WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning.

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 In light of the announcement that Nick just made, it's not easy to get up here.

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 It's the Christmas season, characterized by joy, peace, festivities, and celebrations.

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 And yet, we gather this morning also to mourn the loss of Noah and to grieve with his family.

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 It didn't seem right for me to begin my sermon with the lighthearted introduction that I had written,

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 one that began with a man who ate an airplane,

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 or to talk about our cultural predisposition to make God small

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 and limit what we think he can do in light of our understanding of science.

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 That's actually what I wrote, what I had prepared, and what I'm not going to talk about.

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 But it does seem right to turn our hearts and our minds to God.

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 As we grieve with the Hodgkins and we remember Noah and the way that he was a blessing to his family

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 and to our church and to the world,

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 we want to do so in a way that turns our hearts to God,

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 even in the face of unexpected tragedy like this.

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 For it is God that we need most at this time.

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 We need God to be our help, our comfort, our hope, and our stay.

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 And we need not just the idea of God,

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 but we need his person, his character, his nature.

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 And we need to know with confidence how he interacts with this world and with us.

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 And with that, we turn to our text this morning,

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 which is in Luke chapter 1.

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 It's page 803 in your pew Bible.

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 It is a part of the Christmas story that is well known, the Annunciation.

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 A story central to our faith.

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 One that is so well known that we are in danger of it becoming overly familiar.

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 It comes on the heels of a passage that Nick preached on last week

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 about God who came to an ordinary woman, Elizabeth,

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 and opened her womb when she was barren so that she might bear a child

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 who would proclaim the coming redemption and deliverance of God's people.

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 And in this passage, in the Annunciation,

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 what I want to do this morning is to look at it

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 to see what it has to say to us about God.

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 So that's what we're going to do.

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 Let's read it together, and then we'll pray,

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 and then we'll spend a few minutes meditating on this together.

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 Luke 1, verse 26.

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 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God

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 to a city of Galilee named Nazareth

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 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David.

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 And the virgin's name was Mary.

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 And he came to her and said,

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 Greetings, O favored one.

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 The Lord is with you.

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 But she was greatly troubled at the saying

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 and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

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 And the angel said to her,

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 Do not be afraid, Mary,

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 for you have found favor with God.

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 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,

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 and you shall call his name Jesus.

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 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High,

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 and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,

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 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever.

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 And of his kingdom there will be no end.

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 And Mary said to the angel,

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 How will this be, since I am a virgin?

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 And the angel answered her,

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 The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

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 and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

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 Therefore, the child to be born will be called Holy,

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 the Son of God.

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 And behold, your relative Elizabeth,

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 in her old age,

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 has also conceived a son.

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 And this is the sixth month with her,

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 who was called barren.

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 For nothing will be impossible with God.

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 And Mary said,

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 Behold, I am the servant of the Lord.

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 Let it be to me according to your word.

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 And the angel departed from her.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Lord, as we come to this passage this morning,

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 we ask for your help.

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 Lord, your help to open our eyes to you

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 in light of this well-known passage

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 for us to see you afresh this morning.

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 To know your character,

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 to know your purpose.

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 Lord, to see you, Lord, clearly.

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 And that you might, Lord,

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 work in our hearts so graciously

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 that we would respond to you in faith.

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 That we would believe what we see

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 about who you are in this passage.

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 And that in believing, Lord,

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 we would find hope and life in you.

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 We pray this in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 I love the narratives of Scripture.

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 And this is a great narrative story.

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 It begins with a setting.

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 The angel Gabriel came

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 in the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy

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 to a woman named Mary

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 who lived in Nowheresville.

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 If Mary was an ordinary person,

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 Mary was a nobody.

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 And God chose to come to her

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 and make an amazing proclamation to her

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 about what he was going to do.

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 And if you look through this

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 through the lens of a narrative story,

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 the story builds with tension.

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 What kind of greeting is this?

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 Don't be afraid.

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 Here's what I'm going to do.

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 And it climaxes.

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 It reaches its high point of tension

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 in verse 34

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 where Mary says,

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 how can this be?

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 For I am a virgin.

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 And in the answer to that,

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 we begin to see the character of God

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 on display.

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 And the other thing we see

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 as we read through this narrative

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 is that there are times

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 when in the middle of narrative stories,

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 there are speeches

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 or announcements

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 or proclamations.

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 And in this one,

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 verses 31 through 34

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 give us a very particular proclamation

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 about who this baby would be

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 and how this baby would expose

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 and show and display

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 the character of God to us.

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 And so that's what we're going to look at

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 this morning.

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 Those two questions.

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 One, how could this be?

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 And two, who is this child?

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 So first,

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 let's look at this first question.

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 How can a virgin give birth to a child?

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 Now, we brush over this so easily

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 because this has been something

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 that the church has affirmed

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 for 2,000 years.

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 But stop and think.

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 This is a miracle

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 that God would bring to a woman

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 who had never had intercourse,

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 had never known a man,

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 would impregnate her,

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 would make her,

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 make inside of her a child.

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 And this was amazing back then.

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 They knew even then

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 it took a man and a woman

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 to create a baby.

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 This announcement

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 was against the science

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 even back then

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 and even more so now

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 that we need this,

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 that this is the way it is.

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 And so for the last 2,000 years,

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 people have asked this question,

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 how could this be?

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 Now look,

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 we need to think through

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 some of the questions

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 that are behind that.

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 Some people,

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 if we hold to

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 the world being a closed system,

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 if we hold to

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 a naturalistic scientific worldview

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 that excludes the possibility

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 of supernatural activity,

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 then we have a priori

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 denied God's existence

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 and eliminated this possibility.

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 But if there is a God,

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 then we need to be open

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 to the fact that God

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 could do something miraculous

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 like this.

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 There are some people

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 who think,

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 well isn't this story

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 just a myth?

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 Just like the other myths

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 in the ancient world

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 about how God

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 would come down

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 and have intercourse

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 with a human woman

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 and produce.

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 And yet what you see here

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 is a unique story

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 because never was there

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 a virgin birth

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 in those stories.

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 Some people wonder,

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 if this is so important,

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 why is it that the rest

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 of the New Testament

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 ignores it

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 and doesn't say anything about it?

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 Well,

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 it's fascinating to think

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 about the fact that Matthew,

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 the Jewish writer,

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 writing to the Jews

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 to convince them

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 that Jesus is the Messiah,

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 and Luke,

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 the Greek writer,

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 writing to a diaspora

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 trying to give the evidence

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 for why he believes

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 Jesus is the Savior

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 with two very different audiences,

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 yet they both record this.

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 And some have argued

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 that in fact

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 this has not been talked about

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 as much in the later letters

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 because in fact

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 it was so easily accepted

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 as true

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 because those who were there

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 could testify to it

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 during the early church.

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 And so for the church

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 up until the 1800s,

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 this was rarely questioned.

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 And finally,

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 some people ask questions

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 about the virgin birth

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 because they wonder,

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 doesn't this somehow

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 make it impossible

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 for Jesus to be fully human?

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 If he was conceived

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 in a way that was not natural

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 but was supernatural,

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 could he actually have

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 the proper DNA?

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 But do we not think

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 that God

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 who created the world

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 and who created

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 the whole process

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 to begin with

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 could miraculously interact

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 with Mary

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 in such a way,

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 not sexually

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 but creatively,

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 to make a life

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 inside the womb

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 of a woman

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 who had never known a man?

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 So this is what it says

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 in response to Mary's question

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 in verses 35 and 36.

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 The Holy Spirit

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 will come upon you

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 and the power

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 of the Most High

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 will overshadow you.

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 Therefore,

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 the child to be born

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 will be called holy.

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 That is set apart.

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 Something distinct

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 from everything else

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 you've ever seen.

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 God will come

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 like he came in the temple.

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 The word for overshadow

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 is the same word

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 that talks about

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 when the presence of God

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 enters the tabernacle

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 in Exodus 40.

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 God will come over you, Mary,

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 and fill you with his presence

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 in a special way

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 that will create a child in you.

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 How do we see God

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 on display in this passage?

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 First, we see

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 God's creative power.

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 He comes to Mary

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 and he makes life.

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 There are echoes

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 of the Spirit

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 hovering over

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 the chaos of the world

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 and then bringing life

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 and order to it.

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 And friends,

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 if we are honest,

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 every human conception,

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 every human being

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 created in God's image

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 in the womb

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 or even in an in vitro

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 is made in God's image

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 and is a work

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 of God's grace,

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 it is cool

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 that we know

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 far more about that process

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 than we ever did before

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 and yet it is still

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 an astounding mystery

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 and a wonder

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 that life is created

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 in these ways.

00:12:00.079 --> 00:12:00.840
 And so, friends,

00:12:01.059 --> 00:12:02.399
 let us stop

00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:04.120
 and simply sit in awe

00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:06.319
 that the virgin birth

00:12:06.319 --> 00:12:06.899
 tells us

00:12:06.899 --> 00:12:08.139
 that God is powerful

00:12:08.139 --> 00:12:09.679
 than that He is doing

00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:11.559
 something uniquely powerful

00:12:11.559 --> 00:12:14.399
 in this gracious creation

00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:15.720
 of this one child.

00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:17.519
 We don't know

00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:18.220
 the mechanics,

00:12:19.059 --> 00:12:20.699
 but we know

00:12:20.699 --> 00:12:21.439
 the outcome

00:12:21.439 --> 00:12:23.319
 of fully God

00:12:23.319 --> 00:12:24.600
 and fully man

00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:25.720
 Savior

00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:26.740
 who's come

00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:27.819
 to rescue us.

00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:29.879
 And this is the second thing

00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:31.000
 that we see about God

00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:32.259
 in the virgin birth

00:12:32.259 --> 00:12:33.319
 is God's initiative.

00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:35.179
 It wasn't like Mary

00:12:35.179 --> 00:12:36.360
 was going around saying,

00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:37.840
 I wonder if God would

00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:40.440
 give me a virgin conception

00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:41.220
 in my womb.

00:12:41.539 --> 00:12:42.740
 What a great idea.

00:12:42.919 --> 00:12:43.940
 Why don't I do that?

00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:47.700
 Far from Mary's mind,

00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:48.720
 far from the minds

00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:49.940
 of anyone in Israel,

00:12:50.300 --> 00:12:53.019
 God broke into this world.

00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:55.320
 God initiated with Mary

00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:56.759
 to create this child.

00:12:58.399 --> 00:12:59.360
 We often conceive

00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:01.420
 of our religious life

00:13:01.420 --> 00:13:03.000
 as us seeking God,

00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:04.300
 but here we see God

00:13:04.299 --> 00:13:05.479
 seeking us,

00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:06.939
 initiating to do

00:13:06.939 --> 00:13:07.719
 the very thing

00:13:07.719 --> 00:13:08.319
 that we need

00:13:08.319 --> 00:13:09.759
 so that we might know Him.

00:13:12.839 --> 00:13:13.439
 Friends,

00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:14.519
 I wonder this morning,

00:13:14.819 --> 00:13:15.839
 as we think about

00:13:15.839 --> 00:13:16.620
 God's power

00:13:16.620 --> 00:13:17.599
 and God's initiative,

00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:19.740
 how do you respond to that?

00:13:21.219 --> 00:13:22.359
 Are there places

00:13:22.359 --> 00:13:23.159
 in your life

00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:24.199
 that feel dead

00:13:24.199 --> 00:13:24.959
 and barren?

00:13:25.579 --> 00:13:26.500
 Are there ways

00:13:26.500 --> 00:13:27.559
 where you need

00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:28.779
 Jesus to bring

00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:30.240
 renewing life

00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:30.939
 to you?

00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:32.299
 Maybe you're here

00:13:32.299 --> 00:13:32.740
 this morning

00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:34.120
 and you're exploring Christ

00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:35.539
 and you haven't experienced

00:13:35.539 --> 00:13:37.460
 His life-giving power

00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:39.700
 through faith in Him.

00:13:41.740 --> 00:13:42.919
 The God of the Bible

00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:43.519
 is one

00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:45.399
 who makes new creations

00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:46.519
 out of all of us

00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:47.680
 who are dead in our sin.

00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:49.659
 The God of the Bible

00:13:49.659 --> 00:13:50.299
 promises

00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:51.720
 a renewal

00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:53.039
 of all things

00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:54.379
 where creation

00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:55.519
 will be made new.

00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:59.019
 And if you think

00:13:59.019 --> 00:14:00.299
 that God has forgotten you,

00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:02.519
 if you feel overlooked

00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:03.759
 or ignored

00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:04.439
 or abandoned

00:14:04.439 --> 00:14:05.100
 by Him,

00:14:06.220 --> 00:14:06.899
 this story

00:14:06.899 --> 00:14:07.899
 reminds us

00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:09.120
 that God

00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:09.699
 is a God

00:14:09.699 --> 00:14:10.699
 who takes initiative

00:14:10.699 --> 00:14:11.600
 towards us.

00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:13.319
 He is seeking us

00:14:13.319 --> 00:14:14.579
 and calling us

00:14:14.579 --> 00:14:15.179
 to Himself.

00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:16.799
 He is seeking out,

00:14:17.179 --> 00:14:18.120
 He is doing,

00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:19.100
 going ahead of us

00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:19.960
 to do the things

00:14:19.960 --> 00:14:20.699
 that we need

00:14:20.699 --> 00:14:22.159
 so that we can know Him

00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:23.620
 and respond to Him.

00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:25.639
 And this is the doctrine

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.919
 of the virgin birth

00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:28.879
 applied to us.

00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:30.860
 But this story

00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:31.700
 tells us more

00:14:31.700 --> 00:14:32.620
 about God

00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:33.179
 than simply

00:14:33.179 --> 00:14:33.840
 His initiative

00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:34.639
 and His power.

00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:36.100
 It also tells us

00:14:36.100 --> 00:14:37.220
 through the identity

00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:38.220
 of this child

00:14:38.220 --> 00:14:39.580
 God's purpose

00:14:39.580 --> 00:14:40.759
 and intention.

00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:42.560
 So let's look again

00:14:42.560 --> 00:14:44.279
 at verses 31 through 34

00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:45.980
 as Mary is

00:14:45.980 --> 00:14:47.440
 trying to figure out

00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:48.000
 what do you,

00:14:48.100 --> 00:14:48.460
 God,

00:14:48.539 --> 00:14:49.240
 what do you mean?

00:14:49.340 --> 00:14:50.060
 What are you doing?

00:14:50.059 --> 00:14:52.799
 Gabriel says this,

00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:55.000
 Behold,

00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:56.159
 you will conceive

00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:56.959
 in your womb

00:14:56.959 --> 00:14:57.759
 and bear a son

00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:58.679
 and you shall call

00:14:58.679 --> 00:14:59.799
 His name Jesus.

00:15:00.959 --> 00:15:01.979
 He will be great

00:15:01.979 --> 00:15:02.799
 and will be called

00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:04.039
 the Son of the Most High

00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:05.519
 and the Lord God

00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:06.319
 will give to Him

00:15:06.319 --> 00:15:06.799
 the throne

00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:07.859
 of His father David

00:15:07.859 --> 00:15:09.019
 and He will reign

00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:10.559
 over the house

00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:11.679
 of Jacob forever

00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:13.779
 and of His kingdom

00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:14.819
 there will be

00:15:14.819 --> 00:15:17.079
 no end.

00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:22.400
 In this little speech

00:15:22.400 --> 00:15:23.160
 in the middle

00:15:23.160 --> 00:15:23.800
 of the narrative

00:15:23.800 --> 00:15:25.160
 the angel says

00:15:25.160 --> 00:15:26.580
 this is the point.

00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:27.920
 This is the thing

00:15:27.920 --> 00:15:29.200
 I want you to focus on

00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:30.000
 of all the things

00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:30.960
 you could see here.

00:15:31.280 --> 00:15:32.000
 This is what

00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:32.920
 I want you to know.

00:15:33.040 --> 00:15:34.180
 I want you to know

00:15:34.180 --> 00:15:36.300
 what God is up to

00:15:36.300 --> 00:15:37.520
 by the way

00:15:37.520 --> 00:15:38.740
 that this child

00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:39.520
 is described.

00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:41.520
 I want you to see

00:15:41.520 --> 00:15:42.340
 God's purpose

00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:43.820
 and I want you to see

00:15:43.820 --> 00:15:44.700
 God's intention.

00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:46.200
 God's purpose

00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:48.200
 is by naming

00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:49.379
 this son Jesus

00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:50.420
 and we know

00:15:50.420 --> 00:15:51.420
 what Jesus means

00:15:51.420 --> 00:15:52.379
 we can look over

00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:52.960
 in Matthew

00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:54.040
 and know that

00:15:54.040 --> 00:15:55.600
 Jesus means

00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:57.940
 Jehovah saves

00:15:57.940 --> 00:15:59.620
 the God

00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:01.620
 that God saves

00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:03.180
 and that He

00:16:03.180 --> 00:16:04.020
 and He

00:16:04.020 --> 00:16:05.920
 in Matthew

00:16:05.920 --> 00:16:07.360
 Joseph is explicitly

00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:08.120
 told you will

00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:09.180
 call His name Jesus

00:16:09.180 --> 00:16:10.420
 for He will save

00:16:10.420 --> 00:16:11.400
 His people

00:16:11.400 --> 00:16:14.120
 from their sins

00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:15.679
 and this is the kind

00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:16.580
 of God that we see

00:16:16.580 --> 00:16:17.879
 a God who has come

00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:19.620
 to rescue sinners

00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:22.019
 like Mary and Joseph

00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:23.679
 like you and me.

00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:30.580
 We see that this child

00:16:30.580 --> 00:16:33.080
 this unique conception

00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:35.519
 has come for a unique purpose

00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:37.720
 to save us

00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:40.200
 and not simply

00:16:40.200 --> 00:16:41.899
 to rescue us from sin

00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:43.000
 but to bring us

00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:43.740
 into a kingdom

00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:45.620
 that He will reign over

00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:46.419
 forever and ever

00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:47.799
 so this is God's intention

00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:48.620
 if God's purpose

00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:49.379
 is to save us

00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:50.299
 God's intention

00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:51.039
 is to bring us

00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:51.860
 into a kingdom

00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:53.079
 and this is where

00:16:53.079 --> 00:16:54.639
 He layers on

00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:55.899
 all of these descriptions

00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:56.500
 this is why

00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:57.699
 we read the passage

00:16:57.699 --> 00:16:59.039
 from 2 Samuel

00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:00.639
 earlier in our

00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:01.720
 service

00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:03.139
 because in 2 Samuel

00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:04.279
 God makes a covenant

00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:05.700
 with King David

00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:07.099
 as He's establishing

00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:07.980
 His people

00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:09.379
 in the promised land

00:17:09.380 --> 00:17:09.880
 He's saying

00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:10.860
 I'm going to make

00:17:10.860 --> 00:17:12.060
 a covenant with you

00:17:12.060 --> 00:17:13.140
 because this is

00:17:13.140 --> 00:17:13.900
 the next step

00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:14.620
 in the progress

00:17:14.620 --> 00:17:16.080
 of my redemptive plan

00:17:16.080 --> 00:17:17.740
 for me to create

00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.720
 a people

00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.360
 who will be

00:17:19.360 --> 00:17:20.220
 my people

00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:21.540
 in my creation

00:17:21.540 --> 00:17:23.040
 to worship me

00:17:23.040 --> 00:17:24.220
 and to serve me

00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:25.400
 and to glorify me

00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:26.760
 under my rule

00:17:26.760 --> 00:17:27.700
 and reign forever

00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:28.960
 and we know

00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:30.080
 that in the Old Testament

00:17:30.080 --> 00:17:31.860
 Israel never succeeded

00:17:31.860 --> 00:17:32.620
 in doing that

00:17:32.620 --> 00:17:33.460
 and we know

00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.480
 that at this point

00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:36.020
 in the Gospel of Luke

00:17:36.020 --> 00:17:37.520
 in this time in history

00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:38.779
 the nation of Israel

00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:39.799
 was crying out

00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:41.440
 God show us your plan

00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:42.539
 it feels like

00:17:42.539 --> 00:17:43.359
 we've been abandoned

00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:44.799
 Rome is taken over

00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:46.180
 and we are lost

00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:47.440
 and God comes

00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:47.960
 and He says

00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:49.000
 I'm going to give you

00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:49.639
 this child

00:17:49.639 --> 00:17:50.660
 and He's going to

00:17:50.660 --> 00:17:51.460
 save you from the sin

00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:52.200
 but He's also

00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:53.139
 going to fulfill

00:17:53.139 --> 00:17:53.960
 all of these

00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:55.059
 Old Testament promises

00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:56.599
 that are seen

00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:57.440
 in the covenant

00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:59.039
 and if you went back

00:17:59.039 --> 00:17:59.599
 and you looked

00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.220
 at the passage

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:01.059
 you will see

00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:03.559
 that this son

00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:04.859
 will be called great

00:18:04.859 --> 00:18:06.000
 and it will be

00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.460
 a distinct greatness

00:18:07.460 --> 00:18:08.380
 that will characterize

00:18:08.380 --> 00:18:09.160
 His reign

00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:10.000
 a greatness

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.660
 greater than anyone else

00:18:11.660 --> 00:18:13.640
 He will be like a son

00:18:13.640 --> 00:18:16.019
 someone in intimate relationship

00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:17.160
 with God the Father

00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:18.779
 He will be a ruler

00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:20.279
 who will sit on a throne

00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:21.980
 and who will exert His will

00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:23.660
 for justice and righteousness

00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:24.460
 in the world

00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.700
 and He will establish

00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:26.200
 a kingdom

00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:28.680
 that will never end

00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:33.180
 the promises made long ago

00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:33.680
 to David

00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:35.100
 are going to be fulfilled

00:18:35.100 --> 00:18:36.279
 in this special baby

00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:38.160
 the unique conception

00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:39.859
 led to this unique individual

00:18:39.859 --> 00:18:41.799
 who will bring this redemption

00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:45.160
 what does this mean for us?

00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:47.240
 how do we apply

00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:49.039
 God's purpose and intention

00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:50.980
 to our lives?

00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:53.799
 friends

00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:55.700
 it means that in Jesus

00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:56.599
 there is a kingdom

00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:58.019
 that will last forever

00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:59.500
 has there ever been a kingdom

00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:00.899
 in human history

00:19:00.899 --> 00:19:02.099
 that has lasted forever?

00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:03.839
 I studied Chinese history

00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:05.299
 in college

00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:06.879
 lots of emperors

00:19:06.879 --> 00:19:07.579
 and dynasties

00:19:07.579 --> 00:19:08.439
 thought they were going

00:19:08.439 --> 00:19:09.379
 to last forever

00:19:09.379 --> 00:19:11.299
 and they didn't

00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:14.119
 certainly the Roman emperors

00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:15.379
 thought that the Roman Empire

00:19:15.379 --> 00:19:16.399
 would last forever

00:19:16.399 --> 00:19:18.259
 and it didn't

00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:19.679
 the British Empire

00:19:19.679 --> 00:19:20.719
 upon which the sun

00:19:20.719 --> 00:19:21.419
 never sat

00:19:21.419 --> 00:19:22.919
 because it spanned the globe

00:19:22.919 --> 00:19:26.439
 did not last forever

00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:30.320
 and as Americans

00:19:30.320 --> 00:19:31.580
 let us be humble enough

00:19:31.580 --> 00:19:32.180
 to acknowledge

00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:33.980
 that the American Empire

00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:35.559
 will not last forever either

00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:38.820
 no human kingdom

00:19:38.820 --> 00:19:40.900
 past, present, or future

00:19:40.900 --> 00:19:42.940
 will last forever

00:19:42.940 --> 00:19:45.400
 but God has promised

00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:46.320
 that His kingdom

00:19:46.320 --> 00:19:47.019
 will come

00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:48.080
 and it will be

00:19:48.080 --> 00:19:49.279
 a glorious kingdom

00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:50.799
 and this one

00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.680
 this baby

00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:53.600
 will reign over it

00:19:53.600 --> 00:19:54.180
 forever

00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:56.519
 a kingdom of peace

00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:57.140
 where strife

00:19:57.140 --> 00:19:57.680
 and warfare

00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:58.360
 have ceased

00:19:58.360 --> 00:19:59.900
 a kingdom of righteousness

00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:00.740
 where justice

00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:01.539
 is established

00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:02.220
 and evil

00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:03.240
 is overcome

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:04.500
 and done away with

00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:05.779
 a kingdom of joy

00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:06.400
 where sadness

00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:07.180
 and sorrow

00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:08.660
 will be wiped away

00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:10.259
 a kingdom of life

00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.380
 where sin and death

00:20:11.380 --> 00:20:11.980
 are defeated

00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:13.259
 and a kingdom

00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:14.600
 that will last forever

00:20:14.600 --> 00:20:15.799
 so these things

00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:16.900
 will have no end

00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:18.060
 but they will simply

00:20:18.060 --> 00:20:19.380
 abundantly

00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:21.080
 continue to be

00:20:21.080 --> 00:20:22.039
 in a glorious

00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:23.779
 and ever expanding way

00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:29.399
 friends

00:20:29.399 --> 00:20:30.519
 isn't this the kingdom

00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:32.559
 that you long for

00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:33.299
 in your hearts

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:41.440
 it seems impossible

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:43.059
 in our fallen world

00:20:43.059 --> 00:20:43.660
 to imagine

00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:44.619
 that this could happen

00:20:44.619 --> 00:20:46.619
 but as

00:20:46.619 --> 00:20:47.859
 this passage

00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:48.599
 ends with

00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:50.759
 we are reminded

00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:53.240
 that just as God

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:55.259
 can bring life

00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:56.220
 into the womb

00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:57.460
 of a barren woman

00:20:57.460 --> 00:20:58.240
 who is too old

00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:58.940
 to have children

00:20:58.940 --> 00:21:00.259
 just as God

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:01.259
 can bring life

00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:02.700
 into the womb

00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:03.400
 of a virgin

00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:04.279
 who had never

00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:05.119
 known a man

00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:07.379
 so we are reminded

00:21:07.379 --> 00:21:08.539
 that with God

00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:09.500
 nothing

00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:11.319
 is impossible

00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:13.879
 and the most amazing

00:21:13.879 --> 00:21:14.559
 thing

00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:16.200
 that this God

00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:16.720
 has done

00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:18.500
 is sending

00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.259
 a savior

00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:20.799
 to rescue people

00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:21.439
 like you

00:21:21.439 --> 00:21:22.399
 and like me

00:21:22.399 --> 00:21:24.559
 this is the most

00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.539
 amazing thing

00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:26.299
 that God

00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:27.079
 has ever done

00:21:27.079 --> 00:21:28.339
 because we don't

00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:29.059
 deserve it

00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:31.039
 and if we haven't

00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:32.000
 grappled with that

00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:32.379
 yet

00:21:32.379 --> 00:21:33.919
 it's time to do that

00:21:33.919 --> 00:21:35.119
 because we don't

00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:35.839
 deserve it

00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:37.059
 and yet God

00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:37.779
 has sent

00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:39.159
 this child

00:21:39.159 --> 00:21:39.879
 to come

00:21:39.879 --> 00:21:41.919
 to rescue us

00:21:41.919 --> 00:21:43.099
 from our sin

00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:44.220
 from our rebellion

00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:45.759
 from all the ways

00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:46.699
 that we daily

00:21:46.699 --> 00:21:47.359
 ignore

00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:48.240
 reject

00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:49.439
 dishonor

00:21:49.439 --> 00:21:50.619
 God

00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:53.859
 he has come

00:21:53.859 --> 00:21:54.619
 and in his

00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.539
 initiative

00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:57.000
 he has reached out

00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:57.559
 towards us

00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.399
 and in his power

00:21:58.399 --> 00:21:59.579
 he is taking hold

00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:00.000
 of us

00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:01.319
 and he is inviting us

00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:02.720
 to respond to him

00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:04.359
 the way Mary

00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:05.959
 responded to God

00:22:05.959 --> 00:22:09.819
 in response

00:22:09.819 --> 00:22:10.319
 to God's

00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:10.899
 revelation

00:22:10.899 --> 00:22:11.879
 of his power

00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:13.240
 and his initiative

00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:14.599
 and his intentions

00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.559
 and his purpose

00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:16.500
 Mary said

00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:18.000
 behold I am

00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.439
 the servant

00:22:18.439 --> 00:22:19.059
 of the Lord

00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:20.779
 let it be

00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:21.839
 to me

00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.279
 according

00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:23.459
 to your word

00:22:23.459 --> 00:22:26.500
 Mary is not

00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:27.479
 a sinless person

00:22:27.479 --> 00:22:28.519
 for us to pray to

00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.559
 but she is a

00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:30.459
 great example

00:22:30.459 --> 00:22:32.000
 of humble faith

00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:33.799
 for us to emulate

00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:35.500
 and to see

00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.039
 in her

00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:36.740
 an example

00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:38.119
 of a godly

00:22:38.119 --> 00:22:38.859
 response

00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:41.079
 it is by faith

00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:41.639
 that we cling

00:22:41.639 --> 00:22:42.279
 to God

00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:43.180
 who has come

00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:43.599
 for us

00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:44.139
 in Jesus

00:22:44.139 --> 00:22:48.919
 and as we

00:22:48.919 --> 00:22:49.659
 this morning

00:22:49.659 --> 00:22:50.839
 as a church

00:22:50.839 --> 00:22:51.359
 family

00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:53.519
 both celebrate

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:53.980
 Christmas

00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:54.839
 and

00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:56.299
 mourn with the

00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:56.839
 Hodgkins

00:22:56.839 --> 00:22:57.960
 this is the God

00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:58.539
 that we need

00:22:58.539 --> 00:23:01.180
 more than anything

00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:01.640
 else

00:23:01.640 --> 00:23:04.460
 so let's pray

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:12.500
 Lord we thank you

00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:13.140
 this morning

00:23:13.140 --> 00:23:17.799
 Lord that you

00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:18.660
 have not left us

00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:19.759
 alone in our sin

00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:20.340
 and in our

00:23:20.340 --> 00:23:21.820
 barrenness

00:23:21.820 --> 00:23:23.980
 in our sorrow

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.720
 and our grief

00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:26.700
 but Lord you have

00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:27.560
 come for us

00:23:27.560 --> 00:23:28.060
 in Jesus

00:23:28.060 --> 00:23:28.840
 and you have done

00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:29.879
 it in such a distinct

00:23:29.879 --> 00:23:31.179
 such a unique

00:23:31.179 --> 00:23:32.039
 such a wonderful

00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:32.480
 way

00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:34.899
 Lord to show us

00:23:34.899 --> 00:23:35.559
 your character

00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:37.159
 to show us

00:23:37.159 --> 00:23:37.959
 your nature

00:23:37.959 --> 00:23:41.199
 Lord I pray

00:23:41.199 --> 00:23:41.879
 this morning

00:23:41.879 --> 00:23:43.899
 Lord that we

00:23:43.899 --> 00:23:44.299
 would

00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:45.740
 see you

00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:47.059
 Lord I pray

00:23:47.059 --> 00:23:47.639
 this morning

00:23:47.639 --> 00:23:48.359
 that you would

00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:48.959
 give us

00:23:48.959 --> 00:23:50.059
 faith

00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:52.259
 to respond

00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:52.980
 to you

00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:54.599
 and trust

00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:55.439
 and belief

00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:57.080
 in confidence

00:23:57.080 --> 00:23:58.900
 and in joy

00:23:58.900 --> 00:24:00.820
 we pray this

00:24:00.820 --> 00:24:01.680
 in Jesus name

00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:03.120
 Amen