WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.800 Hi, my name is George Sinclair. I'm the lead pastor of Church of the Messiah. It is wonderful 00:00:16.800 --> 00:00:20.760 that you would like to check out some of the sermons done by Church of the Messiah, either 00:00:20.760 --> 00:00:24.920 by myself or some of the others. Listen, just a couple of things. First of all, would you pray 00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:31.520 for us that we will open God's Word well to His glory and for the good of people like yourself? 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:37.939 The second thing is, if you aren't connected to a church and if you are a Christian, we really, 00:00:38.179 --> 00:00:42.579 I would really like to encourage you to find a good local church where they believe the Bible, 00:00:43.240 --> 00:00:48.760 they preach the gospel, and if you have some trouble finding that, send us an email. We will 00:00:48.760 --> 00:00:54.560 do what we can to help connect you with a good local church wherever you are. And if you're a 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:59.340 non-Christian checking us out, we're really, really, really glad you're doing that. Don't 00:00:59.340 --> 00:01:04.680 hesitate to send us questions. It helps me actually to know, as I'm preaching, how to deal with the 00:01:04.680 --> 00:01:07.780 types of things that you're really struggling with. So God bless. 00:01:12.659 --> 00:01:15.659 Just bow our heads in prayer. Father, 00:01:15.659 --> 00:01:27.780 Father, how God, the Son of God, could remain God, yet take into Himself our human flesh and human 00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:33.560 nature and live amongst us. Father, that is a, it is not against reason. It's not opposed to reason, 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:41.519 but it is deeper and wider and vaster than our reason can comprehend. 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:48.079 And so we ask, Father, that you help us to use the best of our reason that we can't, that we have, 00:01:48.699 --> 00:01:56.119 to ponder your word and use the best of our imagination and use the best of our heart, 00:01:56.379 --> 00:02:03.899 all that is within our heart, our affections, our emotions, our desires. Father, that you might use 00:02:03.900 --> 00:02:11.920 all that is within us to ponder these profound truths of your word. And we ask these things in the name of 00:02:11.920 --> 00:02:16.120 Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen. Please be seated. 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:21.540 So as I shared last night, 00:02:21.920 --> 00:02:26.560 as I shared last night, I, 00:02:27.340 --> 00:02:31.599 like a lot of ministers, don't really like preaching on Christmas. 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:36.259 You know, everybody knows the story. You can't really surprise them with anything and all that stuff. 00:02:36.379 --> 00:02:39.060 And it's just hard to preach on Christmas. 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:42.419 But as I shared last night, I love 00:02:42.419 --> 00:02:46.539 meditating upon the text. And if you get nothing else out of the sermon today, 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:50.719 I just encourage you that next year, in the week or two before Christmas, 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:54.979 just to look and contemplate Luke chapter 2, verses 1 to 20. 00:02:54.979 --> 00:02:57.500 And like to really look at it, make notes, like journal it, 00:02:57.500 --> 00:03:02.400 and do the same with Matthew 1, 18 to 25, and especially with John 1, 00:03:02.900 --> 00:03:06.860 1 to 14. And for those of you who are theologically inclined, 00:03:07.379 --> 00:03:10.680 there's a whole raft of ancient heresies of the church, 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:13.460 which are all struck down with these 14 verses. 00:03:13.900 --> 00:03:15.259 It's actually quite amazing. 00:03:17.659 --> 00:03:18.180 So, 00:03:18.420 --> 00:03:21.500 I've pondered, and what I'm doing today is 00:03:21.500 --> 00:03:27.979 I'm sort of going to put four questions that this text poses to us to ask. 00:03:28.699 --> 00:03:34.780 Four very, very wise questions to help us in life that this question asks. 00:03:34.780 --> 00:03:36.500 The four questions aren't like, 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:38.879 how can I lose more weight, or how can I make more money? 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:40.740 You know, 00:03:40.860 --> 00:03:42.460 how can I look young when I'm old? 00:03:42.580 --> 00:03:46.099 Like, those are the questions our culture thinks are really important questions. 00:03:46.280 --> 00:03:47.039 And by the way, 00:03:47.060 --> 00:03:49.000 it's not a bad question to figure out how to make more money. 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:52.039 Some of us are thinking of how we're going to have to pay off our Christmas bills. 00:03:52.740 --> 00:03:53.319 But, I mean, 00:03:53.719 --> 00:03:55.400 to live an examined life, 00:03:55.699 --> 00:03:58.840 a life that's not just flimsy, 00:03:58.960 --> 00:03:59.699 but is deep. 00:03:59.900 --> 00:04:00.080 Four, 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:01.099 this text, 00:04:01.460 --> 00:04:01.580 well, 00:04:01.620 --> 00:04:01.979 actually, 00:04:02.039 --> 00:04:05.199 it's going to be like four and a half questions that this text invites us to ask. 00:04:06.020 --> 00:04:06.300 And, 00:04:06.360 --> 00:04:08.120 the first one, 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:08.680 in fact, 00:04:08.740 --> 00:04:10.780 is actually going to be me breaking a rule. 00:04:10.979 --> 00:04:12.479 I think if you were to take a course, 00:04:12.900 --> 00:04:15.120 if you go online and take some courses on preaching, 00:04:15.240 --> 00:04:16.860 or courses on preaching at Christmas, 00:04:16.860 --> 00:04:20.060 what they'd probably tell you is, 00:04:20.340 --> 00:04:22.060 don't raise controversial topics. 00:04:22.620 --> 00:04:23.620 Stay far from it. 00:04:24.699 --> 00:04:27.360 Just preach Christmas is probably what they'd say. 00:04:27.819 --> 00:04:30.480 But the problem is, 00:04:30.860 --> 00:04:35.819 this text asks an unbelievably controversial question. 00:04:35.819 --> 00:04:37.879 And so, 00:04:38.099 --> 00:04:38.540 to say, 00:04:38.939 --> 00:04:39.139 you know, 00:04:39.139 --> 00:04:41.680 avoid controversial topics at your Christmas sermon, 00:04:42.180 --> 00:04:43.620 because there's lots of people here, 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:44.680 and you want to sort of, 00:04:44.699 --> 00:04:44.879 you know, 00:04:44.899 --> 00:04:45.420 reach them. 00:04:45.959 --> 00:04:46.740 Avoid all of them, 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:47.579 and preach Christmas. 00:04:47.699 --> 00:04:48.319 The problem is, 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:49.199 if you preach Christmas, 00:04:49.300 --> 00:04:52.100 you have to raise at least a couple of very controversial questions. 00:04:52.639 --> 00:04:53.399 You'll see what I mean. 00:04:53.779 --> 00:04:54.539 Let's look at it. 00:04:54.579 --> 00:04:55.539 It's John chapter 1, 00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:56.539 verses 1 to 3. 00:04:57.899 --> 00:04:58.219 And, 00:04:58.300 --> 00:04:58.959 well, 00:04:59.039 --> 00:04:59.879 at 1 to 14, 00:04:59.980 --> 00:05:00.159 in fact, 00:05:00.199 --> 00:05:01.779 we're going to probably read all the way up to 18, 00:05:01.779 --> 00:05:05.359 which is sort of the prologue of John's Gospel. 00:05:05.639 --> 00:05:07.479 And here's how it begins. 00:05:08.199 --> 00:05:09.539 In the beginning was the Word, 00:05:10.539 --> 00:05:12.059 and the Word was with God, 00:05:12.739 --> 00:05:14.319 and the Word was God. 00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:18.099 He was in the beginning with God. 00:05:18.779 --> 00:05:20.619 All things were made through Him, 00:05:21.119 --> 00:05:24.339 and without Him was not anything made that was made. 00:05:25.239 --> 00:05:25.839 Now, 00:05:26.299 --> 00:05:27.559 just pause here. 00:05:27.560 --> 00:05:31.740 Here's the first profound question. 00:05:33.579 --> 00:05:34.720 If you could put that up, 00:05:34.759 --> 00:05:35.319 that would be great. 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:38.360 Has the universe come into existence by a what, 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:39.579 or by a who? 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:43.280 Oh, George, 00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:44.819 you aren't supposed to talk about things like that, 00:05:44.899 --> 00:05:45.740 especially on Christmas. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:47.360 This is, 00:05:47.540 --> 00:05:48.379 this is, 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:50.939 this is how the Christmas text begins. 00:05:51.540 --> 00:05:53.279 And it's a very profound question, 00:05:53.279 --> 00:05:54.660 if you think about it for a second. 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:54.899 So, 00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:56.360 just to be very clear, 00:05:56.360 --> 00:05:56.780 like, 00:05:57.139 --> 00:05:57.600 this is, 00:05:57.680 --> 00:05:57.879 look at, 00:05:57.960 --> 00:05:58.879 listen to the text again. 00:05:58.939 --> 00:06:00.160 In the beginning was the Word, 00:06:00.280 --> 00:06:01.660 so before there was anything, 00:06:02.460 --> 00:06:03.360 before there was, 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:03.920 in a sense, 00:06:03.960 --> 00:06:05.139 what we would consider time, 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:06.639 the Word existed. 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:08.020 And, 00:06:08.100 --> 00:06:10.580 the Word was with God, 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:11.900 and in the original language, 00:06:12.020 --> 00:06:12.699 that word with, 00:06:12.780 --> 00:06:15.680 is only used of two human beings being together. 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:16.620 So, 00:06:16.699 --> 00:06:17.520 it wouldn't be, 00:06:17.699 --> 00:06:18.040 like, 00:06:18.100 --> 00:06:18.800 if we went home, 00:06:18.860 --> 00:06:21.120 and you'd say that our dog Billy was with Donnie, 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:22.040 in Greek, 00:06:22.180 --> 00:06:23.879 you would use a different word for with. 00:06:23.879 --> 00:06:24.680 But, 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:30.139 if you also wanted to say that Tommy and Emma are home with each other, 00:06:30.219 --> 00:06:31.719 you'd use a different word for them, 00:06:31.879 --> 00:06:32.959 because it's two people. 00:06:33.159 --> 00:06:33.319 So, 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:35.040 this is a person word. 00:06:36.779 --> 00:06:37.639 And then it says, 00:06:37.740 --> 00:06:39.040 and the Word was God. 00:06:39.459 --> 00:06:39.719 So, 00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:41.379 now you have the fact that there's, 00:06:41.500 --> 00:06:42.159 like, 00:06:42.259 --> 00:06:42.860 two gods, 00:06:43.060 --> 00:06:44.100 which we'll get, 00:06:44.259 --> 00:06:45.040 we won't talk about, 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:45.399 but it's, 00:06:45.500 --> 00:06:46.800 that's another controversial thing. 00:06:47.520 --> 00:06:49.220 But he was in the beginning with God. 00:06:49.300 --> 00:06:50.340 And then here's that sentence, 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:51.960 all things were made through him, 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:54.960 and without him was not anything made that was made. 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:56.360 And that, 00:06:56.500 --> 00:06:58.680 that invites us to, 00:06:58.780 --> 00:07:00.400 to pose to ourselves a very, 00:07:00.520 --> 00:07:01.680 very profound question. 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:05.400 Has the universe come into existence by a what, 00:07:05.580 --> 00:07:06.500 or by a who? 00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:07.780 Now, 00:07:08.019 --> 00:07:11.860 this question is a question that doesn't say you can't look at evidence, 00:07:11.860 --> 00:07:12.980 and you can't, 00:07:12.980 --> 00:07:14.639 you can't study science, 00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:16.819 and you can't look at paleontology, 00:07:17.620 --> 00:07:17.860 and, 00:07:17.900 --> 00:07:19.819 and you can't try to get knowledge. 00:07:19.980 --> 00:07:21.980 This is like a deeper question than knowledge. 00:07:22.100 --> 00:07:23.420 It's how you structure knowledge. 00:07:24.199 --> 00:07:24.620 It's not, 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:24.879 like, 00:07:24.920 --> 00:07:26.660 science isn't just that you accumulate. 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:31.280 Doing science isn't like doing really well in a trivia contest. 00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:31.720 Like, 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:35.080 doing science isn't like just being able to know a lot of random facts. 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:35.319 Like, 00:07:35.379 --> 00:07:36.639 science is all about having a, 00:07:36.660 --> 00:07:36.800 like, 00:07:36.840 --> 00:07:37.220 a theory, 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:37.819 a structure, 00:07:37.939 --> 00:07:38.480 a way of knowing. 00:07:39.139 --> 00:07:39.340 And, 00:07:39.379 --> 00:07:40.300 and here's the thing. 00:07:40.520 --> 00:07:40.740 Like, 00:07:40.740 --> 00:07:43.360 all of the, 00:07:43.579 --> 00:07:46.400 all of our culture says that, 00:07:46.780 --> 00:07:48.100 that's a simple answer. 00:07:48.220 --> 00:07:48.400 They don't, 00:07:48.660 --> 00:07:50.840 our culture wouldn't like this question. 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:55.100 For different reasons than we do. 00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:58.860 We don't like the question because it means we might come into conflict with our culture. 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:02.180 But our culture doesn't like the question because it, 00:08:02.699 --> 00:08:05.139 it's an uncomfortable question for our culture. 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:07.460 They, 00:08:07.460 --> 00:08:07.759 they say, 00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:07.900 well, 00:08:07.900 --> 00:08:09.040 of course the answer is, 00:08:09.300 --> 00:08:09.660 the whole, 00:08:09.660 --> 00:08:11.140 like trees and, 00:08:11.140 --> 00:08:11.540 and, 00:08:11.540 --> 00:08:16.000 and butterflies and everything came into existence because of a what. 00:08:17.580 --> 00:08:18.260 But here, 00:08:18.340 --> 00:08:19.300 here's the problem. 00:08:20.320 --> 00:08:24.960 Why is it that if we came to anything else in existence, 00:08:24.960 --> 00:08:28.720 we would not accept that a what brought it into existence? 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:31.560 we would say there had to be a who. 00:08:32.259 --> 00:08:32.580 Like, 00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:34.540 nobody would accept that this, 00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:36.980 this phone came into existence by a what. 00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:38.660 They obviously has to be a who. 00:08:38.899 --> 00:08:41.139 But creation is, 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:43.620 a cell is vastly more complicated. 00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:44.300 Like, 00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:46.800 human beings can't actually make cells yet, 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:48.019 but they can make iPhones. 00:08:48.019 --> 00:08:48.460 humans. 00:08:48.460 --> 00:08:54.699 And we don't accept anywhere that a what creates something. 00:08:54.699 --> 00:08:59.779 We all know that in everywhere other than all of existence, 00:08:59.779 --> 00:09:01.439 the answer is always a who. 00:09:01.620 --> 00:09:02.340 A who creates, 00:09:02.419 --> 00:09:02.939 a who creates, 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:03.679 a who creates. 00:09:03.679 --> 00:09:04.879 And, 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:05.399 and in fact, 00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:08.419 we also know that a what couldn't create a who. 00:09:09.839 --> 00:09:10.419 And we, 00:09:10.419 --> 00:09:11.679 we would know that all the way, 00:09:11.979 --> 00:09:12.199 all, 00:09:12.299 --> 00:09:12.879 all the way. 00:09:13.179 --> 00:09:13.419 Like, 00:09:13.500 --> 00:09:13.599 if, 00:09:13.659 --> 00:09:13.799 if, 00:09:13.899 --> 00:09:15.979 if you went to a deserted island and you, 00:09:16.039 --> 00:09:16.579 not a deserted island, 00:09:16.579 --> 00:09:17.859 you went to an island that no, 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:18.699 like, 00:09:18.839 --> 00:09:20.279 civilization had never been to, 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:21.620 and you came across a human being, 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:21.819 like, 00:09:21.879 --> 00:09:26.319 nobody would accept that that human being came about just by natural processes, 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:28.120 like of what's. 00:09:28.260 --> 00:09:28.400 They, 00:09:28.400 --> 00:09:30.660 they'd know that that human being had a mother and a father, 00:09:30.780 --> 00:09:31.760 that a who created that. 00:09:32.160 --> 00:09:35.480 So why is it that when we look at the most important question, 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:39.040 which is that the very existence of the universe, 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:40.460 of trees and, 00:09:40.540 --> 00:09:41.700 and ourselves and everything, 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:46.340 why is it that we accept in that one instance that a what created it, 00:09:46.379 --> 00:09:46.860 not a who? 00:09:47.260 --> 00:09:52.100 Why is it that we try to only look at data and fit data into a mold that implies a 00:09:52.100 --> 00:09:53.120 what did it, 00:09:53.680 --> 00:09:56.180 rather than just ask the most obvious question, 00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:59.640 and it's not an anti-scientific question. 00:10:00.520 --> 00:10:03.980 It's not anti-scientific to say that human beings created a phone. 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:05.120 Like, 00:10:05.180 --> 00:10:07.000 nobody would say that's anti-scientific. 00:10:08.980 --> 00:10:09.900 To ask, 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:11.320 well, 00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:15.100 isn't it very obvious that whose can create other whose and whose can create 00:10:15.100 --> 00:10:15.700 what's, 00:10:16.060 --> 00:10:17.640 but what's can't create whose? 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:23.720 And that's what this text asks us to question, 00:10:23.880 --> 00:10:25.140 to just ask ourselves, 00:10:25.300 --> 00:10:25.800 to think about, 00:10:25.799 --> 00:10:26.379 to ponder. 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:28.439 So while we ponder it, 00:10:28.439 --> 00:10:29.639 we're going to watch a mini movie, 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:30.399 uh, 00:10:30.759 --> 00:10:31.059 uh, 00:10:31.059 --> 00:10:32.000 from the speak life. 00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:33.399 It's the three to one countdown. 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:34.639 And just before we show it, 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:35.459 uh, 00:10:35.459 --> 00:10:36.199 most of you, 00:10:36.299 --> 00:10:36.500 in fact, 00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:38.740 all of you are probably veteran church goers. 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:39.379 Uh, 00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:40.199 one of the things I, 00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:41.579 and I don't know what the right answer is. 00:10:41.579 --> 00:10:42.959 One of the things you'll notice in this, 00:10:43.199 --> 00:10:44.199 he tries to create, 00:10:44.200 --> 00:10:44.460 he, 00:10:44.460 --> 00:10:44.640 uh, 00:10:44.640 --> 00:10:45.040 he, 00:10:45.040 --> 00:10:48.180 he connects the Trinity and the fall of Adam to, 00:10:48.300 --> 00:10:48.520 uh, 00:10:48.520 --> 00:10:49.620 to the birth of Jesus. 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:50.820 That's what he tries to do that. 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:51.580 And he does it all. 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:56.640 Almost all of it is done by slicing together words of Christmas carols and Christmas hymns. 00:10:56.980 --> 00:10:57.280 Anyway, 00:10:57.279 --> 00:10:58.000 let's enjoy. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:10:58.039 Let's enjoy. 00:10:58.039 --> 00:11:19.139 Long lay the world in bleak midwinter pining. 00:11:20.139 --> 00:11:21.620 From Adam's fall declining, 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:22.699 sorrow mining, 00:11:22.980 --> 00:11:23.759 hope resigning. 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:26.620 Yet this song to heaven inclining. 00:11:26.620 --> 00:11:28.220 Come, 00:11:28.419 --> 00:11:28.600 oh, 00:11:28.700 --> 00:11:29.019 come, 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:29.659 Emmanuel, 00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:31.840 the ransom captive Israel. 00:11:32.820 --> 00:11:34.820 Descend and all our dark dispel. 00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:36.899 Be pleased as man with man to dwell. 00:11:38.179 --> 00:11:39.940 This countdown to the first Noel, 00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:40.820 they did foretell. 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:41.679 The prophets preached, 00:11:41.799 --> 00:11:42.080 Emmanuel, 00:11:42.740 --> 00:11:43.440 God with us. 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:44.940 Come to break the spell. 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:49.799 So low within that manger lies he who built the starry skies. 00:11:50.560 --> 00:11:50.940 Surprise, 00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:52.840 that's God with us. 00:11:53.340 --> 00:11:54.100 The royal son. 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:56.560 The second of the three in one. 00:11:57.519 --> 00:11:59.759 Three is first when counting down. 00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:00.159 The father, 00:12:00.299 --> 00:12:03.279 son and spirit bound before all things behind above. 00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:03.799 A unity, 00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:04.179 joy, 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:05.120 hope and love. 00:12:05.820 --> 00:12:08.000 Then sent by love and filled with joy. 00:12:08.580 --> 00:12:10.779 God's hope became a baby boy. 00:12:11.899 --> 00:12:14.060 See him lying on a bed of straw. 00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:16.259 The little Lord Jesus, 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:18.179 whom angels adore. 00:12:18.179 --> 00:12:20.719 And all will surely ask, 00:12:21.219 --> 00:12:21.959 what for? 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:25.179 When Adam's ruin beckoned, 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:27.699 God sent down a second. 00:12:28.959 --> 00:12:32.000 Word of the father now in flesh appearing. 00:12:32.859 --> 00:12:34.099 Christ was volunteering, 00:12:34.319 --> 00:12:35.719 human nature commandeering. 00:12:36.479 --> 00:12:38.219 Adam's life he would redo. 00:12:38.220 --> 00:12:39.639 This, 00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:41.320 the meaning of the two. 00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:46.040 The second of the three became the second of humanity. 00:12:47.040 --> 00:12:48.759 And he would do it right. 00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:51.100 And bear our wrongs. 00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:53.680 And take our curse where it belongs. 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:56.600 And rise again like morning sun. 00:12:57.620 --> 00:12:58.480 And ask us all, 00:12:59.040 --> 00:13:00.700 will you be one? 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:03.820 What child is this? 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:07.320 Shares our abyss that we might share in all that's his. 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:12.840 Made one with us that we might be united for eternity. 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:15.519 So joy to the world. 00:13:15.680 --> 00:13:16.700 The Lord is come. 00:13:17.420 --> 00:13:18.580 Good tidings sing. 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:19.639 In three, 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:20.540 two, 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:21.500 one. 00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:44.419 Those of you who are curious, 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:46.200 that was done by Glenn Scrivener. 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:48.860 And he's written a very interesting book called 321, 00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:51.279 which he begins with the Trinity. 00:13:51.500 --> 00:13:53.899 Then Adam and the second Adam. 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:56.580 And then Union with Christ to explain the Christian life. 00:13:56.679 --> 00:13:57.279 It's a very short, 00:13:57.460 --> 00:13:57.779 simple, 00:13:58.379 --> 00:13:59.399 but profound book. 00:14:01.179 --> 00:14:02.519 Let's continue reading. 00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:06.179 And what we're going to read now asks another very, 00:14:06.700 --> 00:14:10.460 implicitly asks us of our culture as Canadians, 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:12.639 a very profound question. 00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:16.919 It's a missiological question that could be asked of Hindus. 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:19.559 It could be asked of primitive tribes. 00:14:19.559 --> 00:14:21.659 It could be asked of paganism in the original, 00:14:22.299 --> 00:14:26.039 of the time of Christ and of the Old Testament. 00:14:26.239 --> 00:14:31.339 It can be asked of moderns. 00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:33.879 And the question it asks is this. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:35.940 Is life an accident, 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:37.560 a tragedy, 00:14:37.800 --> 00:14:38.780 or a gift? 00:14:39.820 --> 00:14:41.680 Let's look at what it says in verse four. 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:44.839 So we've already had this claim that God, 00:14:44.839 --> 00:14:45.519 the Father, 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:46.239 and the Son, 00:14:46.859 --> 00:14:48.839 and later on we'll figure out the Holy Spirit, 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:49.899 but here that God, 00:14:50.219 --> 00:14:50.879 the one God, 00:14:50.979 --> 00:14:51.399 the Father, 00:14:51.479 --> 00:14:51.959 and the Son, 00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:52.639 or the Word, 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:53.519 and the Father, 00:14:54.139 --> 00:14:55.879 have created all things. 00:14:56.019 --> 00:14:56.879 And then in verse four, 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:57.399 it says, 00:14:57.879 --> 00:14:59.220 in him was life, 00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:02.980 and the life was the light of men. 00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:05.080 And we'll just pause there. 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:07.220 So there's this profound sense, 00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:10.379 profound teaching that God is life, 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:12.899 and God gives this gift of life. 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:13.139 Now, 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:15.240 why is it a very profound question to ask? 00:15:15.299 --> 00:15:16.100 Is life an accident, 00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:16.759 a tragedy, 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:17.299 or a gift? 00:15:18.079 --> 00:15:18.479 In fact, 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:19.179 it's very, 00:15:19.319 --> 00:15:20.019 it's very, 00:15:20.099 --> 00:15:20.779 very interesting. 00:15:21.539 --> 00:15:24.319 If you go back on the Dig and Delve webpage, 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:25.719 and you can look it up, 00:15:25.859 --> 00:15:27.279 and Oz Guinness has, 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:31.319 we sponsored a conversation between the Christian thinker Oz Guinness, 00:15:31.959 --> 00:15:36.939 and we partnered with the Atheist Club of Ottawa to discuss a question. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:37.279 And they, 00:15:37.339 --> 00:15:37.599 they were, 00:15:37.719 --> 00:15:39.279 we would pick our speaker Oz, 00:15:39.359 --> 00:15:40.759 and they would pick their speaker. 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:43.759 And we gave them a list of about five or six questions, 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:44.939 and they actually chose, 00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:45.939 does life have meaning? 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:47.259 That's what they chose. 00:15:47.359 --> 00:15:48.339 We were really surprised, 00:15:48.459 --> 00:15:48.699 actually, 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:49.919 because we thought they would have picked, 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:50.120 like, 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:52.159 the game-winning one for atheists, 00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:52.479 like, 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:52.699 you know, 00:15:52.719 --> 00:15:53.500 the problem of evil, 00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:54.539 or something like that. 00:15:55.079 --> 00:15:55.759 But in fact, 00:15:55.819 --> 00:15:57.379 they chose that, 00:15:57.459 --> 00:15:57.639 you know, 00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:58.539 does life have meaning? 00:15:58.839 --> 00:15:59.099 And, 00:15:59.179 --> 00:16:02.259 this isn't me just saying it. 00:16:02.339 --> 00:16:02.539 Oz, 00:16:02.719 --> 00:16:06.959 there are two things that happened in that conversation that were very profound. 00:16:07.219 --> 00:16:08.699 Oz Guinness is just always brilliant. 00:16:08.839 --> 00:16:09.779 He did a great job. 00:16:10.479 --> 00:16:11.359 And in a sense, 00:16:11.439 --> 00:16:12.740 he kicked the butt of the, 00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:13.479 of the Atheist. 00:16:13.479 --> 00:16:15.459 But he didn't really kick the butt of the Atheist. 00:16:15.599 --> 00:16:15.899 You can see, 00:16:15.979 --> 00:16:16.519 what happened, 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:18.659 is the Atheist was very, 00:16:18.779 --> 00:16:19.059 very, 00:16:19.059 --> 00:16:19.899 very honest. 00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:21.699 Not 100% honest, 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:23.039 but 95%, 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:24.299 98% honest. 00:16:24.539 --> 00:16:25.819 And what he said is, 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:25.960 well, 00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:26.079 no, 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:27.179 there is no meaning to life. 00:16:27.179 --> 00:16:29.679 Like, 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:30.939 from an atheistic perspective, 00:16:31.059 --> 00:16:31.500 there is no, 00:16:31.959 --> 00:16:32.239 like, 00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:33.479 if there's just evolution, 00:16:33.659 --> 00:16:34.919 there is no meaning to life. 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:36.000 And, 00:16:36.079 --> 00:16:37.879 you could tell that that was, 00:16:37.939 --> 00:16:38.239 in fact, 00:16:38.339 --> 00:16:39.439 as the thing went on, 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:40.120 I was, 00:16:40.219 --> 00:16:45.919 I was collecting questions with the head of the Atheist Club. 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:46.539 And after, 00:16:46.539 --> 00:16:46.559 after, 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:47.139 after, 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:47.379 like, 00:16:47.459 --> 00:16:48.360 the first two questions, 00:16:48.459 --> 00:16:49.959 I just let her pick all the questions. 00:16:50.919 --> 00:16:53.039 Because the Atheists were very bothered, 00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:54.019 and they were asking very, 00:16:54.099 --> 00:16:54.959 very tough questions, 00:16:55.059 --> 00:16:57.479 but the tough questions just dug them deeper into a hole, 00:16:57.559 --> 00:17:00.199 because the Atheist professor gave very honest answers. 00:17:00.579 --> 00:17:00.979 Like, 00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:01.579 quite honest. 00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:03.579 Actually, 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:04.879 we probably don't have any free will. 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:05.299 Like, 00:17:05.379 --> 00:17:05.619 no, 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:05.920 actually, 00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:06.519 there is no, 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.740 there is no meaning to life. 00:17:08.019 --> 00:17:09.200 And they just got more and more bothered. 00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:10.779 I just let them ask all the questions. 00:17:11.840 --> 00:17:12.620 And it was very, 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:14.519 very interesting that after it was all over, 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:15.440 I had to lock up. 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:15.940 And, 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:18.580 and this sort of goes back to my earlier point. 00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:20.500 The Atheist Club, 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:22.600 they were the last to leave other than me. 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:24.059 And they comforted themselves and said, 00:17:24.100 --> 00:17:24.180 well, 00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:24.960 it doesn't matter if, 00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:26.860 if this debate didn't go like we wanted. 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:28.460 Evolution proves atheism. 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:30.500 They said that time and time again. 00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:32.220 It was very interesting. 00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:33.259 But you see, 00:17:33.380 --> 00:17:33.779 here it is, 00:17:33.840 --> 00:17:34.840 from that perspective, 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:36.799 life is an accident. 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:41.500 And in most of paganism and in Easter religions, 00:17:41.940 --> 00:17:43.019 life is a, 00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:43.940 is a tragedy. 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:46.799 There's this ancient oneness, 00:17:46.899 --> 00:17:48.619 and something or other broke the oneness, 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:48.919 right? 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:51.259 Or there's some other type of tragedy of rape, 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:52.619 or some other type of thing like that. 00:17:52.639 --> 00:17:54.720 And that's what human beings came into existence for, 00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:55.460 to be slaves. 00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:56.500 And, 00:17:56.539 --> 00:17:57.079 and only, 00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:57.559 but you know, 00:17:57.639 --> 00:17:58.240 so you see, 00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:59.119 in an odd way, 00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:02.019 if you were to ask the average Canadian, 00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:04.720 do you believe that life is an accident, 00:18:04.859 --> 00:18:05.339 a tragedy, 00:18:05.339 --> 00:18:05.859 or a gift? 00:18:05.859 --> 00:18:08.759 I would say that most Canadians would say that it's a gift. 00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:09.479 And they don't realize, 00:18:09.579 --> 00:18:11.399 they've just given the Christian answer to it. 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:15.019 That's the Christian answer to the question. 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.619 That life is a gift. 00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:19.599 Only the Christian, 00:18:20.179 --> 00:18:21.939 only Christians teach that. 00:18:22.679 --> 00:18:23.579 That life is a gift. 00:18:23.679 --> 00:18:24.479 It's not a tragedy. 00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:25.240 It's not an accident. 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:25.819 It's a gift. 00:18:26.939 --> 00:18:27.919 As we ponder that, 00:18:28.219 --> 00:18:29.699 let's look at the next video, 00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:30.839 The Greatest Light. 00:18:34.419 --> 00:18:35.279 Picture this. 00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:40.619 It's a cold winter's night. 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:45.099 Snow is gently falling. 00:18:47.419 --> 00:18:49.339 Darkness surrounds you. 00:18:50.979 --> 00:18:52.159 And you struggle to see. 00:18:54.479 --> 00:18:56.099 Everything is obscure. 00:18:56.099 --> 00:18:56.659 Every direction. 00:18:56.659 --> 00:18:58.859 Every direction. 00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:01.339 Meaningless. 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:04.639 But suddenly. 00:19:07.159 --> 00:19:07.719 Light. 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:11.240 The night Jesus was born, 00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:14.120 they tell us that a light appeared in the sky. 00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:18.279 A light that not even the greatest of astronomers could identify. 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:23.960 A light so bright that even darkness had to flee. 00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:28.120 A light so powerful that even the worst of what we had done 00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:29.359 was not only exposed. 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:30.179 It was not only exposed. 00:19:30.879 --> 00:19:32.359 It was cleansed. 00:19:32.879 --> 00:19:33.599 Forgiven. 00:19:34.339 --> 00:19:35.500 And forgotten. 00:19:36.179 --> 00:19:39.339 You see, this is why Jesus came to earth. 00:19:39.459 --> 00:19:42.079 To give us that light. 00:19:42.399 --> 00:19:45.859 So that we would have the same joy and the same love 00:19:45.859 --> 00:19:48.479 and the same light everywhere we go. 00:19:48.479 --> 00:19:50.399 And the best news is, 00:19:50.959 --> 00:19:52.939 this is a light meant for all. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:55.019 It is freely offered. 00:19:55.019 --> 00:20:00.139 You see, Christmas is more than the warmth of friends and family. 00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:03.759 More than nostalgia, the gifts, and memories. 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:08.319 It is about the greatest gift ever given. 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:13.099 Because a world in darkness has not only seen a great light. 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:17.639 No, we have seen the greatest light. 00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:21.220 And His name is Jesus. 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:32.240 This video, the movie that we just watched, and the next one 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:34.559 are touched on the whole thing of light and darkness. 00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:38.220 And the scripture text that we look at for Christmas 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:41.819 invites us to ask another very profound question. 00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:44.900 Like, it's a very profound question that's life-changing. 00:20:45.940 --> 00:20:49.440 It is everything that exists, the DNA, the cells, 00:20:49.639 --> 00:20:52.059 everything that exists come about because of a what or a who. 00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:53.460 That's a profound question. 00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:56.279 It's a profound question to ask yourself, 00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:58.259 is life a tragic accident? 00:20:58.779 --> 00:20:59.640 Is it an accident? 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:01.120 Is it tragedy or is it a gift? 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:03.539 That's a profound question. 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:06.120 And then the third question is this, 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:11.279 is darkness a feature or a bug? 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:15.400 Is darkness a feature or a bug? 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:16.840 Listen to verse 5. 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:19.579 So we've already heard in verse 4, 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:22.100 and Him was life and the life was the light of human beings. 00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:24.599 Verse 5, the light shines in the darkness, 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:27.179 and the darkness has not overcome it. 00:21:28.619 --> 00:21:30.759 Now, what's so profound? 00:21:31.459 --> 00:21:33.740 So one of the, there's a very interesting commentary. 00:21:34.059 --> 00:21:35.159 I don't know if it's still in print. 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:38.419 It's by a fellow by the name of Leslie Newbigin. 00:21:38.699 --> 00:21:42.779 He was a missionary to India for like three decades, 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:44.879 four decades, long, long, long time. 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:48.800 And he actually had a very unique experience 00:21:48.800 --> 00:21:50.880 because when he came back to England, 00:21:51.040 --> 00:21:54.980 he sort of saw England from a missionary's eyes. 00:21:55.040 --> 00:21:57.360 And he realized that there are all these things in their culture 00:21:57.360 --> 00:21:59.260 that the culture didn't understand that he saw. 00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:03.860 Anyway, he had been a missionary amongst Hindus and Muslims in India. 00:22:03.859 --> 00:22:07.699 And he wrote a very interesting commentary on the Gospel of John. 00:22:08.359 --> 00:22:11.959 And one of the things which is very interesting is he says, 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:15.479 if you think about John's Gospel, 00:22:17.199 --> 00:22:20.579 that this, John's writing this to go to lots of different people groups, 00:22:20.919 --> 00:22:21.899 and that at the end of the day, 00:22:21.959 --> 00:22:25.759 God is also planning it to go to like vastly more people groups 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:27.379 than John would have ever imagined. 00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:30.920 How is it that you communicate the Christian truth 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:32.600 to many different cultures? 00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:37.000 And Leslie Newbigin thought that John was quite profound 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:39.960 because he used very simple types of language 00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:43.240 that have resonance in lots of different cultures 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:45.640 like light and darkness and life 00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:49.780 and just very simple concepts that would bridge many cultures. 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:54.120 And so we all have a sense, 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:56.100 in fact, we all know very profoundly 00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:57.899 that there is something that's darkness. 00:22:58.799 --> 00:23:01.819 And darkness is the fact that there's... 00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:04.259 Darkness is meaninglessness. 00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:06.539 Darkness is evil. 00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:08.899 Darkness is ugliness. 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:10.519 Darkness is hatred. 00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:12.359 Darkness is lies. 00:23:12.659 --> 00:23:13.740 Darkness is death. 00:23:13.859 --> 00:23:15.859 Like, it's a very, very flexible 00:23:15.859 --> 00:23:18.139 and multifaceted type of an image. 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:21.039 And we all have a sense of it. 00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:22.500 And in fact, just as I said, 00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:24.859 many Canadians, without realizing it, 00:23:24.859 --> 00:23:27.059 give the Christian answer that life is a gift, 00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:28.579 they would also... 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:30.579 Many, many Canadians would like to... 00:23:31.159 --> 00:23:31.659 Would like... 00:23:31.659 --> 00:23:32.359 Is it... 00:23:32.359 --> 00:23:33.819 I can't remember what the poet was. 00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:35.359 It might have been Dylan Thomas 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:37.959 who talked about raging against the darkness or the night 00:23:37.959 --> 00:23:39.740 and never surrendering to it. 00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:41.559 And that resonates with Canadians. 00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:44.579 And they don't realize that actually what they've just given is... 00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:46.899 They've actually given the Christian answer to that. 00:23:46.979 --> 00:23:49.019 They have the Christian longing for that. 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:55.720 And so you see, from an evolutionary or a Hindu or a Buddhist perspective, 00:23:55.819 --> 00:23:57.519 and even from a Muslim perspective, 00:23:57.740 --> 00:24:02.720 darkness is a feature of creation. 00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:05.819 Right? 00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:08.799 We all understand the difference between a feature or a bug. 00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:11.980 There's things that get screwed up in your iPhone 00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:13.859 or your whatever type of phone, 00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:15.639 and they send things to fix it 00:24:15.639 --> 00:24:16.779 because there's like a bug in it. 00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:17.940 They have to fix it. 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:19.519 But there's certain things that aren't bugs. 00:24:19.619 --> 00:24:20.759 It's how they want it to work. 00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:21.819 It's a design feature. 00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:23.579 And so you see, in fact, 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:25.460 the major answers to this question 00:24:25.460 --> 00:24:26.879 are that, in fact, the matter is 00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:28.599 is that you just got to suck it up, buttercup, 00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:30.099 that darkness is just a feature. 00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:32.779 But only Christianity says, 00:24:32.899 --> 00:24:36.940 no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:40.180 God created light and life 00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:43.379 out of the fullness of his light and his life. 00:24:43.379 --> 00:24:45.379 Darkness comes from somewhere else. 00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:48.520 And the darkness shines. 00:24:49.080 --> 00:24:52.080 The darkness is going to try to overcome the light, 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:53.800 but the light shines in the darkness, 00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:56.000 and the darkness will never overcome it. 00:24:56.340 --> 00:24:57.360 And as you go on reading, 00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:59.020 the light will defeat the darkness. 00:24:59.840 --> 00:25:02.220 Darkness is something that didn't come from God. 00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:04.140 It is not a feature of reality. 00:25:04.340 --> 00:25:05.260 It is a bug. 00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:06.600 And so Canadians, 00:25:06.800 --> 00:25:09.180 not realizing they're now speaking like a Christian, 00:25:09.300 --> 00:25:12.740 which would horrify many atheists 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:15.599 and other people to hear that they're speaking like a Christian. 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:17.599 When they say rage against the darkness, 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:21.079 Jesus says, amen. 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:23.579 You should join me. 00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:25.720 You should join me. 00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:27.519 As we ponder this, 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:29.000 let's look at another mini-movie, 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.559 Light of the World. 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:30.620 Light of the World. 00:25:30.619 --> 00:25:45.679 A brilliant light 00:25:45.679 --> 00:25:47.599 pierced the darkness 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:50.119 on that first Christmas night. 00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:53.599 It wasn't the immense star 00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:54.500 so bright 00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:56.779 that intrigued experts 00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:57.779 of the night sky 00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.639 to follow it. 00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:01.380 It wasn't even the multitude 00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:03.080 of angelic messengers 00:26:03.080 --> 00:26:05.500 with the light so intense, 00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:07.000 so radiant, 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:09.300 it frightened brave shepherds 00:26:09.300 --> 00:26:10.820 to fall to their knees. 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.280 No. 00:26:13.080 --> 00:26:15.460 This light was far greater, 00:26:16.140 --> 00:26:17.080 more powerful 00:26:17.080 --> 00:26:18.880 than every star 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:20.520 and every sun. 00:26:21.620 --> 00:26:22.560 This light 00:26:22.560 --> 00:26:24.240 was a baby. 00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:26.120 A tiny, 00:26:26.620 --> 00:26:27.180 newborn 00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:28.960 wrapped in cloth 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:30.400 lying in a manger 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:32.519 where animals feed. 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:34.100 A baby 00:26:34.100 --> 00:26:35.480 named Jesus, 00:26:36.060 --> 00:26:36.779 Emmanuel, 00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:39.420 God with us. 00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:41.220 Because Jesus 00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:42.440 was a gift 00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:43.820 for each one of us 00:26:43.820 --> 00:26:45.200 and he arrived 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:46.060 with a purpose 00:26:46.060 --> 00:26:47.720 to shine light 00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:49.940 into all dark places. 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.360 You see, 00:26:51.840 --> 00:26:53.100 Jesus is the way, 00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:54.039 the truth, 00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.299 and the light. 00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:57.579 a light that shows us 00:26:57.579 --> 00:26:58.659 there is no place 00:26:58.659 --> 00:26:59.440 you can go 00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:00.659 that can escape 00:27:00.659 --> 00:27:01.720 God's love. 00:27:02.159 --> 00:27:03.440 No dark corner 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:04.539 where his love 00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:05.579 cannot find you. 00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:06.859 A light 00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:08.000 that has the power 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:08.700 to cut through 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.599 any darkness, 00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:11.220 to calm the most 00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:12.339 anxious thoughts, 00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:14.240 and to fill every heart 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:16.339 with unspeakable joy. 00:27:17.339 --> 00:27:18.500 There is a light 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:20.039 that shines brightly 00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:21.240 in the darkness, 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:23.359 and his name 00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:24.700 is Jesus, 00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:27.559 light of the world. 00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:33.759 The story continues. 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:35.240 These first five verses 00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:36.000 have been sort of 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:36.900 very abstract, 00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:38.759 but they've both 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.579 been very abstract, 00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:40.940 but also very personal 00:27:40.940 --> 00:27:42.380 since we understand light 00:27:42.380 --> 00:27:43.359 and we understand life 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:44.519 and we understand darkness. 00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:45.680 And actually, 00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:47.019 even the way to describe 00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:47.519 God, 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:48.240 the Son of God, 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:48.880 as word, 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:51.460 means that there's meaning 00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:52.700 in words, right? 00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:53.759 There's meaning. 00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:55.960 And so it's saying 00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:57.000 at the very heart 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.960 of the universe, 00:27:58.200 --> 00:28:00.180 the very beating heart 00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:01.039 of the universe, 00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:02.519 and only Christians 00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:02.960 can say 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:04.180 at the very beating heart 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:05.240 of the universe, 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:06.720 the very beating heart 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.400 of the universe, 00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:09.240 there is light, 00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.079 there is life, 00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.900 there is love, 00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:11.960 there is meaning, 00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:13.400 and that for Canadians 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:14.140 who sense 00:28:14.140 --> 00:28:15.600 that there must be meaning, 00:28:16.340 --> 00:28:17.140 they are longing 00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:18.779 for an answer 00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:20.200 that only the gospel 00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:21.360 gives us, 00:28:22.120 --> 00:28:22.860 not them, 00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.920 but us. 00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:26.480 And now it switches 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.380 into history. 00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:29.920 Look at verse 6. 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:31.220 There was a man 00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:32.380 sent from God 00:28:32.380 --> 00:28:32.980 whose name was 00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:33.779 John the Baptist. 00:28:34.100 --> 00:28:35.180 He came as a witness 00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:36.860 to bear witness 00:28:36.860 --> 00:28:37.960 about the light. 00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.460 Why did he do that? 00:28:39.600 --> 00:28:41.160 So that all might believe. 00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:42.519 through him. 00:28:42.800 --> 00:28:43.019 Well, 00:28:43.380 --> 00:28:43.900 what are they going 00:28:43.900 --> 00:28:44.500 to have to believe? 00:28:44.600 --> 00:28:45.160 Well, we'll see that 00:28:45.160 --> 00:28:45.600 in a moment. 00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.660 He was not the light, 00:28:48.320 --> 00:28:49.500 but came to bear witness 00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.259 about the light. 00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:52.300 The true light, 00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:54.620 which enlightens everyone, 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:56.320 was coming into the world. 00:28:57.360 --> 00:28:58.480 He was in the world. 00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.440 So he's coming, 00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:00.519 and now he was in the world. 00:29:00.600 --> 00:29:01.320 He was in the world, 00:29:01.420 --> 00:29:02.420 and the world 00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:03.519 was made through him, 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.300 and yet the world 00:29:04.300 --> 00:29:05.300 did not know him. 00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:07.220 Notice that the same 00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:09.519 he that made everything 00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:11.639 has now actually come 00:29:11.639 --> 00:29:13.900 and lived in our world, 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:15.160 not some other world, 00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:16.460 alternative reality, 00:29:16.579 --> 00:29:17.200 but our world. 00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:21.379 And yet our world 00:29:21.379 --> 00:29:22.259 didn't know him. 00:29:22.379 --> 00:29:22.619 In fact, 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:23.900 our world crucified him, 00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:24.700 but that's at the end 00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:25.379 of this particular, 00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:26.160 close to the end 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:26.759 of this story. 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:28.940 And that's he came 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:29.680 to his own, 00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:31.039 his own people, 00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:32.559 and they did not receive him. 00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:35.960 But to all who did receive him, 00:29:36.599 --> 00:29:38.139 who believed in his name, 00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:40.860 he gave the right 00:29:40.860 --> 00:29:43.020 to become children of God, 00:29:43.840 --> 00:29:45.300 who were born not of blood, 00:29:45.560 --> 00:29:46.720 nor of the will of flesh, 00:29:46.840 --> 00:29:47.800 nor of the will of man, 00:29:48.300 --> 00:29:49.240 but of God. 00:29:50.900 --> 00:29:53.200 Now, this is like my half question. 00:29:53.280 --> 00:29:53.980 I said there were like 00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:55.120 four and a half questions. 00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:56.700 This is my half question. 00:29:57.520 --> 00:29:58.940 What if this is all true? 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:02.940 What if you are cut off 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:03.740 from the creator, 00:30:04.300 --> 00:30:05.220 and from life, 00:30:05.900 --> 00:30:06.800 and from light? 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:09.819 What if you are cut off 00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:10.500 from the creator, 00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:11.339 from life, 00:30:11.460 --> 00:30:12.119 and from light? 00:30:15.419 --> 00:30:16.019 And you know, 00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:17.619 maybe you look at the universe, 00:30:17.879 --> 00:30:18.799 and sometimes it looks 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.579 as if the universe 00:30:19.579 --> 00:30:21.639 doesn't care about you, 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:23.139 and God doesn't care about you, 00:30:23.159 --> 00:30:24.299 and other times you have a sense 00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:25.619 that there must be someone 00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:26.279 up there, 00:30:26.919 --> 00:30:27.460 out there, 00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:28.619 who cares for me. 00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:31.339 How do you answer that question? 00:30:31.460 --> 00:30:32.680 Well, that's what John's 00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:34.799 trying to get us to understand. 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:36.220 And he's trying to get us 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:37.399 to understand that this 00:30:37.399 --> 00:30:39.460 coming into the world 00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:41.200 of the one who created the world, 00:30:41.639 --> 00:30:43.180 the coming into the dark world 00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:44.599 of the one who is light, 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:45.659 and who is life, 00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.599 and who is love, 00:30:47.379 --> 00:30:48.879 that he came 00:30:48.879 --> 00:30:50.919 so that you would know him. 00:30:52.099 --> 00:30:53.680 He wants to include you. 00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:55.639 Now, you'll notice, 00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:56.819 those of you who were yesterday, 00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:58.299 this is the fourth 00:30:58.299 --> 00:30:59.159 of the same videos 00:30:59.159 --> 00:31:00.159 that I showed last night. 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:01.019 The fifth one, 00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:02.000 which is a different one, 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.539 is going to come up 00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:03.279 at the very end. 00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:05.079 But let's look at another video 00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:06.599 as we pause 00:31:06.599 --> 00:31:07.819 on this half question 00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:09.359 before I ask the final question. 00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:11.480 This is the other shepherd. 00:31:15.480 --> 00:31:17.119 Glory to God in the highest! 00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:19.200 Peace on earth 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:20.819 and good will toward men! 00:31:20.819 --> 00:31:30.639 Tobias! 00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:34.159 There you are. 00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:36.259 Got the coffees. 00:31:37.259 --> 00:31:38.200 Land of Goshen, 00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:39.240 that line was long. 00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:40.819 Woo-hoo! 00:31:41.619 --> 00:31:42.259 All right, 00:31:42.339 --> 00:31:43.240 a couple of coffees. 00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:43.939 Tobias, 00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:44.519 here's yours 00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:45.740 with extra goat milk. 00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:46.779 Had to smell that 00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:47.679 the whole way here. 00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:48.679 Thank you so much. 00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:51.100 And I have a juniper tea. 00:31:51.340 --> 00:31:52.180 Which one of you guys 00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:53.279 had the juniper tea 00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.240 with two extra shots 00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:54.980 of honey, huh? 00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:57.480 You look like the juniper. 00:31:59.900 --> 00:32:01.019 And an extra large 00:32:01.019 --> 00:32:02.000 boba tea for me 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:02.820 because I made the run. 00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:04.860 And it's all good. 00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:09.180 Ira, 00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:10.480 if you will. 00:32:14.140 --> 00:32:14.539 Guys, 00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:17.519 where's all the sheep? 00:32:18.680 --> 00:32:25.180 Zeke, 00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:26.180 come back! 00:32:26.340 --> 00:32:27.039 No thank you! 00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:28.820 We're not making this up! 00:32:28.940 --> 00:32:29.220 Oh, 00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:30.500 you're not making this up? 00:32:30.840 --> 00:32:31.120 Oh, 00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:32.200 golly gee then, 00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:32.440 Amen! 00:32:32.620 --> 00:32:33.900 Then maybe I will believe 00:32:33.900 --> 00:32:34.380 that what, 00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:35.660 a gaggle of angels 00:32:35.660 --> 00:32:36.380 came down? 00:32:36.660 --> 00:32:37.100 Technically, 00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:37.640 they're called 00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:38.320 heavenly hosts. 00:32:38.420 --> 00:32:39.180 Not the time, 00:32:39.320 --> 00:32:39.799 Tobias. 00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:41.019 It's always the time 00:32:41.019 --> 00:32:42.080 for proper nomenclature. 00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:42.759 That's the motto 00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:43.259 I live by. 00:32:43.820 --> 00:32:44.299 Fine. 00:32:44.680 --> 00:32:45.779 A heavenly host 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:46.980 of little cherubs. 00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:47.680 No, no, no, no. 00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:48.519 Not little. 00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:51.599 They were humongous. 00:32:51.900 --> 00:32:52.240 Yeah, 00:32:52.660 --> 00:32:53.380 Ira buckled 00:32:53.380 --> 00:32:54.360 like a newborn lamb. 00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:55.000 I might have 00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:55.620 a new concussion. 00:32:56.339 --> 00:32:57.259 I taste pennies 00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:57.720 right now. 00:32:58.940 --> 00:32:59.339 Okay. 00:32:59.900 --> 00:33:01.059 Come on, ladies! 00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:02.059 Sweet pea! 00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:02.880 Zeke, 00:33:02.940 --> 00:33:03.599 we're leaving the sheep. 00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:04.640 Bathsheepa! 00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:07.360 Bathsheepa! 00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:08.299 The angels told us 00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:09.259 where to find the Messiah. 00:33:12.439 --> 00:33:12.799 Figures. 00:33:14.479 --> 00:33:14.839 Figures. 00:33:15.899 --> 00:33:16.619 Figures the angels 00:33:16.619 --> 00:33:17.199 would tell you 00:33:17.199 --> 00:33:17.639 and not me. 00:33:17.719 --> 00:33:18.439 You want to know why? 00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:19.479 Because I am always, 00:33:19.619 --> 00:33:20.379 always, always, 00:33:20.459 --> 00:33:21.500 always left out of things. 00:33:21.599 --> 00:33:22.339 I am left out. 00:33:22.439 --> 00:33:23.099 Every time. 00:33:23.339 --> 00:33:24.019 That's not true. 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:24.599 It is so true. 00:33:24.819 --> 00:33:25.539 How about the time 00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:26.299 that I stayed back 00:33:26.299 --> 00:33:27.079 and I watched the sheep 00:33:27.079 --> 00:33:28.000 while you all went 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:28.959 to go chase those wolves 00:33:28.959 --> 00:33:29.659 for that farmer 00:33:29.659 --> 00:33:30.879 and what did you get in return? 00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:32.299 A year's worth 00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:33.319 of free olive oil! 00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:34.240 You guys remember 00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:34.899 that olive oil? 00:33:35.059 --> 00:33:35.919 Remember when we put them 00:33:35.919 --> 00:33:36.679 on those crackers? 00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:37.120 Hello? 00:33:38.019 --> 00:33:38.460 Hey! 00:33:38.680 --> 00:33:39.000 Hee-hee! 00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:39.460 Hey! 00:33:39.580 --> 00:33:40.340 How about the time 00:33:40.340 --> 00:33:40.940 that I missed out 00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:42.279 on that amazing water spot 00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:43.240 at the Sea of Galilee 00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:44.660 because I was searching 00:33:44.660 --> 00:33:45.380 for herbs 00:33:45.380 --> 00:33:47.000 for Ira's weak stomach? 00:33:47.340 --> 00:33:48.799 Can we just say 00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:50.500 my stomach was disappointed in me? 00:33:50.820 --> 00:33:51.259 Fine. 00:33:51.560 --> 00:33:51.740 Fine. 00:33:52.740 --> 00:33:53.759 Then riddle me this. 00:33:54.120 --> 00:33:55.120 How about the time 00:33:55.120 --> 00:33:56.440 that my best friend 00:33:56.440 --> 00:33:57.620 forgot to tell me 00:33:57.620 --> 00:33:58.360 about Tobias' 00:33:58.500 --> 00:33:59.740 surprise birthday dinner 00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:01.360 for some strange oversight 00:34:01.360 --> 00:34:01.960 of, oh, 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:03.620 forgetting that I exist? 00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:05.920 I am left out 00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:06.740 of everything. 00:34:07.180 --> 00:34:08.139 So why shouldn't I 00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:09.059 be left out of this? 00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:11.260 The Messiah. 00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:14.900 I guess he's just 00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:15.780 leaving me out, too. 00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:24.119 Get off me! 00:34:24.619 --> 00:34:25.180 Stop it! 00:34:25.320 --> 00:34:25.900 Not the face! 00:34:26.099 --> 00:34:26.700 Leave me alone! 00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:27.240 Stop! 00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:28.139 Think! 00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:28.820 Stop! 00:34:28.940 --> 00:34:29.400 You stop! 00:34:30.099 --> 00:34:30.639 Come here! 00:34:30.780 --> 00:34:31.240 Listen to me! 00:34:31.239 --> 00:34:31.879 Listen to me! 00:34:32.599 --> 00:34:32.959 Listen. 00:34:33.919 --> 00:34:34.659 I'm sorry. 00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:36.099 I'm sorry you missed out 00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:36.739 on so much. 00:34:37.879 --> 00:34:38.719 That's on us. 00:34:40.299 --> 00:34:41.099 But today, 00:34:41.659 --> 00:34:42.759 in the town of David, 00:34:43.339 --> 00:34:44.779 the Savior was born 00:34:44.779 --> 00:34:45.679 to us. 00:34:46.500 --> 00:34:47.459 To all of us. 00:34:49.759 --> 00:34:50.659 I can't let you 00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:51.399 miss out on that. 00:34:54.899 --> 00:34:55.339 Well, 00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:56.799 better not keep 00:34:56.799 --> 00:34:57.539 that baby waiting. 00:34:57.539 --> 00:35:00.599 idea! 00:35:01.259 --> 00:35:02.019 Head stop for more 00:35:02.019 --> 00:35:03.039 boba teas on the way? 00:35:03.840 --> 00:35:04.920 Not a chance. 00:35:08.920 --> 00:35:10.679 The final question 00:35:10.679 --> 00:35:10.960 is, 00:35:11.039 --> 00:35:11.679 who is Jesus? 00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:14.400 And this question 00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:15.460 fits with all the others. 00:35:15.639 --> 00:35:17.079 This is a very profound 00:35:17.079 --> 00:35:18.179 text of Scripture, 00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:19.739 well worth meditating upon. 00:35:20.259 --> 00:35:21.239 And even if you're 00:35:21.239 --> 00:35:22.559 outside of the Christian faith, 00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:25.119 to meditate upon 00:35:25.119 --> 00:35:25.739 this text 00:35:25.739 --> 00:35:26.259 is to actually 00:35:26.259 --> 00:35:27.099 start to not only 00:35:27.099 --> 00:35:27.820 understand what 00:35:27.820 --> 00:35:28.920 Christianity is about 00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:30.119 and its beauty 00:35:30.119 --> 00:35:30.920 and its harmony 00:35:30.920 --> 00:35:34.320 and how it's 00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:35.579 emotionally satisfying 00:35:35.579 --> 00:35:36.059 as well as 00:35:36.059 --> 00:35:37.759 intellectually satisfying, 00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:40.139 but it's an invitation 00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:41.199 to ask the deepest 00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:41.759 questions. 00:35:42.820 --> 00:35:43.659 And it fits 00:35:43.659 --> 00:35:44.340 with the fact 00:35:44.340 --> 00:35:45.779 that it's a who 00:35:45.779 --> 00:35:46.920 that created all things. 00:35:47.159 --> 00:35:48.039 It's a keeping 00:35:48.039 --> 00:35:48.920 that life is 00:35:48.920 --> 00:35:49.840 in fact a gift. 00:35:50.539 --> 00:35:51.279 It's in keeping 00:35:51.280 --> 00:35:51.820 with the fact 00:35:51.820 --> 00:35:52.560 that something's 00:35:52.560 --> 00:35:53.200 gone wrong 00:35:53.200 --> 00:35:53.840 and darkness 00:35:53.840 --> 00:35:54.519 has come in, 00:35:54.600 --> 00:35:55.260 but this is not 00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:55.980 something God 00:35:55.980 --> 00:35:56.519 designed, 00:35:56.740 --> 00:35:57.140 desired, 00:35:57.240 --> 00:35:57.800 or intended, 00:35:58.360 --> 00:35:58.920 and that God 00:35:58.920 --> 00:35:59.840 is going to deliver 00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:00.820 us from darkness. 00:36:01.260 --> 00:36:02.400 And that comes up 00:36:02.400 --> 00:36:03.560 here with verse 14, 00:36:03.720 --> 00:36:03.900 in fact, 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:05.080 14 to 18. 00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:07.140 And the Word, 00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:07.860 that's right, 00:36:07.980 --> 00:36:08.340 God, 00:36:08.519 --> 00:36:09.140 that's light, 00:36:09.300 --> 00:36:10.040 that's life, 00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:11.240 that's love. 00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:12.720 The Word became 00:36:12.720 --> 00:36:13.660 flesh and dwelt 00:36:13.660 --> 00:36:14.360 among us. 00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:15.680 And now John 00:36:15.680 --> 00:36:16.560 speaks personally 00:36:16.560 --> 00:36:17.100 and he says, 00:36:17.180 --> 00:36:17.600 we have seen 00:36:17.600 --> 00:36:18.160 His glory. 00:36:19.120 --> 00:36:20.100 Glory is the only 00:36:20.099 --> 00:36:21.059 Son of the Father, 00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:21.759 full of grace 00:36:21.759 --> 00:36:22.239 and truth. 00:36:22.319 --> 00:36:22.739 And by the way, 00:36:22.779 --> 00:36:23.440 it's only until 00:36:23.440 --> 00:36:24.099 the very end 00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:24.659 of the novel, 00:36:24.940 --> 00:36:25.839 the story, 00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:27.159 that you see 00:36:27.159 --> 00:36:28.000 what John means 00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:28.920 by God revealing 00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:29.500 His glory. 00:36:30.159 --> 00:36:31.480 And you find it 00:36:31.480 --> 00:36:32.079 that if you follow 00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:32.839 all the way through, 00:36:32.940 --> 00:36:33.420 there's all this, 00:36:33.559 --> 00:36:34.039 we're going to see 00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:34.360 His glory, 00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:34.839 we're going to see 00:36:34.839 --> 00:36:35.139 His glory, 00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:35.599 we're going to see 00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:36.000 His glory, 00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:36.679 and then finally 00:36:36.679 --> 00:36:37.119 in verse, 00:36:37.639 --> 00:36:38.679 in chapter 17, 00:36:38.679 --> 00:36:39.400 we find out 00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:40.319 what the glory is 00:36:40.319 --> 00:36:41.380 and the glory of God 00:36:41.380 --> 00:36:42.779 is Jesus dying 00:36:42.779 --> 00:36:43.440 on the cross. 00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:46.420 That's the glory 00:36:46.420 --> 00:36:47.000 of God 00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:47.960 that John saw. 00:36:47.960 --> 00:36:49.800 and the other 00:36:49.800 --> 00:36:50.300 apostles. 00:36:51.240 --> 00:36:51.720 And then he says, 00:36:51.780 --> 00:36:52.460 John the Baptist 00:36:52.460 --> 00:36:53.079 bore witness 00:36:53.079 --> 00:36:53.780 about Jesus 00:36:53.780 --> 00:36:54.480 and cried out, 00:36:54.599 --> 00:36:55.159 this was He 00:36:55.159 --> 00:36:56.000 of whom I said, 00:36:56.500 --> 00:36:57.079 He who comes 00:36:57.079 --> 00:36:57.599 after me 00:36:57.599 --> 00:36:58.740 ranks before me 00:36:58.740 --> 00:36:59.800 because He 00:36:59.800 --> 00:37:00.900 was before me 00:37:00.900 --> 00:37:03.320 and from His fullness, 00:37:03.460 --> 00:37:04.380 that's Jesus's, 00:37:04.440 --> 00:37:05.480 we have all received 00:37:05.480 --> 00:37:06.699 grace upon grace 00:37:06.699 --> 00:37:07.900 for the law 00:37:07.900 --> 00:37:08.500 that was given 00:37:08.500 --> 00:37:09.179 through Moses, 00:37:09.699 --> 00:37:10.420 for the law 00:37:10.420 --> 00:37:10.880 was given 00:37:10.880 --> 00:37:11.480 through Moses, 00:37:11.599 --> 00:37:11.800 sorry, 00:37:12.360 --> 00:37:13.579 grace and truth 00:37:13.579 --> 00:37:14.380 came through 00:37:14.380 --> 00:37:15.240 Jesus Christ. 00:37:15.239 --> 00:37:15.319 Christ, 00:37:15.819 --> 00:37:17.019 no one has ever 00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:17.799 seen God, 00:37:17.879 --> 00:37:18.799 the only God, 00:37:19.259 --> 00:37:20.319 that's the full Trinity, 00:37:21.059 --> 00:37:22.379 but God who is 00:37:22.379 --> 00:37:23.500 at the Father's side, 00:37:23.839 --> 00:37:24.579 He has made 00:37:24.579 --> 00:37:25.419 Him known. 00:37:25.639 --> 00:37:26.219 He has made 00:37:26.219 --> 00:37:26.879 the Trinity 00:37:26.879 --> 00:37:27.739 and the Father 00:37:27.739 --> 00:37:28.659 known. 00:37:30.519 --> 00:37:31.879 That's the Christmas story 00:37:31.879 --> 00:37:34.799 and it's for all of us 00:37:34.799 --> 00:37:37.619 and the text says 00:37:37.619 --> 00:37:38.959 that our response 00:37:38.959 --> 00:37:39.519 to this 00:37:39.519 --> 00:37:41.019 is to receive 00:37:41.019 --> 00:37:41.579 Him, 00:37:42.019 --> 00:37:43.099 to believe Him 00:37:43.099 --> 00:37:43.739 and this is all 00:37:43.739 --> 00:37:44.299 the language 00:37:44.299 --> 00:37:45.679 of personhood. 00:37:45.860 --> 00:37:47.319 You receive people 00:37:47.319 --> 00:37:47.880 into your home, 00:37:47.960 --> 00:37:48.880 you receive a person 00:37:48.880 --> 00:37:49.599 into your life, 00:37:49.719 --> 00:37:51.739 you believe into a person 00:37:51.739 --> 00:37:53.119 and trust into a person, 00:37:53.119 --> 00:37:54.219 it's the very essence 00:37:54.219 --> 00:37:55.339 of what it means 00:37:55.339 --> 00:37:56.299 to relate to a person 00:37:56.299 --> 00:37:57.039 and that's what God 00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:57.779 asks us to do 00:37:57.779 --> 00:37:59.420 in this little baby, 00:37:59.579 --> 00:38:01.179 this baby who becomes 00:38:01.179 --> 00:38:01.559 a man, 00:38:01.659 --> 00:38:02.500 this man who dies 00:38:02.500 --> 00:38:03.039 on the cross, 00:38:03.179 --> 00:38:04.960 this man who defeats 00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:06.119 death and rises from 00:38:06.119 --> 00:38:06.980 the dead and will come 00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:07.319 again. 00:38:07.440 --> 00:38:08.699 We are invited to receive 00:38:08.699 --> 00:38:09.579 Him and believe Him. 00:38:10.440 --> 00:38:10.900 We're going to watch 00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:11.599 our final video 00:38:11.599 --> 00:38:12.500 and right after the video 00:38:12.500 --> 00:38:13.119 we're going to pray, 00:38:13.219 --> 00:38:13.779 we're going to move on 00:38:13.779 --> 00:38:14.839 to the rest of our service 00:38:14.839 --> 00:38:16.880 and I just want to warn 00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:18.579 for the very youngest child, 00:38:18.719 --> 00:38:19.759 the first moment 00:38:19.759 --> 00:38:20.519 or two of this 00:38:20.519 --> 00:38:21.920 is maybe scary 00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:24.339 because it's going to show 00:38:24.339 --> 00:38:25.500 that the thing is called 00:38:25.500 --> 00:38:27.559 If Scrooge Had Been a Christian 00:38:27.559 --> 00:38:29.159 or If Scrooge Were a Christian 00:38:29.159 --> 00:38:31.579 and so when the ghost Marley 00:38:31.579 --> 00:38:32.799 appears the first couple 00:38:32.799 --> 00:38:33.339 of times, 00:38:33.339 --> 00:38:34.500 it's sort of scary 00:38:34.500 --> 00:38:35.460 and you might want to 00:38:35.460 --> 00:38:36.719 cover the kid's eyes. 00:38:38.239 --> 00:38:39.559 So let's see it. 00:38:41.599 --> 00:38:42.519 Other than that, 00:38:42.559 --> 00:38:43.239 I believe it's called 00:38:43.239 --> 00:38:44.299 That was many indeed 00:38:44.299 --> 00:38:45.039 and it's called 00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:47.299 Pueblo. 00:38:47.299 --> 00:38:48.619 They would stand 00:38:48.900 --> 00:38:50.639 from her brother 00:38:50.639 --> 00:38:51.279 and the Turkish 00:38:51.279 --> 00:38:51.659 was one while 00:38:51.659 --> 00:38:52.139 in Death 00:38:52.159 --> 00:38:53.759 and she found 00:39:06.319 --> 00:39:07.299 in Death 00:39:07.460 --> 00:39:08.319 and sound 00:39:08.320 --> 00:39:16.519 Ebeneezer. 00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:19.140 No, Jonah, you old scallywag. 00:39:19.240 --> 00:39:20.940 Just go to Nineveh already. 00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:22.340 Go on, shoot. 00:39:22.960 --> 00:39:23.760 Ebeneezer! 00:39:27.539 --> 00:39:29.360 Wally, my old friend. 00:39:30.940 --> 00:39:33.360 You've been expired for seven years. 00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:36.720 So why do I owe this pleasure? 00:39:38.320 --> 00:39:39.620 Pleasure. 00:39:42.620 --> 00:39:45.620 I come, I come, I come, 00:39:45.860 --> 00:39:48.900 bringing grievous news, Ebeneezer. 00:39:48.960 --> 00:39:51.039 Grievous news, alas. 00:39:51.800 --> 00:39:54.660 The only news worth an ear is that it's Christmas 00:39:54.660 --> 00:39:57.360 and that Christ has come to us. 00:40:03.519 --> 00:40:06.160 Marley, my old friend, are you quite all right? 00:40:06.600 --> 00:40:08.000 Well, I'm dead. 00:40:08.320 --> 00:40:09.980 So no, I'm not all right. 00:40:10.539 --> 00:40:13.620 And I am also bound by these chains, 00:40:14.620 --> 00:40:17.640 forged in life by selfish deeds. 00:40:18.140 --> 00:40:21.740 Human welfare, not money, should have been my business, Ebeneezer. 00:40:21.739 --> 00:40:26.559 Yes, yes, the good book does say that it is better for a poor man to walk in his integrity 00:40:26.559 --> 00:40:29.739 than for a rich man to be crooked in all his ways. 00:40:30.399 --> 00:40:31.779 That would have been nice to know. 00:40:31.780 --> 00:40:41.380 This night, when the clock strikes one, you shall be visited by the ghost of Christmas past. 00:40:41.380 --> 00:40:42.260 Oh, humbug! 00:40:42.600 --> 00:40:43.960 My past is gone. 00:40:44.960 --> 00:40:48.540 The judgment that I so richly deserve is as dead as you, 00:40:48.800 --> 00:40:51.720 buried in Christ Jesus who ransomed my sin on the cross. 00:40:51.719 --> 00:40:54.939 My past will never haunt me again. 00:40:56.439 --> 00:40:57.279 Are you done? 00:40:57.459 --> 00:40:59.219 I'd like to mention John 3, 16. 00:40:59.319 --> 00:41:00.039 It's a great verse. 00:41:00.639 --> 00:41:04.899 I am trying to deliver an iconic speech. 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.859 I'm so, so sorry. 00:41:05.939 --> 00:41:06.980 Yes, the speech is wonderful. 00:41:07.159 --> 00:41:08.619 Please continue with your presentation. 00:41:08.939 --> 00:41:09.779 It is beautiful. 00:41:09.899 --> 00:41:10.279 It's brilliant. 00:41:10.419 --> 00:41:10.939 Please, go ahead. 00:41:10.940 --> 00:41:15.159 Not the first ghost. 00:41:15.360 --> 00:41:16.079 That's a ghost. 00:41:16.519 --> 00:41:17.519 Oh, yeah. 00:41:18.519 --> 00:41:22.519 You, you, you shall not shun the second ghost, 00:41:22.820 --> 00:41:25.099 for it is more frightening than the first, 00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:27.380 for the ghost of Christmas present. 00:41:27.659 --> 00:41:28.039 Present? 00:41:28.340 --> 00:41:28.539 Oh. 00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:29.179 Hmm. 00:41:29.780 --> 00:41:31.460 God is present in my present. 00:41:31.900 --> 00:41:33.599 For the love of God? 00:41:34.300 --> 00:41:35.179 Sure, why not? 00:41:36.420 --> 00:41:37.679 Isn't it wonderful? 00:41:37.679 --> 00:41:40.320 He governs my steps, makes straight my path, 00:41:40.320 --> 00:41:41.620 and if I'm willing, 00:41:41.860 --> 00:41:43.559 he indicates where there is a need, 00:41:43.900 --> 00:41:44.320 and Molly, 00:41:44.480 --> 00:41:47.039 I can meet to the need that very day. 00:41:47.160 --> 00:41:48.539 This whole haunting thing 00:41:48.539 --> 00:41:51.100 is much more difficult than they said it would be. 00:41:51.300 --> 00:41:54.000 Yes, those chains look tremendously heavy. 00:41:54.240 --> 00:41:54.700 They are. 00:41:55.980 --> 00:41:57.380 Listen, Scroogey, 00:41:57.559 --> 00:41:58.400 between you and me, 00:41:58.700 --> 00:42:01.760 can I interest you in a ghost of Christmas future? 00:42:05.760 --> 00:42:07.920 Let go and let, yeah. 00:42:07.920 --> 00:42:10.559 A good book does indicate 00:42:10.559 --> 00:42:12.280 that we should cast aside 00:42:12.280 --> 00:42:13.639 all our worries about the future 00:42:13.639 --> 00:42:15.920 because today has enough trouble of its own. 00:42:16.500 --> 00:42:17.400 And Molly, my friend, 00:42:17.579 --> 00:42:20.260 you look like you have lots of troubles. 00:42:21.500 --> 00:42:22.019 Well, 00:42:22.980 --> 00:42:25.539 it seems I've wasted your time. 00:42:26.000 --> 00:42:26.460 Clearly, 00:42:26.920 --> 00:42:29.079 the Lord has done my work for me. 00:42:29.180 --> 00:42:30.460 I would bid you adieu. 00:42:30.460 --> 00:42:30.800 One second. 00:42:30.800 --> 00:42:38.320 Landliness is next to godliness. 00:42:40.220 --> 00:42:40.780 Right. 00:42:42.019 --> 00:42:43.880 God bless us, everyone. 00:42:44.760 --> 00:42:45.860 I'll see myself out. 00:42:45.940 --> 00:42:46.400 Don't get out. 00:42:46.660 --> 00:42:46.800 Bye. 00:42:48.800 --> 00:42:53.680 That worked just a minute ago. 00:42:53.679 --> 00:42:59.239 He just shared the gospel 00:42:59.239 --> 00:43:00.940 for the benefit of following Christ. 00:43:01.039 --> 00:43:01.599 Let's stand 00:43:01.599 --> 00:43:03.079 and we'll close in prayer. 00:43:08.079 --> 00:43:10.339 Father, we give you thanks and praise for Jesus. 00:43:10.679 --> 00:43:12.119 We thank and praise you that 00:43:12.119 --> 00:43:16.119 Father, we thank and praise you 00:43:16.119 --> 00:43:17.980 that when we give ourselves to Jesus, 00:43:18.420 --> 00:43:22.179 that every sin and every shame 00:43:22.179 --> 00:43:23.699 of our past, 00:43:24.000 --> 00:43:25.579 of our present and our future 00:43:25.579 --> 00:43:26.460 is dealt with 00:43:26.460 --> 00:43:29.400 by his blood shed on the cross. 00:43:29.759 --> 00:43:30.599 We thank you, Father, 00:43:30.659 --> 00:43:31.359 that he came, 00:43:32.039 --> 00:43:34.000 he set aside his glory and splendor 00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:35.839 and took unto himself our human nature 00:43:35.839 --> 00:43:37.279 and came and walked amongst us 00:43:37.280 --> 00:43:38.660 so that we might be saved, 00:43:38.840 --> 00:43:39.480 that we might be, 00:43:39.980 --> 00:43:42.620 that we might be united, 00:43:43.080 --> 00:43:43.900 Father, with Christ 00:43:43.900 --> 00:43:44.920 and become your children 00:43:44.920 --> 00:43:45.940 by adoption and grace. 00:43:46.040 --> 00:43:47.160 Father, we thank and praise you 00:43:47.160 --> 00:43:48.440 that that was the whole purpose 00:43:48.440 --> 00:43:49.300 and the whole plan 00:43:49.300 --> 00:43:50.860 and we ask, Father, 00:43:50.980 --> 00:43:54.060 that you help us to ponder Jesus, 00:43:55.000 --> 00:43:56.480 ponder the truth and the beauty 00:43:56.480 --> 00:43:57.120 and the goodness 00:43:57.120 --> 00:43:57.880 and the glory 00:43:57.880 --> 00:43:58.480 and the greatness 00:43:58.480 --> 00:43:59.320 of who he is 00:43:59.320 --> 00:44:00.860 and what he has done for us, 00:44:00.980 --> 00:44:01.940 unworthy as we are 00:44:01.940 --> 00:44:04.380 and that, Father, 00:44:04.500 --> 00:44:04.960 who he is 00:44:04.960 --> 00:44:05.580 and what he has done 00:44:05.580 --> 00:44:06.760 will become more and more real 00:44:06.760 --> 00:44:07.500 to our hearts 00:44:07.500 --> 00:44:08.580 every day 00:44:08.580 --> 00:44:10.540 until we see you face to face 00:44:10.540 --> 00:44:11.840 and you smile 00:44:11.840 --> 00:44:13.040 and welcome us 00:44:13.040 --> 00:44:13.760 into your kingdom. 00:44:14.200 --> 00:44:14.920 And we ask this 00:44:14.920 --> 00:44:15.800 in the name of Jesus, 00:44:16.680 --> 00:44:17.700 your Son and our Savior. 00:44:18.420 --> 00:44:18.780 Amen.