WEBVTT 00:00:00.920 --> 00:00:06.719 Thanks, Evan. Good morning, everyone. Good to be with you. How are we feeling this morning? 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:11.320 Okay, excellent, great. Very lively. We're alive, sort of. 00:00:13.380 --> 00:00:21.339 Well, I want to start out this morning with a moment of silence. I don't know about you, but it's Christmas is filled with joy, 00:00:21.800 --> 00:00:29.660 but it's also a bit crazy, a bit harried. And so in order to prepare our minds and our hearts to receive from the Lord, 00:00:29.660 --> 00:00:35.179 I want to give us the gift of silence for a moment, to ask the Lord to speak to each one of us, 00:00:35.299 --> 00:00:38.780 to share something with us that would encourage us and challenge us. 00:00:38.840 --> 00:00:40.299 So let's take a moment of silence together. 00:01:00.099 --> 00:01:03.579 Father, we're grateful for this time. We're grateful that you are a God who speaks. 00:01:04.599 --> 00:01:10.280 We know that you speak to us through the preaching of your word when we're gathered together in community. 00:01:11.399 --> 00:01:14.719 We pray that you would speak to us now, for your servants are listening. 00:01:15.299 --> 00:01:17.340 We pray these things in Christ's name. Amen. 00:01:17.340 --> 00:01:24.000 Amen. Well, Merry Christmas. My name is Kevin. Welcome to Church of the Advent. I'm one of the pastors here. 00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:29.859 It's good to be together, small crowd, those of us who've stuck around in the city. 00:01:30.460 --> 00:01:33.700 But we're really grateful to be here celebrating Christmas. 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:38.600 You'll notice that the scriptures this morning were the stories of Christmas. 00:01:39.180 --> 00:01:42.740 Christmas happened a few days ago, but Christmas lasts for 12 days. 00:01:42.739 --> 00:01:49.839 And we didn't have a Christmas Eve service, so I decided we'll spend some time focusing on the Christmas story together this morning. 00:01:50.819 --> 00:01:57.199 Our lessons were all taken from the Gospel of Luke, and this Gospel provides the fullest account of the birth of Jesus. 00:01:58.119 --> 00:02:01.359 There are three important scenes, three miraculous episodes. 00:02:01.759 --> 00:02:06.259 First, the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel announces the birth of Jesus. 00:02:06.260 --> 00:02:12.259 And then we read responsibly, prayed responsibly, the Magnificat, which is Latin for magnifies. 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:15.500 It's the first words of Mary's song. 00:02:16.259 --> 00:02:18.259 Magnificat anima mea dominum. 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:21.040 My soul magnifies the Lord. 00:02:21.659 --> 00:02:24.420 And then the Nativity, the birth story of Jesus. 00:02:24.980 --> 00:02:30.759 This is the story of Emmanuel, of God with us, and it's a fantastic story. 00:02:31.319 --> 00:02:34.520 It is, as C.S. Lewis puts it, myth become fact. 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:38.260 An angel appears with an almost unbelievable message. 00:02:38.780 --> 00:02:41.260 A virgin becomes pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:45.200 And God, God becomes a human being. 00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:48.439 It would be unbelievable if it weren't true. 00:02:49.180 --> 00:02:50.439 But it is true. 00:02:51.340 --> 00:02:53.180 It is an amazing story. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:57.780 And it's an amazing story that begins in silence and in darkness. 00:02:58.320 --> 00:03:01.360 So I want to start off by talking a little bit about the background of the story. 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:08.820 Immediately before the events of our story, the people of Israel experienced 400 years of silence. 00:03:09.480 --> 00:03:15.360 Scholars call this the intertestamental period, the time between the end of the Old Testament and the start of the New. 00:03:15.820 --> 00:03:21.100 In our Bibles, the very last book of the Old Testament is the book of Malachi. 00:03:21.620 --> 00:03:25.400 And my Bible has one page separating Malachi and Matthew, the beginning of the New Testament. 00:03:25.760 --> 00:03:27.760 One page, but it's 400 years. 00:03:27.920 --> 00:03:29.360 Easy to overlook this. 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:34.960 And in this silence, God and Israel, husband and wife, were estranged. 00:03:35.920 --> 00:03:41.860 The faithfulness and the disobedience of God's people led them to be cast out of the promised land. 00:03:42.280 --> 00:03:43.020 They were in exile. 00:03:43.640 --> 00:03:45.680 And eventually they would return to the land. 00:03:46.040 --> 00:03:49.080 But God's presence left and it didn't return. 00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:51.660 And so the people were left to wonder, 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:56.799 Has this 400 years been just a very long separation? 00:03:57.259 --> 00:04:00.680 Or has God finally divorced us after all? 00:04:01.539 --> 00:04:03.419 You know, Israel was clinging to hope. 00:04:03.699 --> 00:04:06.240 They were living in hope, but it was a hope unfulfilled. 00:04:06.979 --> 00:04:09.759 There was 400 years of silence and darkness. 00:04:09.960 --> 00:04:11.859 400 years of waiting. 00:04:12.699 --> 00:04:16.439 400 years where it was always Advent, but never Christmas. 00:04:16.439 --> 00:04:20.360 And the people were desperate to hear the voice of God. 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:24.160 But the only voice they heard was the voice of their oppressors. 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:26.300 You see, they were living under foreign rule. 00:04:26.660 --> 00:04:32.180 The people of God were oppressed by one of the greatest and most terrible civilizations, 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:35.839 nations that humanity has ever produced. 00:04:36.279 --> 00:04:37.500 The Roman Empire. 00:04:37.500 --> 00:04:40.339 And as the nativity story begins, 00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:44.139 we hear the voice of Rome commanding that a census be taken. 00:04:44.620 --> 00:04:48.680 A census was taken so that they could have an accurate account of the populations for tax purposes, 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:52.160 but also to secure oaths of allegiance to Caesar. 00:04:53.060 --> 00:04:58.639 And so Mary and Joseph and everybody else had to travel to their ancestral home to be registered. 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:01.480 And the census was a very painful reminder, 00:05:02.040 --> 00:05:05.420 not only of God's absence, but of Roman rule. 00:05:05.420 --> 00:05:10.240 And I've tried to imagine this Advent in the past few days. 00:05:10.360 --> 00:05:13.819 I've tried to see the Christmas story through new eyes. 00:05:13.900 --> 00:05:18.160 I've tried to imagine what it would have been like for Joseph and Mary to experience this. 00:05:18.860 --> 00:05:20.819 You know, they've traveled a long way, 00:05:21.240 --> 00:05:26.139 70 miles as the crow flies from Nazareth in the north to Bethlehem in the south, 00:05:26.620 --> 00:05:28.920 maybe 90 miles by foot or by donkey. 00:05:29.340 --> 00:05:31.620 And they were traveling not for a religious pilgrimage, 00:05:31.840 --> 00:05:33.160 one that they might be excited about, 00:05:33.160 --> 00:05:36.680 but for a political pilgrimage, something that they didn't want to do, 00:05:37.100 --> 00:05:39.520 especially while Mary was very pregnant. 00:05:40.320 --> 00:05:45.200 Now, I understand you should never tell a moving while pregnant story around Mary, the mother of Jesus. 00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:48.600 But our experience last year moving while Susan was pregnant 00:05:48.600 --> 00:05:51.660 has helped me to appreciate a little bit about what they went through. 00:05:52.180 --> 00:05:55.440 We moved last November when Susan was seven months pregnant. 00:05:55.439 --> 00:06:00.060 And we had modern comforts, the benefit of modern medicine. 00:06:00.379 --> 00:06:01.379 And we wanted to move. 00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:02.800 We chose to move. 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:04.319 We were excited about it. 00:06:04.699 --> 00:06:06.680 And we traveled in a comfortable ride. 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:09.399 I borrowed my brother's extended cab F-150, 00:06:09.879 --> 00:06:11.800 packed the kids in there with all of our stuff. 00:06:12.199 --> 00:06:16.159 And it took us about three and a half hours to go from Princeton to D.C. 00:06:17.159 --> 00:06:18.100 We were very comfortable. 00:06:18.100 --> 00:06:24.320 And this is not to mention that Susan, unlike Mary, was with child according to the normal way. 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:30.760 She wasn't living under the suspicion and the shame of a young girl who became pregnant before she was married. 00:06:31.520 --> 00:06:34.660 And despite all of those comforts, despite all of that excitement, 00:06:35.100 --> 00:06:37.340 and all of the safety nets, we're glad we moved, 00:06:37.420 --> 00:06:40.260 but we wouldn't want to do it again at the same time when Susan was so pregnant. 00:06:40.259 --> 00:06:47.319 And so I can appreciate but can't fully understand the anguish and the fear of Mary and Joseph 00:06:47.319 --> 00:06:50.560 who were traveling while Mary was so pregnant. 00:06:51.039 --> 00:06:54.860 And it was a dangerous journey, one that would have taken anywhere from seven to ten days, 00:06:54.920 --> 00:06:55.539 if you can imagine. 00:06:55.939 --> 00:06:59.039 I've never been pregnant, so I don't know, but I imagine it would be very horrible. 00:06:59.959 --> 00:07:05.480 You add to this the resentment and the bitterness and the rage, the anger, the hopelessness 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:09.079 of being forced to do this by Rome, the oppressors. 00:07:09.079 --> 00:07:13.699 And so all of those feelings filled their silence. 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:18.919 And in the midst of this silence, God finally speaks. 00:07:19.779 --> 00:07:24.039 In the midst of the deepest darkness, the true light, which gives light to everyone, 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:26.060 was coming into the world. 00:07:26.659 --> 00:07:31.019 An angel appears, a young girl, maybe 12 years old, maybe 14 years old, 00:07:31.219 --> 00:07:33.079 with tremendous faith says yes. 00:07:33.779 --> 00:07:35.959 And God is born as a little baby. 00:07:36.579 --> 00:07:37.959 The Messiah has finally come. 00:07:37.959 --> 00:07:42.899 It's an amazing story, but for many of us, I understand it's very familiar. 00:07:43.079 --> 00:07:47.439 We've heard it so many times, maybe since we were children, that it's become a bit rote. 00:07:47.579 --> 00:07:51.779 And so I want to try something a little different this morning to help make the Christmas story 00:07:51.779 --> 00:07:54.939 come alive for us so we can see it with new eyes. 00:07:55.479 --> 00:07:59.419 I want to consider the Christmas story with the aid of the vision of a Christian artist, 00:07:59.539 --> 00:08:00.279 a Christian painter. 00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:05.039 I want to do a little exercise in Visio Divina, sacred seeing. 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:08.460 So we'll use a painting to help illuminate the scriptures this morning. 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:15.200 Just like biblical commentaries on my bookshelf, paintings can serve as visual commentaries 00:08:15.200 --> 00:08:16.660 to help illuminate the scriptures. 00:08:17.320 --> 00:08:23.439 And I found this to be true of a painting called Nativity by an artist, a Chinese artist named 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:23.980 He Chi. 00:08:24.540 --> 00:08:29.939 The painting that we'll look at together to illuminate the text has the Nativity story, 00:08:29.939 --> 00:08:33.120 Luke 2, 1 through 20, collapsed into one canvas. 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:39.159 And the more I've reflected on this painting in my own devotional time over Advent and Christmas, 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:44.500 the more I see how Chi is a really careful and faithful interpreter of Luke's gospel. 00:08:45.299 --> 00:08:46.940 Hopefully it's on the screen here. 00:08:47.100 --> 00:08:49.039 You've been handed a program. 00:08:49.460 --> 00:08:53.639 If you open up the program, you'll see the painting on one side and the Nativity story, 00:08:53.720 --> 00:08:54.679 which we'll focus on. 00:08:54.679 --> 00:09:00.799 The screen sometimes is not ideal with the colors in the painting, so you have it right 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:01.439 in front of you. 00:09:01.779 --> 00:09:05.559 It'll be helpful to look at as we talk about Luke 2, 1 through 20 this morning. 00:09:06.239 --> 00:09:09.379 Also a fun thing for the kids to look at while we're all together. 00:09:10.059 --> 00:09:14.079 So I want to say a few things about the artist, an artist I've recently discovered. 00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:14.899 His name is He Chi. 00:09:15.079 --> 00:09:16.500 He was born in mainland China. 00:09:16.919 --> 00:09:18.239 He's a Chinese Christian artist. 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:24.539 And as a teenager during the Cultural Revolution, his job was to paint portraits of Mal. 00:09:24.740 --> 00:09:27.120 It got him out of hard work in many ways. 00:09:27.220 --> 00:09:31.940 He painted portraits of Mal because those were in high demand for people's homes during the 00:09:31.940 --> 00:09:32.740 Cultural Revolution. 00:09:33.419 --> 00:09:38.860 And while he was in studio painting these portraits of Mal, he happened to discover a painting by 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:43.639 the Italian Renaissance painter, Raphael, of the Madonna and the Child. 00:09:44.200 --> 00:09:46.820 And that painting changed his life. 00:09:46.820 --> 00:09:49.120 He was profoundly moved by it. 00:09:50.520 --> 00:09:53.900 And what he would do is during the day, he would do his job. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:55.220 He would paint portraits of Mal. 00:09:55.420 --> 00:09:57.420 And by night, he would paint portraits. 00:09:57.540 --> 00:10:02.560 He would reproduce Raphael's painting, and he would paint the painting of Mary and Jesus. 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:07.820 And this experience with that painting eventually led him to become a very serious Christian. 00:10:08.560 --> 00:10:13.260 He went on to study medieval and modern art in Germany and Chinese folk art in China. 00:10:13.259 --> 00:10:17.259 And we see all those influences coming together in this painting. 00:10:17.879 --> 00:10:20.039 The painting looks a bit like stained glass. 00:10:20.139 --> 00:10:25.779 The figures, you can see the influence of modern painters like Picasso or Chagall. 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:30.639 And it's all translated through the idiom of Chinese folk art. 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:38.819 Now, most of the art that she creates are just scenes from the Bible, which you should check 00:10:38.819 --> 00:10:40.000 him out after this sermon. 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:41.819 He has amazing paintings. 00:10:42.340 --> 00:10:46.840 And his art functions a lot like stained glass windows did in cathedrals. 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:50.720 They're not merely beautiful decorations, but they actually teach God's people. 00:10:51.660 --> 00:10:53.340 They are visual theology. 00:10:53.700 --> 00:10:54.500 They're beautiful. 00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:55.980 They're instructive. 00:10:56.220 --> 00:10:57.340 They're evangelistic. 00:10:57.899 --> 00:11:00.639 They are paintings that let the light in. 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:06.600 And so this morning, I want to allow this painting to help us see the nativity scene with fresh eyes. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:10.680 We'll begin with the angel at the top of the painting. 00:11:11.340 --> 00:11:14.440 And then we'll move clockwise and spiral into Jesus. 00:11:14.440 --> 00:11:18.120 And I want to look at three things as we consider the nativity story this morning. 00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:20.820 I want to look at the transmission of the gospel. 00:11:21.300 --> 00:11:23.620 I want to look at the scope of the gospel. 00:11:24.060 --> 00:11:27.260 And finally, I want to consider the person who is the gospel. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:31.720 So first, the transmission of the gospel will focus on the angel. 00:11:32.300 --> 00:11:35.420 And the angel here is at the top of the painting. 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:37.320 You see him flying. 00:11:37.780 --> 00:11:39.380 This is the angel Gabriel. 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:43.000 And he appears to the shepherds. 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:47.799 You can tell the people he's speaking to are shepherds by the shepherd's crook that one of them is holding. 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:51.039 And the shepherd preaches the gospel to the shepherds. 00:11:51.100 --> 00:11:52.980 It's what we read about this morning. 00:11:53.620 --> 00:11:56.200 In verses 10 and 11 of chapter 2, we read, 00:11:56.200 --> 00:12:16.360 The angel announces the good news of the gospel that the Messiah has just been born. 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:21.980 And if you look closely at the change in light divided by the geometric lines in the painting, 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:27.960 the angel's upper torso is breaking into an illuminated section. 00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:32.700 It appears that his message is shining light into the darkness. 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:37.919 As the angel is breaking through, it's almost as if he proclaims the gospel. 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:45.059 The dark veil, the darker blue colors around the edge, is being torn open so that we can see Christ illuminated. 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:54.159 I think this is a really powerful way, a visual way of showing that it's in the proclamation of the gospel that Jesus is seen most clearly. 00:12:54.899 --> 00:13:00.079 The proclamation is not based on our wit or our nuance, our strength of tongue, 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:02.800 but the power is in God's message proclaimed. 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:07.720 God's spirit, not our rhetoric, makes dead people come alive. 00:13:08.300 --> 00:13:09.720 It illuminates hearts and minds. 00:13:10.420 --> 00:13:12.820 I want to pause here and talk about this for a moment. 00:13:13.520 --> 00:13:17.139 You've probably heard the quote that's spuriously attributed to St. Francis. 00:13:17.900 --> 00:13:20.920 Preach always, use words if necessary. 00:13:21.160 --> 00:13:22.160 You've probably heard that before. 00:13:22.280 --> 00:13:25.520 I've seen it on a meme, maybe, on Instagram. 00:13:25.920 --> 00:13:26.920 Some of you may love it. 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:29.280 I resonate with it in a lot of ways. 00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:31.420 But I hate to break it to you. 00:13:32.400 --> 00:13:33.639 Francis didn't say it. 00:13:34.400 --> 00:13:36.320 And also, it's not true. 00:13:37.080 --> 00:13:38.420 Now, I appreciate the sentiment. 00:13:38.560 --> 00:13:41.100 I understand why it's a viral saying. 00:13:41.780 --> 00:13:44.180 Our lives need to reflect the gospel. 00:13:45.680 --> 00:13:46.400 Fair enough. 00:13:46.780 --> 00:13:50.379 It's important that we walk the talk that we share, 00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:52.200 that we live out the gospel, 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:58.320 but it's always necessary when we preach the gospel to use words, to use language. 00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:00.640 As great as these things are, 00:14:02.640 --> 00:14:06.580 preaching the gospel is not the same as doing random acts of kindness. 00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:10.379 Preaching is not some kind of altruistic performance art. 00:14:10.920 --> 00:14:11.040 Right? 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:14.560 It's good to do acts of kindness with no strings attached. 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:18.419 These develop relationships, and they earn you the right to be heard. 00:14:19.079 --> 00:14:22.899 But the gospel is transmitted through God's messengers, you and me, 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:26.319 sharing the message of Jesus with our words. 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:28.339 And I understand it can be frightening, 00:14:28.819 --> 00:14:30.799 but it's how people come to know Christ. 00:14:31.339 --> 00:14:32.219 Think about yourself. 00:14:32.819 --> 00:14:36.059 You're probably sitting in this pew, the pew that you're sitting in, 00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:38.919 because someone shared the gospel with you. 00:14:38.919 --> 00:14:44.079 Somebody loved you enough, somebody was brave enough to share the gospel, 00:14:44.219 --> 00:14:47.500 to tell you about Jesus, that Jesus loves you and died for you. 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:49.079 I thank God for them. 00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:52.500 I think about the people who loved me enough to share the gospel 00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:56.439 that allowed me to see Christ clearly, to become a Christian. 00:14:57.319 --> 00:14:59.079 And this makes me think of Romans 10. 00:14:59.819 --> 00:15:00.379 Paul writes, 00:15:00.379 --> 00:15:20.320 So if you're sitting in here this morning, 00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:21.820 if you're a Christian, 00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:24.379 you have been sent to preach. 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:26.980 So I want you to think as we approach the new year, 00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:29.200 think about the two or three people in your life, 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:31.879 maybe the Lord's bringing them to mind right now, 00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:35.120 people that you love who don't love Jesus. 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:39.860 What does it look like to love them well by sharing the gospel with them? 00:15:40.680 --> 00:15:43.860 I encourage you to do that as we step into a new year. 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:45.560 Make that one of your goals this year. 00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:46.879 Share the gospel. 00:15:48.400 --> 00:15:49.460 I want to move down to the right. 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:51.640 We see the shepherds looking up at the angel. 00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:55.000 These are the first ones to hear the good news 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:59.220 and then themselves bear witness to see the baby Jesus. 00:15:59.220 --> 00:16:04.539 They go and see Jesus, the first ones, after Mary and Joseph. 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:07.039 And then they become the first human preachers. 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:08.799 They share this message around. 00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:12.220 But I want to focus not on the shepherds this morning. 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:13.600 I want to focus on the sheep 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:16.340 as we consider the scope of the gospel. 00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:19.580 And by scope, I mean considering the gospel's impact 00:16:19.580 --> 00:16:22.080 and its implications in the world. 00:16:22.680 --> 00:16:25.980 The sheep, as I've studied the painting and reflected on it, 00:16:26.280 --> 00:16:28.360 have become my favorite part of the painting. 00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:30.680 In verse 8 of chapter 2, 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:33.540 we see that the shepherds are keeping watch 00:16:33.540 --> 00:16:35.280 over their flock by night. 00:16:36.060 --> 00:16:37.900 What that means is the shepherd and the sheep 00:16:37.900 --> 00:16:38.580 are there together 00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:41.520 and the sheep hear the message of the angel 00:16:41.520 --> 00:16:43.340 along with the shepherds. 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:45.420 And then the message that they hear 00:16:45.420 --> 00:16:47.000 is followed by a song. 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:50.240 We hear the first Noel, the very first Christmas carol 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:51.600 in verses 13 and 14. 00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:54.980 After the angel proclaims the gospel 00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:56.259 that Jesus has been born, 00:16:56.820 --> 00:17:00.019 a multitude of the heavenly hosts suddenly appears, 00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:02.059 praising God and saying, 00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:04.000 glory to God in the highest 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:08.039 and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:09.299 It's an amazing scene. 00:17:09.400 --> 00:17:10.220 So what's going on? 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:12.059 An angel appears, 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:14.839 the glory of the Lord shines, 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:16.319 it floods the field, 00:17:16.699 --> 00:17:19.659 and an angelic choir joins in and sings. 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:22.099 This is a song and light show 00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:25.240 that puts the best Hillsong worship experience to shame. 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:28.519 And she includes the sheep. 00:17:29.139 --> 00:17:30.240 And he paints them, I love this, 00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:31.679 he paints them as if they're dancing. 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:32.399 If you look at it, 00:17:32.439 --> 00:17:34.359 it's like there's a sheep conga line going on 00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:35.439 at the bottom of the painting. 00:17:36.139 --> 00:17:37.519 And this may seem like a stretch, 00:17:37.679 --> 00:17:41.019 sort of this creative license that she takes, 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:42.339 but I don't think so. 00:17:42.339 --> 00:17:46.099 Psalm 96 says that when the Lord comes, 00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:47.720 when the Lord arrives, 00:17:48.059 --> 00:17:49.740 all creation will rejoice. 00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:53.500 We see this in verses 11 and 13 of Psalm 96. 00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:54.919 This is from the NIV. 00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:57.220 Let the heavens rejoice, 00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:58.859 let the earth be glad. 00:17:59.679 --> 00:18:02.500 Let the sea resound and all that is in it. 00:18:02.939 --> 00:18:04.459 Let the fields be jubilant 00:18:04.459 --> 00:18:06.299 and everything in them. 00:18:07.199 --> 00:18:10.339 Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy. 00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:13.519 They will sing before the Lord for he comes. 00:18:14.299 --> 00:18:16.539 He comes to judge the earth. 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:18.720 In the nativity story, 00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:21.099 we see that the Lord has come. 00:18:21.659 --> 00:18:23.619 And she is painting this in his painting. 00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:25.240 Creation is rejoicing. 00:18:25.899 --> 00:18:27.419 And this, if we know our Bibles, 00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:29.659 this should come as no surprise to us. 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:33.079 Jesus did not come to just save human souls, 00:18:33.159 --> 00:18:33.859 though he did do that. 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:36.559 He came to redeem people of every tribe 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:38.980 and every tongue and every nation. 00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:41.779 But he also came to renew creation. 00:18:42.679 --> 00:18:44.039 And creation has been waiting. 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:45.859 Creation has been waiting for the Lord, 00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:47.980 just like the people of Israel. 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:50.079 We read this in Romans 8. 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:53.339 For the creation waits with eager longing 00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:56.059 for the revealing of redeemed human beings 00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:58.579 who will finally take up their vocation 00:18:58.579 --> 00:19:00.619 to faithfully steward the earth. 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:02.859 As Tommy preached about last week, 00:19:02.859 --> 00:19:05.059 stewarding the earth means cultivating it, 00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:06.159 protecting it. 00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:09.219 The gospel is indeed good news for all people, 00:19:09.479 --> 00:19:11.919 but it's also good news for the whole world. 00:19:12.919 --> 00:19:14.299 And so I want us to think for a moment, 00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:16.240 if the trees could talk, 00:19:17.219 --> 00:19:18.639 if the land that we farm 00:19:18.639 --> 00:19:20.579 or the oceans that we fish 00:19:20.579 --> 00:19:23.419 or the animals that we eat could speak, 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:26.159 would they rejoice at how the gospel 00:19:26.159 --> 00:19:28.000 has transformed our lives? 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:31.539 Think about our habits of consumption. 00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:35.220 Is our gospel good news not only for all people, 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:37.420 but for all the earth? 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:41.859 If not, I suggest our understanding of the gospel 00:19:41.859 --> 00:19:43.220 might be too narrow. 00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:46.880 As Christians, as disciples of Jesus Christ, 00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:49.460 I think we're called to reconsider 00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:52.599 what our faith means for the things that we buy, 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.819 the things that we consume, 00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.579 where we buy them from. 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.579 This is something Susan and I, 00:19:57.619 --> 00:19:59.740 and I know many of us in the congregation, 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:02.000 have been thinking a lot about these days. 00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:05.199 So we've looked at what the nativity tells us 00:20:05.199 --> 00:20:06.579 about the transmission of the gospel 00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:08.259 and the scope of the gospel. 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:10.159 Finally, and most importantly, 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:12.699 I want to consider the person who is the gospel. 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:14.839 I want to move to the center of the painting, 00:20:14.939 --> 00:20:16.919 to the focal point of the canvas. 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.679 We see Jesus, 00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:20.759 held by his mother Mary, 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:22.599 the favored one, the servant of the Lord. 00:20:22.659 --> 00:20:24.519 I wish we had more time to talk about Mary, 00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:26.480 but we're going to talk about Jesus. 00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:29.420 The infant Jesus, you'll notice, 00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:31.139 is the only figure in the painting 00:20:31.139 --> 00:20:32.879 that's fully in the light. 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:37.160 The whole scene revolves around this newborn baby, 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:39.660 the Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:41.480 Jesus is the focus. 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:44.720 He's the focal point of the painting, the world. 00:20:45.639 --> 00:20:47.059 And so we're going to end by looking at 00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:49.900 why Jesus is good news for the world. 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:51.960 Now, in some ways, 00:20:52.060 --> 00:20:53.540 the nativity story suggests 00:20:53.540 --> 00:20:56.120 that Jesus is just a normal baby. 00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:58.600 He developed in his mother's womb, 00:20:59.540 --> 00:21:00.440 like babies do. 00:21:01.080 --> 00:21:02.259 He was brought into the world 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:04.120 through his mother's painful labor, 00:21:04.580 --> 00:21:05.960 with all the hard work, 00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:07.540 with all of the beauty, 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:09.220 with all of the strength, 00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:11.100 with all of the pain that this requires. 00:21:12.280 --> 00:21:14.180 And he was tenderly held by his mother, 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:16.380 and he nursed at his mother's breast, 00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:18.900 and was wrapped in swaddling clothes. 00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:20.620 He was a normal baby. 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:22.740 Jesus is fully human. 00:21:23.780 --> 00:21:25.600 But in other ways, of course, 00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:28.760 Jesus was the least normal baby ever. 00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:30.920 His father was God. 00:21:31.020 --> 00:21:33.300 He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:35.220 He was brought into the world 00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:37.000 as the Son of the Most High 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:38.320 and born as a king, 00:21:38.740 --> 00:21:40.940 whose kingdom will have no end. 00:21:41.520 --> 00:21:44.020 And his birth was announced by angels. 00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:45.539 Jesus is fully human, 00:21:45.619 --> 00:21:47.000 but he's also fully God. 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:49.639 And he shows us what God is really like. 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:50.799 And it's surprising. 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:52.920 The exalted Son of God 00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:54.440 was willingly brought low, 00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:57.119 as Mary proclaims in the Magnificat, 00:21:57.460 --> 00:22:00.319 to exalt those of humble estate, 00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:01.700 to save sinners. 00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:04.879 The Son of God was born among farm animals, 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:05.619 not in a castle. 00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:07.639 And he was laid in a manger. 00:22:07.799 --> 00:22:09.299 He was praised by peasants 00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:10.379 and not by princes. 00:22:11.379 --> 00:22:13.279 And he ultimately established his kingdom, 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:15.059 not like most kings do, 00:22:15.139 --> 00:22:15.980 not by killing, 00:22:16.539 --> 00:22:18.460 but by being killed by the very ones 00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:20.920 that he loved and came to save 00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:22.460 and did save. 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:25.639 Christmas is an invitation to contemplate 00:22:25.639 --> 00:22:28.379 the absolute wonder of the incarnation, 00:22:28.619 --> 00:22:30.119 of God taking on flesh, 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:33.420 of Jesus being fully God and fully man. 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:35.539 It's hard to wrap our minds around it. 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:37.399 It's good to revisit from time to time. 00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:39.600 One of my favorite reflections 00:22:39.600 --> 00:22:41.519 on the mystery and the marvel 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:43.120 of the incarnation 00:22:43.120 --> 00:22:44.900 comes from St. Augustine 00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:47.080 in one of his sermons preached at Christmas 00:22:47.080 --> 00:22:48.920 some 1,600 years ago. 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:53.300 This poem is something that our family 00:22:53.300 --> 00:22:55.480 has read for the past 12 to 15 years 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.640 on Christmas morning 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:58.540 as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. 00:22:58.740 --> 00:22:59.800 I'll share it with you. 00:23:01.580 --> 00:23:02.200 Augustine writes, 00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:03.340 He's the word of God 00:23:03.340 --> 00:23:05.039 as he's talking about the tension 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:06.759 between Jesus being fully God 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:07.600 and fully man. 00:23:08.660 --> 00:23:09.840 He is the word of God 00:23:09.840 --> 00:23:10.940 before all time. 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:13.180 He's the word made flesh 00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:14.440 at the suitable time. 00:23:15.700 --> 00:23:16.660 Maker of the sun, 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:18.180 he is made under the sun. 00:23:19.120 --> 00:23:19.819 In the father, 00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:20.720 he remains. 00:23:21.620 --> 00:23:22.519 From his mother, 00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:23.580 he goes forth. 00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:26.240 Creator of heaven and earth, 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:28.720 Jesus was born on earth 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:29.660 under heaven. 00:23:29.660 --> 00:23:32.220 unspeakably wise, 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:33.640 as a babe, 00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:35.400 he's wisely speechless. 00:23:36.840 --> 00:23:38.120 Filling the world, 00:23:38.820 --> 00:23:40.140 he lies in a manger. 00:23:41.580 --> 00:23:42.800 Ruler of the stars, 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:45.360 he nurses at his mother's bosom. 00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:47.800 Jesus is both great 00:23:47.800 --> 00:23:49.480 in the nature of God 00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:52.560 and small in the form of a servant. 00:23:54.580 --> 00:23:56.180 I want to end this morning 00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:57.820 by talking about the little object 00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:59.700 that Jesus is holding 00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:00.339 in the painting. 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:01.659 I don't know if you've noticed that 00:24:01.659 --> 00:24:02.740 as you've looked at it. 00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:04.319 It's a small detail, 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:05.639 but it's a very important one. 00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:07.779 Jesus is holding an apple. 00:24:08.439 --> 00:24:09.639 Why is he holding an apple? 00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:12.460 Well, the apple is a clear reference 00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:14.000 to the Garden of Eden. 00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:16.859 Jesus here is painted 00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:19.339 as representing the second Adam. 00:24:20.159 --> 00:24:21.679 Chi is very intentionally 00:24:21.679 --> 00:24:23.220 linking Jesus to Adam, 00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:25.480 just as the Gospel of Luke does 00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:27.299 in the genealogy in chapter three. 00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:30.680 The apple is a powerful symbol. 00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:32.579 It says that where Adam failed, 00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:35.460 Jesus would succeed. 00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:37.660 Sin and death come through Adam, 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:38.700 but grace and life 00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.640 come through this baby, 00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.440 through Jesus, 00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:42.120 this person who is 00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:43.220 fully human being, 00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.360 fully God. 00:24:45.160 --> 00:24:46.220 The apple for us 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:46.779 is an invitation 00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:48.200 to a new way of life 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:48.740 where we feed 00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:50.220 not on the forbidden fruit, 00:24:50.940 --> 00:24:52.400 but on Jesus himself. 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:54.740 Jesus, the God-man, 00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:56.120 opens up for us 00:24:56.120 --> 00:24:58.200 a new way of being human. 00:24:59.280 --> 00:25:00.380 And believing the Gospel 00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:01.560 is not merely 00:25:01.560 --> 00:25:03.200 affirming a set of ideas. 00:25:04.100 --> 00:25:04.940 We do need to think 00:25:04.940 --> 00:25:06.380 right things about God 00:25:06.380 --> 00:25:07.000 and ourselves 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.560 and the world, 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:08.920 but it's not merely that. 00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:11.120 It's a relationship with God 00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:12.019 made possible 00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:13.460 through Jesus Christ. 00:25:14.040 --> 00:25:15.019 And this relationship 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:15.960 makes it possible 00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:17.440 for us to finally 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:18.820 be faithful human beings 00:25:18.820 --> 00:25:19.519 in the world, 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.880 finally at peace with God, 00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:23.200 with ourselves, 00:25:24.100 --> 00:25:24.840 with others, 00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:26.120 with the whole world, 00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:27.020 with all of creation. 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.500 And all of this 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:29.260 is made possible 00:25:29.260 --> 00:25:31.040 by and in 00:25:31.040 --> 00:25:32.660 and through Jesus Christ, 00:25:33.180 --> 00:25:34.580 the one who loves us, 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:36.960 the one who was born for us, 00:25:37.580 --> 00:25:39.200 the one who died for us 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:40.360 and who was raised for us, 00:25:40.840 --> 00:25:41.940 the one who is 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:43.380 the good news for the world. 00:25:44.040 --> 00:25:44.480 Let's pray. 00:25:47.820 --> 00:25:48.740 Father, thank you 00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:50.880 that you so love the world 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:51.860 that you sent your Son, 00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:52.660 Jesus Christ, 00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.700 that whoever believes in him 00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:56.540 might have eternal life. 00:25:57.860 --> 00:25:59.420 Lord, help us to marvel, 00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:00.620 to contemplate 00:26:00.620 --> 00:26:04.960 the miracle of the incarnation 00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:07.020 and all that it means for us. 00:26:07.100 --> 00:26:07.660 Thank you that 00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:10.200 the message is so profound, 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:11.040 Lord, 00:26:11.120 --> 00:26:12.860 that we only scratch the surface 00:26:12.860 --> 00:26:13.960 as we sing about it, 00:26:14.360 --> 00:26:15.800 as we consider paintings 00:26:15.800 --> 00:26:17.140 that depict it, 00:26:17.140 --> 00:26:19.040 as we read your word 00:26:19.040 --> 00:26:20.060 and study your word 00:26:20.060 --> 00:26:21.020 that describes it. 00:26:21.080 --> 00:26:22.880 Lord, help it to sink deep 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:23.759 into our souls. 00:26:24.540 --> 00:26:27.100 Help us to magnify the Lord 00:26:27.100 --> 00:26:27.840 as Mary did 00:26:27.840 --> 00:26:30.080 and help us to be more like him 00:26:30.080 --> 00:26:31.720 this Christmas 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.840 and this upcoming year. 00:26:33.520 --> 00:26:34.060 We pray these things 00:26:34.060 --> 00:26:34.780 in Christ's name. 00:26:35.280 --> 00:26:35.500 Amen.