WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.880 Standing, let's just bow our heads in prayer. 00:00:04.560 --> 00:00:09.099 Father, we give you thanks and praise that you have spoken to us in your word. 00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:16.559 And Father, we know that you have spoken to us in your word, desiring us to understand your word 00:00:16.559 --> 00:00:20.160 and to allow your word to come into our lives to form us. 00:00:21.059 --> 00:00:24.879 And so, Father, we ask for your help because we need your help. 00:00:25.579 --> 00:00:30.539 We ask that your Holy Spirit would help us to use the best of who we are to listen and pay attention. 00:00:31.399 --> 00:00:36.239 But you would do that greater work of bringing your word deep into us and forming us. 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:40.460 And we ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen. 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:41.879 Please be seated. 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:50.620 So, I have a confession to make. I made a big mistake between yesterday and today. 00:00:50.619 --> 00:00:54.459 So, many of you have probably heard the old rule of thumb. 00:00:54.759 --> 00:00:58.239 Never try a recipe for the first time when you have company coming. 00:00:58.859 --> 00:01:00.000 You've all heard that rule? 00:01:00.119 --> 00:01:03.359 Don't try a completely new recipe when you have company coming. 00:01:03.780 --> 00:01:08.239 So, those of you who know me know that when I preach, you might not know this. 00:01:08.299 --> 00:01:11.900 I use an outline. I don't actually use a written text. I use an outline. 00:01:11.900 --> 00:01:19.680 But I thought to myself, I think this time for Christmas Eve, I'm going to do a written text for my sermon. 00:01:19.780 --> 00:01:21.800 So, it could be really, really well organized. 00:01:22.860 --> 00:01:24.640 And, well, here's the problem. 00:01:24.800 --> 00:01:27.000 I did the service at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. 00:01:27.300 --> 00:01:30.660 And that sermon soared like a lead balloon. 00:01:31.660 --> 00:01:33.939 Just didn't get off the ground whatsoever. 00:01:33.939 --> 00:01:37.200 And I had company this afternoon. 00:01:37.420 --> 00:01:43.099 So, I now have a semi-useless written text for my sermon. 00:01:43.739 --> 00:01:45.159 So, just bear with me. 00:01:45.620 --> 00:01:47.079 I'll do the best I can. 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:50.400 Sort of looking at my text a bit, but also just doing my points. 00:01:50.500 --> 00:01:52.959 At the end of the day, we have a wonderful story. 00:01:53.780 --> 00:01:58.759 And part of the big point of my whole sermon this morning, this evening, 00:01:59.299 --> 00:02:01.200 is that the Christmas story is a story. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:08.120 And if we think about it for a second, it will help us to understand both what seems sort of weak about it, 00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:11.300 but what its true glory and beauty is. 00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:15.199 Not only the content of the story, but the fact that it's a story itself. 00:02:15.860 --> 00:02:21.539 You see, for most Canadians, and I think Canadian Christians as well, 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:25.800 you know, so if we were going to, I don't know, 00:02:25.879 --> 00:02:30.780 if we were going to figure out whether or not to become the 51st state of the United States of America, let's say, 00:02:31.199 --> 00:02:34.619 something which would be a very, very big decision for us to make, 00:02:35.159 --> 00:02:41.239 we'd want something pretty substantial before we made a decision like that. 00:02:41.379 --> 00:02:43.299 What we wouldn't want is a story. 00:02:44.299 --> 00:02:46.219 We think, like, really? A story? 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:52.519 We're going to make a decision on something as big as becoming a 51st state in the United States on the basis of a story? 00:02:52.520 --> 00:02:59.219 Well, if you think about it for a second, Christians are making these very, very, very large and far-reaching claims 00:02:59.219 --> 00:03:03.040 that God, the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:10.860 took on human nature and was born as a baby boy to live a fully human life in space and time in history, 00:03:10.860 --> 00:03:16.980 and that the entire fate of humankind, each human life, depends upon how you react to it. 00:03:16.979 --> 00:03:21.939 Well, that's actually a far bigger thing than becoming the 51st state of the United States of America. 00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:24.500 How do we know about it? A story. 00:03:25.259 --> 00:03:28.379 The nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, is told as a story. 00:03:28.939 --> 00:03:30.579 It's a very short, simple story. 00:03:30.739 --> 00:03:33.179 I just read it. We're going to read it again in a couple of minutes. 00:03:33.259 --> 00:03:34.539 It just takes a couple of verses. 00:03:35.339 --> 00:03:39.339 It can be drawn quite, if you had that ability, you could draw it quite simply 00:03:39.339 --> 00:03:41.239 and maybe draw it if you had that skill. 00:03:41.319 --> 00:03:43.319 It would be an interesting, I wish I had that skill. 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:47.099 If you do, you should try sometimes, maybe with your kids or others, 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:50.319 just going from line drawing to line drawing to line drawing 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:52.620 and just having the story unfold before you. 00:03:53.979 --> 00:03:57.939 But, as I said, with a question like the 51st state, 00:03:58.459 --> 00:04:01.780 for many Canadians, both those who are Christians and those who are not, 00:04:02.620 --> 00:04:05.079 Christians just don't want to acknowledge it, okay? 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:06.519 That's the thing about Christians. 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:09.219 We're not always as honest about ourselves as we think, 00:04:09.219 --> 00:04:13.000 and Canadian Christians are way more Canadian than we realize. 00:04:13.319 --> 00:04:16.819 If you don't think about it through, we have some people who are immigrants to Canada 00:04:16.819 --> 00:04:19.560 and just ask them if they get comfortable with you. 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:21.420 How Canadian are Christians in Canada? 00:04:21.639 --> 00:04:24.139 And they might tell you just how Canadian we actually are. 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:28.680 And so for Canadians, the whole category of story sounds weak, 00:04:28.779 --> 00:04:31.219 not very serious, not even third best. 00:04:32.259 --> 00:04:36.199 Why can't we have a catalogue of facts? 00:04:36.839 --> 00:04:37.560 That would be better. 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:41.959 Why don't we have a flawless philosophical argument? 00:04:42.120 --> 00:04:42.819 That would be better. 00:04:43.399 --> 00:04:48.459 Why don't we have a thoroughly documented academic work of history? 00:04:49.180 --> 00:04:52.920 Why don't we have a summary of scientific findings? 00:04:53.560 --> 00:04:57.279 Why don't we have a fact-checked autobiography? 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:01.300 Why don't we have something like an authoritative report 00:05:01.300 --> 00:05:04.780 from the most eminent scholars and experts in Canada 00:05:04.780 --> 00:05:08.680 and have them give us this authentic, authoritative report? 00:05:09.340 --> 00:05:13.840 That's what we Canadians think would be far more substantial and meaty 00:05:13.840 --> 00:05:17.879 than a story that can be shown and told quite simply 00:05:17.879 --> 00:05:21.280 just with some lights and some little bit of artistic work. 00:05:22.080 --> 00:05:23.340 Because if you think about it for a second, 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:25.740 a story is something that you read to children. 00:05:25.740 --> 00:05:29.600 A story is something that the busy businesswoman picks up 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:35.319 to pass the time on her flight from Ottawa to Los Angeles, 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:39.000 or the harassed dad brings to the beach in the summer 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:40.860 when he's supposed to be looking after the kids. 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:46.199 But the triune God in his wisdom saw fit to communicate to us, 00:05:46.780 --> 00:05:49.340 at least in regards to the nativity of Jesus 00:05:49.340 --> 00:05:52.740 and the key doctrines of the Incarnation, 00:05:52.740 --> 00:05:56.139 primarily in the form of a story or several stories, 00:05:56.300 --> 00:05:57.680 all telling one story. 00:05:58.540 --> 00:05:59.960 What on earth was he thinking? 00:06:02.199 --> 00:06:05.040 Didn't he know that when it comes to far-reaching claims, 00:06:05.460 --> 00:06:08.340 we advanced, modern, well-educated Canadians 00:06:08.340 --> 00:06:10.699 who know how to use TikTok and Instagram 00:06:10.699 --> 00:06:13.840 and demand something far stronger than a story, 00:06:13.960 --> 00:06:15.759 or at least something which has good vibes? 00:06:16.699 --> 00:06:17.579 Hold that thought. 00:06:19.900 --> 00:06:22.079 The next thing about the story is this. 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:23.759 It's a very unique claim, 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:29.159 is that the story of the nativity of Jesus is a true story. 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:31.680 I used to read stories to my children. 00:06:32.019 --> 00:06:36.860 Full disclosure, my wife was the overwhelming principal reader 00:06:36.860 --> 00:06:38.839 of stories to our kids, 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:42.219 but occasionally I would read stories to my kids. 00:06:42.919 --> 00:06:45.519 And after reading something about PJ Funny Bunny 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:47.419 or something by Dr. Seuss, 00:06:47.799 --> 00:06:49.560 I would read them a Bible story. 00:06:49.560 --> 00:06:53.000 However, I always said something like this to the children 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:54.600 before I read the Bible story. 00:06:54.699 --> 00:06:56.860 I'd say it's, you know, good to read these stories, 00:06:57.060 --> 00:06:59.040 Santa, PJ Funny Bunny, whatever. 00:06:59.379 --> 00:07:00.980 But you need to know that this story 00:07:00.980 --> 00:07:03.680 that I'm about to read to you is a true story. 00:07:04.579 --> 00:07:06.259 I want them to understand the difference 00:07:06.259 --> 00:07:08.279 between the two stories. 00:07:09.160 --> 00:07:10.639 Because we, for too many Canadians, 00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:13.399 we have Santa stories and Jesus' birth stories, 00:07:13.399 --> 00:07:16.000 and they are both equally just stories. 00:07:16.859 --> 00:07:21.139 But Matthew tells us that he is telling a true story. 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:23.639 In fact, Matthew put his, 00:07:23.699 --> 00:07:25.779 I was going to say his money where his mouth was. 00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:28.679 He did, he put his life where his mouth was 00:07:28.679 --> 00:07:31.079 because at the end of his life, 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:34.239 he died, he died sort of by torture 00:07:34.239 --> 00:07:38.379 because the authorities wanted him to recant 00:07:38.379 --> 00:07:40.339 and say that the stories that he had written, 00:07:40.339 --> 00:07:42.619 the story he had written about Jesus wasn't true. 00:07:43.159 --> 00:07:44.019 He'd made it up. 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:46.279 And Matthew went to his death 00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:49.019 rather than denying the truth of the story. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:51.199 Regrettably, in our life, 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:53.679 we know many people will die for causes, 00:07:53.859 --> 00:07:56.120 but not many people will die for facts. 00:07:56.599 --> 00:07:58.559 But Matthew died for a fact. 00:07:59.299 --> 00:08:02.839 Now, of course, the story of the nativity of Jesus 00:08:02.839 --> 00:08:05.419 being true, the virgin birth and all of that, 00:08:05.500 --> 00:08:07.599 is, of course, highly contested. 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:10.340 And that sometimes really bothers Christians 00:08:10.340 --> 00:08:12.740 when we find out that something's highly contested. 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:13.360 It makes us go, 00:08:13.460 --> 00:08:15.620 oh, I don't know what I should be thinking about this. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:16.680 It's highly contested. 00:08:16.860 --> 00:08:19.160 But we should really just say, so what? 00:08:20.820 --> 00:08:23.540 Not to be flippant about people who don't agree with this, 00:08:23.640 --> 00:08:25.580 but just to think, if you think about it for a second, 00:08:25.660 --> 00:08:27.740 one of the things that defines a human being 00:08:27.740 --> 00:08:31.040 is that they can contest anything whatsoever. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:33.920 So just because it's contested doesn't mean anything. 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:37.399 Anybody who reads Matthew and Luke, 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:40.639 the two places who tell the stories of Jesus' birth, 00:08:40.699 --> 00:08:42.659 if they read it in an open-minded way, 00:08:43.159 --> 00:08:45.159 they'll see that they both claim to be writing 00:08:45.159 --> 00:08:48.519 an eyewitness-based biography of Jesus, 00:08:48.979 --> 00:08:51.740 something which actually happened. 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:56.439 And they wrote these eyewitness-based biographies of Jesus 00:08:56.439 --> 00:08:59.120 when many, many, many eyewitnesses were still alive. 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:03.100 So people can say that the stories aren't true 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:04.379 because they're impossible, 00:09:04.379 --> 00:09:06.980 but they shouldn't ever say 00:09:06.980 --> 00:09:11.060 that the authors didn't intend to write a true story. 00:09:11.879 --> 00:09:14.320 I think the evidence is there that the story is true, 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:17.759 that it is historically, factually, emotionally, 00:09:18.039 --> 00:09:20.560 morally, spiritually, and aesthetically true. 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:26.000 The truth in the nativity stories is multifaceted and deep. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:28.440 If you have a chance to watch on YouTube, 00:09:28.860 --> 00:09:31.860 there is a woman by the name of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, 00:09:32.100 --> 00:09:35.539 and she's been a very fascinating woman for a long time, 00:09:36.120 --> 00:09:39.019 growing up as a devout Muslim, 00:09:39.179 --> 00:09:41.519 in fact, what we would call an Islamicist. 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:46.740 And she ends up fleeing her Islamic background. 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:49.299 She enters into Europe. 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:50.399 She becomes an atheist. 00:09:50.740 --> 00:09:53.379 She was a good friend of all of the atheists, 00:09:53.379 --> 00:09:56.539 Christopher Hitchens, Dawkins, all of them. 00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:58.720 And within the last year, she has become a Christian. 00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:02.220 And there's some very interesting interviews 00:10:02.220 --> 00:10:03.980 between Dawkins, 00:10:04.299 --> 00:10:06.500 one of the leading atheists in the world, 00:10:06.620 --> 00:10:07.460 talking to her. 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:10.639 And it's very interesting 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:14.460 because she captures this aspect of the truth 00:10:14.460 --> 00:10:16.220 very beautifully, if you listen to her. 00:10:16.580 --> 00:10:19.080 He presses her on something like the virgin birth, 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:20.240 and he's quite contemptuous. 00:10:20.299 --> 00:10:21.379 Like, how can you believe something 00:10:21.379 --> 00:10:23.039 like the virgin birth is even true? 00:10:23.720 --> 00:10:24.539 And she remains... 00:10:24.539 --> 00:10:26.879 She has this very, very quiet 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:28.460 and profound dignity about her. 00:10:28.919 --> 00:10:29.620 And she says, 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:31.419 well, I don't entirely know 00:10:31.419 --> 00:10:32.980 how to answer all of your questions. 00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:35.779 But then she goes on to talk about 00:10:35.779 --> 00:10:37.679 how the truth of the stories 00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:41.960 are emotionally, morally, spiritually, 00:10:42.259 --> 00:10:44.439 aesthetically, culturally true. 00:10:44.440 --> 00:10:47.100 And she believes, and she has some reasons 00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:50.320 to believe that they're also historically true. 00:10:50.740 --> 00:10:54.400 And that's the fundamental claim of this story. 00:10:54.600 --> 00:10:56.460 These stories are true. 00:10:56.780 --> 00:10:57.680 Christians say, 00:10:58.540 --> 00:10:59.780 God, the Son of God, 00:10:59.980 --> 00:11:02.100 actually did take into himself 00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:03.260 our human nature. 00:11:03.940 --> 00:11:07.040 And he actually was born as a human being 00:11:07.040 --> 00:11:08.160 and walked among us. 00:11:08.560 --> 00:11:09.620 That's what we claim 00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:12.060 is being told in these stories. 00:11:12.059 --> 00:11:14.559 But the death of Jesus 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:15.959 isn't just like this weird, 00:11:16.179 --> 00:11:17.319 random thing that happens. 00:11:17.439 --> 00:11:18.679 It happens in the context 00:11:18.679 --> 00:11:22.759 of centuries of laws 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:25.719 and worship and poetry 00:11:25.719 --> 00:11:29.439 and prophecy 00:11:29.439 --> 00:11:31.979 and profound wisdom, 00:11:31.979 --> 00:11:33.639 like the books of Ecclesiastes 00:11:33.639 --> 00:11:36.219 and the Psalms and poetry 00:11:36.219 --> 00:11:37.359 and Song of Songs. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:38.980 It's in the context 00:11:38.980 --> 00:11:40.840 of this profound history 00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:41.600 of teachings 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:43.919 out of which science emerged 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:46.480 and the belief in human rights emerged 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:48.360 and human dignity emerged 00:11:48.360 --> 00:11:50.300 and the idea of progress emerged. 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:51.720 And all of these things 00:11:51.720 --> 00:11:52.740 emerge out of that 00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:53.759 and it's in this context 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:54.840 of this long story 00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:56.539 that the nativity of Jesus happens. 00:11:57.180 --> 00:11:58.139 And you can see that 00:11:58.139 --> 00:11:59.580 if you go back later on, 00:11:59.940 --> 00:12:00.919 most people when they read 00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:01.860 the Gospel of Matthew, 00:12:01.980 --> 00:12:02.940 they sort of skip over 00:12:02.940 --> 00:12:04.139 the first 17 verses 00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:05.180 because it's all these, 00:12:05.300 --> 00:12:05.460 you know, 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:06.080 then there was this 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:06.740 and then there was this 00:12:06.740 --> 00:12:07.480 and then there was this 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:08.139 and then there was this 00:12:08.139 --> 00:12:10.000 and Hezron was the father of Aram. 00:12:10.340 --> 00:12:12.340 But what Matthew is telling you 00:12:12.340 --> 00:12:13.160 is he's telling you 00:12:13.160 --> 00:12:14.860 there's this long story 00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:15.980 that all these things 00:12:15.980 --> 00:12:16.920 that God has done 00:12:16.920 --> 00:12:19.660 and then at this culminating time 00:12:19.660 --> 00:12:21.200 there's the birth of Jesus. 00:12:21.420 --> 00:12:23.180 And it's not just a true story, 00:12:24.020 --> 00:12:26.460 it's a true story about God. 00:12:26.660 --> 00:12:27.980 Like listen again to the story 00:12:27.980 --> 00:12:28.820 if you have your Bibles, 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:31.400 Matthew chapter 1, 18 to 25. 00:12:32.040 --> 00:12:33.520 Now the birth of Jesus Christ 00:12:33.520 --> 00:12:34.660 took place in this way 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:35.799 when his mother Mary 00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:37.939 had been betrothed to Joseph. 00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:40.059 Before they came together, 00:12:40.459 --> 00:12:41.779 she was found to be with child 00:12:41.779 --> 00:12:42.779 from the Holy Spirit. 00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:47.159 Now it's going to be said twice 00:12:47.159 --> 00:12:51.000 that the baby within Mary's womb, 00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:53.219 Mary had never sexually known a man. 00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:57.319 And you go back and read in Luke, 00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:58.799 you'll see the story about it, 00:12:59.439 --> 00:13:01.480 that God comes and asks her 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:03.360 if she is willing to allow 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:04.279 the Holy Spirit 00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:06.920 to do a miracle within her 00:13:06.920 --> 00:13:09.019 where God by an act of creation 00:13:09.019 --> 00:13:10.399 creates a zygote 00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:12.159 within the womb of Mary. 00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:13.480 He creates it out of nothing, 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:14.080 in a sense, 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:15.139 not out of nothing 00:13:15.139 --> 00:13:17.259 in that it reflects 00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:21.320 Mary's physiological heritage. 00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:24.360 If you were able to go back 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:25.220 in a time machine 00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:26.120 and you saw Mary 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:27.040 and you saw Jesus, 00:13:27.260 --> 00:13:28.900 you would see the family resemblance. 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:29.379 You might say, 00:13:29.420 --> 00:13:29.620 oh look, 00:13:29.660 --> 00:13:31.440 he has Mary's nose. 00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:34.080 And oh, look at that. 00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:35.200 Like, you know, 00:13:35.280 --> 00:13:36.920 he has Mary's eyebrows 00:13:36.920 --> 00:13:37.760 and stuff like that. 00:13:37.800 --> 00:13:38.379 You would see 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:41.180 that that's that connection there. 00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:43.120 But that God creates 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:44.460 within the womb of Mary 00:13:44.460 --> 00:13:47.740 this zygote 00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:49.340 that goes through normal gestation. 00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:50.480 We'll talk about that in a moment. 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:51.660 That's the claim 00:13:51.660 --> 00:13:52.639 which is being made here. 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:53.560 And then it continues. 00:13:54.300 --> 00:13:55.500 And her husband, Joseph, 00:13:55.700 --> 00:13:56.899 being a just man 00:13:56.899 --> 00:13:58.620 and unwilling to put her to shame, 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:00.980 resolved to divorce her quietly. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:04.639 Just to make it a bit, 00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:05.680 you might not know this, 00:14:05.800 --> 00:14:06.660 but an Anglican, 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:08.019 the way Anglicans work, 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:09.580 if you get ordained as a deacon, 00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:11.399 most Anglicans 00:14:11.399 --> 00:14:12.519 who are ordained as deacons, 00:14:12.680 --> 00:14:14.240 it's called the transitional deacon. 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:15.600 And so the moment 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:16.519 you're ordained a deacon, 00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:17.860 you can be called reverend. 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:20.000 But you're only a deacon 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:21.659 for six months to two years, 00:14:21.740 --> 00:14:22.759 depending on where you are. 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:24.899 And then you get made a presbyter. 00:14:25.019 --> 00:14:26.000 I'm a presbyter. 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:27.060 So I was ordained 00:14:27.060 --> 00:14:29.960 in May 15, 1985, 00:14:30.500 --> 00:14:31.980 100 million years ago, 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:33.159 I was ordained a deacon. 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:35.419 And I could call myself 00:14:35.419 --> 00:14:36.500 the Reverend George Sinclair 00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:37.200 at that moment. 00:14:37.340 --> 00:14:38.800 But the implication was 00:14:38.800 --> 00:14:39.340 that within, 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:39.960 in my case, 00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:41.159 it was about seven months later, 00:14:41.220 --> 00:14:42.539 I was made a presbyter, 00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:44.360 which is what I am today. 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:46.919 And that's how engagement worked then. 00:14:47.060 --> 00:14:47.500 In a sense, 00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:48.800 Mary could have called herself 00:14:48.800 --> 00:14:50.480 Mrs. Joseph 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:52.240 at that point in time. 00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:53.480 But they weren't actually married. 00:14:53.560 --> 00:14:54.840 It was a transitional state. 00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:55.300 And that's why 00:14:55.300 --> 00:14:57.100 Joseph had to divorce her. 00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:58.360 But here's the thing. 00:14:58.879 --> 00:14:59.379 Verse 20. 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:00.800 But as he considered these things, 00:15:00.919 --> 00:15:01.240 behold, 00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:02.279 an angel of the Lord 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:03.399 appeared before him 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:04.379 in a dream, 00:15:04.820 --> 00:15:05.080 saying, 00:15:05.220 --> 00:15:06.340 Joseph, son of David, 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:07.980 do not fear to take Mary 00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:08.680 as your wife, 00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:10.460 for that which is conceived in her 00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:12.240 is from the Holy Spirit. 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:13.259 The second time, 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:15.100 it's said that the baby 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:17.120 within Mary's womb, 00:15:17.580 --> 00:15:19.560 the incarnation happened. 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:22.940 God created out of nothing 00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:25.019 this baby within the womb. 00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:27.299 Mary never had any sexual knowledge 00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:27.899 of a man. 00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:29.440 And it continues. 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:30.120 Verse 21. 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:31.279 She will bear a son, 00:15:31.820 --> 00:15:33.399 and you shall call his name Jesus, 00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:36.560 for he will save his people 00:15:36.560 --> 00:15:38.240 from their sins. 00:15:38.460 --> 00:15:40.500 To even say save his people, 00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:41.680 you can't say that about me. 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:44.019 I couldn't save my people 00:15:44.019 --> 00:15:44.719 throughout the world. 00:15:44.859 --> 00:15:46.879 I can't save people in China 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:47.759 and Kenya 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:49.539 and Rwanda 00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:50.719 and Singapore 00:15:50.719 --> 00:15:51.799 and Taiwan 00:15:51.799 --> 00:15:53.739 and Buenos Aires. 00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:54.139 Like, 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:54.879 only, 00:15:55.079 --> 00:15:56.699 that can only be said of God, 00:15:57.199 --> 00:15:58.139 that he could have people 00:15:58.139 --> 00:15:58.919 all over the world 00:15:58.919 --> 00:15:59.759 and all over time. 00:15:59.819 --> 00:16:00.559 But that's the claim 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:01.399 which is made here. 00:16:01.899 --> 00:16:02.839 And then in verse 22, 00:16:02.939 --> 00:16:03.739 all this took place 00:16:03.739 --> 00:16:04.759 to fulfill what the Lord 00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:05.899 had spoken by the prophet. 00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:06.620 Behold, 00:16:06.819 --> 00:16:07.579 the virgin 00:16:07.579 --> 00:16:08.419 shall conceive 00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:09.219 and bear a son, 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:10.359 and they shall call his name 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:11.060 Emmanuel, 00:16:11.560 --> 00:16:12.680 which means God with us, 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:13.700 for the third time. 00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:14.460 It's emphasized 00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:16.600 that that's what God is doing. 00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:17.600 That's what this story, 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:18.200 that's this 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:21.840 huge claim 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:23.360 that is being made 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:24.019 in this story. 00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:25.139 The nativity story 00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:26.320 is a true story 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:27.220 about God. 00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:28.560 Now, 00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:31.039 you know, 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:32.639 here's the thing 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:33.500 about this story. 00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:36.379 I'm going to use this phrase. 00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:37.159 You might not have heard of it. 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:37.600 I call it 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:38.600 the normal human 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:39.799 religious imagination. 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.960 And for the normal 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:43.279 human religious imagination, 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:44.639 this cannot possibly 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:45.360 be a story 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:46.320 about God. 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:46.759 Like, 00:16:46.820 --> 00:16:48.039 what's just being described here 00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:49.639 cannot possibly be true. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.320 It's implausible. 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:52.200 People might say 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:53.080 the science doesn't work. 00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:53.679 That's not true. 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:54.759 The science has nothing 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:55.659 to say about this. 00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:57.759 It doesn't contradict 00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:59.940 a single tenet of science 00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:01.840 properly understood. 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:03.840 the normal human 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:05.240 religious imagination 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:07.299 projects onto God 00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:08.980 what we would do 00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:10.220 if we were God. 00:17:11.120 --> 00:17:11.319 Like, 00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:12.360 imagine if all of a sudden 00:17:12.360 --> 00:17:12.740 one of you 00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:13.600 became a billionaire. 00:17:15.840 --> 00:17:16.720 Would you buy 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:17.500 the cheapest, 00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.799 crappiest Fiat 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:19.860 you possibly could 00:17:19.860 --> 00:17:20.819 to drive around in? 00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:22.059 Very unlikely. 00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:23.660 Some of you, 00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:24.680 being very good Canadians, 00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:24.960 say, 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:25.279 well, 00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:26.539 okay, 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:27.720 I don't think I'll go 00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:28.940 for the flashy, 00:17:29.180 --> 00:17:29.539 hot, 00:17:29.900 --> 00:17:31.279 pink Lamborghini. 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:33.419 But I'll go for a 00:17:33.419 --> 00:17:34.279 sedate, 00:17:34.459 --> 00:17:35.099 respectable, 00:17:35.619 --> 00:17:35.899 gray, 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:36.459 Bentley, 00:17:36.879 --> 00:17:37.879 or something like that. 00:17:37.899 --> 00:17:38.740 Or maybe if you weren't 00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:40.459 even that much into cars, 00:17:40.859 --> 00:17:41.059 you know, 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:42.099 you'd at least get 00:17:42.099 --> 00:17:43.359 a Subaru 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:45.279 or something like that. 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:46.439 Not the crappiest 00:17:46.439 --> 00:17:46.959 little 00:17:46.959 --> 00:17:48.519 Fiat. 00:17:48.659 --> 00:17:49.339 I have no idea, 00:17:49.439 --> 00:17:49.659 by the way, 00:17:49.679 --> 00:17:50.639 what the cheapest car is. 00:17:50.679 --> 00:17:51.799 Some of you can tell me afterwards. 00:17:51.919 --> 00:17:52.859 I should have looked it up 00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:53.879 before I came to this. 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:54.639 So you see, 00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:55.519 here's the thing. 00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:56.859 We can't imagine 00:17:56.859 --> 00:17:57.959 that we would do anything 00:17:57.959 --> 00:17:58.379 like this 00:17:58.379 --> 00:17:59.019 if we were God. 00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:00.059 We would not belittle 00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:00.559 ourselves 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.539 and become little. 00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:04.519 God becoming a zygote? 00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:07.139 God going through gestation? 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:09.460 God having to go through birth? 00:18:09.639 --> 00:18:10.599 God being a baby? 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:12.159 God being poor and human 00:18:12.159 --> 00:18:13.599 and unrecognized 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:15.099 and part of a conquered people? 00:18:15.379 --> 00:18:17.059 No self-respecting God 00:18:17.059 --> 00:18:18.379 would ever act like this. 00:18:18.639 --> 00:18:20.099 I wouldn't act like this. 00:18:20.339 --> 00:18:21.179 How can something 00:18:21.179 --> 00:18:21.960 so outrageous 00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:23.039 and counterintuitive 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:23.740 be true? 00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:25.640 You see, 00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:27.180 it's not that anything 00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:28.620 in the nativity story 00:18:28.620 --> 00:18:29.400 is opposed 00:18:29.400 --> 00:18:31.180 to reason or evidence. 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:32.359 The story is just 00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:33.440 implausible to us. 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:35.599 And so even then for, 00:18:35.700 --> 00:18:36.660 if you're talking to somebody, 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:36.920 you can say, 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:37.900 I can deal with that. 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:38.120 You know, 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:38.660 Dawkins says, 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:40.099 it's absurd to talk about a virgin. 00:18:40.099 --> 00:18:40.620 No, I can give you 00:18:40.620 --> 00:18:41.359 a simple explanation 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:42.180 for the virgin birth. 00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:42.960 No, no, 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.519 I can simply, 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:44.480 you're making a mistake. 00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:46.120 I can simply clarify this. 00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:46.940 And you could go on 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:47.440 and on and on 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:47.920 and on and on. 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:49.000 But at the end of the day, 00:18:50.580 --> 00:18:51.039 it just, 00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:52.600 it just cannot, 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:53.820 it's just completely 00:18:53.820 --> 00:18:55.759 and utterly implausible to us. 00:18:57.640 --> 00:18:58.460 Another thing 00:18:58.460 --> 00:19:00.000 that our skeptical friends 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:00.480 will say, 00:19:01.300 --> 00:19:01.539 well, 00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:02.580 here's the thing they'll say. 00:19:03.080 --> 00:19:04.140 They love to harass 00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:04.960 people like us 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:05.420 and say, 00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:06.900 oh yeah, 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:07.620 you all, 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:08.880 all you religious people, 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:09.779 you have your Bibles, 00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:10.500 your scriptures. 00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:11.480 Yeah, 00:19:11.640 --> 00:19:11.860 I mean, 00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:12.580 why do you think 00:19:12.580 --> 00:19:13.880 your Bible is more true 00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:14.900 than some other scripture? 00:19:15.900 --> 00:19:16.220 You know, 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.100 the people, 00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:17.779 Muslims think 00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.779 the Quran is true. 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.119 Some Hindus think 00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:21.279 the Bahava Gita is true. 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:21.960 Some Buddhists, 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:23.139 the Tibetan Book of the Dead, 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:23.740 you know, 00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:24.180 et cetera, 00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:24.680 et cetera, 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:25.200 et cetera. 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:25.980 And, 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:26.660 you know, 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:28.180 just think about it 00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:28.660 for a second. 00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:29.740 They will say to me, 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:30.740 how on earth 00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:31.200 do you think 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:32.319 a puny person 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:34.019 could ever describe 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.819 a no God 00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:36.379 or even a God 00:19:36.379 --> 00:19:37.259 with a small g? 00:19:37.879 --> 00:19:38.920 How can someone 00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:39.839 see the invisible? 00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:41.839 And then they'll pause 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:42.339 and say, 00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:43.240 you do realize 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:44.180 that invisible means 00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:45.539 it can't possibly be seen. 00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:47.359 How can you hear 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:47.979 the inaudible? 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:48.919 You do realize 00:19:48.919 --> 00:19:49.799 inaudible means 00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:50.539 it can't literally 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.240 be heard. 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:52.319 You know, 00:19:52.399 --> 00:19:53.119 you can't even 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:54.199 figure out yourself. 00:19:54.679 --> 00:19:55.659 You can't figure out 00:19:55.659 --> 00:19:56.179 your wife 00:19:56.179 --> 00:19:56.759 or your friend 00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.619 or your kids. 00:19:57.859 --> 00:19:58.799 What makes you think 00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:00.179 you could figure out God? 00:20:02.399 --> 00:20:02.819 Well, 00:20:02.879 --> 00:20:03.639 Christians believe 00:20:03.639 --> 00:20:04.899 that the nativity story 00:20:04.899 --> 00:20:06.299 is a true story 00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:08.339 from God 00:20:08.339 --> 00:20:09.819 about God. 00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:11.039 That's what we believe. 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:11.599 In fact, 00:20:12.219 --> 00:20:13.079 to the surprise 00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:13.679 of skeptics, 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:14.459 I often tell them 00:20:14.459 --> 00:20:15.199 I agree with virtually 00:20:15.199 --> 00:20:15.979 every single thing 00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:16.480 they said. 00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:16.880 In fact, 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:17.680 I feel like saying 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:18.860 amen to them. 00:20:19.360 --> 00:20:20.259 The fact is 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:23.420 that the aunt 00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:24.079 about to read 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:24.940 a nativity story 00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:25.579 to her niece 00:20:25.579 --> 00:20:26.460 can clearly say 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:27.740 amen to most of that 00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:29.460 because the biblical claim 00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:30.400 is the same 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:30.940 as the claim 00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:31.819 made by Jesus, 00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:32.599 that the Bible 00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:33.920 is not a repository 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:35.039 of human words 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:35.880 about God, 00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:37.680 but is God himself 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:39.279 speaking to human beings. 00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:40.599 Only God 00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:41.960 can understand God. 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:43.700 I accept that. 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:45.079 I believe that. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:46.100 Only God 00:20:46.100 --> 00:20:47.220 can understand God 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:48.079 and I will only 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:48.779 understand God 00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:49.400 to the extent 00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:50.180 that he makes it 00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:51.039 clear to me. 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.660 The Bible 00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:54.940 is ultimately 00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:55.880 from each word 00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:56.380 to the whole 00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:57.340 the triune God 00:20:57.340 --> 00:20:58.140 speaking to us. 00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.039 Why believe this? 00:20:59.420 --> 00:20:59.640 Well, 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:00.120 I can give you 00:21:00.120 --> 00:21:00.799 lots of reasons 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:02.039 but very simply put, 00:21:03.120 --> 00:21:03.720 the resurrection 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.319 of Jesus 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:05.360 changes everything. 00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:07.720 The resurrection 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.279 of Jesus 00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:09.279 changes everything. 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:11.200 The death 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:11.779 and resurrection 00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:12.299 of Jesus 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:13.200 authenticates 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:13.980 and vindicates 00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.720 who he is, 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:15.879 what he accomplished 00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:16.500 on the cross 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:17.279 and his teaching. 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:19.119 I believe in him. 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:20.299 I believe him. 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.759 I believe what he says 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.660 and he is the one 00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:23.599 who teaches us 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:25.119 to come to understand 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:26.700 that the Bible 00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:28.700 is a true story, 00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:29.500 the nativity story 00:21:29.500 --> 00:21:30.440 is a true story 00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:32.000 come from God 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:32.639 ultimately 00:21:32.639 --> 00:21:33.500 about God. 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:34.579 He used Matthew. 00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:36.000 So, 00:21:36.619 --> 00:21:36.899 this, 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:37.940 we're almost finished. 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:40.759 The nativity story 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:42.259 is both true history 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:44.099 and it's also miraculous 00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:45.759 from start to finish. 00:21:45.879 --> 00:21:46.559 I don't know if you noticed 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.079 when I was reading 00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:47.599 this story, 00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:49.639 God drives the action. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.339 Angels speak 00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:52.399 as God's messengers. 00:21:52.639 --> 00:21:53.240 A young woman 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.180 who has never sexually 00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:54.740 known a man 00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:55.779 becomes pregnant. 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.180 And it's, 00:21:58.339 --> 00:21:59.200 we Christians 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:01.119 shouldn't be embarrassed 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:02.259 about miracles 00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:03.139 in the Bible. 00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.740 We should revel 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.480 in them. 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.819 We should meditate 00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:07.639 upon them. 00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:09.259 We should delight 00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:10.140 in them. 00:22:10.560 --> 00:22:11.840 We should be excited 00:22:11.840 --> 00:22:12.520 about them. 00:22:13.340 --> 00:22:14.000 I remember, 00:22:14.560 --> 00:22:15.280 it's so, 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:17.160 my wife will remember 00:22:17.160 --> 00:22:17.820 this as well. 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:19.280 My grandfather 00:22:19.280 --> 00:22:20.440 who was quite elderly, 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:21.580 I guess this would be 00:22:21.580 --> 00:22:22.420 four or five years 00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:23.140 before he died, 00:22:23.800 --> 00:22:25.140 and I remember 00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:25.820 being in the house 00:22:25.820 --> 00:22:26.400 when he was sitting 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.120 reading the Bible. 00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:28.860 And all of a sudden 00:22:28.860 --> 00:22:29.580 he would start reading, 00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:30.340 stop reading the Bible, 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:30.880 he'd look up 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:31.759 and he'd just chuckle. 00:22:31.860 --> 00:22:32.040 He'd say, 00:22:32.100 --> 00:22:32.520 look at this, 00:22:32.540 --> 00:22:33.080 this tells you 00:22:33.080 --> 00:22:33.920 that God did this, 00:22:33.940 --> 00:22:34.320 isn't that? 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:34.900 And he'd just have 00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:35.720 this big smile 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.240 on his face. 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:37.000 He just delighted 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:38.099 in the miracles. 00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:38.779 We should delight 00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:39.359 in the miracles. 00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:41.019 They're wonderful. 00:22:42.620 --> 00:22:42.980 Christianity 00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:44.359 is the only religion 00:22:44.359 --> 00:22:45.200 that does things 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:45.779 in history 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.599 to help vindicate 00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:47.279 its truth. 00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:48.099 It not only has 00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:49.519 profound philosophy, 00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:50.700 profound poetry, 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:51.920 profound worship, 00:22:52.380 --> 00:22:53.440 profound stories, 00:22:53.620 --> 00:22:54.339 but it has 00:22:54.339 --> 00:22:55.120 these miracles. 00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:55.839 You can look 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:56.200 and there is 00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:57.599 much historical evidence 00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:58.259 to accept 00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:59.059 that the grave 00:22:59.059 --> 00:23:00.259 actually was empty 00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:01.620 on Easter morning. 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:02.980 Jesus really did 00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:03.880 rise from the dead. 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:04.680 They never found 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:05.220 his body. 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:06.299 He appeared alive. 00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:07.240 He rose. 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.380 And if that happened, 00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:09.740 it changes everything. 00:23:09.900 --> 00:23:10.740 It's why we read 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.539 this story. 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:13.900 Why I believe 00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:15.380 in the virgin birth. 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:16.140 Why I believe 00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:17.000 in the nativity story. 00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:18.480 It's a wonderful story. 00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:20.220 It's spectacularly true. 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:22.819 And it's a story 00:23:22.819 --> 00:23:23.720 about God 00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:24.319 coming 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:25.380 to save 00:23:25.380 --> 00:23:26.059 you and me. 00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:27.700 Canadians think 00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:28.559 that the best stories 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:29.039 are the ones 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:29.720 where the hero 00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:30.519 or the heroine 00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.220 gets to save 00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:31.799 themselves 00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:32.339 and others. 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:33.860 We look down, 00:23:33.859 --> 00:23:34.539 in a sense, 00:23:34.639 --> 00:23:35.219 on the person 00:23:35.219 --> 00:23:36.159 who has to be saved 00:23:36.159 --> 00:23:37.099 by somebody else. 00:23:37.159 --> 00:23:37.759 They should save 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.279 themselves. 00:23:38.979 --> 00:23:39.659 We think that 00:23:39.659 --> 00:23:40.299 as Canadians 00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:41.179 that the best thing 00:23:41.179 --> 00:23:42.139 that God could do 00:23:42.139 --> 00:23:42.779 for us 00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:43.919 is to get out of the way 00:23:43.919 --> 00:23:45.719 while we save ourselves. 00:23:45.719 --> 00:23:46.759 Or if necessary, 00:23:47.139 --> 00:23:47.859 he can provide 00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:48.639 a few pointers 00:23:48.639 --> 00:23:50.059 or maybe a magic wand 00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:50.459 or something 00:23:50.459 --> 00:23:51.779 so we can save ourselves. 00:23:52.459 --> 00:23:52.839 And this, 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:53.240 of course, 00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:54.679 feeds into the normal 00:23:54.679 --> 00:23:56.459 religious human imagination 00:23:56.459 --> 00:23:57.519 which determines 00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.899 not only what is plausible 00:23:58.900 --> 00:24:00.519 but also what is best. 00:24:00.860 --> 00:24:01.820 The best religion 00:24:01.820 --> 00:24:02.340 is the one 00:24:02.340 --> 00:24:04.160 where I save myself. 00:24:05.300 --> 00:24:05.759 Frankly, 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:07.040 it is a disappointment 00:24:07.040 --> 00:24:08.340 to the average Canadian 00:24:08.340 --> 00:24:09.019 to discover 00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:09.600 that God 00:24:09.600 --> 00:24:11.060 does not really care 00:24:11.060 --> 00:24:12.540 about your criteria 00:24:12.540 --> 00:24:14.120 for plausibility. 00:24:14.340 --> 00:24:15.460 He doesn't give a hoot. 00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:17.400 Your criteria 00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:18.160 for plausibility 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:19.140 is your problem, 00:24:19.280 --> 00:24:19.900 not his. 00:24:20.300 --> 00:24:20.980 You think about it 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:21.400 for a second. 00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:22.440 How many people 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:22.960 care about 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:24.320 the plausibility structures 00:24:24.320 --> 00:24:24.840 of people 00:24:24.840 --> 00:24:25.960 500 years ago? 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:26.400 Well, 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:27.920 you think 00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:28.660 they're ridiculous. 00:24:29.080 --> 00:24:29.519 They think 00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:30.240 you're ridiculous. 00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:30.960 Why do you think 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:31.640 God should care 00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:32.140 what you think 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:32.920 about those types 00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:33.400 of things? 00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:34.660 But on the other hand, 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.160 we all agree 00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:36.000 that the best stories 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.759 have a twist. 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.580 In this case, 00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:39.660 the twist 00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:41.039 is the joyful news 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:42.160 that you can never 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:43.100 save yourself 00:24:43.100 --> 00:24:44.620 and that salvation 00:24:44.620 --> 00:24:46.420 comes as an undeserved 00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:48.160 and unforeseen gift 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:50.039 when you lay aside 00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:50.779 the burden 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:52.620 of being your own savior. 00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.880 It's crushing. 00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.620 It only depresses 00:24:57.619 --> 00:24:59.179 you to be your own savior. 00:25:00.099 --> 00:25:02.139 It is so much lightness 00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:03.659 to get that burden 00:25:03.659 --> 00:25:05.019 and throw it away 00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:06.919 and to allow God 00:25:06.919 --> 00:25:07.819 to do what only 00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:08.679 he can do, 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:10.119 which is save those 00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:11.179 who trust in God, 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:12.019 the Son of God, 00:25:12.099 --> 00:25:13.279 the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:25:13.439 --> 00:25:14.219 who was born 00:25:14.219 --> 00:25:15.339 of the Virgin Mary 00:25:15.339 --> 00:25:17.539 in a simple stable. 00:25:21.219 --> 00:25:23.219 That's the wonderful news 00:25:23.219 --> 00:25:23.839 of this story. 00:25:23.959 --> 00:25:24.399 Look again. 00:25:24.459 --> 00:25:25.479 We see it in the names. 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:27.259 Look at what the name is 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:29.079 that they were to give 00:25:29.079 --> 00:25:29.960 the boy, 00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:31.079 verse 23, 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:31.740 Emmanuel. 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:33.319 It's such a wonderful thing. 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:34.400 It says that God 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:35.799 is with us. 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.700 You know, 00:25:38.819 --> 00:25:40.200 the Down syndrome child 00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:41.180 can put their faith 00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:42.120 and trust in Christ 00:25:42.120 --> 00:25:43.319 and God is with him. 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:45.680 The elderly person 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.240 who'd lived 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:47.579 maybe a very full life 00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.599 but is now lost 00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:49.259 in dementia, 00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:51.339 God is with that person. 00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:53.439 The person who's born 00:25:53.439 --> 00:25:54.939 with severe handicaps, 00:25:55.619 --> 00:25:57.359 God is with that person. 00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:59.559 The person captured 00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:01.720 in sexual slavery 00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:04.459 or some prison camp 00:26:04.459 --> 00:26:05.639 by some corrupt routine 00:26:05.639 --> 00:26:06.639 and they give their life 00:26:06.639 --> 00:26:06.959 to Christ, 00:26:07.099 --> 00:26:08.899 God is with that person. 00:26:09.439 --> 00:26:10.240 The billionaire 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:11.279 who gives their life 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:11.740 to Christ, 00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:12.639 the soccer mom 00:26:12.639 --> 00:26:13.459 who gives her life 00:26:13.459 --> 00:26:13.959 to Christ, 00:26:14.379 --> 00:26:15.399 God is with them. 00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:15.959 God, 00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:17.119 the Son of God, 00:26:17.459 --> 00:26:18.619 came and went 00:26:18.619 --> 00:26:20.019 through the normal process 00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:21.379 of birth and life. 00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.559 He is with us 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:23.139 in our mess. 00:26:23.219 --> 00:26:23.879 He is with us 00:26:23.879 --> 00:26:24.459 in our sin. 00:26:24.739 --> 00:26:25.699 He bears the sin 00:26:25.699 --> 00:26:26.579 upon his body. 00:26:26.899 --> 00:26:28.219 He dies in my place 00:26:28.219 --> 00:26:29.599 so that I can be made 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:30.199 right with him. 00:26:30.479 --> 00:26:31.579 He is with us. 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:33.779 He does not despise us. 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:34.519 He does not think 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:35.179 we smell. 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:35.899 He does not think 00:26:35.899 --> 00:26:36.559 we stink. 00:26:36.899 --> 00:26:37.519 He does not think 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.199 we are losers. 00:26:38.399 --> 00:26:39.079 He does not think 00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:40.299 we are filled with shame. 00:26:40.619 --> 00:26:41.399 He looks at us 00:26:41.399 --> 00:26:42.199 and he loves us. 00:26:42.459 --> 00:26:43.500 He came from heaven 00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:44.459 to seek us. 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:45.639 He is with us. 00:26:45.859 --> 00:26:46.819 He is with you. 00:26:46.959 --> 00:26:47.859 That is the story 00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:48.559 of Christmas. 00:26:49.199 --> 00:26:49.779 And it is seen 00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:50.279 in Emmanuel 00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:50.819 and it is seen 00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:51.299 in his name. 00:26:51.379 --> 00:26:51.719 His name, 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:52.079 Jesus, 00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:53.659 means the Lord saves. 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.899 The Lord is salvation. 00:26:55.339 --> 00:26:56.159 He is with us 00:26:56.159 --> 00:26:57.339 to save you 00:26:57.339 --> 00:27:00.239 as undeserved gift. 00:27:02.179 --> 00:27:03.179 So friends, 00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:05.219 as we come to the end, 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:05.679 we are going to have 00:27:05.679 --> 00:27:06.379 one more video. 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:07.159 Praise God 00:27:07.159 --> 00:27:08.639 from whom all blessings flow. 00:27:09.919 --> 00:27:10.359 Yes, 00:27:10.739 --> 00:27:11.839 stories are weak, 00:27:12.719 --> 00:27:13.699 easily mocked, 00:27:13.699 --> 00:27:14.979 and easily dismissed. 00:27:15.659 --> 00:27:16.579 But the weakness 00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:17.219 of God 00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:17.940 is stronger 00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:19.440 than all human strength. 00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:21.100 And the foolishness 00:27:21.100 --> 00:27:21.660 of God 00:27:21.660 --> 00:27:22.640 is wiser 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:24.420 than all human plausibility 00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:25.200 and reason 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:26.059 and wisdom. 00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:28.120 The triune God 00:27:28.120 --> 00:27:28.700 himself 00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:30.220 chooses to impart 00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:31.140 these profound 00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:32.380 and necessary truths 00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:33.019 in the form 00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:33.740 of a story. 00:27:34.380 --> 00:27:35.700 A story so simple 00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.700 but so profound 00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:38.019 that a parent 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.559 can read it 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:39.620 to their two-year-old, 00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:41.220 their 18-month-old, 00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:43.839 to their PhD neighbor, 00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:45.220 a street person, 00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:46.379 or a soccer mom, 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.959 and all can receive 00:27:47.959 --> 00:27:48.559 the story 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:49.899 and be formed 00:27:49.899 --> 00:27:51.319 by the profound truths 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:52.079 in it. 00:27:52.659 --> 00:27:53.939 Stories form you 00:27:53.939 --> 00:27:54.500 in a way 00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:55.559 that nothing else 00:27:55.559 --> 00:27:56.500 forms you. 00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:58.039 And God chose 00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:58.619 the weak 00:27:58.619 --> 00:27:59.539 and the lowly 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.799 to shame the wise. 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.980 He is with us. 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:06.039 Father, 00:28:06.119 --> 00:28:06.579 we thank you 00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:07.220 for the story 00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:08.319 of the birth of Jesus. 00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:09.639 We thank you 00:28:09.639 --> 00:28:10.279 for Mary, 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:11.720 for her being willing 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:13.359 to allow God 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:14.179 to do that miracle 00:28:14.179 --> 00:28:14.980 within her womb. 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:16.159 We thank you 00:28:16.159 --> 00:28:16.759 for Joseph, 00:28:17.419 --> 00:28:19.059 that he believed you 00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:20.019 when you spoke to him 00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:20.679 through the angel. 00:28:21.419 --> 00:28:22.279 But most of all, 00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:22.519 Father, 00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:23.059 we thank you 00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:23.579 for Jesus, 00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:24.220 that God, 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:25.099 the Son of God, 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:25.899 would take on 00:28:25.899 --> 00:28:26.779 our human nature, 00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.079 would come 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:29.279 and enter our world 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:30.299 as a zygote 00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:31.619 in the womb of Mary, 00:28:32.179 --> 00:28:32.939 and that he would live 00:28:32.939 --> 00:28:34.279 a normal human life 00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:35.480 except without sin, 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:37.339 culminating in his death 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:38.240 upon the cross. 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.980 to reconcile us to you 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:41.259 as he bore the sin 00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:41.759 and shame 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:42.539 which is properly 00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:43.439 ours in himself. 00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:44.139 Father, 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:44.740 we thank you 00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:45.619 that he has done this 00:28:45.619 --> 00:28:46.099 for us. 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:46.960 We ask, 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:47.279 Father, 00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:48.079 that you grant us 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:49.139 a true confidence 00:28:49.139 --> 00:28:49.879 in Christ. 00:28:50.419 --> 00:28:50.899 And Father, 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:53.019 thank you 00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:54.220 that he came 00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:54.839 in meekness 00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:55.359 and weakness. 00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:56.519 And we ask 00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:57.279 that as we think 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:58.399 about this weak 00:28:58.399 --> 00:28:59.259 little baby 00:28:59.259 --> 00:29:00.059 being born 00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:02.659 so many years ago, 00:29:03.379 --> 00:29:03.740 Father, 00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:04.659 help us to know 00:29:04.659 --> 00:29:05.500 that you are with us 00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:06.059 in our weakness 00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:07.579 and that we have 00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:08.559 all of the weakness 00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:09.899 we need 00:29:09.899 --> 00:29:11.059 for you to work 00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:11.759 within us 00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:13.199 with all of your strength. 00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:14.799 And we ask these things 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:15.740 in the name of Jesus, 00:29:15.879 --> 00:29:16.919 your Son and our Savior. 00:29:16.919 --> 00:29:18.059 Amen.