WEBVTT 00:00:00.260 --> 00:00:09.759 Father, we confess before you, maybe, Father, I confess before you that pride is this thing I see as a problem in others more than I see it as a problem in myself. 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:13.300 And Father, many of us can confess the same thing. 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:17.620 We see pride as a problem for others and not for ourselves. 00:00:18.379 --> 00:00:25.019 We ask, Father, that your Holy Spirit would gently but powerfully minister to us this evening, 00:00:25.019 --> 00:00:35.240 that you might help us to see us as we really are, but gently, Father, in such a way that we will run to Jesus, 00:00:36.100 --> 00:00:44.100 that we might know him, that we might receive grace from him, grace and power to repent and to amend our lives 00:00:44.100 --> 00:00:46.899 and live lives that bring you honor and glory. 00:00:47.500 --> 00:00:51.780 And all this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen. 00:00:52.379 --> 00:00:53.379 Please be seated. 00:00:55.020 --> 00:01:00.820 So, one of the things which is a little bit, more than a little bit different about our service tonight 00:01:00.820 --> 00:01:06.760 is I show some videos throughout the service because we have kids here, there's no child care, 00:01:07.379 --> 00:01:14.520 and I'm terrible at telling kids stories, even though I have a whole pile of kids myself. 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:18.180 My wife was really good at that. It somehow skipped me. 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:24.820 And so we're just going to intersperse our little bit of reflection upon John 1 by looking at some videos. 00:01:24.819 --> 00:01:28.899 So, we're going to begin by watching a video called Four Types of Christmas. 00:01:30.119 --> 00:01:34.219 He talks really quick. You might not get it, all the things he says, 00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:40.239 but it's just sort of a simple, interesting way for us to begin our reflection on Jesus tonight. 00:01:40.539 --> 00:01:40.839 Andrew. 00:01:40.840 --> 00:01:47.760 When I was in university 100 million years ago, actually just the 70s, 00:01:48.340 --> 00:01:52.460 there were still lots and lots and lots of Marxists at the university. 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:54.840 And I don't know if you know this about Marxists, 00:01:54.960 --> 00:02:01.280 but it was held by Marxists for a long, long, long, long, long time that Jesus never existed, 00:02:01.960 --> 00:02:04.540 that it was just stories that were made up. 00:02:05.400 --> 00:02:09.280 And I don't think, I mean, you might find a few people on the internet 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:11.260 who think that the stories were all made up today. 00:02:11.879 --> 00:02:18.620 But even the most skeptical scholars have to recognize that not only in what we now would know of as the New Testament 00:02:18.620 --> 00:02:21.659 is there lots of evidence that Jesus actually existed, 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:27.819 but in fact, Roman and Jewish and Greek historians also made reference to Jesus, 00:02:27.819 --> 00:02:29.979 and there can be really no doubt that he existed. 00:02:31.060 --> 00:02:33.859 And therefore, if he existed, he had to have been born. 00:02:35.459 --> 00:02:38.479 I mean, one of the things is that Christians don't believe, like Krishna, 00:02:38.620 --> 00:02:43.739 that he just sort of pops down out of nowhere, a funny color and all of that stuff. 00:02:43.799 --> 00:02:45.259 He obviously had to be born. 00:02:45.959 --> 00:02:49.519 And the question is, well, what does it mean that he was born? 00:02:49.699 --> 00:02:53.840 Is there any type of significance to the fact that Jesus was born? 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:59.500 And so John is one of the writers of the early biographies of Jesus. 00:02:59.700 --> 00:03:02.860 We have four early biographies of Jesus, 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:08.460 all of them written within the lifetime of many, many eyewitnesses. 00:03:09.180 --> 00:03:10.319 It's very interesting. 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:11.199 I was reading that. 00:03:11.319 --> 00:03:19.060 Most modern commentaries and scholars would say that John was the last of the four biographies of Jesus that we have. 00:03:19.060 --> 00:03:23.819 But I was reading a commentary this week that was written in 1860. 00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:30.599 And that commentary writer argued that John's Gospel was written before the year 70 00:03:30.599 --> 00:03:35.340 because he makes reference to certain places still being around 00:03:35.340 --> 00:03:42.180 that were all destroyed in the year 70 when Rome destroyed Jerusalem. 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:47.439 But be that as it may, John is writing this introduction to Jesus. 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:51.919 And here's, if you have your Bibles, it's John chapter 1. 00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:57.740 And John makes some very, very outrageous claims about the person of Jesus, 00:03:57.900 --> 00:03:59.159 whom we are celebrating today. 00:03:59.240 --> 00:04:02.300 We're not celebrating money and we're not celebrating the darkness. 00:04:02.520 --> 00:04:04.840 And we're not, I'm not wearing a garish sweater. 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:06.120 I'm just wearing a black sweater. 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:08.979 And we have some cheer and everything like that. 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:13.759 But we're of those four times of Christmas we gather here to remember Jesus 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:17.019 and his birth in a humble manger. 00:04:17.139 --> 00:04:19.300 And we're going to sort of look at that story again in a moment. 00:04:20.099 --> 00:04:24.599 And it's very interesting that the way that John begins to introduce Jesus 00:04:24.599 --> 00:04:29.879 is that he first starts thinking of very, very, very big things. 00:04:30.819 --> 00:04:33.060 In verse chapter 1, verse 1, he says, 00:04:33.060 --> 00:04:48.959 And we've talked about this over the last couple of services. 00:04:49.399 --> 00:04:55.000 And this is just a very clear, I mean, it's a completely crazy claim on one level. 00:04:55.000 --> 00:05:00.920 And the crazy claim is that Jesus was God. 00:05:04.459 --> 00:05:06.160 We'll just, we'll continue. 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:07.860 Just jump down to verse 14. 00:05:07.980 --> 00:05:09.439 Remember, verse 1 again, 00:05:09.560 --> 00:05:13.379 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 00:05:13.980 --> 00:05:15.240 He was in the beginning with God. 00:05:15.300 --> 00:05:18.860 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 00:05:18.920 --> 00:05:21.420 And then in verse 14, it says, 00:05:21.420 --> 00:05:24.139 And the Word became flesh. 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:26.120 And dwelt among us. 00:05:26.660 --> 00:05:27.839 And we have seen his glory. 00:05:28.540 --> 00:05:32.819 Glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 00:05:32.920 --> 00:05:36.220 So this text is making a very, very momentous claim. 00:05:36.860 --> 00:05:41.980 That what we see in the stable in Bethlehem, when we hear that story, 00:05:42.100 --> 00:05:44.399 what we see when we talk about Jesus' life, 00:05:45.060 --> 00:05:49.540 John is claiming that this man, there's no doubt that he was a man, 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:52.500 that he's completely and utterly and fully God, 00:05:52.500 --> 00:05:55.379 and at the same time he's completely and utterly and fully human. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:06:00.139 Two different natures in one person at the same time. 00:06:00.779 --> 00:06:03.480 And a lot of us have a hard time getting our mind around it. 00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:06.560 And just as we sort of think about that, we're going to look at another video, 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:11.000 which tells some of the story of Christmas, but in a very surprising way. 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:18.980 So I find that a very moving video. 00:06:20.279 --> 00:06:25.560 And one of the things I, I mean, it's just so moving, I think, to see it. 00:06:25.639 --> 00:06:28.019 But one of the things which is so clear in that video 00:06:28.019 --> 00:06:31.639 was that the woman who was profoundly disappointed, 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:33.740 they don't tell you, but she might have known 00:06:33.740 --> 00:06:35.759 when the baby was still in the womb 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:37.779 that it was going to be a Down syndrome child. 00:06:37.779 --> 00:06:41.299 And whether she found out then or whether she found out when the baby was born. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:44.539 And she has to deal with her profound disappointment 00:06:44.539 --> 00:06:46.259 that it's not the baby she wanted. 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:48.379 She wanted a different baby, a better baby. 00:06:49.099 --> 00:06:51.799 And the baby that she got just disappointed her. 00:06:54.179 --> 00:06:56.519 If you could put up the first sermon point, Andrew, 00:06:56.559 --> 00:06:57.559 that would be very helpful. 00:06:58.139 --> 00:07:00.399 As Andrew puts this up, just the, you know, 00:07:00.479 --> 00:07:03.279 in some ways if all you do is remember the scripture text, 00:07:03.379 --> 00:07:04.819 and I have been very successful, 00:07:04.819 --> 00:07:07.540 and the scripture text is, and the word, 00:07:07.699 --> 00:07:13.240 that's a very, very subtle term that John uses 00:07:13.240 --> 00:07:15.399 to describe the second person of the Trinity. 00:07:16.339 --> 00:07:18.860 And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:21.000 and we have seen his glory, 00:07:21.740 --> 00:07:24.779 glory as of the only son from the father, 00:07:25.420 --> 00:07:26.680 full of grace and truth. 00:07:27.839 --> 00:07:30.060 And John's talking about Jesus, 00:07:30.060 --> 00:07:31.060 and he's saying, 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:34.980 the word became flesh and dwelt among us, 00:07:35.060 --> 00:07:36.800 and we have seen his glory, 00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:40.819 glory as of the only son from the father, 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:42.160 full of grace and truth. 00:07:42.980 --> 00:07:45.519 And the problem for many of us is, 00:07:45.560 --> 00:07:47.079 is that if you read the gospels, 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:51.439 it doesn't seem like Jesus has very much glory. 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:51.519 glory. 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:55.699 And in fact, none of the things, 00:07:55.959 --> 00:08:00.480 none of the Bible stories feel like there's very much glory in them. 00:08:01.860 --> 00:08:04.339 And, because, you know, 00:08:04.379 --> 00:08:05.439 if you think about it for a second, 00:08:05.500 --> 00:08:06.560 I still haven't said that point, 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:07.360 but you can see it. 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:08.560 If you think about it for a second, 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:11.100 I was thinking about this a little bit all week. 00:08:11.620 --> 00:08:13.920 Like, what would be the different things 00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:15.100 that would happen in my life 00:08:15.100 --> 00:08:18.620 if I even had a tenth of the power of God? 00:08:18.620 --> 00:08:21.100 Not even a tenth, 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:21.959 like a millionth, 00:08:21.980 --> 00:08:23.439 a billionth of the power of God. 00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:24.840 If I just had more power, 00:08:25.379 --> 00:08:26.439 well, I'd have more money. 00:08:27.379 --> 00:08:28.060 I'll be honest, 00:08:28.220 --> 00:08:29.199 I would have more money. 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:31.579 If I had God's power, 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:32.879 I would give myself more money. 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:35.419 I'd love to spoil my kids more, 00:08:35.539 --> 00:08:36.580 and my grandkids, 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:38.480 and be more generous to the church. 00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:39.220 And, you know, frankly, 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:40.700 I'd probably like a nicer car, 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:42.080 and cottage, 00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:43.399 and, you know, 00:08:43.419 --> 00:08:44.980 I'd probably just start off by saying 00:08:44.980 --> 00:08:47.000 if I just had an extra $10,000. 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:48.919 But after I got that $10,000, 00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:49.740 I'd probably say 00:08:49.740 --> 00:08:51.139 if I only have an extra $10,000. 00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:52.440 And after that, 00:08:52.500 --> 00:08:54.139 I'd probably want an extra $10,000. 00:08:55.340 --> 00:08:56.360 And, you know, 00:08:56.720 --> 00:08:57.940 the other thing about me, 00:08:58.019 --> 00:08:59.700 and I may be just a very bad person. 00:08:59.820 --> 00:09:00.460 In fact, not maybe. 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:01.539 I am a bad person. 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:02.480 I'd be proud if I said 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:03.720 I was the worst person here. 00:09:04.460 --> 00:09:05.820 So I'll say that I'm not. 00:09:06.059 --> 00:09:06.919 One of you folks 00:09:06.919 --> 00:09:08.059 are the worst person here. 00:09:10.440 --> 00:09:11.620 Come here and be insulted. 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:11.960 You know, 00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:12.899 that's one of our mottos. 00:09:13.019 --> 00:09:13.159 No. 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:14.279 You know, 00:09:14.279 --> 00:09:15.699 the other thing about it is 00:09:15.699 --> 00:09:17.459 people wouldn't disrespect me 00:09:17.459 --> 00:09:18.419 if I was like God. 00:09:19.579 --> 00:09:19.939 Like, 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:21.139 they might say something. 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:23.319 They might even say something snarky, 00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:24.100 but I'd get them. 00:09:25.319 --> 00:09:25.679 Like, 00:09:25.740 --> 00:09:27.120 I'd put them in their place. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:29.199 And not only would I put them 00:09:29.199 --> 00:09:29.639 in their place, 00:09:29.699 --> 00:09:30.720 I'd make sure everybody knew 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:31.819 that they were in their place. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:33.159 That's what I would do 00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:33.939 if I was God. 00:09:34.899 --> 00:09:36.399 And I'd probably be better looking. 00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:40.199 And I definitely would get rid 00:09:40.200 --> 00:09:40.900 of my wrinkles 00:09:40.900 --> 00:09:42.580 like if I was God. 00:09:43.500 --> 00:09:43.740 And, 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:45.400 you know, 00:09:45.520 --> 00:09:46.600 if you go on and on, 00:09:46.740 --> 00:09:46.800 if, 00:09:47.140 --> 00:09:47.379 you know, 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:49.060 dang it, 00:09:49.140 --> 00:09:49.940 the other day 00:09:49.940 --> 00:09:50.900 when it was snowing, 00:09:51.580 --> 00:09:52.460 there was this person 00:09:52.460 --> 00:09:54.420 going 60 kilometers an hour 00:09:54.420 --> 00:09:55.460 on the Queensway. 00:09:56.759 --> 00:09:57.780 And because of the snow, 00:09:57.840 --> 00:09:58.580 it was so hard 00:09:58.580 --> 00:09:59.340 to get around them. 00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:00.340 They'd be gone. 00:10:01.180 --> 00:10:02.100 If I was God, 00:10:02.440 --> 00:10:03.060 they'd be gone. 00:10:03.100 --> 00:10:04.200 I would just move that car 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:05.040 off to the side. 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:05.980 They'd be gone. 00:10:06.040 --> 00:10:07.060 I could go on and on. 00:10:07.300 --> 00:10:08.240 But here's the thing. 00:10:08.520 --> 00:10:09.480 That's what I would do 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:10.820 if I had even a tiny bit 00:10:10.820 --> 00:10:11.840 like God's power. 00:10:12.800 --> 00:10:12.820 And, 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:13.240 and, 00:10:13.340 --> 00:10:14.879 and I would definitely 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:15.860 want people to think 00:10:15.860 --> 00:10:17.240 a lot highly of myself 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:17.700 as well 00:10:17.700 --> 00:10:18.060 if I, 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:18.920 if I was God. 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:19.960 Like if I had to sort of 00:10:19.960 --> 00:10:22.039 force to change your minds 00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:23.360 to make you think 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:24.300 that I was smarter, 00:10:24.560 --> 00:10:24.960 wiser, 00:10:25.180 --> 00:10:25.600 greater, 00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:27.120 better looking, 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:27.879 just more, 00:10:28.039 --> 00:10:29.379 I would do that 00:10:29.379 --> 00:10:30.639 because that's what I would do 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:31.539 if I was God. 00:10:32.420 --> 00:10:32.639 And, 00:10:32.840 --> 00:10:34.420 you know, 00:10:34.460 --> 00:10:35.420 most of us don't think 00:10:35.420 --> 00:10:36.440 about this a lot, 00:10:36.580 --> 00:10:38.139 but the Bible has this 00:10:38.139 --> 00:10:38.420 very, 00:10:38.419 --> 00:10:39.799 very interesting way 00:10:39.799 --> 00:10:41.759 of explaining human beings. 00:10:42.439 --> 00:10:43.659 And this is one of the ways, 00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:45.120 it's not right here in the text, 00:10:45.219 --> 00:10:46.279 you'd have to go through 00:10:46.279 --> 00:10:48.819 a whole pile of scripture texts, 00:10:48.959 --> 00:10:49.919 but the Bible teaches 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:51.860 that knowingly or unknowingly, 00:10:52.579 --> 00:10:54.740 I always seek my own glory. 00:10:55.599 --> 00:10:57.299 And I write the word I down there 00:10:57.299 --> 00:10:58.599 not because you can all go home 00:10:58.599 --> 00:10:58.839 and say, 00:10:58.899 --> 00:10:59.039 boy, 00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:00.659 George only seeks his own glory, 00:11:01.099 --> 00:11:02.839 must be sucked to be in his church, 00:11:03.439 --> 00:11:04.860 but so that if you're writing 00:11:04.860 --> 00:11:05.679 your notes down, 00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:07.019 that's what you would say as well. 00:11:07.019 --> 00:11:08.319 Because the Bible 00:11:08.319 --> 00:11:10.860 claims that we human beings, 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:11.740 we, 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:13.480 we always want 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:16.399 to be thought well of, 00:11:16.819 --> 00:11:17.799 we want to be successful, 00:11:18.620 --> 00:11:19.579 we want to be recognized 00:11:19.579 --> 00:11:20.659 as being successful, 00:11:20.779 --> 00:11:21.659 we want to be recognized 00:11:21.659 --> 00:11:22.559 as being right, 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:24.199 we want to be recognized 00:11:24.199 --> 00:11:25.659 as being in the right, 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:27.299 we want to be recognized 00:11:27.299 --> 00:11:29.019 as being like the most right person 00:11:29.019 --> 00:11:29.759 in our family, 00:11:29.899 --> 00:11:30.840 the most right person 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:31.439 in our school, 00:11:31.539 --> 00:11:32.439 the most right person 00:11:32.439 --> 00:11:33.059 in our neighborhood, 00:11:33.259 --> 00:11:34.279 and we want that 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:34.899 and we want that. 00:11:34.899 --> 00:11:38.220 And the Bible has a very, very interesting type of psychology around it 00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:42.439 that when we're successful in some small way in doing that, 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:44.360 what happens is we provoke people. 00:11:46.019 --> 00:11:49.459 I mean, don't you hate it if you have a boss 00:11:49.459 --> 00:11:52.840 that thinks she's better than anybody else? 00:11:54.259 --> 00:11:55.699 Like, doesn't that provoke you? 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:59.019 Like, if you're married to somebody 00:11:59.019 --> 00:12:01.939 and you think that they think they're the best person in the family, 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:03.699 doesn't that bug the heck out of you? 00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:11.459 So if we're successful or think we're successful at being the best, 00:12:12.199 --> 00:12:13.519 we provoke people. 00:12:14.419 --> 00:12:16.120 And if we're failing at it, 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:21.100 if our life is messed up and things aren't going well, 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:24.340 then what the Bible says is it isn't that all of a sudden 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:26.220 we're not seeking our own glory. 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:30.740 We still are, but we're a failure at it. 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:31.620 We suck at it. 00:12:31.620 --> 00:12:35.460 And so what happens to us in that situation is that we envy people. 00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:43.659 And in fact, the implication of the Bible is it might very well be that at work, 00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:47.940 you envy people because you don't think you're doing as well at work as other people, 00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:51.740 but at home you might provoke people because you think you're better than other people, 00:12:51.740 --> 00:12:53.120 or it might be the other way around, 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:54.740 and we go back and forward. 00:12:54.740 --> 00:12:58.960 And the Bible says that the human problem is that knowingly or unknowingly, 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:00.500 I always seek my own glory. 00:13:00.580 --> 00:13:02.240 If you could put up the next point, Andrew. 00:13:02.899 --> 00:13:07.200 You know, this is all trying to help us to understand this simple part in the Bible where it says, 00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:10.080 and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:12.060 and we have seen as glory, 00:13:13.060 --> 00:13:17.019 glory as of the only Son from the Father full of grace and truth. 00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:24.259 And what the Bible would suggest about your problem and mine is that because I seek my own glory, 00:13:24.699 --> 00:13:31.919 I cannot recognize God's glory in the creation, the manger, or the cross. 00:13:34.419 --> 00:13:38.960 Because we would just make things so much more powerful and so much more dramatic. 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:44.660 And so, you know, when we look at this story, 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:49.160 and it's like a very romantic story nowadays of Jesus being born in the manger, 00:13:49.280 --> 00:13:51.700 but when we think of him in the cross, when we read the different things, 00:13:52.160 --> 00:13:54.540 what John is saying is that all the way through, 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:57.620 if you were to go and read the rest of John's Gospel, 00:13:57.700 --> 00:14:01.160 and if you were after reading John's Gospel to go read Matthew, Mark, and Luke, 00:14:01.160 --> 00:14:05.800 what you should understand is that in everything that Jesus does, 00:14:05.799 --> 00:14:09.240 well, what does he say here? 00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:12.899 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, 00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:17.559 glory as of the only Son from the Father full of grace and truth. 00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:24.959 That everything we see in Jesus is revealing the glory of God. 00:14:27.259 --> 00:14:30.879 Everything we see about Jesus is revealing the glory about God. 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:32.959 Andrew, if you could show us the next video. 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:45.979 Today, after my morning service, I was driving home, 00:14:46.199 --> 00:14:49.939 and I brought communion to somebody who's just got out of the hospital, 00:14:50.539 --> 00:14:56.419 and I stopped at a Starbucks that I go to on a regular basis to get a coffee. 00:14:56.959 --> 00:15:01.620 And I asked the barista what she was doing for Christmas, 00:15:01.620 --> 00:15:08.399 and I got a two-minute rant about how much she hated her family. 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:12.279 And I felt so helpless. 00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:15.940 I really didn't literally know what to say to have somebody just vent 00:15:15.940 --> 00:15:19.159 about how they hated their mother and their father and their siblings, 00:15:19.379 --> 00:15:20.639 and it was just very, very hard. 00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:24.379 And I said a prayer for her later on. 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:25.899 I've said some other prayers for her. 00:15:25.899 --> 00:15:29.199 But I guess, you know, if I could go back in time, 00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:33.519 because I'm not always very successful when I have conversations like this, 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:37.620 and maybe I'll have time at some other future time to have a few words with her. 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:40.659 One of the things I would say to her is that, 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:42.259 because she knows I'm a Christian, 00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:50.019 is that God knows how crazy and messed up our lives are. 00:15:50.019 --> 00:15:53.480 Like, he knows that. 00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:54.799 It doesn't offend him. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:16:00.899 And it's precisely because of that that he came for us. 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:06.519 The hard part, one of the many hard parts about the Christian faith 00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:08.980 is that when it says here, 00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:11.220 and the word became flesh and dwelt among us, 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:13.879 it's interesting, the word flesh, 00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:18.720 in Paul's writings when he uses the word flesh, 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:20.759 it usually means our sinful nature. 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:24.300 But in John, when he uses the word flesh, 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:26.560 it almost always, it's the same word, 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:29.460 but he uses it with one of the other meanings that the word has, 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:31.600 and it means weakness. 00:16:33.180 --> 00:16:34.420 It means weakness. 00:16:34.800 --> 00:16:39.000 It's a way of referring to how frail human beings are. 00:16:40.060 --> 00:16:43.060 How we never know when the diagnosis might be 00:16:43.060 --> 00:16:46.180 that we have some illness or some cancer, 00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:50.500 something that can just strike us down in the midst of all of our plans. 00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:52.959 We can feel like we're masters of the universe, 00:16:53.179 --> 00:16:54.500 but we're really very frail. 00:16:55.559 --> 00:16:56.299 And so when it says, 00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:57.859 and the word became flesh, 00:16:58.679 --> 00:17:00.779 it's saying that God, 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:03.000 the Son of God who created all things, 00:17:03.099 --> 00:17:05.960 became weak when he took on our human nature. 00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:08.079 And he dwelt among us. 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:11.699 It means that he sojourned amongst us, 00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:15.439 that God came and entered space and time. 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:16.799 He entered our world. 00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:20.059 And it says we have seen his glory. 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:22.519 Glory is the only Son from the Father, 00:17:22.619 --> 00:17:23.659 full of grace and truth. 00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:25.960 And it's hard for us to see that glory. 00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:27.899 It's hard for us to see that glory 00:17:27.899 --> 00:17:29.559 when he's just a baby in a manger, 00:17:30.419 --> 00:17:31.199 sort of ignored. 00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:32.319 And it's hard for us, 00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:33.539 especially to see that 00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:35.559 when he's dying upon the cross. 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:39.579 And I think one of the hardest parts about the gospel, 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:43.539 and the more I read the Bible, 00:17:43.679 --> 00:17:45.559 the more clear it becomes to me, 00:17:45.639 --> 00:17:48.460 and the more I realize I have such a hard time 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:50.359 really believing and accepting it. 00:17:51.419 --> 00:17:53.639 And I'm so, so glad 00:17:53.639 --> 00:17:55.399 that it's not about my ability 00:17:55.399 --> 00:17:57.059 to be able to think it all the time, 00:17:57.139 --> 00:17:59.079 that when I put my faith and trust in Jesus, 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:01.379 when I put my hand out to his, 00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:04.359 he takes my hand and holds on to me 00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:05.919 and he will never let me go. 00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:07.539 And he will let me go 00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:09.619 even though I believe and help my unbelief. 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:13.019 He knows when I have doubts. 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:14.479 He knows when I forget. 00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:15.979 He knows when I don't remember. 00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:18.299 But the thing about the Bible, 00:18:18.459 --> 00:18:19.619 which is so remarkable, 00:18:20.119 --> 00:18:22.240 is that Jesus does everything 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:24.219 that has to be done for us 00:18:24.219 --> 00:18:25.859 to make us right with God. 00:18:25.859 --> 00:18:31.000 and I contribute absolutely nothing. 00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:36.839 Like, if I could go back in time 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:39.719 and I had the space to speak to that barista, 00:18:39.959 --> 00:18:43.019 I would go back and say 00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:48.619 that to have to live with so much loneliness 00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:51.019 and so much anger and so much pain, 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:53.639 you really need Jesus. 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:58.000 And don't ever think 00:18:58.000 --> 00:19:00.759 that you have to sort yourself out 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:02.279 before you come to Jesus. 00:19:03.859 --> 00:19:06.319 Because Jesus knows everything about you 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:07.700 and still he loves you. 00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:11.359 And his making you right with God 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:13.920 is something that he does 100% 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:16.079 and you do 0%. 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:18.859 In fact, if you could put up the next point, Andrew, 00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:19.959 that would be very helpful. 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:24.319 It offends me that God would save me 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:26.159 in a way that brings me no glory. 00:19:29.199 --> 00:19:32.399 You know, because it would be really nice 00:19:32.399 --> 00:19:33.019 if I could say, 00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:33.719 well, yeah, I mean, 00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:35.819 I know I got saved by grace by Jesus, 00:19:35.979 --> 00:19:37.839 but it's also because I'm so good at preaching. 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:40.259 Or it's also because I'm such a good husband. 00:19:40.479 --> 00:19:42.419 Or it's also because I'm such a great dad. 00:19:42.919 --> 00:19:44.399 Or it's also because of this. 00:19:44.699 --> 00:19:45.959 Or it's also because of that. 00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:52.440 But Jesus knows our every weakness 00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:54.860 and he knows everything about us 00:19:54.860 --> 00:19:56.120 and he knows that we can never 00:19:56.120 --> 00:19:57.640 make ourselves right with God 00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:59.579 and everything that has to be done 00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:00.759 to make us right with God 00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:01.860 is done by Jesus 00:20:01.860 --> 00:20:04.720 in his life and in his death. 00:20:05.120 --> 00:20:06.740 And all we can do is receive 00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:08.240 what he has done. 00:20:08.940 --> 00:20:09.660 Next point. 00:20:09.660 --> 00:20:13.640 So what John is saying 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:15.940 is that the word made flesh, 00:20:16.340 --> 00:20:17.759 that means God, 00:20:18.340 --> 00:20:20.040 made flesh, lay in a manger, 00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:21.759 hung on the cross, 00:20:22.340 --> 00:20:23.300 and was laid in a tomb. 00:20:24.120 --> 00:20:25.620 That's what John wants us to know. 00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:27.019 What we celebrate today 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:28.720 and remember today 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:30.660 is that God, the Son of God, 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:32.279 becomes a human being. 00:20:33.120 --> 00:20:35.340 And it is God, the Son of God, 00:20:35.820 --> 00:20:36.880 lying in a manger. 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:38.720 It is God, the Son of God, 00:20:38.780 --> 00:20:39.840 who speaks to us 00:20:39.840 --> 00:20:41.520 when we read the Gospels. 00:20:41.800 --> 00:20:43.900 It is God, the Son of God, 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:46.080 who dies upon a cross. 00:20:46.540 --> 00:20:48.540 It is God, the Son of God, 00:20:48.820 --> 00:20:50.440 whose side is pierced 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:51.980 and whose blood comes out. 00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:53.240 Next point. 00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:58.340 He humbled himself to death 00:20:58.340 --> 00:21:00.400 so that by faith 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:02.400 I will dwell with God. 00:21:03.520 --> 00:21:05.240 See, it's such a wonderful thing 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:06.220 here in John 14. 00:21:06.339 --> 00:21:07.920 It says, John 1, 14, 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.140 And the word became flesh 00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:10.920 and dwelt among us. 00:21:11.880 --> 00:21:13.339 And we have seen his glory, 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:14.900 glory as of the only Son 00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:15.559 from the Father, 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.720 full of grace and truth. 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:19.079 That Jesus, God, the Son of God, 00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:20.640 who is dwelling with the Father 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:21.920 from all eternity, 00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:25.500 he leaves dwelling with the Father, 00:21:26.339 --> 00:21:27.779 setting aside his glory 00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:29.480 and prerogatives and splendor 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:30.799 and his appearance as God, 00:21:30.900 --> 00:21:32.359 his might and his majesty, 00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:33.319 and all of the things 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:35.119 that would just overwhelm us 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:35.939 with his glory. 00:21:36.639 --> 00:21:37.819 And remaining fully God 00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:39.740 because God can't stop being God. 00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:40.339 He takes, 00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:42.240 he strips himself down 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:43.479 to everything 00:21:43.479 --> 00:21:44.199 except the fact 00:21:44.199 --> 00:21:45.479 that he's got all of his appearance. 00:21:45.679 --> 00:21:46.879 And he takes into himself 00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:47.719 our human nature. 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:48.979 And he doesn't take into himself, 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:50.299 you know, 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:51.319 a beautiful body 00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:52.579 or an unbelievably, 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.839 the strongest body 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:55.039 or a superhero body, 00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:56.099 but a normal, 00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:58.399 frail, weak body. 00:21:58.400 --> 00:22:00.259 And he dwells among us. 00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:04.360 And he suffers all the trials 00:22:04.360 --> 00:22:05.100 and temptations 00:22:05.100 --> 00:22:06.519 that we do only without sin. 00:22:07.840 --> 00:22:10.040 And he dies on the cross for us 00:22:10.040 --> 00:22:12.440 so that when we put our faith 00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:13.500 and trust in him, 00:22:13.860 --> 00:22:15.920 we will dwell with him today 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:17.240 and in all eternity. 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:20.480 He dwells with us 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:22.519 that we might dwell with God. 00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:24.720 And the path 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:27.039 for us to dwell with God 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:28.759 goes right through the cross 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:31.839 where all of our pretensions of glory 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:34.039 and all of our pretensions of pride 00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:36.500 are all completely and utterly done away. 00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:38.559 Final video, please. 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.859 I want you to stand. 00:22:44.099 --> 00:22:44.839 Please stand. 00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:51.720 Just bow our heads in prayer. 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:53.519 Amen. 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:03.879 Father, we give you thanks and praise 00:23:03.879 --> 00:23:05.879 that the gospel is not good advice 00:23:05.879 --> 00:23:08.480 about how to be more successful. 00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:11.099 We give you thanks and praise 00:23:11.099 --> 00:23:12.720 that it's not good rules 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:14.119 that we have to follow. 00:23:14.639 --> 00:23:16.200 We give you thanks and praise 00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:18.319 that the gospel is not good rituals 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:20.480 which we have to practice. 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:23.019 We give you thanks and praise 00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:24.519 that it's not information 00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:25.940 about good institutions 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:28.120 that we have to belong to. 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:30.480 Father, we give you thanks and praise 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:32.059 that the gospel is good news, 00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:35.079 that it's news about what you have done 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:36.640 that we cannot have done ourselves, 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:40.299 of Jesus, of God, the Son of God, 00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:42.660 being born in Bethlehem, 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:45.140 taking into himself our human nature, 00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:47.920 living the life that we could never live, 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:50.120 and dying a death on the cross 00:23:50.120 --> 00:23:52.420 whereby he took into himself 00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:54.820 and on himself the doom that we deserved 00:23:54.820 --> 00:23:57.259 and offered to us the destiny 00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:58.600 that he deserved. 00:23:58.599 --> 00:24:01.439 Father, we thank and praise you 00:24:01.439 --> 00:24:03.519 for this great love that he has for us, 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:05.240 that he has done everything 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:06.599 to make us right with you, 00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:08.439 that all we can do is, 00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:11.139 with empty hands and no glory whatsoever, 00:24:11.659 --> 00:24:13.319 put our hands out to you, 00:24:14.219 --> 00:24:16.539 that you would take our hand 00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:18.779 as our Savior and as our Lord, 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:20.859 that you would be the one 00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:22.459 who has made us right with God. 00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:24.919 Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit 00:24:24.919 --> 00:24:26.439 would move deeply in our lives 00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:28.160 to make us disciples of Jesus 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:30.279 who are gripped by the gospel. 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:32.940 And as we are gripped by the gospel, 00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:35.660 we are learning to live for your glory 00:24:35.660 --> 00:24:37.640 and the good of many people. 00:24:38.100 --> 00:24:39.940 In all this we ask in the name of Jesus, 00:24:40.100 --> 00:24:41.259 your Son and our Savior. 00:24:41.880 --> 00:24:42.240 Amen.