WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:02.000 Well Merry Christmas. 00:00:02.080 --> 00:00:03.040 We're finally here. 00:00:03.279 --> 00:00:07.759 Christmas Eve, a warm spring day. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:09.519 Maybe you're having a pool party. 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:10.320 I don't know. 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:11.519 We're glad you're here. 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:13.519 Excited you're here with us to celebrate. 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:18.320 Almost 20 years ago, I was hired at a church down in Atlanta called Church of the Apostles. 00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:20.960 Christy and I showed up at this church in Buckhead. 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:24.399 We were we were kind of country bumpkins coming into the city. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:25.440 We weren't from the city. 00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:28.399 I owned one button-up shirt at the at the time. 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:32.399 But but what we found was a lovely church, a lovely, welcoming church. 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:38.799 And we also found other young people our age just married, starting out life, which became our best friends. 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:41.280 Here's a picture of the core group of my guy best friends. 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:42.479 That's us hiking out west. 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:44.320 Now the guy in the middle, his name's Jonathan. 00:00:44.479 --> 00:00:51.359 A few months ago, my buddy Jonathan, who's a pastor in Virginia, he is having a difficult season at his church. 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:52.719 It got pretty serious. 00:00:52.880 --> 00:00:55.039 Some people were trying to get him fired. 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:57.840 I mean, can you imagine can you imagine the fierce people in church? 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:01.039 I don't know if you knew that that could happen, but apparently it can. 00:01:01.439 --> 00:01:07.840 Some people trying to get him fired, and he was put on leave while they worked through the conflict. 00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:10.719 At first, we're all texting about it in our text group. 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:12.799 And he would chime in, how are you today? 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:16.079 You know, how what we can pray for, you know, we love you, we're for you. 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:19.200 And then slowly and then eventually nothing. 00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:20.879 Just quiet, silent. 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:21.680 No response. 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:25.040 No response to texting, no response to calls. 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:30.159 My friend Kevin finally calls me, he says, Hey man, uh, usually Jonathan and I are talk twice a week. 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:31.680 I'm getting nothing from him. 00:01:31.760 --> 00:01:34.719 He won't pick up, he won't call back, silence. 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:38.480 And then Kevin says, Do you think we should just go up there? 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:41.359 Just show up. 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:42.719 Just show up. 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:49.680 And Christy, my wife, had been saying, for about a year, she had been saying, love shows up. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:52.959 So Kevin and I, we book a plane ticket to DC. 00:01:53.120 --> 00:01:54.239 We wake up at 4 a.m. 00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:59.120 By the time uh 10:30 a.m., we're at the door, knocking outside of Washington, D.C. 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:03.040 He opens the door, he's surprised, of course. 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:04.640 He smiles. 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:06.879 Uh, what are you doing? 00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:07.760 Why are y'all here? 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:09.360 You don't even you don't even live in the state. 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:10.400 What are you doing here? 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:13.439 And we say, hey, we're here to check on you. 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:14.800 We love you. 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:16.800 We're here to spend the day with you. 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:20.319 And he tears up, we we spend a lovely day together. 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:26.960 We go to lunch, we have coffee, we go for a hike, and then Kevin and I get on an evening flight. 00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:30.240 We're at home in bed by 11. 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:37.199 Because, as my wife, my wise wife, says, love shows up. 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:41.759 Listen how John writes it in 1 John, 1 John 4, 9 and 10. 00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:46.560 In this, the love of God was made manifest among us. 00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:48.560 Love shows up. 00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:52.639 That's what Christmas is, the incarnation, love showing up. 00:02:52.800 --> 00:03:01.039 In this, the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only son into the world so that we might live through him. 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:02.639 In this is love. 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:07.199 Not that we have loved God, but that he loved us. 00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:10.879 And he sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:16.639 That's a big word to say, you're fully forgiven and fully right with God through Jesus. 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:22.159 Now let's ponder our Christmas text from Luke's gospel, Luke 2, 8 through 11. 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:34.639 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:43.840 And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:50.639 For unto you was born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 00:03:50.960 --> 00:03:55.439 Point number one is this the story of Jesus is good news for weary souls. 00:03:55.919 --> 00:04:02.639 The beginning of the Christian faith was such good news that they had the word gospel for it, which just means good news. 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:04.400 They just called it good news. 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:05.599 It is such good news. 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:07.199 You've heard good news. 00:04:07.919 --> 00:04:09.360 You got the job. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:11.199 You don't have cancer anymore. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:14.560 You passed the class, your 401k went up. 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:17.040 The boy likes you, the girl likes you. 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:27.680 And because it's such good news, when we receive good news, something done and accomplished outside of us, given to us, and we receive good news, there's great joy. 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:29.680 There's great joy. 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:36.560 You've been in a church or been around Christians, and there wasn't a lot of great joy. 00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:43.839 Maybe you went somewhere and you left and you sort of felt just more tired than when you showed up, or maybe you were condemned. 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:46.800 Maybe you were ashamed. 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:51.439 Sort of like, if only I get better, then God will love me. 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:57.920 Jesus sort of forgives me, but I sort of need to add to it in order for it to be enough. 00:04:58.480 --> 00:05:06.480 If I can only perform a little bit more, then God will accept me, love me, have me, secure me, forgive me. 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:23.600 Rather than good news, something done and accomplished outside of you, God, the divine creator, incarnating himself, made manifest among us into his creation to live, walk, teach, and eventually die on a cross. 00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:26.560 Accomplish the forgiveness of sins. 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:31.199 Right relationship with God, not based on our work, but on his word. 00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:34.240 That's the incarnation. 00:05:35.360 --> 00:05:37.439 A baby happened upon the world. 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:46.079 See, God's love pursues you as you are, not as you should be, because none of us are as we should be. 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:57.120 We say it this way in our church: we are free from being performers and pretenders, and we're free to be receivers and worshipers. 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:01.680 The beginning of verse 10 calls us to move from fear to behold. 00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:04.720 Fear's been our response to God since the beginning. 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:12.319 Think back to the beginning: Genesis, the creation, the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve rebelled. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:16.480 They chose independence from God. 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:20.959 And then they see that they're naked, right? 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:22.160 Where I'm from, we say naked. 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:23.199 Are you from the South? 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:24.879 Southerners say naked. 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:25.920 Naked. 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:29.680 They were naked and unashamed before. 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:32.319 But then sin entered the world. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:34.000 They wanted independence from God. 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:39.839 Rather than surrender and submission and relationship with God, they wanted their own way. 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:43.040 So then there's guilt and there's shame. 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:48.000 And the question began, it's a question back then, it's all the way to now, to my heart, to your heart. 00:06:48.720 --> 00:06:54.879 If God fully knew me, like the whole story. 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:59.279 Would he, could he possibly love me? 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:03.519 So Adam and Eve, they make temporary clothing, try to hide themselves. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:09.040 It's a great symbol of how we try to cover up our shame and our guilt by our own work. 00:07:10.399 --> 00:07:12.480 And God pursues them. 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:24.079 My mentor Scotty Smith says it this way: Apart from the garments of God's grace given to us freely in the gospel, we will reach for the rags of some futile covering. 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:29.360 Shame has to do with being seen, and we are convinced that being fully seen by God would destroy us. 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:32.959 To be seen as we really are is just too much to fathom. 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:35.680 Our guilt and shame demand a payment. 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:37.120 We can't pay. 00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:45.759 So Adam and Eve are there, and all of a sudden they hear the Lord walking into the garden and they hid. 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:47.519 They're afraid. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:50.079 They hid from the one who loves them the most. 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:53.360 They hid from the one who's actually pursuing them to provide for them, right? 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:54.879 And the Lord says, Where are you? 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:55.839 Where are you? 00:07:56.160 --> 00:07:57.360 Where are you at? 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:00.959 God's pursuing them to provide for them. 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:04.639 So it's no surprise when we get to our text in Luke. 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:09.920 The Lord comes to the shepherds and an angel has to say, fear not. 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:12.160 Behold. 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:17.600 You don't have to be afraid of God. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:22.079 Remember last week we talked about the word behold. 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:23.439 Fear not, behold. 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:34.799 Behold means to pause, gaze, not just move on to the next thing or move on to work for God or to serve, as good as those things are, but behold, pause, gaze. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:37.279 See how good he is. 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:40.000 And that's point number two. 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:48.080 By the gift of Christ, we transform from hiding in fear to treasuring him in peace. 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:53.039 Years ago, my wife and I went out to dinner with a mentor, a couple of ours. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:55.840 It was kind of a fancy schmancy restaurant, so it was real dim. 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:58.159 You know, fancy restaurants like the dim the lights. 00:08:58.240 --> 00:08:58.879 It was real dim. 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:01.919 And the the waitress came by, handed us the menu, and she handed it. 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:05.200 I couldn't see anything on that menu. 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:08.000 There was little words, it was dim. 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:08.960 I had no shot. 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:10.960 I think the week before I probably could have read it. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:13.440 Something happened, you know, at age 45. 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:14.879 At that point, something happened. 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:17.039 And I'm looking at it like I don't have a shot. 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:19.279 I don't know if I'm gonna be the guy with the flashlight. 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:21.759 I don't have any readers yet at this point in my life. 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:32.720 And I see my friends across the table, Chris and Ashley, they both just do like this, you know, they do like this off here, wherever, and they just kind of do like some of you guys got it going right now, you know what I'm talking about. 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:36.000 And they're over there, they're talking about their food, and I don't know what to do. 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:38.320 And they they see, I have no idea. 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:40.639 I have no idea what to order, I can't order. 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:44.720 And Ashley just does like this, like this. 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:49.600 And I just put them on, and it's it's like magic, isn't it? 00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:51.919 Old people, in it, old people. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:53.360 It's unbelievable. 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:56.879 Every time, every time I'm like, wow, that is amazing. 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:07.279 We finish our dinner, about four days later in the mail, two pairs of readers show up from Chris and Ashley. 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:17.279 And that gift changed me because now I have these readers in the car, in my backpack, on my nightstand, in table, my desk. 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:21.120 Got a pair right here in the pulpit in case something horrible happens, ready to go. 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:28.080 My point is this I I did not pursue the gift, the gift showed up into my need. 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:31.039 The gift was sent to me. 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:35.039 Listen to these four verses about God's pursuit of you and your need. 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:36.799 Ephesians 2, 4 and 5. 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:46.399 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:48.159 Titus 3, 4 and 5. 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:58.399 But when the goodness and the loving kindness of God, our Savior, appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy. 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:03.039 Matthew 11, 28, come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden. 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:04.720 I will give you rest. 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:16.960 2 Corinthians 8, 9, for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:25.759 See, as we come alive to God's love for us, right where we're at, our love and our life for him develops. 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:31.039 We could call it sanctification, transformation, walking with Jesus. 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:43.679 Carl Barth, a Swiss theologian in the 1900s, he wrote an essay called The Miracle of Christmas, and he notes, he reminds us that Joseph just contributes nothing to this whole Christmas story. 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:48.000 He doesn't contribute anything to Jesus' coming. 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:52.320 Joseph is absent in causing Jesus. 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:55.039 Jesus happens to Joseph. 00:11:55.919 --> 00:11:57.679 See, Jesus happens to us. 00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:02.000 Here's what Bart says the miracle is done upon man. 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:07.039 It is man who is the object of sovereign divine action in this event. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:10.320 God himself and God alone is master and lord. 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:22.240 This cannot be stated strongly enough, exclusively enough, negatively enough, against all synergism or even monism, grace is always despite and not because of the human condition. 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:26.960 God's gracious action is never consequently, but always nevertheless. 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:35.120 It is life from the dead and the justification of the ungodly, not the reward of the righteous. 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:37.600 That's the good news. 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:54.080 And if you're worn down or broken or just not holding it all together, or just extremely tired of trying to be good enough, it's good news to hear that Jesus loves you where you're at, forgives you of all your sins, and wants to walk with you. 00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:57.440 That he could love us like that. 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:03.759 A few months ago I watched a documentary called I Like Me about John Candy. 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:05.919 Anybody else grow up watching John Candy? 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:07.200 I grew up in the 1980s. 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:09.120 I grew up watching John Candy movies. 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:10.480 He started out on Silent Live. 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:12.879 He went on to make about 20 movies. 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:18.159 My childhood was filled with laughter because of John Candy. 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:21.919 And then at the age of 43, Candy died in his sleep. 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:28.799 And when he died, the Los Angeles City shut down the freeway for his processional. 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:36.799 The 405 freeway had only been shut down for the president and the pope, and then they shut it down for John Candy. 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:41.840 I mean, he made silly sweet movies. 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:45.759 The president, the pope, John Candy? 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:52.240 I mean, why did this actor who makes silly movies receive this honor? 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:56.000 And the answer is because everybody loved him. 00:13:57.120 --> 00:14:02.399 And they loved him because he had so much love for them. 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:08.399 Co-actor and friend Dan Aykroyd, he explains in a eulogy at Candy's funeral. 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:10.000 We'll watch about two minutes of it. 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:13.759 I'm going to give it out today in the manner in which he would have wanted it. 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:20.559 You have been accorded a great honor. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:24.720 You stand up, walk to the front of the room. 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:31.600 And without grief or weeping, deliver loudly, clearly, short, and straight to the salient points. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:36.320 The best tribute and oratory possible from the heart of an allied professional. 00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:44.320 Like we have the same point. 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:23.840 Joy reverse vampire. 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:53.759 We don't hear much anymore. 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.320 The word is grand. 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:01.919 It was a grand man. 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:07.039 John Franklin Candy. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:47.519 And I will never stop. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:17:00.399 I'll admit I have a soft spot for Candy because I probably watched The Great Outdoors twice a week for like five years straight. 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:02.159 I loved that movie. 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:04.319 That last line brought me to tears. 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:08.400 The sweetest, most generous person ever known to me. 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:12.480 And then Accord says, I loved him ever since I laid eyes on him. 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:14.640 And I will never stop. 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:22.319 See, John Candy's love is an image of what generous love does to somebody. 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:25.440 Generous love transforms us. 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:33.119 Because Candy's love or any person that loves you generously, perhaps your mom, your dad, a friend, a brother, sister. 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:36.960 Generous love transforms. 00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:40.400 But it's only a taste. 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:44.160 All that human love, all that generous love, that's only a taste. 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:50.319 See, in this Jesus, generous love shows up for you, pursues you, fully knows you, and fully loves you. 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:54.799 And you may have a lot of questions in this life. 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:55.920 I do. 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:57.759 I have a lot of questions for God. 00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:01.359 But we don't have to question whether he loves us. 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:06.160 Christmas is about God moving toward us in the gift of Christ. 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:10.960 And this Jesus is lavish in love and profound truth. 00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:12.079 He is enough. 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:14.319 He is generous and he is kind. 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:28.000 He is born into his own creation to pursue his children, to fulfill the law, to become sin on the cross of sinners like you and I can become forgiven and righteous, accepted. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:33.839 Church, the gift of Christ happens to you, is put upon you. 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:39.680 Let's pray together as I pray the historic prayer for Christmas that will be on the screens. 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:49.359 Heavenly Father, O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ. 00:18:49.599 --> 00:19:07.119 Grant that we who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our judge, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:07.920 Amen.