36:59.859
 evident in our

00:36:59.859 --> 00:37:00.639
 society, in our

00:37:00.639 --> 00:37:01.839
 lives today.

00:37:01.840 --> 00:37:03.660
 But the idea

00:37:03.660 --> 00:37:04.340
 was that it

00:37:04.340 --> 00:37:05.440
 even denies the

00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:06.519
 fact that Christ

00:37:06.519 --> 00:37:07.059
 died.

00:37:07.220 --> 00:37:07.880
 So it was

00:37:07.880 --> 00:37:08.680
 easier to say,

00:37:08.760 --> 00:37:09.340
 all right, he's

00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:10.039
 all God.

00:37:12.019 --> 00:37:13.120
 Most of us

00:37:13.120 --> 00:37:14.320
 would fall

00:37:14.320 --> 00:37:15.120
 into perhaps

00:37:15.120 --> 00:37:15.740
 the opposite

00:37:15.740 --> 00:37:16.680
 extreme in our

00:37:16.680 --> 00:37:17.680
 society today.

00:37:18.680 --> 00:37:19.579
 I think in our

00:37:19.579 --> 00:37:20.519
 skeptical world,

00:37:21.079 --> 00:37:22.760
 we have detractors

00:37:22.760 --> 00:37:24.180
 about Christ

00:37:24.180 --> 00:37:26.559
 and it's not

00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:27.900
 his humanity,

00:37:28.120 --> 00:37:28.880
 but his divinity.

00:37:28.880 --> 00:37:30.480
 Most of us can

00:37:30.480 --> 00:37:31.380
 wrap our minds

00:37:31.380 --> 00:37:32.599
 and hearts around

00:37:32.599 --> 00:37:33.740
 the good and the

00:37:33.740 --> 00:37:34.500
 wise and religious

00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:35.940
 man or a prophet

00:37:35.940 --> 00:37:37.140
 that struggled

00:37:37.140 --> 00:37:38.760
 with his, and

00:37:38.760 --> 00:37:39.840
 yet we struggle

00:37:39.840 --> 00:37:40.559
 with his deity.

00:37:41.599 --> 00:37:42.519
 It's not being

00:37:42.519 --> 00:37:43.800
 like God, but

00:37:43.800 --> 00:37:44.640
 it's being God

00:37:44.640 --> 00:37:46.420
 himself that we

00:37:46.420 --> 00:37:47.680
 struggle with and

00:37:47.680 --> 00:37:49.240
 that we have a

00:37:49.240 --> 00:37:50.180
 difficult time with.

00:37:52.059 --> 00:37:52.880
 There's a quote

00:37:52.880 --> 00:37:53.840
 I want to share

00:37:53.840 --> 00:37:54.160
 with you,

00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:55.300
 Helmut Thickel,

00:37:55.480 --> 00:37:56.220
 that simply said,

00:37:56.619 --> 00:37:57.420
 certainly there are

00:37:57.420 --> 00:37:58.280
 great and profound

00:37:58.280 --> 00:37:59.700
 teachings in the

00:37:59.700 --> 00:38:01.280
 world, but one

00:38:01.280 --> 00:38:02.200
 must have the

00:38:02.200 --> 00:38:03.460
 capacity to

00:38:03.460 --> 00:38:04.420
 understand them

00:38:04.420 --> 00:38:05.740
 and one must,

00:38:06.260 --> 00:38:07.360
 in a situation

00:38:07.360 --> 00:38:09.500
 which affords the

00:38:09.500 --> 00:38:10.700
 reason adequate

00:38:10.700 --> 00:38:12.280
 for breathing space

00:38:12.280 --> 00:38:13.060
 so you can begin

00:38:13.060 --> 00:38:14.140
 to process it.

00:38:14.620 --> 00:38:15.500
 The greatness

00:38:15.500 --> 00:38:16.440
 of the gospel,

00:38:17.040 --> 00:38:17.560
 the greatness

00:38:17.560 --> 00:38:18.340
 of the gospel

00:38:18.340 --> 00:38:19.060
 that we have

00:38:19.060 --> 00:38:19.780
 presented to us

00:38:19.780 --> 00:38:20.900
 today, is in the

00:38:20.900 --> 00:38:21.920
 fact that it is

00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:23.040
 available to all,

00:38:23.320 --> 00:38:24.900
 not only to the

00:38:24.900 --> 00:38:25.720
 spiritual mature

00:38:25.719 --> 00:38:27.000
 or great, such

00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:28.039
 as Kant, but

00:38:28.039 --> 00:38:28.759
 also to the

00:38:28.759 --> 00:38:29.039
 weak.

00:38:29.679 --> 00:38:31.019
 Pascal was the

00:38:31.019 --> 00:38:32.119
 sublimest intellectual

00:38:32.119 --> 00:38:33.179
 of the world

00:38:33.179 --> 00:38:35.119
 thought, confined,

00:38:35.399 --> 00:38:37.359
 but so can a

00:38:37.359 --> 00:38:38.099
 little girl who

00:38:38.099 --> 00:38:39.359
 prays at night

00:38:39.359 --> 00:38:40.659
 before she goes

00:38:40.659 --> 00:38:41.000
 to bed.

00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:47.899
 Christ dealt

00:38:47.899 --> 00:38:48.579
 with this in his

00:38:48.579 --> 00:38:49.079
 own day.

00:38:49.559 --> 00:38:50.339
 In Matthew 16,

00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:51.659
 you remember the

00:38:51.659 --> 00:38:52.259
 story of his

00:38:52.260 --> 00:38:53.620
 followers and

00:38:53.620 --> 00:38:54.480
 his asking the

00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:55.460
 question, you

00:38:55.460 --> 00:38:58.600
 see, so is he

00:38:58.600 --> 00:38:59.700
 all God or is

00:38:59.700 --> 00:39:00.240
 he all man?

00:39:00.540 --> 00:39:01.180
 What's going on

00:39:01.180 --> 00:39:01.640
 in your mind?

00:39:01.740 --> 00:39:02.340
 So what?

00:39:02.700 --> 00:39:03.620
 What if he's God

00:39:03.620 --> 00:39:04.380
 and man or

00:39:04.380 --> 00:39:05.920
 whatever?

00:39:06.700 --> 00:39:08.180
 The question, I

00:39:08.180 --> 00:39:08.960
 think, that comes

00:39:08.960 --> 00:39:10.460
 to us is the

00:39:10.460 --> 00:39:11.760
 one that Christ

00:39:11.760 --> 00:39:13.180
 asked his

00:39:13.180 --> 00:39:13.640
 disciples.

00:39:14.540 --> 00:39:14.960
 As they were

00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:15.520
 traveling about,

00:39:15.600 --> 00:39:15.980
 as it became

00:39:15.980 --> 00:39:17.360
 popular, he

00:39:17.360 --> 00:39:18.200
 turns to the

00:39:18.200 --> 00:39:20.320
 disciples and he

00:39:20.320 --> 00:39:31.260
 says, he simply

00:39:31.260 --> 00:39:32.120
 asked the question,

00:39:32.220 --> 00:39:32.700
 whom do you

00:39:32.700 --> 00:39:32.980
 say?

00:39:33.180 --> 00:39:34.480
 Whom do they

00:39:34.480 --> 00:39:35.640
 say that I am?

00:39:35.720 --> 00:39:36.260
 Who are the

00:39:36.260 --> 00:39:36.760
 people that are

00:39:36.760 --> 00:39:37.400
 following me around?

00:39:37.519 --> 00:39:37.880
 What are they

00:39:37.880 --> 00:39:38.840
 saying about me?

00:39:38.900 --> 00:39:39.220
 What do they

00:39:39.220 --> 00:39:39.640
 believe?

00:39:40.120 --> 00:39:40.780
 And he goes

00:39:40.780 --> 00:39:42.160
 off and they

00:39:42.160 --> 00:39:43.240
 respond by saying,

00:39:43.340 --> 00:39:44.559
 well, some of you

00:39:44.559 --> 00:39:45.500
 believe that you're

00:39:45.500 --> 00:39:46.080
 John the Baptist.

00:39:47.600 --> 00:39:48.559
 Some others,

00:39:48.760 --> 00:39:49.580
 Elijah and others,

00:39:49.579 --> 00:39:51.259
 Jeremiah and some

00:39:51.259 --> 00:39:51.840
 of the prophets.

00:39:52.679 --> 00:39:54.539
 So what he's in

00:39:54.539 --> 00:39:55.340
 essence saying is

00:39:55.340 --> 00:39:56.319
 what many people

00:39:56.319 --> 00:39:56.980
 believe today.

00:39:57.159 --> 00:39:59.699
 Well, in Islam,

00:39:59.840 --> 00:40:00.039
 right?

00:40:00.440 --> 00:40:02.619
 That Christ was a

00:40:02.619 --> 00:40:03.659
 good man, that he

00:40:03.659 --> 00:40:04.460
 did a lot of

00:40:04.460 --> 00:40:05.159
 wonderful things,

00:40:05.380 --> 00:40:06.179
 that his teachings

00:40:06.179 --> 00:40:06.739
 were good.

00:40:06.880 --> 00:40:07.599
 We can embrace

00:40:07.599 --> 00:40:07.880
 that.

00:40:08.039 --> 00:40:08.639
 We can wrap our

00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:09.480
 heads around that.

00:40:10.139 --> 00:40:13.519
 But that's really

00:40:13.519 --> 00:40:15.739
 not where he wants

00:40:15.739 --> 00:40:16.319
 us to go.

00:40:16.819 --> 00:40:18.199
 Nor does he just

00:40:18.199 --> 00:40:18.960
 simply want us to

00:40:18.960 --> 00:40:19.559
 think of him as a

00:40:19.559 --> 00:40:20.340
 God that never got

00:40:20.340 --> 00:40:21.340
 here, that never

00:40:21.340 --> 00:40:22.599
 died, that was all

00:40:22.599 --> 00:40:24.519
 phantom, all fake,

00:40:24.779 --> 00:40:25.380
 and therefore there's

00:40:25.380 --> 00:40:26.340
 no pain or suffering,

00:40:26.440 --> 00:40:27.059
 there was no death

00:40:27.059 --> 00:40:28.320
 associated with that.

00:40:28.380 --> 00:40:29.219
 Nor does he want us

00:40:29.219 --> 00:40:30.219
 to think of him as

00:40:30.219 --> 00:40:30.880
 simply a good man.

00:40:30.960 --> 00:40:31.539
 It's all or nothing.

00:40:32.880 --> 00:40:34.199
 So he turns to his

00:40:34.199 --> 00:40:35.639
 disciples after this

00:40:35.639 --> 00:40:37.099
 discourse, and he

00:40:37.099 --> 00:40:39.440
 says, but who do you

00:40:39.440 --> 00:40:40.659
 say that I am?

00:40:40.820 --> 00:40:41.519
 You see, the most

00:40:41.519 --> 00:40:43.000
 pressing question of

00:40:43.000 --> 00:40:43.880
 this whole sermon this

00:40:43.880 --> 00:40:45.400
 morning for all of you

00:40:45.400 --> 00:40:47.619
 who are listening, it

00:40:47.619 --> 00:40:48.859
 doesn't matter what

00:40:48.859 --> 00:40:49.940
 everyone else says.

00:40:50.599 --> 00:40:52.159
 The theologians, those

00:40:52.159 --> 00:40:53.119
 that argue and debate,

00:40:53.559 --> 00:40:55.199
 the nuances of this

00:40:55.199 --> 00:40:56.679
 scripture, the question

00:40:56.679 --> 00:40:59.400
 as God comes to dwell

00:40:59.400 --> 00:41:00.819
 with us and in your

00:41:00.819 --> 00:41:02.599
 midst this morning is

00:41:02.599 --> 00:41:05.159
 who do you say that I

00:41:05.159 --> 00:41:05.460
 am?

00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:10.299
 We have an answer for

00:41:10.299 --> 00:41:10.460
 you.

00:41:10.940 --> 00:41:12.659
 At least Peter had a

00:41:12.659 --> 00:41:13.960
 good answer that was

00:41:13.960 --> 00:41:17.199
 acceptable to Jesus.

00:41:19.019 --> 00:41:21.179
 And he says, you're the

00:41:21.179 --> 00:41:23.639
 Messiah, the Son of God.

00:41:26.019 --> 00:41:28.199
 But even that is

00:41:28.199 --> 00:41:29.879
 important, but even more

00:41:29.879 --> 00:41:31.739
 important is what the

00:41:31.739 --> 00:41:34.059
 Father says back to the

00:41:34.059 --> 00:41:34.480
 disciple.

00:41:35.699 --> 00:41:37.079
 He simply says this,

00:41:39.119 --> 00:41:40.339
 Simon, son of Jonah,

00:41:40.340 --> 00:41:42.539
 you're blessed.

00:41:44.120 --> 00:41:45.519
 You are blessed.

00:41:45.660 --> 00:41:46.680
 Because you get this

00:41:46.680 --> 00:41:47.039
 story.

00:41:47.320 --> 00:41:49.320
 You get the story of the

00:41:49.320 --> 00:41:50.019
 nativity scene.

00:41:50.120 --> 00:41:52.480
 You get the story of what

00:41:52.480 --> 00:41:54.820
 it means for God to come

00:41:54.820 --> 00:41:56.059
 and to dwell in our midst,

00:41:56.200 --> 00:41:57.300
 to love us, to care for

00:41:57.300 --> 00:41:58.579
 us, to be with us, and to

00:41:58.579 --> 00:42:00.720
 provide for us a way of

00:42:00.720 --> 00:42:01.140
 salvation.

00:42:01.340 --> 00:42:02.519
 Simon, you get it.

00:42:02.600 --> 00:42:03.760
 You're blessed because

00:42:03.760 --> 00:42:07.019
 flesh and blood did not

00:42:07.019 --> 00:42:08.260
 reveal it to you.

00:42:08.260 --> 00:42:10.880
 But my Father in heaven.

00:42:13.180 --> 00:42:15.260
 Now, I wish I were

00:42:15.260 --> 00:42:16.380
 eloquent enough and

00:42:16.380 --> 00:42:17.780
 profound enough to

00:42:17.780 --> 00:42:20.260
 convince you mentally

00:42:20.260 --> 00:42:22.460
 and emotionally of the

00:42:22.460 --> 00:42:25.060
 fact that God is

00:42:25.060 --> 00:42:26.300
 Jesus.

00:42:27.800 --> 00:42:29.480
 And that Jesus in his

00:42:29.480 --> 00:42:30.940
 human form came and

00:42:30.940 --> 00:42:32.700
 bled and died in order

00:42:32.700 --> 00:42:34.140
 that he might provide for

00:42:34.140 --> 00:42:35.360
 you the salvation that

00:42:35.360 --> 00:42:37.460
 you cannot earn, that you

00:42:37.460 --> 00:42:39.920
 cannot accomplish in and

00:42:39.920 --> 00:42:42.000
 of and on your own.

00:42:43.840 --> 00:42:45.240
 But I find at least

00:42:45.240 --> 00:42:46.500
 comfort in knowing that

00:42:46.500 --> 00:42:49.360
 in my inadequacies, the

00:42:49.360 --> 00:42:50.740
 power of the Holy Spirit

00:42:50.740 --> 00:42:52.860
 that overshadowed the

00:42:52.860 --> 00:42:54.599
 world as it was created,

00:42:55.300 --> 00:42:57.039
 that overshadowed Mary and

00:42:57.039 --> 00:42:59.599
 created God, man, with us,

00:42:59.599 --> 00:43:03.380
 the one that now overshadows

00:43:03.380 --> 00:43:05.980
 us and offers you the

00:43:05.980 --> 00:43:08.539
 opportunity to come and

00:43:08.539 --> 00:43:11.299
 to embrace this Messiah, the

00:43:11.299 --> 00:43:11.639
 Savior.

00:43:13.559 --> 00:43:15.179
 The other participant, I

00:43:15.179 --> 00:43:16.500
 hope, in this whole

00:43:16.500 --> 00:43:17.319
 narrative is you.

00:43:18.599 --> 00:43:20.960
 For he did say in verse 21,

00:43:21.539 --> 00:43:23.599
 my purpose for being here is

00:43:23.599 --> 00:43:23.880
 you.

00:43:23.880 --> 00:43:29.140
 To provide salvation for you.

00:43:29.800 --> 00:43:32.260
 2 Corinthians 5, the 5th

00:43:32.260 --> 00:43:33.480
 chapter, 17th verse says,

00:43:33.820 --> 00:43:35.740
 Therefore, if anyone is in

00:43:35.740 --> 00:43:37.220
 Christ, he's a new

00:43:37.220 --> 00:43:37.700
 creation.

00:43:38.039 --> 00:43:38.920
 He's a new beginning.

00:43:39.820 --> 00:43:41.440
 He or she has a new

00:43:41.440 --> 00:43:42.059
 origin.

00:43:42.860 --> 00:43:44.119
 And the old has passed away

00:43:44.119 --> 00:43:45.800
 and the new has come.

00:43:46.340 --> 00:43:48.180
 As Joseph and Mary and even

00:43:48.180 --> 00:43:50.660
 Jesus find their beginnings in

00:43:50.660 --> 00:43:51.900
 God the Father and the Holy

00:43:51.900 --> 00:43:54.260
 Spirit, so through our own

00:43:54.260 --> 00:43:55.780
 response to the overshadowing

00:43:55.780 --> 00:43:58.220
 Holy Spirit, we reframe our

00:43:58.220 --> 00:44:02.059
 mundane, empty lives and we

00:44:02.059 --> 00:44:04.079
 create, and he creates

00:44:04.079 --> 00:44:06.420
 something that is holy and

00:44:06.420 --> 00:44:09.139
 sacred and set apart for

00:44:09.139 --> 00:44:09.579
 eternity.

00:44:15.579 --> 00:44:17.340
 Can I compare notes for a

00:44:17.340 --> 00:44:17.519
 moment?

00:44:18.119 --> 00:44:20.639
 The one last step and perhaps

00:44:20.639 --> 00:44:22.879
 I've taken too long to get

00:44:22.879 --> 00:44:23.119
 here.

00:44:24.420 --> 00:44:27.239
 But I want you to think with

00:44:27.239 --> 00:44:30.679
 me of the new beginning that

00:44:30.679 --> 00:44:31.819
 Christ offers you.

00:44:32.019 --> 00:44:34.759
 It's interesting that he moves

00:44:34.759 --> 00:44:37.900
 from this origin story now and

00:44:37.900 --> 00:44:39.879
 you find in the third chapter of

00:44:39.879 --> 00:44:41.799
 John another origin story.

00:44:42.659 --> 00:44:44.920
 As Christ expands, and here's

00:44:44.920 --> 00:44:46.219
 what Christ does always.

00:44:46.639 --> 00:44:47.940
 He takes us beyond the

00:44:47.940 --> 00:44:48.980
 boundaries of our own thought,

00:44:48.980 --> 00:44:50.240
 our own ability to comprehend,

00:44:50.679 --> 00:44:52.599
 and he takes us one step

00:44:52.599 --> 00:44:52.940
 further.

00:44:53.260 --> 00:44:55.320
 So here's a guy in chapter

00:44:55.320 --> 00:44:58.800
 three, Nicodemus, that is a

00:44:58.800 --> 00:45:00.719
 great student.

00:45:01.760 --> 00:45:02.920
 And yet he comes with

00:45:02.920 --> 00:45:06.240
 questions and Christ provides

00:45:06.240 --> 00:45:06.719
 the answer.

00:45:06.920 --> 00:45:07.800
 Let me just read it to you

00:45:07.800 --> 00:45:08.300
 quickly.

00:45:10.360 --> 00:45:11.820
 Now there was a man of the

00:45:11.820 --> 00:45:13.440
 Pharisees named Nicodemus, a

00:45:13.440 --> 00:45:14.240
 ruler of the Jews.

00:45:14.639 --> 00:45:16.740
 This man came to Jesus by night

00:45:16.739 --> 00:45:20.119
 and said to him, Rabbi, we know

00:45:20.119 --> 00:45:22.059
 that you are a teacher come from

00:45:22.059 --> 00:45:25.039
 God, for no one can do the signs

00:45:25.039 --> 00:45:28.179
 that you do unless God is with

00:45:28.179 --> 00:45:28.359
 him.

00:45:29.519 --> 00:45:30.479
 Do you hear that?

00:45:31.779 --> 00:45:33.159
 All right, you're a human being,

00:45:33.319 --> 00:45:34.739
 you're a great man, you're another

00:45:34.739 --> 00:45:36.819
 prophet, you're all those good

00:45:36.819 --> 00:45:37.199
 things.

00:45:37.559 --> 00:45:39.419
 But Christ is saying, no, I'm more.

00:45:40.359 --> 00:45:42.839
 Every phase throughout this story,

00:45:43.279 --> 00:45:44.759
 Jesus answers him, truly, truly, I

00:45:44.760 --> 00:45:46.260
 say to you that unless you're born

00:45:46.260 --> 00:45:48.200
 again, you cannot see the kingdom

00:45:48.200 --> 00:45:48.540
 of God.

00:45:48.820 --> 00:45:50.080
 He moves the story.

00:45:50.080 --> 00:45:53.420
 He reframes your questions and he

00:45:53.420 --> 00:45:54.360
 drives it home.

00:45:54.460 --> 00:45:56.640
 You really are not so concerned

00:45:56.640 --> 00:45:58.760
 about, Christ is always concerned

00:45:58.760 --> 00:45:59.220
 about you.

00:45:59.800 --> 00:46:01.660
 He's always concerned about getting

00:46:01.660 --> 00:46:03.040
 to the heart of the matter of the

00:46:03.040 --> 00:46:05.220
 fact that what I want, God wants

00:46:05.220 --> 00:46:08.260
 from you is your love for him.

00:46:09.040 --> 00:46:10.260
 And he wants to love you and he

00:46:10.260 --> 00:46:11.280
 wants to give his life to you.

00:46:11.280 --> 00:46:14.000
 And that's why he asked these

00:46:14.000 --> 00:46:14.740
 probing questions.

00:46:14.880 --> 00:46:16.620
 And Nicodemus said to him, how can

00:46:16.620 --> 00:46:18.880
 a man be born again when he is

00:46:18.880 --> 00:46:19.120
 old?

00:46:19.700 --> 00:46:21.019
 Can he enter the second time into

00:46:21.019 --> 00:46:22.800
 the mother's womb and be born?

00:46:23.140 --> 00:46:24.980
 Jesus answered, truly, truly, I say

00:46:24.980 --> 00:46:27.060
 to you that unless you're born of

00:46:27.060 --> 00:46:28.180
 water and born of the Spirit, he

00:46:28.180 --> 00:46:29.640
 cannot enter the kingdom of God.

00:46:30.100 --> 00:46:31.380
 That which is born of the flesh is

00:46:31.380 --> 00:46:32.740
 flesh and that which is born of the

00:46:32.740 --> 00:46:33.380
 Spirit is spirit.

00:46:33.820 --> 00:46:36.180
 Do not marvel that I said to you,

00:46:37.000 --> 00:46:38.200
 you must be born again.

00:46:38.199 --> 00:46:41.339
 The wind blows where it wishes and

00:46:41.339 --> 00:46:43.919
 you hear the sound, but you do not

00:46:43.919 --> 00:46:45.799
 know where it comes from or where

00:46:45.799 --> 00:46:46.239
 it goes.

00:46:47.039 --> 00:46:50.919
 So it is with everyone who is born

00:46:50.919 --> 00:46:52.119
 of the Spirit.

00:46:53.079 --> 00:46:55.099
 And Nicodemus said to him, another

00:46:55.099 --> 00:46:58.139
 question that comes with their

00:46:58.139 --> 00:46:58.460
 service.

00:46:58.559 --> 00:47:00.859
 Well, how can I be born again?

00:47:00.960 --> 00:47:02.259
 How can I have this new creation?

00:47:03.059 --> 00:47:05.480
 Jesus answers him and he says, are you

00:47:05.480 --> 00:47:07.519
 a teacher of Israel and yet you do

00:47:07.519 --> 00:47:09.240
 not understand the things, these

00:47:09.240 --> 00:47:09.599
 things?

00:47:10.119 --> 00:47:12.460
 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak

00:47:12.460 --> 00:47:14.800
 of that which we know and we bear

00:47:14.800 --> 00:47:18.159
 witness to what we have seen, but you

00:47:18.159 --> 00:47:20.500
 do not receive our testimony.

00:47:21.500 --> 00:47:24.800
 If I have told you earthly things, how

00:47:24.800 --> 00:47:25.519
 will you believe?

00:47:26.440 --> 00:47:29.760
 How will you believe if I tell you

00:47:29.760 --> 00:47:30.920
 heavenly things?

00:47:30.920 --> 00:47:34.400
 No one has ascended to heaven except

00:47:34.400 --> 00:47:38.800
 he who descended from heaven, the

00:47:38.800 --> 00:47:39.300
 Son of Man.

00:47:40.139 --> 00:47:41.720
 You see how that comes together, how

00:47:41.720 --> 00:47:43.320
 he's telling us the story of the

00:47:43.320 --> 00:47:44.340
 nativity here?

00:47:46.460 --> 00:47:48.800
 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in

00:47:48.800 --> 00:47:50.760
 the wilderness, so must the Son of

00:47:50.760 --> 00:47:52.980
 Man be lifted up that whoever believes

00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:55.420
 in him will have eternal life.

00:47:55.420 --> 00:48:01.180
 God's purpose statement for you.

00:48:02.880 --> 00:48:04.900
 For God so loved the world, you want to

00:48:04.900 --> 00:48:05.440
 say it with me?

00:48:05.740 --> 00:48:09.139
 That he gave his only begotten Son, that

00:48:09.139 --> 00:48:11.880
 whosoever believes in him should not

00:48:11.880 --> 00:48:15.740
 perish but have everlasting life.

00:48:15.739 --> 00:48:26.939
 It's interesting that this word born

00:48:26.939 --> 00:48:29.719
 again, again, it has two in the Greek

00:48:29.719 --> 00:48:31.179
 languages, has two choices.

00:48:32.500 --> 00:48:35.479
 One is palin, which means a repetition

00:48:35.479 --> 00:48:39.179
 of an act to redo what was done earlier.

00:48:39.819 --> 00:48:41.939
 Do you want to redo your life?

00:48:43.179 --> 00:48:45.599
 Do you want to redo and rehearse the

00:48:45.599 --> 00:48:48.599
 same things that led you to this moment?

00:48:49.839 --> 00:48:52.339
 The old habits, the things that have

00:48:52.339 --> 00:48:54.000
 caused such failure.

00:48:54.259 --> 00:48:57.779
 Well, the second of the Greek terms, the

00:48:57.779 --> 00:48:59.960
 one used here, is anothen.

00:49:01.319 --> 00:49:04.619
 And it says, which is also depicts a

00:49:04.619 --> 00:49:06.380
 repeated action, the same, a repeated

00:49:06.380 --> 00:49:07.839
 action, but listen to this.

00:49:08.400 --> 00:49:10.559
 But it requires the original source to

00:49:10.559 --> 00:49:11.079
 repeat it.

00:49:11.079 --> 00:49:14.639
 It means from above, from a higher place,

00:49:14.639 --> 00:49:17.819
 things that come from the heaven of God.

00:49:19.879 --> 00:49:23.739
 God created the heavens and the earth.

00:49:24.699 --> 00:49:28.579
 God created you, and he recreates you

00:49:28.579 --> 00:49:32.839
 in his Holy Spirit, in his holy, eternal

00:49:32.839 --> 00:49:33.359
 being.

00:49:33.440 --> 00:49:34.819
 Can't you say praise God for that?

00:49:34.820 --> 00:49:36.820
 God created you, and he recreates you

00:49:36.820 --> 00:49:37.820
 in the divine moment.

00:49:37.820 --> 00:49:38.260
 God created you, and he recreates you

00:49:38.260 --> 00:49:38.820
 in the divine moment.

00:49:38.820 --> 00:49:38.860
 This is the purpose.

00:49:38.860 --> 00:49:40.900
 It's not just rehearsing this morning,

00:49:40.900 --> 00:49:43.760
 the fact that some baby was born in

00:49:43.760 --> 00:49:44.380
 Bethlehem.

00:49:44.980 --> 00:49:47.000
 It's about the fact that God himself

00:49:47.000 --> 00:49:49.320
 stepped into our lives, stepped into our

00:49:49.320 --> 00:49:52.760
 worlds, and he provided an opportunity for

00:49:52.760 --> 00:49:54.820
 us to be born again.

00:49:55.680 --> 00:49:58.360
 That he, the author, the creator of this

00:49:58.360 --> 00:50:00.640
 world, has taken his hand, has taken

00:50:00.639 --> 00:50:04.940
 every measure in order to give you life.

00:50:06.319 --> 00:50:07.079
 It's awesome.

00:50:09.279 --> 00:50:13.619
 Well, preachers who don't preach a long

00:50:13.619 --> 00:50:15.480
 time often preach too much.

00:50:16.819 --> 00:50:19.579
 Let me just, let me conclude with a quote I

00:50:19.579 --> 00:50:21.519
 found by, it was interesting.

00:50:21.519 --> 00:50:29.159
 It kind of connects the Christmas mood with

00:50:29.159 --> 00:50:31.099
 the teaching that we have.

00:50:31.460 --> 00:50:37.079
 Jorgen Moulton said this,

00:50:39.139 --> 00:50:42.639
 The ultimate reason for our hope is not to

00:50:42.639 --> 00:50:47.840
 be found in all that we want or wish for

00:50:47.840 --> 00:50:49.980
 and wait for.

00:50:51.079 --> 00:50:55.340
 The ultimate reason that we are wanted and

00:50:55.340 --> 00:51:01.780
 wished for and wanted for, what is it that

00:51:01.780 --> 00:51:02.400
 awaits us?

00:51:03.460 --> 00:51:07.740
 Does anything wait for us at all, or are we

00:51:07.740 --> 00:51:08.079
 alone?

00:51:09.559 --> 00:51:12.579
 Whenever we have our hope on trust in the

00:51:12.579 --> 00:51:17.539
 divine mystery, we feel deep down in our

00:51:17.539 --> 00:51:20.639
 hearts that there is someone who is

00:51:20.639 --> 00:51:22.000
 wanting you.

00:51:22.880 --> 00:51:25.219
 Do you feel wanted this morning?

00:51:25.799 --> 00:51:28.619
 There's someone who's hoping for you.

00:51:29.619 --> 00:51:33.340
 There is someone who believes in you.

00:51:34.920 --> 00:51:40.799
 God is our last hope because we are God's

00:51:40.800 --> 00:51:42.400
 first hope, first love.

00:51:44.100 --> 00:51:46.539
 God so loved the world.

00:51:47.980 --> 00:51:51.800
 God so loved you that he gave his only

00:51:51.800 --> 00:51:55.460
 begotten son that if you will believe in

00:51:55.460 --> 00:52:00.400
 him, he will give you a new creation.

00:52:00.400 --> 00:52:08.900
 Father, help us to embrace this truth.

00:52:10.280 --> 00:52:11.360
 Help us to love you.

00:52:12.460 --> 00:52:15.639
 Help us to respond to you in this intimate

00:52:15.639 --> 00:52:19.840
 moment of transaction between your Holy

00:52:19.840 --> 00:52:21.220
 Spirit and us.

00:52:22.500 --> 00:52:23.720
 For it's in Christ's name I pray.

00:52:24.059 --> 00:52:24.200
 Amen.

00:52:24.199 --> 00:52:25.099
 Amen.

00:52:25.619 --> 00:52:25.639
 Amen.

00:52:26.359 --> 00:52:27.059
 Amen.

00:52:27.119 --> 00:52:27.639
 Amen.

00:52:28.299 --> 00:52:28.639
 Amen.

00:52:29.179 --> 00:52:29.539
 Amen.

00:52:29.639 --> 00:52:29.980
 Amen.

00:52:30.379 --> 00:52:31.819
 Amen.

00:52:34.039 --> 00:52:34.379
 Amen.

00:52:35.199 --> 00:52:35.699
 Amen.

00:52:36.079 --> 00:52:36.439
 Amen.

00:52:37.139 --> 00:52:38.259
 Amen.

00:52:38.259 --> 00:52:38.980
 Amen.

00:52:38.980 --> 00:52:39.339
 Amen.

00:52:39.439 --> 00:52:41.599
 Amen.

00:52:41.799 --> 00:52:41.879
 Amen.

00:52:42.719 --> 00:52:43.119
 Amen.

00:52:43.139 --> 00:52:44.079
 Amen.

00:52:44.659 --> 00:52:45.639
 Amen.

00:52:45.779 --> 00:52:46.139
 Amen.

00:52:46.139 --> 00:52:46.980
 Amen.

00:52:46.980 --> 00:52:47.279
 Amen.

00:52:47.339 --> 00:52:47.460
 Amen.

00:52:47.500 --> 00:52:49.000
 Amen.

00:52:49.000 --> 00:52:49.579
 Amen.

00:52:49.579 --> 00:52:50.299
 Amen.

00:52:50.299 --> 00:52:50.719
 Amen.

00:52:50.779 --> 00:52:51.139
 Amen.

00:52:51.279 --> 00:52:51.899
 Amen.

00:52:51.899 --> 00:52:52.219
 Amen.

00:52:52.319 --> 00:52:53.379
 Amen.

00:52:53.379 --> 00:52:53.899
 Amen.