WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000 We're going to continue with our Advent series going through Luke's gospel. 00:00:05.400 --> 00:00:09.640 Yeah, this account of Jesus' life and now his account of his birth. 00:00:10.120 --> 00:00:15.300 But why don't we pray before we do that, before Annabelle comes up to read, 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:18.559 because this is God speaking to us. So let's pray. 00:00:21.240 --> 00:00:26.879 Father, thank you that you are speaking, God. Thank you that you speak to words of love, 00:00:26.879 --> 00:00:30.279 words of hope, words of joy, words of salvation. 00:00:31.099 --> 00:00:35.519 Father, we pray that each of us would hear you speak today through the reading as Annabelle reads. 00:00:36.219 --> 00:00:41.340 Also, as I try to explain this passage, pray that you would speak to each of our hearts 00:00:41.340 --> 00:00:44.799 and would each of us hear what we need to hear from you today. 00:00:45.399 --> 00:00:48.640 Thank you for your love for us. In Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:50.359 Annabelle. 00:00:56.880 --> 00:01:09.159 The scripture for today comes from Luke chapter 1, verses 39 to 56. 00:01:09.500 --> 00:01:13.800 Please follow along on your Bible, on the bulletin, or on the screen. 00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:23.519 In those days, Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah. 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:27.099 And she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 00:01:28.140 --> 00:01:33.039 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. 00:01:34.179 --> 00:01:38.799 And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:43.979 Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:49.459 And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 00:01:50.280 --> 00:01:53.759 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, 00:01:53.979 --> 00:01:56.479 the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 00:01:57.359 --> 00:02:01.819 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment 00:02:01.819 --> 00:02:04.859 of what was spoken to her from the Lord. 00:02:04.859 --> 00:02:07.799 And Mary said, 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:14.879 My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 00:02:15.460 --> 00:02:18.560 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. 00:02:19.580 --> 00:02:24.300 For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed, 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:28.520 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, 00:02:28.939 --> 00:02:30.860 and holy is his name. 00:02:30.860 --> 00:02:36.540 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 00:02:37.320 --> 00:02:40.200 He has shown strength with his arm. 00:02:40.940 --> 00:02:43.740 He has scattered the proud in the thought of their hearts. 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:47.280 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, 00:02:47.540 --> 00:02:50.140 and exalted those of humble estate. 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:53.380 He has filled the hungry with good things, 00:02:53.740 --> 00:02:55.960 and the rich he has sent away empty. 00:02:55.960 --> 00:03:00.920 He has helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy, 00:03:01.040 --> 00:03:06.180 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his offspring forever. 00:03:07.620 --> 00:03:12.219 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home. 00:03:12.600 --> 00:03:13.800 This is the word of God. 00:03:13.800 --> 00:03:20.740 Thank you, Annabelle. 00:03:20.880 --> 00:03:24.320 That was really well read, as we'll come to in a moment. 00:03:24.860 --> 00:03:26.640 Because you could hear the excitement, right? 00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:27.480 You could hear the joy. 00:03:28.540 --> 00:03:31.040 Because, yeah, that is what's happening today. 00:03:31.200 --> 00:03:32.840 I mean, last week we talked about movies. 00:03:32.900 --> 00:03:35.020 If you were here, I want to do so again. 00:03:35.660 --> 00:03:37.900 Why do we often use movies as illustrations? 00:03:38.660 --> 00:03:41.560 Well, because movies are, well, they are art, right? 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:44.920 They are usually art that's supposed to have a message to us. 00:03:45.379 --> 00:03:46.599 And that's a bit like the Bible. 00:03:46.699 --> 00:03:52.060 The Bible isn't a dry theology textbook that you read, and it's all true. 00:03:52.640 --> 00:03:57.039 But, you know, it has theology, but it communicates it with literature, 00:03:57.659 --> 00:04:00.560 with poetry, right, with stories. 00:04:01.080 --> 00:04:05.259 It's supposed to be art, and that is supposed to communicate something. 00:04:05.659 --> 00:04:07.360 And that's what we see again today. 00:04:07.900 --> 00:04:10.080 Today, actually, we're in a musical, right? 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:11.820 You know, a musical, right? 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:14.560 It's a movie, and then suddenly everyone breaks into song, 00:04:14.780 --> 00:04:16.259 or someone breaks into song. 00:04:16.379 --> 00:04:19.120 And you kind of know this is an important moment. 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:23.199 This is when the story kind of stops, and we sing. 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:26.720 And that song kind of communicates some of the importance, 00:04:26.939 --> 00:04:30.360 some of the meaning, some of the emotion we should be feeling 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:32.080 at this point of the story. 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:34.819 And that is what we're doing today. 00:04:34.819 --> 00:04:37.839 And, I mean, it's not much of a musical, Luke's Gospel. 00:04:38.300 --> 00:04:41.120 There's only two songs, only this week and next week, 00:04:41.159 --> 00:04:42.319 and the rest is all stories. 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:44.480 So these must be important, right? 00:04:44.540 --> 00:04:48.879 If you were here a few weeks ago when we finished 2 Samuel, 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:50.019 there were all stories. 00:04:50.420 --> 00:04:53.259 But then at the end we had that psalm, that poetry, 00:04:53.579 --> 00:04:55.240 and that kind of really stood out. 00:04:55.579 --> 00:04:57.079 Okay, here is the big message. 00:04:57.079 --> 00:05:00.259 And again, today we stop. 00:05:00.699 --> 00:05:04.439 And, yeah, because Mary breaks out in song. 00:05:04.779 --> 00:05:05.859 That's what we're going to look at. 00:05:05.959 --> 00:05:09.459 I mean, we read slightly more, but I'll focus on this song 00:05:09.459 --> 00:05:13.399 that should give us the meaning and emotion of Christmas. 00:05:14.379 --> 00:05:15.620 Because we need that, right? 00:05:16.180 --> 00:05:17.159 I don't know how you feel. 00:05:17.719 --> 00:05:19.199 December is always so busy. 00:05:19.319 --> 00:05:20.479 It's the end of the semester. 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:23.659 It's a Christmas concert for the kids, 00:05:23.660 --> 00:05:28.100 and gift exchanges and office parties 00:05:28.100 --> 00:05:29.400 and all these kind of other things. 00:05:29.540 --> 00:05:30.900 And it's just so rushed and busy. 00:05:31.380 --> 00:05:32.680 And we don't stop and think, 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:34.000 what is Christmas really about? 00:05:34.420 --> 00:05:35.860 That's why it's great to come to church 00:05:35.860 --> 00:05:38.220 and it's great to look at this passage. 00:05:38.660 --> 00:05:40.300 Now, this is a very famous passage. 00:05:41.080 --> 00:05:42.879 That song has its own name. 00:05:43.280 --> 00:05:44.940 Maybe if you have a Bible, it says, 00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:46.680 in my Bible, it says, 00:05:46.860 --> 00:05:49.000 Mary's Song of Praise to Magnificat. 00:05:49.480 --> 00:05:50.940 If you ever hear Magnificat, 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:52.780 you wonder, well, that's this song. 00:05:52.779 --> 00:05:55.659 Basically, it comes from the Latin title. 00:05:56.339 --> 00:05:58.479 Magnificat mea anime dominum. 00:05:59.119 --> 00:06:00.779 My soul magnifies the Lord. 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:03.779 It just means magnifies in Latin, if you wonder. 00:06:04.379 --> 00:06:07.099 But, yeah, it's a wonderful song. 00:06:07.219 --> 00:06:08.299 And what do we see? 00:06:08.419 --> 00:06:10.259 What does this song communicate? 00:06:10.579 --> 00:06:12.159 Well, first of all, 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:14.539 I guess you can't get away from this passage 00:06:14.539 --> 00:06:16.679 that there's great joy, right? 00:06:17.379 --> 00:06:18.579 You can't avoid it. 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:20.539 All through, it's a joy. 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:21.659 That's why Annabelle read it. 00:06:21.660 --> 00:06:23.380 So, enthusiastically, right? 00:06:23.540 --> 00:06:27.120 Because people are filled with the Holy Spirit 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:28.939 and praising God. 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:31.780 And then there's babies leaping for joy. 00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:33.160 And Mary says, 00:06:33.260 --> 00:06:35.300 my soul magnifies the Lord. 00:06:35.380 --> 00:06:38.460 My spirit rejoices in God, my Savior. 00:06:38.940 --> 00:06:39.980 You couldn't sing, 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:41.860 if you would make music for this song, right? 00:06:41.860 --> 00:06:43.360 It would all be in a major key. 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:46.680 It would all be joyful and happy 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:50.240 because that is what it's supposed to be, right? 00:06:50.500 --> 00:06:52.600 That Jesus has come into the world. 00:06:52.740 --> 00:06:54.000 Jesus is going to be born. 00:06:55.199 --> 00:06:56.379 That gives such joy. 00:06:56.680 --> 00:06:58.300 Because joy, Christian joy, 00:06:58.420 --> 00:06:59.500 it's not just a feeling. 00:07:00.080 --> 00:07:02.939 It's not based on dopamine or whatever. 00:07:03.520 --> 00:07:06.540 No, this is because it has an objective basis. 00:07:06.540 --> 00:07:08.680 God has done something. 00:07:09.460 --> 00:07:12.340 And God has, yeah, well, he's, 00:07:12.500 --> 00:07:13.980 what does she rejoice in? 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:15.560 Rejoices in God, my Savior. 00:07:16.140 --> 00:07:17.460 God has brought salvation. 00:07:17.819 --> 00:07:20.020 And, you know, no matter what else life is like, 00:07:20.100 --> 00:07:21.700 I don't know if Mary had morning sickness, 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:25.680 but, you know, God's salvation gave her joy, right? 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:27.640 And it should give us joy. 00:07:28.459 --> 00:07:30.419 Christianity is a religion of joy 00:07:30.419 --> 00:07:32.539 based on, yeah, what God has done. 00:07:32.659 --> 00:07:34.019 It's all through Luke, right? 00:07:34.060 --> 00:07:35.319 In a few weeks, it's Christmas. 00:07:36.099 --> 00:07:38.339 And what does the angel tell to the shepherds? 00:07:38.659 --> 00:07:41.399 Behold, I bring you good news of great joy 00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:44.599 because today a Savior has been born to you. 00:07:44.860 --> 00:07:45.719 That same idea. 00:07:46.159 --> 00:07:47.599 If God comes to save, 00:07:47.599 --> 00:07:51.019 that is a wonderful occasion of joy. 00:07:53.839 --> 00:07:56.839 Actually, something that always has characterized Christians. 00:07:57.579 --> 00:07:58.719 I mean, if you think about that, 00:07:59.159 --> 00:08:00.699 you know, Christians always love singing. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:03.439 We sang today wonderful music, right? 00:08:03.479 --> 00:08:04.739 Full of joy. 00:08:05.579 --> 00:08:06.899 It's not a modern thing. 00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:08.959 You read some history. 00:08:09.599 --> 00:08:12.259 And like in the first century, 00:08:12.379 --> 00:08:12.839 there was this, 00:08:13.099 --> 00:08:15.019 we have this letter from some Roman guy 00:08:15.019 --> 00:08:16.959 to one of his superiors, 00:08:17.179 --> 00:08:18.979 and he was supposed to arrest some Christians. 00:08:19.719 --> 00:08:20.959 And so, well, I arrested them, 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:22.079 and I interviewed them, 00:08:22.419 --> 00:08:24.239 but they hadn't really committed any crimes. 00:08:24.359 --> 00:08:25.779 They just, they met together, 00:08:25.779 --> 00:08:28.459 and they sang songs to this guy called Jesus 00:08:28.459 --> 00:08:29.979 as if he's a god, right? 00:08:30.099 --> 00:08:31.979 But singing songs, right? 00:08:32.019 --> 00:08:33.019 In the first century, 00:08:33.179 --> 00:08:34.279 all throughout history, 00:08:34.839 --> 00:08:35.919 Christians love singing. 00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:38.500 I mean, who does that? 00:08:38.679 --> 00:08:40.759 You don't think of all the other major religions. 00:08:41.439 --> 00:08:42.939 In which religion do people, 00:08:42.939 --> 00:08:44.899 do all the believers gather together 00:08:44.899 --> 00:08:46.939 and joyfully sing songs? 00:08:47.139 --> 00:08:51.199 Christianity is slightly different from everything else. 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:53.800 Christianity is, yeah, 00:08:53.900 --> 00:08:54.740 it's about joy. 00:08:55.160 --> 00:08:56.740 Joy because God saves. 00:08:57.540 --> 00:08:59.759 But what about that salvation? 00:08:59.960 --> 00:09:01.280 We use that word a lot. 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:05.800 What actually does this song say God is going to do 00:09:05.800 --> 00:09:08.720 or has started to do with the coming of Jesus? 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:11.280 And that is what I want to look at today. 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:17.159 And the big thing we see here is a great reversal. 00:09:17.860 --> 00:09:18.339 Right? 00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:19.419 When you hear this song, 00:09:19.939 --> 00:09:22.620 God is going to turn everything upside down. 00:09:22.740 --> 00:09:25.199 He's going to reverse everything. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:28.919 The song basically falls into two sections. 00:09:29.259 --> 00:09:30.839 The first part is about Mary 00:09:30.839 --> 00:09:32.319 and what God did for her. 00:09:32.899 --> 00:09:34.699 And then the second part is more general, 00:09:34.860 --> 00:09:36.740 what God will do for everyone. 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:38.860 That's kind of the structure. 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:40.340 And they are related, right? 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:41.820 Because what does Mary say? 00:09:42.279 --> 00:09:43.279 Verse 48. 00:09:43.860 --> 00:09:47.600 For he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. 00:09:48.539 --> 00:09:50.879 And then later in verse 52, 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:53.320 he's exalted those of humble estate, right? 00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:54.440 God is consistent. 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:56.820 And what God did for Mary, in a way, 00:09:57.279 --> 00:09:59.759 is what he will do in some way for everyone. 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:02.360 Now, if you're interested, 00:10:02.500 --> 00:10:05.920 this song is a copy of Hannah's song in 1 Samuel. 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:08.279 Same kind of idea. 00:10:08.279 --> 00:10:10.159 First her and then everyone. 00:10:10.419 --> 00:10:13.019 And again, this theme of God reversing everything. 00:10:13.139 --> 00:10:15.620 It's part of the whole Old Testament feeling. 00:10:15.980 --> 00:10:17.399 I'm not going to talk much about that. 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:19.019 I talked about it two weeks ago. 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:20.939 Next week, Oscar will talk about it. 00:10:21.799 --> 00:10:22.879 But Mary. 00:10:23.179 --> 00:10:24.980 What did God do for Mary? 00:10:25.819 --> 00:10:28.620 Why is Mary so, wow, elated? 00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:31.000 What is the reversal for her? 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:32.939 I mean, it's huge for her, right? 00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:34.519 Verse 48. 00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:38.019 He has looked on the humble estate of his servant. 00:10:38.340 --> 00:10:42.199 For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed. 00:10:42.860 --> 00:10:47.120 She went from a really humble estate to being blessed by everyone. 00:10:47.740 --> 00:10:49.340 Because as we heard last week, 00:10:50.100 --> 00:10:51.259 you know, who was Mary? 00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:54.019 Mary was a teenage girl, right? 00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:55.720 Probably quite poor. 00:10:56.639 --> 00:10:58.100 She was from a nothing town, 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:00.759 from a marginalized people group. 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:05.480 I don't think anyone outside Nazareth would know about Mary, right, back then. 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:10.300 But now, all generations will call me blessed. 00:11:10.860 --> 00:11:12.740 Throughout history, she'll be honored. 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:14.700 Think about it. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:16.740 Who is the most famous woman in history? 00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:18.820 Have you ever thought about it? 00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:20.480 Who's the most famous woman in history? 00:11:20.620 --> 00:11:21.399 Who comes to mind? 00:11:22.740 --> 00:11:23.060 I don't know. 00:11:23.700 --> 00:11:24.100 Cleopatra? 00:11:24.800 --> 00:11:25.620 Yeah, the queen of Egypt? 00:11:25.879 --> 00:11:26.159 I don't know. 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:29.720 Marie Curie, who, you know, discovered radioactivity? 00:11:29.860 --> 00:11:30.440 Those kind of things? 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:34.720 Actually, the most famous woman is Mary, right? 00:11:35.380 --> 00:11:37.460 Billions of people around the world know her. 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:39.900 Throughout history have known this woman. 00:11:40.800 --> 00:11:42.660 She is the most famous woman in history. 00:11:42.880 --> 00:11:45.540 Because, of course, she had the most important job ever. 00:11:46.020 --> 00:11:47.840 Giving birth to the Messiah, right? 00:11:48.380 --> 00:11:52.140 Can you imagine carrying the savior of the world around for nine months? 00:11:52.280 --> 00:11:54.440 That's a very, very important job. 00:11:55.280 --> 00:11:55.640 But, yeah. 00:11:56.680 --> 00:11:57.860 But what an honor, right? 00:11:57.900 --> 00:11:58.960 For this teenage girl. 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:02.060 And now she's become the most famous woman in history. 00:12:02.180 --> 00:12:06.360 Just because God chose her for this really important job. 00:12:06.420 --> 00:12:08.500 To be part of his plan of salvation. 00:12:09.680 --> 00:12:10.920 But it's not just for her. 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:14.000 Because then it goes general. 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:16.920 God generally, he will, well. 00:12:18.340 --> 00:12:19.280 Verse 51. 00:12:19.500 --> 00:12:21.400 He has shown strength with his arm. 00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:24.400 He scattered the proud in the faults of their hearts. 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:27.500 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones. 00:12:27.699 --> 00:12:29.740 And exalted those of humble estate. 00:12:30.299 --> 00:12:32.340 And he's filled the hungry with good things. 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:34.500 And the rich he has sent away empty. 00:12:35.100 --> 00:12:37.419 God is turning everything upside down. 00:12:38.340 --> 00:12:40.059 Again, exalting the humble. 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:42.500 The upside down nature, kind of. 00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:45.639 Now, in a way, in a way it sounds good. 00:12:45.720 --> 00:12:47.519 But at the same time, it's a bit weird, right? 00:12:48.460 --> 00:12:51.120 You'd expect her to start singing about the cross. 00:12:51.299 --> 00:12:53.899 And you'd start to sing about sin. 00:12:54.079 --> 00:12:54.879 And something like that. 00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:55.679 Right? 00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:57.720 If you'd ask her about the good news of salvation. 00:12:58.559 --> 00:12:59.799 You know, if I would ask you that. 00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:01.980 Then I would expect those kind of things. 00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:04.539 Rather than things about the hungry getting food. 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:05.819 And the rich being sent away. 00:13:07.419 --> 00:13:09.759 Don't know if you were expecting these verses. 00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:12.480 And so I want to look at them more closely. 00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:16.080 Because they feel so social and political. 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:17.120 Right? 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:19.019 Bringing down people from the throne. 00:13:19.220 --> 00:13:20.340 And sending away the rich. 00:13:21.059 --> 00:13:22.580 That's not really what we expect. 00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:25.220 I mean, some people think, oh, this is like the French Revolution. 00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:26.220 Right? 00:13:26.779 --> 00:13:28.279 Of course, it's not a revolution. 00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:28.779 Right? 00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:30.220 It's not the people rising up. 00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:32.139 It is God doing it. 00:13:32.139 --> 00:13:35.639 This is what God one day will do to change the world. 00:13:35.779 --> 00:13:37.360 It's not about us. 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:41.019 You know, so this is not a revolutionary passage. 00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:45.899 But still, you know, what does this passage mean? 00:13:46.539 --> 00:13:49.480 I mean, we think, okay, verse 54, we can understand. 00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:49.779 Right? 00:13:50.180 --> 00:13:51.800 He has helped his servant Israel. 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:52.200 Okay? 00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:53.240 It's for God's people. 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:56.200 But what about the rich and the hungry? 00:13:57.340 --> 00:13:59.560 After all, you know, where would you put yourself? 00:13:59.659 --> 00:13:59.779 Okay? 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:00.960 There's the rich and the hungry. 00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:02.940 How would you describe yourself? 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:03.600 Rich or hungry? 00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:07.279 I guess most of us would say, hey, aren't we rich? 00:14:07.700 --> 00:14:09.000 Compared to the rest of the world. 00:14:09.980 --> 00:14:12.100 Now, what is God talking about here? 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:15.379 Well, who will be part of this? 00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:22.080 Well, actually, what God is, this reversal, it's all about justice and mercy. 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:23.700 That's what we're going to talk about. 00:14:24.200 --> 00:14:25.399 Justice and mercy. 00:14:26.560 --> 00:14:27.639 Now, why justice? 00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:36.879 Well, actually, it sounds social, but there is a kind of an ethical, there is a kind of God dimension to this, right? 00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:39.899 Because it's not just about rich and hungry. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:43.299 It says he scattered the proud, right? 00:14:43.340 --> 00:14:44.559 And he exalts the humble. 00:14:45.199 --> 00:14:48.699 So this is about more, the heart is mentioned here, right? 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:54.220 Some people, they are more Godward, the humble, and people who are opposed to God, the proud. 00:14:55.680 --> 00:15:00.340 And actually, in most parts of the world, those things are connected to your social status. 00:15:00.340 --> 00:15:04.399 I mean, how do people in most of the world get rich? 00:15:05.460 --> 00:15:10.019 You get rich through injustice, through corruption, through exploitation. 00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:15.780 When resources are scarce, if you have much more than everyone else, it's usually by the wrong means. 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:26.079 So when it says God will bring down, yeah, bring down the rich, that is about, yeah, people who are corrupt, people who are unjust. 00:15:27.659 --> 00:15:30.659 Often, social status is linked to faith. 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:36.360 In many countries, you know, Christians are among the poorest people. 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:37.620 Why? 00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:41.879 Because there's this majority religion, and Christianity is just a minority. 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:46.419 And the majority religion tends to discriminate against Christians. 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:51.879 And so, in many places, yeah, believers tend to be the poorest people. 00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:54.860 And then the rich are more than the majority. 00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:56.860 That's kind of what it is. 00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:59.360 It's what it was like for the Jews in Jesus' time. 00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:01.320 It was the Romans who were in charge. 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:07.120 And God's people, well, they were the oppressed who were, you know, they were under the yoke of the Romans. 00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:10.200 So that's the thing here. 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:13.320 And that is just a real thing for them. 00:16:13.660 --> 00:16:19.100 I mean, we say often disparagingly, okay, they were waiting for someone to save them from the Romans. 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:22.280 They needed someone to save them from sin. 00:16:22.660 --> 00:16:25.759 That's true, but they still needed someone to save them from the Romans, right? 00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:29.060 It wasn't wrong for them to want to be free of oppression. 00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:32.920 Because back then, believers generally were oppressed. 00:16:34.040 --> 00:16:36.160 And I don't know if you've ever thought about that. 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:37.900 Isn't that completely wrong? 00:16:37.899 --> 00:16:41.779 Isn't how the world is just wrong, right? 00:16:41.819 --> 00:16:45.919 That the people who are corrupt and unjust, they have the best life. 00:16:46.659 --> 00:16:50.139 And the people who are honest and caring, well, they're poor. 00:16:51.199 --> 00:16:52.179 That is wrong, isn't it? 00:16:53.220 --> 00:16:58.600 Those who love God and follow him, they are oppressed and discriminated against. 00:16:58.740 --> 00:17:01.279 And those who reject God, well, they're in power. 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:03.339 Isn't that the wrong way around? 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:05.960 Isn't that completely against God's character? 00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:08.220 Well, it is. 00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:13.379 And that's why God says, well, he's going to turn that upside down. 00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:16.819 Or actually, you know, the world is already upside down. 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:18.559 The world is the wrong way around. 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:22.799 And actually, what God is going to do, he's going to do it the right way up. 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:27.200 This is about God making the world the right way up. 00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:29.599 Bringing justice, right? 00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:33.960 It's not, yeah, it's not just random upside down. 00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:36.319 No, this is making the world as it should be. 00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:43.599 And you see that when you think, yeah, okay, social status and your attitude to God are linked. 00:17:44.139 --> 00:17:45.500 They're like an inverse. 00:17:45.919 --> 00:17:47.159 And now that's going to be said right. 00:17:48.639 --> 00:17:52.559 So, by the way, this doesn't mean if you're rich, that's a problem. 00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:55.139 It depends a bit how you got rich. 00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:59.399 If you got rich through injustice and exploiting people, maybe it's a problem. 00:18:00.399 --> 00:18:02.619 But otherwise, it's fine. 00:18:02.699 --> 00:18:06.740 Or if you're very successful because you've been hiding your faith, right? 00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:11.779 I mean, Hong Kong is a wonderful free place at the moment. 00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.899 It's easy to be a Christian. 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:15.480 But I sometimes, yeah, I met some lawyer. 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:18.359 And I would never tell my colleagues that I'm a Christian. 00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:19.959 It might hurt my career, yeah? 00:18:20.439 --> 00:18:24.480 If that's what makes you successful, that's not quite how Jesus wants you to live. 00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:27.339 So, justice. 00:18:27.459 --> 00:18:28.599 And that's a good thing, right? 00:18:28.619 --> 00:18:30.980 I hope you hear this and think, yeah, that's what it should be. 00:18:32.179 --> 00:18:35.819 But at the same time, there's a big focus on mercy. 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:39.879 This section on reversal, it's surrounded by mercy, right? 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:46.120 Verse 50, and his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:52.340 Verse 54, he has helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy. 00:18:52.840 --> 00:18:56.120 In both cases, right, there's mercy for God's people. 00:18:56.119 --> 00:18:58.979 And that is always good news, right? 00:18:59.059 --> 00:19:04.239 Justice depends on what side you're on, but mercy surely is always good news. 00:19:05.299 --> 00:19:06.399 But why mercy? 00:19:08.179 --> 00:19:10.639 Well, the Jews, they were maybe God's people. 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:13.199 And they were being oppressed. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:24.640 But if you read the Bible, and I'm sure many of us have done that over the past year, as we read through the Old Testament, they didn't really deserve good things, right? 00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:25.960 They had rejected God. 00:19:26.080 --> 00:19:27.580 They disobeyed his law. 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:31.660 In some way, their oppression was coming to them. 00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:33.100 That's the thing, right? 00:19:34.380 --> 00:19:37.340 They were sinners, and sinners get judgment. 00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:42.139 In the Old Testament, what happens when the nation sins, they would get oppressed. 00:19:43.699 --> 00:19:51.279 So there's a sense in which being poor and oppressed, it's just, you know, being under the judgment of sin, on judgment for your sin. 00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:56.359 And for God to then set them free is mercy, because they didn't deserve it. 00:19:57.399 --> 00:19:57.539 Right? 00:19:57.919 --> 00:20:05.019 That is, so in a way that this whole, you know, for the Jews, being set free meant being saved from their sin. 00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:09.420 And it's true that they were under the Romans, but that was just a symptom. 00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:16.240 In biblical thought, yeah, if you sin, you deserve judgment. 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:20.240 And that judgment often in the Old Testament came in terms of oppression. 00:20:21.579 --> 00:20:24.299 And in a way, isn't that the case for the whole world, right? 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:30.420 Because in a way, the whole world is sinful, and so the whole world is oppressed. 00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:34.799 I love that hymn we sang last week, O Holy Night. 00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:40.039 And there's this line, a long laid world in sin and error pining. 00:20:40.879 --> 00:20:42.379 But that's our world. 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.579 It's lying in sin. 00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:45.799 It's oppressed by sin. 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:47.639 It's covered in sin. 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:53.559 And with sin, the suffering, the curse, the brokenness. 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:56.200 All of that is lying on this world, right? 00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:58.339 And all of that is what affects us. 00:20:58.420 --> 00:20:59.619 It's what we suffer from. 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:02.479 Yes, for them it was the Romans. 00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:04.219 For us it comes in so many ways. 00:21:04.459 --> 00:21:10.679 But in a way, it means that actually all of humanity in some sense is oppressed, right? 00:21:10.959 --> 00:21:12.699 All of us are lying on our sin. 00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:15.579 You know, who is really in charge in this world? 00:21:16.179 --> 00:21:20.139 Well, it's sin and Satan and hell, right? 00:21:20.179 --> 00:21:20.779 And death. 00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:23.920 That is who really rules the world in some sense, spiritually. 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:34.299 And so the way the Bible develops, you know, ultimately this points to being freed from sin and its judgment. 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:38.720 And so that is something that's helpful for us. 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:46.319 Because yes, for them, rich and poor and the mighty and the humble, maybe we don't identify with that. 00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:49.880 But how many of us suffer from this broken world? 00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:53.079 How many of us, yeah, we were rich and successful. 00:21:53.720 --> 00:22:04.339 But we suffer from sin and we suffer from loneliness and from relational difficulties and from bodies that don't work and from health problems, right? 00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:11.799 The brokenness that lies on this world, that oppresses us, that we are in some way victims to, even though it's our fault. 00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:14.240 That is the world we live in. 00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:18.879 And God in his mercy will change it. 00:22:19.379 --> 00:22:23.259 He sees us oppressed, either by sin or by others. 00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:26.899 And his heart of mercy goes out to our suffering. 00:22:27.659 --> 00:22:32.439 And God sees the injustice and his heart of justice goes out to us. 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:44.980 And he sent his son to turn the world right side up, to change all that, to set people free, to set those oppressed by sin, oppressed by brokenness, free. 00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:46.680 Judge the proud oppressors. 00:22:47.080 --> 00:22:48.220 Bless his humble people. 00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:52.279 God is going to reverse, yeah, everything wrong with his world. 00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:55.880 Of course, he hasn't fully done that yet. 00:22:56.400 --> 00:23:01.400 You look outside the world and when you look in our lives, of course, so much is still wrong. 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:06.620 So, this is, you know, it's a plan in a few stages. 00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:08.640 And one day Jesus will come back. 00:23:09.100 --> 00:23:11.780 There's a delay to give people a chance to repent. 00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:15.340 But in a way, the end started, right? 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:17.960 The coming of Jesus was the beginning of the end. 00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:22.140 The beginning of the end of history when God makes everything right. 00:23:22.140 --> 00:23:24.900 And that's why Mary is singing. 00:23:25.320 --> 00:23:27.960 Because can you think of any better news? 00:23:28.800 --> 00:23:33.700 Can you think of anything more worth celebrating than God putting this world right? 00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:40.000 Getting rid of all the oppression and injustice and brokenness and curse and sin. 00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:41.440 Everything that we suffer from. 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:42.140 Right? 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:46.580 Freedom and mercy and justice for the oppressed in every way. 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:49.340 Reversal of the suffering and brokenness of this world. 00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:50.799 But it's wonderful. 00:23:52.199 --> 00:23:52.399 Yeah? 00:23:52.459 --> 00:23:53.759 So, this is wonderful news. 00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:55.839 And no wonder we should sing about it. 00:23:55.859 --> 00:23:57.339 And we have been singing about it. 00:23:58.740 --> 00:24:00.339 Though at the same time... 00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:05.799 Again, it's not necessarily for everyone, right? 00:24:06.399 --> 00:24:08.819 Because it does talk about some people being brought down. 00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:11.639 And some people not being part of it. 00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:13.879 It's not fully universal. 00:24:13.880 --> 00:24:19.580 And the angle here, that's an interesting angle, is about the proud versus the humble. 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:24.080 Because, you know, this is kind of wonderful news for the humble. 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:25.600 But it's not good news for the proud. 00:24:27.020 --> 00:24:29.700 But you hear that and you think, oh, that's very straightforward, right? 00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:30.780 This is about believers. 00:24:32.060 --> 00:24:35.040 But actually, you read on in Luke's Gospel. 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:38.220 And actually, proud and humble isn't always the same. 00:24:38.520 --> 00:24:38.680 Right? 00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:44.880 So, for example, Jesus told this story about the Pharisee and the tax collector. 00:24:46.080 --> 00:24:48.320 And you come from a basic Old Testament framework. 00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.720 Well, who's the good guy? 00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:50.820 That's the Pharisee, right? 00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:51.519 He's religious. 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.200 He's a good guy. 00:24:53.320 --> 00:24:56.500 And the tax collector, well, he's a traitor, right? 00:24:56.560 --> 00:24:57.500 He works with the Romans. 00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:59.039 He's rich, probably. 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.980 And so, that's the bad guy. 00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:03.519 That's how we think, right? 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:07.019 And so, the Pharisee will be exalted and the tax collector will be brought down. 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:12.940 But actually, what was their heart like, right? 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:19.579 The Pharisee, oh, God, thank you that I'm so good and I'm so holy and I'm so much better than everyone else. 00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:22.539 And he was rejected. 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:25.759 And the tax collector, he was humble. 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:28.019 Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. 00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:28.379 Right? 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:34.539 Sometimes proud and humble isn't exactly who we think it is. 00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:41.059 Because, in a way, Christmas is a very, it's a humbling message, right? 00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:42.799 Christmas is a wonderful celebration. 00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:47.440 But it's a celebration that God did something we couldn't do. 00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:51.660 And God came to save because we couldn't save ourselves. 00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:56.059 And Jesus came to get us out because we couldn't get out ourselves. 00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:58.720 I don't know if you ever thought about that message. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:00.079 Is that a message that you like? 00:26:00.819 --> 00:26:04.619 Because a lot of people don't like it because it hurts their pride. 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:05.940 Right? 00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:08.720 Because, I mean, for me, certainly, I don't like to be helped. 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.119 Right? 00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:12.419 You know, I often go shopping and I usually go walking. 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:15.399 And then my wife asks, oh, shall I pick you up? 00:26:16.119 --> 00:26:17.019 And I always say no. 00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:17.679 Right? 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:20.700 I mean, partly, hey, let's not waste fuel. 00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:22.339 I like the exercise. 00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:25.079 But also, I mean, do I look like I need help? 00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:25.679 Right? 00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:28.019 I don't need help. 00:26:28.099 --> 00:26:28.740 I can do this. 00:26:29.639 --> 00:26:32.339 You know, my pride gets in the way. 00:26:34.419 --> 00:26:39.039 But in a much bigger way, isn't Christmas the same thing? 00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.919 We need help. 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.299 We are sinners. 00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:42.980 We are oppressed. 00:26:43.079 --> 00:26:44.299 We can't get out ourselves. 00:26:44.599 --> 00:26:44.720 Right? 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:46.019 We can't save ourselves. 00:26:46.359 --> 00:26:47.599 That is the message of Christmas. 00:26:47.679 --> 00:26:49.259 And for some people, it's really offensive. 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:53.460 I have family members and I've tried to share the gospel with them. 00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:59.140 But the most difficult thing is just, yeah, accepting that I'm not good enough. 00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:00.180 Right? 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:01.779 Accepting that I can't save myself. 00:27:01.879 --> 00:27:04.039 That is such a message that hurts our pride. 00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.079 Right? 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:06.119 So how do you feel about Christmas? 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:10.240 How do you feel about this message that you can't save yourself? 00:27:10.379 --> 00:27:18.879 That you need, well, you're in such a desperate situation that God needs to come down and become a baby and die for you. 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:20.980 It's a very humbling message. 00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:21.560 Right? 00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:24.340 Especially if you're here, yeah, you're not yet a Christian. 00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:26.020 And maybe that is the thing that holds you back. 00:27:26.060 --> 00:27:26.240 Right? 00:27:26.560 --> 00:27:30.600 Because this is such an offensive message that we're not good enough. 00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:31.720 We can't do it. 00:27:33.380 --> 00:27:36.100 Christmas is for the humble, not for the proud. 00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:41.520 Or maybe it's people who are happy with the world as it is. 00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:41.780 Right? 00:27:42.580 --> 00:27:44.420 Maybe you've built a really good life here. 00:27:45.580 --> 00:27:48.600 Jesus says, you know, this world needs to be changed. 00:27:48.599 --> 00:27:51.139 But actually, hey, I've built a really good life here. 00:27:51.219 --> 00:27:52.500 My life doesn't need changing. 00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:53.259 Everything's good. 00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:54.559 I've done that. 00:27:55.159 --> 00:28:00.740 You know, sometimes there's not pride towards God, but just pride within this world, what we've done, what we've achieved. 00:28:02.139 --> 00:28:05.500 Actually, God says, well, no, the world needs to change. 00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:06.439 It's the wrong way around. 00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:09.619 And only the humble will accept that. 00:28:09.699 --> 00:28:09.819 Right? 00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:13.019 Only the humble will say, yes, my life needs changing. 00:28:13.099 --> 00:28:14.319 My life is not what it should be. 00:28:15.219 --> 00:28:16.339 Please come and change it. 00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:20.359 And maybe it's sometimes our attitude to other people. 00:28:21.819 --> 00:28:23.659 You read on in Luke's gospel. 00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:26.379 And we go on into Acts. 00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:29.179 And because that is a two-volume work. 00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:31.339 So this is, in a way, also an introduction to Acts. 00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:34.419 And then, well, it's a lot about the Jews and the Gentiles. 00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:34.679 Right? 00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:41.180 And you read Mary's song, the Magnificat, and you think, okay, it's the Gentiles who are going to get brought down. 00:28:41.320 --> 00:28:43.000 And the Jews are going to get exalted. 00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:48.500 Except that the Jews, yeah, they were happy to be rescued. 00:28:48.620 --> 00:28:48.799 Right? 00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:49.180 Yes. 00:28:49.320 --> 00:28:50.480 Oh, we need God's mercy. 00:28:50.620 --> 00:28:51.640 We can't save ourselves. 00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:54.900 But then God starts saving Gentiles as well. 00:28:54.900 --> 00:28:56.100 And then, oh, no, no, no, no, no. 00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:57.580 No, we don't want Gentiles. 00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:58.680 No, no, only for us. 00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:58.880 Right? 00:28:58.920 --> 00:29:06.960 There was a pride, maybe not in their goodness, but pride in their status, pride in their ethnicity, pride in their privilege. 00:29:08.420 --> 00:29:10.460 Again, maybe that's some of us here, right? 00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:13.160 That we think we're better than other people. 00:29:14.080 --> 00:29:19.340 We're better than, our kind of people are much better than those others over there. 00:29:19.339 --> 00:29:21.720 And I'm glad we don't have them in our church or whatever. 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:24.019 You know, that's not a good attitude, right? 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:27.179 The humble would say, I'm a sinner. 00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:30.139 I don't care what everyone else is like, but I know I'm not good enough. 00:29:30.859 --> 00:29:32.539 I'm no better than anyone else. 00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:34.159 That's humility. 00:29:35.899 --> 00:29:38.619 So, it's worth searching our hearts, right? 00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:41.099 How do we really feel about Christmas? 00:29:42.379 --> 00:29:43.799 Is there any pride? 00:29:44.139 --> 00:29:47.959 Or, yeah, do we see Christmas for what it is? 00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:49.480 Do we see our needs? 00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:51.500 Because that's what it is, right? 00:29:51.539 --> 00:30:01.340 If we feel proud, if we are convicted of our self-sufficiency, our independence, you know, our achievements, just confess your sin. 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.799 Admit your sin. 00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:04.480 Admit your failure. 00:30:04.840 --> 00:30:06.980 Admit your need for Jesus. 00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:08.180 Jesus, I need you. 00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:09.079 I can't do it. 00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:10.819 I can't save myself. 00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:12.940 I need you. 00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:14.519 That is what it's about, right? 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:16.340 It's about humbling yourself. 00:30:16.339 --> 00:30:21.099 Come talk to me after the service if you want to know more. 00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:23.959 I'd love to help you follow Jesus. 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:25.639 I'd love to help you surrender to him. 00:30:26.419 --> 00:30:28.220 But, yeah, Christmas, it is for the humble. 00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:31.359 But if you've done that, it's the most wonderful thing, right? 00:30:31.419 --> 00:30:32.279 It's salvation. 00:30:33.139 --> 00:30:33.579 Reversal. 00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:36.220 The world right side up. 00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:38.019 Everything we've been longing for. 00:30:38.639 --> 00:30:40.339 Everything we've been dreaming about. 00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:42.259 Everything we've been wishing was true. 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:44.440 Everything that God has promised. 00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:47.400 Everything that we never deserved. 00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:49.500 All because Jesus came. 00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:54.299 Because he was born and grew and died and rose. 00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:57.200 So that should give us hope, right? 00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:59.399 That should make us sing for joy. 00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:00.700 Even if life is hard. 00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.980 Even if we see the world. 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.480 We see the injustice. 00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:06.460 Maybe we see the brokenness in our own life. 00:31:06.839 --> 00:31:08.059 Maybe especially then. 00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:08.899 Right? 00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:11.000 Let's sing of Jesus coming. 00:31:11.139 --> 00:31:12.960 Let's sing of the change he brought. 00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:15.159 Let's sing of what he will do. 00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:17.299 And would that give us joy? 00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:18.519 Yeah? 00:31:19.399 --> 00:31:21.000 Why don't we pray for that? 00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:23.919 And then we'll take the Lord's Supper together. 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:37.360 Father, thank you that you are a good God. 00:31:38.019 --> 00:31:39.840 We see your goodness in so many ways. 00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:42.240 In this great salvation. 00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:43.560 This great reversal. 00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:46.980 This great thing that started with the birth of Jesus. 00:31:47.820 --> 00:31:49.680 And will be completed when he returns. 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:51.560 Thank you for your mercy. 00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:53.220 For sinners like us. 00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:54.380 Who couldn't save themselves. 00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:57.180 Thank you for your justice. 00:31:57.180 --> 00:31:59.000 That will make things as they should be. 00:31:59.539 --> 00:32:03.140 That makes things according to your holy righteous character. 00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:04.600 That the world is good again. 00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:09.079 Where goodness is everything. 00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:10.960 And sin is gone. 00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:13.160 Thank you that you will change the world. 00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:16.279 Thank you that it's not something that we do. 00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:17.599 It's all what you do. 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:18.960 Because we can't do anything. 00:32:19.660 --> 00:32:20.740 Just help us to be humble. 00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:22.879 Help us to see our needs. 00:32:23.940 --> 00:32:25.039 Help us to admit it. 00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:27.359 When our pride gets in the way. 00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:28.980 But to come to Jesus. 00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:30.579 To put all our hope in him. 00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:31.680 All our trust in him. 00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:36.180 And to then rejoice in what you have done for us. 00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:37.680 In Jesus name. 00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:38.660 Amen. 00:32:38.660 --> 00:32:38.720 Amen. 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:38.799 Amen. 00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:38.819 Amen. 00:32:38.819 --> 00:32:38.839 Amen. 00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:38.859 Amen. 00:32:38.859 --> 00:32:38.879 Amen. 00:32:38.879 --> 00:32:38.899 Amen. 00:32:38.899 --> 00:32:38.940 Amen. 00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:40.779 Amen. 00:32:40.779 --> 00:32:42.839 Amen. 00:32:42.839 --> 00:32:42.859 Amen. 00:32:42.859 --> 00:32:42.940 Amen.