WEBVTT

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 Good morning, folks.

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 Well, I didn't know you could get a dry mouth, but sweaty hands at the same time.

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 I've also had to quickly modify this after this quiz.

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 I don't think I would have got it right either with some of the questions.

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 How are we all this morning?

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 Good.

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 I wonder what your favourite Christmas carol or song is this year.

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 A few years ago, there was a song that came out.

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 You might remember it.

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 It was called Hope Christmas Gets You to Me.

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 I don't know if you remember it.

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 It was sung by a chap in Glasgow.

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 And it's a song that produces a warm, fuzzy feeling inside of you.

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 There's a line in it that goes like this.

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 I couldn't care what's under the tree.

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 I don't know what I'm getting for Christmas.

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 But I hope it gets you to me.

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 This was a song that was written at the end of the first COVID year,

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 when we were all fed up of not being able to see each other.

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 But I wonder what your favourite is this year.

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 I wonder, is it the melody or the tune?

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 Is it the words that speak to you?

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 Because of what's going on in your life right now.

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 Each one of us will find a different Christmas song that speaks to us for some reason.

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 And in fact, actually, I was smiling this morning because these hymns were written for this message this morning.

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 But Christmas songs will speak to us because of the circumstances that we're going through.

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 Or just because the tunes are new and catchy.

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 Each year, the BBC announces the official Christmas number one.

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 It's the track that tops the UK singles chart the Friday before Christmas.

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 And it's announced, in fact, it'll be announced today on Radio 1 at 4pm.

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 So, maybe tonight, in fact, there's probably a lot of people already doing this this morning,

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 but maybe tonight or maybe tomorrow you will be driving home for Christmas.

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 Back to family or to get away.

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 And maybe you've already got that playlist primed.

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 Well, in our passage today, there are three long journeys, but there's only one song.

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 I don't know if any of you have got kids.

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 There's lots of kids here today.

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 It's actually quite good to see all the kids here.

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 But sometimes kids like to hear the same song played over and over and over again.

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 And I, well, I don't know what that's like yet.

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 But there's one song in our passage this morning, but yet there's three long journeys.

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 We've also sung this song, and I was pleased that we sang it again this morning.

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 We've also sung this song in Brunsfield, a sing with the song of Emmanuel.

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 And that's probably my favourite Christmas song this year.

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 One, because it's new.

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 Two, because it is full of truth and it communicates some of the things that we've been thinking about here at Brunsfield.

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 Whatever song you've been enjoying over the past month,

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 I hope you've also been enjoying the songs that we have been thinking about

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 as we've been looking at Luke's Gospel.

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 Mary's song, My Soul Magnifies the Lord.

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 Or Zechariah's song, Blessed Be the Lord God of Israel.

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 Both of these songs are pregnant with the truth and meaning and with worship.

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 And we can see in the language that they were waiting to be brought forth.

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 Well, today I want to think about another song, and it is the angel's song.

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 Gloria in excelsis Deo.

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 Glory to God in the highest.

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 Now, this account that we have in Luke chapter 2 is a wonderful story about the Lord Jesus entering into time.

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 The story of his birth is not even the beginning of the story, and it's not the end of the story.

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 In fact, it's right in the middle of the story.

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 It's the heart of the story.

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 It's the centre point of all of history.

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 God, who is outside of time and a space and matter, comes right into the centre of it all.

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 Even our calendars today remind us of the fact that we count history from the moment that Jesus entered the world.

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 Before Christ and after Christ.

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 And even if you're an atheist and you don't use these terms,

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 you might use terms like before the common era and the common era.

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 Well, it still points back to this point in history when Jesus was in the world.

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 Jesus is not a one-hit wonder.

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 And neither are the songs that we've been considering over the last few weeks.

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 They are really the Christmas number one.

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 Week after week after week after week after week after week and for eternity.

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 We see in our text that the shepherds came and they saw and they returned.

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 Overflowing in the worship of God.

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 And the angels came praising and worshipping God.

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 Mary.

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 Zechariah.

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 And for us, as Christians, we never tire of singing praise and worship to God about his son.

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 Well, I know that this passage today is very well known.

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 And often with passages that are very well known, there's a tendency just to switch off.

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 But I just want to ask you today just to bear with me for a few minutes as we remind ourselves of the wonder of this account in Luke chapter 2.

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 Luke reminds us in the opening verses of this chapter.

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 In fact, in chapter 1.

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 That he has set out an orderly account of these things for Theophilus.

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 And then also for us as readers.

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 That we may have certainty about the things that we have heard.

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 He detailed that Caesar Augustus was ruling.

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 And that the registration was taking place at the time of or in preparation for Quirinius, who was going to be the governor over Syria.

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 If anybody's studied that in detail, then you'll realize that there might be some slight timeline that we can't quite line up.

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 But Luke records this so that we can have certainty that these things took place.

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 I think it's important for us to affirm what we know about the birth of Jesus, even by its historical narrative at the time.

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 The story is not a once upon a time fairy tale in Bethlehem.

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 It's anchored in place and time in history.

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 And Luke sets this out for us.

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 Now, I wasn't much of a studier.

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 I'm still not.

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 And when I started to look at this, some of the things that you studied at school.

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 Some of the poems and the text that you have studied.

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 Some of the names and the occurrences come flooding back.

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 But Caesar Augustus, I don't know if you remember this, was the adopted son of Julius Caesar.

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 When Julius Caesar was murdered, the empire was split and controlled by three men.

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 One of them was Caesar Augustus.

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 And wars and trouble and famine echoed right across the whole of the Mediterranean for years and years until two of these individuals pushed out the third.

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 And then Caesar Augustus defeated his opponents in a remarkable way.

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 And he made his mark on the landscape.

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 For that whole Mediterranean basin there, he changed it in a very remarkable way.

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 First of all, he brought about peace for the whole region.

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 And that was mainly because he had defeated his rivals.

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 If you haven't got anybody to fight with, then you have peace.

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 Secondly, he brought a political and administrative skill.

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 Some would even say political and administrative brilliance, which propelled the Roman Empire.

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 And thirdly, he brought vast sums of money from Egypt to pay the soldiers and to help that Roman economy.

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 He then declared, as we've read in verse 1, he decreed that all should be organized.

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 They should be registered.

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 They should be taxed.

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 And although that we read a many different census in the Roman Empire,

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 it's believed that the records of the censuses that were taking place were still available hundreds of years later

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 to verify this account that Luke records and the account that we've come to believe.

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 The fact that a baby boy was born in Bethlehem is not really that hard for us to accept.

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 But although Caesar Augustus might have been ruling,

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 God was in charge.

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 We as mankind, we like to think that we're in charge.

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 But as Christians, we soon come to realize that God is in control.

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 And that he orchestrated the time for Mary to be ready to have her firstborn

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 while they were in Bethlehem being registered under Caesar Augustus.

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 I think it's important for us to notice this because this is the fulfillment of the prophecy

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 that we read about in Micah chapter 5, where it says,

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 Jesus being born in Bethlehem is not a random chance.

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 God promised that the Savior would be human,

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 that our Savior would be a Jew,

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 that he would be from the tribe of Judah,

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 he would be from the family of David,

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 he would be born of a virgin,

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 and in Bethlehem, the city of David.

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 And so you see, for all of these things to come together at that time is not a coincidence.

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 There's a reason and a purpose that Jesus was born at that time,

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 and in that place, and in that way.

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 Now, I mentioned in our text that there are three,

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 and you'll maybe see this if you've still got your passage open,

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 but don't worry if you have not.

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 In our text, there are three long journeys.

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 The first journey we can mark is the journey of Mary and Joseph.

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 A journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem,

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 probably quite a difficult trip.

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 Somewhere between 70 and 80 miles,

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 with a pregnant wife,

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 and I guess probably a fairly busy route,

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 as everyone else would have been moving about to register themselves,

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 so that God's plan would be fulfilled.

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 We don't really know how far in advance that they travelled,

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 or if the census had taken place,

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 or if they had remained in Bethlehem afterwards,

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 but the Bible says that while they were there,

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 the time came.

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 And as I've been reading this passage in Luke,

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 and as we've been working through chapter 1 and chapter 2,

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 I really enjoyed this next sentence that Luke records for us.

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 And it says this,

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 And she gave birth to her firstborn son,

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 and wrapped him in swaddling cloths,

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 and laid him in a manger,

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 because there was no place for them in the inn.

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 I want you to notice the simplicity

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 in the way that this is recorded.

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 It's probably one of the greatest events

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 ever in the history of all time.

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 And yet it's just detailed in three simple phrases.

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 She brought forth her son,

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 wrapped him in swaddling bands,

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 and laid him in a manger.

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 I really enjoyed the fact that there is something simple,

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 and straightforward,

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 and understated in that.

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 Jesus was born into poverty,

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 and also he was born into an outside place.

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 The creator, the maker, the sustainer,

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 enters the world as a baby

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 in humility,

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 in dignity,

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 and poverty.

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 The expectation was that the Messiah

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 would become as a mighty hero,

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 as a conquering king,

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 and as a strong warrior,

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 most likely bursting onto the stage

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 with noise and fanfare.

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 But instead, we find the promised saviour

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 coming into this world

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 in the weakness of a baby.

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 We just sung,

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 maker of Mary,

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 now Mary's child.

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 Now I can't imagine,

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 for those of you who don't know,

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 Rachel, my wife, is expecting,

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 but I can't imagine that Rachel

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 would like our firstborn

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 to be placed in a stone feeding trough,

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 or in a stable,

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 or a cave.

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 But Jesus was.

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 And it's interesting,

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 if you like to study,

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 you could do a little study

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 into this feeding trough,

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 have a look at

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 what happened

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 during the Passover

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 when they would select a lamb

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 and they would take care of it.

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 Well, it suggested that the lamb

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 was kept safe and clean

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 by placing them

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 into the same kind of manger.

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 Which is,

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 if that is true,

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 then it would be a beautiful picture

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 of the lamb of God

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 lying in a manger

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 like the lamb,

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 the Passover lamb.

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 I haven't done a huge amount of study.

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 I've read one or two bits.

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 So if you do want to study that,

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 then maybe over the next week

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 at Christmas time

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 when you've got some time off work,

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 that could be something

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 for you to look at.

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 But not only do we see

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 that Jesus was born in poverty,

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 in his birth,

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 we trace that through his life

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 and we see it in his death.

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 We read elsewhere in Scripture

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 that he became poor

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 for our sakes,

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 that we might be rich.

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 Jesus didn't come

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 to seek out fame

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 or fortune,

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 to be born into a palace

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 with money and wealth.

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 You know,

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 the only thing that Jesus

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 came to seek was the lost

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 and he is still seeking.

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 I think it's amazing

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 as we start to understand

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 the story of Jesus' birth

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 and his life

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 and his death

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 that we can really be taken up

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 with this simplicity

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 in what we are asked to believe.

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 What happened roughly

00:14:58.580 --> 00:15:00.320
 2,023 years ago

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 is recorded simply

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 and accurately

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 so that we might understand

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 how the God of creation,

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 the God of eternity,

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 is a God who wants

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 to be known by us.

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 A God who has made

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 the way known

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 to know him,

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 not something

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 that only the clever

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 or the wise can attain.

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 For Jesus reminds us

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 that it is the simple faith

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 that is required

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 to believe.

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 Which leads me on

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 to the second journey

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 in a reading

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 in this chapter.

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 And this is a journey

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 that the angels made

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 from heaven

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 to a hillside.

00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.939
 It's not the first

00:15:38.939 --> 00:15:40.819
 angelic appearance

00:15:40.819 --> 00:15:42.019
 in our song trilogy

00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:43.019
 over the last three weeks.

00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:44.939
 The angel appeared

00:15:44.939 --> 00:15:46.199
 both to Zechariah

00:15:46.199 --> 00:15:47.039
 and to Mary.

00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:49.840
 And in keeping

00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:50.899
 with the other appearances,

00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:52.319
 he invites the shepherds

00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:54.640
 to not be afraid.

00:15:57.040 --> 00:15:58.080
 We sometimes have

00:15:58.080 --> 00:15:59.980
 a rosy view

00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:01.460
 of the nativity scene.

00:16:02.280 --> 00:16:02.940
 I guess maybe

00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:04.100
 some of our Christmas cards

00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:05.220
 depict it in a way

00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:07.080
 that creates that soft,

00:16:07.540 --> 00:16:08.900
 fuzzy feeling within us.

00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:11.600
 But interrupting

00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:12.700
 this dark, quiet,

00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:14.300
 excuse me,

00:16:14.540 --> 00:16:15.260
 interrupting this

00:16:15.260 --> 00:16:17.440
 quiet and dark night,

00:16:17.700 --> 00:16:18.720
 this quiet and dark

00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:20.100
 hillside scene

00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:21.560
 was the presence

00:16:21.560 --> 00:16:22.159
 of an angel

00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:23.600
 and with him

00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:24.200
 the brightness

00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:25.019
 and the glory

00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:25.639
 of the Lord.

00:16:27.460 --> 00:16:28.300
 This angel

00:16:28.300 --> 00:16:29.960
 brought about

00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:32.019
 a message

00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:32.800
 to the world.

00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:33.700
 And in fact,

00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:35.840
 it is probably

00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:37.300
 the first gospel

00:16:37.300 --> 00:16:38.259
 message.

00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:42.100
 See, the angel

00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:43.279
 brought good news.

00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:43.820
 Literally,

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:44.860
 it is the same word

00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:45.420
 that we use

00:16:45.420 --> 00:16:45.960
 for gospel.

00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:48.160
 And it is a good news

00:16:48.160 --> 00:16:48.900
 of great joy.

00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:50.420
 I think there is

00:16:50.420 --> 00:16:51.540
 no better message

00:16:51.540 --> 00:16:52.259
 and I guess

00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:53.240
 for all of us here

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:54.379
 who are Christians

00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:55.120
 and we would agree

00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:55.460
 with this,

00:16:55.540 --> 00:16:57.019
 there is no better message

00:16:57.019 --> 00:16:58.200
 than that of the gospel

00:16:58.200 --> 00:16:59.700
 and we should not

00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:00.420
 be afraid of it.

00:17:01.280 --> 00:17:01.900
 It is a message

00:17:01.900 --> 00:17:02.680
 of God's love

00:17:02.680 --> 00:17:04.200
 and God's justice,

00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:06.460
 a message of his mercy

00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:07.880
 and his compassion,

00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:10.759
 but also of his righteousness

00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:11.559
 and his holiness.

00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:15.919
 It is interesting

00:17:15.919 --> 00:17:16.899
 that we see

00:17:16.899 --> 00:17:17.500
 this message

00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:18.099
 is declared

00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:18.879
 to shepherds.

00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:20.399
 Again,

00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:21.079
 I think we have

00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:21.720
 sometimes

00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:23.839
 a rosy

00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:24.839
 understanding

00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:26.000
 of what a shepherd is.

00:17:28.619 --> 00:17:29.480
 But in this day

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:31.679
 that we are thinking about,

00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:32.619
 shepherds were not

00:17:32.619 --> 00:17:33.779
 people who were trusted.

00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:36.059
 They were

00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:36.980
 a kind of

00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:37.960
 outcast class

00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:38.759
 of society

00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:40.240
 and they were

00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:41.680
 unlikely to be

00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:42.839
 well educated either.

00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:45.980
 That they should come

00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:46.960
 and see the saviour

00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:48.059
 first of all

00:17:48.059 --> 00:17:49.920
 and to witness his birth

00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:51.039
 is quite remarkable.

00:17:51.859 --> 00:17:52.539
 We are told

00:17:52.539 --> 00:17:53.180
 that the shepherds

00:17:53.180 --> 00:17:54.140
 were so untrustworthy

00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:55.240
 in other places

00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.120
 that they weren't

00:17:56.120 --> 00:17:56.519
 even allowed

00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:57.259
 to be a witness

00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:57.880
 in a court

00:17:57.880 --> 00:17:58.599
 and yet God

00:17:58.599 --> 00:17:59.259
 chooses them

00:17:59.259 --> 00:17:59.900
 to witness

00:17:59.900 --> 00:18:00.559
 the birth

00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:02.059
 of his son.

00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:03.640
 The message

00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:04.059
 that the angels

00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:04.700
 brought was this,

00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:05.539
 a message

00:18:05.539 --> 00:18:06.339
 that a saviour

00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:07.140
 was born.

00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:09.120
 And I want to

00:18:09.120 --> 00:18:09.900
 emphasise that point

00:18:09.900 --> 00:18:10.320
 this morning.

00:18:14.800 --> 00:18:15.780
 Jesus is first

00:18:15.780 --> 00:18:16.900
 announced on the stage

00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:18.480
 as a saviour.

00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:20.440
 Not a king,

00:18:21.080 --> 00:18:22.580
 not a wise man,

00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:24.420
 not a judge

00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:25.640
 or a reformer,

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:27.820
 but a saviour.

00:18:29.040 --> 00:18:30.060
 His name means

00:18:30.060 --> 00:18:30.840
 that he will save

00:18:30.840 --> 00:18:32.240
 and this is why

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:33.320
 it is good news.

00:18:33.840 --> 00:18:34.519
 Not just good news

00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:35.240
 for the shepherds

00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:36.320
 or the Jews

00:18:36.320 --> 00:18:36.780
 or the people

00:18:36.780 --> 00:18:37.360
 of that time,

00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:39.759
 but for all people,

00:18:39.979 --> 00:18:40.679
 the angels said.

00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:42.579
 And the reason

00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:43.579
 for this is because

00:18:43.579 --> 00:18:44.699
 this is exactly

00:18:44.699 --> 00:18:46.500
 what this world

00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.119
 needed

00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:48.399
 and still needs.

00:18:48.979 --> 00:18:49.679
 A saviour

00:18:49.679 --> 00:18:50.299
 who would take away

00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:50.859
 the sins

00:18:50.859 --> 00:18:51.979
 of the world,

00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:52.779
 a saviour

00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:53.659
 that would reconcile

00:18:53.659 --> 00:18:55.459
 man to God.

00:18:57.619 --> 00:18:58.359
 I think it's still

00:18:58.359 --> 00:18:59.099
 amazing news

00:18:59.099 --> 00:19:00.339
 for all people.

00:19:01.959 --> 00:19:02.319
 You know,

00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:03.099
 we live in a world

00:19:03.099 --> 00:19:03.979
 as we've been thinking

00:19:03.979 --> 00:19:04.579
 about this year,

00:19:04.659 --> 00:19:05.619
 in fact the last two years

00:19:05.619 --> 00:19:06.239
 we've been thinking

00:19:06.239 --> 00:19:06.839
 about this a lot.

00:19:06.939 --> 00:19:07.819
 We live in a world

00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:09.839
 not unlike the world

00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:11.179
 that we've described

00:19:11.179 --> 00:19:11.899
 around the time

00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:12.819
 of Caesar Augustus.

00:19:14.639 --> 00:19:15.659
 There is war

00:19:15.659 --> 00:19:16.439
 going on,

00:19:16.719 --> 00:19:17.519
 there is unrest,

00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:18.639
 there is sadness.

00:19:19.819 --> 00:19:20.899
 Not just here in Edinburgh

00:19:20.899 --> 00:19:21.779
 or in Scotland,

00:19:22.159 --> 00:19:23.319
 but across the globe

00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:25.259
 this is the same.

00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:27.839
 But our message

00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:29.039
 of great joy

00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:30.000
 is just as powerful

00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:30.479
 today

00:19:30.479 --> 00:19:31.799
 as it was

00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:32.459
 then.

00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:34.299
 good news

00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:36.480
 that is indeed

00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:37.100
 great joy.

00:19:38.819 --> 00:19:40.019
 So what was the news then?

00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:42.759
 We thought about

00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:43.620
 how good it was

00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:44.559
 and how much joy

00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:44.940
 it would bring,

00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:45.819
 but what is this news?

00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:46.980
 Well, the angel said

00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:48.539
 to the shepherds this,

00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:49.380
 for unto you

00:19:49.380 --> 00:19:50.819
 is born this day

00:19:50.819 --> 00:19:52.480
 in the city of David

00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:53.360
 a saviour

00:19:53.360 --> 00:19:54.900
 which is Christ the Lord.

00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:56.360
 Probably a memory verse

00:19:56.360 --> 00:19:57.740
 that you came to Sunday school

00:19:57.740 --> 00:20:00.160
 or any other

00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:01.519
 church related activities.

00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.640
 Certainly in your schools

00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:03.839
 this is a verse

00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:04.640
 that children

00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:05.299
 would have learned

00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:07.000
 from whatever age.

00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:08.680
 And it's probably,

00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.400
 we often say that

00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:11.000
 John 3.16

00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.680
 is probably the best

00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.519
 known verse in the world

00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:13.720
 and it likely is.

00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:15.240
 But I would hazard a guess

00:20:15.240 --> 00:20:15.940
 that this is probably

00:20:15.940 --> 00:20:17.460
 one of the most

00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:18.160
 well known verses.

00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:19.740
 But even if you are

00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.299
 an atheist

00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:21.740
 or even if you don't

00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:22.440
 believe in God

00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:23.519
 then this is a verse

00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:24.180
 that you'll have seen

00:20:24.180 --> 00:20:24.859
 at Christmas time

00:20:24.859 --> 00:20:25.440
 over the years.

00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:28.299
 A saviour

00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:29.400
 who is Christ the Lord.

00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:31.940
 This is an amazing title.

00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:32.720
 It's not just

00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:34.240
 an announcement.

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:35.519
 It's not just

00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:37.259
 a sentence.

00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.200
 It's a title.

00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:43.360
 Firstly, because

00:20:43.360 --> 00:20:45.900
 the word saviour,

00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:47.559
 he is a saviour

00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:48.860
 is expressed in his name

00:20:48.860 --> 00:20:49.400
 Jesus.

00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:51.259
 We know that that name

00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:52.580
 means that he will save.

00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:54.140
 Secondly,

00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:55.680
 he is the Christ,

00:20:56.120 --> 00:20:57.300
 the anointed of God,

00:20:57.380 --> 00:20:58.900
 the Messiah of Israel.

00:20:59.280 --> 00:20:59.920
 And thirdly,

00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:01.340
 he is the Lord,

00:21:01.860 --> 00:21:03.420
 God manifest in flesh.

00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:06.620
 The angels tell the shepherds

00:21:06.620 --> 00:21:07.020
 what's happening

00:21:07.020 --> 00:21:07.840
 down in Bethlehem

00:21:07.840 --> 00:21:09.500
 and not only

00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:10.220
 what's happening

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:11.160
 but why it's happening.

00:21:12.580 --> 00:21:13.680
 It describes the scenes

00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.620
 and what to look for.

00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:15.520
 A baby wrapped

00:21:15.520 --> 00:21:17.160
 in swaddling cloths

00:21:17.160 --> 00:21:18.600
 and lying in a manger.

00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:21.259
 They don't have to hope

00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:21.920
 that they're going

00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:23.040
 to find this baby.

00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:24.859
 The angel told them

00:21:24.859 --> 00:21:26.200
 that this would be a sign.

00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:27.159
 I don't know how many

00:21:27.159 --> 00:21:27.940
 other babies

00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:30.440
 would be born

00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:31.000
 in Bethlehem

00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:32.180
 at that time.

00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:34.039
 I mean,

00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:34.819
 certainly if you

00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:36.460
 go to your appointments

00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.460
 in the Simpsons Memorial

00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:38.480
 then you'll see a string

00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:40.220
 of people coming in and out

00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:41.379
 and I'm not sure

00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:41.920
 if it would have been

00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:42.720
 the same in Bethlehem

00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:43.200
 at that time

00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:43.859
 that there would have been

00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:45.000
 a number of babies born.

00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:45.980
 But this was the sign

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:47.139
 that the angel told them

00:21:47.139 --> 00:21:48.799
 that a baby

00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:50.839
 wrapped in swaddling cloths

00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:51.839
 lying in a manger.

00:21:54.419 --> 00:21:55.199
 And then,

00:21:55.379 --> 00:21:56.399
 in stark contrast

00:21:56.399 --> 00:21:57.899
 to our first scene,

00:21:58.220 --> 00:21:59.399
 we see this good news

00:21:59.399 --> 00:22:00.279
 of great joy

00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:01.039
 erupting

00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:02.299
 in song

00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:02.879
 as suddenly

00:22:02.879 --> 00:22:04.399
 there is a great

00:22:04.399 --> 00:22:05.679
 heavenly host

00:22:05.679 --> 00:22:06.859
 joined with the angel

00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:07.720
 praising God

00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:08.599
 saying,

00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:09.879
 glory to God

00:22:09.879 --> 00:22:10.500
 in the highest

00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.220
 and on earth

00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:11.740
 peace,

00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.240
 good will

00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:14.879
 toward men.

00:22:16.379 --> 00:22:16.819
 Gloria

00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:18.579
 in excelsis

00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:19.359
 deo.

00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:23.259
 Glory to God

00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:25.659
 peace on earth.

00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:28.200
 We thought earlier

00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:29.359
 about Caesar Augustus

00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:30.980
 bringing peace

00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:31.519
 to the region

00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:33.099
 after he defeated

00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:33.599
 his enemies.

00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.220
 But peace

00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:35.779
 isn't just

00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.319
 the absence

00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:37.720
 of war

00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.619
 or the absence

00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:39.119
 of poverty

00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:39.639
 or the absence

00:22:39.639 --> 00:22:40.099
 of famine.

00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:41.659
 Augustus

00:22:41.659 --> 00:22:42.539
 couldn't bring peace

00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.220
 from passion

00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:44.519
 from grief

00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.639
 from envy

00:22:45.639 --> 00:22:46.480
 or guilt

00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:48.519
 and he cannot

00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:49.180
 give peace

00:22:49.180 --> 00:22:49.740
 of heart

00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.940
 for which

00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:52.440
 man yearns

00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:52.900
 more

00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:54.299
 than anything

00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:54.779
 else

00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:57.559
 even for

00:22:57.559 --> 00:22:58.259
 outward peace.

00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:00.319
 Now,

00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:01.079
 Jesus' life

00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:01.519
 in ministry

00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:02.000
 would bring

00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.759
 both glory

00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.380
 to God

00:23:03.380 --> 00:23:04.140
 in the highest

00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:05.539
 and it would

00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:06.039
 bring peace

00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:06.500
 on earth,

00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.460
 good will

00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:08.200
 towards men

00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:08.599
 or,

00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:09.920
 depending on

00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:10.380
 which version

00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:10.819
 you read,

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:12.019
 peace among

00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:12.740
 those with

00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:13.539
 whom he is

00:23:13.539 --> 00:23:13.980
 pleased.

00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.360
 God is

00:23:17.360 --> 00:23:17.799
 well pleased

00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:18.240
 with those

00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:18.839
 who repent

00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:19.440
 of their

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:19.680
 sin

00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:22.279
 and receive

00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:23.000
 Jesus Christ

00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:23.420
 as their

00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:24.019
 Lord and

00:23:24.019 --> 00:23:24.420
 Saviour.

00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:26.980
 The peace

00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:27.360
 that Jesus

00:23:27.360 --> 00:23:28.160
 offers us

00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:29.099
 is not,

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:29.880
 as he reminds

00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:30.420
 us in John

00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:30.839
 14,

00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.420
 as the world

00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:33.019
 give peace.

00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:34.680
 It's not a

00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.039
 temporary,

00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:35.799
 fragile,

00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:37.720
 only to be

00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.539
 disturbed at

00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.000
 the slightest

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.720
 offence

00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.299
 peace.

00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:41.920
 The peace

00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:42.339
 that is offered

00:23:42.339 --> 00:23:42.680
 by him

00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:43.140
 is deep

00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:44.400
 and eternal

00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:45.900
 and meaningful

00:23:45.900 --> 00:23:46.440
 peace.

00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:48.740
 One of

00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.259
 having no

00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:49.980
 enmity with

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.320
 God,

00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:51.060
 not being an

00:23:51.060 --> 00:23:51.759
 enemy of

00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:52.060
 God,

00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:52.720
 in fact,

00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:53.880
 being a

00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:54.280
 friend of

00:23:54.280 --> 00:23:54.560
 God,

00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:55.340
 and if you,

00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:56.580
 I was smiling

00:23:56.580 --> 00:23:57.259
 as we sung it

00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:57.759
 because it's

00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:58.340
 in one of the

00:23:58.340 --> 00:23:58.860
 lines of the

00:23:58.860 --> 00:23:59.560
 hymns that we

00:23:59.560 --> 00:24:00.680
 sung this

00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:00.980
 morning.

00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:02.280
 Becoming a

00:24:02.280 --> 00:24:02.880
 friend of

00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:03.200
 God,

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.000
 having no

00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:04.920
 burden of

00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:05.500
 our sin

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.940
 or the guilt

00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:07.340
 of our sin

00:24:07.340 --> 00:24:07.960
 to deal with,

00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.340
 instead,

00:24:10.080 --> 00:24:10.560
 having our

00:24:10.560 --> 00:24:11.220
 sins removed

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:11.759
 as far as

00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:12.200
 the east

00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:12.560
 is from

00:24:12.560 --> 00:24:13.060
 the west

00:24:13.059 --> 00:24:14.179
 and having

00:24:14.179 --> 00:24:14.859
 them remembered

00:24:14.859 --> 00:24:15.579
 no more.

00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:17.819
 Jesus takes

00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:18.899
 our sin

00:24:18.899 --> 00:24:20.000
 by his

00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.700
 atoning death

00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:21.319
 on the cross.

00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.319
 His death

00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:23.039
 is what brings

00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:23.679
 about peace.

00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:26.039
 And as

00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:27.599
 he becomes

00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:28.179
 our saviour,

00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:28.779
 he leads us

00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:29.099
 in a way

00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:29.559
 that allows

00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:29.879
 us to

00:24:29.879 --> 00:24:30.500
 enjoy that

00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:31.460
 peace that

00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:32.440
 passes all

00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:32.940
 human

00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.720
 understanding.

00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:35.740
 But in

00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:36.179
 order to

00:24:36.179 --> 00:24:36.579
 die,

00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.399
 he must

00:24:38.399 --> 00:24:38.639
 have been

00:24:38.639 --> 00:24:38.940
 born.

00:24:39.879 --> 00:24:40.279
 And that's

00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:40.559
 what we're

00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:41.099
 thinking about

00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:42.259
 this morning.

00:24:43.059 --> 00:24:44.839
 Well,

00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:45.919
 we've come

00:24:45.919 --> 00:24:46.159
 to our

00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:46.399
 third

00:24:46.399 --> 00:24:47.579
 journey.

00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:48.119
 As soon

00:24:48.119 --> 00:24:48.339
 as the

00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:48.599
 angels

00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:49.059
 departed,

00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:49.720
 the shepherds

00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.179
 hurried to

00:24:50.179 --> 00:24:50.619
 Bethlehem,

00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:51.899
 which is

00:24:51.899 --> 00:24:52.460
 probably the

00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:53.740
 first Christmas

00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:54.460
 rush.

00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:56.000
 I'm not sure

00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.299
 that they

00:24:56.299 --> 00:24:56.500
 would have

00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.159
 been dashing

00:24:57.159 --> 00:24:57.539
 through the

00:24:57.539 --> 00:24:58.200
 snow because

00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:59.220
 shepherds out

00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:00.639
 in the fields,

00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:01.179
 it was probably

00:25:01.179 --> 00:25:01.839
 quite a mild

00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:02.819
 winter in

00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:04.079
 Israel that

00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:04.319
 year.

00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:05.000
 But the

00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:05.359
 shepherds

00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:05.819
 rushed from

00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:06.359
 the hillside

00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:07.700
 to Bethlehem

00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:08.299
 to find the

00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:08.879
 one whom

00:25:08.879 --> 00:25:09.220
 they had

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:09.679
 been told

00:25:09.679 --> 00:25:09.960
 about.

00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:12.279
 the third

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:13.519
 journey in

00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.079
 our passage.

00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:14.840
 And oh,

00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:16.680
 did they have

00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.200
 a playlist.

00:25:19.120 --> 00:25:19.500
 They found

00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:19.880
 Mary and

00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:20.539
 Joseph and

00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.200
 Jesus lying

00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:21.700
 in a manger

00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:22.340
 and they

00:25:22.340 --> 00:25:22.880
 found him

00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:23.759
 because they

00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.220
 sought him.

00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:26.220
 They looked

00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:26.680
 for what was

00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:27.240
 told by the

00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:28.059
 angels and

00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:28.460
 they found

00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:28.680
 him.

00:25:29.620 --> 00:25:30.220
 Now, this

00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:30.740
 reminds me of

00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:31.180
 a verse in

00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:31.559
 Isaiah.

00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:33.279
 It says this,

00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:33.980
 you will seek

00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:35.100
 me and you

00:25:35.100 --> 00:25:35.740
 will find me

00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.500
 when you seek

00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:37.019
 me with all

00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:37.500
 your heart.

00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:39.259
 That's a

00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:39.700
 challenge for

00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:40.000
 us this

00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:40.599
 Christmas amid

00:25:40.599 --> 00:25:41.140
 the noise and

00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:41.619
 the chaos.

00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:42.559
 Are we

00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:43.039
 looking for

00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:43.220
 him?

00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:44.440
 Are we

00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:44.880
 seeking him?

00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:47.319
 The shepherds,

00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:48.059
 they came and

00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:48.519
 they gave a

00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:49.200
 complete report

00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:49.660
 of the angels

00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:50.460
 visit causing

00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:51.779
 probably quite

00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.680
 considerable

00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:54.160
 surprise amongst

00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:54.839
 those who had

00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:55.460
 gathered in

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:55.859
 the stable.

00:25:57.059 --> 00:25:58.000
 As it says,

00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.619
 for all who

00:25:59.619 --> 00:26:00.880
 heard, they

00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:01.319
 wondered.

00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:03.359
 But Mary had

00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:03.680
 a deeper

00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.579
 understanding of

00:26:04.579 --> 00:26:04.960
 all these

00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.740
 things and she

00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:06.920
 treasured them

00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:07.300
 up in her

00:26:07.300 --> 00:26:08.560
 heart and

00:26:08.560 --> 00:26:09.400
 she knowingly

00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:10.100
 pondered them.

00:26:12.940 --> 00:26:13.500
 When you

00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:13.820
 leave here

00:26:13.820 --> 00:26:14.840
 today, I

00:26:14.840 --> 00:26:17.460
 wonder if I

00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:17.880
 can ask you

00:26:17.880 --> 00:26:18.380
 to wonder

00:26:18.380 --> 00:26:19.039
 about these

00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:20.200
 things and

00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:20.640
 to ponder

00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:21.100
 them in

00:26:21.100 --> 00:26:21.580
 your heart.

00:26:25.100 --> 00:26:25.700
 Do we

00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.080
 really

00:26:26.080 --> 00:26:27.920
 understand the

00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:28.600
 Christmas story?

00:26:29.880 --> 00:26:30.539
 Or do we

00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.140
 just understand

00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:31.759
 the historical

00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.500
 facts that we

00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:32.940
 thought about

00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:33.440
 this morning

00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:35.039
 about this

00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:36.220
 great episode

00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:36.900
 God in

00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:37.720
 Luke chapter

00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.039
 2?

00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.360
 Or does

00:26:39.360 --> 00:26:39.860
 the meaning

00:26:39.860 --> 00:26:41.240
 behind it

00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:42.000
 really create

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.980
 a spark of

00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.600
 light and

00:26:43.600 --> 00:26:44.779
 joy in our

00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:45.079
 lives?

00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:47.460
 You see, the

00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:48.100
 shepherds returned

00:26:48.100 --> 00:26:48.799
 to their flocks

00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:50.259
 overjoyed in

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:50.720
 all that they

00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.799
 had seen and

00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:52.860
 heard and

00:26:52.860 --> 00:26:54.220
 overflowing in

00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:54.799
 the worship of

00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:55.079
 God.

00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:56.960
 I think the

00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:57.720
 shepherds are

00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:58.660
 good examples

00:26:58.660 --> 00:26:59.440
 for us to

00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:00.259
 imitate today.

00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:02.940
 They received

00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:04.519
 by faith the

00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:05.420
 message that

00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:06.259
 God had

00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:06.660
 sent them

00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:07.639
 and they

00:27:07.639 --> 00:27:08.779
 responded with

00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.180
 immediate

00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:09.619
 obedience.

00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:11.960
 They came to

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:13.379
 Jesus and

00:27:13.379 --> 00:27:14.160
 after finding

00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:15.460
 him, they

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.160
 reported the

00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:17.119
 good news to

00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:18.220
 others, glorifying

00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:18.779
 and praising

00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:19.180
 God.

00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.339
 And then they

00:27:21.339 --> 00:27:21.900
 humbly returned

00:27:21.900 --> 00:27:22.200
 to their

00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:22.500
 duties.

00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:25.299
 Well, by

00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:25.639
 doing that,

00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:25.920
 they weren't

00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:26.579
 just the same

00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:28.099
 men going

00:27:28.099 --> 00:27:28.579
 back to the

00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:28.940
 same old

00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:29.279
 job.

00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:30.779
 You see, when

00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:31.500
 we find Jesus,

00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:33.079
 our lives

00:27:33.079 --> 00:27:33.640
 are changed.

00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:36.359
 You can't

00:27:36.359 --> 00:27:36.940
 come face

00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:37.819
 to face with

00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:38.920
 Jesus and

00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:40.279
 remain unchanged.

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:44.880
 Now, I said

00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:45.259
 at the beginning,

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.240
 the passage is a

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:46.859
 fairly well-known

00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:47.700
 passage, and

00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.299
 just bear with me

00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:48.660
 for a few

00:27:48.660 --> 00:27:49.000
 minutes.

00:27:49.900 --> 00:27:51.619
 You see, even

00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:51.880
 though our

00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:52.559
 passage is very

00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:53.799
 well-known, it's

00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:54.359
 a story that

00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:55.779
 still requires a

00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.380
 response from

00:27:56.380 --> 00:27:56.640
 us.

00:27:58.279 --> 00:27:58.859
 Now, I

00:27:58.859 --> 00:27:59.359
 wonder if the

00:27:59.359 --> 00:27:59.799
 words of that

00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:00.240
 song that I

00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:00.759
 mentioned at the

00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:01.400
 start can be

00:28:01.400 --> 00:28:02.060
 changed slightly

00:28:02.060 --> 00:28:02.519
 for us.

00:28:03.580 --> 00:28:04.040
 I couldn't

00:28:04.040 --> 00:28:04.740
 care what's

00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.180
 under the

00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:05.460
 tree.

00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:06.960
 I don't

00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:07.720
 know what

00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.120
 I'm getting

00:28:08.120 --> 00:28:08.740
 for Christmas

00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.300
 this year,

00:28:09.580 --> 00:28:10.140
 but I hope

00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:11.640
 it draws me

00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:12.600
 to thee.

00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:16.920
 Verse 21

00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:18.540
 says this,

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.340
 and on the

00:28:19.340 --> 00:28:19.880
 eighth day,

00:28:20.380 --> 00:28:20.900
 he was called

00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:21.220
 Jesus.

00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:25.180
 Why?

00:28:26.820 --> 00:28:27.500
 Because that

00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:27.980
 was the name

00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.400
 that was given

00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:29.120
 to him by the

00:28:29.120 --> 00:28:29.960
 angel before he

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.620
 was conceived.

00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:31.980
 And because

00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:32.540
 that is the

00:28:32.540 --> 00:28:33.100
 name that

00:28:33.100 --> 00:28:33.640
 means he

00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:34.240
 will save

00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:34.900
 his people

00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:36.220
 from their

00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:36.440
 sin.

00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:39.780
 Whatever you

00:28:39.780 --> 00:28:40.240
 do today,

00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:40.820
 and whatever

00:28:40.820 --> 00:28:41.160
 you do

00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:41.580
 tomorrow,

00:28:44.040 --> 00:28:44.980
 maybe, and

00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:45.900
 even as we

00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:46.620
 sing this last

00:28:46.620 --> 00:28:47.800
 hymn, maybe

00:28:47.800 --> 00:28:48.320
 that we do

00:28:48.320 --> 00:28:48.900
 think about

00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:49.680
 this message

00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:50.620
 this morning,

00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:51.160
 that we

00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:51.740
 wonder about

00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.220
 it, that we

00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:52.820
 ponder about

00:28:52.820 --> 00:28:53.060
 it.

00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:53.960
 We don't

00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:54.540
 just think of

00:28:54.540 --> 00:28:55.060
 these journeys,

00:28:55.280 --> 00:28:55.540
 we don't

00:28:55.540 --> 00:28:56.019
 just think of

00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:56.560
 the songs,

00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:57.720
 we don't

00:28:57.720 --> 00:28:58.579
 just think of

00:28:58.579 --> 00:29:00.220
 the narrative

00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:00.859
 that we

00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:02.980
 read, and

00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:03.259
 if you don't

00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:03.500
 have a

00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:04.819
 Christmas tradition,

00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:05.559
 then maybe

00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:06.139
 this is one

00:29:06.139 --> 00:29:06.740
 tradition that

00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.039
 you could

00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:07.379
 take.

00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:07.940
 Read this

00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:08.759
 narrative every

00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:09.159
 Christmas.

00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:10.659
 But more

00:29:10.659 --> 00:29:11.559
 than that, I

00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:11.980
 wonder if we

00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:12.299
 could just

00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:12.940
 wonder and

00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:13.399
 ponder at

00:29:13.399 --> 00:29:13.700
 this so

00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:13.960
 that we

00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:15.019
 really understand

00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:15.480
 the real

00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:15.859
 meaning of

00:29:15.859 --> 00:29:16.299
 Christmas,

00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:18.419
 that Jesus

00:29:18.419 --> 00:29:19.839
 came to be

00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:20.960
 born in

00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:21.679
 order that he

00:29:21.679 --> 00:29:22.279
 might save

00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.139
 people from

00:29:23.139 --> 00:29:23.679
 their sins.

00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:30.560
 Christmas

00:29:30.560 --> 00:29:32.299
 money

00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:34.460
 2019

00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:38.299
 develops

00:29:38.299 --> 00:29:40.580
 ağır

00:29:40.580 --> 00:29:40.799
 more

00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:42.360
 days

00:29:42.360 --> 00:29:42.920
 millions

00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:43.000
 trong

00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:47.160
 décision

00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:47.960
 phía

00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:48.519
 00

00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:51.779
 00