Turn back in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 1.
!
But have you lost that sense of wonder?
Are you bracing yourself for another festive season?
Are you fed up of the sights and sounds of it all?
The opening words of the letter to the Hebrews tell us
the first Christmas happened
that your eyes and your ears would be filled.
Filled with awe.
Not at the sound of Christmas number ones
or the sight of tinsel.
But that your ears might tingle at a spectacular sound.
The sound of God's voice.
We're going to spend the next few Sundays on a Sunday morning
leading through Advent in Hebrews chapter 1 and 2.
Where the writer wants us to hear the sounds of Christmas.
And as he opens the letter, the first four verses
which we're going to concentrate on this morning
he shows us that when Jesus Christ was born
in the sounds of the labour
and the crying
and the cattle
it is a moment of history defining speech
from God.
Three words
that are there in those few verses
echo through the book of Hebrews
he has spoken.
Three words.
Don't miss those words.
When this baby was born
Christmas is about this simple fact
never mind
how or why
or to whom
but the simple fact
that God has spoken.
Just take that in.
He has done that.
God has sought communion with us.
He's opened himself up to us.
He's opened the channels
that we have closed.
He's made the unknowable
knowable
the incomprehensible
he's made clear.
He's spoken in a very very special way
and he shows us
different ways
that he's done that
in the first events
of that first Christmas.
Three things.
He tells us
first of all
that once
he spoke to our fathers
but now he speaks to us.
Once he spoke to our fathers
but now he speaks to us.
Just look at verse 1 there.
Long ago
at many times
and in many ways
God spoke to our fathers
by the prophets
but in these last days
he has spoken to
us
by his son.
I don't know if we realise it
this morning.
There is such a thing
as Christmas.
We celebrate Christmas
when others have not
which means that
we are in a unique
and privileged position
we are hearing things
that have never been
heard before
from God.
Now he's not saying
that
God did not speak
before the first Christmas
is he?
No.
People have heard
God speak
in many ways
in a variety of ways
he says
in many ways
and at many times.
God has been speaking
all along.
The Old Testament
if you read through it
it's full
isn't it
of different ways
that God has spoken
full of his divine
self-revelation
to our fathers
to our spiritual ancestors
and what they had to listen to
was glorious.
They had rich
high definition
full colour
sound.
the richness
of the varieties
in the ways
that God spoke
to them
in story
and in poetry
and in wisdom
and in prose
and law
in his creation
itself.
He spoke
in visions
and in dreams
and appearances
of his presence
called theophanies.
He spoke
through his prophets
he put his words
in their mouths
so people
could hear him
speak to them.
He spoke
in many ways
and at different times
to our fathers
to our spiritual
ancestors
and his voice
kept them
and guided them
set them straight
and protected them
and saved them
was a light
to their path.
He spoke
to them
in a rich
and varied
manner of ways
but now
we are told
he has spoken
like never before
to us
to us.
Christmas
means
we can now
hear the same
God
who spoke
to them
but he has
reserved
something
for us
something
that they
could have
only dreamed
of hearing
from him.
If you flick
later on
in Hebrews
in chapter 11
there's that
great chapter
full of
men and
women of
faith
go and
read it
later today
it's really
encouraging
men and
women of
faith
who were
looking forward
to God's
promises
and the writer
tells us
that although
they were
commended
through their
faith
they did
not receive
what was
promised
God
since God
had provided
something
better for
us
that apart
from us
they should
not be
made perfect
God was
saying a lot
to our
fathers
a lot
to the men
and women
of the past
of long
ago
but there
was one
more speech
to be made
that they
would have
to wait
for
that they
would be
looking forward
to
that they
would be
on the edge
of their
seats
but they
did not
hear it
because that
day had
not arrived
when we
entered the
auditorium
God was
saving his
final act
of speech
for a
people that
he had
chosen
thousands of
years later
for us
the church
after the
birth
death and
resurrection
of Jesus
this side
of that
first Christmas
can you
feel how
privileged
we are
a privileged
place to
hear God
speak to
us as
never
before
they
received
wonderful
words of
promise
words of
hope
looking forward
to a
world
with a
saviour
a messiah
where God
would dwell
with them
a world
of peace
and of
God's
presence
wonderful
words
magnificent
words of
promise
but now
a more
magnificent
word has
come to
us
he was
waiting for
us
to give
his final
word to
us
he spoke
to our
fathers
but now
he speaks
to us
secondly
he spoke
a long
time ago
but now
he speaks
to us
in these
last days
he spoke
a long
time ago
but now
he speaks
to us
in these
last days
we know
certain
speeches
mark
time
don't
they
the
queen
does
quite a
few
speeches
during
the
year
I'd
imagine
but there's
one
speech
where
when we
hear it
we know
what time
of the
year it
is
when we
don't
have to
look
at our
watch
it's
the
queen's
christmas
message
isn't
it
and if
you're
watching
it
you know
3pm
25th
of
December
the
queen's
christmas
message
marks
time
it
punctuates
time
she
reflects
on
the
past
and
looks
forward
to
the
future
there is
this
kind
of
seesaw
isn't
there
at
3
o'clock
on
the
25th
of
December
out
with
the
old
in
with
the
new
and
this
it
turns
out
is
what
happens
when
God
speaks
at
the
birth
of
Jesus
Christ
this
speech
the
writer
says
breaks
history
in
half
and
you
can
see
the
two
halves
in
the
passage
those
first
two
words
there
long
ago
and
then
there's
another
half
of
history
the
second
age
no
he
doesn't
call
it
that
does
he
says
no
long
ago
God
spoke
then
but
in
these
last
days
God
speaks
God
speech
marks
time
BC
and
AD
there's
no
middle
ages
or
dark
ages
or
internet
age
with
God
in
his
mind
just
two
ages
in
history
matter
the
time
before
I
sent
my
son
and
the
time
after
and
God
speaks
in
these
last
days
the
revelation
of
Jesus
Christ
in
his
final
words
is
the
last
chapter
of
everything
of
all
history
before
he
returns
he
is
now
closing
down
the
show
of
history
the
curtains
are
about
to
be
drawn
he
is
wrapping
up
history
with
this
speech
and
so
this
speech
at
that
first
Christmas
the
one
that
we
are
hearing
becomes
all
the
more
pressing
and
all
the
more
urgent
for
us
one
that
we
must
listen
to
in
these
last
days
but
it
also
becomes
all
the
more
exciting
because
what
our
fathers
had
hoped
for
is
now
even
closer
and
just
imagine
for a
moment
being
shown
around
a
wonderful
house
and
we
watched
Mary
Berry
going
around
a
stately
home
it's
brilliant
you should
watch it
she goes
around
the
house
where
they
filmed
Downton
Abbey
watch it
on iPlayer
but imagine
being shown
around
a
stately
home
this
house
Downton
Abbey
has
200
rooms
beautiful
grounds
and
imagine
being
shown
around
and there
are
wonderful
people
that live
there
wonderful
people
to love
and to
be loved
by
and it's
run
by a
master
of the
house
who is
caring
and protecting
for everyone
who is
there
or even
a city
imagine
a city
where life
is right
being shown
around
given a
tour
where the
king of
the city
is kind
and loving
and it's
a wonderful
place
to live
Hebrews
tells us
late ago
that long
ago
this is
what our
fathers
were looking
forward
to
Isaiah
says
behold
the
Lord
has
proclaimed
to the
end
of the
earth
say
to the
daughter
of
Zion
the city
of
Zion
behold
your
salvation
comes
behold
his reward
is with
him
and his
recompense
before him
Abraham
we're told
in chapter
11
was looking
forward
to that
city
that has
foundations
whose
designer
and builder
is God
but it's
as if
our fathers
were shown
around the
city
they were
shown around
the house
but they're
kind of
feeling
around
they're
touching the
buildings
and they're
touching the
furniture
they're feeling
around the
artwork
but the
lights
aren't
fully
on yet
the day
hadn't
dawned
they have
this sense
of where
things are
and how
God is
going to
bring his
salvation
what kind
of God
he is going
to be
ruling over
this great
city
and now
he is
saying
as they
looked
in shadow
and in the
darkness
feeling their
way around
we can
now see
everything
in the
daylight
God
himself
has come
to turn
the lights
on
we can
now see
his salvation
his character
his being
we can see
him like
never before
the time
of the last
things is
here
a time
of fulfillment
a time
of substance
not shadow
a time
of hearing
God's
fully
rounded
voice
full
bodied
voice
literally
we
moan about
our times
don't we
it's like a
British
national sport
moaning about
the times
that we live
in
what a time
to be born
in 2017
with Brexit
and whatever
else it is
Edward Young
Rebecca Rossini
born in 2017
but if you
are here
now
and you've
been born
this side
of the first
Christmas
what a time
to be born
in
long ago
our fathers
I'm sure
they would
have looked
and said
imagine
those people
imagine
those people
who will be
born in the
last days
the things
that they
will hear
we can only
imagine
Peter
speaks of
the prophets
and he says
it was revealed
to them
that they
were serving
not themselves
but you
in the things
that have now
been announced
to you
things in which
angels long
to look
long ago
God appeared
to Abraham
but he
could only
dream of
the sight
of God
incarnate
as a man
with flesh
on
veiled
in flesh
the Godhead
see
long ago
Moses
who saw
God in
the burning
bush
what a
sight it
was
would long
to see
God
in the face
of Jesus
Christ
he would
be staggered
by the
incarnation
long ago
Solomon
who saw
a vision
of God
in a dream
could only
dream that
someone might
say
we have
touched him
and seen
him
and eaten
with him
come and
behold him
born the
king of
angels
long ago
the people
who received
the words
of God
through the
prophets
would have
quivered
at the
thought
of the
word
become
flesh
long ago
those who
penned the
scriptures
inspired by
the Holy
Spirit
they would
not even
know the
implications
of what
they were
writing
that the
creator
and the
author
of creation
himself
would come
and be a
creature
and he would
enter into
history
into the
story
what days
we live
in
where we
know things
into which
angels long
to look
these last
days
he spoke
to our
fathers
now he
speaks to
us
long ago
now in
these last
days
and thirdly
he spoke
through the
prophets
but now he
speaks to us
through his
son
he spoke
through the
prophets
but now he
speaks to us
in his
son
communication
is a very
complex
thing
isn't it
it's so
often the
case that
it's not
just what
you say
but it's
how you
say it
that matters
isn't it
I need
reminding
of that
home
at home
every single
day and
every time
I speak
it's not
what you
say it's
how you
say it
how you
say things
changes how
people hear
you doesn't
it
so it feels
different getting
a text message
as it does
getting a
handwritten
letter
it feels
different
getting an
email
than somebody
speaking to
you face
to face
and the
amazing thing
of Christmas
is not
that God
has spoken
just that
fact
but it's
the way
he's spoken
Christmas
tells us
that God
hasn't just
sent us a
note
or a letter
in the post
he has
turned up
not just
through a
prophet
or a
teacher
although they
were magnificent
ways of
speaking
he has
spoken in
a revelation
of his
son
in whom
all the
fullness
of the
Godhead
dwells
bodily
look at
verse 3
there
he is the
radiance of
the glory
of God
and the
exact imprint
of his
nature
and he
upholds
the universe
by the
word of
his power
he is
the rays
of the
light
of God's
divine
presence
God
from God
light
from light
true God
from true
God
he has
and always
will be
the perfect
disclosure
of God's
being
of his
nature
he is
God
revealed
to man
and because
God has
spoken to
us in
this way
in his
son
through the
wonder of
a virgin
birth
of God
clothing
himself
in human
flesh
we hear
God
speak to
us more
magnificently
than ever
before
this speech
stands head
and shoulders
above all
the other
ways that
God has
spoken
because
Jesus does
not just
bring us
a revelation
of God
but he
is
the
revelation
of God
himself
he doesn't
just
disclose
God's
message
in his
teaching
he is
the message
it's not
what you
say
it's
how you
say it
we hear
him speaking
to us
in such
an appealing
tone
in the
language
of our
earthliness
of our
street
he comes
right to
our front
door
and he
levels
with us
there's a
list going
around of
extravagant
ways that
men have
proposed
to their
girlfriends
one guy
his girlfriend
likes
swimming
so he
trained a
dolphin
to bring
a message
to her
so while
she was
swimming
this dolphin
turned up
with a
bottle around
its neck
saying
will you
marry me
I wish
I'd
thought of
that
it's
amazing
isn't
it
but here
God speaks
and brings
a proposal
to us
in the
most
extravagant
way
imaginable
by
contracting
himself
down
into a
womb
into a
body
so that
he can
come to
the very
front door
of our
humanity
it's
really
him
but is
he just
all
talk
what is
so great
about
hearing
from God
anyway
so what
you might
say
well we
see here
don't we
that his
word
is not
just
information
it's not
just
explanation
God knows
we don't
just need
facts
or
encouragements
or thoughts
to ponder
we need
him to
actually
do
something
don't
we
his
words
need
to
have
wings
in our
lives
and we
see
don't we
that
this
word
is a
doing
word
see
where
this
word
goes
his
revelation
is about
our
redemption
just look
at the
end of
verse
three
this
word
came
the
radiance
of the
glory
of
God
and
after
making
purification
for sins
he sat
down at
the right
hand of
the majesty
on high
God
speaks
at Christmas
and his
words
have
action
Jesus
comes
and makes
purification
and he
sat at
the right
hand of
the majesty
on high
this
is how
he comes
to us
and this
is why
he comes
to us
what his
words are
about
are doing
something
doing
something
tremendously
good
in our
lives
purifying
us
as we
go through
the first
couple of
chapters of
Hebrews
we'll see
that Hebrews
was written
to a church
who are
beginning to
miss hear
what God
is saying
they're thinking
he's saying
things that he
isn't
and they're
at risk
of neglecting
what God
is saying
and that is
the root
of our
problem
actually
of thinking
that God
is saying
one thing
when he
isn't
when he
said something
else
and we
kind of
fill in
the gaps
with what
we think
he's saying
where did
that go
wrong
when did
God
start saying
things that
are bad
it's never
been the
case
it started
didn't it
with that
question
that Satan
asked Adam
and Eve
in the
garden
did God
actually
say
he puts
doubt
into God's
word
and all
sin
all of our
problem
is founded
on a
mistrust
of God's
speech
we say
if I
listen to
his word
it will
ruin me
if I
accept
Jesus
it will
ruin me
it will
make my
life worse
off
but can
we see
what God
is doing
in the
first
Christmas
he is
turning our
ears back
to him
speaking
good
into our
lives
seeking
to purify
us
to be
our
loving
Lord
he is
saying
in the
incarnation
this is
me
speaking
to you
kindly
and
mercifully
I found
out this
week
that the
Queen's
Speech
is not
actually
called
the
Queen's
Speech
officially
the
formal
name
given
to
the
Queen's
Speech
is
Her
Majesty's
Most
Gracious
Speech
the
birth of
Jesus
Christ
is
His
Majesty's
Most
Gracious
Speech
Church
when we
look at
the
manger
and the
man
who was
born to
die
to make
purification
for sin
God
says
read
my
lips
it is
the most
extravagant
way that I
could speak
to you
and it's
the kindest
thing that I
could say
to purify
and cleanse
you in
my words
in my
son
and as
we
respond
we want
to say
back to
him
don't we
it's not
just what
you say
God
it's how
you said
it
and we
worship
you for
him
for your
son
won't
you speak
to me
God
this
Christmas
well let
your ears
be filled
with this
word
with the
true sound
of Christmas
a word
sent to
us
in these
last days
in his
son
sent to
purify
and do
us good
let's pray
together