WEBVTT 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:06.480 All right, if you have your Bible with you, please open it up to John chapter 6. 00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:10.919 John chapter 6. 00:00:14.620 --> 00:00:18.219 We'll start by remembering just where we are in the story of Jesus. 00:00:20.940 --> 00:00:23.400 Jesus is having a conversation with a crowd. 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:33.719 Some of the crowd, the very ones that are talking with him, are those who were at the feeding of the 5,000 just yesterday on the other side of the lake. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:43.259 And Jesus has been telling this crowd what they should do and how they should live differently, how they've got some of their priorities out of whack. 00:00:44.179 --> 00:00:51.379 And the crowd has basically said, okay, well, tell us, how does God want us to live? 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:52.759 What does he want us to do? 00:00:53.399 --> 00:00:58.100 And Jesus has said, this is the work that God wants you to do. 00:00:58.699 --> 00:01:02.479 He wants you to believe in the one he has sent. 00:01:03.859 --> 00:01:06.799 We'll pick up the story here in verse 30. 00:01:06.799 --> 00:01:15.579 So they asked him, what sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? 00:01:16.299 --> 00:01:17.399 What will you do? 00:01:18.519 --> 00:01:23.199 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness as it is written. 00:01:23.699 --> 00:01:26.219 He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 00:01:26.219 --> 00:01:40.079 Jesus said to them, very truly, I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:47.700 For the bread of God is the one that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. 00:01:47.700 --> 00:01:55.260 Sorry, I lost my place here. 00:01:55.340 --> 00:01:58.000 Verse 34. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:05.600 Sir, they said, always give us this bread. 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:11.299 Then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. 00:02:11.799 --> 00:02:14.359 Whoever comes to me will never go hungry. 00:02:14.979 --> 00:02:18.099 And whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 00:02:18.099 --> 00:02:23.919 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 00:02:25.460 --> 00:02:28.079 All those the father gives me will come to me. 00:02:28.840 --> 00:02:31.840 And whoever comes to me, I will never drive away. 00:02:32.919 --> 00:02:40.439 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my will, but to do the will of him who sent me. 00:02:41.139 --> 00:02:44.280 So the crowd is asking Jesus to perform a great sign. 00:02:44.280 --> 00:02:53.580 They want him to do a miracle that it seems is at least on the same level as when God gave the whole nation of Israel manna to eat in the wilderness. 00:02:54.740 --> 00:02:56.500 Do something like that. 00:02:57.060 --> 00:02:58.920 And then we'll believe you. 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:04.259 Jesus seems to correct their understanding of what happened back then. 00:03:04.599 --> 00:03:11.000 And he tells them that God is now giving them a better bread, a true bread from heaven. 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:15.280 One which gives life to the world. 00:03:17.080 --> 00:03:23.240 The crowd says, okay, give us this bread all the time from now on. 00:03:23.939 --> 00:03:28.400 And then Jesus says, I am the bread of life. 00:03:28.840 --> 00:03:32.879 And we talked last Sunday about how Jesus is the bread that gives us life. 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:35.360 We had the Lord's table together. 00:03:35.360 --> 00:03:44.780 We talked about how he is the special provision of God that was broken for us so that we could be saved, so that we could have eternal life. 00:03:46.640 --> 00:03:52.220 Well, this morning we want to focus in on a few words that we see scattered throughout this conversation. 00:03:52.960 --> 00:03:58.480 There's a particular phrase that's mentioned 10 times in this conversation with the crowd. 00:03:58.680 --> 00:04:00.700 10 times in just 29 verses. 00:04:00.699 --> 00:04:01.699 10 times in just 29 verses. 00:04:01.699 --> 00:04:05.099 And that should signal to us that this phrase is very important. 00:04:05.979 --> 00:04:12.939 In fact, I would suggest to you that this particular phrase is at the very core of this whole conversation. 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:16.680 And that phrase is from heaven. 00:04:18.060 --> 00:04:18.980 From heaven. 00:04:20.899 --> 00:04:26.639 Sometimes as it appears in this conversation, it's with the word give or gave. 00:04:26.819 --> 00:04:27.699 Give from heaven. 00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:28.680 Gave from heaven. 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:33.840 Other times it's with the word come or came down from heaven. 00:04:35.400 --> 00:04:41.920 But 10 times this language of from heaven is used in this conversation. 00:04:42.060 --> 00:04:43.379 It all started with the crowd. 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:46.699 They brought up the miracle of manna. 00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:49.740 They quoted the Old Testament. 00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:54.439 He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 00:04:54.439 --> 00:05:01.420 Jesus corrected their understanding as I just said. 00:05:02.219 --> 00:05:08.300 He said, it's not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven. 00:05:08.300 --> 00:05:13.540 But it is my father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 00:05:13.540 --> 00:05:15.720 Then again in verse 33. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:26.220 For the bread of God, says Jesus, is the one that, there it is again, comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. 00:05:26.220 --> 00:05:31.380 Then the crowd asks Jesus for the bread that he's talking about. 00:05:31.440 --> 00:05:34.600 And he responds by saying, I am the bread. 00:05:35.500 --> 00:05:38.080 I myself am the bread of life. 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:43.180 But not just the bread of life as we talked about last Sunday. 00:05:43.180 --> 00:05:46.100 The way this conversation is flowing. 00:05:46.100 --> 00:05:51.400 He is saying, I am the bread that came down from heaven. 00:05:53.560 --> 00:05:55.000 We could ask it this way. 00:05:55.120 --> 00:06:00.040 What kind of bread is Jesus telling them that he is? 00:06:00.040 --> 00:06:14.600 Not just the bread that has been given from heaven. 00:06:16.040 --> 00:06:18.640 He is bread that has come down from heaven. 00:06:19.580 --> 00:06:20.980 We might say it like this. 00:06:20.980 --> 00:06:27.120 The conversation is not just about the good that Jesus does for those who believe. 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:31.840 This conversation is also about where Jesus is from. 00:06:33.620 --> 00:06:34.600 From heaven. 00:06:36.259 --> 00:06:38.120 Come down from heaven. 00:06:38.220 --> 00:06:40.759 It's sprinkled all throughout these 29 verses. 00:06:41.959 --> 00:06:47.240 And in case there's any doubt that this is what Jesus means to say, we need only to look to verse 38. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:50.300 He says it as clear as day. 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:53.540 For I have come down from heaven. 00:06:55.160 --> 00:06:56.519 Not to do my will. 00:06:57.120 --> 00:06:59.879 But to do the will of him who sent me. 00:07:00.939 --> 00:07:07.079 You want to see something like the manna which came down from heaven to feed the Israelites long ago? 00:07:07.620 --> 00:07:08.500 Here I am. 00:07:09.300 --> 00:07:11.560 I have come down from heaven. 00:07:11.800 --> 00:07:12.800 Sent from my father. 00:07:15.480 --> 00:07:17.280 We're going to skip down to verse 41. 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:20.840 We'll come back to the verses we skipped in the weeks ahead. 00:07:20.839 --> 00:07:23.419 But for now we want to stay on this particular theme. 00:07:23.599 --> 00:07:24.599 Verse 41. 00:07:24.799 --> 00:07:28.259 We get the response of the crowd to these words of Jesus. 00:07:29.419 --> 00:07:33.199 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him. 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:34.759 Why? 00:07:35.979 --> 00:07:39.739 Because he said, I am the bread that came down from heaven. 00:07:39.740 --> 00:07:44.240 They started to grumble. 00:07:44.920 --> 00:07:46.540 So the crowd is listening. 00:07:46.780 --> 00:07:50.660 They may not be catching or understanding everything that Jesus is talking about. 00:07:50.660 --> 00:07:54.379 But they caught and understood one thing very clearly. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:58.060 They heard him say, I have come down from heaven. 00:07:58.060 --> 00:08:02.780 And John tells us they began to grumble about that. 00:08:03.720 --> 00:08:05.060 Verse 42. 00:08:06.500 --> 00:08:12.620 They said, is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:16.399 How can he now say, I came down from heaven? 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:20.279 Like, whoa, whoa. 00:08:20.420 --> 00:08:22.139 Hold the boat here for a second. 00:08:22.300 --> 00:08:24.100 We have a problem with that statement. 00:08:24.100 --> 00:08:26.980 I came down from heaven. 00:08:27.700 --> 00:08:30.960 Like, who does this guy think he is saying things like that? 00:08:31.760 --> 00:08:33.820 And calling God his father. 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:36.259 I mean, heaven is the realm of God alone. 00:08:36.980 --> 00:08:39.360 How can he say, I came down from heaven? 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:44.820 In fact, we know exactly where this man comes from. 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:47.759 Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? 00:08:49.620 --> 00:08:51.340 Whose father and mother we know? 00:08:51.340 --> 00:08:56.180 How can he now say, I came down from heaven? 00:08:56.300 --> 00:08:57.600 That's preposterous. 00:08:58.540 --> 00:09:04.420 Whatever he does, miracle or not, I mean, he's, surely he's just a man like his brothers. 00:09:04.580 --> 00:09:06.180 The other sons of Joseph. 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:09.940 They grumbled. 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:13.280 And they took issue with what Jesus said that day. 00:09:13.379 --> 00:09:16.240 When he said, I came down from heaven. 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:20.660 Skip down to verse 48. 00:09:21.340 --> 00:09:24.100 Jesus says, 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:27.240 I am the bread of life. 00:09:28.379 --> 00:09:33.600 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:42.639 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:47.720 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:52.860 Whoever eats this bread will live forever. 00:09:52.860 --> 00:10:04.180 You can almost see and hear Jesus gesturing to himself as he says this. 00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:06.019 As he says these words, 00:10:06.300 --> 00:10:10.980 Here is the bread that came, that comes down from heaven. 00:10:11.860 --> 00:10:13.899 And he says it again, as plain as day. 00:10:13.899 --> 00:10:18.279 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. 00:10:20.959 --> 00:10:22.500 Comes down from heaven. 00:10:22.699 --> 00:10:24.799 Came down from heaven. 00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:31.479 Do you hear what Jesus is saying about where he is from? 00:10:35.259 --> 00:10:40.519 Fast forward again briefly to a moment in verse 61. 00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:44.240 This is kind of after the conversation with the crowd. 00:10:45.439 --> 00:10:50.919 The crowd wasn't the only one that was grumbling and took issue with what Jesus said that day. 00:10:52.279 --> 00:10:53.179 Verse 61. 00:10:53.419 --> 00:10:57.579 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, 00:10:57.799 --> 00:10:59.379 Does this offend you? 00:10:59.379 --> 00:11:06.779 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before? 00:11:12.379 --> 00:11:16.539 So this little conversation between the disciples and Jesus, 00:11:17.299 --> 00:11:21.200 even they had issues with what he was saying. 00:11:21.820 --> 00:11:23.320 Some of the things he was saying. 00:11:23.399 --> 00:11:24.559 Even they were grumbling. 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:28.219 And Jesus says these amazing words. 00:11:28.419 --> 00:11:33.559 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before? 00:11:34.699 --> 00:11:37.659 In other words, this is no joke. 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:42.479 The crowd may not like what I'm saying, but I speak the truth. 00:11:43.779 --> 00:11:47.679 Jesus claims in public to have come down from heaven. 00:11:48.259 --> 00:11:52.659 And he speaks to his disciples in private the same thing. 00:11:52.659 --> 00:11:57.360 Ascend to where he was before. 00:11:58.819 --> 00:12:04.939 In other words, there's a place where I was before all of this. 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:07.620 Before I came down from heaven. 00:12:08.339 --> 00:12:12.059 What if you see me go back up to heaven? 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:15.059 Back up to where I was before. 00:12:15.199 --> 00:12:16.500 Would that do it for you? 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:23.279 I think Jesus is telling his own disciples to watch closely. 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:27.279 There's going to be a special sign for you. 00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:30.860 You will see something that not everyone will see. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:36.399 You will see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before. 00:12:36.840 --> 00:12:38.899 You'll see him go up to heaven. 00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:41.919 To the place from which he came down. 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:45.620 And this is exactly what they saw. 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:48.579 After Jesus was raised from the dead. 00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:50.439 Luke tells us the story. 00:12:51.479 --> 00:12:56.479 When Jesus had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 00:12:57.339 --> 00:13:01.939 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 00:13:03.979 --> 00:13:09.159 Luke gives a fuller, more detailed account in the first chapter of the book of Acts. 00:13:09.159 --> 00:13:16.579 This is another sign which confirms beyond the shadow of a doubt that Jesus came down from heaven. 00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:20.819 From the Father is that he went back up to heaven. 00:13:21.779 --> 00:13:23.439 To where he was before. 00:13:24.199 --> 00:13:26.139 In the sight of all his disciples. 00:13:29.439 --> 00:13:37.279 This was the main subject or a big part of the conversation that day with the crowd. 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:41.500 I came down from heaven. 00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:47.759 Do you hear what Jesus is saying about where he is from? 00:13:50.220 --> 00:13:51.559 The crowd heard it. 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:55.559 They understood what he meant by it. 00:13:55.860 --> 00:13:57.679 And they took issue with what he said. 00:13:58.939 --> 00:14:01.899 They didn't believe that Jesus came down from heaven. 00:14:02.079 --> 00:14:03.439 How could he be from heaven? 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:06.220 We know he was born of Mary and Joseph. 00:14:06.220 --> 00:14:12.680 Even the disciples seemed to have some issues with what Jesus said and taught that day. 00:14:14.060 --> 00:14:20.000 It would be a little bit of time before they would see the ultimate signs that confirmed that it was true. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:28.399 And all of this is pointing to the reality that Jesus is no ordinary man. 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:33.059 His story doesn't begin with Joseph and Mary. 00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:35.939 His story doesn't begin on earth. 00:14:35.940 --> 00:14:42.220 This is something that John has been highlighting for us throughout his gospel. 00:14:43.260 --> 00:14:48.740 The truth that Jesus has come down from heaven. 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:53.360 That's why John starts his gospel the way he does. 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:54.220 Let's remember. 00:14:54.899 --> 00:14:58.060 In the beginning was the word. 00:14:59.019 --> 00:15:02.120 And the word was with God. 00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:05.700 And the word was God. 00:15:06.560 --> 00:15:10.820 He was with God in the beginning. 00:15:10.820 --> 00:15:14.920 Through him all things were made. 00:15:16.280 --> 00:15:20.160 Without him nothing was made that has been made. 00:15:20.920 --> 00:15:27.740 The word, that one, became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:31.720 We have seen his glory, says John. 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:36.419 The glory of the one and only son who came from the father. 00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:42.940 We hear this truth come out in Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus. 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:46.220 John chapter 3 verse 13. 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:48.259 Do you remember what Jesus said to Nicodemus? 00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:50.659 He said, no one has ever gone into heaven. 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:53.019 Except the one who came from heaven. 00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:55.539 The son of man. 00:15:58.699 --> 00:16:03.139 John wants us to have a clear understanding of where Jesus is from. 00:16:05.059 --> 00:16:07.759 He tells us in verse 31 of that same chapter. 00:16:08.439 --> 00:16:12.899 The one who comes from above is above all. 00:16:14.059 --> 00:16:16.919 The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth. 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:18.980 And speaks as one from the earth. 00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:24.120 The one who comes from heaven is above all. 00:16:26.800 --> 00:16:27.600 None of them. 00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:32.720 Not even Jesus' disciples seem to fully grasp the reality of just who it was. 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:34.899 Teaching in the synagogue that day. 00:16:35.539 --> 00:16:36.879 Standing right in front of them. 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:39.379 Walking with them along the road. 00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:44.620 At least some of the disciples themselves were offended. 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:48.120 And grumbled about what Jesus said that day. 00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:51.419 Until they finally realized just how truthfully he spoke. 00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:53.439 He really was. 00:16:54.059 --> 00:16:57.039 And is the divine son of God. 00:16:57.700 --> 00:16:59.759 The glorious son of man. 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:03.039 Given from heaven. 00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:05.700 Come down from heaven. 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:08.380 An amazing gift of God. 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:10.120 For the world. 00:17:13.080 --> 00:17:14.440 Most of this is not new. 00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:16.539 You've probably heard this before. 00:17:17.360 --> 00:17:18.700 So what should we do with it? 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:22.259 What should we do with this truth this morning? 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:23.180 Well for starters. 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:26.000 I really believe if Jesus was here. 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:28.700 Standing right here in front of you. 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:31.120 He would say the same thing he said to the crowd that day. 00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:32.360 Believe it. 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:35.139 What God wants you to do is believe. 00:17:36.199 --> 00:17:37.719 In the one he has sent. 00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:41.519 Do you believe that Jesus. 00:17:42.179 --> 00:17:44.639 Is God's special provision from heaven. 00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:47.000 Not just an earthly man. 00:17:47.899 --> 00:17:49.799 But one who has come down. 00:17:50.219 --> 00:17:50.779 From heaven. 00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:55.240 Once we believe this truth. 00:17:55.439 --> 00:17:56.319 Our next stop. 00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:58.439 I think is to fall to our knees. 00:17:58.579 --> 00:17:59.439 And worship him. 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:03.820 As John said. 00:18:03.900 --> 00:18:04.920 The one who comes. 00:18:05.380 --> 00:18:06.279 From heaven. 00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:07.480 Is above all. 00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:11.360 If he's from heaven. 00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:12.400 Then he is worthy. 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:13.600 Of our worship. 00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:18.660 Not only should we worship. 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:21.860 But we should listen to him. 00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:25.380 We should take everything Jesus says. 00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:26.380 Very seriously. 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:28.140 And we should do the things. 00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:29.279 That he tells us to do. 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:32.140 John said. 00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:33.500 The one who comes from heaven. 00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:34.500 Is above all. 00:18:34.860 --> 00:18:35.500 He testifies. 00:18:36.320 --> 00:18:37.299 To what he has seen. 00:18:37.340 --> 00:18:37.759 And heard. 00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:39.680 For the one whom God has sent. 00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:41.940 Speaks the words of God. 00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:46.240 If he has indeed. 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:47.420 Come from heaven. 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:49.380 And speaks the words of God. 00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:50.640 Then we should listen to him. 00:18:52.299 --> 00:18:54.160 We should cling to his every word. 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:54.660 And we should respond. 00:18:54.660 --> 00:18:56.920 And we should respond. 00:18:57.800 --> 00:19:00.200 And do the things that he has told us to do. 00:19:00.840 --> 00:19:02.160 These are general things. 00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:05.440 That we should do continuously in our lives. 00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:06.460 Believe. 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:07.660 Jesus. 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:08.640 Worship. 00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:09.279 Jesus. 00:19:09.620 --> 00:19:10.620 Listen to Jesus. 00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:14.980 And all because he is the one who has come down from heaven. 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:17.299 But there is one more thing that I want to add today. 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:19.860 Maybe something a little more tangible. 00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:25.079 We should celebrate that Jesus came down from heaven. 00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:29.259 Christmas is two months away. 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:35.279 And we might not be quite ready to pull out the decorations yet. 00:19:35.379 --> 00:19:37.519 Or to put on the Christmas music yet. 00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:42.079 But it's not too early to begin preparing our hearts. 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:43.619 For what the season is all about. 00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:50.019 Probably Christmas will feel like it comes much quicker than we expect. 00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:51.200 It happens every year. 00:19:52.359 --> 00:19:54.339 So why not start thinking now. 00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:56.839 About just how we can celebrate. 00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:59.459 Perhaps in some new or fresh way. 00:19:59.659 --> 00:20:00.359 This year. 00:20:00.439 --> 00:20:01.480 The wonderful truth. 00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:03.039 That Jesus came down. 00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:04.039 From heaven. 00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:05.039 To earth. 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:07.339 A gift of love from God. 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:10.240 So what can you do? 00:20:11.639 --> 00:20:12.839 What can you plan. 00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:14.139 In this month ahead. 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:15.759 To bring that reality. 00:20:16.139 --> 00:20:17.659 Into special focus. 00:20:17.899 --> 00:20:19.500 For your family this Christmas. 00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.639 Maybe it's the words you. 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:24.459 Write in your Christmas cards. 00:20:25.399 --> 00:20:26.059 This year. 00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:27.359 A little different than last year. 00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.799 Maybe it's a devotional moment. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:30.379 That you plan to share at the table. 00:20:30.899 --> 00:20:32.319 As you have a Christmas meal. 00:20:34.619 --> 00:20:36.639 Maybe it's the way you decorate this year. 00:20:38.579 --> 00:20:40.960 But this is what the Christmas story is all about. 00:20:41.139 --> 00:20:42.419 It's the story. 00:20:42.619 --> 00:20:44.720 Of how this one. 00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:45.839 Jesus. 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:47.919 Came down. 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:49.059 From heaven. 00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:51.960 What can you do. 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:52.599 To highlight. 00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:52.720 To highlight. 00:20:53.159 --> 00:20:54.440 And to celebrate. 00:20:54.919 --> 00:20:55.879 That gift. 00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:57.960 This Christmas. 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:01.480 So to sum up. 00:21:01.579 --> 00:21:02.220 We should believe. 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:03.079 Jesus. 00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:05.099 We should worship Jesus. 00:21:05.379 --> 00:21:06.919 We should listen to what he says. 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:09.679 And we should prepare to celebrate. 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.480 In the months ahead. 00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:11.659 The one who graciously. 00:21:11.899 --> 00:21:13.119 Came down from heaven. 00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:14.359 For us. 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:17.619 Let's pray. 00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:17.659 Let's pray. 00:21:27.379 --> 00:21:28.279 Lord Jesus. 00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:29.439 We confess that. 00:21:29.899 --> 00:21:31.299 We have heard this. 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:32.519 And we know this. 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:35.119 And yet it's so easy. 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:35.839 To lose the. 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:36.700 The awe. 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:37.299 And wonder. 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.220 Of the reality. 00:21:38.879 --> 00:21:39.619 That you. 00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:41.200 Have done this. 00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:41.819 Massive. 00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:42.720 Jump. 00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:44.359 From heaven to earth. 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:45.940 To live among us. 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:48.319 To rescue us. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:49.019 To save us. 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:50.000 To be the one. 00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:51.079 Who gives us life. 00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:55.579 Help us not to lose the wonder of that. 00:21:58.059 --> 00:22:00.240 We ask that you would put in our hearts. 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:00.859 A holy. 00:22:00.859 --> 00:22:02.319 The reverence. 00:22:02.659 --> 00:22:03.259 And awe. 00:22:03.699 --> 00:22:04.319 Of you. 00:22:06.679 --> 00:22:07.939 Like should be there. 00:22:08.939 --> 00:22:09.919 For who you are. 00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.839 Help us in these. 00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:14.319 These weeks ahead. 00:22:14.459 --> 00:22:14.779 As we. 00:22:14.939 --> 00:22:16.240 As we look towards Christmas. 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:17.000 To prepare. 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:19.059 And to prepare well. 00:22:19.219 --> 00:22:19.899 For the occasion. 00:22:20.459 --> 00:22:21.359 And for the celebration. 00:22:22.479 --> 00:22:23.119 And Lord. 00:22:23.199 --> 00:22:23.939 We think of those. 00:22:24.139 --> 00:22:24.959 In our community. 00:22:25.179 --> 00:22:25.299 Who. 00:22:25.459 --> 00:22:26.859 Who do not know. 00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:27.839 This truth. 00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:30.179 Of where you are from. 00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:32.340 And we pray and ask. 00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:33.200 That you would lead us. 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:34.200 In reaching out to them. 00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:35.500 And speaking to them as well. 00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:37.740 We love you. 00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:39.320 We pray these things. 00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:40.240 In your name Jesus. 00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:41.480 Amen. 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:41.579 Amen.