1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:04,000 Around Christmas and so many people have just made it about 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,480 the gifts and about traveling and about, you know, the, the 3 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:10,080 Christmas trees and the lights and all of those things. 4 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:13,880 And of course, nothing wrong with having those things as part 5 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:16,440 of Christmas celebration necessarily, but we cannot 6 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,320 forget the whole the whole purpose of Christmas, the whole 7 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,320 true meaning of Christmas. And of course that is Jesus 8 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:27,000 Christ and his birth. You know, you think about how we 9 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,360 celebrate our birthdays. Could you imagine if if you 10 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:31,520 showed up at your birthday and everybody gave gifts to 11 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,680 everybody else and completely forgot you, right? 12 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:36,840 No mention of whose birthday it actually was. 13 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:39,680 We just, we just going to give gifts to everybody else, but not 14 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:43,080 Jesus, right? It's, that's exactly what it is 15 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:44,600 when you take him completely out of it. 16 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:47,920 But it's, it's always good for us to go back and read the story 17 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:49,840 again. I know that that many of us have 18 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:51,880 grown up hearing it our entire lives. 19 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:54,720 And sometimes it gets old to you. 20 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:57,000 It shouldn't, it shouldn't. This is where everything 21 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:00,240 started. This is where God became a man. 22 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:06,960 This is where God humbled himself, lowered himself to the 23 00:01:06,960 --> 00:01:09,320 point where He could be our Savior. 24 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:11,200 And that's such a wonderful thing. 25 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,480 This is Luke chapter 2 and verse #1 And it came to pass in those 26 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:18,880 days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that 27 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:22,680 all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made 28 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:24,960 when Cyrenus was governor of Syria. 29 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:29,040 And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. 30 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:32,840 And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of 31 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:36,520 Nazareth into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called 32 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:40,720 Bethlehem, because he was of the house in lineage of David, to be 33 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:44,200 taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child. 34 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:47,120 And so it was that while they were there, the days were 35 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:48,960 accomplished that she should be delivered. 36 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,600 She brought forth her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling 37 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,440 clothes and laid him in a Manger because there was no room for 38 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,040 them in the end. Now I'm going to stop right 39 00:01:58,040 --> 00:01:59,000 there. We're going to read the rest of 40 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:00,960 the story. But I think there's a huge 41 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,400 misconception. And I and and when we were going 42 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:08,199 through the the discovering the stories of the Bible, I spent 43 00:02:08,199 --> 00:02:10,320 some time talking about this. It wasn't Christmas. 44 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:13,440 And so maybe you don't remember, but very interesting thing here. 45 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:15,920 That word in this is not a hotel. 46 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:20,200 That word in is the, is the word Ketalumi, which is actually a 47 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:23,640 house. And, and back in those days and 48 00:02:23,640 --> 00:02:28,280 and now it's become quite, quite common information that that it 49 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,800 was not that it was the in was actually like a guest room in 50 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:35,280 somebody's house. And so when when they obviously 51 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,640 Joseph being of the house in lineage of David, he would have 52 00:02:38,640 --> 00:02:41,440 been a very important person, at least to the point where 53 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:43,720 nobody's just going to say, sorry, no room here. 54 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,320 Go sleep with the animals if that's what you want, right? 55 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:49,000 Nobody was going to say that to him because of his heritage and 56 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:51,000 because of his lineage. Not to mention that Bethlehem 57 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,360 was not a huge place anyway. But they, they came to to the 58 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:57,560 house and there was no room for them in the guest house. 59 00:02:57,560 --> 00:02:58,840 Somebody had already been in there. 60 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,480 And I think it's actually very interesting when you read the 61 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:06,160 story of the Good Samaritan and the Good Samaritan picked up 62 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:08,240 that that man who had been beaten by the side of the road 63 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,440 and brought him to an inn. That's a different word that's 64 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:13,520 used there. And that is a word for hotel. 65 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,480 It's a different word than what we find used here in the Bible. 66 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:20,920 And so for, for Joseph and Mary to be it was it was not uncommon 67 00:03:20,920 --> 00:03:24,240 for people to treat their animals in even their, their 68 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:26,680 donkeys and everything else in such a way that they were like 69 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:28,000 pets. And they would bring them into 70 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:29,960 their house. And they had a, a lower room and 71 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,600 kind of a go up the steps in a little bit of an upper room 72 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:34,040 here. And it was not uncommon at all 73 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:37,600 for them to have mangers in their house where they fed their 74 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,560 animals. And so for Jesus to be laid in a 75 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:45,240 Manger was not, you know, we just we automatically get this 76 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:47,040 in our minds. Nowhere does the Bible say that 77 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,080 he was that he was in a stable. Nowhere does it say that he was 78 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:54,200 in a barn, right. It doesn't say that we just that 79 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,760 that story was written a couple centuries after this was that 80 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:01,160 after this story was was done. What after this story was 81 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:04,160 written here that the the gospel account was written, but a 82 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:07,280 couple centuries later, the whole story was written about 83 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,360 that. That ended up becoming the 84 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,040 narrative. And so now Joseph and Mary, you 85 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:15,200 know, Mary ready to have a baby and you know, and knocking on 86 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,800 the door saying my wife is going to have a baby very soon. 87 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:20,680 We need a place to stay. And the only thing I got is a 88 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:22,560 barn Outback. You can go stay there if you 89 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,240 want. And Mary had a baby amongst all 90 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:27,880 the animals and nobody was there to see it or anything else. 91 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:29,960 That that's that's the story that a lot of us have in our 92 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:31,320 mind. But it doesn't, you know, that 93 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:34,400 the Bible doesn't say that. And what we know now, especially 94 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:37,240 when you interpret in light of what these words actually mean, 95 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:39,600 it doesn't seem like that was much of the case at all. 96 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:43,920 I mean, it could have been weeks or even months that Joseph and 97 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:47,000 Mary were in Bethlehem, right? It just said that she was great 98 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,920 with child means that she was probably getting close to having 99 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:52,600 a baby. But while they were there, the 100 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:55,640 days were accomplished that she should be delivered, right? 101 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,640 But we have this mindset because this story that was written 102 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:01,240 several centuries later is what has become the narrative. 103 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,800 And, and it fits perfectly to have a little, a little barn 104 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,600 with the, you know, a Manger that's made out of wood, which 105 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,600 very likely it was not made out of wood. 106 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,400 Almost, almost 100% certainly it would have been made out of 107 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:15,080 stone and it would have been in the house. 108 00:05:15,280 --> 00:05:17,000 And the inn was just a guest room. 109 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:18,680 There was no room for them in that guest room. 110 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:20,920 So they brought them into the house and Mary had the baby 111 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:23,680 there. And it very interesting to 112 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:25,240 actually think about it in that way. 113 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:29,240 But the Bible says this as we continue in verse #8 And there 114 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,520 were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, 115 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:34,840 keeping watch over their flock by night. 116 00:05:34,840 --> 00:05:37,840 And lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of 117 00:05:37,840 --> 00:05:41,360 the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. 118 00:05:41,840 --> 00:05:43,880 And the Angel said unto them, Fear not. 119 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,240 For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which 120 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:51,440 shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in 121 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:55,040 the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 122 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:57,720 And this shall be a sign unto you. 123 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:01,920 Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a 124 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,360 Manger. And suddenly there was with the 125 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:07,440 Angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and 126 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:11,120 saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, 127 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:14,600 goodwill toward men. And it came to pass, as the 128 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:17,080 angels were gone away from them into heaven. 129 00:06:17,280 --> 00:06:20,480 The shepherd said One to another, Let us now go even unto 130 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,600 Bethlehem, and see this thing which has come to pass, which 131 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:25,920 the Lord hath made known unto us. 132 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,640 And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the 133 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:32,600 Babe lying in a Manger. And when they had seen it, they 134 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,800 made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning 135 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:38,480 this child. And all they that heard it 136 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:41,280 wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 137 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:45,040 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 138 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:49,160 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for 139 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:53,160 all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told 140 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:55,160 unto them. What a wonderful story. 141 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:57,200 Could you imagine what it must have been like for those 142 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:59,560 shepherds to see the angels singing in the sky? 143 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,480 All of a sudden the entire sky is filled with light. 144 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:05,880 I mean, I had to think that they must have thought they were 145 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,160 dreaming or seeing something. You know, it's the middle of the 146 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:11,320 night and here they are just, you know, probably drowsy in the 147 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:12,480 field. And the next thing you know, the 148 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:16,120 whole sky is lit up and they're singing praises to Jesus Christ. 149 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,240 And of course, Mary, the Bible says she kept all those things 150 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:20,920 and pondered them in his heart, in her heart. 151 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,160 I think everything was finally coming together. 152 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:25,680 All the pieces were falling into place for her and everything 153 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:28,160 made sense. And then the shepherds, they 154 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,160 returned. They, they and, and it was all 155 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:34,000 about Christ and they didn't, they weren't talking about the 156 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,520 miracle of the angels being in the sky and hearing it and ever 157 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:39,400 they were glorifying and praising God for all the things 158 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:42,440 that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them. 159 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,440 Reminds us of the song that we find there in Page 84. 160 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:49,480 Turn there if you will Silent Night where the Brian's going to 161 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:55,960 lead us in that song Bibles one more time, if you will with me 162 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:58,920 and turn to John chapter 1 John chapter one. 163 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:00,840 I'm not going to preach a message necessarily. 164 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:06,760 I want to read you a story and and obviously we want to use the 165 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:10,720 word of God as well and kind of bring the whole thing together 166 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:13,520 tonight. But you know, I was thinking 167 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:15,520 about this Christmas is a wonderful time of year and I 168 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:17,320 love Christmas. I love everything about it. 169 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:20,760 And I mentioned this I think on Sunday that if we can't have 170 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:23,480 snow for Christmas, at least it's going to be over 60° and 171 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:25,560 I'll take it. Boy, it was beautiful today and 172 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:28,240 I was I was outside in a T-shirt and I was thinking, man, you 173 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,600 know what, I think I'd much rather have this than snow. 174 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:34,240 Christmas, just a wonderful time of year and I and I appreciate 175 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:36,960 you taking time away from all the busyness and everything else 176 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:42,159 that they to be here tonight and to, to remember the reason why 177 00:08:42,159 --> 00:08:45,120 Christmas even exists. And I know that we have some 178 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:47,200 people that are sick and some people that are traveling and 179 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:49,320 things. But it means a lot for you to 180 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:53,680 take the time to be here on, on Christmas Eve when you could be 181 00:08:53,680 --> 00:08:56,800 at home making cookies or eating the cookies that you've made and 182 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:58,480 getting preparations made for tomorrow. 183 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:00,360 But I, I got to thinking about this the other day. 184 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,680 You know what if what if Christ had not come, how different 185 00:09:03,680 --> 00:09:05,680 everything would be if Christ had never come? 186 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:09,480 Could you imagine what life would be like if we did not know 187 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:12,600 Jesus Christ as our savior? Could you imagine what life 188 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:16,440 would be like if we didn't have the comfort and the peace that 189 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,280 comes from knowing that our eternal destiny is settled? 190 00:09:20,680 --> 00:09:23,080 And I don't understand, I really don't understand how people that 191 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:26,280 don't know Christ go through their lives without knowing him, 192 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:28,000 without having that that same peace. 193 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:31,640 I really don't. But if Christ had never come and 194 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:35,320 and was never born as a baby, then there would be no 195 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:39,400 crucifixion, there would be no payment for sin, there would be 196 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:41,880 no resurrection, there would be no hope of heaven, there would 197 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:43,000 be nothing. It was just. 198 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:47,360 It would either just end or we'd be destined for eternal 199 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:51,240 punishment because nobody came to redeem us back to God. 200 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:54,280 Could you imagine what it would have been like if Jesus Christ 201 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:56,960 had not come? No baby laid in the Manger, No 202 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,840 shepherds or wise men because there was no baby to celebrate, 203 00:09:59,880 --> 00:10:02,320 no Christmas because there never would have been a tradition that 204 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:05,680 got started around the birth of anybody because Christ never 205 00:10:05,680 --> 00:10:07,120 came. You know the story. 206 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,720 It's a wonderful life. And I think the same kind of the 207 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,120 same idea behind that. What if, what if you had never 208 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,200 been born? All the things that have 209 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,160 happened because you were born never would have happened. 210 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:21,160 Multiply that by 10 million and that's who you have in Jesus 211 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,320 Christ. If he had never been born, this 212 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:26,800 world would be so different. Everything about it would be 213 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:28,320 different. Everything about your life would 214 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:31,040 be different. Everything about why would we 215 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:33,800 have church? There would be no church if 216 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:35,800 there was no Christ. There would be no, there would 217 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:37,760 be no body, there would be no community. 218 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:41,000 There would be none of that, you know, other than maybe a Country 219 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,840 Club or something like that. But there, there would be none 220 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:45,480 of that if Christ had never been born. 221 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,680 And boy, if you sit down and start going down that rabbit 222 00:10:48,680 --> 00:10:50,920 hole and start thinking of everything that would be 223 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:55,200 different if there was no Christ, it gives you a great 224 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:57,560 appreciation for just what He did and who He is. 225 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:04,720 This story took place in 1948. As a young minister, Reverend 226 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:07,880 Howard Skade had been called to the First Reformed Church of 227 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:10,840 Nyack, NY. It was an old church that at one 228 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:14,520 time had been a magnificent edifice in wealthy part of town, 229 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:17,360 but now the neighborhood was in decline and the church was in 230 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:19,480 bad shape. Nevertheless, the young pastor 231 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:21,880 and his wife were thrilled with the church and believed that 232 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:24,560 they could restore it to its former glory. 233 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:28,320 When Reverend Skade took charge of the church in October of 234 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:31,560 1948, he and his wife immediately went to work 235 00:11:31,560 --> 00:11:34,560 painting, repairing and attempting to restore that old 236 00:11:34,560 --> 00:11:37,200 church building. Their goal was to have the old 237 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:40,440 church looking its best for the Christmas Eve service. 238 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:44,680 Just two days before Christmas Eve, however, a bad storm swept 239 00:11:44,680 --> 00:11:47,480 through the area, dumping a couple inches of rain, and the 240 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:49,840 roof of the old church just couldn't handle it. 241 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:53,680 Just behind the altar in the sanctuary, there was a massive 242 00:11:53,680 --> 00:11:56,560 leak. The plaster soaked up the water, 243 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:59,400 then crumbled, leaving a gaping hole in the wall. 244 00:11:59,960 --> 00:12:02,360 There was no way that it could be repaired before the Christmas 245 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,080 Eve service. Dejected over three months of 246 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,960 work in vain, the pastor and his wife set about cleaning up the 247 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:11,040 debris. That afternoon the youth group 248 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:14,080 was having an auction to benefit its projects, and the depressed 249 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:16,720 minister and his wife attended, out of duty more than anything 250 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:19,200 else. One of the items up forbid was 251 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:22,760 an old gold and ivory colored lace tablecloth. 252 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:28,400 It was big, nearly 15 feet long. Suddenly Reverend Skade was 253 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:32,400 seized with an inspiration. He can hang this ornate cloth 254 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:34,960 behind the altar to cover the ragged hole in the wall of the 255 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,600 sanctuary. So for $6.50 he bought the 256 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:41,840 tablecloth. On Christmas Eve morning 257 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:44,480 snowflakes mingled with the howling wind that had followed 258 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:46,680 the rain. As the pastor unlocked the 259 00:12:46,680 --> 00:12:49,040 church that morning, you noticed the woman standing at the bus 260 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:51,560 stop on the corner. He knew the bus wouldn't be by 261 00:12:51,560 --> 00:12:54,240 for another half hour or so, so he walked over and invited her 262 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:55,960 to come inside the church to keep warm. 263 00:12:56,960 --> 00:12:59,360 The woman looked sad as she explained that she wasn't from 264 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:02,120 that neighborhood. She was in the area to interview 265 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:05,040 for a job as a governess for the children of a well known family 266 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:07,160 in town. But she was an immigrant, A 267 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:11,800 refugee from the Great War. Her English was not very good, 268 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:13,520 and she had been turned down for the job. 269 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:17,440 The woman took a seat on the back Pew of the church and bowed 270 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:20,360 her head in prayer. The pastor went about his work, 271 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:23,120 draping the big old tablecloth over the ugly hole in the 272 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:25,600 plaster. Suddenly the woman got up from 273 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:27,840 the back Pew, ran down the aisle and shouted. 274 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:29,760 It's mine. It's my banquet cloth. 275 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:33,960 In an excited voice, she told the pastor her incredible story. 276 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:36,800 She and her husband had lived in Vienna, Austria, before the 277 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,080 Second World War. They could see the horrible 278 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:41,680 things the Nazis were doing, so they decided to escape to 279 00:13:41,680 --> 00:13:43,280 Switzerland, where they would be safe. 280 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:46,160 But to avoid attracting attention, they decided to 281 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:48,800 travel separately. She went first. 282 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:53,320 He never arrived. Later on, she heard that he had 283 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:56,320 been arrested and sent to a concentration camp, where he 284 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:59,000 died. The tablecloth was her own 285 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,680 creation, and they'd only used it for the most special 286 00:14:01,680 --> 00:14:03,680 occasions. To prove it, the woman lifted 287 00:14:03,680 --> 00:14:06,880 the corner of the cloth to reveal her initials embroidered 288 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:12,000 on the inside corner. Touched by her story, Pastor 289 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:13,960 Skate insisted that she take the cloth. 290 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,000 She thought about it for a moment and said no, she didn't 291 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,800 need it any longer, and it did look pretty hanging behind the 292 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:22,520 altar. She said goodbye and left the 293 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:25,480 church. That night at the Christmas Eve 294 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:27,920 service, the tablecloth looked even more magnificent. 295 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,640 The flickering candlelight transformed the white lace into 296 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:34,320 dazzling brightness. The gold thread woven through it 297 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:36,720 looked like the brilliant rays of a new dawn. 298 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:39,800 As members of the congregation left the church, they 299 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:42,280 complimented the pastor on the service and how beautiful the 300 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:44,800 church looked. As he came back into the 301 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:48,080 sanctuary, Howard noticed an older man standing at the altar, 302 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:52,240 admiring the tablecloth. As he approached, the man spoke. 303 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:56,040 It's strange, he said, many years ago. 304 00:14:56,040 --> 00:15:00,400 My wife, God rest her and I own such a tablecloth. 305 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:04,520 She used it only on very special occasions, But that was long 306 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:08,440 ago, when we lived in Vienna. The night air was freezing, but 307 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:10,960 that was not what raised the chill bumps on the pastor's 308 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,720 skin. As calmly as he could, he told 309 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:15,880 the man about the woman who had been in the church that very 310 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:19,440 morning. Can it be, Gasped the old man, 311 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:22,080 tears streaming down his cheeks, that she is still alive? 312 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:25,720 How can I find her? The pastor remembered the name 313 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:28,200 of the family who had interviewed the woman, and with 314 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:30,880 the trembling old man by his side, he telephoned the family 315 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:34,360 and learned the woman's name and address in the pastor's car. 316 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,240 They drove to her home in the city. 317 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:38,360 Together. They knocked on the door. 318 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:42,800 When she opened the door, Howard Skate witnessed the amazed, 319 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:46,360 tearful, joyful, excited reunion of husband and wife. 320 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:49,920 They had been separated for more than a decade, each believing 321 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:53,120 the other to be dead. At last they were together 322 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:55,920 again. Some people would call that an 323 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:59,280 extremely lucky coincidence, the result of a hole in the wall, an 324 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:01,600 old tablecloth, a pastor's ingenuity, and so on. 325 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:04,760 But the combination of events was far too complex for it to 326 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:08,600 have been merely chance. If one link in the fragile chain 327 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,240 had been broken, the husband and wife could not possibly have 328 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:12,920 been reunited that Christmas Eve. 329 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:17,240 If the rain hadn't come, if the roof hadn't leaked, if the 330 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:20,200 pastor hadn't gone to the youth auction, if the woman hadn't 331 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:23,280 been standing at the bus stop at that moment, if the man hadn't 332 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:27,360 come to church that night. If the list of ifs is virtually 333 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:29,480 endless, that was no coincidence. 334 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:32,320 It was only God, a Christmas miracle. 335 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:35,760 God does work that way sometimes, doesn't he? 336 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:39,920 He can take the tiniest things, the smallest events, little 337 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:42,680 miracles, and 1 by 1 the gracious movements of God's 338 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:46,280 Spirit all fall together. Until you realize a relationship 339 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,160 is restored, a marriage is saved, a family is brought back 340 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:52,640 together, a sickness is healed, a Savior is born. 341 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:57,000 Through it all, steadfast love has been at work and the little 342 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:01,200 becomes large through God. The late Henry Newman left a 343 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:04,079 teaching and writing career at Harvard University to spend the 344 00:17:04,079 --> 00:17:07,000 last years of his life caring for severely mentally 345 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:10,119 handicapped adults in a home near Montreal, Canada. 346 00:17:11,079 --> 00:17:13,640 In his book The Genesee Diary, he tells about a man named 347 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:15,520 Anthony who set up a nativity scene there. 348 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:18,280 In the Chapel. There are only three small 349 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:20,520 wooden figures, hand carved in India. 350 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:23,800 The man, woman and baby were simple, almost primitive. 351 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:27,720 No eyes, ears or noses, just the suggestion of facial features. 352 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,560 They were only a few inches tall, not really a very 353 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:34,440 impressive nativity. But then a beam of light was 354 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:38,440 directed at the figures, and suddenly large shadows of the 355 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:41,120 three figures were thrown up on the wall of the sanctuary. 356 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:46,080 No one wrote that says it all. The light thrown on the 357 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:49,720 smallness of Mary, Joseph and the child projects them as 358 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:53,280 large, hopeful shadows against the walls of our life and our 359 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:55,600 world. While looking at the intimate 360 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,440 scene, we already see the first outlines of the majesty and 361 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:01,160 glory they represent. Without the radiant beams of 362 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:03,960 light shining into the darkness, there is little to be seen. 363 00:18:04,120 --> 00:18:07,440 But everything changes with the light. 364 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:09,480 Everything changes with the light. 365 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:12,440 An old tablecloth, a simple nativity set. 366 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:16,600 And our lives and hearts. Isaiah foretold it. 367 00:18:17,360 --> 00:18:19,640 People that walked in darkness have seen a great light. 368 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,120 They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death. 369 00:18:22,120 --> 00:18:26,080 Upon them hath the light shined. And I want you to read with me 370 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:29,080 in John chapter 1 and verse #4 The Bible says this. 371 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:34,960 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 372 00:18:35,120 --> 00:18:39,200 Verse #5 And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness 373 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,960 comprehended it not. Verse 14. 374 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:49,120 And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld 375 00:18:49,120 --> 00:18:53,040 His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, 376 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:58,440 full of grace and truth. The light has come in. 377 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:01,680 This is the real Christmas miracle. 378 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:08,120 So I want to urge you tonight, if you've never recognized your 379 00:19:08,120 --> 00:19:11,640 need for a Savior man, let let tonight be the night that you 380 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:14,680 recognize that you need him. You know the the light that 381 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:16,920 we've been given. He gave us he gave us all the 382 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:20,440 light we need. Jesus Christ. 383 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:22,680 That's the light that shines in darkness. 384 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:26,480 We read through a John chapter one in him was life and the life 385 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:30,240 was the light of men. Oh, we talk about, oh, I'm just, 386 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:31,600 I'm just fumbling in the darkness. 387 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:34,320 I'm just trying to trying to get along the best way I know how, 388 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:37,960 right People ask that what's the meaning of life? 389 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:39,840 I don't understand the meaning of life. 390 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:42,840 How can I know it when when everything around me is 391 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:47,360 darkness? No, the world is dark, but Jesus 392 00:19:47,360 --> 00:19:50,320 Christ is that light. And when that light shines in 393 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:52,960 our hearts, we have the opportunity to respond to it. 394 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:58,640 The problem is that light shines on our sin and the light reveals 395 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:01,640 who we really are, and we don't like to see ourselves for who we 396 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:05,680 really are. Most times we're sinners, and 397 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,480 because we're sinners, we are on our way to spend an eternity in 398 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:10,880 hell. But because of what Jesus Christ 399 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:13,720 did for us in the cross, because Jesus Christ came, because of 400 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:16,920 everything that we talked about this Christmas story, because of 401 00:20:17,120 --> 00:20:21,240 that, we can have a home in heaven someday if we accept 402 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:24,520 Jesus Christ as our Savior. But it takes allowing that light 403 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:27,400 to shine in those dark places that we don't like to see very 404 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:29,880 often. It takes me realizing I am a 405 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:33,840 Sinner, Takes me realizing I am condemned to spend an eternity 406 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:35,480 in hell. It takes me realizing that I 407 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:38,640 cannot do this on my own. I need somebody bigger and 408 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:40,960 greater, far bigger and far greater than me. 409 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:46,360 I can redeem me back to God. And so I ask you tonight, won't 410 00:20:46,360 --> 00:20:49,640 you accept His death on the cross as the payment for your 411 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:52,240 sin? He came for you. 412 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:59,000 If there was only one person on this entire earth, Jesus Christ 413 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:00,440 still would have come and given His life. 414 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:03,680 We have over 8 billion right now. 415 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:10,840 He came and died for all of us. But even if there was only 1, He 416 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:14,040 loved you. For God so loved the world that 417 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:18,800 He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him 418 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:21,040 should not perish, but have everlasting life. 419 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:26,240 That whosoever could be one person could be a million, it 420 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:28,440 could be a billion, it could be 8 billion people. 421 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:32,680 The blood of Jesus Christ is enough to cover everyone's sins, 422 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:37,080 but He would have done it if you were the only whosoever. 423 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:40,640 The offer is there, it's for all of us. 424 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:43,200 Will you accept it? That's the question. 425 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:47,320 Or are you just going to recognize Christmas for what it 426 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:50,400 is, The birth of a baby? Wonderful story of Christmas. 427 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:54,000 A wonderful story of of Jesus Christ coming and being born in 428 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:57,640 a laid in a Manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes. 429 00:21:57,640 --> 00:22:00,680 And the shepherds came and the wise men came and they brought 430 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:02,720 their gifts and wow, what a wonderful story. 431 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:04,160 Let's remember that at Christmas. 432 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:06,840 And let's make sure we keep the real meaning of Christmas in 433 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:08,840 Christmas. And as we're passing out the 434 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:10,480 gifts, let's remember whose birthday it is. 435 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:12,320 And then we move on and we forget all about it. 436 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:17,160 That's what happens with most people if they even acknowledge 437 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:20,560 that it's Christ's birth, if they even acknowledge the real 438 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:23,840 meaning of Christmas. But Christmas isn't just about 439 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:28,120 remembering somebody's birthday. Christmas is about remembering 440 00:22:28,120 --> 00:22:31,040 that Jesus Christ came to be born as a baby, yes, but he 441 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:35,120 lived a sinless life and he allowed himself to be subjected 442 00:22:35,120 --> 00:22:37,560 to the most heinous torture that anybody could have been 443 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:40,720 subjected to. Carried his own cross to 444 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:44,800 Calvary, was nailed to that cross and, and, and suffered the 445 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:47,520 pain of it being dropped into the hole on the top of that 446 00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:52,720 mountain and suffered there in agony and shame and humility 447 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:56,840 until he finally said, it is finished. 448 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:00,000 What was finished? The work of redemption. 449 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:01,920 It was done. He had died and he had taken the 450 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:04,640 sins of the entire world upon himself. 451 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:11,560 And God the Father turned his back on his own Son, His only 452 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:14,600 begotten Son, because he took all the sins of the world on 453 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:17,360 himself. And He did it for you, and He 454 00:23:17,360 --> 00:23:21,880 did it for me, that whosoever believeth in Him should not 455 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:24,440 perish, but have everlasting life. 456 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:30,760 Boy, there would be no better time to accept the gift that God 457 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:34,400 gave us. For the wages of sin is death, 458 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:38,600 but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our 459 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:40,680 Lord. There would be no better time to 460 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:44,320 accept the gift of God's Son than at Christmas. 461 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:49,720 And I know in a, in a, in a crowd this size, not everybody 462 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:53,320 knows Christ as their savior. Maybe everybody would claim to, 463 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:56,960 but I know that not everybody does because we're good at 464 00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:59,400 putting on the ACT. We're good at making people 465 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:01,280 think we're OK. We're good at making people 466 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:03,600 think we're fine. And I, and I do think that 467 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:05,920 probably the majority of you know Christ as your Savior, but 468 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:09,160 maybe you're one that never has come to know Christ. 469 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:11,760 You're still doubting it. You're still questioning whether 470 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:13,680 or not you really know Christ as your Savior. 471 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:17,880 Once you get that settled tonight, I'd be glad to take the 472 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:19,960 Bible and show you how you can know for sure that you're on 473 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:23,400 your way to heaven. Jesus Christ came for a reason. 474 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:29,360 He came for you. He came for you, and he came for 475 00:24:29,360 --> 00:24:31,840 me. And now you have the opportunity 476 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:35,320 to accept him. He did it for us. 477 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:37,320 And we can be assured of a home in heaven someday if we're 478 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:40,480 willing to accept that gift. Let's pray. 479 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:42,880 Father, again, we thank you so much for your goodness to us. 480 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:46,000 Thank you for an opportunity we've had to be here together 481 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:48,600 tonight. God may use this in our hearts, 482 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:52,840 may help us to understand the importance and the significance 483 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:58,040 of Christ coming, being born as a baby so that we can have 484 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:00,560 eternal life, so that we can have a home in heaven someday 485 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:05,800 for all of those who accept that gift of his death on the cross 486 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:09,960 and the payment for our sin. What a tremendous, tremendous 487 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:12,880 thing that is that you help us to leave here tonight 488 00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:16,560 remembering everything that you've done for us. 489 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:21,280 Thank you again for all that you do for us in Jesus name, Amen. 490 00:25:21,360 --> 00:25:24,040 Let's go and take our song books one more time and turn to page 491 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:28,120 one O 1. Page one, O 1. 492 00:25:28,120 --> 00:25:29,560 Go and stand with me when you find it. 493 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:48,240 Let the whole world know Christ was born in Bethlehem many years 494 00:25:48,360 --> 00:25:51,880 ago. Won't you die? 495 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:57,600 That man might live. Came to earth new life to give 496 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:04,000 born of Mary, born so long, many years ago. 497 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:14,280 And the Father gave his Son, gave his own beloved one to this 498 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:20,000 wickets in full earth to bring mankind is 1 new birth. 499 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:25,640 Ring the Bell's second verse Ring the Bell's. 500 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:34,080 What a glorious morning born and an angel's worship Him singing 501 00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:40,280 Christ is born. Won't you die on Calvary? 502 00:26:41,360 --> 00:26:48,600 Won't you sad his people free? God himself in human form, 503 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:57,280 telling Christ is born. He has left his royal crown, He 504 00:26:57,360 --> 00:27:04,880 has gone to blink his own Christ the Lord has come to earth goes 505 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:11,640 spread the news of Jesus birth, ring the bells, ring the bells. 506 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:21,400 Let the whole world know Christ the save your lives today as He 507 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:27,280 did so long. Hug on. 508 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:28,800 Very good. Amen. 509 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:32,320 Hope you have a Merry Christmas and spend some time together 510 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:34,160 with your family. Hold them close. 511 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:36,440 You don't know if you're going to be able to hold them next 512 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:40,000 year at this time. Hold them close and let's make 513 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:42,400 sure as we leave that we grab those bags in the back. 514 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:44,120 Thank you, brother Kevin for reminding me of that. 515 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:47,120 And we'll I'll tell you what maybe the easiest thing is. 516 00:27:47,120 --> 00:27:48,480 Let's bring it in here if we can. 517 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:52,640 And if you think of some places that you have in your mind, some 518 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:55,760 hotels and some gas stations around that you can take these 519 00:27:55,760 --> 00:27:58,920 gift bags to tomorrow. And and then we'll just make 520 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:01,200 sure that before you leave that we're not going to the same 521 00:28:01,200 --> 00:28:02,600 place. All right, Amen. 522 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:03,280 We're dismissed.