WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:01.760 Well, Merry Christmas. 00:00:02.080 --> 00:00:09.519 What we love to say every week, we've been saying it for 12 years now, is we are more broken than we originally thought. 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:14.720 We're more sinful than originally thought, but we're more loved by God and Jesus than we could ever dare to dream. 00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:17.839 And so that's what our church talks about every single week. 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:21.440 And again, that's what we're going to talk about today on Christmas Eve. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:24.800 Our Christmas text is Matthew 1, 21 through 23. 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:32.880 She will bear a son, Mary will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:36.159 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet. 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:43.359 Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means God with us. 00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:51.520 So in verse 23, when it's declared that Jesus will be born, it said, they shall call his name Emmanuel. 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:58.240 Emmanuel means God with us, not God against us, although it can often feel that way. 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:01.119 Not God, sort of for us. 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:03.600 Like if we're for him, then he'll be for us. 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:05.439 Like an eighth-grade girl, like, do you like me? 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:08.000 Because if you like me, I'll like you, but like, do you really like me? 00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:11.200 Because maybe I like you, I'm not gonna tell you I like you, but if you like me, no, I like you. 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:12.799 That's that's not it. 00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:18.879 God is certain and stable, he's wonderfully for us and wonderfully with us. 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:24.480 This word Emmanuel appears three times in the scriptures here in Matthew, twice in the book of Isaiah. 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:30.159 Isaiah 7.14, the prophet prophesies that Emmanuel will come to a virgin. 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:38.319 Isaiah 8.8, the prophet prophesies that the people of God belong, belong to this Emmanuel. 00:01:38.879 --> 00:01:39.920 It's a good question. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:43.280 Just where do you find your belonging? 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:46.640 Just a one-point sermon tonight. 00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:47.840 You're welcome. 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:50.079 Here it is. 00:01:50.319 --> 00:01:55.280 The heart of God is for you, and he desires a relationship with you. 00:01:55.599 --> 00:02:01.920 That's what we need to hear to become a Christian, and that's what we need to keep hearing every day. 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:09.120 The promise of Emmanuel is God's presence with us no matter our condition. 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:13.280 The problem, of course, is how can we know him? 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:17.680 And how can we be for sure how he feels about us? 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:21.759 How can we know for certain that he loves us? 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:25.599 And Christmas gives it to us. 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:27.919 The incarnation solves the problem. 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:34.639 That objectively into history, the Creator decided to come toward us. 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:48.000 So that whether we're doubting or how we feel or how wonderfully we're behaving as a Christian or not as good, like all of that, objectively, God is for us in this Jesus. 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:53.120 Two years ago, I started my doctorate at Covenant Seminary in St. 00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:53.759 Louis. 00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:57.840 And so we study, there's a group of us, there's 10 of us, ten pastors were in this cohort. 00:02:57.919 --> 00:03:01.360 So we study a lot, and then we come together one week each semester. 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:04.319 Our professor's the seminary president, Dr. 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:05.360 Tom Gibbs. 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:05.919 Here's Dr. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:06.719 Gibbs right here. 00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:07.039 Dr. 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:10.000 Gibbs planted a church in San Antonio 20 years ago. 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:11.520 He planted it, he grew it. 00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:17.840 Not only did he grow it, he actually handed it off to somebody else, and it's still flourishing after he leaves. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:19.199 Now he's a seminary president. 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:23.360 I mean, this is sort of like in my line of work, like this is it. 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:25.919 Like this guy has done it. 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:31.199 He's smart, he's distinguished, he's accomplished, he's respected. 00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:36.159 And so we sit in a circle, ten of us, with him, each semester for a week. 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:43.599 And he asks very pointed questions and he shares, and then we share, and I talk some, and then after I talk, you know, I overanalyze it for the next 30 minutes. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:46.080 Yeah, you know, what did I did I sound smart? 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:46.639 You know? 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:48.319 Was I impressive? 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:50.639 Did I say something insightful? 00:03:50.960 --> 00:03:52.560 Does he think I'm smart? 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:56.560 Like I'm I'm actually wondering this at age 45 years old. 00:03:56.879 --> 00:03:57.599 Does Dr. 00:03:57.680 --> 00:03:59.680 Gibbs think I'm smart? 00:04:00.240 --> 00:04:02.960 But I just felt like I couldn't associate with him. 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:05.199 I mean, he's a seminary president, right? 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:07.599 I mean, how many seminary presidents are you hanging out with all the time? 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:08.960 It's just not a common thing. 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:10.719 I felt like I couldn't quite associate. 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:18.399 And then last summer, we were in New York City for a week of class, and I come down to the hotel lobby because we were gonna go to a Yankees game that evening. 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:21.600 I come down to the hotel lobby, and there is Dr. 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:24.319 Gibbs in shorts. 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:34.560 And let me tell you, once you see a man that you respect in shorts, right, everything changes. 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:37.279 Like everything just changed. 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:46.959 We walked to the game together, we talked about family and daughters, we talked theology, we talked SEC football, Auburn, he's an Auburn guy, Auburn people. 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:52.399 He became accessible, right? 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:54.160 Like that far off, distant Dr. 00:04:54.319 --> 00:04:56.879 Gibbs, accomplished, distinguished. 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:59.839 He's just wearing a ball cap and shorts, eating a hot dog. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:02.399 Right? 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:06.160 He came toward us, he came toward me. 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:08.399 It's been different ever since. 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:10.800 The relationship's been different ever since. 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:13.040 He became knowable. 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:14.639 He was with me. 00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:16.399 He incarnated. 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:21.920 Now, this Jesus, God with us, is the incarnation of the Creator God. 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:26.000 And when he comes to the world, he doesn't remain distant or unknowable. 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:30.319 And he doesn't even come to like a regal castle, he comes to a humble manger. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:36.879 So if you've ever wondered if God is interested in you and your condition, this should tell you that he really is. 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:44.800 He seeks the worn out and the weary and the broken down, the burned out, which is good news. 00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:50.959 Because don't we all eventually at some point feel worn out and weary and broken down and burned out? 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:57.920 Listen to the first thing that Jesus communicates to his disciples after the resurrection. 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:08.560 So Jesus dies on the cross, our sin is put upon Jesus, his righteousness is given to us, he resurrects, his disciples have ran, just this bunch of guys, right? 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:10.560 Like no courage, no faith. 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:23.680 They are holed up in a room, they are hiding, no faith, no courage, and he comes to them, John 20, 19, on the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the door is being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews. 00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:28.959 Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, Peace be with you. 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:36.879 Which is so very interesting because I can think of how many things I would say to like a group of people who were supposed to be on my team. 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:42.079 I mean, this group of guys had earned nothing. 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:43.519 Nothing. 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:45.439 And he gives them peace. 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:50.639 So very clearly, the peace of Jesus is not based on our resume or our merit. 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:57.519 Jesus proclaims this over them, his words. 00:06:57.759 --> 00:06:58.560 Peace. 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:04.879 Martin Luther, 1500s theologian, he says this about the birth of Jesus. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:08.399 This is what is meant by your king comes. 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:10.079 You do not seek him. 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:12.079 But he seeks you. 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:13.439 You do not find him. 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:15.279 He finds you. 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:18.639 And man, I need that and I love that. 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:30.560 Because I need to be found, I need to be loved, I need to be saved, I need to belong, and I need all this from outside of me causing it or maintaining it or earning it. 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:35.279 I keep getting duped by the world. 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:40.240 I keep looking for belonging in places that constantly let me down. 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:46.399 Two years ago, my Instagram feed started to get hit hard by uh poncho shirts. 00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:48.800 Men, do y'all know poncho shirts? 00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:49.920 Oh man. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:52.240 And like I want to be, that's where I want to be right now. 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:53.279 I mean, I love being here. 00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:54.399 This is great, you know. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:56.000 But that looks fantastic. 00:07:56.079 --> 00:08:00.160 They have a beer, they look like they're gonna cook dinner, they're at West, somewhere there's Tailgate. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:01.199 I mean, that looks fantastic. 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:02.800 I'm like, I want to be with them. 00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:05.839 I actually think I have that blue shirt, probably because of this picture. 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:09.120 I was like, that's that looks like something good for me right there. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:14.079 So I bought two flannels, um, and then I went on to buy three more. 00:08:14.399 --> 00:08:16.800 So now I have five poncho shirts. 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:17.759 This is the problem. 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:18.639 This is a problem. 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:21.199 I'm hoping for more tomorrow morning, you know, right? 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:23.519 Santa. 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:25.439 Could happen. 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:26.879 Could happen. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:31.199 And here's what I realized that I keep realizing getting duped by the world. 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:35.200 Uh this shirt, as lovely as it is, it cannot deliver me peace. 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:37.279 I'm still me in the shirt. 00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:38.559 Right? 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:44.000 Like you get the new car three months later, you realize you're still you in the new car. 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:44.399 Right? 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:50.960 It's the Adam Sandler quote: the sad you at home will be the sad you in Italy. 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:53.919 Like it's this like you're the problem. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:08:59.919 It's a lovely shirt, but it can't really love me. 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:01.039 It can't deliver. 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:04.799 These things aren't stable enough to proclaim peace. 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:10.480 Yeah, there's another constant for us. 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:11.840 There is a constant for us. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:18.799 Something incredibly stable because it's outside of us and is given to us and is earned outside of us by somebody else. 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:21.679 That's the power of Christ's work for us. 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:26.399 That Jesus constantly pursues and loves us exactly where we are. 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:29.919 Now, effort is not over, but earning is done. 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:33.120 Will you receive that? 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:36.399 Could you be loved there? 00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:39.039 Because that's where peace comes. 00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:42.159 His work for us, not our work for him. 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:50.960 A few weeks ago, my family went to Symphony Hall down in Atlanta to see the Symphony play the music to Frozen. 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:52.240 Do we have any frozen? 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:53.840 I know we got some kiddos in here, right? 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:56.639 Frozen adults, it's okay, we can be fans of Frozen also. 00:09:56.960 --> 00:09:58.559 I'm a girl dad, I have three girls. 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:00.240 And so we went down to watch this. 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:13.200 So the so the orchestra plays all the music while the movie is shown on a huge screen over the orchestra, the orchestra's on the stage and huge screen, and so it's lots of families, lots of little girls in princess dresses, lots of princess stuff going on. 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:25.120 And we sit down, the five of us, and my family's to my left, and then I'm sitting here, and then sure enough, in comes this row of just a bunch of first-grade girls, just a whole bunch. 00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:38.000 And so my daughter and I, we meet Fernie and Mia and Hatley, and I say, I say, hi, Allie, and she says, it, Hatley. 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:40.799 Okay, that's how this is gonna be. 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:44.879 That's the relationship that we're gonna have. 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:51.360 The movie starts, and right before the movie started, they're all over. 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:52.720 They are all over. 00:10:52.960 --> 00:11:00.240 They are so loud, and there's like giggle, scream, giggle, and I'm like, it's a birthday party, is what I find out. 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:02.240 To Symphony Hall. 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:04.480 I had a birthday party at McDonald's. 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:06.639 I don't know where you had birthday parties. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:08.639 I was like, Symphony, this is amazing. 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:10.080 I'm like, what kind of birthday party? 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:10.720 Who are your parents? 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:13.120 Can they can it be my parents, huh? 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:15.519 They're all over. 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:17.360 It's totally OPK, right? 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:21.440 Other people's kids, where you're just like, oh, OPK, OPK. 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:25.200 And the movie starts, boom, they are locked in. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:27.039 Like Anna and Elsa, right? 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:29.279 They've all seen it 57 times, doesn't matter. 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:30.639 Boom, locked in. 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:33.679 Hatley is incredibly concerned. 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:39.600 She is curled up in her seat, and her face is all concerned because you remember what happens, right? 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:42.240 Elsa can't control her magical powers, right? 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:50.799 And she she runs off, and then Anna runs after her, and Hatley is all concerned, very, very, very concerned. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:53.840 And I'm the ruin the movie. 00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:57.440 It's been 11 years though, so I'm sorry about that. 00:11:57.600 --> 00:12:01.279 Uh Anna turns to ice at the end of the movie. 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:06.559 And only true love can melt away the ice. 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:15.360 Now, right when Anna turns to ice from the back of Symphony Hall, this little boy yells out, no. 00:12:21.039 --> 00:12:23.039 And then he just begins to sob. 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:24.559 Just sob. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:28.399 I look over at Hatley and she she's like, Yeah, I know how you feel, buddy. 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:29.919 Like, I can tell. 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:35.440 And then Elsa throws her arms around her sister, right? 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:40.399 Elsa throws her arms around Anna and the tears come down. 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:43.200 And love melts away the ice. 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:45.200 That's what the movie's about, right? 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:48.879 And finally I look at Hatley, and for the first time in 90 minutes, like she has relief. 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:50.159 Okay, it happened. 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:54.000 You know, like you know, if the 58th time, I'm glad it happened again. 00:12:54.399 --> 00:13:01.679 Because the lesson of the movie is that true love can melt ice away, can melt a frozen heart. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:03.840 That's what the movie's thesis is. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:17.679 And so then I remember the first time, I've seen this about the same time as Hatley, and um, in the middle, when they go see the trolls, the trolls who know about love, the love trolls, the head troll, the chief troll, he says this. 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:24.399 He says, People make bad choices if they're mad or scared or stressed. 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:28.159 But throw a little love their way and you'll bring out their best. 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:34.399 Now, of course, this was not an original thought to Frozen or to Disney. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:36.879 Like this is this is in the scriptures. 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:38.559 This is how God works. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:40.240 1 John 4, 7, and 8. 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:45.840 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:49.919 Anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love. 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:52.720 Now, how does that work itself out in Jesus? 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:54.320 Romans 5, 6 through 8. 00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:56.159 This is the message translation. 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:59.440 Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:02.480 He didn't and doesn't wait for us to get ready. 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:09.519 He presented himself for the sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:14.480 And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:32.799 We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice, but God put his love on the line for us by offering his son and a sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:36.159 See, this is the love that we have in God. 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:38.080 It's a one-way love. 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:46.799 The fact that it comes in history through an incarnation and a crucifixion and a resurrection, that makes it so stable for us. 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:52.720 The fact that it's not based on our merit, but on Jesus' merit, that's why he can say, peace, peace to you. 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:57.120 So we could say he is for us and he's with us. 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:03.759 Now here's how Charles Spurgeon connects this God of love to this idea of Emmanuel. 00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:12.000 The glorious word Emmanuel means first that God in Christ is with us in very near association. 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:19.200 The Greek particle here used is very forcible and expresses the strongest form of with. 00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:27.279 It is not merely in company with us, as another Greek word would signify, but with, together with, and sharing with. 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:34.960 This preposition is a close rivet, a firm bond, implying, if not declaring, close fellowship. 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:39.679 God is peculiarly and closely with us. 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:47.440 So this idea of Jesus incarnated, Emmanuel, that we could know God, the creator distant, Dr. 00:15:47.600 --> 00:16:00.960 Gibbs, I don't know how to associate, but a creator, God making himself accessible and knowable, and he's doing this out of a motive that he wants to know you before you and with you and walk with you. 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:10.879 And that it's going to be such a relationship that the firm bond that it is is based on his love for you before anything about your love for him. 00:16:12.879 --> 00:16:22.799 His movement toward us for a relationship, it is a firm bond and it is close fellowship, which means in Christ, God fully knows you and he fully loves you. 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:27.279 Even when you can't maintain it, even when you don't feel like it. 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:31.519 This is the very reason why we can have peace. 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:34.480 Is that Jesus is our Emmanuel. 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:39.759 This loving God comes to the world to love you and to save you and to walk with you. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:40.960 Let's pray together. 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:45.120 Heavenly Father, we thank you that you do not leave us in our weakness or brokenness. 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:48.720 You do not leave us worn out or burned out or broken down. 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:52.080 You actually love us in that very weakness. 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:55.919 You are drawn to us even while we're a mess. 00:16:56.720 --> 00:17:02.240 Thank you that Jesus' forgiveness from the cross is enough for all of our sin. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:07.039 Thank you for Jesus' righteousness is enough for all of our right standing with you. 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:12.480 Thank you that the birth of Jesus, this incarnation, helps us to know you. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:18.079 Helps us to know how you feel about us, how you love us. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:24.799 Thank you that you humbled yourself to such a degree and that you want to walk with us. 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:27.599 Help us to trust you more in Christ's name. 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:28.799 Amen.