WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.120 Well, a week ago, the Salvati family got into one of our vehicles and we went and got our Christmas tree. 00:00:06.919 --> 00:00:12.320 We got it on the other side of 31 and on our way back, we hit Christmas Tree Lane. 00:00:12.419 --> 00:00:13.339 Anybody been there yet? 00:00:14.220 --> 00:00:14.740 Mm-hmm. 00:00:16.120 --> 00:00:22.219 Well, we were driving along looking at the lights and you can't help but notice the different nativity scenes in front lawns 00:00:22.219 --> 00:00:25.140 and plastic baby Jesuses all over the place. 00:00:25.140 --> 00:00:33.340 And in two lawns in particular, we're going around the cul-de-sac and there are two signs, put Christ back in Christmas. 00:00:35.299 --> 00:00:40.200 And it started me thinking, well, how do you get Christ out of Christmas? 00:00:42.340 --> 00:00:46.939 And I started thinking and realizing that it's not that hard to do. 00:00:46.939 --> 00:00:56.899 If you don't know who the baby is, and if you don't know why he came, Christ is going to leave Christmas. 00:00:58.879 --> 00:01:01.299 And you make Christmas about something else. 00:01:01.420 --> 00:01:04.759 Something else becomes the central focal point of Christmas. 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:06.120 Maybe it's Santa Claus. 00:01:07.599 --> 00:01:10.500 Maybe it's giving and receiving gifts, which is fun. 00:01:10.500 --> 00:01:15.640 But if it becomes the primary focus of Christmas, you're missing the point. 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:20.359 Maybe it's about time off, time away. 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:23.120 It's great at Christmastime. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:25.180 But is that why Jesus came? 00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:29.180 Maybe it's about family. 00:01:30.260 --> 00:01:32.340 You think about Christmas and you think about family. 00:01:32.500 --> 00:01:35.680 And sometimes it's like, yay, let's get together with our family. 00:01:36.019 --> 00:01:39.379 Other times it's like, no way, I don't want to be with those people. 00:01:40.500 --> 00:01:51.560 Sometimes it's Christmas, the central focus becomes about smells and sounds and tastes. 00:01:54.819 --> 00:02:00.359 Sometimes the Christmas season, the primary focus becomes helping other people. 00:02:01.859 --> 00:02:05.700 But if you see that as the primary focus of Christmas, you're missing the point. 00:02:05.700 --> 00:02:14.199 But Jesus didn't come so that we could see some new releases at Christmastime. 00:02:17.060 --> 00:02:19.300 So these things vie for our focus. 00:02:20.199 --> 00:02:25.460 And they can occupy kind of the center focus of Christmas. 00:02:25.640 --> 00:02:26.900 And we can't let that happen. 00:02:26.900 --> 00:02:32.060 The central figure of Christmas is, of course, Jesus. 00:02:33.280 --> 00:02:34.819 Christmas is about Jesus. 00:02:35.219 --> 00:02:38.159 The incarnation of the second person of the Trinity. 00:02:39.180 --> 00:02:40.800 And Christmas is about Jesus. 00:02:41.240 --> 00:02:42.900 Jesus is about salvation. 00:02:43.900 --> 00:02:44.620 Our salvation. 00:02:45.140 --> 00:02:47.319 Christmas, therefore, is about salvation. 00:02:48.180 --> 00:02:48.879 Our salvation. 00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:53.280 How do we put Christ back into Christmas? 00:02:54.539 --> 00:02:57.799 We refocus on who he is and why he came. 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:00.319 And that's what we're going to do this morning. 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:02.539 And that's what we're going to do for the next few Sundays together. 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:05.859 Our theme is, what child is this? 00:03:06.180 --> 00:03:08.060 Who is this baby in the manger? 00:03:08.740 --> 00:03:11.900 And this morning, we're going to be turning to the Gospel of John. 00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:14.740 John chapter 1, verse 14. 00:03:14.740 --> 00:03:18.460 David read the whole prologue, verses 1 through 18. 00:03:18.700 --> 00:03:22.920 If you would turn in your Bibles with me to John chapter 1, verse 14. 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:23.980 I'll read that for you. 00:03:24.760 --> 00:03:26.439 John is what's known as a gospel. 00:03:26.640 --> 00:03:27.939 It's a story about Jesus. 00:03:28.740 --> 00:03:31.320 And so if you're not familiar with the New Testament or the Bible, 00:03:31.420 --> 00:03:32.640 you want to get to the New Testament, 00:03:32.900 --> 00:03:35.140 just basically open up to the middle and go right. 00:03:35.800 --> 00:03:38.260 You're looking for Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 00:03:38.600 --> 00:03:40.280 I want to get to John chapter 1. 00:03:41.360 --> 00:03:42.680 Find that little 14. 00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:45.340 And here's what it says. 00:03:47.640 --> 00:03:52.319 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:03:53.219 --> 00:03:55.080 And we've seen His glory. 00:03:56.080 --> 00:03:58.540 Glory as of the only Son from the Father. 00:03:59.980 --> 00:04:01.060 Full of grace. 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:02.780 Full of grace and truth. 00:04:03.500 --> 00:04:05.280 This morning, I want to answer the question, 00:04:05.460 --> 00:04:08.680 what child is this, by looking at John 1.14. 00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:12.840 And we're going to have five answers from John 1.14 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:16.300 of who this child is. 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:18.139 What child is this? 00:04:19.639 --> 00:04:22.000 This child is the Word made flesh. 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:26.000 This child is fully God, fully man. 00:04:27.060 --> 00:04:30.420 This child is fully present with us. 00:04:30.620 --> 00:04:32.139 This child is full of glory. 00:04:32.280 --> 00:04:33.680 This child is full of grace. 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:36.819 This child is your salvation. 00:04:37.639 --> 00:04:38.879 That's what this child is. 00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:41.879 What child is this? 00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:45.740 First answer to the question. 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:49.079 This child is fully God. 00:04:50.840 --> 00:04:51.480 Verse 14, 00:04:51.720 --> 00:04:54.360 And the Word became flesh. 00:04:54.620 --> 00:04:55.480 And the Word. 00:04:55.480 --> 00:04:58.780 Now, if you're not familiar with the Gospel of John, 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:03.180 John actually starts talking about this Word character 00:05:03.180 --> 00:05:06.040 earlier on in verses 1 through 5. 00:05:06.120 --> 00:05:07.280 Would you look up there with me? 00:05:07.960 --> 00:05:08.700 We read this. 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:12.060 In the beginning was the Word. 00:05:13.060 --> 00:05:15.500 And the Word was with God. 00:05:16.060 --> 00:05:18.240 And the Word was God. 00:05:19.100 --> 00:05:21.879 He was in the beginning with God. 00:05:21.879 --> 00:05:25.100 All things were made through Him. 00:05:25.180 --> 00:05:28.079 And without Him was not anything made that was made. 00:05:29.180 --> 00:05:30.120 In Him was life. 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:31.579 And the life was the light of men. 00:05:31.659 --> 00:05:32.959 The light shines in the darkness. 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:35.779 And the darkness has not overcome it. 00:05:35.879 --> 00:05:39.959 Who is this Word that John is talking about? 00:05:40.040 --> 00:05:42.819 This Word who became flesh. 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:46.019 Well, He was in the beginning. 00:05:48.100 --> 00:05:49.719 In the beginning was the Word. 00:05:49.720 --> 00:05:53.400 And we read that in the beginning was the Word. 00:05:53.760 --> 00:05:56.320 And the Word was with God. 00:05:56.460 --> 00:05:58.980 Now, I'm guessing there's something going on you 00:05:58.980 --> 00:06:02.200 that you know something kind of innately. 00:06:02.380 --> 00:06:05.460 But I want to draw it out just to make sure you're seeing it explicitly. 00:06:06.780 --> 00:06:08.000 When John says, 00:06:08.400 --> 00:06:09.400 In the beginning was the Word. 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:11.120 And the Word was with God. 00:06:11.180 --> 00:06:12.020 What he's saying is, 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:13.940 This Word who is a person. 00:06:14.760 --> 00:06:15.500 Look at verse 2. 00:06:15.900 --> 00:06:16.660 He was in the beginning. 00:06:16.660 --> 00:06:20.100 This person, the Word, 00:06:20.760 --> 00:06:21.820 was with God. 00:06:22.040 --> 00:06:24.380 He was distinct from God, 00:06:24.500 --> 00:06:27.280 but present with God in the beginning. 00:06:27.500 --> 00:06:28.439 That's what John is saying. 00:06:29.660 --> 00:06:30.620 In the beginning, 00:06:31.960 --> 00:06:33.020 the Word was the Word, 00:06:33.080 --> 00:06:34.860 and the Word was with God. 00:06:34.980 --> 00:06:37.080 And as we read in verse 1, 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:37.540 we read, 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:39.820 And the Word was God. 00:06:39.819 --> 00:06:45.819 So this Word is distinct from God, 00:06:46.620 --> 00:06:48.219 present with God, 00:06:48.740 --> 00:06:50.060 and God. 00:06:53.139 --> 00:06:55.639 This Word of God is someone unique, 00:06:56.600 --> 00:06:58.579 distinct from, present with, and fully God. 00:06:58.959 --> 00:06:59.899 All of a sudden, 00:07:00.019 --> 00:07:02.039 here we are talking about Christmas 00:07:02.039 --> 00:07:03.399 and the incarnation of Jesus, 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:05.779 and we are in the deep end of the swimming pool 00:07:05.779 --> 00:07:06.959 talking about the Trinity. 00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:09.359 Because that's what John's getting at. 00:07:10.419 --> 00:07:12.819 God's eternally existed as three persons. 00:07:13.339 --> 00:07:14.579 Each person's fully God. 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:15.959 There's one God. 00:07:18.479 --> 00:07:20.779 Did you notice how John reaches back 00:07:20.779 --> 00:07:22.539 to the beginning? 00:07:24.299 --> 00:07:25.459 In the beginning 00:07:25.459 --> 00:07:27.740 was the Word. 00:07:28.839 --> 00:07:30.000 And the Word was with God. 00:07:30.060 --> 00:07:31.979 And the Word was God. 00:07:31.980 --> 00:07:33.500 Why? 00:07:35.640 --> 00:07:37.280 Why is he doing this? 00:07:37.400 --> 00:07:38.840 Why is he reaching back 00:07:38.840 --> 00:07:39.879 to the very beginning? 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:43.580 Matthew doesn't start 00:07:43.580 --> 00:07:44.259 at the very beginning. 00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:46.540 The Gospel of Luke 00:07:46.540 --> 00:07:47.800 doesn't start at the very beginning. 00:07:48.660 --> 00:07:49.700 They start at the beginning 00:07:49.700 --> 00:07:50.600 of Jesus' life, 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:51.460 on earth. 00:07:52.780 --> 00:07:54.140 John starts 00:07:54.140 --> 00:07:55.759 way back 00:07:55.759 --> 00:07:56.960 in the beginning. 00:07:57.840 --> 00:07:59.540 I hope that when you hear 00:07:59.540 --> 00:08:00.300 those words, 00:08:00.540 --> 00:08:01.360 in the beginning, 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:03.740 you go to 00:08:03.740 --> 00:08:05.379 Genesis 1. 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:06.580 Verse 1. 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:07.980 In the beginning, 00:08:08.699 --> 00:08:09.879 God created 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:11.360 the heavens 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:12.840 and the earth. 00:08:13.500 --> 00:08:14.639 So what John does 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:15.600 that the other Gospels 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:16.180 don't do, 00:08:16.920 --> 00:08:17.920 he brings us 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:18.920 all the way back 00:08:18.920 --> 00:08:19.720 to creation. 00:08:20.980 --> 00:08:21.819 And he's saying, 00:08:22.199 --> 00:08:22.920 in the beginning 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:25.220 was the Word. 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:27.879 This person 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:29.120 who is distinct from 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:30.319 but present with 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:31.279 and God, 00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:33.500 he was at the beginning. 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:40.080 Do you remember 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:41.159 how God created 00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:42.120 the heavens and the earth? 00:08:43.700 --> 00:08:44.779 Do you remember 00:08:44.779 --> 00:08:46.539 how God created 00:08:46.539 --> 00:08:48.299 light out of darkness? 00:08:49.460 --> 00:08:50.340 Do you remember 00:08:50.340 --> 00:08:52.200 how God created life 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:54.240 out of a lifeless void? 00:08:55.139 --> 00:08:55.439 Do you remember 00:08:55.439 --> 00:08:56.179 how he did that? 00:08:56.179 --> 00:08:59.019 He spoke it. 00:09:00.679 --> 00:09:02.059 He spoke it. 00:09:03.859 --> 00:09:04.859 In the beginning 00:09:04.859 --> 00:09:06.639 was the Word. 00:09:08.819 --> 00:09:10.500 When John talks about 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:11.559 in the beginning 00:09:11.559 --> 00:09:13.139 was the Word, 00:09:13.859 --> 00:09:14.659 he's referring 00:09:14.659 --> 00:09:15.699 to a person, 00:09:16.079 --> 00:09:16.919 the second person 00:09:16.919 --> 00:09:17.539 of the Trinity, 00:09:18.199 --> 00:09:19.159 the eternal Son, 00:09:19.959 --> 00:09:21.379 who was the agent 00:09:21.379 --> 00:09:22.519 of creation. 00:09:22.519 --> 00:09:24.439 We read that 00:09:24.439 --> 00:09:25.559 in Colossians 1.16. 00:09:26.279 --> 00:09:27.240 We also read about that 00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:28.659 in Hebrews 1.2. 00:09:29.259 --> 00:09:29.980 If you look at 00:09:29.980 --> 00:09:31.039 Proverbs 8, 00:09:31.539 --> 00:09:32.199 he goes by 00:09:32.199 --> 00:09:33.120 the title 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:34.100 Wisdom. 00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:37.340 He is the Creator. 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:40.480 And so John 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:41.079 brings us 00:09:41.079 --> 00:09:42.259 all the way back 00:09:42.259 --> 00:09:43.019 to the beginning 00:09:43.019 --> 00:09:44.960 and he's helping us 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:45.860 understand 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:47.159 the Word 00:09:47.159 --> 00:09:48.419 who became flesh. 00:09:48.419 --> 00:09:50.399 this child 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:51.299 in the manger, 00:09:51.559 --> 00:09:52.019 do you know 00:09:52.019 --> 00:09:52.740 who he is? 00:09:54.179 --> 00:09:55.579 He's your Creator. 00:09:57.699 --> 00:09:58.659 He is 00:09:58.659 --> 00:10:00.419 fully God. 00:10:04.259 --> 00:10:06.240 Verse 3 of chapter 1, 00:10:06.339 --> 00:10:07.579 all things were made 00:10:07.579 --> 00:10:09.159 through him, 00:10:09.740 --> 00:10:10.899 him being the Word. 00:10:13.439 --> 00:10:14.219 And without him 00:10:14.219 --> 00:10:15.539 was not anything made 00:10:15.539 --> 00:10:16.480 that was made. 00:10:18.419 --> 00:10:19.519 Everything came 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:20.000 from him. 00:10:21.620 --> 00:10:22.639 He's the Creator 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:23.139 of all. 00:10:24.339 --> 00:10:24.699 Therefore, 00:10:25.439 --> 00:10:27.159 he's your Creator. 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:30.479 So John brings us 00:10:30.479 --> 00:10:31.319 all the way back 00:10:31.319 --> 00:10:31.959 to the beginning 00:10:31.959 --> 00:10:32.719 of creation 00:10:32.719 --> 00:10:34.139 and helping us 00:10:34.139 --> 00:10:34.659 understand 00:10:34.659 --> 00:10:36.579 who this child 00:10:36.579 --> 00:10:37.240 is, 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:38.039 this Word 00:10:38.039 --> 00:10:38.639 who has become 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:39.179 flesh. 00:10:40.019 --> 00:10:40.979 So the child 00:10:40.979 --> 00:10:41.740 is the Word 00:10:41.740 --> 00:10:42.240 of God, 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:44.019 the Creator, 00:10:44.719 --> 00:10:45.620 the one and only 00:10:45.620 --> 00:10:46.079 Son, 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:46.899 verse 14, 00:10:46.899 --> 00:10:48.179 the second person 00:10:48.179 --> 00:10:48.799 of the Trinity, 00:10:49.199 --> 00:10:49.919 the one who created 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:50.679 all things, 00:10:51.199 --> 00:10:52.039 the one who created 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:52.379 you. 00:10:53.939 --> 00:10:55.000 What child is this? 00:10:56.099 --> 00:10:56.959 This child is 00:10:56.959 --> 00:10:57.519 fully God. 00:10:58.459 --> 00:10:58.979 That's answer 00:10:58.979 --> 00:10:59.539 number one. 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:00.579 You see, 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:01.779 Christmas is about 00:11:01.779 --> 00:11:02.419 the incarnation 00:11:02.419 --> 00:11:03.219 of Jesus, 00:11:03.799 --> 00:11:04.639 and the incarnation 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:05.379 of Jesus, 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:06.639 it's about 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:07.379 your salvation. 00:11:09.059 --> 00:11:10.139 Answer number two, 00:11:10.839 --> 00:11:11.479 not only is this 00:11:11.479 --> 00:11:12.479 child fully God, 00:11:12.579 --> 00:11:13.240 this child is 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:14.919 fully human. 00:11:14.919 --> 00:11:16.019 what we're talking 00:11:16.019 --> 00:11:16.759 about is the 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:18.159 incarnation of the 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:18.799 second person 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:19.439 of the Trinity, 00:11:20.139 --> 00:11:20.719 the incarnation 00:11:20.719 --> 00:11:21.399 of Jesus. 00:11:21.559 --> 00:11:22.039 And so when you 00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:22.639 hear the word 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:23.439 incarnation, 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:24.779 be thinking 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:26.019 infleshing, 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:28.120 the infleshing 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:28.839 of the second 00:11:28.839 --> 00:11:29.579 person of the 00:11:29.579 --> 00:11:29.879 Trinity. 00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:31.120 The Word 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:32.779 became flesh. 00:11:35.079 --> 00:11:36.039 God has always 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:37.059 existed as 00:11:37.059 --> 00:11:38.500 a triune God. 00:11:38.599 --> 00:11:39.159 That's the way 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:40.419 He's always been. 00:11:40.419 --> 00:11:42.339 And the second 00:11:42.339 --> 00:11:42.979 person of the 00:11:42.979 --> 00:11:43.939 Trinity has always 00:11:43.939 --> 00:11:45.139 existed as the 00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:45.659 Son. 00:11:46.699 --> 00:11:47.379 The Father, 00:11:47.839 --> 00:11:48.439 the Son, 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:49.399 and the Holy 00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:49.899 Spirit, 00:11:50.219 --> 00:11:51.019 they've eternally 00:11:51.019 --> 00:11:52.699 existed in a 00:11:52.699 --> 00:11:53.879 triune communion 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:54.919 forever. 00:11:58.240 --> 00:11:59.699 In Luke 135, 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:00.799 we read about 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:02.319 how Jesus, 00:12:03.259 --> 00:12:03.759 the second 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:04.500 person of the 00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:04.819 Trinity, 00:12:05.219 --> 00:12:06.620 was enfleshed. 00:12:07.860 --> 00:12:08.279 God the 00:12:08.279 --> 00:12:09.459 Father overshadowed 00:12:09.459 --> 00:12:10.199 the Virgin Mary 00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:10.759 and by the 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:11.460 Holy Spirit, 00:12:11.620 --> 00:12:12.520 she conceived 00:12:12.520 --> 00:12:15.040 this baby 00:12:15.040 --> 00:12:16.660 who's named 00:12:16.660 --> 00:12:17.720 Jesus, 00:12:18.540 --> 00:12:19.080 the second 00:12:19.080 --> 00:12:19.740 person of the 00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:20.120 Trinity, 00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:22.120 enfleshed 00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:23.240 into a 00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:24.420 human being. 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:26.060 So here's 00:12:26.060 --> 00:12:26.920 what John is 00:12:26.920 --> 00:12:27.400 getting at. 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:27.740 The Word 00:12:27.740 --> 00:12:28.600 became flesh. 00:12:29.100 --> 00:12:30.500 The uncreated 00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:31.800 Creator took 00:12:31.800 --> 00:12:32.660 on flesh. 00:12:32.820 --> 00:12:33.420 He became 00:12:33.420 --> 00:12:34.680 a human 00:12:34.680 --> 00:12:35.180 being. 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:42.520 God became 00:12:42.520 --> 00:12:42.840 man. 00:12:42.840 --> 00:12:43.480 Paul in 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:44.200 Philippians 2, 00:12:44.300 --> 00:12:44.540 6, 00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:45.020 and 7 00:12:45.020 --> 00:12:45.820 addresses it 00:12:45.820 --> 00:12:46.379 this way, 00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:47.580 the enfleshing 00:12:47.580 --> 00:12:48.220 of the second 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:48.920 person of the 00:12:48.920 --> 00:12:49.220 Trinity, 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:51.140 who, 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:52.840 though he was 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:53.360 in the form 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:53.780 of God, 00:12:53.900 --> 00:12:54.720 did not count 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:55.460 equality with 00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:56.100 God a thing 00:12:56.100 --> 00:12:56.879 to be grasped, 00:12:56.980 --> 00:12:57.440 but made 00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:58.320 himself nothing, 00:12:59.140 --> 00:12:59.720 taking on the 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:00.220 form of a 00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:00.480 servant, 00:13:01.660 --> 00:13:02.960 being born in 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:03.700 the likeness of 00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:04.040 man, 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:05.600 taking on 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:06.060 flesh. 00:13:06.059 --> 00:13:08.419 God became 00:13:08.419 --> 00:13:08.679 man. 00:13:08.739 --> 00:13:09.179 This week, 00:13:09.219 --> 00:13:09.639 as I was 00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:09.959 studying, 00:13:10.119 --> 00:13:11.139 I came across 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:11.859 this quote, 00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:12.219 and I thought 00:13:12.219 --> 00:13:12.619 it was very 00:13:12.619 --> 00:13:12.919 helpful. 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:15.679 Kind of 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:16.679 explaining the 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:17.659 incarnation and 00:13:17.659 --> 00:13:19.319 how the second 00:13:19.319 --> 00:13:20.099 person of the 00:13:20.099 --> 00:13:20.919 Trinity remained 00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:21.919 fully God when 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:23.139 he became fully 00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:23.479 man. 00:13:23.579 --> 00:13:24.239 It says this, 00:13:25.339 --> 00:13:26.019 remaining what 00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:26.719 he was, 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:28.419 he became what 00:13:28.419 --> 00:13:29.219 he was not. 00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:31.019 Remaining what 00:13:31.019 --> 00:13:31.519 he was, 00:13:31.579 --> 00:13:32.279 he became what 00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:32.739 he was not. 00:13:32.859 --> 00:13:33.479 Remaining what 00:13:33.479 --> 00:13:34.059 he was, 00:13:34.179 --> 00:13:34.799 the Word, 00:13:34.979 --> 00:13:35.659 fully God, 00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:36.360 John 1, 00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:37.159 1 through 3, 00:13:37.339 --> 00:13:38.360 he became what 00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:39.019 he was not, 00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:39.699 fully man. 00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:40.459 The Word became 00:13:40.459 --> 00:13:40.980 flesh. 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:43.159 So, 00:13:43.299 --> 00:13:44.199 here's what this 00:13:44.199 --> 00:13:45.519 means about the 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:46.279 person of Jesus 00:13:46.279 --> 00:13:46.980 for us. 00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:50.719 The person of 00:13:50.719 --> 00:13:52.860 Jesus has two 00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:53.939 distinct natures. 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:54.899 He's fully God 00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:55.939 and he's fully 00:13:55.939 --> 00:13:56.339 man. 00:13:58.079 --> 00:13:58.399 And, 00:13:58.600 --> 00:14:00.379 when we talk 00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:02.740 about Jesus 00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:03.539 being fully 00:14:03.539 --> 00:14:03.919 man, 00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:04.819 it's possible 00:14:04.819 --> 00:14:05.639 to think that 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:06.439 because he was 00:14:06.439 --> 00:14:07.000 fully man, 00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:08.000 somehow he ceased 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:08.539 to be fully 00:14:08.539 --> 00:14:08.899 God. 00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:10.240 That's just not 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:10.600 true. 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:13.740 The 33 years 00:14:13.740 --> 00:14:14.580 Jesus lived on 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:15.120 this planet, 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:16.639 he was fully 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:16.980 God. 00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:17.699 He did not 00:14:17.699 --> 00:14:19.100 cease to be, 00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:20.019 in essence, 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:22.139 God at any 00:14:22.139 --> 00:14:23.759 point in his 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:24.179 life. 00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:26.519 In fact, 00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:27.299 to this day, 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:28.720 he remains fully 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:29.679 God and fully 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:30.340 man at the 00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:30.840 right hand of 00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:31.279 the Father. 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:31.379 God. 00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:32.759 So, 00:14:32.819 --> 00:14:33.259 we can't make 00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:33.759 the mistake 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:34.000 that, 00:14:34.459 --> 00:14:34.919 thinking that 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:35.339 when Jesus 00:14:35.339 --> 00:14:36.019 became a man, 00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:36.539 somehow he 00:14:36.539 --> 00:14:38.039 became less 00:14:38.039 --> 00:14:38.559 God. 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:39.259 No, 00:14:39.339 --> 00:14:40.399 he's fully 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:40.699 God. 00:14:41.439 --> 00:14:42.059 And the other 00:14:42.059 --> 00:14:42.659 side of it is 00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:42.980 this. 00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:45.299 If we understand 00:14:45.299 --> 00:14:45.980 Jesus to be 00:14:45.980 --> 00:14:46.779 fully God, 00:14:47.079 --> 00:14:47.639 we can start 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:47.919 thinking, 00:14:48.079 --> 00:14:48.139 well, 00:14:48.220 --> 00:14:48.939 somehow he was 00:14:48.939 --> 00:14:49.639 less man. 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:50.220 He wasn't 00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:51.039 fully man if 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:51.579 he was fully 00:14:51.579 --> 00:14:51.919 God. 00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:53.659 Somehow he's 00:14:53.659 --> 00:14:54.439 less human. 00:14:54.440 --> 00:14:54.520 human. 00:14:58.360 --> 00:14:59.520 He was fully 00:14:59.520 --> 00:15:00.920 human in 00:15:00.920 --> 00:15:01.540 every way. 00:15:02.640 --> 00:15:02.980 But you 00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:03.340 might be 00:15:03.340 --> 00:15:03.700 thinking, 00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:04.220 maybe you're 00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:04.680 familiar with 00:15:04.680 --> 00:15:05.080 the teachings 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:05.820 of Christianity 00:15:05.820 --> 00:15:06.180 and you start 00:15:06.180 --> 00:15:06.420 thinking, 00:15:06.580 --> 00:15:06.680 well, 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:08.120 I know that 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:08.820 what the 00:15:08.820 --> 00:15:09.380 Bible teaches 00:15:09.380 --> 00:15:10.080 is that Jesus 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:11.020 never sinned 00:15:11.020 --> 00:15:11.320 and, 00:15:11.400 --> 00:15:11.960 you know, 00:15:12.020 --> 00:15:12.540 to err is 00:15:12.540 --> 00:15:12.920 human, 00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:13.640 to sin is 00:15:13.640 --> 00:15:14.040 human, 00:15:14.180 --> 00:15:14.640 and so, 00:15:15.260 --> 00:15:15.860 obviously, 00:15:16.060 --> 00:15:16.460 he's not 00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:16.980 fully human 00:15:16.980 --> 00:15:17.400 if he never 00:15:17.400 --> 00:15:17.980 sinned. 00:15:20.260 --> 00:15:20.740 Well, 00:15:20.760 --> 00:15:21.240 that assumes 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:21.660 something. 00:15:22.460 --> 00:15:22.820 But let me 00:15:22.820 --> 00:15:23.420 just remind 00:15:23.420 --> 00:15:23.740 you, 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:26.260 of this, 00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:30.080 sin is 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:30.960 not always, 00:15:31.040 --> 00:15:31.460 it's not 00:15:31.460 --> 00:15:32.280 always been 00:15:32.280 --> 00:15:33.260 essential to 00:15:33.260 --> 00:15:34.040 our humanity. 00:15:36.780 --> 00:15:37.780 Sin has 00:15:37.780 --> 00:15:38.360 become a 00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:38.840 part of our 00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:39.580 human experience. 00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:40.020 It has 00:15:40.020 --> 00:15:40.600 become part 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:40.820 of our 00:15:40.820 --> 00:15:41.080 nature 00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:41.640 because of 00:15:41.640 --> 00:15:42.300 the fall. 00:15:43.420 --> 00:15:43.960 Paul talks 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:44.340 about it in 00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:44.920 Romans 5. 00:15:45.060 --> 00:15:45.900 We've inherited 00:15:45.900 --> 00:15:46.460 the sinful 00:15:46.460 --> 00:15:47.340 nature from 00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:47.820 Adam. 00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:49.680 But it 00:15:49.680 --> 00:15:50.740 wasn't always 00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:51.440 the case. 00:15:52.560 --> 00:15:53.280 When God 00:15:53.280 --> 00:15:54.240 created Adam 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:54.659 and Eve, 00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:55.539 he created 00:15:55.539 --> 00:15:56.100 a man and 00:15:56.100 --> 00:15:56.620 woman in 00:15:56.620 --> 00:15:57.399 his likeness 00:15:57.399 --> 00:15:58.580 without sin. 00:15:58.680 --> 00:15:59.000 And so, 00:15:59.120 --> 00:15:59.620 they had 00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:00.180 sinless 00:16:00.180 --> 00:16:01.320 communion with 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:02.039 God and 00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:02.759 each other 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:05.060 in the 00:16:05.060 --> 00:16:05.440 garden. 00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:07.539 It's 00:16:07.539 --> 00:16:08.659 possible to 00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:09.180 be human 00:16:09.180 --> 00:16:10.100 without sinning. 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:12.600 And then, 00:16:12.700 --> 00:16:13.080 there's going to 00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:13.779 come a day 00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:15.379 when all of 00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:15.919 us who put 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:16.560 our faith in 00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:16.899 Jesus, 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:17.860 when we are, 00:16:18.659 --> 00:16:19.019 when our 00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:19.820 faith becomes 00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:20.220 sight. 00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:21.720 And we're in 00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:22.160 the presence 00:16:22.160 --> 00:16:22.639 of Jesus 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:23.320 himself. 00:16:24.420 --> 00:16:24.960 And our 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:25.879 indwelling 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:26.540 sin is 00:16:26.540 --> 00:16:27.279 removed from 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:27.700 us. 00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:29.120 We are going 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:30.060 to experience 00:16:30.060 --> 00:16:30.720 sinless 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:31.379 communion with 00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:32.040 God and 00:16:32.040 --> 00:16:32.600 each other 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:33.060 and even 00:16:33.060 --> 00:16:33.800 ourselves. 00:16:34.460 --> 00:16:35.180 And we're 00:16:35.180 --> 00:16:35.480 going to be 00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:36.220 fully human. 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:39.399 And so, 00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:39.940 to think 00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:41.139 that sin 00:16:41.139 --> 00:16:42.899 is necessarily 00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:44.200 essential to 00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:45.139 our human 00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:45.980 experience, 00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:46.980 forget some 00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:47.460 things. 00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:49.240 So, 00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:49.660 when Jesus 00:16:49.660 --> 00:16:50.440 was born 00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:51.660 and became 00:16:51.660 --> 00:16:52.340 fully human, 00:16:52.400 --> 00:16:52.759 even though 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:53.280 he was without 00:16:53.280 --> 00:16:53.480 sin, 00:16:53.560 --> 00:16:54.180 he was fully 00:16:54.180 --> 00:16:54.580 human. 00:16:59.080 --> 00:16:59.600 Actually, 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:01.139 I just want 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:01.639 to be honest 00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:02.000 with you, 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:04.799 he became 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:05.660 fully human 00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:06.660 because of 00:17:06.660 --> 00:17:07.279 our sinfulness. 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:09.940 It was 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:10.740 because that 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.160 we were 00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:11.860 sinning and 00:17:11.860 --> 00:17:12.660 sinning against 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:14.160 God that 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:14.660 the second 00:17:14.660 --> 00:17:15.360 person of 00:17:15.360 --> 00:17:15.900 the Trinity 00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:17.120 took on 00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:17.900 flesh and 00:17:17.900 --> 00:17:18.560 dwelt among 00:17:18.560 --> 00:17:19.019 us. 00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:21.140 This 00:17:21.140 --> 00:17:21.980 indwelling 00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:23.340 of the 00:17:23.340 --> 00:17:24.040 second person 00:17:24.040 --> 00:17:24.820 of the 00:17:24.820 --> 00:17:25.500 Trinity as 00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:26.240 a man 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:27.640 was part 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:28.460 of God's 00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:28.980 plan of 00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:29.800 salvation from 00:17:29.800 --> 00:17:30.340 the beginning 00:17:30.340 --> 00:17:31.080 of time, 00:17:31.280 --> 00:17:31.759 from before 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.420 the foundation 00:17:32.420 --> 00:17:33.140 of the world. 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:34.600 God had 00:17:34.600 --> 00:17:35.200 set this 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:36.220 rescue mission 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:36.920 in motion. 00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:40.640 Galatians 4, 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:41.360 4-5, 00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:42.920 we read this, 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.480 but when the 00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:43.980 fullness of 00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:44.759 time came, 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:45.460 when it was 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.900 right according 00:17:46.900 --> 00:17:47.519 to plan, 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:49.259 God sent 00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:49.819 forth His 00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:50.200 Son, 00:17:50.340 --> 00:17:50.799 born of a 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:51.039 woman, 00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:51.539 born under 00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:52.000 the law, 00:17:52.120 --> 00:17:52.579 to redeem 00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:53.039 those under 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:53.480 the law, 00:17:53.579 --> 00:17:54.100 so that we 00:17:54.100 --> 00:17:55.460 might receive 00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:57.160 adoption as 00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:57.600 sons. 00:17:58.700 --> 00:18:00.799 Jesus came 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:02.200 in order to 00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:02.840 save. 00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:03.600 It's in His 00:18:03.600 --> 00:18:05.420 name to 00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:05.840 save a 00:18:05.840 --> 00:18:06.380 people from 00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:07.100 their sins. 00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:09.440 So when we 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:10.880 read that 00:18:10.880 --> 00:18:11.340 phrase, 00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:11.860 the Word 00:18:11.860 --> 00:18:13.000 became flesh, 00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:13.620 and we think 00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:15.679 about the 00:18:15.679 --> 00:18:16.399 second person 00:18:16.399 --> 00:18:16.959 of the Trinity 00:18:16.959 --> 00:18:17.899 becoming a 00:18:17.899 --> 00:18:18.479 man, it's 00:18:18.479 --> 00:18:19.279 amazing in 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:19.879 itself that 00:18:19.879 --> 00:18:20.339 God would 00:18:20.339 --> 00:18:20.839 do that, 00:18:20.899 --> 00:18:21.119 right? 00:18:22.219 --> 00:18:23.000 What other 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:23.959 God has 00:18:23.959 --> 00:18:24.599 done that? 00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:27.659 But He 00:18:27.659 --> 00:18:28.419 didn't do it 00:18:28.419 --> 00:18:29.059 just to do 00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:29.259 it. 00:18:30.139 --> 00:18:31.139 He became a 00:18:31.139 --> 00:18:32.239 man in order 00:18:32.239 --> 00:18:32.859 to save. 00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:34.539 To save you. 00:18:35.159 --> 00:18:35.959 To save me. 00:18:36.639 --> 00:18:37.119 To offer 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:38.079 salvation to our 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:38.839 city, and to 00:18:38.839 --> 00:18:39.439 our nation, and 00:18:39.439 --> 00:18:40.000 to our world. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:44.099 So one of the 00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:44.839 things that this 00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:45.579 means is this. 00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:46.640 This Christmas, 00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:49.839 Christmas is 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:50.880 bigger than a 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:51.700 shopping season. 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:53.880 It's bigger than 00:18:53.880 --> 00:18:54.680 a shopping season. 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.579 This is about 00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:56.660 God becoming a 00:18:56.660 --> 00:18:57.559 man in order to 00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:58.140 save sinners. 00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:59.079 That's what it's 00:18:59.079 --> 00:18:59.319 about. 00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:01.319 The Savior of the 00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:02.980 world, He came 00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:05.259 in order to 00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:06.279 broker peace. 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:08.700 He's the perfect 00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:09.440 mediator between 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:09.940 God and man. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:10.700 He's fully God 00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:11.960 and fully man. 00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:12.860 And in order to 00:19:12.860 --> 00:19:14.019 reconcile us 00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:14.840 sinners to a 00:19:14.840 --> 00:19:15.920 holy God, He 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:17.360 became a man. 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:24.559 Remaining what 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:25.259 He was, He 00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:26.380 became what He 00:19:26.380 --> 00:19:26.980 was not. 00:19:27.340 --> 00:19:28.240 In order to 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:28.820 offer us 00:19:28.820 --> 00:19:29.340 salvation. 00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:32.860 All part of 00:19:32.860 --> 00:19:33.480 God's plan. 00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:35.759 Christmas is 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:36.980 about the 00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:37.960 incarnation of 00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:39.360 Jesus and the 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:40.299 incarnation of 00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:41.799 Jesus is all 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:42.839 about your 00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:43.439 salvation. 00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:45.259 The third 00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:45.879 answer to the 00:19:45.879 --> 00:19:46.259 question. 00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:47.079 We've looked at 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:48.319 this child's fully 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:48.699 God. 00:19:48.959 --> 00:19:50.079 He's fully human. 00:19:50.459 --> 00:19:51.379 This child is 00:19:51.379 --> 00:19:52.919 God fully 00:19:52.919 --> 00:19:54.439 present with His 00:19:54.439 --> 00:19:54.959 people. 00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:56.699 The word became 00:19:56.699 --> 00:19:57.699 flesh and 00:19:57.699 --> 00:20:00.639 dwelt among us. 00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:01.679 That word dwelt 00:20:01.679 --> 00:20:02.619 is a really 00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:03.699 interesting word in 00:20:03.699 --> 00:20:04.639 the original language 00:20:04.639 --> 00:20:05.919 of the New Testament. 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:07.460 It literally means 00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:09.060 to pitch a tent. 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:09.580 Like, you know, 00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:10.380 you go camping, 00:20:10.820 --> 00:20:11.539 you strike up your 00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.880 tent, pitch a tent, 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:14.640 to dwell among, 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:16.320 to tabernacle. 00:20:17.120 --> 00:20:17.880 That's what that 00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:18.940 word dwell means. 00:20:22.360 --> 00:20:23.420 And John is being 00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:24.380 very intentional. 00:20:25.660 --> 00:20:27.019 He's wanting to 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:28.120 bring something to 00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:29.259 our minds when he 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:30.300 says the word became 00:20:30.300 --> 00:20:31.860 flesh and pitched his 00:20:31.860 --> 00:20:32.880 tent among us. 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:36.260 You know, there's 00:20:36.260 --> 00:20:36.900 one way you can 00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:37.980 summarize the entire 00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:38.360 Bible. 00:20:38.580 --> 00:20:38.880 And you can 00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:40.500 summarize the entire 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.360 Bible by saying it 00:20:41.360 --> 00:20:41.780 like this. 00:20:42.040 --> 00:20:43.280 The Bible is the 00:20:43.280 --> 00:20:45.080 story about God 00:20:45.080 --> 00:20:46.200 dwelling with a 00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:46.560 people. 00:20:47.320 --> 00:20:48.240 It's about a holy 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:49.820 God dwelling with a 00:20:49.820 --> 00:20:51.280 sinful people and 00:20:51.280 --> 00:20:52.480 of what God had to 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.960 do in order to 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:55.520 provide grace upon 00:20:55.520 --> 00:20:56.900 grace so that a 00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:58.160 sinful people can be 00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:58.820 in His presence. 00:21:00.360 --> 00:21:01.960 So the Bible is a 00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:02.600 story of God 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:03.599 dwelling with His 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:04.079 people. 00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:05.539 You see it in Adam 00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:06.059 and Eve in the 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:06.339 garden. 00:21:07.219 --> 00:21:07.980 Adam and Eve were 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:09.559 in God's presence 00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:11.019 in His place. 00:21:11.459 --> 00:21:11.939 The garden. 00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:12.879 They sinned. 00:21:13.139 --> 00:21:14.000 They got expelled. 00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:16.819 Israel was 00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:18.019 delivered out of 00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:19.199 the captivity to 00:21:19.199 --> 00:21:19.500 Egypt. 00:21:19.639 --> 00:21:19.919 Do you remember 00:21:19.919 --> 00:21:21.139 how they were 00:21:21.139 --> 00:21:22.039 led out by a 00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:22.959 pillar of cloud 00:21:22.959 --> 00:21:23.859 by day and a 00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:24.679 pillar of fire 00:21:24.679 --> 00:21:25.259 by night? 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:26.839 It was God in 00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:27.339 their midst. 00:21:28.219 --> 00:21:29.299 God dwelling with 00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:31.099 His people to 00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:31.759 deliver them. 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:33.420 to lead them. 00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.500 It doesn't end 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:36.819 there. 00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:39.119 At Mount Sinai, 00:21:39.619 --> 00:21:41.000 God gives His 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:42.379 people, Israel, 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.039 the law. 00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.379 He gives His 00:21:44.379 --> 00:21:45.480 people a 00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:46.619 sacrificial system 00:21:46.619 --> 00:21:47.740 in order that 00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:48.700 they can be in 00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:49.779 relationship with 00:21:49.779 --> 00:21:50.480 Him, a holy 00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:50.940 God. 00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:53.279 It governed their 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:54.220 relationship with 00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:54.460 Him. 00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:56.119 And in Exodus 00:21:56.119 --> 00:21:58.619 25, we read that 00:21:58.619 --> 00:21:59.839 God gave His people 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:00.959 some very specific 00:22:00.959 --> 00:22:01.939 instructions about 00:22:01.939 --> 00:22:02.879 building Him a 00:22:02.879 --> 00:22:03.959 very fancy tent. 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.339 It's called 00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:06.019 a tabernacle. 00:22:07.699 --> 00:22:08.419 They were to 00:22:08.419 --> 00:22:09.519 pitch that tent 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.559 wherever they 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:11.099 would go. 00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:13.159 And it was made 00:22:13.159 --> 00:22:13.720 out of wood. 00:22:13.899 --> 00:22:14.480 It was made out 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:15.000 of fabric. 00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:15.679 It was made out 00:22:15.679 --> 00:22:16.659 of animal hines. 00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:18.819 And in Exodus 00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:20.699 chapter 33, we 00:22:20.699 --> 00:22:23.099 read about God 00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:24.579 in a cloud of 00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:25.839 His glory coming 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:27.799 down and dwelling 00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:28.799 at the entrance 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:30.459 of this tent 00:22:30.459 --> 00:22:31.119 of meeting, 00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:32.139 the tabernacle, 00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:34.539 and Him talking 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:36.000 with Moses face 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:37.059 to face as with 00:22:37.059 --> 00:22:37.579 a friend. 00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:40.799 God dwelling 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.740 with His people. 00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:44.859 It's just the next 00:22:44.859 --> 00:22:46.159 chapter that we 00:22:46.159 --> 00:22:48.019 read about God's 00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:49.319 kind of self- 00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:51.159 revelation of who 00:22:51.159 --> 00:22:51.879 He is. 00:22:51.880 --> 00:22:53.760 He says this 00:22:53.760 --> 00:22:54.540 about Himself 00:22:54.540 --> 00:22:56.040 to Moses. 00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.800 The Lord passed 00:22:56.800 --> 00:22:57.940 before Moses and 00:22:57.940 --> 00:22:58.360 proclaimed, 00:22:58.540 --> 00:22:58.980 The Lord, 00:22:59.320 --> 00:22:59.860 the Lord, 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:00.900 a God merciful 00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:01.540 and gracious, 00:23:01.760 --> 00:23:02.960 slow to anger, 00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:04.440 and abounding in 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.560 steadfast love and 00:23:05.560 --> 00:23:06.100 faithfulness. 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:06.400 Do you know 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:07.060 there's another way 00:23:07.060 --> 00:23:07.620 you can talk about 00:23:07.620 --> 00:23:08.460 steadfast love and 00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:08.960 faithfulness? 00:23:09.860 --> 00:23:10.680 It's a God who's 00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.860 abounding in grace 00:23:11.860 --> 00:23:12.940 and truth. 00:23:16.520 --> 00:23:17.860 God has always 00:23:17.860 --> 00:23:18.760 sought to dwell 00:23:18.760 --> 00:23:19.500 with His people. 00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:26.059 In 1 Kings 8, 00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:30.079 there's a new way 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:30.900 in which God 00:23:30.900 --> 00:23:31.519 dwells with His 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:31.779 people. 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.319 Solomon, 00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:35.339 David's son, 00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:37.579 builds a temple 00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:38.819 in Jerusalem. 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:40.160 And what we read 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:41.799 about in 1 Kings 8 00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:43.099 is the priests 00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:44.859 bring up out 00:23:44.859 --> 00:23:45.920 of the tabernacle 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:46.799 the Ark of the 00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:47.160 Covenant, 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:48.339 which is believed 00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:49.160 to be God 00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:50.759 dwelling on the 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.560 top of the 00:23:51.560 --> 00:23:52.400 mercy seat of 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:53.160 that Ark of the 00:23:53.160 --> 00:23:53.440 Covenant. 00:23:53.640 --> 00:23:54.480 And these priests 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.700 brought out the 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.519 Ark of the Covenant 00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:57.320 from the Holy of 00:23:57.320 --> 00:23:58.160 Holies in the 00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:58.800 tabernacle, 00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.779 and they brought it 00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.220 out, and they 00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:00.980 brought it into 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:01.600 this newly 00:24:01.600 --> 00:24:02.960 constructed temple 00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:04.060 made out of 00:24:04.060 --> 00:24:05.779 just stone and 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:06.880 beautiful woodwork 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:08.100 and gold all over 00:24:08.100 --> 00:24:08.500 the place. 00:24:08.540 --> 00:24:09.600 And they brought it 00:24:09.600 --> 00:24:10.740 in from the Holy 00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.580 Place into the 00:24:11.580 --> 00:24:12.279 Holy of Holies, 00:24:12.340 --> 00:24:13.000 and they set it 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.740 between these 00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:15.500 gigantic angels 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:16.840 with outstretched 00:24:16.840 --> 00:24:17.660 wings called 00:24:17.660 --> 00:24:18.200 cherubim, 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:18.880 and they set 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:19.920 the Ark down, 00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:20.340 and do you know 00:24:20.340 --> 00:24:20.799 what happened? 00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:24.019 The cloud of the 00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:25.380 glory of God 00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:26.920 filled the temple. 00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:29.240 God came and 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:30.840 dwelt among His 00:24:30.840 --> 00:24:32.299 people in His 00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:33.940 place in the 00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:35.480 temple in Jerusalem. 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:36.819 The story of the 00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:37.680 Bible is about God 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:38.319 dwelling with His 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:38.620 people. 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:43.460 And then it gets 00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:43.960 tragic. 00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:46.779 in Ezekiel. 00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:47.680 Ezekiel has this 00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:48.360 vision of the 00:24:48.360 --> 00:24:49.660 temple in chapters 00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:50.360 10 and 11. 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.279 There's abominations 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:52.079 taking place. 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.319 God's people are 00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:54.779 going AWOL with 00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.279 their God. 00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:55.860 And you know 00:24:55.860 --> 00:24:58.039 what Ezekiel sees? 00:24:58.940 --> 00:25:01.279 He sees the glory 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:02.600 of the Lord, 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.500 this cloud, 00:25:04.360 --> 00:25:06.019 gradually removing 00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:07.620 Himself from the 00:25:07.620 --> 00:25:08.559 Holy of Holies, 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.240 gradually removing 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:11.759 Himself from the 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:12.539 Holy place, 00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:13.900 gradually removing 00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:16.019 Himself from the 00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:17.099 temple itself, 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:19.000 from dwelling with 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:20.240 God's people. 00:25:24.339 --> 00:25:25.339 The story of the 00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:26.400 Bible is about God 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:27.460 dwelling with His 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:27.759 people. 00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:28.740 By the close of the 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.960 Old Testament, we're 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:30.779 asking the question, 00:25:30.879 --> 00:25:31.519 is God talking 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:31.980 anymore? 00:25:33.379 --> 00:25:34.359 Is God with His 00:25:34.359 --> 00:25:35.119 people anymore? 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:39.899 400 years of 00:25:39.899 --> 00:25:40.459 silence. 00:25:42.939 --> 00:25:44.019 And then, 00:25:45.419 --> 00:25:47.759 Luke chapters 1 and 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:49.919 2, Matthew chapter 00:25:49.919 --> 00:25:53.159 1, John 1, 14. 00:25:54.159 --> 00:25:56.159 God comes and dwells 00:25:56.159 --> 00:25:58.019 with His people in a 00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:58.699 new way. 00:25:58.700 --> 00:26:02.080 God pitches His tent 00:26:02.080 --> 00:26:04.360 with His people in a 00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:05.299 new way. 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:07.840 Jesus, the second 00:26:07.840 --> 00:26:08.779 person of the 00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:10.319 Trinity, pitches His 00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:12.100 tent to dwell with 00:26:12.100 --> 00:26:12.700 His people. 00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.799 And the tent that's 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.779 been pitched is not 00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:16.980 made out of fabric, 00:26:17.380 --> 00:26:18.279 it's not made out of 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:19.819 animal hides, it's not 00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:20.819 made out of massive 00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:22.059 blocks of stone. 00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:23.759 The tent that was 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:25.160 pitched is the tent 00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:26.539 of human flesh. 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:30.819 God dwelt among His 00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:32.539 people by becoming 00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:33.460 one of us. 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:39.899 The incarnation is 00:26:39.899 --> 00:26:40.799 about God dwelling 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:41.420 among us. 00:26:43.659 --> 00:26:44.759 Christmas is about 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:46.899 Jesus, and Jesus is 00:26:46.899 --> 00:26:47.859 about our salvation. 00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:50.240 He pitched His tent 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:53.159 among us to save us. 00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:55.519 What child is this? 00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:56.460 Well, He's the second 00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:57.240 person of the Trinity, 00:26:57.379 --> 00:26:57.859 fully God. 00:26:59.059 --> 00:27:00.019 He's fully man. 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:02.500 And He came and 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:04.099 dwelt fully among us. 00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:14.779 Jesus, after His death 00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.400 and resurrection, 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:17.639 ascended to heaven 00:27:17.639 --> 00:27:18.619 where He's right now 00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:20.000 at the right hand of 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:20.420 the Father. 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:22.139 Fully God, fully man. 00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:25.320 And right now, do you 00:27:25.320 --> 00:27:25.680 know what? 00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.240 Know what the Bible 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:26.880 talks about? 00:27:27.280 --> 00:27:28.460 As the dwelling place 00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:28.860 of God? 00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:30.340 We are the dwelling 00:27:30.340 --> 00:27:31.080 place of God. 00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:33.200 The new temple is 00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:33.800 God's people. 00:27:34.040 --> 00:27:35.000 We are the dwelling 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:36.160 place of God by the 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:36.759 Holy Spirit. 00:27:37.360 --> 00:27:37.900 And there's going to 00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:38.800 come a day when Jesus 00:27:38.800 --> 00:27:40.759 comes back and it's 00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:42.280 going to, His, the 00:27:42.280 --> 00:27:44.740 final dwelling place of 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.980 God with man is the 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:47.620 new Jerusalem in which 00:27:47.620 --> 00:27:49.740 we will be seeing our 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:51.920 King face to face. 00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:53.059 He's going to light up 00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:53.640 the joint. 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:56.640 It's just going to get 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:57.000 better. 00:27:59.400 --> 00:28:00.640 The story of the Bible 00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:01.720 is a story of God 00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:03.200 pitching His tent among 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:03.880 His people. 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:08.220 God dwelling fully with 00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:08.579 us. 00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:12.140 Answer number four, this 00:28:12.140 --> 00:28:14.160 child is full of glory. 00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:18.140 John 1.14, we read, 00:28:18.140 --> 00:28:19.080 and the word became 00:28:19.080 --> 00:28:20.100 flesh and dwelt among 00:28:20.100 --> 00:28:20.300 us. 00:28:20.320 --> 00:28:21.120 He pitched His tent. 00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:22.660 And we have seen His 00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:23.360 glory. 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:26.740 Glory as of the only 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:28.040 Son from the Father. 00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:29.900 So the storyline of the 00:28:29.900 --> 00:28:31.440 Bible is God dwelling 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:32.960 with His people and the 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:35.000 glory of God shows up 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:35.700 time and again. 00:28:35.780 --> 00:28:36.140 They're called 00:28:36.140 --> 00:28:37.280 theophanies. 00:28:38.300 --> 00:28:39.360 Appearances of God. 00:28:40.620 --> 00:28:41.560 The cloud of God's 00:28:41.560 --> 00:28:43.080 glory leading Israel out 00:28:43.080 --> 00:28:43.700 of Egypt. 00:28:44.280 --> 00:28:44.840 Theophany. 00:28:44.840 --> 00:28:44.960 Theophany. 00:28:48.140 --> 00:28:49.180 The cloud descending. 00:28:49.620 --> 00:28:50.640 The tabernacle in 00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:51.520 Exodus 33. 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:52.800 Theophany. 00:28:54.060 --> 00:28:55.680 The filling of the 00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:57.060 temple in 1 Kings 8. 00:28:57.540 --> 00:28:58.180 Theophany. 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:01.240 I don't know what 00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:02.980 Ezekiel 10 and 11 is. 00:29:03.060 --> 00:29:04.560 It's kind of a theophany, 00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:05.180 but it's kind of a 00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:06.200 backwards theophany. 00:29:06.320 --> 00:29:07.120 God departing. 00:29:09.780 --> 00:29:10.620 Theophanies are 00:29:10.620 --> 00:29:12.820 appearances of God's 00:29:12.820 --> 00:29:15.880 glory in what John 1.14 00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:17.720 is saying is this. 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:20.500 That when the second 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:22.280 person of the Trinity 00:29:22.280 --> 00:29:25.040 became a man, it was 00:29:25.040 --> 00:29:27.360 the ultimate theophany 00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:28.520 of God. 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:31.240 The ultimate showing up 00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:33.520 of God Most High. 00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:35.920 The ultimate theophany. 00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:39.780 John 1.14 talks about 00:29:39.780 --> 00:29:42.560 a glory as the only 00:29:42.560 --> 00:29:44.400 Son of the Father. 00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:45.960 That word only is a 00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:47.040 very special word 00:29:47.040 --> 00:29:47.980 throughout your Bible. 00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:50.340 Some of the earlier 00:29:50.340 --> 00:29:51.680 versions talk about the 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:53.500 only begotten Son. 00:29:53.840 --> 00:29:54.500 It's talking about the 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:55.759 one and only, the 00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:57.160 unique Son of God. 00:29:57.280 --> 00:29:58.820 And when John uses it, 00:29:58.880 --> 00:30:00.420 it's only of Jesus. 00:30:01.580 --> 00:30:02.980 So we see it showing up 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:03.700 in 1.14. 00:30:04.820 --> 00:30:05.640 The only Son. 00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:06.460 You see that word 00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:07.980 showing up in 1.18. 00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:09.519 The only God 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.420 referencing Jesus. 00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:11.519 It shows up in 00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:12.519 John 3.16. 00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:14.339 For God so loved the 00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:15.259 world that He sent 00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:18.000 His one and only 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:19.379 unique Son. 00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:21.119 That whoever believes 00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:22.019 in Him shall not perish 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:23.059 but have eternal life. 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:25.500 There is a unique glory 00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:26.960 on display in the 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:27.980 person of Jesus. 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:33.359 Here's how it works. 00:30:33.359 --> 00:30:35.359 God. 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:37.779 Instead of beholding God 00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:38.779 in the written word 00:30:38.779 --> 00:30:39.439 of revelation, 00:30:40.099 --> 00:30:42.099 what Jesus did was 00:30:42.099 --> 00:30:43.799 reveal God 00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:45.819 in a living word 00:30:45.819 --> 00:30:46.919 of revelation. 00:30:47.419 --> 00:30:48.879 In His person, 00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:50.419 in His life, 00:30:50.879 --> 00:30:52.119 in His work. 00:30:52.399 --> 00:30:53.779 It's a whole new medium. 00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.740 He pitched His tent. 00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:58.519 He walked among us 00:30:58.519 --> 00:31:00.799 to John 1.18. 00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:03.579 Make known God. 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:04.839 To literally 00:31:04.839 --> 00:31:06.980 exegete the Father. 00:31:07.180 --> 00:31:07.660 Big word. 00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.240 It means to 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:09.579 make known. 00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:15.000 The author of Hebrews 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:16.319 talks about Jesus 00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:18.379 as the radiance 00:31:18.379 --> 00:31:20.339 of the glory 00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:22.200 of God. 00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:24.660 And the exact imprint 00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:25.519 of His nature. 00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:26.819 You know, 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:27.960 there's this guy, 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:28.460 Philip. 00:31:28.599 --> 00:31:29.240 He was a follower 00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:29.759 of Jesus. 00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:31.339 And in John 14, 00:31:31.559 --> 00:31:32.960 he makes this request. 00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:34.839 Lord, show us the Father. 00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:37.500 And what does Jesus say? 00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:40.200 He says, 00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:41.480 Have I been with you 00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:42.279 so long 00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:43.019 and you still 00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:44.200 do not know me, 00:31:44.359 --> 00:31:44.519 Philip? 00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:46.460 And then you know 00:31:46.460 --> 00:31:47.059 what he says? 00:31:48.639 --> 00:31:50.339 Whoever has seen me 00:31:50.339 --> 00:31:53.139 has seen the Father. 00:31:54.139 --> 00:31:55.220 Look at John 1.18. 00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:57.359 No one has ever 00:31:57.359 --> 00:31:59.599 seen God the Father. 00:32:00.099 --> 00:32:01.539 The only God, 00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.900 the Son, 00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:05.099 who is at the Father's side, 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:07.079 distinct from, 00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:08.599 but present with. 00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:10.940 He has made Him known. 00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:14.019 You want to get to know God? 00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.559 You want to see Him? 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:17.579 You look to Jesus. 00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.819 You look to Jesus. 00:32:20.819 --> 00:32:21.000 You look to Jesus. 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:23.599 All throughout John, 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:24.779 we read about these 00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:27.220 manifestations of glory. 00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:29.599 When Jesus 00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:31.039 performed the miracle 00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:31.740 in John 2 00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:33.339 of changing the water 00:32:33.339 --> 00:32:34.000 into wine, 00:32:35.319 --> 00:32:35.940 2.11, 00:32:36.819 --> 00:32:37.380 John says 00:32:37.380 --> 00:32:37.980 that that was 00:32:37.980 --> 00:32:39.319 a manifestation of glory. 00:32:40.920 --> 00:32:41.880 Showing glory. 00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:41.920 glory. 00:32:42.840 --> 00:32:44.120 In John chapter 11, 00:32:44.800 --> 00:32:45.660 Jesus hears about 00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:46.580 Lazarus' death 00:32:46.580 --> 00:32:47.420 and you know what He says? 00:32:47.800 --> 00:32:48.200 You know what? 00:32:48.300 --> 00:32:49.060 Don't freak out. 00:32:49.260 --> 00:32:49.980 This is going to be 00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:52.020 for showing the glory 00:32:52.020 --> 00:32:52.680 of God. 00:32:53.660 --> 00:32:54.400 And right before 00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:55.920 He calls Lazarus out 00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:56.720 in 11.40, 00:32:57.260 --> 00:32:58.380 He tells Martha, 00:32:58.840 --> 00:32:59.000 hey, 00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:00.920 this is for the glory 00:33:00.920 --> 00:33:01.320 of God 00:33:01.320 --> 00:33:02.380 so that you would believe. 00:33:02.620 --> 00:33:02.980 Lazarus, 00:33:03.040 --> 00:33:03.520 come forth! 00:33:03.520 --> 00:33:03.600 Come forth! 00:33:03.599 --> 00:33:06.259 And He came forth. 00:33:08.159 --> 00:33:08.539 You know, 00:33:09.439 --> 00:33:10.939 glory is on display 00:33:10.939 --> 00:33:11.799 all throughout 00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:13.459 the Gospel of John. 00:33:15.319 --> 00:33:16.299 And so we see it 00:33:16.299 --> 00:33:18.199 in Cana, 00:33:18.839 --> 00:33:19.579 water to wine. 00:33:19.679 --> 00:33:20.699 We see it in Bethany. 00:33:21.639 --> 00:33:23.079 Jesus raises Lazarus 00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:23.579 from the dead. 00:33:23.659 --> 00:33:24.279 But you know what? 00:33:25.959 --> 00:33:28.459 Those displays of glory, 00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:30.500 they pale 00:33:30.500 --> 00:33:32.079 in comparison 00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:33.920 to the ultimate 00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:36.200 display of glory 00:33:36.200 --> 00:33:37.740 by Jesus 00:33:37.740 --> 00:33:39.799 on the cross. 00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:42.319 That's where we're moving 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:42.960 in John. 00:33:43.880 --> 00:33:44.920 The cross 00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:46.680 is the ultimate display 00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:48.340 of God's glory. 00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:51.920 The incarnation 00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:53.340 of Jesus 00:33:53.340 --> 00:33:56.059 is absolutely 00:33:56.059 --> 00:33:57.059 linked 00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:59.039 to the crucifixion 00:33:59.039 --> 00:33:59.940 of Jesus. 00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:02.359 He became flesh 00:34:02.359 --> 00:34:03.960 in order to die 00:34:03.960 --> 00:34:05.119 in your place 00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:06.039 on the cross. 00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:09.239 The death 00:34:09.239 --> 00:34:09.980 on the cross 00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:11.719 displays 00:34:11.719 --> 00:34:13.000 God's glory 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:14.360 by demonstrating 00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:15.519 God's love 00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:17.019 and His justice 00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:18.779 simultaneously. 00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:20.480 In the death 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:21.519 of Jesus 00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:22.679 on the cross, 00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:23.599 Jesus 00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:25.480 fully satisfied 00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:26.639 God's 00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:28.179 holy wrath 00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:29.299 for our sin 00:34:29.299 --> 00:34:30.219 justice. 00:34:31.539 --> 00:34:32.519 And simultaneously, 00:34:33.119 --> 00:34:34.799 He reconciles 00:34:34.799 --> 00:34:35.900 us to the Father 00:34:35.900 --> 00:34:37.299 as sons 00:34:37.299 --> 00:34:38.139 and daughters. 00:34:38.699 --> 00:34:39.319 Love! 00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:42.059 He is full 00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:42.900 of grace 00:34:42.900 --> 00:34:45.159 and truth. 00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:47.159 Full of grace 00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:47.539 and truth. 00:34:49.339 --> 00:34:50.139 The salvation 00:34:50.139 --> 00:34:52.199 Jesus accomplished 00:34:52.199 --> 00:34:53.099 on the cross 00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:55.000 puts God's glory 00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:56.559 on display 00:34:56.559 --> 00:34:57.619 in a way 00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:58.799 that turning water 00:34:58.799 --> 00:34:59.239 into wine 00:34:59.239 --> 00:34:59.679 doesn't. 00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:01.139 In a way 00:35:01.139 --> 00:35:01.539 that raising 00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:02.440 someone from the dead 00:35:02.440 --> 00:35:03.179 doesn't. 00:35:03.739 --> 00:35:04.159 Jesus 00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:05.259 took care 00:35:05.259 --> 00:35:06.219 of God's wrath 00:35:06.219 --> 00:35:07.219 for our sin 00:35:07.219 --> 00:35:08.380 and takes us 00:35:08.380 --> 00:35:09.539 as His own. 00:35:10.259 --> 00:35:10.759 The incarnation 00:35:10.759 --> 00:35:12.159 is necessary. 00:35:12.739 --> 00:35:13.980 It's necessary 00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:14.880 to God's plan 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:15.539 of salvation. 00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:16.839 It's absolutely 00:35:16.839 --> 00:35:17.460 vital. 00:35:17.460 --> 00:35:19.240 It moves us 00:35:19.240 --> 00:35:20.400 to the cross 00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:23.340 of Jesus Christ. 00:35:24.619 --> 00:35:25.240 Christmas 00:35:25.240 --> 00:35:25.760 is about 00:35:25.760 --> 00:35:26.320 the incarnation 00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:27.019 of Jesus 00:35:27.019 --> 00:35:28.220 and the incarnation 00:35:28.220 --> 00:35:28.900 of Jesus 00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:29.740 is all about 00:35:29.740 --> 00:35:30.699 salvation 00:35:30.699 --> 00:35:31.420 and salvation 00:35:31.420 --> 00:35:32.480 is all about 00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:33.240 the cross. 00:35:35.639 --> 00:35:36.500 The fifth 00:35:36.500 --> 00:35:37.440 and final answer 00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:38.039 to the question 00:35:38.039 --> 00:35:38.740 what child 00:35:38.740 --> 00:35:39.360 is this 00:35:39.360 --> 00:35:41.320 is that 00:35:41.320 --> 00:35:42.139 this child 00:35:42.139 --> 00:35:43.800 is full 00:35:43.800 --> 00:35:44.500 of grace. 00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:46.800 full of grace 00:35:46.800 --> 00:35:47.980 for you. 00:35:48.880 --> 00:35:50.000 In John 1.14 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:50.840 and the word 00:35:50.840 --> 00:35:51.539 became flesh 00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:52.360 and dwelt among us 00:35:52.360 --> 00:35:52.800 and we've seen 00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:53.380 His glory 00:35:53.380 --> 00:35:54.119 glory as of 00:35:54.119 --> 00:35:55.400 the only Son 00:35:55.400 --> 00:35:56.079 from the Father 00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:57.320 full of grace 00:35:57.320 --> 00:35:59.199 and truth. 00:36:00.639 --> 00:36:01.159 16 00:36:01.159 --> 00:36:02.880 and from His fullness 00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:03.920 we've all received 00:36:03.920 --> 00:36:05.059 grace upon grace. 00:36:05.420 --> 00:36:05.820 17 00:36:05.820 --> 00:36:06.940 for the law 00:36:06.940 --> 00:36:07.340 was given 00:36:07.340 --> 00:36:07.880 through Moses 00:36:07.880 --> 00:36:08.940 grace and truth 00:36:08.940 --> 00:36:09.539 came through 00:36:09.539 --> 00:36:10.639 Jesus Christ. 00:36:11.679 --> 00:36:13.039 Grace upon grace 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:16.519 grace 00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:17.920 in the place 00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:18.559 of grace. 00:36:19.860 --> 00:36:20.500 The revelation 00:36:20.500 --> 00:36:21.360 through Moses 00:36:21.360 --> 00:36:22.699 is superseded 00:36:22.699 --> 00:36:24.239 by the revelation 00:36:24.239 --> 00:36:25.000 that came through 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:25.420 Jesus. 00:36:26.239 --> 00:36:27.400 It's a greater grace. 00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:30.739 God's grace 00:36:30.739 --> 00:36:32.239 is His unearned 00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:32.619 kindness 00:36:32.619 --> 00:36:33.779 His unmerited 00:36:33.779 --> 00:36:34.219 favor 00:36:34.219 --> 00:36:34.940 it's His 00:36:34.940 --> 00:36:36.420 unobligated 00:36:36.420 --> 00:36:37.239 generosity 00:36:37.239 --> 00:36:38.300 to people 00:36:38.300 --> 00:36:39.099 who are sinning 00:36:39.099 --> 00:36:39.759 against Him. 00:36:41.340 --> 00:36:41.699 And it's 00:36:41.699 --> 00:36:42.320 transformative. 00:36:42.320 --> 00:36:43.539 Jesus didn't 00:36:43.539 --> 00:36:44.480 come in the flesh 00:36:44.480 --> 00:36:46.240 and hang on the cross 00:36:46.240 --> 00:36:47.320 because He had to 00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:48.420 because He was 00:36:48.420 --> 00:36:49.059 obligated. 00:36:49.660 --> 00:36:50.220 He did so 00:36:50.220 --> 00:36:50.920 voluntarily 00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:52.080 out of love 00:36:52.080 --> 00:36:52.600 for you. 00:36:54.320 --> 00:36:55.360 The salvation 00:36:55.360 --> 00:36:56.000 He offers 00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:57.000 is a salvation 00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:58.620 He paid for 00:36:58.620 --> 00:36:59.720 in full 00:36:59.720 --> 00:37:00.960 at the cross. 00:37:01.200 --> 00:37:01.840 It's all 00:37:01.840 --> 00:37:03.000 by grace. 00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:03.960 It's different 00:37:03.960 --> 00:37:04.760 than any other 00:37:04.760 --> 00:37:05.700 religion on the planet. 00:37:06.940 --> 00:37:07.660 He doesn't expect 00:37:07.660 --> 00:37:08.460 for you to 00:37:08.460 --> 00:37:09.559 work for it. 00:37:09.640 --> 00:37:10.300 You can't. 00:37:10.300 --> 00:37:12.539 His grace 00:37:12.539 --> 00:37:13.140 is a grace 00:37:13.140 --> 00:37:14.019 that's received. 00:37:16.260 --> 00:37:17.019 He offers 00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:17.760 fullness 00:37:17.760 --> 00:37:18.760 of life 00:37:18.760 --> 00:37:20.360 to know Him 00:37:20.360 --> 00:37:21.539 to live for Him 00:37:21.539 --> 00:37:22.820 and to live 00:37:22.820 --> 00:37:23.220 for Him 00:37:23.220 --> 00:37:23.720 forever. 00:37:24.100 --> 00:37:24.539 He offers 00:37:24.539 --> 00:37:25.039 forgiveness. 00:37:25.320 --> 00:37:25.780 He offers 00:37:25.780 --> 00:37:26.320 peace 00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:27.140 and joy 00:37:27.140 --> 00:37:28.900 love for others. 00:37:28.900 --> 00:37:29.980 this is salvation 00:37:29.980 --> 00:37:30.539 that He offers 00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:31.280 at the cross. 00:37:33.559 --> 00:37:34.539 It's not a gift 00:37:34.539 --> 00:37:35.539 for you to pay for. 00:37:35.619 --> 00:37:36.260 Could you imagine 00:37:36.260 --> 00:37:37.220 you open up a gift 00:37:37.220 --> 00:37:38.200 on Christmas Day 00:37:38.200 --> 00:37:39.059 and when you open it up 00:37:39.059 --> 00:37:39.980 it's your favorite thing 00:37:39.980 --> 00:37:41.200 and you pull it out 00:37:41.200 --> 00:37:41.900 and underneath it 00:37:41.900 --> 00:37:43.160 there's a bill 00:37:43.160 --> 00:37:45.000 for you to pay for it? 00:37:45.639 --> 00:37:46.760 Could you imagine that? 00:37:48.340 --> 00:37:49.019 He'd be like 00:37:49.019 --> 00:37:50.099 this is not a gift. 00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:52.880 I'm paying for it. 00:37:55.659 --> 00:37:56.799 Could you imagine 00:37:56.799 --> 00:37:59.460 Jesus offering you salvation 00:37:59.460 --> 00:38:00.759 and you pull out 00:38:00.759 --> 00:38:01.339 your checkbook 00:38:01.339 --> 00:38:01.679 and you're like 00:38:01.679 --> 00:38:02.460 what do I owe you? 00:38:05.420 --> 00:38:06.360 It's not a gift 00:38:06.360 --> 00:38:07.000 at that point. 00:38:08.860 --> 00:38:10.440 God offers you salvation 00:38:10.440 --> 00:38:11.699 in Jesus freely. 00:38:12.579 --> 00:38:13.639 It's been paid for 00:38:13.639 --> 00:38:14.239 in full 00:38:14.239 --> 00:38:15.380 by Jesus Himself 00:38:15.380 --> 00:38:16.900 at the cross. 00:38:16.900 --> 00:38:21.019 and you receive it 00:38:21.019 --> 00:38:21.519 by faith. 00:38:23.340 --> 00:38:24.300 There are two ways 00:38:24.300 --> 00:38:25.039 to respond 00:38:25.039 --> 00:38:26.780 to this gracious 00:38:26.780 --> 00:38:27.860 gift of salvation 00:38:27.860 --> 00:38:29.200 that Jesus offers you. 00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:31.639 You can reject it 00:38:31.639 --> 00:38:32.559 or you can receive it. 00:38:33.619 --> 00:38:34.619 You see that working out 00:38:34.619 --> 00:38:36.340 in verses 11 and 12. 00:38:36.460 --> 00:38:37.420 He came to His own 00:38:37.420 --> 00:38:38.099 and His own people 00:38:38.099 --> 00:38:38.980 did not receive Him. 00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:40.519 They rejected Him. 00:38:42.660 --> 00:38:43.440 Verse 12 00:38:43.440 --> 00:38:45.000 But all who did receive Him 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:46.639 who believed in His name 00:38:46.639 --> 00:38:47.460 He gave the right 00:38:47.460 --> 00:38:48.719 to become children of God. 00:38:49.219 --> 00:38:49.960 You're either going to 00:38:49.960 --> 00:38:50.639 reject Him 00:38:50.639 --> 00:38:51.139 or you're going to 00:38:51.139 --> 00:38:51.699 receive Him. 00:38:51.960 --> 00:38:52.819 And if you haven't 00:38:52.819 --> 00:38:53.379 received Him 00:38:53.379 --> 00:38:54.539 you're rejecting Him. 00:38:56.879 --> 00:38:57.900 So the question is 00:38:57.900 --> 00:38:59.019 how do you receive Him? 00:38:59.099 --> 00:39:00.000 You receive Him 00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:01.119 by faith. 00:39:02.400 --> 00:39:03.159 By believing 00:39:03.159 --> 00:39:03.879 in His name. 00:39:06.259 --> 00:39:07.119 So here you are 00:39:07.119 --> 00:39:07.619 this morning 00:39:07.619 --> 00:39:08.339 in this building. 00:39:09.980 --> 00:39:10.980 December 4th 00:39:10.980 --> 00:39:12.000 talking about Jesus 00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:13.000 the incarnation. 00:39:14.659 --> 00:39:16.039 Have you received Him? 00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:18.779 Have you received 00:39:18.779 --> 00:39:19.500 the greatest gift 00:39:19.500 --> 00:39:20.039 ever given? 00:39:21.319 --> 00:39:22.699 The gift of salvation 00:39:22.699 --> 00:39:24.539 that's in Christ alone. 00:39:26.139 --> 00:39:27.639 Christmas is all about Jesus 00:39:27.639 --> 00:39:29.539 and Jesus is all about salvation. 00:39:30.859 --> 00:39:31.859 What child is this? 00:39:32.279 --> 00:39:33.159 He's fully God. 00:39:33.379 --> 00:39:34.379 He's fully man. 00:39:34.619 --> 00:39:35.960 He's fully present with us. 00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:37.219 He's full of glory 00:39:37.219 --> 00:39:40.579 and He is full of grace. 00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:44.219 Let's put Christ 00:39:44.219 --> 00:39:45.079 back into Christmas. 00:39:46.340 --> 00:39:47.559 Let's put Christmas 00:39:47.559 --> 00:39:49.159 back into God's plan 00:39:49.159 --> 00:39:49.799 of salvation. 00:39:51.219 --> 00:39:53.279 That's what gives it 00:39:53.279 --> 00:39:55.799 its full meaning. 00:39:56.799 --> 00:39:57.679 What child is this? 00:39:58.519 --> 00:40:00.940 He is your salvation. 00:40:02.219 --> 00:40:02.759 Let's pray. 00:40:02.760 --> 00:40:07.560 Oh God in heaven 00:40:07.560 --> 00:40:08.460 thank you so much 00:40:08.460 --> 00:40:09.580 for John chapter 1. 00:40:10.920 --> 00:40:12.260 Father thank you so much 00:40:12.260 --> 00:40:13.700 for sending the Son Jesus 00:40:13.700 --> 00:40:17.440 as the perfect mediator 00:40:17.440 --> 00:40:18.500 between God and man. 00:40:18.580 --> 00:40:19.320 The greatest gift 00:40:19.320 --> 00:40:19.880 ever given. 00:40:20.980 --> 00:40:21.780 I pray that we 00:40:21.780 --> 00:40:22.440 as your people 00:40:22.440 --> 00:40:23.420 God would live 00:40:23.420 --> 00:40:24.560 in full view 00:40:24.560 --> 00:40:25.460 of the significance 00:40:25.460 --> 00:40:26.460 of Christmas. 00:40:27.420 --> 00:40:28.720 It's about Jesus 00:40:28.719 --> 00:40:30.799 and Jesus 00:40:30.799 --> 00:40:32.699 is about salvation. 00:40:33.939 --> 00:40:34.719 God would you 00:40:34.719 --> 00:40:35.719 bless 00:40:35.719 --> 00:40:36.980 the remainder 00:40:36.980 --> 00:40:37.739 of this day 00:40:37.739 --> 00:40:38.439 for the glory 00:40:38.439 --> 00:40:39.259 of your name. 00:40:40.019 --> 00:40:40.279 Amen.