WEBVTT

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 What are your expectations and hopes going into Christmas this year?

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 Christmas celebrations often look different for everyone.

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 Some of you will be gathering with family and having big meals together.

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 Some of you will be having a gift-giving time.

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 Depending on the size of your family or gathering,

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 that could be something that either energizes you or excites you,

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 or maybe you're bracing yourself.

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 Maybe that's somewhat draining to you.

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 Good, but draining.

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 For many, Christmas can be difficult.

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 It can be a painful reminder of broken or strained family relationships.

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 It can be the time when conflict happens,

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 where arguments break out,

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 harbored bitterness, unforgiveness,

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 grudges can take their toll.

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 Sometimes the children are all smiles,

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 but there's tension amongst the adults.

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 And then there are those who have lost precious loved ones recently.

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 There are those who are far from home.

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 These realities remind us that despite all the anticipation and the buildup,

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 Christmas may not be what we expect or hope.

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 And all of these celebration dynamics, they change from year to year.

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 But there's one wonderful thing that stays the same,

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 Christmas after Christmas,

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 and year after year,

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 a reason to rejoice,

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 a place for our hearts to rest,

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 and to have peace,

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 no matter what's going on in your life.

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 And it's the good news

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 that Christ, the Lord,

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 our Savior,

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 has been born.

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 So I want to just briefly tell you the story again.

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 It's difficult to pick the moment that all of it started.

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 As we've been talking about in our adult Sunday school,

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 God has been writing a grand good news story,

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 and it's barely possible to appreciate this moment of the story

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 without considering all that's led up to it.

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 Without thinking about why Jesus' coming was so desperately needed.

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 And so do we start with the many human problems

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 of which Jesus is the remedy?

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 Or do we start with the many promises made long ago by the prophets?

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 Or do we go back even further than that

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 to before the creation of the world

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 and God's own eternal, unfathomable purposes?

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 Or do we just start with the first event,

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 recorded in the New Testament?

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 All of these are true and right places to start.

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 And this is why Matthew begins his gospel

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 with a genealogy going all the way back to Abraham.

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 This is why John begins his gospel

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 with an explanation of how Jesus,

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 the Word,

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 was in the beginning,

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 even before this world was created.

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 And this is why Luke begins his account

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 with the first visible sign

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 after 400 years of silence from God.

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 All of these are true and right places to start.

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 So this Christmas,

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 let's start where Luke started

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 in his account.

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 It all started in the time of Herod,

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 king of Judea,

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 with a priest named Zechariah.

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 There had been centuries prior to this

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 with no word from God,

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 no prophets.

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 There were some significant moments

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 and even signs

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 that God was still at work

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 to protect and to preserve his people

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 behind the scenes,

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 but no words,

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 no visions,

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 no revelations

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 like in centuries past.

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 And then one day,

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 God broke the silence.

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 It all started with a man named Zechariah

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 who was a priest,

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 one of the men who served the Lord

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 at the temple in Jerusalem.

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 And even though his wife was well past

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 the age of childbearing,

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 meaning that it was biologically impossible

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 for her at this age to conceive,

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 God sent his angel

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 to appear to Zechariah one day

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 during his service in the temple

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 and God's angel told him

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 that he would soon father a son.

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 And this son to be born

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 would have a very special role

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 in God's plan.

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 This son of Zechariah's

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 would be used by God

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 to bring many people

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 back to the Lord their God

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 and to make them ready

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 for his appearing.

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 Zechariah,

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 even though he was a righteous,

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 God-fearing man,

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 he doubted this message

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 from the angel

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 and he was made mute

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 because of it.

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 Six months later,

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 the same angel,

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 Gabriel,

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 was sent to a young woman

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 in the town of Nazareth.

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 And this young woman,

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 of course,

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 was named Mary.

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 Mary was a relative

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 of Zechariah's wife,

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 Elizabeth.

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 And Mary was engaged

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 to a man named Joseph,

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 a carpenter.

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 Gabriel appeared to Mary

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 and told her

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 the most jaw-dropping thing

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 a person could ever hear.

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 I'm going to read it for you

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 right out of the Gospel of Luke.

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 The angel went to her

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 and said,

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 Greetings,

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 you who are highly favored.

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 The Lord is with you.

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 Mary was greatly troubled

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 at his words

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 and wondered

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 what kind of greeting

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 this might be.

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 But the angel said to her,

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 Do not be afraid, Mary.

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 You have found favor

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 with God.

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 You will conceive

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 and give birth to a son

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 and you are to call him

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 Jesus.

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 He will be great

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 and will be called

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 the Son of the Most High.

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 The Lord God

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 will give him the throne

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 of his father David

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 and he will reign

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 over Jacob's descendants

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 forever.

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 His kingdom

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 will never end.

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 The angel then explains

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 to Mary

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 how it will happen.

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 Though she has never been

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 with Joseph

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 or with

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 any other man

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 intimately,

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 God's Holy Spirit

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 would do a miracle

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 inside of her

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 causing her to conceive

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 without a human father

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 such that the child

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 to be born

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 would rightly be called

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 the Son of God.

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 what an astounding

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 word

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 to receive

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 from God.

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 Well, three months later,

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 Zachariah's son

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 was born,

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 little baby John,

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 and another miracle

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 takes place.

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 Zachariah,

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 who had been unable

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 to speak

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 for nine months,

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 regains his ability

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 to speak

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 and God's Spirit

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 fills him

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 and he begins

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 to speak

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 like the prophets

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 of long ago,

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 a message

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 from God.

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 And the message

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 is that God's salvation

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 is very near.

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 A king is soon

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 to be born

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 in fulfillment

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 of all God promised

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 long ago

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 through his holy prophets.

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 A great salvation

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 is about to appear.

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 A forgiveness of sins

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 is about to be known

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 and these

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 will be gifts

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 of God's tender

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 mercy.

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 And little John,

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 the son of Zachariah

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 and Elizabeth,

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 shall be a prophet

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 of God

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 and he will be

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 the one

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 to prepare the way

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 for the Lord

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 by giving people

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 a knowledge

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 of all these things

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 that God

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 is about to do.

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 And as you can imagine,

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 this caused

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 quite a stir

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 in the hill country

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 of Judea

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 and everybody

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 was talking

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 about old

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 Zachariah

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 and Elizabeth

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 and their brand new

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 baby boy.

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 Meanwhile,

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 we don't know

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 the exact timing

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 of things here

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 but there was conflict.

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 There was tension

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 between Mary

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 and Joseph.

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 At some point here,

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 Joseph finds out

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 that Mary

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 is pregnant

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 and it causes

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 great struggle

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 in his heart.

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 he had chosen

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 Mary

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 and no doubt

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 deeply

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 loved her

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 but how could

00:09:23.179 --> 00:09:23.759
 this be

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 that she's

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 pregnant?

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 Joseph knew

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 that he was not

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 the father

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 of her child

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 and so there must

00:09:33.059 --> 00:09:33.639
 have been a moment

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 in the past little while

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 where she had been

00:09:35.459 --> 00:09:36.299
 with another man.

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 How could she?

00:09:39.399 --> 00:09:39.919
 How long

00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:41.159
 had she known

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 about this

00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:42.960
 before she told him?

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 We don't know.

00:09:45.620 --> 00:09:46.899
 Did Joseph find out

00:09:46.899 --> 00:09:47.840
 about this before

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 or after Mary

00:09:49.700 --> 00:09:50.379
 went to visit

00:09:50.379 --> 00:09:50.799
 Elizabeth

00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:53.220
 in Judea?

00:09:53.539 --> 00:09:54.600
 We don't know.

00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:56.080
 All we know

00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:56.820
 is that Joseph's

00:09:56.820 --> 00:09:57.620
 heart was torn.

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 He was thinking

00:09:59.939 --> 00:10:00.939
 very seriously

00:10:00.939 --> 00:10:02.039
 about calling off

00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:03.419
 his engagement

00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:04.399
 altogether

00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:04.500
 father.

00:10:05.500 --> 00:10:06.980
 And yet he loved

00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:07.559
 her enough

00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:10.079
 that he didn't

00:10:10.079 --> 00:10:11.079
 want to expose

00:10:11.079 --> 00:10:11.799
 her to

00:10:11.799 --> 00:10:13.439
 public disgrace

00:10:13.439 --> 00:10:15.740
 and so he was

00:10:15.740 --> 00:10:16.579
 considering a way

00:10:16.579 --> 00:10:17.459
 of breaking things

00:10:17.459 --> 00:10:18.000
 off with her

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 quietly.

00:10:20.819 --> 00:10:21.819
 But then that

00:10:21.819 --> 00:10:22.159
 night

00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:23.340
 God caused

00:10:23.340 --> 00:10:23.840
 his angel

00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:24.519
 to appear to

00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:24.840
 Joseph

00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:26.019
 in a dream

00:10:26.019 --> 00:10:27.559
 and God

00:10:27.559 --> 00:10:28.259
 said this

00:10:28.259 --> 00:10:28.919
 to him.

00:10:29.319 --> 00:10:29.960
 We read in

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 Matthew

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 Joseph

00:10:33.580 --> 00:10:35.280
 son of David

00:10:35.280 --> 00:10:37.280
 do not be afraid

00:10:37.280 --> 00:10:38.000
 to take Mary

00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:39.400
 home as your

00:10:39.400 --> 00:10:39.759
 wife

00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:41.500
 because what is

00:10:41.500 --> 00:10:42.980
 conceived in her

00:10:42.980 --> 00:10:44.500
 is from the

00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:45.180
 Holy Spirit.

00:10:46.940 --> 00:10:47.840
 She will give

00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:48.660
 birth to a son

00:10:48.660 --> 00:10:50.360
 and you are to

00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:51.100
 give him the name

00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:51.519
 Jesus

00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:53.700
 because he will

00:10:53.700 --> 00:10:54.840
 save his people

00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:56.600
 from their

00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:57.080
 sins.

00:11:00.780 --> 00:11:01.519
 And so

00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:02.120
 Joseph

00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:03.360
 married Mary

00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:04.759
 and took her

00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:05.360
 home as his

00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:05.680
 wife.

00:11:07.960 --> 00:11:08.759
 Can you imagine

00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:09.399
 what it was like

00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:09.899
 for them to

00:11:09.899 --> 00:11:10.600
 count down the

00:11:10.600 --> 00:11:11.420
 days together

00:11:11.420 --> 00:11:13.180
 until the

00:11:13.180 --> 00:11:13.840
 arrival of this

00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:14.500
 very special

00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:14.940
 child?

00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:17.600
 And as the

00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:18.280
 days went by

00:11:18.280 --> 00:11:18.900
 we imagine

00:11:18.900 --> 00:11:19.480
 that Joseph

00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:19.960
 and Mary

00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:20.560
 began to

00:11:20.560 --> 00:11:21.360
 make preparations

00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:21.840
 in their

00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:22.800
 home like

00:11:22.800 --> 00:11:23.519
 all first-time

00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:24.200
 parents do

00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:25.700
 and the

00:11:25.700 --> 00:11:26.020
 day was

00:11:26.020 --> 00:11:26.259
 getting

00:11:26.259 --> 00:11:27.000
 closer and

00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:27.420
 closer.

00:11:28.680 --> 00:11:29.600
 But then

00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:30.940
 something very

00:11:30.940 --> 00:11:31.660
 unexpected

00:11:31.660 --> 00:11:32.620
 happened.

00:11:33.800 --> 00:11:34.840
 The emperor

00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:35.500
 himself

00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:37.040
 decided that

00:11:37.040 --> 00:11:37.640
 it was time

00:11:37.640 --> 00:11:38.200
 to count

00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:38.780
 all the

00:11:38.780 --> 00:11:40.180
 people in

00:11:40.180 --> 00:11:40.820
 the empire

00:11:40.820 --> 00:11:42.879
 census time.

00:11:44.200 --> 00:11:45.040
 And this

00:11:45.040 --> 00:11:45.600
 was not the

00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:46.120
 mail-out

00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:47.440
 kind.

00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:48.300
 This was the

00:11:48.300 --> 00:11:48.800
 kind that

00:11:48.800 --> 00:11:49.620
 required Joseph

00:11:49.620 --> 00:11:50.020
 and Mary

00:11:50.020 --> 00:11:50.540
 to make

00:11:50.540 --> 00:11:51.220
 the long

00:11:51.220 --> 00:11:51.800
 trip all

00:11:51.800 --> 00:11:52.220
 the way

00:11:52.220 --> 00:11:52.820
 from where

00:11:52.820 --> 00:11:53.240
 they lived

00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:53.480
 in the

00:11:53.480 --> 00:11:53.800
 north

00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:55.259
 back to

00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:55.419
 their

00:11:55.419 --> 00:11:55.919
 hometown.

00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:57.319
 A little

00:11:57.319 --> 00:11:57.899
 town called

00:11:57.899 --> 00:11:58.519
 Bethlehem

00:11:58.519 --> 00:11:59.299
 just outside

00:11:59.299 --> 00:11:59.579
 of the

00:11:59.579 --> 00:12:00.159
 big city

00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:01.859
 of Jerusalem.

00:12:06.439 --> 00:12:07.059
 I've been

00:12:07.059 --> 00:12:07.459
 through this

00:12:07.459 --> 00:12:08.099
 four times

00:12:08.099 --> 00:12:09.439
 now and

00:12:09.439 --> 00:12:09.979
 I can tell

00:12:09.979 --> 00:12:11.000
 you when

00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:11.359
 it's getting

00:12:11.359 --> 00:12:11.799
 late into

00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:12.159
 the third

00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:12.759
 trimester

00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:14.699
 you want to

00:12:14.699 --> 00:12:15.240
 stay close

00:12:15.240 --> 00:12:15.699
 to home.

00:12:16.699 --> 00:12:17.319
 You don't

00:12:17.319 --> 00:12:17.659
 want to be

00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:18.139
 traveling

00:12:18.139 --> 00:12:20.379
 especially not

00:12:20.379 --> 00:12:20.859
 any great

00:12:20.859 --> 00:12:21.259
 lengths.

00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:21.539
 You don't

00:12:21.539 --> 00:12:21.939
 want to be

00:12:21.939 --> 00:12:23.159
 delivering your

00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:23.799
 wife's baby

00:12:23.799 --> 00:12:24.679
 on the

00:12:24.679 --> 00:12:25.000
 side of

00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:25.379
 the road.

00:12:27.219 --> 00:12:27.919
 And these

00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:28.219
 were not

00:12:28.219 --> 00:12:28.839
 the days

00:12:28.839 --> 00:12:30.059
 of automobiles.

00:12:30.379 --> 00:12:30.659
 These are

00:12:30.659 --> 00:12:31.000
 the days

00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:31.620
 of walking

00:12:31.620 --> 00:12:33.199
 and riding

00:12:33.199 --> 00:12:33.860
 animals

00:12:33.860 --> 00:12:35.279
 and carts.

00:12:36.500 --> 00:12:37.179
 But the

00:12:37.179 --> 00:12:38.039
 census required

00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:39.579
 it and so

00:12:39.579 --> 00:12:39.939
 they made

00:12:39.939 --> 00:12:40.419
 the journey

00:12:40.419 --> 00:12:41.039
 down to

00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:41.639
 Bethlehem.

00:12:44.939 --> 00:12:45.579
 Now I'm

00:12:45.579 --> 00:12:46.000
 not saying

00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:46.539
 that this is

00:12:46.539 --> 00:12:47.079
 worse than

00:12:47.079 --> 00:12:47.480
 what the

00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:47.959
 women go

00:12:47.959 --> 00:12:48.240
 through.

00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:50.180
 they have

00:12:50.180 --> 00:12:50.560
 it worse

00:12:50.560 --> 00:12:51.220
 by far.

00:12:52.299 --> 00:12:52.919
 But when

00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:53.299
 it comes

00:12:53.299 --> 00:12:53.620
 to what

00:12:53.620 --> 00:12:54.120
 we men

00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:54.879
 are responsible

00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:55.460
 for in

00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:55.820
 this whole

00:12:55.820 --> 00:12:56.200
 thing,

00:12:56.860 --> 00:12:57.600
 few things

00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:57.960
 are as

00:12:57.960 --> 00:12:58.299
 stressful

00:12:58.299 --> 00:12:58.860
 as figuring

00:12:58.860 --> 00:12:59.960
 out how

00:12:59.960 --> 00:13:00.460
 to help

00:13:00.460 --> 00:13:00.960
 your wife

00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:01.460
 have all

00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:01.840
 that she

00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:02.279
 needs

00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:03.220
 when the

00:13:03.220 --> 00:13:03.879
 time comes

00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:04.299
 for that

00:13:04.299 --> 00:13:05.299
 baby to

00:13:05.299 --> 00:13:05.759
 be born.

00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:08.799
 I mean

00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:09.039
 if we

00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:09.439
 just knew

00:13:09.439 --> 00:13:09.879
 the exact

00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:10.439
 time that

00:13:10.439 --> 00:13:10.659
 it would

00:13:10.659 --> 00:13:11.139
 all begin

00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:11.679
 and how

00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:12.259
 long each

00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:12.840
 stage of

00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:13.200
 the labor

00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:13.799
 would go,

00:13:14.139 --> 00:13:14.500
 we could

00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:15.480
 just plan,

00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:15.840
 we could

00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:16.080
 make

00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:16.620
 arrangements.

00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:19.899
 No doubt

00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:20.600
 Joseph

00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:23.039
 tried that

00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:23.480
 night in

00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:24.100
 Bethlehem.

00:13:32.819 --> 00:13:33.480
 But by

00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:33.919
 the plan

00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:34.480
 of God

00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:36.740
 his son,

00:13:37.420 --> 00:13:37.940
 the baby,

00:13:39.580 --> 00:13:40.080
 ended up

00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:40.700
 having nothing

00:13:40.700 --> 00:13:42.320
 better than

00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:42.720
 a feeding

00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:43.360
 trough for

00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:43.779
 his little

00:13:43.779 --> 00:13:45.840
 bed on

00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:46.159
 the night

00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:46.440
 that he

00:13:46.440 --> 00:13:46.960
 was born.

00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:51.320
 All the

00:13:51.320 --> 00:13:51.820
 guest rooms

00:13:51.820 --> 00:13:52.420
 were taken

00:13:52.420 --> 00:13:55.019
 and where

00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:55.539
 was this

00:13:55.539 --> 00:13:55.860
 manger?

00:13:56.980 --> 00:13:57.320
 Was it

00:13:57.320 --> 00:13:57.680
 out back

00:13:57.680 --> 00:13:58.120
 the inn?

00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:58.519
 Was it

00:13:58.519 --> 00:13:58.759
 at the

00:13:58.759 --> 00:13:59.039
 local

00:13:59.039 --> 00:13:59.519
 stable?

00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:00.980
 Was it

00:14:00.980 --> 00:14:01.820
 out behind

00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:02.500
 the relative's

00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:02.740
 house?

00:14:02.800 --> 00:14:03.200
 It doesn't

00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:03.519
 say.

00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:06.240
 But that's

00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:06.519
 how it

00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:06.800
 went,

00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:07.539
 the night

00:14:07.539 --> 00:14:08.120
 that God's

00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:08.539
 son was

00:14:08.539 --> 00:14:09.019
 born into

00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:09.620
 this world.

00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:12.440
 The night

00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:13.879
 when our

00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:14.519
 Savior took

00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:14.980
 his first

00:14:14.980 --> 00:14:16.320
 breath with

00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:17.100
 human lungs.

00:14:20.039 --> 00:14:20.899
 It was a

00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:21.240
 humble,

00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:22.519
 quiet,

00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:24.120
 and private

00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:26.000
 birth in a

00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:26.920
 lowly place

00:14:26.920 --> 00:14:28.279
 there in

00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:28.879
 Bethlehem.

00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:32.659
 God did

00:14:32.659 --> 00:14:33.460
 choose a

00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:34.320
 very spectacular

00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:34.899
 way to

00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:35.419
 break the

00:14:35.419 --> 00:14:35.919
 news of

00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:36.439
 his son's

00:14:36.439 --> 00:14:36.759
 birth,

00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:40.080
 just not

00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:40.419
 to the

00:14:40.419 --> 00:14:40.879
 folks that

00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:41.179
 we would

00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:41.299
 have

00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:41.840
 expected.

00:14:43.059 --> 00:14:43.679
 Out in

00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:44.039
 the fields

00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:45.120
 around the

00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:46.259
 town that

00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:46.820
 night there

00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:47.600
 were shepherds

00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:48.419
 guarding their

00:14:48.419 --> 00:14:48.720
 sheep,

00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:50.779
 and God

00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:51.200
 made the

00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:51.919
 birth announcement

00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:52.860
 to them.

00:14:52.860 --> 00:14:55.120
 He lit

00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:55.399
 up the

00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:55.960
 sky for

00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:56.220
 them.

00:14:57.220 --> 00:14:57.800
 We read

00:14:57.800 --> 00:14:58.340
 about this

00:14:58.340 --> 00:14:59.220
 in Luke's

00:14:59.220 --> 00:14:59.620
 gospel.

00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:01.000
 An angel

00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:01.340
 of the

00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:01.860
 Lord appeared

00:15:01.860 --> 00:15:02.300
 to them,

00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:03.240
 and the

00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:03.759
 glory of

00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:04.100
 the Lord

00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:04.800
 shone around

00:15:04.800 --> 00:15:05.100
 them,

00:15:05.620 --> 00:15:06.200
 and they

00:15:06.200 --> 00:15:06.940
 were terrified.

00:15:06.940 --> 00:15:09.400
 But the

00:15:09.400 --> 00:15:09.900
 angel said

00:15:09.900 --> 00:15:10.240
 to them,

00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:11.760
 do not

00:15:11.760 --> 00:15:12.380
 be afraid.

00:15:13.280 --> 00:15:13.920
 I bring

00:15:13.920 --> 00:15:14.480
 you good

00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:15.820
 news that

00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:16.240
 will cause

00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:17.180
 great joy

00:15:17.180 --> 00:15:17.760
 for all

00:15:17.760 --> 00:15:18.320
 the people.

00:15:20.760 --> 00:15:21.440
 Today,

00:15:22.100 --> 00:15:22.700
 in the

00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:23.120
 town of

00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:23.500
 David,

00:15:24.400 --> 00:15:24.940
 a Savior

00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:25.860
 has been

00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:26.840
 born to

00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:27.120
 you.

00:15:28.680 --> 00:15:30.120
 He is

00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:30.980
 the Messiah,

00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:33.040
 the Lord.

00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:36.759
 this will

00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:37.259
 be a sign

00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:37.679
 to you.

00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:38.399
 You will

00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:38.860
 find a

00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:39.480
 baby wrapped

00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:40.839
 in cloths

00:15:40.839 --> 00:15:41.519
 and lying

00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:43.039
 in a

00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:43.339
 manger.

00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:45.639
 This one

00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:46.120
 angel was

00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:46.579
 then joined

00:15:46.579 --> 00:15:47.259
 by countless

00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:47.699
 more,

00:15:48.219 --> 00:15:49.039
 and the

00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:49.480
 shepherds

00:15:49.480 --> 00:15:49.819
 heard them

00:15:49.819 --> 00:15:50.419
 all praising

00:15:50.419 --> 00:15:51.559
 God together

00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:52.379
 and speaking

00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:53.259
 of peace

00:15:53.259 --> 00:15:53.799
 for those

00:15:53.799 --> 00:15:54.159
 on whom

00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:54.799
 God's favor

00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:55.299
 rests.

00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:56.959
 What an

00:15:56.959 --> 00:15:57.539
 awesome and

00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:58.279
 glorious sight

00:15:58.279 --> 00:15:58.759
 that must

00:15:58.759 --> 00:15:59.120
 have been.

00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:03.720
 Then the

00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:04.320
 sky goes

00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:04.700
 dark

00:16:04.700 --> 00:16:05.840
 again,

00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:07.220
 the angels

00:16:07.220 --> 00:16:07.700
 leave,

00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:09.179
 and the

00:16:09.179 --> 00:16:09.560
 shepherds

00:16:09.560 --> 00:16:10.080
 run into

00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:10.580
 the town

00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:11.220
 in search

00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:11.480
 of the

00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:11.879
 Messiah.

00:16:12.940 --> 00:16:13.840
 They relay

00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:14.379
 all that

00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:14.720
 they had

00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:15.720
 seen and

00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:16.620
 heard from

00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:17.159
 the angels

00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:17.620
 to Mary

00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:18.139
 and Joseph,

00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:19.899
 and the

00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:20.539
 story goes

00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:21.279
 on from

00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:21.580
 there.

00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:23.519
 This is

00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:24.019
 the Christmas

00:16:24.019 --> 00:16:24.519
 story.

00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:26.899
 This is

00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:27.299
 the good

00:16:27.299 --> 00:16:27.899
 news that

00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:28.279
 doesn't

00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:28.779
 change,

00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.980
 year to

00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:30.259
 year.

00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:32.120
 This is

00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:32.419
 where we

00:16:32.419 --> 00:16:33.100
 find joy.

00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:34.539
 This is

00:16:34.539 --> 00:16:34.840
 where we

00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:35.580
 find peace,

00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:36.919
 no matter

00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:37.500
 what's going

00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:37.840
 on in

00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:38.419
 our lives.

00:16:40.060 --> 00:16:40.700
 Jesus,

00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:41.700
 our

00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:42.240
 Emmanuel,

00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:43.039
 has come.

00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:46.340
 God

00:16:46.340 --> 00:16:46.980
 has come

00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:47.580
 to be

00:16:47.580 --> 00:16:48.799
 with us.

00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:51.220
 He has

00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:51.700
 sent His

00:16:51.700 --> 00:16:52.039
 Son,

00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:54.620
 the great

00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:55.019
 King

00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:57.159
 of God's

00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:57.539
 coming

00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:57.980
 kingdom,

00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:58.980
 kingdom,

00:16:58.980 --> 00:16:59.879
 the kingdom

00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:00.460
 of heaven,

00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:02.759
 and He

00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:03.120
 is the

00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:03.680
 one who

00:17:03.680 --> 00:17:04.460
 saves us

00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.400
 from our

00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:05.799
 sins.

00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:07.339
 As we

00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:07.640
 heard in

00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:08.039
 the song,

00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:08.539
 He came

00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:09.059
 to live,

00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:10.799
 to walk,

00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:12.380
 to die,

00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:14.059
 to rise,

00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.900
 to reconcile

00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:16.779
 the lost,

00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:19.120
 to bring

00:17:19.120 --> 00:17:20.460
 the Spirit's

00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:20.759
 birth.

00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:20.819
 love.

00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:24.740
 While there

00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:25.220
 may be some

00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:25.700
 things about

00:17:25.700 --> 00:17:26.400
 Christmas this

00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:26.779
 year that

00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:27.339
 are not

00:17:27.339 --> 00:17:29.180
 exactly what

00:17:29.180 --> 00:17:29.799
 we expect

00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:30.319
 or hope,

00:17:31.099 --> 00:17:31.680
 this good

00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:32.680
 news of

00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:33.099
 how God

00:17:33.099 --> 00:17:33.519
 has sent

00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:34.039
 His Son

00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:35.539
 goes so

00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:36.299
 far beyond

00:17:36.299 --> 00:17:36.839
 what we

00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:38.099
 deserve as

00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:38.460
 sinners.

00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:41.259
 It makes

00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:41.619
 all the

00:17:41.619 --> 00:17:42.059
 difference.

00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:43.960
 God

00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:44.519
 Himself

00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:45.740
 loves

00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:46.480
 you.

00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:49.500
 And not

00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:49.879
 just a

00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:50.319
 little bit.

00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:52.000
 This thing

00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:52.299
 that He

00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:52.700
 has done

00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:53.179
 in sending

00:17:53.179 --> 00:17:53.679
 His Son

00:17:53.679 --> 00:17:54.359
 proves the

00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:55.299
 immeasurable

00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:57.319
 depths of

00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:57.819
 His love

00:17:57.819 --> 00:17:58.279
 for you

00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:59.240
 and for

00:17:59.240 --> 00:17:59.480
 me.

00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:01.399
 You are

00:18:01.399 --> 00:18:02.039
 cherished.

00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:03.980
 You are

00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:04.899
 treasured

00:18:04.899 --> 00:18:06.399
 even more

00:18:06.399 --> 00:18:06.779
 than you

00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.859
 know or

00:18:07.859 --> 00:18:08.519
 can imagine.

00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:12.019
 for God

00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:13.000
 so loved

00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:13.460
 the world

00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:13.920
 that He

00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:14.819
 gave

00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:16.119
 His one

00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:16.519
 and only

00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:16.879
 Son

00:18:16.879 --> 00:18:19.920
 that whoever

00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:20.599
 believes in

00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:20.879
 Him

00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:22.139
 shall not

00:18:22.139 --> 00:18:22.619
 perish

00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:24.440
 but have

00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:25.119
 eternal

00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:25.839
 life.

00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:27.920
 And so

00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:28.759
 rejoice this

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.259
 Christmas.

00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:31.660
 God loves

00:18:31.660 --> 00:18:31.900
 you.

00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:34.139
 Rejoice.

00:18:35.379 --> 00:18:36.200
 Let's pray.

00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:43.819
 Father in

00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:43.980
 Heaven,

00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:44.519
 thank You

00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:44.940
 for this

00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:45.359
 incredible

00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:47.019
 gift which

00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:47.359
 we do

00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:47.960
 not deserve.

00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.339
 I pray

00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:50.759
 that our

00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:51.299
 hearts would

00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:53.079
 live here

00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:53.720
 in this

00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:54.379
 truth that

00:18:54.379 --> 00:18:56.160
 You love

00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:57.299
 us this

00:18:57.299 --> 00:18:58.639
 much to

00:18:58.639 --> 00:18:59.220
 send Him

00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:00.359
 to come

00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:05.359
 to save

00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:05.740
 us.

00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:10.859
 it's hard

00:19:10.859 --> 00:19:11.319
 for us to

00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:12.059
 even fathom

00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:12.460
 that You

00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:13.619
 want to

00:19:13.619 --> 00:19:14.480
 be with

00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:14.920
 us,

00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:15.879
 that You

00:19:15.879 --> 00:19:16.579
 love us

00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:19.279
 and desire

00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.279
 to have

00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:20.940
 us as

00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:21.440
 Your people,

00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:22.019
 as Your

00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:22.539
 sons and

00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:22.879
 daughters.

00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.519
 What can

00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:25.079
 we do but

00:19:25.079 --> 00:19:26.039
 sing praise

00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:26.460
 to You

00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:27.940
 and thank

00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:28.200
 You?

00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:29.559
 I pray

00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:30.619
 that this

00:19:30.619 --> 00:19:31.220
 truth would

00:19:31.220 --> 00:19:31.599
 just be

00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:31.960
 full in

00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:32.460
 our hearts

00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:33.759
 for the

00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:34.119
 rest of

00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:34.740
 today and

00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.680
 tomorrow as

00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.359
 we celebrate.

00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:37.819
 We ask

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.399
 this in

00:19:38.399 --> 00:19:38.679
 Jesus'

00:19:38.879 --> 00:19:39.079
 name.

00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:40.159
 Amen.

00:19:40.159 --> 00:19:40.259
 Amen.