WEBVTT

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 As we continue to reflect on the birth of the Savior, let's take our Bibles and open them up to the book of Matthew this morning.

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 The book of Matthew. If you're using the pew Bibles there in front of you, you can find that on page 757 of the Bibles there in front of you.

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 And we will read from verses 18 through verse 25 this morning. Matthew chapter 1 verses 18 through 25.

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 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.

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 When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

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 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

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 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,

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 Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

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 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

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 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.

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 Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means God with us.

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 When Joseph woke from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

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 He took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to his son, and he called his name Jesus.

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 Jesus, and this is the word of God.

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 Let's bow once more and pray as we open it up this morning.

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 Lord, again, we thank you for the birth of Christ that we've just read about.

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 We thank you for your unfailing word and the many ways that you've promised his coming,

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 and promised his coming, and promised his coming, and now he's here.

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 And we pray now as we reflect on these words that, again, Lord, you would stir our hearts to worship you.

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 We pray this in Christ's name.

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 Amen.

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 Sadly, I don't have the best memory in the world, but I do distinctly remember the birth of each one of my children.

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 We have three boys.

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 You can probably hear them from time to time.

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 And from time to time, Amanda and I will flip through pages of old pictures and old videos from when they were just born,

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 and it brings back just the flood of memories of what it was like as we were getting ready for them to come.

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 Were we ready?

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 Were we prepared?

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 Did we have enough supplies?

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 Did we have enough diapers?

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 Was there enough of the things that we needed into the house?

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 We remember the trip to the hospital and me trying not to complain about how cold the room was

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 or how hungry I was while Amanda was working hard to bring these babies into the world.

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 And then, of course, the sheer joy of finally laying eyes on our newborn baby, holding him into our arms.

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 There's absolutely nothing like it.

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 And we had glimpses along the way.

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 There were pictures and ultrasound images along the way.

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 There were the kicks and the bumps that told you that a child was coming.

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 But that moment when he finally came and you could look him in his eyes, hold him in your arms, look him right in the face,

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 you just can't take your eyes off of him.

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 And there's almost no words to express how beautiful of a moment that is.

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 And we've been through the same experience now three times, but for us, each one was unique and special

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 and just as exhilarating and exciting as the last.

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 But, of course, as special as those births were to us, in the grand scheme of things,

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 they are not really all that unique.

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 About 385,000 babies are born every day on our planet.

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 That's over 140 million babies per year.

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 And all of the stories of how these babies were made, how they were carried,

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 how they were brought into the world are all, for the most part, going to be fairly similar.

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 But here at Christmas, we tell the story of the most unique birth in the history of the world.

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 And this was a birth that was unlike any other.

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 It was certainly the most unique birth story in the story of mankind.

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 And if you don't understand what makes the birth of Jesus just so special,

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 you might be asking this morning,

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 why in the world do Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus in the way that we do?

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 Why this one baby out of all the babies born every day throughout the world,

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 all the babies throughout church history and the history of mankind,

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 why do we make so much out of the birth of this child, especially here at Christmas?

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 What makes this birth so special?

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 And so the answer, of course, is that there has never been a child born like this.

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 Never has there ever been a child born like this.

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 So this morning, I want to focus our attention on this question.

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 What makes this child so special?

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 Why do we celebrate the birth of Jesus?

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 What makes this child so special?

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 Why do we fix our attention on this birth?

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 Why do we worship this child?

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 And what we'll see this morning in our time together is three answers to that question this morning.

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 This will be our outline if you're following along, taking notes.

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 Three answers to this question.

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 It's that he was miraculously born,

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 he was biblically foretold,

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 and he was purposefully sent.

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 Three reasons this birth is so special.

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 He was miraculously born,

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 biblically foretold,

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 and purposefully sent.

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 First,

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 this child is special because he was miraculously born.

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 In verse 18 of our passage,

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 it says that the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.

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 When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph,

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 before they came together,

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 she was found to be with child.

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 Now,

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 some of you,

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 I know you get so tired of television shows,

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 things that you watch on television,

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 books that you read,

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 because they're just so filled with drama,

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 and scandal,

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 and tension,

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 and so you close,

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 you turn off the shows,

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 and you open up your Bible instead.

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 But here in the very first moments of Jesus' story,

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 it's a scandal,

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 drama,

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 and tension.

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 Mary and Joseph were betrothed,

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 and this was similar to our engagement period,

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 but it was much,

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 much more formal than that.

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 People in our culture,

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 they break off engagements all the time,

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 and although that is serious,

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 there's really no consequence,

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 it's not such a big deal,

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 but here in this culture,

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 to be betrothed,

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 it meant that you were legally bound to be married.

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 So you weren't husband and wife quite yet,

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 but you were legally heading that way,

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 and since they were not officially yet husband and wife,

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 they were not to come together as husband and wife,

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 until that moment came.

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 Yet,

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 even though they were not officially husband and wife yet,

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 according to Mosaic law,

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 any sexual unfaithfulness during this betrothal period

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 constituted adultery,

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 and if punished to the fullest extent,

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 would result in the death penalty,

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 by stoning for the guilty party.

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 This was a scandal.

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 It's a young, unmarried couple,

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 a pregnant wife-to-be,

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 the threat of death,

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 public embarrassment,

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 and Joseph,

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 being a much better man than me,

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 verse 19,

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 says he resolved instead to divorce her quietly.

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 He didn't want to bring any public shame on Mary.

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 But as he considered these things,

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 an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream,

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 saying,

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 Joseph,

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 Joseph, son of David,

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 do not fear to take Mary as your wife,

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 for that which is conceived in her

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 is from the Holy Spirit.

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 In other words,

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 this birth,

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 this child,

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 is not the result of infidelity.

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 This child is unique.

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 There's something special here

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 that's utterly unique to Jesus.

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 No other baby in the history of the world

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 came into the world like this.

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 He was conceived of the Holy Spirit,

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 not by natural means,

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 but conceived of the Holy Spirit,

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 and born of a virgin.

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 And of course,

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 theologically liberal scholars

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 have gone to town with this,

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 coming up with reason after reason after reason

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 why this just could not be true.

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 Nobody is born of a virgin.

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 Simple science tells us that that is impossible.

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 Virgins don't have babies.

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 So this is just a story that the church has come up with

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 to promote the name of Jesus.

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 And in one sense,

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 we have to agree with them that,

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 yes, this is not ordinary,

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 or natural,

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 or scientifically probable.

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 It is, by definition,

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 a miracle.

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 And without it,

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 this baby would not be worthy

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 of our worship.

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 Scientifically speaking,

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 I'm not sure if you've had this talk yet or not,

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 but here we go.

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 Stick with me.

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 Every child has to have both a mother and a father.

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 You've got to have both.

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 Both of those are required to have a baby.

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 And babies come into the world

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 with characteristics

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 from both their mother and their father.

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 So they might have their father's eyes,

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 and their mother's nose,

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 and their father's ears,

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 and their mother's hair.

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 And as they get older,

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 you start to see that develop

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 in their personality as well.

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 So people that know the family well

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 might say something like,

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 wow, she talks just like her,

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 mom.

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 Or a grandparent might say,

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 I remember when you used to walk around

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 and do exactly what he's doing.

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 All of us,

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 born of human flesh,

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 we inherit

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 what we call a sin nature.

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 We are born into sin.

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 So every man,

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 every woman

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 that is descended from Adam,

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 we inherit from our father,

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 we inherit from our father,

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 Adam,

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 his sinful nature.

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 And so we act like our father.

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 We talk like our father.

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 We think like our father.

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 We get his sinful ways

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 passed down to us.

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 But not Jesus.

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 Not Jesus.

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 Jesus was different.

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 He was born of a virgin.

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 He was born of a virgin.

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 He was born of a virgin.

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 He was born of a virgin.

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 Conceived by the Holy Spirit.

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 Joseph,

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 although he was not the physical father of Jesus,

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 he adopted Jesus as his own.

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 He was not his biological father.

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 He did not inherit Adam's sin nature.

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 Jesus was totally God

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 and totally man.

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 That is a miracle.

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 And unlike you and me,

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 he did not come into this world

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 with a nature corrupted by sin.

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 He came in with a real humanity

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 inherited from his mother's side.

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 And on his father's side,

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 he was as he has always been.

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 The eternal son of God.

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 Infinite.

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 Eternal.

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 Unchangeable.

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 Holy.

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 And righteous.

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 In this birth,

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 God became man.

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 He took on our human nature.

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 The eternal son of God

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 stepped into our mess.

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 He took on our weak human flesh

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 to live in our place.

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 And see,

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 because he did not have a sin nature

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 like you and me,

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 he was able to resist it.

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 To overcome it.

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 But because he was fully human

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 like you and me,

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 he was able to redeem sinful man.

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 He was able to succeed

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 where Adam and you and I have failed.

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 He was able to live perfectly

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 in the place of sinners

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 like you and me

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 who have failed over and over

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 and over again.

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 And without this perfect life

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 from a perfect sinless child,

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 we could not have any hope

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 of salvation.

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 Without the virgin birth,

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 we could not be saved.

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 If he was just another child

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 born in just an ordinary way,

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 descended from Adam,

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 born into sin,

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 friend,

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 there would be no hope of salvation.

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 There would be no reason

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 to make much of this birth.

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 There would be no reason

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 to celebrate the birth of Christ.

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 But we praise God

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 that this child is special

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 and his birth was miraculous.

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 Second,

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 this child is special

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 because his birth

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 was biblically foretold.

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 Matthew highlights this for us

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 in a couple of ways here.

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 One is by just repeatedly telling us

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 that this child is a son of David.

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 He's a son of David,

00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:28.340
 son of David,

00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:29.159
 son of David.

00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:30.259
 Matthew has that track

00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:32.000
 on repeat for us here.

00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:33.480
 In verse 20,

00:14:33.559 --> 00:14:34.980
 the angel appears to Joseph

00:14:34.980 --> 00:14:36.379
 and refers to Joseph

00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:37.659
 as Joseph,

00:14:38.199 --> 00:14:40.000
 son of David.

00:14:40.819 --> 00:14:42.620
 The beginning of the book of Matthew,

00:14:42.719 --> 00:14:43.620
 the genealogy.

00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:46.000
 He traces the genealogy

00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:47.259
 of Jesus Christ.

00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:47.899
 What does it say?

00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:50.219
 The son of David.

00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:52.059
 Verse 17,

00:14:52.179 --> 00:14:53.220
 it says the generations

00:14:53.220 --> 00:14:55.139
 from Abraham to David.

00:14:55.319 --> 00:14:56.699
 You see where he's focusing

00:14:56.699 --> 00:14:57.559
 our attention here.

00:14:57.559 --> 00:14:59.319
 From Abraham to David

00:14:59.319 --> 00:15:00.659
 were 14 generations.

00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:01.719
 And then from David

00:15:01.719 --> 00:15:02.979
 to the deportation

00:15:02.979 --> 00:15:03.539
 to Babylon,

00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:04.719
 14 generations.

00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:05.979
 And from the deportation

00:15:05.979 --> 00:15:06.539
 to Babylon

00:15:06.539 --> 00:15:07.739
 to the Christ,

00:15:08.359 --> 00:15:09.439
 14 generations.

00:15:10.579 --> 00:15:12.479
 It's so easy to skip over

00:15:12.479 --> 00:15:13.299
 that part of Matthew

00:15:13.299 --> 00:15:15.659
 and just pass right by it.

00:15:15.699 --> 00:15:17.219
 But Matthew is going out

00:15:17.219 --> 00:15:18.159
 of his way

00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:19.619
 to show us

00:15:19.619 --> 00:15:20.799
 that this child,

00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:22.259
 even though Joseph

00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:24.199
 was not his physical father,

00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:26.979
 because Joseph adopted him

00:15:26.979 --> 00:15:28.159
 as his own,

00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:31.519
 he has full legal claim

00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:32.539
 to the throne

00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:33.859
 of David,

00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:34.599
 the king.

00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:37.439
 And this was significant,

00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:38.199
 of course,

00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:39.559
 because God had promised

00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:40.659
 David something

00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:42.779
 in 2 Samuel chapter 7.

00:15:43.439 --> 00:15:45.139
 Back in the Old Testament,

00:15:45.599 --> 00:15:46.679
 thousands of years

00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:47.839
 before Christ arrived,

00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:49.139
 he promised David

00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:50.200
 a child

00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:51.980
 from his line

00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:53.139
 who would come

00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:54.820
 and reign forever.

00:15:55.620 --> 00:15:56.259
 The throne

00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:57.440
 of his kingdom

00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:58.840
 would be established forever

00:15:58.840 --> 00:15:59.600
 and his kingdom

00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:01.399
 would never end.

00:16:02.180 --> 00:16:02.700
 Matthew,

00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:04.100
 in his own way,

00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:06.240
 is drawing a line,

00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:06.879
 as it were,

00:16:06.940 --> 00:16:08.240
 from this promise

00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:09.220
 in Samuel

00:16:09.220 --> 00:16:10.340
 all the way

00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:11.280
 to the birth

00:16:11.280 --> 00:16:12.060
 of Christ,

00:16:12.180 --> 00:16:12.460
 saying,

00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:13.800
 this is him.

00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:16.080
 This is the one.

00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:17.200
 This is the king

00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:18.200
 that we've been waiting for.

00:16:18.280 --> 00:16:19.300
 This is the Messiah.

00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:21.740
 This is the long-awaited ruler

00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:22.860
 of the world

00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:23.520
 whose kingdom

00:16:23.520 --> 00:16:25.560
 will never end.

00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:27.320
 This is the birth

00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:28.920
 of the promised one.

00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:31.240
 He also draws

00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:32.120
 a line

00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:32.860
 to a prophecy

00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:33.680
 from Isaiah.

00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:34.580
 We've been spending

00:16:34.580 --> 00:16:35.400
 some time

00:16:35.400 --> 00:16:36.600
 reading from Isaiah

00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:37.500
 last night

00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:38.440
 and this morning.

00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:40.100
 Here in verse 22,

00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:40.600
 he says,

00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:41.420
 all of this

00:16:41.420 --> 00:16:42.140
 took place

00:16:42.140 --> 00:16:43.460
 to fulfill

00:16:43.460 --> 00:16:44.940
 what the Lord

00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:45.600
 had spoken

00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:46.519
 by the prophet.

00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:47.340
 Behold,

00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:48.019
 the virgin

00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:48.980
 shall conceive

00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:50.639
 and bear a son

00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:51.560
 and they shall

00:16:51.560 --> 00:16:52.660
 call his name

00:16:52.660 --> 00:16:53.379
 Emmanuel,

00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:54.379
 which means

00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:56.580
 God with us.

00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:58.680
 You see,

00:16:58.840 --> 00:16:59.519
 the writers

00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:00.300
 of the New Testament,

00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:01.120
 they did a much

00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:01.900
 better job

00:17:01.900 --> 00:17:02.759
 interpreting

00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:03.720
 their Old Testament

00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:04.680
 than we tend to.

00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:05.779
 Right?

00:17:05.860 --> 00:17:07.579
 We read our Old Testament,

00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:08.299
 we tend to read it

00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:09.740
 just as stories

00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:10.700
 with morals,

00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:11.779
 kind of disconnected

00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:12.759
 stories about what

00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.700
 God has done

00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:14.480
 and events

00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:15.039
 that happened

00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:15.940
 in the past.

00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.700
 But what it really is

00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:18.879
 is a story

00:17:18.879 --> 00:17:20.220
 of preparation

00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:22.299
 for the coming Messiah.

00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:24.279
 So ever since

00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:26.139
 the entrance

00:17:26.139 --> 00:17:26.920
 of sin

00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:27.759
 into the world

00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:28.559
 back in Genesis

00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:29.379
 chapter 3,

00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:30.279
 God has been

00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:31.879
 making promises

00:17:31.879 --> 00:17:32.980
 that he would

00:17:32.980 --> 00:17:33.700
 one day

00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:35.420
 send a child.

00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:36.839
 One who would

00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:37.680
 break the curse

00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:38.240
 of sin.

00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:40.019
 One that would

00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:41.059
 crush the head

00:17:41.059 --> 00:17:41.859
 of the serpent.

00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:42.419
 One who would

00:17:42.419 --> 00:17:43.279
 come and rule

00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:44.379
 and reign

00:17:44.379 --> 00:17:45.079
 and redeem

00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:45.700
 what has been

00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:46.819
 lost by sin

00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:47.980
 and all the way

00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:49.399
 through the Old Testament

00:17:49.399 --> 00:17:50.440
 there were these

00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:51.639
 faint images,

00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:53.379
 bumps,

00:17:54.099 --> 00:17:54.740
 and kicks

00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:56.220
 of a child

00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:57.700
 on the way.

00:17:58.679 --> 00:17:59.539
 And now Matthew

00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.539
 says that time

00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:02.119
 has finally come.

00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:02.740
 The child

00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:03.819
 is here.

00:18:03.899 --> 00:18:04.359
 He's here.

00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:05.119
 The promised one

00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:06.279
 has come exactly

00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:07.779
 as God has told us

00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:09.399
 again and again

00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:10.320
 and again.

00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:10.980
 He has come

00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:12.300
 exactly as the

00:18:12.300 --> 00:18:13.140
 word of God

00:18:13.140 --> 00:18:14.340
 has foretold.

00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:15.160
 You see,

00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:16.000
 the Old Testament

00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.820
 is written

00:18:16.820 --> 00:18:17.660
 in the key

00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:18.960
 of anticipation.

00:18:20.120 --> 00:18:21.680
 It's constantly

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:23.120
 leaning forward

00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:24.080
 and waiting

00:18:24.080 --> 00:18:25.180
 and anticipating

00:18:25.180 --> 00:18:26.620
 this promised

00:18:26.620 --> 00:18:27.440
 coming

00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:29.080
 Son of God.

00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:30.040
 We have to read it

00:18:30.040 --> 00:18:30.880
 and understand it

00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:31.400
 this way,

00:18:31.580 --> 00:18:32.440
 leaning towards

00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.560
 the promised Messiah.

00:18:35.620 --> 00:18:37.019
 J. Barton Payne,

00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:38.180
 he says that there

00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:38.779
 are as many

00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:41.319
 as 574 verses

00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:42.480
 in the Old Testament

00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:43.599
 that in some way

00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:45.019
 point towards

00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:46.059
 the coming Messiah.

00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.819
 Alfred Edersheim,

00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:50.740
 he says that there

00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:52.420
 are 456 verses

00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:53.900
 in the Old Testament

00:18:53.900 --> 00:18:55.160
 that in some way

00:18:55.160 --> 00:18:56.180
 anticipate this

00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:57.480
 coming Messiah.

00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:58.539
 And even the most

00:18:58.539 --> 00:18:59.660
 conservative

00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:01.059
 estimates

00:19:01.059 --> 00:19:02.299
 say that there

00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:03.139
 are at least

00:19:03.139 --> 00:19:04.940
 300 prophecies

00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:06.819
 that Jesus fulfilled.

00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:07.579
 and I would be

00:19:07.579 --> 00:19:08.119
 inclined to go

00:19:08.119 --> 00:19:08.859
 on the high end

00:19:08.859 --> 00:19:09.799
 of those estimates.

00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:11.899
 And I just want you

00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:12.659
 just to stop

00:19:12.659 --> 00:19:13.819
 and think about

00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:15.059
 how incredible

00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:15.819
 that is

00:19:15.819 --> 00:19:16.519
 for a minute.

00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:18.259
 Maybe you've never

00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:19.099
 thought about this

00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:19.559
 or maybe

00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:21.019
 it's been a while

00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:21.980
 since you've thought

00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:23.299
 about this.

00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:24.659
 And maybe that you

00:19:24.659 --> 00:19:25.319
 don't even believe

00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:26.679
 a word that I'm saying

00:19:26.679 --> 00:19:27.339
 or maybe you're

00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:27.759
 getting ready

00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.559
 to leave here

00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:29.019
 and go spend

00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:30.000
 some time with family

00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:30.819
 who you know

00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:32.099
 don't believe a word

00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:33.359
 that we're saying

00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:33.859
 here.

00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:36.059
 Listen to this.

00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:37.039
 I've never been

00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:38.119
 great at math

00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:39.379
 and I'll leave

00:19:39.379 --> 00:19:40.279
 that to the experts

00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:42.859
 but some mathematicians

00:19:42.859 --> 00:19:43.740
 have taken it

00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.460
 upon themselves

00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:45.700
 to try to

00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.599
 mathematically

00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:47.539
 understand

00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:49.139
 the probability

00:19:49.139 --> 00:19:51.500
 of just one person

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.960
 fulfilling these

00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:53.899
 prophecies

00:19:53.899 --> 00:19:55.299
 about the Messiah.

00:19:56.440 --> 00:19:57.599
 Dr. Peter Stoner

00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:58.980
 was one of them.

00:19:59.059 --> 00:19:59.599
 You may be familiar

00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.740
 with his work

00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:01.480
 with this story.

00:20:02.179 --> 00:20:03.000
 Dr. Stoner

00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:04.079
 was the chairman

00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:05.119
 of the departments

00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:06.199
 of mathematics

00:20:06.199 --> 00:20:07.199
 and astronomy

00:20:07.199 --> 00:20:09.460
 at Pasadena City College

00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:11.039
 and was the chairman

00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:12.199
 of the science division

00:20:12.199 --> 00:20:13.679
 at Westmont College.

00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:14.179
 In other words

00:20:14.179 --> 00:20:15.019
 he was way smarter

00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:15.480
 than me.

00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:15.879
 Okay?

00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:17.220
 One of those

00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:18.839
 big brain academics.

00:20:19.879 --> 00:20:20.759
 And he set out

00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:21.259
 to find

00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:22.439
 the probability

00:20:22.439 --> 00:20:24.059
 mathematical probability

00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:26.159
 of one person

00:20:26.159 --> 00:20:27.220
 fulfilling

00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:28.659
 just eight

00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:30.620
 of the clearest

00:20:30.620 --> 00:20:31.860
 Old Testament

00:20:31.860 --> 00:20:33.320
 prophecies

00:20:33.320 --> 00:20:34.600
 of the Messiah.

00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:35.500
 Just eight.

00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:36.800
 In other words

00:20:36.800 --> 00:20:38.000
 he wanted to make this

00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:39.320
 as agreeable

00:20:39.320 --> 00:20:40.540
 as he possibly could

00:20:40.540 --> 00:20:41.800
 to non-believers

00:20:41.800 --> 00:20:42.700
 to skeptics

00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:43.960
 so the clearest

00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:44.640
 possible

00:20:44.640 --> 00:20:46.779
 eight messianic prophecies

00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.640
 in the Old Testament

00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:49.340
 that undeniably

00:20:49.340 --> 00:20:50.019
 happened

00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:51.360
 in Jesus' life

00:20:51.360 --> 00:20:52.580
 put the two together.

00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:53.540
 What are the odds

00:20:53.540 --> 00:20:54.360
 that one person

00:20:54.360 --> 00:20:55.060
 could fulfill

00:20:55.060 --> 00:20:55.960
 just eight

00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:57.380
 of these prophecies?

00:20:57.380 --> 00:20:58.080
 So for those of you

00:20:58.080 --> 00:20:59.140
 who are keeping score

00:20:59.140 --> 00:21:00.160
 this is what they

00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:00.700
 looked for.

00:21:01.840 --> 00:21:02.820
 What is the probability

00:21:02.820 --> 00:21:04.220
 that one individual

00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:05.200
 would be born

00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:06.500
 in Bethlehem

00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:09.120
 as Micah 5.2 foretold?

00:21:10.260 --> 00:21:11.480
 That there would be

00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:12.660
 a forerunner

00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:14.080
 of that individual

00:21:14.080 --> 00:21:14.820
 a prophet

00:21:14.820 --> 00:21:15.460
 who would come

00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:16.660
 announcing his coming

00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:19.000
 as Malachi 3.1 said?

00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:21.340
 That this individual

00:21:21.340 --> 00:21:22.740
 would enter Jerusalem

00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:23.880
 on a donkey

00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:24.680
 as we see

00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:26.580
 in Zechariah 9.9

00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:27.779
 that he would be

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:29.559
 betrayed by a close friend

00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:30.720
 as we see

00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:32.419
 in Psalm 41.9

00:21:32.419 --> 00:21:33.759
 that he would be

00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:34.539
 betrayed for just

00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:36.240
 30 pieces of silver

00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:38.500
 as Zechariah 11.13

00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:39.619
 tells us.

00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:41.720
 That this same individual

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.919
 would remain silent

00:21:42.919 --> 00:21:44.480
 during his trial

00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.559
 although the consensus

00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:46.460
 would be that he

00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:47.679
 later would be deemed

00:21:47.679 --> 00:21:48.159
 innocent

00:21:48.159 --> 00:21:48.899
 as we see

00:21:48.899 --> 00:21:51.220
 in Isaiah 53.7

00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:52.319
 and that this same

00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:52.960
 individual

00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:53.779
 would eventually

00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:54.579
 be crucified

00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:56.480
 on a cross

00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:59.299
 as Psalm 22.16

00:21:59.299 --> 00:22:00.759
 foretold.

00:22:01.919 --> 00:22:03.500
 What's the probability

00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:05.039
 of one person

00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:06.399
 doing all of this

00:22:06.399 --> 00:22:07.599
 exactly as these

00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.639
 eight prophecies

00:22:08.639 --> 00:22:09.339
 foretold?

00:22:09.379 --> 00:22:09.699
 And again

00:22:09.699 --> 00:22:10.960
 it's undeniable

00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:11.759
 just from a

00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.980
 sheerly historical

00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:13.500
 standpoint

00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:15.179
 that all eight

00:22:15.179 --> 00:22:15.859
 of these events

00:22:15.859 --> 00:22:16.599
 were true

00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:17.539
 of Jesus'

00:22:17.899 --> 00:22:18.699
 life.

00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:19.299
 This was as

00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:19.939
 conservative

00:22:19.939 --> 00:22:20.720
 as he could

00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:22.179
 possibly get.

00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:23.320
 What are the odds

00:22:23.320 --> 00:22:24.340
 that one person

00:22:24.340 --> 00:22:25.480
 could fulfill

00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:26.920
 eight undeniable

00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:28.019
 Old Testament

00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:29.460
 prophecies?

00:22:29.560 --> 00:22:30.519
 And they determined

00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.420
 this.

00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:32.200
 This is what he said.

00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:35.100
 The chance

00:22:35.100 --> 00:22:36.259
 that any man

00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:37.100
 might have

00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:37.720
 fulfilled

00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.980
 all eight prophecies

00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:40.019
 is one

00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:40.779
 in ten

00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:41.240
 to the

00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:42.019
 seventeenth.

00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:43.680
 That would be

00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:44.840
 one in

00:22:44.840 --> 00:22:45.660
 one hundred

00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:46.440
 quadrillion.

00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:47.200
 Okay?

00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:47.759
 So if you're

00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:48.720
 writing down notes

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.440
 that's one

00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.860
 with seventeen

00:22:50.860 --> 00:22:51.420
 zeros

00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:52.200
 followed

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:52.720
 at the end

00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:52.960
 of it.

00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:53.779
 One with seventeen

00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:54.400
 zeros

00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:55.100
 at the end.

00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:56.640
 Just to put that

00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:57.220
 in perspective

00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:57.920
 for you

00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:58.460
 the odds

00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.059
 of us

00:22:59.059 --> 00:22:59.559
 any one

00:22:59.559 --> 00:22:59.900
 of us

00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:00.539
 getting struck

00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.200
 by lightning

00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:01.779
 sometime

00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:02.880
 in our life

00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:03.620
 is one

00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:04.700
 in fifteen

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.240
 thousand

00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:05.860
 three hundred.

00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:07.640
 The odds

00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:08.539
 of any of us

00:23:08.539 --> 00:23:08.920
 winning the

00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:10.140
 Powerball jackpot

00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:11.079
 are one

00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:11.680
 in two hundred

00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:12.380
 ninety-two

00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:12.819
 million.

00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.259
 That's just

00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:14.200
 six zeros.

00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:16.079
 The odds

00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:17.140
 of one man

00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:17.640
 fulfilling

00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:18.620
 just eight

00:23:18.620 --> 00:23:19.520
 of these

00:23:19.520 --> 00:23:20.280
 prophecies.

00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:20.820
 One

00:23:20.820 --> 00:23:21.320
 in one

00:23:21.320 --> 00:23:21.780
 hundred

00:23:21.780 --> 00:23:23.040
 quadrillion.

00:23:23.280 --> 00:23:23.640
 Ten

00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:24.620
 to the

00:23:24.620 --> 00:23:25.420
 seventeenth.

00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:26.820
 Stoner

00:23:26.820 --> 00:23:27.440
 says that

00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:27.920
 if we were

00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:28.320
 to take

00:23:28.320 --> 00:23:28.680
 ten

00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:29.000
 to the

00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:29.540
 seventeenth

00:23:29.540 --> 00:23:30.000
 silver

00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.480
 dollars

00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:31.800
 and lay

00:23:31.800 --> 00:23:32.360
 them over

00:23:32.360 --> 00:23:32.860
 the face

00:23:32.860 --> 00:23:33.259
 of the

00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:33.540
 state

00:23:33.540 --> 00:23:34.180
 of Texas

00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:34.700
 they would

00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.000
 cover

00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:35.560
 the entire

00:23:35.560 --> 00:23:36.160
 state

00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:37.100
 two feet

00:23:37.100 --> 00:23:37.440
 deep.

00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:39.080
 And then

00:23:39.080 --> 00:23:39.480
 he says

00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:40.000
 now mark

00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.660
 one of

00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:40.860
 these

00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:41.220
 silver

00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:41.680
 dollars

00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:42.620
 stir

00:23:42.620 --> 00:23:43.180
 the whole

00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:43.540
 mass

00:23:43.540 --> 00:23:44.140
 thoroughly

00:23:44.140 --> 00:23:45.120
 blindfold

00:23:45.120 --> 00:23:45.700
 a man

00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:46.020
 and tell

00:23:46.020 --> 00:23:46.420
 him he can

00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:46.900
 travel as

00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:47.540
 far as

00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:48.079
 he wishes

00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:48.539
 and just

00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:49.059
 pick up

00:23:49.059 --> 00:23:49.920
 one silver

00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:50.299
 dollar

00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:50.680
 and it

00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:51.099
 must be

00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:51.779
 the one

00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:52.700
 that was

00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:53.159
 marked.

00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:54.000
 What chance

00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:54.680
 would he have

00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:55.059
 of getting

00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:55.480
 the right

00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:55.839
 one?

00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:57.700
 He says

00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.200
 just the

00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:58.960
 same chance

00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.819
 that the

00:23:59.819 --> 00:24:00.139
 prophets

00:24:00.139 --> 00:24:00.460
 would have

00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:00.960
 had of

00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.379
 writing

00:24:01.379 --> 00:24:02.000
 these eight

00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:02.639
 prophecies

00:24:02.639 --> 00:24:03.099
 and having

00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:03.480
 them all

00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:04.139
 come true

00:24:04.139 --> 00:24:05.180
 in one

00:24:05.180 --> 00:24:05.579
 man

00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:06.720
 provided

00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:07.159
 they were

00:24:07.159 --> 00:24:07.519
 writing

00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.539
 in their

00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:08.799
 own

00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:09.180
 wisdom.

00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:12.399
 But as

00:24:12.399 --> 00:24:12.859
 we know

00:24:12.859 --> 00:24:15.279
 they were

00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:15.539
 not

00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:15.959
 writing

00:24:15.959 --> 00:24:17.099
 in their

00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:17.299
 own

00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:17.659
 wisdom.

00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:20.000
 These

00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.279
 were the

00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:20.679
 very

00:24:20.679 --> 00:24:21.599
 words

00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.919
 of God

00:24:22.919 --> 00:24:24.459
 foretelling

00:24:24.459 --> 00:24:26.159
 promising

00:24:26.159 --> 00:24:27.679
 anticipating

00:24:27.679 --> 00:24:29.059
 waiting

00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:30.359
 expecting

00:24:30.359 --> 00:24:31.119
 the birth

00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:31.939
 of this

00:24:31.939 --> 00:24:32.919
 son

00:24:32.919 --> 00:24:34.099
 of God.

00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:37.079
 When is

00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:37.339
 the last

00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:37.740
 time you

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.119
 just

00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:39.139
 marveled

00:24:39.139 --> 00:24:39.339
 at what

00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:39.759
 a miracle

00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.379
 that is?

00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:41.679
 The

00:24:41.679 --> 00:24:42.219
 word of

00:24:42.219 --> 00:24:42.639
 God

00:24:42.639 --> 00:24:43.419
 promising

00:24:43.419 --> 00:24:44.240
 a

00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:44.779
 Messiah.

00:24:45.419 --> 00:24:45.659
 And just

00:24:45.659 --> 00:24:46.259
 thank God

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:46.919
 for sending

00:24:46.919 --> 00:24:48.019
 his son

00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:48.859
 his faithfulness

00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:49.579
 to promise

00:24:49.579 --> 00:24:50.379
 and to

00:24:50.379 --> 00:24:50.839
 fulfill

00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:51.219
 and to

00:24:51.219 --> 00:24:51.699
 speak

00:24:51.699 --> 00:24:52.559
 and to

00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:52.959
 send.

00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:53.619
 Church we

00:24:53.619 --> 00:24:54.179
 worship

00:24:54.179 --> 00:24:54.759
 this

00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.399
 child

00:24:55.399 --> 00:24:55.759
 because

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.259
 he

00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:56.699
 is

00:24:56.699 --> 00:24:56.939
 the

00:24:56.939 --> 00:24:57.659
 promised

00:24:57.659 --> 00:24:58.679
 Messiah

00:24:58.679 --> 00:24:59.639
 foretold

00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:00.080
 by the

00:25:00.080 --> 00:25:00.560
 scriptures

00:25:00.560 --> 00:25:01.880
 and sent

00:25:01.880 --> 00:25:02.440
 into the

00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:02.720
 world

00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.600
 by God

00:25:03.600 --> 00:25:04.520
 in order

00:25:04.520 --> 00:25:05.620
 to redeem

00:25:05.620 --> 00:25:05.980
 it.

00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:06.480
 Which is

00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.000
 the third

00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:08.080
 reason

00:25:08.080 --> 00:25:09.000
 this birth

00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:09.360
 is so

00:25:09.360 --> 00:25:09.840
 special.

00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:11.220
 The third

00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:11.600
 reason

00:25:11.600 --> 00:25:12.080
 this birth

00:25:12.080 --> 00:25:12.460
 is so

00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:12.900
 special

00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:13.440
 is because

00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:14.180
 this

00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:14.759
 child

00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.300
 was

00:25:15.300 --> 00:25:16.380
 purposefully

00:25:16.380 --> 00:25:17.200
 sent.

00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:19.600
 Purposefully

00:25:19.600 --> 00:25:20.680
 sent.

00:25:20.820 --> 00:25:21.200
 He was

00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:21.900
 born

00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:22.759
 with a

00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:23.759
 redemptive

00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.720
 purpose.

00:25:26.040 --> 00:25:26.360
 We

00:25:26.360 --> 00:25:26.680
 worship

00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:26.900
 this

00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:27.220
 child

00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:27.800
 not just

00:25:27.800 --> 00:25:28.340
 because of

00:25:28.340 --> 00:25:29.120
 how he

00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:29.859
 came into

00:25:29.859 --> 00:25:30.479
 the world

00:25:30.479 --> 00:25:31.319
 miraculously

00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:32.359
 but because

00:25:32.359 --> 00:25:32.859
 of what

00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.619
 he came

00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:34.319
 into the

00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:34.739
 world

00:25:34.739 --> 00:25:35.819
 to do.

00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:37.539
 Most of

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:37.899
 the time

00:25:37.899 --> 00:25:38.219
 in our

00:25:38.219 --> 00:25:38.539
 culture

00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:39.159
 it's a

00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:39.719
 pretty big

00:25:39.719 --> 00:25:40.179
 deal to

00:25:40.179 --> 00:25:40.779
 name a

00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:41.179
 child.

00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:41.659
 You spend

00:25:41.659 --> 00:25:42.259
 months and

00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:42.719
 months and

00:25:42.719 --> 00:25:43.079
 months

00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:44.099
 thinking about

00:25:44.099 --> 00:25:44.279
 it.

00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:44.779
 Oftentimes

00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:45.539
 the mother

00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:46.399
 has already

00:25:46.399 --> 00:25:47.199
 had a name

00:25:47.199 --> 00:25:47.759
 picked out

00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.439
 since she

00:25:48.439 --> 00:25:48.839
 was a

00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:49.379
 child and

00:25:49.379 --> 00:25:49.599
 so the

00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:49.799
 husband

00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.039
 doesn't

00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:50.379
 have to

00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:50.679
 do too

00:25:50.679 --> 00:25:50.919
 much

00:25:50.919 --> 00:25:51.619
 thinking

00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:52.059
 about it

00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:52.719
 at all.

00:25:53.879 --> 00:25:54.319
 But there

00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:54.879
 is always

00:25:54.879 --> 00:25:55.719
 thought and

00:25:55.719 --> 00:25:56.439
 purpose and

00:25:56.439 --> 00:25:57.279
 significance

00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:58.199
 to the

00:25:58.199 --> 00:25:58.799
 name that

00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:59.240
 is given

00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:00.000
 to each

00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:01.079
 individual

00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:02.079
 child.

00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:02.539
 The same

00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:02.879
 is true

00:26:02.879 --> 00:26:03.619
 for Hebrew

00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:04.359
 culture but

00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:05.319
 even more

00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.200
 so in a

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:07.079
 strange way

00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:08.000
 a lot of

00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:08.619
 times biblical

00:26:08.619 --> 00:26:09.299
 names are

00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:09.740
 not only

00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.720
 descriptive

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.519
 they're also

00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:12.720
 prescriptive.

00:26:13.559 --> 00:26:14.119
 In a strange

00:26:14.119 --> 00:26:14.539
 way they

00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:15.700
 sometimes tell

00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:16.319
 us a bit

00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:16.919
 about what

00:26:16.919 --> 00:26:17.599
 a person

00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:18.480
 will be

00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.139
 like.

00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.659
 For example

00:26:20.659 --> 00:26:21.399
 Jacob

00:26:21.399 --> 00:26:22.579
 you see it

00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:23.579
 means heel

00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:24.960
 or trickster

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:26.159
 and of course

00:26:26.159 --> 00:26:27.419
 he was a

00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:27.820
 trickster.

00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:28.320
 He tricked

00:26:28.320 --> 00:26:28.960
 Esau out

00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:29.580
 of his

00:26:29.580 --> 00:26:30.240
 birthright.

00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:31.600
 Jonah

00:26:31.600 --> 00:26:32.620
 means dove

00:26:32.620 --> 00:26:33.140
 it was a

00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:33.460
 word in

00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:33.860
 that culture

00:26:33.860 --> 00:26:35.180
 for foolishness

00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:36.000
 fleetiness

00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:36.920
 and as we

00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:37.420
 know Jonah

00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:37.900
 the prophet

00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:38.340
 was told

00:26:38.340 --> 00:26:38.920
 to go one

00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:39.279
 way and

00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:39.960
 he fled

00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:40.400
 and went

00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:41.480
 the exact

00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:42.000
 opposite

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.700
 away from

00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:43.080
 the call

00:26:43.080 --> 00:26:43.580
 of God.

00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.060
 Moses

00:26:44.060 --> 00:26:44.660
 it means

00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:46.120
 to pull

00:26:46.120 --> 00:26:46.740
 or to

00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.920
 draw out

00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:49.000
 and as we

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.360
 know the

00:26:49.360 --> 00:26:49.960
 birth story

00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:50.500
 of Moses

00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:51.539
 he was drawn

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.300
 out of the

00:26:52.300 --> 00:26:52.820
 water but

00:26:52.820 --> 00:26:53.420
 also he

00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:53.779
 would be

00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:54.259
 the one

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.039
 to draw

00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:55.920
 Israel

00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:56.940
 out of

00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:57.460
 slavery

00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.799
 in Egypt

00:26:58.799 --> 00:26:59.940
 and here

00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:00.339
 we're given

00:27:00.339 --> 00:27:01.299
 two names

00:27:01.299 --> 00:27:02.039
 for the

00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:02.980
 Christ child

00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:04.359
 two names

00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:04.859
 that tell us

00:27:04.859 --> 00:27:05.500
 not only who

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.180
 he is but

00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:06.740
 what he

00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:07.920
 came to

00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:08.319
 do.

00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:09.680
 The first

00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:10.160
 of course

00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:10.519
 is the

00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:11.299
 name of

00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:11.859
 Jesus.

00:27:13.139 --> 00:27:13.799
 Look there

00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:14.099
 to verse

00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:14.619
 21.

00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:16.660
 The angel

00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:17.099
 came to

00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:17.819
 Joseph to

00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:18.440
 talk him

00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:18.799
 off the

00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.200
 ledge

00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:19.940
 convince him

00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:20.379
 not to

00:27:20.379 --> 00:27:20.960
 divorce his

00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:21.359
 wife

00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:22.240
 that his

00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:22.819
 child was

00:27:22.819 --> 00:27:23.559
 no product

00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:24.460
 of infidelity

00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:25.079
 but rather

00:27:25.079 --> 00:27:25.679
 this is the

00:27:25.679 --> 00:27:26.619
 promised Messiah

00:27:26.619 --> 00:27:27.279
 come into

00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:27.879
 the world

00:27:27.879 --> 00:27:28.899
 and look at

00:27:28.899 --> 00:27:29.319
 what he says

00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:29.639
 in verse

00:27:29.639 --> 00:27:30.079
 21.

00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:31.639
 She will

00:27:31.639 --> 00:27:32.099
 bear a

00:27:32.099 --> 00:27:33.299
 son and

00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:33.700
 you shall

00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:34.299
 call his

00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:35.500
 name Jesus

00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:37.559
 for he

00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.299
 will save

00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:39.220
 his people

00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:40.460
 from their

00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:41.119
 sins.

00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:42.639
 As we

00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:43.000
 know the

00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:44.000
 name of

00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:44.939
 Jesus it

00:27:44.939 --> 00:27:46.099
 literally means

00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:46.799
 the Lord

00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:47.679
 saves.

00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.119
 It means

00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:50.259
 the Lord

00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:51.720
 is salvation.

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:52.339
 The Lord

00:27:52.339 --> 00:27:52.919
 has come

00:27:52.919 --> 00:27:53.659
 to seek

00:27:53.659 --> 00:27:54.539
 and to

00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.059
 save

00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:56.299
 the lost.

00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:57.859
 We see a

00:27:57.859 --> 00:27:58.480
 second name

00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:59.000
 given here

00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.299
 in verse

00:27:59.299 --> 00:28:00.199
 23 as

00:28:00.199 --> 00:28:01.019
 Jesus fulfilled

00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:01.779
 the Old

00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.159
 Testament

00:28:02.159 --> 00:28:03.119
 prophecy of

00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:03.599
 Isaiah.

00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.039
 The angel

00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:04.500
 makes this

00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:05.000
 connection

00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.740
 that this

00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:06.339
 child in

00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:06.839
 the manger

00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:07.799
 his name

00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.539
 shall be

00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:09.000
 called

00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:09.699
 Emmanuel

00:28:09.699 --> 00:28:10.399
 which

00:28:10.399 --> 00:28:11.179
 means

00:28:11.179 --> 00:28:11.799
 God

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:13.539
 with us.

00:28:14.919 --> 00:28:15.099
 You see

00:28:15.099 --> 00:28:15.980
 baked into

00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.859
 his very

00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:18.199
 name is

00:28:18.199 --> 00:28:19.419
 his purpose.

00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:19.919
 Not just

00:28:19.919 --> 00:28:20.799
 who he is

00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:21.980
 but also

00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.519
 what he

00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.220
 came to

00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:23.619
 earth

00:28:23.619 --> 00:28:24.779
 to do.

00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:26.960
 We celebrate

00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.740
 the birth

00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.319
 of Jesus

00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:30.559
 because this

00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.220
 child has

00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:32.180
 come to

00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:33.240
 seek and

00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:34.019
 to save

00:28:34.019 --> 00:28:35.059
 the lost.

00:28:36.159 --> 00:28:36.720
 His birth

00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.059
 was no

00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:37.519
 accident.

00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.019
 He was

00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.779
 sent with

00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.419
 a purpose.

00:28:39.659 --> 00:28:39.879
 He was

00:28:39.879 --> 00:28:41.079
 sent to

00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:41.619
 die in

00:28:41.619 --> 00:28:42.079
 the place

00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:42.579
 of sinners.

00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:44.460
 He was

00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:45.440
 sent to

00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:46.299
 restore what

00:28:46.299 --> 00:28:46.879
 has been

00:28:46.879 --> 00:28:47.899
 broken and

00:28:47.899 --> 00:28:48.680
 lost by the

00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:49.839
 curse of

00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:50.279
 sin.

00:28:50.359 --> 00:28:50.539
 He's

00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:50.819
 come to

00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:51.099
 put an

00:28:51.099 --> 00:28:51.699
 end to

00:28:51.699 --> 00:28:52.500
 suffering

00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:54.059
 and disease

00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:55.099
 and distress

00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:56.659
 and death

00:28:56.659 --> 00:28:57.439
 and to rise

00:28:57.439 --> 00:28:57.779
 from the

00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:58.199
 dead to

00:28:58.199 --> 00:28:59.059
 finally put

00:28:59.059 --> 00:28:59.659
 an end

00:28:59.659 --> 00:29:00.679
 to sin

00:29:00.679 --> 00:29:01.519
 and death

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.179
 and the

00:29:02.179 --> 00:29:02.740
 grave for

00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:03.279
 all who

00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:03.699
 come to

00:29:03.699 --> 00:29:04.459
 him and

00:29:04.459 --> 00:29:05.019
 know him

00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.859
 and love

00:29:05.859 --> 00:29:06.639
 him by

00:29:06.639 --> 00:29:07.079
 faith.

00:29:07.179 --> 00:29:07.659
 That's why

00:29:07.659 --> 00:29:08.319
 he's come.

00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:10.659
 Because we

00:29:10.659 --> 00:29:11.519
 have strayed

00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.339
 far from

00:29:12.339 --> 00:29:12.759
 God.

00:29:12.919 --> 00:29:13.699
 God has

00:29:13.699 --> 00:29:14.179
 taken it

00:29:14.179 --> 00:29:14.980
 upon himself

00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:15.539
 to draw

00:29:15.539 --> 00:29:16.879
 near to

00:29:16.879 --> 00:29:18.379
 us in

00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:18.960
 Christ.

00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:21.720
 I can

00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:21.980
 think of

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:22.920
 no better

00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:23.540
 way to

00:29:23.540 --> 00:29:24.200
 honor him

00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:25.060
 this Christmas

00:29:25.060 --> 00:29:25.660
 than to

00:29:25.660 --> 00:29:26.380
 honor the

00:29:26.380 --> 00:29:27.760
 purpose for

00:29:27.760 --> 00:29:28.200
 which he

00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:28.560
 came.

00:29:30.280 --> 00:29:30.840
 He came

00:29:30.840 --> 00:29:31.580
 that we

00:29:31.580 --> 00:29:32.620
 might believe

00:29:32.620 --> 00:29:34.020
 and by faith

00:29:34.020 --> 00:29:34.640
 in his name

00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:34.980
 that we

00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.360
 might have

00:29:35.360 --> 00:29:36.020
 our sins

00:29:36.020 --> 00:29:36.720
 forgiven.

00:29:37.800 --> 00:29:38.520
 Receive the

00:29:38.520 --> 00:29:38.940
 gift of

00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:40.040
 eternal life.

00:29:40.120 --> 00:29:40.300
 Have you

00:29:40.300 --> 00:29:41.000
 received that

00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:41.440
 gift?

00:29:42.540 --> 00:29:42.880
 Are you

00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:44.320
 rejoicing in

00:29:44.320 --> 00:29:45.360
 it this

00:29:45.360 --> 00:29:45.740
 Christmas?

00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:48.039
 See Christmas

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:48.599
 time is a

00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:49.019
 time when

00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:49.980
 we remember

00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:50.559
 that out

00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:50.920
 of his

00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:52.299
 unfathomable

00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:53.120
 mercy and

00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:53.880
 grace God

00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.720
 looked down

00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.519
 upon our

00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.559
 sinful state

00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:57.000
 and said

00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.660
 they can't

00:29:57.660 --> 00:29:58.500
 come to be

00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:59.079
 with me.

00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:00.220
 Their sin

00:30:00.220 --> 00:30:00.599
 is too

00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:01.839
 great so

00:30:01.839 --> 00:30:02.700
 I will send

00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:03.880
 my son down

00:30:03.880 --> 00:30:04.779
 to them to

00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:05.620
 bring them

00:30:05.620 --> 00:30:06.620
 up to

00:30:06.620 --> 00:30:06.960
 me.

00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:07.940
 So we

00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.740
 worship this

00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:09.579
 child because

00:30:09.579 --> 00:30:10.480
 he is

00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:11.359
 Emmanuel.

00:30:12.120 --> 00:30:13.400
 God with

00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:13.819
 us.

00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:14.240
 Come to

00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:15.059
 save his

00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:15.480
 people.

00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.519
 from their

00:30:16.519 --> 00:30:17.059
 sins.

00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:19.720
 Church this

00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:21.039
 is a story

00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:21.859
 of a birth

00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:22.819
 like no

00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:23.759
 other.

00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:25.380
 As we

00:30:25.380 --> 00:30:25.859
 ponder the

00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:26.339
 miracle of

00:30:26.339 --> 00:30:26.880
 the birth of

00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:27.579
 Christ this

00:30:27.579 --> 00:30:28.480
 Christmas let's

00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:29.440
 give him

00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:30.700
 honor and

00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.920
 glory and

00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:32.779
 praise and

00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.859
 worship him

00:30:33.859 --> 00:30:34.519
 as he

00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.259
 deserves.

00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:35.819
 And as we

00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.519
 go from this

00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:37.240
 place this

00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:38.259
 morning to

00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:38.740
 whatever we

00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.259
 have planned

00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:39.759
 to do for

00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.279
 the rest of

00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:41.099
 the day let's

00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:42.259
 do as Mary

00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:42.900
 did and

00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:43.819
 treasure these

00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:45.120
 things up in

00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:45.759
 our hearts.

00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:47.519
 Take this

00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:48.819
 miraculous story

00:30:48.819 --> 00:30:49.919
 of this

00:30:49.919 --> 00:30:50.359
 incredible

00:30:50.359 --> 00:30:52.179
 birth and

00:30:52.179 --> 00:30:53.119
 behold this

00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:53.579
 child.

00:30:55.399 --> 00:30:56.339
 Hold him

00:30:56.339 --> 00:30:57.419
 close in

00:30:57.419 --> 00:30:59.079
 wonder and

00:30:59.079 --> 00:31:01.519
 rejoice and

00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:02.139
 then go and

00:31:02.139 --> 00:31:03.199
 spread the

00:31:03.199 --> 00:31:04.859
 word that

00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:05.759
 the Savior of

00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.959
 the world has

00:31:06.959 --> 00:31:07.319
 come.

00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:08.619
 Amen.

00:31:09.239 --> 00:31:10.219
 Let's pray.

00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:12.059
 Lord we

00:31:12.059 --> 00:31:12.839
 do rejoice

00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:13.339
 that the

00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:13.860
 Savior has

00:31:13.860 --> 00:31:15.519
 come and

00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:15.839
 we do

00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:16.740
 rejoice that

00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:18.180
 out of your

00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:19.079
 sheer mercy

00:31:19.079 --> 00:31:19.920
 and grace not

00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:20.600
 because of our

00:31:20.600 --> 00:31:21.319
 goodness not

00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:21.640
 because of

00:31:21.640 --> 00:31:22.339
 anything in

00:31:22.339 --> 00:31:22.799
 us but

00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:23.480
 because of

00:31:23.480 --> 00:31:24.579
 your mercy

00:31:24.579 --> 00:31:25.480
 and grace you

00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:26.319
 took it upon

00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:27.640
 yourself to

00:31:27.640 --> 00:31:28.240
 send your

00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:29.640
 son to

00:31:29.640 --> 00:31:30.400
 save sinners

00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:31.440
 like us.

00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:32.160
 What good

00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:32.660
 news of

00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:33.220
 great joy.

00:31:34.059 --> 00:31:34.279
 And we

00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:35.299
 pray Lord that

00:31:35.299 --> 00:31:35.900
 as we go from

00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:36.539
 this place that

00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:37.259
 those words would

00:31:37.259 --> 00:31:38.200
 be fresh on our

00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:39.279
 lips as we

00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:40.279
 gather with

00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:40.799
 friends and

00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:41.500
 family as we

00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.220
 reflect on the

00:31:42.220 --> 00:31:43.079
 birth of Christ.

00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.319
 Help us to be

00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:44.980
 quick to share

00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.660
 the good news

00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:46.480
 of what you've

00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:46.960
 come to do.

00:31:47.139 --> 00:31:47.639
 We love you.

00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:48.660
 We pray this in

00:31:48.660 --> 00:31:49.180
 Christ's name.

00:31:49.819 --> 00:31:50.039
 Amen.