WEBVTT

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 for all the things they had heard and seen,

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 which were just as they had been told.

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 This is the Word of God.

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 Now, as I mentioned, this is obviously a very familiar passage to many of us,

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 whether you are churched or unchurched.

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 Certainly you have heard this passage before and heard this story.

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 And while that's truly a blessing,

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 sometimes when we hear a story over and over again,

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 it can be somewhat domesticated.

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 It can easily be lumped into the rest of Christmas that we celebrate, right?

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 We think of the Santa Claus and the Christmas markets

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 and the trees and the lights and the gifts.

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 And while all these things, there's nothing wrong with them individually,

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 so often we put this story of the Nativity on par with all these cultural elements.

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 In fact, probably this Nativity story,

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 if you think about Bible stories and unbelievers,

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 this would not be an offensive story to most, right?

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 Because they see it as being something that's tame,

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 that's warm-hearted, that's cute, perhaps.

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 But as we look at this passage tonight,

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 I want this to be anything but that.

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 I want to be able to see this story with fresh eyes tonight

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 because this is a story about fear.

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 It's a story that has elements of shock.

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 This is an army of angels, a coming king, a radical salvation plan.

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 And so while this story certainly brings comfort to us,

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 it should also invoke awe and wonder and praise and worship

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 because this story screams to us of the glory of God.

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 And so that's what I want us to focus on tonight

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 is the glory of God that we see in this passage.

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 And so if I were to ask you to define what the glory of God is,

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 I imagine there would probably be as many different answers

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 as there are people here this evening.

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 And not to say any of those answers would necessarily be wrong

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 because the glory of God is revealed and defined

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 in many different ways within the Scripture.

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 And so tonight I want us to look at just three of these different ways

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 where we see the glory of God

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 because glory is mentioned three different times in this passage.

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 And each time that glory is mentioned,

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 it's used in a slightly different manner.

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 We see glory when the glory of God,

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 it says it surrounded the shepherds and they were afraid.

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 It says that the angels sang of the glory of God.

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 And then it says that the shepherds glorified God

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 for all they had heard and seen.

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 And so these are the elements that I want us to think about.

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 God's glory in three parts.

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 I want us to consider the glory of God in His presence.

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 I want us to think about the glory in God's essence or His being

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 and the glory in man's response.

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 And so let's look first at the glory of God in His presence.

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 Look again at verse 7 and 8, or excuse me, 8 and 9.

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 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,

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 keeping watch over their flocks at night.

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 And the angel of the Lord appeared to them,

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 and the glory of the Lord shone around them,

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 and they were terrified.

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 Now I'm sure many of you have different Christmas traditions in your home.

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 One tradition that my family has done for a number of years now

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 is something we call a shepherd's meal.

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 So on Christmas Eve, and we'll do it this evening,

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 on Christmas Eve before the kids go to bed,

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 we gather in our living room,

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 and we lay out a blanket on the floor,

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 we turn off all the lights,

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 and we have a very simple meal of usually fruit and bread and cheese,

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 something similar to what the shepherds might have had that night.

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 And we sit there, and we think and we talk about

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 what the shepherds may have experienced

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 when they were confronted by those angels,

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 what they would have seen, what they would have heard,

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 what they would have felt.

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 And while certainly this would be probably more realistic

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 if we were to go like up to the Pentlands

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 and do this in the middle of the night rather than just in our living room,

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 it's a good exercise for us to think about

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 what the shepherds would have experienced.

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 But I think the thing that often happens here

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 is that we can jump forward in the shepherds' emotion.

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 Right?

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 We can jump forward to the awe and the excitement

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 of what they experience

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 without really recognizing that first emotion

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 emotion that they felt was terror and fear.

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 It's hard to replicate terror and fear in our living room.

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 But think about this level of terror and panic

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 that the shepherds would have experienced here.

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 Why were they fearful?

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 It says, because the glory of the Lord shone around them.

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 See, the Bible, it often speaks of the presence of God as his glory.

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 If you're familiar with the Old Testament,

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 you know that the people of Israel were led out of Egypt

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 by this pillar of light or this cloud that led before them,

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 which was the glory of God.

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 In the tent of meeting,

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 it talks about this glory cloud that hovered over it.

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 When the tabernacle was completed,

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 it says the glory of God filled the temple.

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 And so the Old Testament,

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 the people of Israel so closely related

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 God's presence with his glory

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 that when they lost in battle to the Philistines

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 and the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant,

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 they cried out.

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 He said, the glory of God has departed from Israel

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 for the Ark of our God has been captured.

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 And so we see then that glory is this special term

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 that's used in the Bible often

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 that depicts God's visible and active presence

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 among his people.

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 And so what happens when often in the Bible

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 when we see people are confronted with the glory of God,

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 how do they respond?

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 It's with fear.

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 Right?

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 We read earlier from Isaiah 6,

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 which talks about Isaiah sees God on his throne

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 in all of his glory.

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 And how does Isaiah respond?

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 He says, woe is me, I am a dead man.

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 When Peter, James, and John,

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 they recognize they're with Jesus

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 when he is transfigured,

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 and they hear the voice of God from heaven,

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 what do they do?

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 They fall on their faces in fear.

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 And so almost every time in the Bible

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 when these men and these women

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 encounter the presence of God

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 and they fall on their faces in fear,

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 what's the next command?

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 Don't be afraid.

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 It's what we see here as well.

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 Don't be afraid.

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 Why should they not be afraid?

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 Because this is not God coming to judge.

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 This is God coming to announce good news.

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 When it says good news,

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 this is where we get our word for the gospel.

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 This is the good news,

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 that God is not merely revealing his glory

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 through these angels for this one-time announcement.

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 The good news is that God is revealing his glory

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 through his Son.

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 God's presence will be with his people

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 through the coming of his Son, Jesus.

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 And so he says this is the good news

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 that brings great joy for all people.

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 This is not good news.

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 The good news of Christmas is not for some people.

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 It's not for the religious,

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 and it's not for the righteous.

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 It makes no difference your nationality

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 or your race,

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 your socioeconomic status,

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 your background,

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 your history.

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 This Christmas story,

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 this gospel message,

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 is good news for all.

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 And we see that

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 because who is this message delivered to?

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 Right?

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 This message isn't for the political leaders

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 or the religious leaders of the day.

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 This isn't for the chief priests

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 or the Pharisees

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 or an announcement to Caesar himself.

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 This is a message to a bunch of lowly shepherds,

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 a bunch of wandering,

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 smelly outdoorsmen,

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 the lowest of the low in society,

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 people who were ritually unclean,

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 who were regarded as so untrustworthy

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 that their testimony

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 wouldn't have even been accepted in court.

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 Yet God chooses these men

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 to announce the birth of Jesus,

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 that they may hear it

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 and share it with others.

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 And so this is the good news

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 that's announced in verse 11.

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 Today in the town of David,

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 a Savior has been born to you.

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 He is the Messiah, the Lord.

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 Listen to those three titles

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 that we hear in here.

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 It talks about Jesus as our Savior,

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 as our Messiah,

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 and our Lord.

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 This is the only place

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 in the whole New Testament

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 that we see these titles combined at once.

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 And so while we don't have time

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 to kind of break apart

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 every single title

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 and what their significance is,

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 I want to look at them

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 at least briefly

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 to recognize

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 when it talks about Jesus

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 as our Savior.

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 What does that mean?

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 Jesus has come

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 to take away our sins.

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 In the Old Testament,

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 God is referred to

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 as the God of our salvation.

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 That salvation has now come

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 in the person of Jesus.

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 It says he is our Messiah

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 or our Christ.

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 It's a title for the Anointed One.

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 This is what we read also

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 from Isaiah,

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 that this coming king

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 would reign on David's throne

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 over his kingdom.

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 And it says he is Lord.

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 It's making clear the point

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 that Jesus was not just

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 a regular man,

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 that this is Yahweh,

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 the Lord God Almighty

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 is now dwelling among his people.

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 And so the question then is,

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 well, how is this glorious king

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 going to save?

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 The angels say

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 that there's a sign.

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 What do you think

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 that the shepherds

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 would have anticipated

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 when they see the glory

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 of God in their presence

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 announcing the coming

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 of the Savior

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 that Jesus is coming

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 on this flaming chariot

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 from heaven?

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 That Jesus' presence

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 is somehow going to

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 kind of manifest

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 in the temple somehow?

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 Or at least he's going

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 to be born

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 to this wealthy,

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 religious family

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 or some political leader

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 to establish his kingdom?

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 No.

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 This will be a sign to you.

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 You will find the baby

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 wrapped in rags

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 and lying in a feeding trough.

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 Does that not just

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 strike you as bizarre?

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 Can you imagine

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 how the shepherds

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 would have responded to that?

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 The presence of God,

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 the glory that we see now,

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 his presence coming

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 in a barn,

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 in a poor baby.

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 How is this glorious?

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 How is this going to lead

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 to anyone's salvation?

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 How in the world

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 is this little baby

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 going to become king?

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 This passage is telling us

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 of the humiliation of Christ

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 that he took on our nature.

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 This infinite God

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 became a finite man.

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 The creator of the universe

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 was born of a woman.

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 Not only did he take on our nature,

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 he took on our condition.

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 Isaiah also says

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 in chapter 53,

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 Surely he took up our pain

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 and bore our suffering.

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 Yet we considered him

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 punished by God,

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 stricken by men,

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 and afflicted.

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 You see,

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 he came to save sinners

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 like you and me

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 by standing in our place,

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 by taking the penalty

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 for our sin.

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 And so this is the presence

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 of God that we see

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 in his glory.

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 Let's think then

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 of that second instance

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 of glory.

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 The second time

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 that we see glory

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 in this passage.

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 The glory of God's essence

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 or his being.

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 Verse 13,

00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:33.379
 Suddenly a great company

00:11:33.379 --> 00:11:34.259
 of the heavenly hosts

00:11:34.259 --> 00:11:35.120
 appeared with the angel

00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:35.939
 praising God

00:11:35.939 --> 00:11:36.319
 and saying,

00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:37.240
 Glory to God

00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:38.039
 in the highest heaven

00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:39.319
 and on earth peace

00:11:39.319 --> 00:11:40.600
 to those on whom

00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:41.360
 his favor rests.

00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:43.159
 Now have you ever thought

00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:44.559
 about this term glory here?

00:11:45.199 --> 00:11:46.240
 Because I think we read it

00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:46.659
 and we think

00:11:46.659 --> 00:11:47.759
 this must be a command.

00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:48.519
 Right?

00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:49.340
 This is a verb.

00:11:49.439 --> 00:11:50.319
 The angels are telling

00:11:50.319 --> 00:11:50.899
 the shepherds

00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:52.519
 that you need to glorify God

00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:53.899
 or at least we angels

00:11:53.899 --> 00:11:55.220
 need to be glorifying God.

00:11:56.220 --> 00:11:57.659
 Glory here is not a verb.

00:11:57.659 --> 00:11:58.819
 There's actually no verb

00:11:58.819 --> 00:11:59.620
 in this sentence

00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:01.019
 in the Greek.

00:12:01.839 --> 00:12:03.199
 Glory is a noun here

00:12:03.199 --> 00:12:04.879
 and it's used more

00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:05.779
 as an observation.

00:12:06.059 --> 00:12:06.539
 It's used more

00:12:06.539 --> 00:12:07.919
 as a statement of fact.

00:12:08.939 --> 00:12:09.699
 The angels here

00:12:09.699 --> 00:12:10.699
 are praising God

00:12:10.699 --> 00:12:12.240
 for who he is.

00:12:12.539 --> 00:12:14.079
 He is intrinsically glorious

00:12:14.079 --> 00:12:15.100
 in his worth,

00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:16.339
 in his sufficiency,

00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:17.439
 in his beauty,

00:12:17.779 --> 00:12:18.839
 in his splendor,

00:12:18.919 --> 00:12:19.799
 in his majesty.

00:12:21.039 --> 00:12:21.919
 God is glorious

00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:24.240
 in his very being.

00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:26.100
 And his glory

00:12:26.100 --> 00:12:27.079
 doesn't fluctuate.

00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:28.080
 It doesn't change

00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:29.200
 based on what you think

00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:29.680
 of God,

00:12:29.860 --> 00:12:31.180
 whether you acknowledge it,

00:12:31.259 --> 00:12:32.340
 whether you appreciate it

00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:32.680
 or not.

00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:34.980
 He is who he is.

00:12:36.400 --> 00:12:37.400
 But the wonderful thing

00:12:37.400 --> 00:12:38.500
 about this passage here

00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:39.980
 is that he is revealing

00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:41.020
 his glory to us.

00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:42.060
 God is bringing

00:12:42.060 --> 00:12:43.259
 his presence down.

00:12:43.680 --> 00:12:44.680
 He's displaying for us

00:12:44.680 --> 00:12:45.639
 just a glimpse

00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:48.200
 of his divine perfections

00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:49.400
 to us.

00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:52.039
 And so think about

00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:52.819
 what we read again

00:12:52.819 --> 00:12:53.840
 in Isaiah 6.

00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:56.159
 This image that Isaiah has

00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:57.500
 of the Lord,

00:12:57.639 --> 00:12:58.740
 high and exalted,

00:12:58.959 --> 00:12:59.899
 seated on the throne.

00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:01.360
 The train of his robe

00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:02.100
 filled the temple.

00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:04.179
 These angels crying out,

00:13:04.319 --> 00:13:04.620
 Holy,

00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:05.199
 Holy,

00:13:05.340 --> 00:13:05.639
 Holy

00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:06.840
 is the Lord Almighty.

00:13:06.939 --> 00:13:07.699
 The whole earth

00:13:07.699 --> 00:13:08.620
 is full of his glory.

00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:10.159
 This is the glory

00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:11.720
 that the angels witness.

00:13:12.860 --> 00:13:14.000
 This is the glory

00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:14.840
 that these angels

00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:15.659
 have worshipped

00:13:15.659 --> 00:13:16.720
 since their creation.

00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:18.860
 And so now these angels

00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:19.620
 with that knowledge

00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:21.019
 are announcing this glory

00:13:21.019 --> 00:13:21.920
 to the shepherds.

00:13:23.420 --> 00:13:25.000
 Not only what God

00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:25.920
 is doing here,

00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:27.060
 not only who he is,

00:13:27.139 --> 00:13:28.240
 but also what he's doing.

00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:29.980
 Because they're proclaiming

00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:31.200
 that this glory of God

00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:32.580
 is now being revealed.

00:13:32.920 --> 00:13:34.279
 The glory is being revealed

00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:34.879
 to man

00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:36.120
 through the birth of Jesus.

00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:39.320
 And so what's the result

00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:40.720
 of this glory?

00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:43.139
 It says peace.

00:13:44.700 --> 00:13:45.600
 God's glory

00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:47.440
 displayed in the person

00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:48.060
 of Jesus

00:13:48.060 --> 00:13:50.200
 brings us peace.

00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:52.779
 Isn't that astounding?

00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:54.340
 I mean,

00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:55.500
 think about these angels.

00:13:55.960 --> 00:13:57.040
 Oftentimes when we picture

00:13:57.040 --> 00:13:57.700
 these angels,

00:13:57.860 --> 00:13:57.980
 right,

00:13:58.040 --> 00:13:59.620
 they're rather feminine looking,

00:13:59.779 --> 00:14:00.720
 they're in these long,

00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:01.920
 flowing white gowns

00:14:01.920 --> 00:14:02.560
 with long hair,

00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:03.659
 and they're all floating about

00:14:03.659 --> 00:14:04.519
 like a choir, right?

00:14:05.300 --> 00:14:06.500
 That's not how Luke

00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:07.580
 describes them here.

00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:09.620
 Luke describes them

00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:11.660
 as a large heavenly army.

00:14:12.660 --> 00:14:14.000
 An army announcing

00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:15.840
 the arrival of a perfect,

00:14:16.220 --> 00:14:17.259
 almighty king

00:14:17.259 --> 00:14:18.019
 of the universe

00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:19.539
 who's come into a world

00:14:19.539 --> 00:14:20.419
 of rebellious sinners.

00:14:22.179 --> 00:14:23.519
 How does that strike you?

00:14:24.580 --> 00:14:25.639
 What is this message

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.100
 that's to be brought?

00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:27.139
 It sounds like judgment

00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:28.340
 is about to rain down.

00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:30.360
 That God is going to come

00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:31.679
 with his royal armies

00:14:31.679 --> 00:14:34.200
 to seek to destroy

00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:34.980
 and bring death.

00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:37.419
 But yet that's not

00:14:37.419 --> 00:14:37.980
 what these angels

00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:38.460
 are announcing.

00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:39.539
 Not death and destruction.

00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:40.399
 They are announcing

00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:41.659
 the peace

00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:43.379
 that God is bringing.

00:14:44.539 --> 00:14:45.639
 Peace between heaven

00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:46.139
 and earth.

00:14:47.819 --> 00:14:48.459
 Peace between

00:14:48.459 --> 00:14:49.100
 an infinite,

00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:50.399
 holy God

00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:51.100
 and a corrupt,

00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:52.340
 sinful people.

00:14:54.299 --> 00:14:55.220
 And it's this peace

00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:56.720
 that only comes

00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:57.879
 through the shedding

00:14:57.879 --> 00:14:58.360
 of blood.

00:14:59.000 --> 00:14:59.559
 It's a peace

00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:00.579
 that only comes

00:15:00.579 --> 00:15:01.779
 by the washing away

00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:02.939
 of our sin

00:15:02.939 --> 00:15:03.939
 and our guilt,

00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:04.559
 by receiving

00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:05.279
 a righteousness

00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:06.819
 that is not our own

00:15:06.819 --> 00:15:08.419
 and that we do not deserve.

00:15:08.419 --> 00:15:11.319
 Peace that only comes

00:15:11.319 --> 00:15:13.240
 through this baby Jesus

00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:15.899
 who is born to die

00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:17.579
 so that we might live.

00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:19.879
 This is what we're going

00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:20.620
 to sing about at the end

00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:21.039
 when we sing

00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:22.039
 Hark the Herald Angels

00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:23.379
 sing this refrain.

00:15:23.579 --> 00:15:25.419
 Mild he lays his glory by.

00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:26.399
 Born that man

00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:27.379
 no more may die.

00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:28.799
 Born to raise

00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:30.179
 the sons of earth.

00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:31.459
 Born to give them

00:15:31.459 --> 00:15:32.959
 second birth.

00:15:35.099 --> 00:15:37.299
 This is the glory of God.

00:15:38.419 --> 00:15:39.799
 So let's consider

00:15:39.799 --> 00:15:41.479
 then that third glory.

00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:43.259
 The glory that we see

00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:44.559
 in the response

00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:45.500
 of the shepherds.

00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:46.659
 The shepherds

00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:47.779
 receive this message

00:15:47.779 --> 00:15:48.659
 from the angels.

00:15:49.459 --> 00:15:50.219
 They hurry off

00:15:50.219 --> 00:15:50.939
 to see what the Lord

00:15:50.939 --> 00:15:51.740
 had told them about

00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:52.439
 and verse 20

00:15:52.439 --> 00:15:53.159
 it says the shepherds

00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:55.079
 returned glorifying

00:15:55.079 --> 00:15:55.879
 and praising God

00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:56.879
 for all the things

00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:57.500
 they had heard

00:15:57.500 --> 00:15:58.139
 and seen

00:15:58.139 --> 00:15:59.179
 which were just

00:15:59.179 --> 00:16:00.139
 as they had been told.

00:16:02.439 --> 00:16:03.819
 Now we see here

00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:04.399
 that the shepherds

00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:05.000
 they witnessed

00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:05.839
 the glory of God

00:16:05.839 --> 00:16:07.779
 in this infant baby Jesus

00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:08.339
 and it says

00:16:08.339 --> 00:16:09.339
 it leads them

00:16:09.339 --> 00:16:10.899
 to glorify God.

00:16:12.339 --> 00:16:12.779
 So you see

00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:13.839
 while God's glory

00:16:13.839 --> 00:16:14.759
 it can refer to

00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:15.600
 his presence

00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:16.779
 it can refer to

00:16:16.779 --> 00:16:17.459
 his essence

00:16:17.459 --> 00:16:18.720
 it also describes

00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:20.039
 the appropriate response

00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:20.939
 of God's people

00:16:20.939 --> 00:16:22.139
 to respond

00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:23.339
 in worship.

00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:25.779
 These shepherds

00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:26.500
 were the first

00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:27.220
 to be told

00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:28.360
 of this Messiah's birth

00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:30.100
 and how do they respond?

00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:31.000
 They go immediately

00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:31.600
 to Bethlehem

00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.879
 they see this baby Jesus

00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:34.059
 they tell others

00:16:34.059 --> 00:16:34.819
 what they saw

00:16:34.819 --> 00:16:36.179
 and they glorify God.

00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:39.000
 when we see

00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:39.639
 God's glory

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.779
 it should compel

00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:41.799
 us also

00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:43.679
 to give God glory

00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:45.539
 because remember

00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:46.339
 these shepherds

00:16:46.339 --> 00:16:46.939
 they didn't have

00:16:46.939 --> 00:16:47.620
 the full story

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:49.219
 right?

00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:49.979
 They were told

00:16:49.979 --> 00:16:50.819
 a limited amount

00:16:50.819 --> 00:16:51.500
 of information

00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.779
 by those angels

00:16:52.779 --> 00:16:53.319
 that they would

00:16:53.319 --> 00:16:54.279
 find the baby

00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:55.279
 wrapped in swath

00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:55.679
 and clothes

00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:56.739
 lying in a manger.

00:16:58.159 --> 00:16:59.439
 They weren't told

00:16:59.439 --> 00:17:00.259
 how this baby

00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:01.639
 would be their savior.

00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:02.259
 They didn't have

00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:02.759
 the benefit

00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:04.339
 of hearing him preach

00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:05.279
 or seeing his miracles

00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:05.759
 performed.

00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:06.559
 They didn't know

00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.539
 how he would live

00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:08.160
 or die

00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:09.339
 or rise from the dead

00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:11.059
 and yet they're still

00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:12.420
 compelled to give him glory.

00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.200
 And so consider

00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:16.399
 our own situation.

00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:18.399
 We know

00:17:18.399 --> 00:17:19.119
 the full story.

00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:20.039
 We have

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:21.220
 the gospel message.

00:17:21.379 --> 00:17:22.200
 We have God's word

00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:23.099
 that tells us

00:17:23.099 --> 00:17:23.899
 this good news

00:17:23.899 --> 00:17:25.180
 that the son of God

00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:26.299
 humbled himself

00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:27.359
 was born

00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:28.539
 of a poor virgin

00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:29.779
 in a stable.

00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.899
 As a child

00:17:31.899 --> 00:17:33.160
 he was a refugee

00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:34.579
 raised by peasants.

00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:35.339
 When he began

00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:36.000
 his ministry

00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:37.279
 he was rejected

00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.899
 by his hometown

00:17:38.899 --> 00:17:40.639
 despised by religious leaders.

00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:41.399
 When he traveled

00:17:41.399 --> 00:17:42.139
 it was on foot

00:17:42.139 --> 00:17:43.139
 usually with no shelter

00:17:43.139 --> 00:17:44.159
 and no food

00:17:44.159 --> 00:17:44.980
 and no provision

00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:46.000
 all the while

00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:47.500
 journeying to the cross

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.279
 where he would pay

00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:48.819
 the penalty

00:17:48.819 --> 00:17:50.299
 for your sin

00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:51.159
 and mine.

00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:53.000
 We know

00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:54.039
 the full story.

00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.139
 How much more

00:17:55.139 --> 00:17:55.879
 ought we

00:17:55.879 --> 00:17:57.119
 to receive

00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:57.779
 this good news

00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.599
 and respond

00:17:58.599 --> 00:18:00.339
 with glory to God?

00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:00.459
 God.

00:18:01.659 --> 00:18:02.459
 Because when we

00:18:02.459 --> 00:18:03.419
 think about glory

00:18:03.419 --> 00:18:04.899
 the ultimate goal

00:18:04.899 --> 00:18:06.119
 of God

00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:07.459
 displaying his glory

00:18:07.459 --> 00:18:08.699
 is that he may

00:18:08.699 --> 00:18:10.240
 receive glory.

00:18:11.179 --> 00:18:12.119
 The ultimate goal

00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:13.059
 of his revealing

00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:14.099
 his glorious plan

00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:14.519
 to us

00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:15.740
 of him extending

00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.779
 his glorious grace

00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:17.179
 to us

00:18:17.179 --> 00:18:18.139
 is that we may

00:18:18.139 --> 00:18:19.359
 respond with glory

00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:19.939
 to God.

00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:22.240
 Paul says

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.039
 in Ephesians 1

00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:23.419
 he says

00:18:23.419 --> 00:18:24.359
 we have been chosen

00:18:24.359 --> 00:18:25.539
 and adopted

00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:26.659
 and redeemed

00:18:26.659 --> 00:18:28.059
 to the praise

00:18:28.059 --> 00:18:29.279
 of his glory.

00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:32.319
 And so the reality

00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:32.720
 is

00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:33.779
 is that night

00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:35.339
 that song

00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:36.159
 that that angels

00:18:36.159 --> 00:18:37.159
 those angels sang

00:18:37.159 --> 00:18:37.759
 it's a song

00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:38.980
 that has not ceased.

00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:40.960
 It's a song

00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:41.980
 that continues

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:43.299
 today

00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:44.559
 in the heavenly places

00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:46.759
 among God's people

00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:48.619
 it's a song

00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:49.059
 that we should

00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:49.839
 look forward to

00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:52.159
 participating in

00:18:52.159 --> 00:18:53.440
 at Christ's return

00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:54.679
 that we will glorify

00:18:54.679 --> 00:18:55.079
 God

00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:56.259
 with all the saints

00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:57.920
 as it says

00:18:57.920 --> 00:18:59.099
 in Revelation 19

00:18:59.099 --> 00:19:01.379
 then I heard

00:19:01.379 --> 00:19:02.059
 what sounded

00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:03.259
 like a great multitude

00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:05.000
 like the roar

00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:06.099
 of rushing waters

00:19:06.099 --> 00:19:07.400
 like the loud

00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:08.480
 peals of thunder

00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:09.579
 shouting hallelujah

00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:11.220
 for our Lord

00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:12.319
 God almighty

00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:13.019
 reigns

00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:14.180
 let us rejoice

00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:15.000
 and be glad

00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:16.160
 and give him glory

00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:17.240
 is this not the same

00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:17.700
 song

00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:18.640
 that the angels

00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:19.019
 sang

00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:21.799
 this is the

00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:23.019
 eternal song

00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:24.359
 of the redeemed

00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:26.399
 this is the song

00:19:26.399 --> 00:19:27.619
 that we too

00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:28.819
 shall sing

00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:31.859
 so I say

00:19:31.859 --> 00:19:32.399
 see

00:19:32.399 --> 00:19:34.119
 the baby

00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:35.859
 born in Bethlehem

00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:38.399
 he is the Messiah

00:19:38.399 --> 00:19:40.199
 born for your salvation

00:19:40.199 --> 00:19:41.339
 and mine

00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:43.240
 so the invitation