WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.100 This morning's reading comes from Luke chapter 1, verse 1 to 20, and can be found on page 805 of the Church Bible. 00:00:11.040 --> 00:00:11.560 Okay. 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:17.859 In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 00:00:18.260 --> 00:00:21.859 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 00:00:22.300 --> 00:00:25.400 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 00:00:25.399 --> 00:00:39.739 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 00:00:40.379 --> 00:00:43.439 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:52.320 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:57.780 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:02.560 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. 00:01:02.899 --> 00:01:04.840 And they were filled with great fear. 00:01:05.560 --> 00:01:11.060 And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 00:01:11.579 --> 00:01:16.000 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 00:01:16.500 --> 00:01:18.120 And this will be a sign for you. 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:21.719 You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. 00:01:22.040 --> 00:01:32.960 And suddenly there was with the angel a great multitude of heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. 00:01:33.359 --> 00:01:42.900 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. 00:01:42.900 --> 00:01:47.760 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. 00:01:48.700 --> 00:01:52.860 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 00:01:53.219 --> 00:01:56.320 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 00:01:56.780 --> 00:02:00.400 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 00:02:00.800 --> 00:02:06.939 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 00:02:07.460 --> 00:02:09.560 Let us receive God's word to us today. 00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:09.640 Amen. 00:02:09.640 --> 00:02:09.640 00:02:09.640 --> 00:02:09.640 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:14.080 Thank you, Maddie and Avery. 00:02:14.219 --> 00:02:15.460 Yeah, let's give them a round of applause. 00:02:15.700 --> 00:02:16.439 Great reading. 00:02:19.180 --> 00:02:21.800 Well, welcome, everybody, and Merry Christmas. 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:24.140 Let me add my greetings to Oscars. 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:30.300 If you don't know me, my name is Kevin, and it's wonderful to have you with us this morning. 00:02:31.700 --> 00:02:35.080 To those maybe that are visiting us for the first time, a warm welcome. 00:02:35.300 --> 00:02:37.480 Great to have you part of the Watermark family today. 00:02:37.480 --> 00:02:41.759 And to those that have been here 10,000 times, welcome to you as well. 00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:44.079 Merry, Merry Christmas this morning. 00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:45.659 It's a real joy to be together. 00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:49.780 Now, Christmas is a very special time of the year, isn't it? 00:02:50.199 --> 00:02:52.959 I'm sure many of us have been preparing for weeks. 00:02:53.359 --> 00:02:56.000 We've been thinking about this time. 00:02:56.120 --> 00:02:57.959 Maybe you're planning to go away somewhere. 00:02:58.459 --> 00:03:00.280 Maybe you're preparing a Christmas meal. 00:03:00.859 --> 00:03:06.239 Maybe you've been shopping and buying gifts for friends or family or loved ones. 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:12.439 As a church, we've been preparing for this time and thinking about Christmas over the last couple of weeks. 00:03:13.020 --> 00:03:15.600 Christmas is a wonderful, wonderful time of the year. 00:03:16.320 --> 00:03:19.159 But we also know it can be a difficult time of the year. 00:03:20.020 --> 00:03:23.560 Maybe some of you have family that are far away, other sides of the world. 00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:29.180 Maybe some of us here are remembering those that are loved ones that have passed away. 00:03:29.180 --> 00:03:32.860 And so Christmas is this dichotomy in our hearts. 00:03:32.980 --> 00:03:34.920 We feel the joy and the wonder of it. 00:03:35.060 --> 00:03:39.480 But also we remind it at times like this of the broken world in which we live. 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:41.540 The pain in which we live. 00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:44.659 And Christmas reminds us that there are no perfect days. 00:03:45.240 --> 00:03:46.939 There are no perfect holidays. 00:03:47.860 --> 00:03:50.159 No perfect life stories in this world. 00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:52.020 And yet it's that. 00:03:52.180 --> 00:03:56.960 It's the dichotomy in which we live which amplifies the wonder of Christmas. 00:03:56.960 --> 00:04:06.439 Because Christmas reminds us that in the midst of all the chaos, in the midst of all the tears, in the midst of all the pain and the brokenness of our world, God has not forgotten us. 00:04:07.100 --> 00:04:08.360 God has not abandoned us. 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:11.860 The God who made all things has come to us. 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:13.280 As the words of that great hymn say, 00:04:13.760 --> 00:04:19.980 Long lay the world in sin and error pining till he appeared and our souls felt its worth. 00:04:20.540 --> 00:04:26.620 A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. 00:04:26.620 --> 00:04:31.000 Christmas reminds us that in the midst of a broken world, there is hope. 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:33.019 Because God has not forgotten us. 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:34.600 God has not abandoned us. 00:04:35.259 --> 00:04:39.360 Now, the question we as a church have been considering over the last few weeks is, 00:04:39.780 --> 00:04:40.939 Why did Jesus come? 00:04:41.579 --> 00:04:43.079 Why did Jesus come? 00:04:43.579 --> 00:04:49.100 That Jesus Christ came into history 2,000 years ago, came into Israel, that's a fact of history. 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:51.139 But why Jesus came? 00:04:51.259 --> 00:04:52.120 That's Christianity. 00:04:52.120 --> 00:04:55.000 And so we've been thinking and asking this question, 00:04:55.139 --> 00:04:56.939 Why is it that Jesus came? 00:04:57.420 --> 00:05:02.480 And the passage that Maddie and Avery read to us this morning answers both of those questions. 00:05:02.579 --> 00:05:06.160 It tells us what happened, but it also tells us why it happened. 00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:10.019 And so I want to just take a couple of minutes and I want us to think about this passage, 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:13.840 this very, very famous and well-known passage in Luke's Gospel. 00:05:13.839 --> 00:05:16.399 And I want us to think about three things here. 00:05:16.619 --> 00:05:20.259 I want us to think about the royal puppet at Jesus' coming, 00:05:20.719 --> 00:05:25.859 the real purpose for Jesus' coming, and the right response to Jesus' coming. 00:05:26.139 --> 00:05:28.719 So let's think about these things quickly. 00:05:28.839 --> 00:05:31.099 Firstly, the royal puppet at Jesus' coming. 00:05:31.100 --> 00:05:38.420 The opening few verses of our passage here, Luke tells us the historical details around Jesus' birth. 00:05:39.140 --> 00:05:43.220 And it involves the census that Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor of the time, 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:47.020 issued throughout the Roman world for all people to be registered. 00:05:47.140 --> 00:05:48.460 Look at how he says in verse 1, 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:53.400 In those days the decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world, 00:05:53.480 --> 00:05:56.000 that's the Roman empire, should be registered. 00:05:57.280 --> 00:05:59.500 Now, why does Luke tell us this? 00:05:59.500 --> 00:06:02.480 Well, on the one hand, remember, Luke is a historian. 00:06:03.220 --> 00:06:07.600 At the beginning of Luke's Gospel, he tells us that one of the reasons he wrote his Gospel 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:11.939 was because a wealthy Roman official called Theophilus had heard the stories of Jesus 00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:13.379 and wanted to know whether it was true. 00:06:14.019 --> 00:06:18.680 And so he commissioned this man called Luke to study the historical facts 00:06:18.680 --> 00:06:22.759 and to gather the evidence and to write an account of the story of Jesus of Nazareth. 00:06:23.339 --> 00:06:24.680 And so that's what Luke is doing. 00:06:24.839 --> 00:06:28.420 He's giving us the historical facts, the account of Jesus' birth. 00:06:28.420 --> 00:06:32.500 And one of the things that's so great about Luke's Gospel in particular 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:36.360 is all the detail he gives, names and places and dates. 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:37.840 And so that's what he says here. 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:44.280 He talks about when Caesar Augustus was Caesar and when Quirinius was governor of Syria, 00:06:44.860 --> 00:06:46.020 a decree went out. 00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:52.139 And so Luke is telling us about how it is that Joseph and Mary came to be in Bethlehem. 00:06:52.699 --> 00:06:55.539 And so why are Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem at this time? 00:06:55.620 --> 00:06:56.599 This wasn't where they lived. 00:06:57.099 --> 00:07:01.779 Well, it's because on the one hand, Caesar Augustus had decided everyone in the known world, 00:07:01.859 --> 00:07:05.500 everyone in the Roman Empire, should go to their hometown where their family comes from 00:07:05.500 --> 00:07:07.560 and be registered in his census. 00:07:07.699 --> 00:07:08.599 So look what he says here. 00:07:08.600 --> 00:07:13.020 In those days, the decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 00:07:13.180 --> 00:07:13.620 Verse 3. 00:07:14.220 --> 00:07:16.860 All went to be registered, each in his own hometown. 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:22.900 And so Joseph went up from Galilee to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem. 00:07:23.500 --> 00:07:26.460 Now, why did Caesar want this? 00:07:27.200 --> 00:07:28.160 Why issue a census? 00:07:28.340 --> 00:07:31.040 I mean, censuses in the old days wasn't like census these days. 00:07:31.220 --> 00:07:36.060 Caesar wasn't interested in mean, average household income or, you know, education levels, 00:07:36.140 --> 00:07:36.800 those kinds of things. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:40.819 Why did Caesar want a census of all the Roman Empire? 00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:46.139 Well, on one hand, it's an exercise in political and economic power. 00:07:46.980 --> 00:07:51.720 Caesar wants to know how many people he has and specifically how many taxes he can expect 00:07:51.720 --> 00:07:54.480 to raise from various people in different parts of his empire. 00:07:55.160 --> 00:07:57.560 Caesar's calculating how many taxes can he raise. 00:07:57.639 --> 00:07:59.439 It's an economic exercise. 00:07:59.879 --> 00:08:06.160 But it's also an exercise in political power because all these foreign lands that he's conquered, 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:08.840 Caesar wants to remind them, I am Caesar. 00:08:08.960 --> 00:08:09.860 You belong to me. 00:08:09.960 --> 00:08:14.939 He wants to know who lives where so that they brings them into the legal and the fiscal system 00:08:14.939 --> 00:08:17.439 so that these people know they belong to Caesar. 00:08:18.020 --> 00:08:22.440 Caesar's exercising his power, his authority, saying, I am king in this place. 00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:26.620 That's the reason why they're there. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:32.860 And so he issues the census and Mary and Joseph go up from Galilee to Bethlehem, a small town 00:08:32.860 --> 00:08:37.960 about eight miles outside of Jerusalem, just at the time that Mary's getting ready to give birth. 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:44.060 But what Luke wants us to see here, the author, is that's not the real reason they're in Bethlehem, is it? 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:48.460 Actually, Luke wants to tell us that behind the rule and the reign of Caesar, 00:08:48.460 --> 00:08:53.240 there is another king that's orchestrating everything according to his plans. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:57.879 Caesar may be king of the Roman world, but in some senses, he's just a puppet king. 00:08:58.400 --> 00:09:01.400 He's in the hands of the sovereign God that is orchestrating everything. 00:09:01.540 --> 00:09:03.580 So look at what Luke wants us to see. 00:09:03.580 --> 00:09:07.780 Luke wants us to see the real reason that Mary and Joseph are here in Bethlehem 00:09:07.780 --> 00:09:12.320 is because the God of the Bible had promised hundreds, even thousands of years earlier 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:17.920 that there would come a king, someone of the house in the lineage of David, the great king, 00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:21.120 someone who would come and fulfill the promises of God, 00:09:21.500 --> 00:09:24.660 someone who would restore the fallen kingdom and the broken kingdom. 00:09:25.180 --> 00:09:29.920 Heaven and earth's true king would come who would crush Satan and the forces of evil, 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:35.399 and he would be born in a town called Bethlehem, the city of David. 00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:41.099 And so 700 years before not only Jesus is born, but Caesar Augustus is born, 00:09:41.579 --> 00:09:44.879 Micah, which some I read to us earlier, says this, 00:09:45.500 --> 00:09:47.679 that there will come a king, heaven and earth's true king, 00:09:48.219 --> 00:09:53.819 who will be born in the town of Bethlehem, the ruler, the one who is from ancient of days, 00:09:54.199 --> 00:09:56.039 the one who is without beginning and end, 00:09:56.039 --> 00:09:59.639 who will come from the city of David and bring peace. 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:03.120 Friends, that's the reason why Joseph and Mary are in Bethlehem. 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:07.339 Caesar Augustus is actually just a puppet in the hand of the sovereign God 00:10:07.339 --> 00:10:14.419 who is arranging everything, organizing all of history to accomplish his plans, his purposes. 00:10:15.339 --> 00:10:20.259 And one thing that scripture tells us again and again is that behind the power of kings and rulers, 00:10:20.699 --> 00:10:23.240 presidents and premiers and everyone in authority, 00:10:23.240 --> 00:10:26.899 lies the sovereign God, the God of all creation, 00:10:27.580 --> 00:10:29.500 who is Lord over every single life. 00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:32.720 And even the self-serving actions of Caesar Augustus, 00:10:32.779 --> 00:10:35.279 the most powerful man in the ancient world in this time, 00:10:35.560 --> 00:10:37.759 is simply doing God's bidding. 00:10:38.940 --> 00:10:42.220 Moving people around the ancient world to accomplish God's plans, 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:43.919 to fulfill God's purposes, 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:46.700 to do what God had predestined to take place, 00:10:47.060 --> 00:10:48.779 that the Christ, the son of David, 00:10:49.180 --> 00:10:51.259 would be born where God wanted him to, 00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:52.539 in Bethlehem. 00:10:53.220 --> 00:10:55.799 The puppet king behind Christ's coming. 00:10:56.500 --> 00:10:58.419 But we still haven't got to why Jesus came. 00:10:58.779 --> 00:11:00.340 Why did Jesus come? 00:11:01.139 --> 00:11:03.500 Well, Luke wants to tell us that as well. 00:11:03.700 --> 00:11:04.819 What was the purpose? 00:11:04.939 --> 00:11:06.340 And of course, scripture has many answers. 00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:09.259 Jesus came to fulfill the promises of the Old Testament. 00:11:09.899 --> 00:11:13.879 Jesus came to restore the broken kingdom that Adam and Eve had messed up. 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:18.399 Jesus came to bring, restore lasting peace to this broken world. 00:11:18.539 --> 00:11:20.639 But Luke here tells us another reason. 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:22.799 So look at what verse 8 onwards says. 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:24.620 If you've got a Bible, verse 8 says this. 00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:27.659 In the same region, there were shepherds out in the field, 00:11:27.799 --> 00:11:30.179 keeping watch over their flock by night. 00:11:30.740 --> 00:11:32.539 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:35.059 and the glory of the Lord shone all around them. 00:11:35.779 --> 00:11:37.860 Must have been a rather unnerving sight, right? 00:11:37.860 --> 00:11:40.419 This brilliant angel appears in their midst, 00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:42.220 surrounded by brilliance of glory. 00:11:42.659 --> 00:11:44.419 And they were filled with great fear. 00:11:44.840 --> 00:11:45.460 Makes sense. 00:11:46.039 --> 00:11:46.720 And the angel says, 00:11:46.899 --> 00:11:50.860 Fear not, behold, I bring you good news of great joy for all people. 00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:53.620 For unto you is born this day, 00:11:54.220 --> 00:11:55.279 in the city of David, 00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:57.940 a Savior who is Christ the Lord. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:11:59.320 And this will be a sign for you. 00:11:59.379 --> 00:12:00.440 You will find a baby, 00:12:00.860 --> 00:12:01.860 wrapped in swaddling cloths, 00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:03.960 and lying in a manger. 00:12:04.780 --> 00:12:07.740 Now, one of the things that I only discovered in recent years, 00:12:07.780 --> 00:12:08.780 I'm embarrassed to say, 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:12.600 is that the image that most of us think of, 00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:14.280 when we think of Jesus lying in a manger, 00:12:14.460 --> 00:12:16.840 is probably not all that historically accurate. 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:20.160 In fact, I confess our design that we have here, 00:12:20.259 --> 00:12:21.240 that we designed for this Christmas, 00:12:21.400 --> 00:12:24.200 even this is not actually historically that accurate. 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:25.519 Why? 00:12:25.620 --> 00:12:28.180 What do we think of when we think of Jesus lying in a manger? 00:12:28.780 --> 00:12:30.420 We think of a wooden manger, 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:31.460 a crib like this, 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:33.820 with a straw hanging out the sides, 00:12:33.820 --> 00:12:35.320 and cows kind of eating out. 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:37.240 Actually, that's probably not what happened. 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:39.060 In the ancient world in Israel, 00:12:39.180 --> 00:12:40.560 Israel is a very arid country. 00:12:40.840 --> 00:12:41.879 Wood was very scarce. 00:12:42.020 --> 00:12:43.620 There wasn't much wood around at all. 00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:46.200 Wood was almost never used for building, 00:12:46.640 --> 00:12:48.260 except in very expensive cases. 00:12:48.460 --> 00:12:49.820 Wood was extremely expensive. 00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:53.660 But what was far more available was stone, right? 00:12:53.660 --> 00:12:55.000 Everyone built out of stone. 00:12:55.820 --> 00:12:56.360 And so actually, 00:12:56.540 --> 00:12:58.680 the manger that Jesus would have been lying in 00:12:58.680 --> 00:13:02.200 was probably a manger carved out of limestone. 00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:04.400 I think we've got a picture of something like this, right? 00:13:04.460 --> 00:13:07.100 This is what archaeologists have found all over Egypt, 00:13:07.460 --> 00:13:08.060 Israel. 00:13:08.800 --> 00:13:09.200 And still, 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:12.600 limestone mangers are used in the Middle East. 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:15.100 And why does Luke, 00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:16.600 but Luke keeps on telling us, 00:13:16.660 --> 00:13:18.340 Luke tells us three times in this passage, 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:20.200 that Jesus is wrapped in swaddling cloths, 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:22.259 and laid in a manger. 00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:23.800 Three times Luke tells us this. 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:24.440 Why is Luke, 00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:25.320 in the system, 00:13:25.420 --> 00:13:26.900 why is Luke making such a big deal 00:13:26.900 --> 00:13:28.920 of the fact that Jesus was placed in a manger? 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:31.000 Well, as I said earlier, 00:13:31.180 --> 00:13:32.020 Luke is a historian, 00:13:32.140 --> 00:13:33.800 but Luke was also a medical doctor. 00:13:33.900 --> 00:13:34.580 He was a physician. 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:38.280 Luke was very attentive to detail. 00:13:39.400 --> 00:13:40.660 And Luke wouldn't write anything 00:13:40.660 --> 00:13:42.100 without having a reason for it. 00:13:42.180 --> 00:13:44.100 Papyrus in those days was extremely expensive. 00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:46.519 Why is Luke making such a big deal 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:48.960 that the Messiah would be wrapped in cloths 00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:50.680 and laid in a stone manger, 00:13:50.820 --> 00:13:51.279 in a manger? 00:13:52.560 --> 00:13:52.960 Friends, 00:13:53.019 --> 00:13:54.000 one of the reasons is 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:56.300 that Luke wants us to see 00:13:56.300 --> 00:13:57.279 that even here, 00:13:57.340 --> 00:13:58.700 at the beginning of Jesus' life, 00:13:59.180 --> 00:14:01.120 the reason why Jesus came. 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:02.340 See, 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:03.820 at the end of Luke's gospel, 00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:05.980 in the very end of the gospel, 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:08.680 Luke is going to tell us about another time 00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:11.059 when Jesus' helpless body 00:14:11.059 --> 00:14:13.719 will once again be wrapped in linen cloths 00:14:13.719 --> 00:14:15.719 and laid in a stone enclosure. 00:14:16.419 --> 00:14:17.259 Except that time, 00:14:17.339 --> 00:14:18.000 it won't be a manger. 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:18.799 It'll be a tomb. 00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:21.500 Listen to how Luke writes it 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:23.099 at the end of his gospel. 00:14:23.219 --> 00:14:24.000 This is Luke 24. 00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:25.059 There was a man, 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:25.979 Joseph of Arimathea, 00:14:26.059 --> 00:14:26.779 went to Pilate 00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:28.120 and asked for the body of Jesus. 00:14:28.859 --> 00:14:29.719 Then he took it down 00:14:29.719 --> 00:14:31.239 and wrapped it in a linen shroud 00:14:31.239 --> 00:14:32.699 and laid him in a tomb 00:14:32.699 --> 00:14:34.059 cut out of stone 00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:36.279 where no one had ever been lain. 00:14:37.439 --> 00:14:37.699 Friends, 00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:39.240 you see what Luke is doing here? 00:14:39.900 --> 00:14:41.000 Luke is giving us a sign 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:42.240 right at the early of the gospel, 00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:43.180 right at the very beginning. 00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:44.460 He's pointing us on a sign. 00:14:44.520 --> 00:14:44.740 He's saying, 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:46.280 this baby that was born, 00:14:47.040 --> 00:14:48.080 these are indications, 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:48.800 early indications. 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:50.400 And throughout the whole of Luke's gospel, 00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:52.060 Luke is going to tell us 00:14:52.060 --> 00:14:54.120 that Jesus was born to die. 00:14:54.740 --> 00:14:56.780 The reason that Jesus Christ came 00:14:56.780 --> 00:14:58.580 was to be hang on a cross, 00:14:59.180 --> 00:15:00.200 to be taken down from the cross, 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:01.060 to be put in a tomb 00:15:01.060 --> 00:15:02.300 and to rise again 00:15:02.300 --> 00:15:03.759 to die for the sins of the world. 00:15:03.800 --> 00:15:04.660 And Luke is telling us 00:15:04.660 --> 00:15:05.840 Jesus was born to die. 00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:07.120 That's why Jesus came. 00:15:07.700 --> 00:15:08.860 To die on the cross. 00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:10.480 As Isaiah the prophet 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:12.100 prophesied 700 years before, 00:15:12.560 --> 00:15:13.879 Jesus would take upon himself 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:14.860 the punishment, 00:15:15.400 --> 00:15:16.120 the chastisement 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:17.100 of all of us, 00:15:17.160 --> 00:15:17.620 our sins, 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:18.660 those who come to him 00:15:18.660 --> 00:15:19.460 and trust in him. 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:21.140 Jesus would take our punishment 00:15:21.140 --> 00:15:21.860 upon himself 00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:22.520 and be punished 00:15:22.520 --> 00:15:23.980 and die in our place 00:15:23.980 --> 00:15:25.740 so we don't need to die. 00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:28.240 Later on in Mark's gospel, 00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:29.700 Jesus speaking about himself 00:15:29.700 --> 00:15:30.320 and he says this, 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:31.140 for the son of man, 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:31.820 talking about himself, 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:33.940 came not to be served, 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.220 but to serve 00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:36.600 and to give his life 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:37.800 as a ransom for many. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.560 Jesus came to exchange his life. 00:15:39.640 --> 00:15:39.840 He said, 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:41.220 I will give up my life. 00:15:41.280 --> 00:15:42.980 I will die so that you can live. 00:15:43.280 --> 00:15:44.200 You deserve to die, 00:15:44.280 --> 00:15:45.060 but I will die 00:15:45.060 --> 00:15:46.580 that you can live. 00:15:46.660 --> 00:15:47.840 That's why Jesus came, 00:15:47.920 --> 00:15:48.560 to give his life 00:15:48.560 --> 00:15:49.100 as a ransom 00:15:49.100 --> 00:15:51.160 and exchange for all of us. 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:52.300 So we can be free 00:15:52.300 --> 00:15:53.000 from the bondage 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:53.800 of sin and guilt, 00:15:54.400 --> 00:15:55.740 free from shame and dishonor, 00:15:56.420 --> 00:15:57.560 free from the power of hell. 00:15:57.559 --> 00:15:59.159 Friends, you may know 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:00.539 the story of Zacchaeus, 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:00.799 right? 00:16:00.859 --> 00:16:01.819 Very famous story. 00:16:02.059 --> 00:16:03.199 Later on in Luke's gospel, 00:16:03.319 --> 00:16:04.000 chapter 19, 00:16:04.579 --> 00:16:05.959 Jesus goes and finds 00:16:05.959 --> 00:16:07.000 a man called Zacchaeus. 00:16:07.059 --> 00:16:08.459 Zacchaeus was a tax collector. 00:16:08.859 --> 00:16:09.579 A tax collector 00:16:09.579 --> 00:16:10.000 was somebody 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:11.299 that sold out on his people. 00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:12.439 He was a traitor. 00:16:12.739 --> 00:16:13.659 Rather than serving 00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:14.379 his own nation, 00:16:14.459 --> 00:16:15.379 he served the enemy, 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:16.119 the Romans. 00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:17.500 And so he's a traitor. 00:16:17.959 --> 00:16:18.679 He's a sinner. 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:19.919 But he's also a man 00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:21.179 that has a lot of shame 00:16:21.179 --> 00:16:21.639 in his life. 00:16:21.719 --> 00:16:22.799 He brought shame on himself, 00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:24.319 shame on his family. 00:16:24.819 --> 00:16:25.699 He was despised. 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:26.919 He was a social outcast. 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:28.439 He was morally dubious. 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:30.519 He was probably also a thief. 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:32.079 He would overtax people 00:16:32.079 --> 00:16:33.299 and pocket the money himself. 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:34.759 And so here's a man 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:35.919 who's a social outcast. 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:37.439 He's morally dubious. 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:38.479 He's brought shame 00:16:38.479 --> 00:16:39.199 on his family. 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.620 And Luke tells us, 00:16:40.719 --> 00:16:41.899 why would he do all this? 00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:43.740 Because he's a slave. 00:16:44.199 --> 00:16:45.059 He's a slave 00:16:45.059 --> 00:16:45.919 to the love of money. 00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:47.679 And so here's a man 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:48.699 that his whole world 00:16:48.699 --> 00:16:49.979 is falling apart. 00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:51.439 And Jesus goes 00:16:51.439 --> 00:16:52.519 and finds him. 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:54.079 And Jesus goes 00:16:54.079 --> 00:16:55.099 and has a meal with him. 00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:56.920 And Jesus pours out 00:16:56.920 --> 00:16:57.779 his love on him. 00:16:58.420 --> 00:16:59.360 And Jesus tells him 00:16:59.360 --> 00:16:59.920 that he's come. 00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:00.700 And look at what he says 00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:02.000 at the end of that conversation. 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:02.480 He says, 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:04.160 I, I, the Son of Man, 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.920 I came to seek 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:06.940 and save the lost. 00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:08.460 Friends, 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.880 this is why Jesus came. 00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:12.380 For you and for me 00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:13.440 to seek us out. 00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:15.200 Nothing about Jesus' life 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:15.759 was an accident. 00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:17.660 Everything was purposed 00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:18.160 and planned 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:18.920 and progressed 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:20.140 towards this direction 00:17:20.140 --> 00:17:21.099 until ultimately 00:17:21.099 --> 00:17:22.319 he would end up 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:22.980 on the cross 00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:24.319 for you and for me, 00:17:24.419 --> 00:17:25.139 for your children 00:17:25.139 --> 00:17:25.819 and my children, 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:26.659 for your parents, 00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:27.279 for your neighbors, 00:17:27.379 --> 00:17:27.819 for your friends, 00:17:27.879 --> 00:17:28.700 for the great people 00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:29.279 of Hong Kong. 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:31.279 Jesus came to die. 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:32.759 And we spoke earlier 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:33.700 about the puppet king, 00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:34.659 Caesar Augustus, 00:17:35.139 --> 00:17:36.139 this king who's, 00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:36.819 who's actually 00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:38.419 serving the hands of God, 00:17:39.419 --> 00:17:40.559 motivated by his own 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:41.679 insecurity and power, 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:42.599 whatever his reasons, 00:17:42.919 --> 00:17:43.700 instigates this 00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:45.439 empire-wide census, 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:47.079 but actually all the work 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:47.460 he was doing 00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:48.179 was just to serve 00:17:48.179 --> 00:17:49.539 God's plans and purposes. 00:17:50.399 --> 00:17:50.740 Well, friends, 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:51.779 can't you see the same 00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:52.899 as Caesar Augustus, 00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:53.700 even more so 00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:54.579 Pontius Pilate 00:17:54.579 --> 00:17:56.379 and all the religious leaders. 00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:58.079 They take Jesus, 00:17:58.139 --> 00:17:58.460 they put him 00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:59.339 through a sham trial, 00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:01.319 they sentence him 00:18:01.319 --> 00:18:01.819 to death, 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:03.899 they condemn him, 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.000 beat him, 00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:06.159 mocked, 00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.180 tortured, 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:08.799 ultimately crucified 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:09.319 on the cross, 00:18:09.399 --> 00:18:10.319 but all this is simply 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:11.139 doing what God 00:18:11.139 --> 00:18:12.359 had planned and purposed 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:13.099 hundreds, 00:18:13.399 --> 00:18:13.799 thousands, 00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:15.059 millennia before 00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:16.059 that God, 00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:17.059 that Jesus Christ, 00:18:17.139 --> 00:18:17.659 the Son of God, 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.680 would come to earth 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:19.980 to die on the cross 00:18:19.980 --> 00:18:21.740 for you and for me 00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:23.380 in our place. 00:18:24.560 --> 00:18:25.380 And here we have 00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:25.740 at the beginning 00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:26.539 of Luke's gospel, 00:18:26.820 --> 00:18:27.680 this good news account. 00:18:27.820 --> 00:18:28.740 Luke is pointing us 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.440 in that direction. 00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:30.440 Jesus wrapped 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:31.299 in linen cloths, 00:18:31.660 --> 00:18:33.420 placed inside a stone manger, 00:18:33.820 --> 00:18:34.720 just like he will 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:36.160 in 33 short years' time. 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.720 And if there's any doubt 00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:38.060 about it, 00:18:38.100 --> 00:18:39.060 look at what the angel says. 00:18:39.120 --> 00:18:39.820 Look in verse 10. 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:40.980 He says, 00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:42.060 Fear not, 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:42.400 behold, 00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:43.880 I bring you good news, 00:18:44.420 --> 00:18:45.799 good news of great joy 00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:46.740 for all people, 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:48.180 for unto you, 00:18:48.920 --> 00:18:49.539 for you, 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:51.120 is born this day 00:18:51.120 --> 00:18:52.039 in the city of David, 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:53.000 not just a friend, 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:54.380 not just a therapist, 00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:55.779 not just an advisor 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:56.720 or a life coach, 00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:58.019 a Savior, 00:18:59.180 --> 00:18:59.839 a Savior, 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.380 one who would save us 00:19:01.380 --> 00:19:02.220 from our sins, 00:19:02.620 --> 00:19:03.900 one who would rescue us 00:19:03.900 --> 00:19:05.079 from the penalty of death, 00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:07.039 one who would take the shame 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:08.259 and the guilt that we carry 00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:10.039 and bring us back to God. 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:11.759 Unto you is born this day 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.980 in the city of David, 00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:13.599 a Savior, 00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:14.579 Christ the Lord, 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:15.920 good news of great joy. 00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:18.279 Friends, 00:19:18.359 --> 00:19:19.620 this is what Christmas is about. 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:20.759 Why did Jesus come? 00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:22.799 To save sinners like me, 00:19:23.380 --> 00:19:24.319 like you, 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:26.019 to rescue us 00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:26.539 from our guilt 00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:27.240 and our shame, 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:29.019 to free us 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:29.920 from the power of hell 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:30.920 and the wrath of God, 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:32.180 to save us 00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:32.940 from ourselves 00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:34.680 by dying on the cross 00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:35.559 in our place 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:37.099 and rising again 00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:37.900 three days later 00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:38.980 to bring us 00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:39.759 newness of life. 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:41.319 Friends, 00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:41.980 do you know him 00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:42.500 like this? 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:45.220 Many of us here 00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:46.059 know the story 00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:46.559 of Christmas, 00:19:46.679 --> 00:19:47.379 but do you know 00:19:47.379 --> 00:19:48.579 the Christ of Christmas? 00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:50.599 Do you know Jesus, 00:19:50.740 --> 00:19:51.539 the one who came 00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:52.279 for you? 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:54.179 The one who loved you 00:19:54.179 --> 00:19:54.759 so much 00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.539 that he came 00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:57.240 to die for you? 00:19:57.899 --> 00:19:58.179 Friends, 00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:58.899 have you encountered 00:19:58.899 --> 00:19:59.940 his saving grace? 00:20:00.679 --> 00:20:01.259 Have you felt 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:01.819 the forgiveness 00:20:01.819 --> 00:20:03.259 of sin? 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:04.679 Have you known 00:20:04.679 --> 00:20:06.079 his transforming love 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:06.980 and the power 00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:07.460 of Christ 00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:08.460 that makes 00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:09.279 our lives new? 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:10.519 Friends, 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:10.899 do you know 00:20:10.899 --> 00:20:11.799 that he loved you 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:12.700 personally enough 00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:13.480 to go to the cross 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:13.920 for you? 00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:15.460 Enduring its shame 00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:16.360 and its dishonor 00:20:16.360 --> 00:20:17.539 to free you 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:18.160 from the power 00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:18.799 and the bondage 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:20.200 of sin and hell 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:21.360 and to make you 00:20:21.360 --> 00:20:21.920 new again. 00:20:22.339 --> 00:20:23.700 That's why Jesus came. 00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:25.360 This is who he is, 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:26.380 the Savior 00:20:26.380 --> 00:20:27.759 for all who cannot 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.579 save themselves. 00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:29.839 So, 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:30.759 how should we 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:31.559 respond to this? 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:32.360 Well, 00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:32.980 in this passage, 00:20:33.099 --> 00:20:33.819 Luke tells us 00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.539 how he wants us 00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:35.039 to respond 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:36.160 and he does this 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:37.140 by showing us 00:20:37.140 --> 00:20:37.960 the responses 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:38.819 of three people 00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:39.819 in the story. 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:40.059 And so, 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:41.440 look at what happens here. 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:41.980 But firstly, 00:20:42.100 --> 00:20:43.580 we need to clarify something 00:20:43.580 --> 00:20:44.940 because this passage 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:46.160 has kind of got a dichotomy 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:47.519 or what it seems 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.519 like a contradiction. 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:50.059 Because look at verse 10. 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:50.680 Verse 10, 00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:52.500 the angel says to shepherds, 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:53.440 Fear not, 00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:54.559 I bring you good news 00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:55.299 of great joy 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:56.740 that will be for all 00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.440 the people, 00:20:57.880 --> 00:20:59.559 for all people everywhere. 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:01.140 But then, 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:02.220 in verse 14, 00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:03.720 the angels say, 00:21:03.820 --> 00:21:04.500 Glory to God 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.059 in the highest 00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:06.100 and on earth peace 00:21:06.100 --> 00:21:07.299 amongst those 00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:08.240 with whom God 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.180 is pleased. 00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:10.120 So, 00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:10.480 in other words, 00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:10.900 on one hand, 00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:11.460 it seems like 00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:12.320 this good news 00:21:12.320 --> 00:21:13.120 is for everyone. 00:21:13.300 --> 00:21:14.540 Anybody can accept it. 00:21:15.060 --> 00:21:15.759 But on the other hand, 00:21:15.780 --> 00:21:16.400 it sounds like 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:17.220 it's only for those 00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:18.080 that God is pleased. 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:19.360 Friends, 00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:20.000 in the Bible, 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:21.440 God tells us 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:22.340 again and again 00:21:22.340 --> 00:21:23.380 that the good news 00:21:23.380 --> 00:21:24.160 of great joy 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:25.540 is freely available 00:21:25.540 --> 00:21:27.360 for all people. 00:21:27.540 --> 00:21:28.580 No one is too bad. 00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:30.380 No one is too far gone. 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.920 No one is undeserving. 00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:33.900 No one is too bad. 00:21:34.320 --> 00:21:35.820 No one is not good enough. 00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:37.640 No people group 00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:38.700 or ethnicity 00:21:38.700 --> 00:21:39.480 is excluded. 00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:41.660 And yet, 00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:43.279 it's only available 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:44.259 to those 00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:45.500 who will respond 00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.599 and receive it. 00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:48.360 Those who will come 00:21:48.360 --> 00:21:48.819 to Him. 00:21:49.660 --> 00:21:50.799 Those who respond 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:51.799 to the good news 00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:52.960 of great joy. 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:53.860 Friends, 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:54.380 the good news 00:21:54.380 --> 00:21:54.940 will be utterly 00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.839 meaningless to you 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:57.099 unless you respond to it. 00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:57.980 So, 00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:58.819 how should we respond? 00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:00.140 Well, 00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:01.480 look at verse 20 00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:01.900 with me. 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:03.920 Verse 20 says, 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:05.860 the shepherds returned 00:22:05.860 --> 00:22:06.920 glorifying God 00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:07.880 and praising Him 00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:08.860 for all they had seen 00:22:08.860 --> 00:22:09.300 and heard 00:22:09.300 --> 00:22:10.680 as it had been told them. 00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.539 How should we respond? 00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:12.240 Firstly, 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:12.900 praise Him. 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:14.060 Praise Him. 00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.039 What does it mean 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.860 to praise somebody? 00:22:16.300 --> 00:22:16.980 Maybe you praise 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:18.080 a student at school. 00:22:18.320 --> 00:22:19.340 You praise a colleague 00:22:19.340 --> 00:22:20.200 for their great work. 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:21.640 You sing someone's praises. 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.440 To praise someone 00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:23.200 is to speak 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:24.140 of the excellency 00:22:24.140 --> 00:22:24.640 of someone, 00:22:24.820 --> 00:22:25.539 the wonder, 00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:26.320 the brilliance 00:22:26.320 --> 00:22:26.840 of somebody. 00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:27.759 Friends, 00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:28.340 praise Him. 00:22:28.820 --> 00:22:29.420 In light of all 00:22:29.420 --> 00:22:30.300 that Jesus has done 00:22:30.300 --> 00:22:30.920 for you 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:31.640 and for me 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:33.000 that God has come 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:33.840 to rescue us 00:22:33.840 --> 00:22:34.580 and save us. 00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.700 How should we respond? 00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:37.100 Leave this place 00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:37.840 full of praise 00:22:37.840 --> 00:22:38.380 and wonder 00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:39.039 at what God 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:40.420 has done for you. 00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:41.640 Will you praise Him? 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.440 How will you return 00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:42.960 home today? 00:22:43.640 --> 00:22:44.220 Will you praise 00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:45.140 and glorify the God 00:22:45.140 --> 00:22:45.860 who came for you 00:22:45.860 --> 00:22:46.840 to save you 00:22:46.840 --> 00:22:47.480 and rescue you 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:48.440 by dying on the cross? 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:49.680 Those who know 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.620 the wonder of Christmas 00:22:50.620 --> 00:22:52.039 find it easy 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:53.440 to worship and praise. 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:54.820 They left 00:22:54.820 --> 00:22:56.340 praising and glorifying 00:22:56.340 --> 00:22:57.539 for all that they'd seen 00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:58.380 and heard. 00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.440 Praise Him. 00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:00.420 Secondly, 00:23:00.420 --> 00:23:01.779 let's treasure Him. 00:23:02.360 --> 00:23:03.519 Verse 19 says this, 00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:04.680 Mary treasured 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:05.360 all these things, 00:23:05.560 --> 00:23:06.220 pondering them 00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:06.820 in her heart. 00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:08.320 To treasure something 00:23:08.320 --> 00:23:09.640 is to take something 00:23:09.640 --> 00:23:11.240 and put it deep, 00:23:11.340 --> 00:23:12.039 deep in your heart 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:13.019 and to think about it, 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.720 to ponder it, 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.600 to reflect on it, 00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:15.980 to go back to it 00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:16.800 again and again 00:23:16.800 --> 00:23:17.240 and again. 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:18.539 It's not just to think 00:23:18.539 --> 00:23:19.580 about it once upon a time 00:23:19.580 --> 00:23:20.340 and then move on. 00:23:20.620 --> 00:23:22.620 It's to go back to it 00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:23.620 and draw on it 00:23:23.620 --> 00:23:24.340 for your life 00:23:24.340 --> 00:23:25.180 the rest of the year. 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:26.580 Friends, 00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:27.620 can you this year 00:23:27.620 --> 00:23:29.019 ponder the good news 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:29.700 of great joy? 00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:31.019 To treasure it 00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:31.900 deeply in your heart. 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:33.960 In a few weeks time, 00:23:34.080 --> 00:23:35.000 Christmas is going to feel 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.799 like long gone. 00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:36.900 In March, 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:37.980 April and May this year, 00:23:38.100 --> 00:23:38.960 Christmas is going to feel 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:40.039 like a million miles away. 00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:41.740 But the good news of Jesus 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:43.380 that He came to die for you, 00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:44.980 to rise for you, 00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:46.200 to live for you, 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.120 to save you, 00:23:47.640 --> 00:23:48.539 treasure that in your heart. 00:23:48.600 --> 00:23:50.340 Let that be a wellspring 00:23:50.340 --> 00:23:51.180 to which you return 00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:52.720 again and again and again. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:53.779 Friends, 00:23:53.840 --> 00:23:54.819 maybe the very best thing 00:23:54.819 --> 00:23:55.559 you can give yourself 00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:57.379 to in 2026, 00:23:57.859 --> 00:23:58.419 is to follow 00:23:58.419 --> 00:23:59.500 in the footsteps of Mary 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:01.139 and to treasure deeply 00:24:01.139 --> 00:24:02.720 the wonder of Christmas, 00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:04.240 that God Himself 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:06.339 has come for you and me. 00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:07.779 And then thirdly, 00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:08.740 how should we respond? 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.639 Tell others of Him. 00:24:11.419 --> 00:24:12.039 Did you notice 00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:12.899 what the shepherds did? 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:13.579 Verse 16, 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:14.079 it says, 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:15.299 they went with haste. 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:17.000 They found Mary and Joseph 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:18.359 and the baby lying in the manger. 00:24:18.879 --> 00:24:20.000 And when they saw it, 00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:21.099 they made known 00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:22.839 all that had been told them 00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:23.899 from the beginning 00:24:23.899 --> 00:24:25.480 concerning this child. 00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:26.319 Friends, 00:24:26.379 --> 00:24:27.339 what did they make known? 00:24:27.919 --> 00:24:28.379 They made known 00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:29.519 what the angels had told them, 00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:32.439 that God had come to earth 00:24:32.439 --> 00:24:34.159 to save and rescue them. 00:24:34.619 --> 00:24:35.960 In this day has been born 00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:37.599 in the city of David for you, 00:24:37.699 --> 00:24:38.379 a Savior, 00:24:38.919 --> 00:24:39.779 Christ the Lord, 00:24:40.159 --> 00:24:41.579 who has come to rescue you 00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:43.480 and to save you from your sins. 00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:44.419 Friends, 00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.339 the good news of Jesus 00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:46.899 is too good to keep for yourselves. 00:24:47.679 --> 00:24:49.099 Maybe the greatest Christmas present 00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:50.240 you can give your kids this year 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:51.339 is not a new iPad 00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:52.699 or a new iPhone 00:24:52.699 --> 00:24:55.339 or annual past at Disneyland. 00:24:56.159 --> 00:24:57.119 Maybe the greatest gift 00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:58.399 you can give your kids this year 00:24:58.399 --> 00:25:00.179 is the good news of great joy 00:25:00.179 --> 00:25:01.759 that Jesus Christ has come 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:03.059 to live for them, 00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:04.299 to die for them 00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:05.500 and to rise again. 00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.559 Don't keep it to yourself. 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.319 Make known all that God 00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:09.439 has made known to you. 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:10.579 So friends, 00:25:10.639 --> 00:25:11.879 the angels are absolutely right. 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:13.259 When they told us 00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:14.359 the first worshipers, 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.559 the good news of great joy 00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:16.660 for them and for us, 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:18.579 Christ the Lord has come 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:20.299 so that we can be ransomed, 00:25:20.920 --> 00:25:21.240 healed, 00:25:21.859 --> 00:25:22.379 restored, 00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:23.299 forgiven 00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:24.980 because God has come 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:26.019 to us. 00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:27.319 Let's pray together. 00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:29.599 Well, Jesus, 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.400 thank you so much 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:31.299 for coming. 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:32.480 God, 00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:34.059 thank you for the wonder, 00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:35.599 the wonder of Christmas. 00:25:36.099 --> 00:25:36.420 That God, 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:37.480 you have not left us, 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.680 you have not abandoned us. 00:25:39.099 --> 00:25:39.460 But God, 00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:40.720 in the midst of all the chaos, 00:25:40.840 --> 00:25:41.579 all the brokenness, 00:25:41.620 --> 00:25:42.940 all the pain of this world, 00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:43.640 you, 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:43.920 God, 00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:44.559 have come 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:45.799 to be with us. 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:47.400 Not just as a friend, 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:49.480 not just as a life coach, 00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:51.559 not just as a moral teacher, 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:53.460 you've come to be our savior, 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:55.559 to do what we could never do 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.259 for ourselves, 00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:58.700 to die on the cross for us, 00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:00.180 to rise again, 00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:01.259 that we too 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:02.440 may rise with you. 00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:03.180 God, 00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:04.019 write this in our hearts. 00:26:04.120 --> 00:26:05.360 Help us to treasure this deeply, 00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:05.840 I pray, 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:07.880 in your great and wonderful name. 00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:09.040 Amen. 00:26:09.760 --> 00:26:10.080 Amen.