The Incarnation of Jesus and What That Means For Prolife Ministry

WEBVTT100:00:00.600 --> 00:00:05.799I Am Yours, I am yours, I am yours s and me,200:00:06.160 --> 00:00:10.949Lord, I am yours. Welcometo the Gospel Center Pro Life Podcast,300:00:11.150 --> 00:00:14.589and this episode we're going to talkabout the incarnation of Jesus and the Christmas400:00:14.630 --> 00:00:18.149story and what that has to dowith pro life ministry. Hope you're blessed500:00:18.230 --> 00:00:28.260is you continue to listen, staytuned. I felt show passish touch your600:00:28.820 --> 00:00:36.409heart. Welcome to the Gospel Centerpro life podcast. Micky and I are700:00:36.450 --> 00:00:43.289here just talking through some things aboutthe incarnation of Jesus. It's Christmas time,800:00:44.090 --> 00:00:46.770it's the time that we celebrate thebirth of our Lord and Savior,900:00:46.850 --> 00:00:52.240Jesus, and we thought that thereare some theological and practical implications of the1000:00:52.280 --> 00:00:55.799incarnation of Jesus, some things thatwould bless you, guys, and some1100:00:55.880 --> 00:00:58.679scriptures that we're going to talk aboutthat have to do with you know this.1200:00:59.719 --> 00:01:03.399You know what I had said wasan unplanned pregnancy. Unplanned according to1300:01:03.280 --> 00:01:07.950according to Mary. She certainly didn'tplan Jesus coming into her womb, right,1400:01:08.549 --> 00:01:12.310but God did. So, yeah, there really are no unplanned pregnancies1500:01:12.430 --> 00:01:17.670like ever, right according to God, but according to man there certainly are.1600:01:17.750 --> 00:01:19.299We deal with those on a regularbasis and those who are in pro1700:01:19.379 --> 00:01:23.340life ministry. That's what you dealwith, and unplanned pregnancies by but hopefully,1800:01:23.340 --> 00:01:26.019as we as we talk through someof this that has to do with1900:01:26.060 --> 00:01:30.859the Christmas story and the incarnation ofJesus, it'll have some application, thank2000:01:30.900 --> 00:01:34.849you, will have some application tojust your daily ministry in your walk with2100:01:34.930 --> 00:01:38.930the Lord. So so let's hopinto it. Yeah, well, I'll2200:01:38.930 --> 00:01:42.090tell you when you introduce this subjectand said, what do you think about2300:01:42.090 --> 00:01:48.760talking about this? My understanding andhow I view the Christmas story and the2400:01:48.840 --> 00:01:56.120birth of Jesus and his incarnation ithas really changed over the past six years2500:01:56.400 --> 00:02:01.510as I have been very involved inin pro life ministry. So I look2600:02:01.549 --> 00:02:08.949at I look at it with neweyes and I look and it colors even2700:02:09.150 --> 00:02:15.310how I look at the women whoare coming to abort their children. Okay,2800:02:15.669 --> 00:02:19.460so I'm really glad that we're talkingabout this because I think it's I2900:02:19.580 --> 00:02:24.180think it's a very important story,yeah, and truth for people in Pro3000:02:24.379 --> 00:02:28.620Life Ministry to explore. Yeah,and think about. Yeah, I think3100:02:28.620 --> 00:02:32.930if we just sort of best wecan look back into history and look back3200:02:34.050 --> 00:02:37.689into the story not just of Jesus, but the story of Mary herself.3300:02:37.770 --> 00:02:42.889Yeah, I know one one moviethat we've watched as a family past couple3400:02:42.930 --> 00:02:46.919of years and on if you've watchedthis movie, but the Nativity story movie.3500:02:46.960 --> 00:02:50.479It's sort of a modern movie.I've when it was made in the3600:02:50.520 --> 00:02:53.599tooth. I haven't seen it,I've seen the advertisements. Yeah, yes,3700:02:53.680 --> 00:02:57.039should, because it really brings youback to that day and age.3800:02:57.039 --> 00:03:00.069I think they do a really goodjob of sort of laying out the historical3900:03:00.110 --> 00:03:04.469picture of what it was like forMary and what she experienced. You know,4000:03:04.669 --> 00:03:10.710the Romans were there, had controlover Israel and over Jerusalem and oppressing4100:03:10.789 --> 00:03:15.219the people, and that was thehistorical context that was Mary, that Mary4200:03:15.340 --> 00:03:21.219was in. Also the Jewish contextthere of what could potentially happen to an4300:03:21.259 --> 00:03:23.219unwed woman who was pregnant. Yeah, and a lot of US know that.4400:03:23.300 --> 00:03:29.250We've heard about. You know whatwhat Mary must had suffered and must4500:03:29.370 --> 00:03:32.409had at least been thinking about inthe back of her mind while she's carrying4600:03:32.449 --> 00:03:36.409this baby? Any what she mayhave been thinking about whenever the angel came4700:03:36.449 --> 00:03:40.050to her and told her that shewas going to conceive. Yeah, it4800:03:40.370 --> 00:03:46.520can help us appreciate Mary and ina hundred way. Yeah, second price4900:03:46.599 --> 00:03:52.000that she made and willfully submitting.We'll probably get into that scripture, hopefully5000:03:52.319 --> 00:03:54.710in a little bit, about howshe willfully submits herself to this plan of5100:03:54.830 --> 00:04:00.710God and it can have some applicationto the some of the women that we5200:04:00.789 --> 00:04:03.469deal with now quite a bit differentthan Mary herself because she was pure and5300:04:03.550 --> 00:04:06.030she was a virgin, but someof the women that we deal with who5400:04:06.069 --> 00:04:10.740are in difficult situations, she wasin a difficult situation that we deal with5500:04:10.780 --> 00:04:14.620her, in dire situations, yeah, mostly because of their own sin.5600:04:14.939 --> 00:04:17.699She certainly was not in her situationbecause of her sin, but it can5700:04:17.779 --> 00:04:21.420help us to because this is areal world scenario. Yeah, and in5800:04:23.420 --> 00:04:28.209Biblical text especially, we're looking ata biblical stories. We can disconnect ourselves,5900:04:28.250 --> 00:04:31.730I think, from the fact thatthese are real people with real struggles6000:04:31.769 --> 00:04:36.050and to try to just take ourminds back to that era and what she6100:04:36.170 --> 00:04:40.160dealt with and kind of put ourselvesin that scenario, I think is helpful.6200:04:40.199 --> 00:04:43.600Yeah, I s to Adnifi,with with I agree. I sudrive,6300:04:43.839 --> 00:04:46.639I'm working with a well, she'sI'm no longer working with her.6400:04:46.680 --> 00:04:50.839She actually did not save her child. But a teen? Yeah, who?6500:04:51.560 --> 00:04:55.470Who would have been about Mary's age? Okay, and when I you6600:04:55.550 --> 00:05:00.430know, and I kept thinking asI was reading through the the text,6700:05:00.470 --> 00:05:04.310about when the angel came to Maryand how she responded and, like you're6800:05:04.310 --> 00:05:09.060saying, the the context, thethe world in which she lived, and6900:05:09.259 --> 00:05:16.540then how the teen that that Iwas working with, how she responded to7000:05:16.860 --> 00:05:25.970the struggles and and it made Marymore real to me and what happened in7100:05:26.209 --> 00:05:30.930her life even more astonishing, andthe decisions that she made because she was7200:05:31.050 --> 00:05:33.769young, right. Yeah, Imean, what do they say? A7300:05:34.009 --> 00:05:39.000young teen? Yeah, yes,some folks say thirteen, fourteen, maybe7400:05:39.040 --> 00:05:43.120fifteen years old. The scripture doesn'tsay exactly how old she was, but7500:05:43.240 --> 00:05:46.120the impasion is she was. Yeah, she was young. Yeah, but7600:05:46.240 --> 00:05:51.629we know she's she's betrothed. Soshe's engaged at to be married. She's7700:05:51.670 --> 00:05:57.509a virgin. And can you imagine, I mean, being alone in your7800:05:57.629 --> 00:06:03.860room and this stranger appears and anangel? But yeah, and I don't7900:06:03.860 --> 00:06:06.779know if she knew it was anangel instantly. Maybe the text tells us,8000:06:06.779 --> 00:06:10.620and I just don't remember, ifinitially she knew. Yeah, well,8100:06:10.699 --> 00:06:13.060I didn't say that in particular.I'll read the text. Okay,8200:06:13.100 --> 00:06:15.740let's do that and and we'll talkabout okay, yes, is in Luke,8300:06:15.740 --> 00:06:20.449chapter one, okay, and itsays now in this is verse Twenty8400:06:20.490 --> 00:06:24.209Six, Luke, Luke one hundredand twenty six is where we'll begin.8500:06:24.290 --> 00:06:27.769Down the six month. The AngelGabriel was sent by God to a city8600:06:27.810 --> 00:06:30.889of Galilee named Nazareth, to avirgin betrothed to a man whose name was8700:06:30.970 --> 00:06:34.759Joseph of the House of David.The Virgin's name was Mary and, having8800:06:34.800 --> 00:06:38.319come in, the angel said toher, rejoice, highly favored one,8900:06:38.399 --> 00:06:42.040the Lord is with you, blessedare you among women. But when she9000:06:42.120 --> 00:06:45.759saw him she was troubled at hissaying, and consider what manner of greeting9100:06:45.800 --> 00:06:48.470this was. So seems maybe shedidn't know it was an angel just so9200:06:48.589 --> 00:06:51.269what are you thinking? Here's myfirst question. What she thinking? There's9300:06:51.269 --> 00:06:56.949a strange man, yes, standingroom saying you are highly favored. Yeah,9400:06:56.990 --> 00:07:00.110well, at least he didn't,he didn't speak angrily to her,9500:07:00.110 --> 00:07:02.740apparently. Yeah, highly favored.Since then the Lord said to her,9600:07:02.779 --> 00:07:05.139do not be afraid, or theangel, I'm sorry, said to her,9700:07:05.180 --> 00:07:08.980do not be afraid Mary, foryou have found favor with God.9800:07:09.100 --> 00:07:12.899Behold, you will conceive in yourwomb and bring forth a son and she'll9900:07:12.939 --> 00:07:15.250call his name Jesus. He willbe great and he will be called the10000:07:15.490 --> 00:07:18.410son of the most high, theLord. God will give him the throne10100:07:18.449 --> 00:07:23.410of his father David, and hewill reign over the House of Jacob forever10200:07:23.610 --> 00:07:25.889in his kingdom, of his kingdom. There will be no end. And10300:07:26.730 --> 00:07:29.129then Mary said to the angel,how can this be, since I know10400:07:29.290 --> 00:07:32.120no man? So here she has. He's having this exchange with this angel.10500:07:32.720 --> 00:07:35.480He's told her a lot of stuff. He's not just given her a10600:07:35.560 --> 00:07:39.079little a little picture of what's got. He's given her a sort of the10700:07:39.240 --> 00:07:43.839big picture. This this she's beengiven her that. He's even given her10800:07:43.839 --> 00:07:46.870the name of this son that you'regoing to conceive. And then this prophecy10900:07:46.910 --> 00:07:50.149about him. He's going to ruleover his people. That the you know.11000:07:50.949 --> 00:07:55.509You know the Kingdom is of hiskingdom there there's going to be no11100:07:55.629 --> 00:07:59.060ends. You've got a king inyour womb. Let me ask you.11200:07:59.379 --> 00:08:01.259I honestly I don't know the answer. I hope you do, but don't.11300:08:01.300 --> 00:08:07.379Would Mary have been well versed enoughin scripture that would she have recognized11400:08:07.980 --> 00:08:13.170that this was the angel was talkingabout the Messiah. You know, I11500:08:13.250 --> 00:08:16.889don't know actually, because I knowin that day and age, certainly they11600:08:16.970 --> 00:08:20.930were Biblical text that were read andthey study the scriptures. Jewish people were,11700:08:22.569 --> 00:08:24.610you know, made to study thescriptures. Now, the peasants,11800:08:24.649 --> 00:08:28.319I don't know that they would havehad that sort of knowledge, and especially11900:08:28.319 --> 00:08:31.279a woman. In that day andage they did not sew a lot into12000:08:31.879 --> 00:08:35.879theologically and as far as the scripturesconcerned, into women. It was mainly12100:08:35.960 --> 00:08:41.789men, young men were were trainedin the scripture. But her being a12200:08:41.830 --> 00:08:43.789peasant, her being a woman,she may not have. I don't know,12300:08:45.029 --> 00:08:48.789maybe she would have. Presumably netright, presumably she would have.12400:08:48.110 --> 00:08:52.750You know, she probably celebrated Passover. Yeah, and and so there certainly12500:08:52.950 --> 00:08:58.100is. Anyone celebrating Passover knows thatthe Messiah's going to come. That's what12600:08:58.259 --> 00:09:03.460they're they're waiting for. So Ijust I wondered that if because she doesn't12700:09:03.460 --> 00:09:07.940ask anything, at least it's notrecorded except one thing. How can this12800:09:09.100 --> 00:09:13.250be done? Yeah, because I'ma virgin. She doesn't ask unless you12900:09:13.289 --> 00:09:16.490would think if there were other questionsit would have been recorded. Maybe not,13000:09:16.690 --> 00:09:20.409but anyway, were you done readingthe yeah, yeah, maybe we'll13100:09:20.409 --> 00:09:26.279kind of kind of Pauls right there. And because there's another big why the13200:09:28.519 --> 00:09:35.080you know, why did God inin all the ways that he could have13300:09:35.200 --> 00:09:41.710sent the savior of the world toEarth? Why as a little baby in13400:09:41.830 --> 00:09:45.990the womb? Yeah, that isa big question. You think about it,13500:09:46.070 --> 00:09:50.269because as we think about Christmas andwe think about and maybe the theology13600:09:50.309 --> 00:09:54.139of Christmas or whatever, we mightgloss over because we just this is the13700:09:54.179 --> 00:09:58.620story that we know about RSIAH come. He came as a baby and whatever.13800:09:58.820 --> 00:10:01.379Yeah, what we mayb don't putthought to. Could he have come13900:10:01.460 --> 00:10:05.100other ways? I. Could theMessiah have come to this earth? You14000:10:05.179 --> 00:10:09.009know, you mentioned, as wetalked about this before, that Adam was,14100:10:09.769 --> 00:10:13.090seems to be a full grown humanbeing when he was put into this14200:10:13.250 --> 00:10:18.850world. Right, right, couldin the Messiah? Couldn't Jesus have come14300:10:18.970 --> 00:10:24.080as just a full grown man?And I guess I don't see any theological14400:10:24.120 --> 00:10:28.360reason why he couldn't have. Inthe sense if that's what God intended,14500:10:28.440 --> 00:10:31.480if that's how the son of Godwas to come into the world, I14600:10:31.519 --> 00:10:35.039guess he could have. Right.He didn't. Yeah, he didn't.14700:10:35.080 --> 00:10:37.470So they're in. You know,we know nothings by accident. Right,14800:10:37.750 --> 00:10:41.110God, God, the Eternal Planof God. This is his plan and14900:10:41.470 --> 00:10:46.710and I think it. Well,I guess we don't know. I think15000:10:46.830 --> 00:10:52.220there are things that we can kindof guess from, you know, make15100:10:52.299 --> 00:10:56.179educated guesses. Yeah, I fromyou digging in the scripture. We talked15200:10:56.179 --> 00:11:00.980about some of these scriptures earlier andhe brews. Hebrews is rich and full15300:11:01.179 --> 00:11:05.769of verses that talk about the humanityof Jesus also about the divinity of Jesus.15400:11:05.850 --> 00:11:09.490He brewises one of my favorite booksof the Bible, and Hebrews Chapter15500:11:09.529 --> 00:11:13.850Two, in verse fourteen, whichis a scripture you mentioned to me earlier,15600:11:13.529 --> 00:11:16.730and it says inasmuch as the childrenhave partaken of flesh and blood,15700:11:16.809 --> 00:11:20.720he's talking about human beings partaken aflesh and blood. He himself is talking15800:11:20.759 --> 00:11:24.120about the son of God. Istalking about Jesus here. If you read15900:11:24.200 --> 00:11:28.440that larger context, he himself likewiseshared in the same the human flesh,16000:11:28.759 --> 00:11:33.789flesh and blood that through death hemight destroy him who had the power of16100:11:33.950 --> 00:11:37.350death, that is the devil.And we can rabbit trail on that and16200:11:37.509 --> 00:11:39.149do a big thing logical discussion aboutthat, but we won't do that.16300:11:39.230 --> 00:11:43.950We'll keep reading that, maybe foranother podcast or for a theological podcast with16400:11:45.070 --> 00:11:48.340this is a this is a prolifepodcast. That will try to keep it16500:11:48.419 --> 00:11:52.299on that and release from those.This is verse fifteen, through fear of16600:11:52.419 --> 00:11:54.340death, where all the life,all their lifetime, subject to bondage.16700:11:54.379 --> 00:11:58.379For indeed, he does not giveto aid to angels. So he didn't.16800:11:58.460 --> 00:12:01.850He wasn't born of an angel oranything like that. He doesn't give16900:12:01.850 --> 00:12:05.610aid to angels. He gives athe implication is to human beings. But17000:12:05.730 --> 00:12:09.850he does give aid to the seatof Abraham. Therefore, in all things17100:12:09.889 --> 00:12:13.730he had to be made like hisbrethren. He had to be made like17200:12:13.889 --> 00:12:18.080his brethren in all things and allthink that's critical. Yes, important thing17300:12:18.159 --> 00:12:20.639that is. That is an importantpoint. That has especially as it has17400:12:20.720 --> 00:12:24.679to do with human beings, ahuman life and even conception, which will17500:12:24.960 --> 00:12:28.320look at him just a little bit, that he might be a merciful and17600:12:28.559 --> 00:12:33.149faithful high priests in things pertaining toGod, to make propagation for the sins17700:12:33.149 --> 00:12:37.950of the people, for in thathe himself has suffered being tempted. He17800:12:37.070 --> 00:12:43.149is able to aid those who aretempted. Then I believe this thought continues17900:12:43.269 --> 00:12:48.179on even into chapter four here ina verse fifteen, and this is an18000:12:48.220 --> 00:12:50.379important point. This is like,this is phenomenal to me. This,18100:12:50.659 --> 00:12:56.139this, this fact that the eternalGod would be a partaker of human flesh,18200:12:56.179 --> 00:13:01.409would come in the filth, inthe in the in just the depravity18300:13:01.250 --> 00:13:07.929of human society and humanness is amazingto me and it shows the grace and18400:13:09.009 --> 00:13:11.250the mercy of God. And inVerse Fifteen, this is part of that18500:13:11.409 --> 00:13:15.720says, for we do not havea high priest who cannot sympathize with our18600:13:15.720 --> 00:13:18.759weaknesses. Is talking about Jesus.So our high priest. He can sympathize18700:13:18.799 --> 00:13:24.000with our weaknesses. He's not sodistant so far that he doesn't know our18800:13:24.039 --> 00:13:28.190struggles in the stuff that we're goingthrough. But here's the power point here18900:13:28.750 --> 00:13:33.230of Verse Fifteen. But was tempted, or was in all things tempted,19000:13:33.269 --> 00:13:37.990as we are, yet without sins, all the stuff that we experience as19100:13:37.070 --> 00:13:43.220temptations, he himself experienced, hesubmitted himself to those experiences. And again19200:13:43.259 --> 00:13:46.700we can go on a theological rabbittrail, and it would be a good19300:13:46.700 --> 00:13:50.379one, that's to talk about temptationand how Christ was tempted. How could?19400:13:50.539 --> 00:13:54.019How could divinity be tempted? Godcan't be tempted. And we getting19500:13:54.019 --> 00:13:56.690all that in their other podcast forthat. Yeah, and people do with19600:13:56.769 --> 00:14:01.330that. Subjects a good subject todeal with. But yeah, but what19700:14:01.490 --> 00:14:05.769we're talking about is the humanity thatJesus took on. Yeah, and the19800:14:07.049 --> 00:14:11.960experience that he had in temptation,but also the experience that he had in19900:14:11.159 --> 00:14:13.600the womb, in the womb,and that's where, you know, my20000:14:13.759 --> 00:14:18.440thoughts have really gone and since westarted thinking about this is okay, so20100:14:18.679 --> 00:14:24.909he's in the womb and conceived.The angels said that Mary would conceive right,20200:14:26.389 --> 00:14:31.230and and so you know, presumablyfrom the moment of conception, Jesus20300:14:31.830 --> 00:14:35.110is in the womb. Yeah,and you know, develops as any baby20400:14:35.350 --> 00:14:41.620in the womb develops. And whatthere is a reason for that. We20500:14:41.779 --> 00:14:45.740don't necessarily know the reason, butwe know God has a reason for that.20600:14:46.100 --> 00:14:50.100And you know, some of thethoughts that went through my mind was,20700:14:50.779 --> 00:14:54.210well, number one, that thereare experiences in the womb that are20800:14:56.129 --> 00:15:01.889essential, yeah, to being humanand and that Jesus, if he was20900:15:01.009 --> 00:15:07.960going to be, what was theword all that, that he was in21000:15:07.200 --> 00:15:13.120all things that he became like us. Yeah, then that includes whatever these21100:15:13.440 --> 00:15:18.440developmental things going on in the wombthat are critical for whatever, for whatever21200:15:18.480 --> 00:15:24.389reason, so that he could fullyidentify with us. And so it,21300:15:24.830 --> 00:15:28.990you know, for part of thereason, I think, is explained in21400:15:30.029 --> 00:15:33.269the text, so that he wouldfully identify with us. But I think21500:15:33.350 --> 00:15:39.620something that you can you can surmisebased on this, is that God values21600:15:41.299 --> 00:15:45.460that unborn child. Yeah, whywould he have brought his own son to21700:15:45.659 --> 00:15:54.129Earth as an unborn child unless therewas value and an importance in that unborn21800:15:54.169 --> 00:16:00.809child and the experience, yeah,the womb. And it's in such sharp21900:16:00.929 --> 00:16:07.200contrast to to what we see thethe value placed on the unborn child in22000:16:08.360 --> 00:16:14.000an abortion minded world. Yeah,yeah, yeah, world. I mean22100:16:14.159 --> 00:16:18.320it's a culture of death that welive in, where sort of abortion for22200:16:18.440 --> 00:16:22.710some people is the default position.Yeah, I mean, could you see22300:16:22.870 --> 00:16:26.909Mary saying well to the Angel,you know? Well, you know,22400:16:27.350 --> 00:16:33.539it sounds like you mean well,and I understand. You know, maybe22500:16:33.620 --> 00:16:37.860you need a good vessel to carrythe baby Jesus in. But do you22600:16:37.940 --> 00:16:42.059know my situation? Right? I'munmarried, I'm poor, I've got neighbors22700:16:42.100 --> 00:16:45.259who might stone me for finding mepregnant. I mean that was a real22800:16:45.259 --> 00:16:48.049danger. It was a real dangerousshe could have died, she could have22900:16:48.090 --> 00:16:53.289been killed for adultery. The betrothalin that day was the same as as23000:16:53.450 --> 00:17:02.080marriage in terms of faithfulness to,you know, to your betrothed and and23100:17:02.799 --> 00:17:06.039you know this young team. Whatwere her parents going to say? So23200:17:07.839 --> 00:17:14.160you know the she faced some terrible, terrible things and and and she she23300:17:14.400 --> 00:17:18.789still didn't challenge the angel and sayGod must have it wrong. Yeah,23400:17:18.829 --> 00:17:25.109in contrast to so many of thean abortion minded woman, yeah, who23500:17:25.230 --> 00:17:27.670is saying? This is the thing? Stay here, you say this statement23600:17:27.750 --> 00:17:32.940here in Luke Chapter One, becauseyet you do have that attitude. We're23700:17:32.980 --> 00:17:37.900dealing with abortion mind of women's almostlike and on, since they recognize that23800:17:37.099 --> 00:17:40.700God doesn't make mistakes, because weask them and they say, well,23900:17:40.980 --> 00:17:45.049no, but stakes God. Butin this situation I think maybe he missed24000:17:45.089 --> 00:17:47.809it. You know, it's kindof what what they're saying when they're when24100:17:47.809 --> 00:17:49.769they're willing to take the innocent lifeof their baby, even though they know24200:17:49.890 --> 00:17:55.450that it's wrong. Right. There'salmost no abortion minded woman that I've encountered24300:17:55.890 --> 00:17:57.880that, at least in some measure, didn't agree that abortion is wrong.24400:17:57.960 --> 00:18:03.079It's wrong, but there's always thatbut attached to it. Right, yeah,24500:18:03.519 --> 00:18:07.000but here in the story, inLuke Chapter One, as the angel24600:18:07.039 --> 00:18:11.839gives this, you know, thisproclamation of what a what's going on?24700:18:12.630 --> 00:18:18.269And but what does Mary say?She says in Verse Thirty, in Verse24800:18:18.349 --> 00:18:21.789Thirty Seven, it says for withGod. This is as after she asks,24900:18:21.829 --> 00:18:23.990how is it possible that I canconceive, because I've never been with25000:18:25.069 --> 00:18:27.619a man like I don't understand howthis is going to work. But she25100:18:27.700 --> 00:18:33.460doesn't argue no, because the angelanswers for God, with God, nothing25200:18:33.740 --> 00:18:37.579will be impossible. Then Mary said, behold the maid, servant of the25300:18:37.700 --> 00:18:41.730Lord. Basically, I'm your servant. You know, if you say that's25400:18:41.970 --> 00:18:47.609the right, that's God's plan,then I'm beholding to it. Let it25500:18:47.769 --> 00:18:51.650be to me according to your word. Let it be to me according to25600:18:51.730 --> 00:18:55.529your word. One of the mostbeautiful lines in sure picture, I think.25700:18:55.759 --> 00:19:00.119Well, so to to not rabbittrail but to debunking idea that I've25800:19:00.200 --> 00:19:07.480heard. Some of our pro abortionfriends says like God raped Mary. Even25900:19:07.559 --> 00:19:10.430heard that. That is I have. I have so ridiculous. It's like,26000:19:10.910 --> 00:19:15.150okay, how blasphemous and how howirreverent, if for you even to26100:19:15.230 --> 00:19:21.309sacre even say that right. Butthe fact is that married submitted herself to26200:19:21.430 --> 00:19:23.460this by her own volition. Theplan was laid out. The Angel didn't26300:19:23.500 --> 00:19:26.539just come and say you're already pregnantand blah, blah, Blah Blah,26400:19:26.539 --> 00:19:30.180and he said here's what's going tohappen, right, and it's possible.26500:19:30.220 --> 00:19:33.779I mean, we don't see anyreason. There's no reason to believe that26600:19:33.859 --> 00:19:37.099she would have been against this plan, because obviously God knew he was picking26700:19:37.259 --> 00:19:41.809right. Her heart was prepared beforehandand whatever. But she says, let26800:19:41.809 --> 00:19:45.690it be according to your will.She is bowing her wheel to the will26900:19:45.730 --> 00:19:48.170of God. She said, ifthat's God's plan, on submit myself to27000:19:48.289 --> 00:19:52.680it. So this idea that sortof God took advantage of her or something27100:19:52.839 --> 00:19:57.240like that, is utterly ridiculous.She, of her own volition, submitted27200:19:57.240 --> 00:20:03.559herself to the plan of God.She showed completely her faith was beautifully displayed27300:20:03.839 --> 00:20:07.630in her trust. Yeah, andher trusted. Okay, let it be27400:20:07.750 --> 00:20:11.710done to me. I don't understandit. I'm sure there was part of27500:20:11.829 --> 00:20:14.390her that was thinking, I'm notsure I like it. Because there's a27600:20:14.390 --> 00:20:17.509lot of scary stuff I'm going toface, but let it be done to27700:20:17.549 --> 00:20:22.460me, as you have said.So that the the true, the absolute27800:20:22.539 --> 00:20:27.180trust, that that it was goingto be okay. Yeah, that she27900:20:27.460 --> 00:20:32.259needed and wanted to submit to thewill of her heavenly father. And this28000:20:33.299 --> 00:20:37.130remarkable. Yeah, it's markable.It's amazing, especially again considering the scenario28100:20:37.289 --> 00:20:40.769there and what could have happened toher. She could have been stoned to28200:20:40.809 --> 00:20:44.690deaths you could have been rejected bythe people who she loved the most,28300:20:44.769 --> 00:20:48.410or family and whatever, even byJoseph. We see it was a certainly28400:20:48.529 --> 00:20:51.119temptation for Joseph, even though hewas a humble man. He was going28500:20:51.119 --> 00:20:52.640to put her away secretly. He'sgoing to divorce her, you know,28600:20:52.759 --> 00:20:57.599break off the the betrothal secretly.But, but, but, it,28700:20:57.759 --> 00:21:02.519that indicates that he didn't believe herat first. Right, he clearly didn't28800:21:02.519 --> 00:21:06.670believe her. I assume she wentand said this angel gave to my room28900:21:06.789 --> 00:21:10.349and and this is what he toldme. Well, you know, again,29000:21:10.430 --> 00:21:15.829putting yourself in that situation, whowould believe that? I wouldn't believe29100:21:15.910 --> 00:21:18.460that, sure, man. Yeah, right, yeah, so he didn't29200:21:18.740 --> 00:21:22.859initially and then what happens in angelcomes to him, right, yeah,29300:21:22.180 --> 00:21:26.420dream is a matter of fact.Actually are one of our pastors preached on29400:21:26.539 --> 00:21:30.099this last Sunday where he talked about, you know, how God can speak29500:21:30.140 --> 00:21:33.809through dreams, and God spoke toJoseph. It says that the Lord came29600:21:33.890 --> 00:21:37.650to him in a dream. Yeah, and and told him this plan.29700:21:37.930 --> 00:21:41.849Yeah, and then Joseph again showsthe trust and the faith that that this29800:21:42.289 --> 00:21:47.799revelation to him through the dream isis true, yeah, and that he29900:21:48.039 --> 00:21:52.640then is going to take on thisincredibly difficult situation. Yeah. Well,30000:21:52.720 --> 00:21:56.720I'll read the passage jays Matthew andverse, Chapter One, Verse Twenty.30100:21:57.440 --> 00:22:00.119But while he thought about these things, where he's talking about putting a her30200:22:00.119 --> 00:22:03.509away, secretly backing off the betrothing. But while he thought about these things,30300:22:03.549 --> 00:22:07.349behold an angel of the Lord appearedto him in a dream, saying30400:22:07.430 --> 00:22:11.150Josephs of Joseph, Mary was inthis struggle, right, she was in30500:22:11.230 --> 00:22:12.750the struggle in her heart of thisplan and how's this going to happen?30600:22:12.829 --> 00:22:17.940And Oh, this anxiety involved inher, but also there's some anxiety involved30700:22:17.980 --> 00:22:21.940in Joseph. was. You don'tjust get that he's he finds out about30800:22:22.059 --> 00:22:25.180this, that she's pregnant, andit's like, okay, that's a bad30900:22:25.220 --> 00:22:27.660thing and he moves on. No, he's wrestling with he's struggling, he's31000:22:27.660 --> 00:22:33.250probably having a hard time sleeping atnight because he loved this woman and in31100:22:33.410 --> 00:22:37.809one sense it's going to put himto shame because he's accused probably of having31200:22:37.849 --> 00:22:41.890had sex with her prematurely, beforethey actually were married, in the midst31300:22:41.890 --> 00:22:44.559of the Betrothal, with the back, which of would have been shameful as31400:22:44.599 --> 00:22:48.400right. Yeah, so he's accusedof that. Possibly he's also thinking,31500:22:48.559 --> 00:22:52.599okay, who's been with my betrothed? Right, because I'm not the father31600:22:52.759 --> 00:22:56.160he has, and so there's alot going on in his mind, right.31700:22:56.720 --> 00:22:59.910He still obviously is a humble man, because he could have called it31800:22:59.990 --> 00:23:03.549for her to be stoned immediately,but he didn't. So he's contemplating these31900:23:03.589 --> 00:23:07.309things as he thought about these things. That's what it says that angel came32000:23:07.349 --> 00:23:11.670to him and dream saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be32100:23:11.789 --> 00:23:17.059afraid to take Mary to you're you'renot be afraid to take you mary,32200:23:17.220 --> 00:23:21.220your wife, for that which isconceived in her is of the Holy Spirit32300:23:21.940 --> 00:23:23.660and she will bring forth a sonand you will call his name Jesus,32400:23:25.259 --> 00:23:32.130for he will save his people fromtheir sins. And so God reaffirms Joseph32500:23:32.170 --> 00:23:36.210in the midst of this unplanned pregnancy, unplanned for Mary and for Joseph,32600:23:37.490 --> 00:23:40.410speak to him in a dream,the reaffirming this plan, that this is32700:23:40.490 --> 00:23:45.440God's plan. It's unconventional according toman, but it's God's way and it's32800:23:45.480 --> 00:23:49.640God's plan. Yeah, and it'swhat the whole Christmas story centers around.32900:23:49.640 --> 00:23:52.720Yeah, yeah, which is AwesomePlan of God. Yeah, and it33000:23:53.119 --> 00:24:00.390follows a we mentioned this be earlier, that it follows God's kind of the33100:24:00.430 --> 00:24:06.190way he works throughout the Bible ishe chooses. He seems to in many33200:24:06.230 --> 00:24:15.259cases choose the weakest, the mostvulnerable nation people to promote his purpose.33300:24:15.299 --> 00:24:19.259Yeah, and and I think Maryis a perfect example. Yea, that,33400:24:19.579 --> 00:24:22.900yes, we were talking this through. You mentioned, you know,33500:24:22.019 --> 00:24:26.930God could have chosen a queen.Yeah, I to have, yeah,33600:24:26.369 --> 00:24:30.650Gina Palace and all the things thatyou would need and all the baby supplies33700:24:30.730 --> 00:24:36.609you'd need and, you know,gold studded diapers and whatever. But you33800:24:36.690 --> 00:24:38.359know, he this was a babyborn to a poor family that had to33900:24:38.400 --> 00:24:41.799be wrapped in swaddling close so there'sno room, and could have chosen to34000:24:42.559 --> 00:24:45.799for the s I had to come, you know, in as a full34100:24:47.319 --> 00:24:49.640grown man. I guess he couldhave chosen, if he was going to34200:24:49.680 --> 00:24:53.670choose the baby route, he couldhave chosen to have this baby born in34300:24:53.710 --> 00:25:00.990a palace and all this. Soour wisdom and conventional wisdom is oftentimes not34400:25:00.230 --> 00:25:04.190God's. With them, it's notGod's will. Often in front of the34500:25:04.230 --> 00:25:10.140abortion center, do be here itI can't have this baby. My situations34600:25:10.220 --> 00:25:14.900too terrible. It's not the righttime. Yeah, and contrast that to34700:25:15.819 --> 00:25:18.740marry. Well, it is theirsituation really any worse than Mary's and most34800:25:18.819 --> 00:25:25.289cases, honestly know, but ailsin comparison, because very few would be34900:25:25.289 --> 00:25:30.809under threat of being stoned at that'sfor sure. So you know another interesting35000:25:30.849 --> 00:25:36.960passage that you're probably none. Yeah, let's we're not stone and I'm we35100:25:37.119 --> 00:25:41.559guarantee. But but you know atright after Mary and Joseph, Well,35200:25:41.640 --> 00:25:45.680Mary has this encounter with the angelthen, I think it's in Luke one35300:25:45.759 --> 00:25:52.710hundred and forty four where, andit says that she hurries to her cousin35400:25:52.750 --> 00:25:59.349Elizabeth. It uses the word hurriesafter this. And and look at what35500:25:59.430 --> 00:26:03.230happens in that passage because because,I think again, it's so much speaks35600:26:03.309 --> 00:26:07.619to me as someone in pro likeministry. Okay, for indeed, as35700:26:07.660 --> 00:26:10.259soon as the voice of this isa luke one hundred and forty four,35800:26:10.380 --> 00:26:14.299for indeed, soon is the voiceof your greeting sounded in my ears,35900:26:14.380 --> 00:26:17.380the baby leaped in my womb forjoy. So this is Elizabeth, this36000:26:17.500 --> 00:26:22.289is Mary. Had hurried to hercousin Elizabeth's House and she's pregnant with Jesus36100:26:22.329 --> 00:26:26.849at that point. Elizabeth is pregnantwith John The baptizer at that point,36200:26:27.250 --> 00:26:32.690and when she heard Mary's Voice,the baby apparently heard the voice to and36300:26:32.769 --> 00:26:36.400leaped in the whom the babe leapedin the womb? So a lot of36400:26:36.480 --> 00:26:40.240things. First of all, shehurries to Elizabeth, and actually it was36500:26:40.279 --> 00:26:42.799actually my sister that mentioned this tome, that you know, Elizabeth is36600:26:42.960 --> 00:26:48.549here with basically an unplanned pregnancy herself. Yeah, right, she was.36700:26:48.750 --> 00:26:52.269She was very surprised to because shewas old. Yeah, and so she36800:26:52.910 --> 00:26:56.869didn't think that child bearing years wereover. Yeah. So look at the36900:26:56.910 --> 00:27:02.220contrast here. Yeah, there's Mary, who's really too young, not married37000:27:02.579 --> 00:27:06.099and totally not thinking I want tohave a baby. And then there's Elizabeth,37100:27:06.140 --> 00:27:10.180who's past childbearing years, who's old, and who finds herself in this37200:27:10.299 --> 00:27:17.250unplanned or unexpected, yeah, pregnancy. And and they come together and the37300:27:17.529 --> 00:27:23.809two babies, unborn babies, twoof the most pivotal, important babies in37400:27:25.009 --> 00:27:27.329history. Yeah, right. We'vegot John The baptist. Yeah, Jesus37500:27:27.329 --> 00:27:30.599said of John the Baptist that hewas the greatest, greatest of all the37600:27:30.720 --> 00:27:36.039prophets. So there's no man bornthat was greater than John The baptist.37700:27:36.079 --> 00:27:40.319That was Jesus testimony later on inhis ministry. And he's coming as an37800:27:40.480 --> 00:27:47.509unborn baby also. Yeah. Andand so here's this unborn John The baptist,37900:27:47.549 --> 00:27:52.630who is going to Harold the comingof the Messiah, and then the38000:27:52.990 --> 00:27:56.390baby Jesus. And what happens whenthey meet? And I know there's a38100:27:56.430 --> 00:28:03.779meme out on facebook now which isthe first person to greet our Lord and38200:28:03.940 --> 00:28:07.859Savior was an unborn baby. Yeah, it was John the Baptist in the38300:28:07.980 --> 00:28:12.250womb of his mother, Elizabeth.And what does he do? He the38400:28:12.369 --> 00:28:18.569Scripture says, he leaps for joy. Yeah, and Elizabeth describes the baby38500:28:18.769 --> 00:28:25.450as leaping for joy in her womb. That to me they clearly a little38600:28:25.490 --> 00:28:33.319unborn baby is described as having emotion, yeah, and leaping for joy and38700:28:33.559 --> 00:28:38.559greeting the savior of the world,another unborn baby, and there's some obviously38800:28:38.599 --> 00:28:44.349the the scripture says there's a recognition, yeah, be in these two babies,38900:28:44.750 --> 00:28:51.789unborn babies. Yeah. So thatto me is like just again speaks39000:28:51.869 --> 00:28:57.299of God's sacred value of the unbornchild and that there's a lot going on39100:28:57.460 --> 00:29:03.140in that womb. That that someof which we do know and and some39200:29:03.339 --> 00:29:07.700of which we probably don't know.Yeah, you know, one of the39300:29:07.700 --> 00:29:12.210things that speaks to you. We'vementioned before, I believe in previous podcast.39400:29:12.329 --> 00:29:18.730We're sort of given an apologetic forwhat the Bible says about unborn children.39500:29:18.769 --> 00:29:22.089We mentioned the scripture. We mentionedthat word that used here, the39600:29:22.170 --> 00:29:26.599Greek word that used in verse fortyfour. The Babe leaped in the womb.39700:29:26.599 --> 00:29:30.359That Greek word for babe. What'sthe Greek word? Breafos, Brefsos,39800:29:30.599 --> 00:29:36.039and that word is also used inother passages to describe unborn children,39900:29:36.559 --> 00:29:38.549but also born children. So theBible does not make a distinction, just40000:29:38.670 --> 00:29:41.309like we don't. We say it'sa baby. When we look at an40100:29:41.349 --> 00:29:45.710ultrasound, that's a baby, right, and when we hold an infant,40200:29:45.789 --> 00:29:48.390we say that's a baby. Right. It's a word that sort of we40300:29:48.470 --> 00:29:51.630use for all those things. Well, in fact, go back to I40400:29:51.710 --> 00:29:53.539mean you don't have to turn backthere, but think about what the angel40500:29:53.700 --> 00:29:59.500said. To marry, you willconceive a son, yeah, right,40600:29:59.579 --> 00:30:04.099yeah, a son, not aZygoat, yeah, not a Gambria,40700:30:04.299 --> 00:30:07.890not, not an embryo, nota clump of cells, but he gave40800:30:08.009 --> 00:30:15.450personhood to that unborn baby. Yeah, from the earliest moment, you will40900:30:15.490 --> 00:30:18.730bear a yeah, son. Yeah, you will conceive a son. So41000:30:18.890 --> 00:30:22.000it wasn't she would bear a son. Right, she would conceive, right,41100:30:22.039 --> 00:30:25.200a son. Yeah. So thatthat at its smallest. Yeah,41200:30:25.240 --> 00:30:27.920that sort of brings brings it aroundin my mind, to a question that41300:30:29.000 --> 00:30:32.839we talked about before we started thepodcast, which is when did Jesus take41400:30:32.960 --> 00:30:36.230on human flesh? And I thinkthis is an important point. Yeah,41500:30:36.269 --> 00:30:40.349it's like the son of God isgoing to come and the likeness, as41600:30:40.390 --> 00:30:44.230the Bible says in those at Philippians, and likeness and the likeness of sinful41700:30:44.269 --> 00:30:48.829flesh he's going to come. Well, when did he take on this likeness41800:30:48.869 --> 00:30:52.859of human beings? Yeah, whendid the son of God become human?41900:30:55.539 --> 00:30:59.099And if we were to go andone train of thought, who he became42000:30:59.220 --> 00:31:02.779human? When he was born,right when he passed through the birth canal,42100:31:02.940 --> 00:31:06.250and that's when his humanity was wasin dued on him. That's one42200:31:06.329 --> 00:31:11.250train of thought. But I thinkthe obvious biblical train of thought is at42300:31:11.289 --> 00:31:14.250the moment of conception. I thinkthat's what the angel says. When the42400:31:14.329 --> 00:31:18.480angel says conceive a son, Ithink at conception you will conceive and that42500:31:18.640 --> 00:31:22.599is your son. Yeah, andthat is Jesus, and that is when42600:31:22.759 --> 00:31:27.839the eternal son of God. He'sgot to recognize in in the scriptural context,42700:31:29.000 --> 00:31:33.390that there is within the Godhead,the Trinity, the Father, Son42800:31:33.509 --> 00:31:38.069and Holy Spirit, all three,or coeternal code, equal in power and42900:31:38.190 --> 00:31:44.430in glory and in Majesty. Eachhas a different role, right, the43000:31:44.470 --> 00:31:48.019Holy Spirit has his role, theson has his role and the father has43100:31:48.099 --> 00:31:52.740his role, but the son ofGod, in his role, comes in43200:31:52.980 --> 00:31:59.740human flesh. The Jesus exists eternally, right, he always is. He's43300:31:59.779 --> 00:32:02.410not a created being, right.Yeah, he's not a creature. He43400:32:02.569 --> 00:32:09.609is the eternal Sun, and sohe existed in eternity forever. But yet43500:32:09.890 --> 00:32:15.680his humanity began in the womb ofMary. His humanity, him taking on43600:32:15.799 --> 00:32:22.480human flesh, happened at the momentof conception, right yeah. And then43700:32:22.599 --> 00:32:28.000we see in the Scripture and thatHebrews Chapter two passage, that he took43800:32:28.039 --> 00:32:30.670on this sinful flesh of that hemight are not sinful flesh in the likeness43900:32:30.710 --> 00:32:36.710of sinful flesh, right, buthe was a partaker of flesh and blood,44000:32:36.950 --> 00:32:39.750as it says at Hebrews passage,so that he threw death. So44100:32:39.910 --> 00:32:44.819his his flesh, he took onso that he could ultimately lay it down44200:32:44.859 --> 00:32:47.059and die. Right yeah, sothat he could destroy him who had the44300:32:47.140 --> 00:32:50.940power of death, and the Biblesays that that is the devil, and44400:32:51.059 --> 00:32:54.500also so that he can identify withour humanity. Right right. So I44500:32:54.819 --> 00:32:57.940don't know where, where and whenwe want to get into this, but44600:32:57.980 --> 00:33:00.650it's I think I just a reallywas a good time. Wonderful. Point44700:33:00.930 --> 00:33:07.490is also at the moment of conception, and I think this is fairly recent44800:33:07.609 --> 00:33:12.009that scientists have discovered that and they'vegot pictures of it. At the moment44900:33:12.089 --> 00:33:16.119of conception. Conception, a meetsperm and there's a flash of light in45000:33:16.240 --> 00:33:21.880the WOMB. Yeah, a flashof light. So you know, as45100:33:21.880 --> 00:33:23.519I was thinking about that and lookingat the pictures, and there's pictures,45200:33:23.599 --> 00:33:30.190you can absolutely can see these picturesof this. Well, what is Jesus45300:33:30.430 --> 00:33:34.549called? He's called the light ofthe world, light of the world.45400:33:34.710 --> 00:33:38.670And when God what was the firstwords? Well, among the first words45500:33:39.029 --> 00:33:44.259that God said, as he's creatingthe universe, let there below, let45600:33:44.339 --> 00:33:49.859there be light. And so,you know, here's the the the conception45700:33:50.259 --> 00:33:55.289of the savior of the world is, is a spark of light. Presumably,45800:33:55.809 --> 00:33:59.730if that's true, of all babiesas they're born in the womb or45900:33:59.769 --> 00:34:05.450as they're conceived in the womb,and and so, you know, again,46000:34:05.809 --> 00:34:14.280to me it speaks again of theirthat moment of conception was supremely wonderful46100:34:14.800 --> 00:34:23.199and all that follows to birth isis wonderful and sacred and and so important.46200:34:23.789 --> 00:34:29.789And then coming to the moment ofbirth is, you know, again,46300:34:30.110 --> 00:34:35.269the probably the pivotal physical event ina human beings life. You're born,46400:34:35.550 --> 00:34:39.579you physically enter, you leave thewomb and enter the world, and46500:34:40.860 --> 00:34:46.340and and in so much of theBible. Nearly every physical event has a46600:34:46.539 --> 00:34:53.650spiritual parallel, and you look atthat. The the description of when we46700:34:53.809 --> 00:34:59.690come to faith. Is Born again, John Chapter three, and listen,46800:34:59.809 --> 00:35:01.929and is born again, feign againstsee the Kingdom of God. Yeah,46900:35:02.210 --> 00:35:06.969the scripture that comes to mind isin John, the Gospel John, in47000:35:07.050 --> 00:35:10.480Chapter Fourteen. It starts out verseone. Many of you guys probably know47100:35:10.639 --> 00:35:14.360this passage. In the beginning wasthe word, and the word was with47200:35:14.519 --> 00:35:17.440God and the word was God.So obviously showing the divinity of this one47300:35:17.480 --> 00:35:22.670who's called the word, which isobviously Jesus. And it talks about light47400:35:22.750 --> 00:35:25.030in verse five and John Chapter One. The light shines in the darkness and47500:35:25.110 --> 00:35:29.349the darkness does not comprehend it.So that's along the lines of what what47600:35:29.469 --> 00:35:31.909you're saying. He was, hewas the true light that came into the47700:35:31.949 --> 00:35:36.659world. In verse fourteen that itsays the word became flesh, HMM,47800:35:36.780 --> 00:35:39.139and dwelt among us. We beheldhis glory, the Glory as of the47900:35:39.260 --> 00:35:43.019only begotten other father, full ofgrace and truth. So this word,48000:35:43.219 --> 00:35:47.099this this eternal word, who waswith God and was God, who,48100:35:47.460 --> 00:35:52.210Bible says, all things were madethrough him and without him, nothing was48200:35:52.329 --> 00:35:57.010made. That was made so throughthe eternal Sun all things were created.48300:35:57.050 --> 00:36:01.610All things, all creation, flowedfrom this uncreated son of God. But48400:36:01.769 --> 00:36:07.639the word, this word became flesh, he took on flesh, and I48500:36:07.719 --> 00:36:12.320think that says a couple of things. It says that God is willing to48600:36:12.599 --> 00:36:16.760enter in to our humanity, toenter into our experiences. So that's one48700:36:16.840 --> 00:36:21.269thing. It enter into our mess. Yeah, man enter and enter into48800:36:21.309 --> 00:36:24.429a sinful and deprave the world.But the second thing it says is that48900:36:24.550 --> 00:36:29.750God values human beings enough to dothat. Right, because he didn't do49000:36:29.949 --> 00:36:32.500it, as we reread in thatHebrews passage, for God does not give49100:36:32.820 --> 00:36:36.380for he did it for the thethe the Sun. I think the word49200:36:36.420 --> 00:36:39.099is does not give aid to angels. So it doesn't mean that God doesn't49300:36:39.099 --> 00:36:43.019care about angels, but it's whatit's talking about. In in a salvific49400:36:43.179 --> 00:36:47.690way. God does not intervene onbehalf of angels, he doesn't, but49500:36:47.809 --> 00:36:52.369he does on behalf of fallen humanbeings. He intervenes. He intervened in49600:36:52.570 --> 00:36:55.130such a way that he became oneof us. He didn't become an angel.49700:36:55.489 --> 00:37:00.769Right, Jesus is not an angelwhen never was an angel, regardless49800:37:00.809 --> 00:37:05.960of what some false religions like whois, who's witnesses teach that he's Michael,49900:37:06.000 --> 00:37:08.280the Archangel. Yes, not whatthe Bible teaches, that he's the50000:37:08.360 --> 00:37:15.429eternal son that took on that becamehuman flesh. Right, and and so50100:37:15.510 --> 00:37:19.989it again, it does show usthe humanity or the value of humanity.50200:37:20.510 --> 00:37:24.789It shows us God's willingness to comeand to be a partaker in what we50300:37:24.989 --> 00:37:30.019experience so that we can have,as it says in Hebrews. Later on50400:37:30.099 --> 00:37:36.260it says we have a high priestthat can sympathize with our weakness. He50500:37:36.739 --> 00:37:43.619knows the stuff that we're going through. HMM, which is massively comforting for50600:37:43.699 --> 00:37:45.969us to know that this eternal Godwho, who, the Bible says,50700:37:45.969 --> 00:37:52.289dwells an unapproachable light, who washolly unapproachable in the sense that he is50800:37:52.650 --> 00:37:58.130majesty and His glory will feel theearth, but he stoops down, becomes50900:37:58.170 --> 00:38:00.519a human being and allows us toapproach him. Yeah, it allows us51000:38:00.519 --> 00:38:04.639to come into his presence and havefellowship. But yeah, yeah, and51100:38:04.760 --> 00:38:07.440you know, another thought that justcame to me as you were speaking was51200:38:07.159 --> 00:38:13.510God, we are made in theimage of God and one of God's most51300:38:13.750 --> 00:38:16.829obvious attributes is as creator. Hecreated the universe, he created all life,51400:38:16.869 --> 00:38:29.500he created us. And when weconceive children and there's this life growing51500:38:29.619 --> 00:38:36.340within us and then eventually this lifecomes forth into our actual world outside of51600:38:36.420 --> 00:38:44.289the womb, I think we havea small taste of what it is to51700:38:44.690 --> 00:38:52.250create and to create something as miraculousas life. We don't create it right.51800:38:52.409 --> 00:38:58.119We conceive that that child God isthe creator of all life, but51900:38:58.239 --> 00:39:04.679I think it gives us kind ofa little bit of an understanding of the52000:39:04.800 --> 00:39:10.190magnificence of God, because I don'tknow really any woman who has given birth52100:39:10.510 --> 00:39:16.110who has not described it as utterlymiraculous. It is miraculous. It is52200:39:16.190 --> 00:39:20.510what brought me to the Lord.Honestly, was was the birth of my52300:39:21.110 --> 00:39:25.860first son Onders that made me recognizedthere has to be a God. And52400:39:27.019 --> 00:39:30.500so I gues again. I goingback to why. Why? I know52500:39:30.659 --> 00:39:35.019God usually doesn't answer wise, nordo I need this answered, but it's52600:39:35.059 --> 00:39:39.530something that's kind of interesting to thinkabout. Why did he bring Jesus to52700:39:40.250 --> 00:39:45.090to Earth as an unborn child andand to a moment of birth? And52800:39:46.889 --> 00:39:54.800I think that that might be partof the answer is understanding and us being52900:39:54.840 --> 00:40:00.840able to understand a little bit moreabout God. Yeah, yeah, well,53000:40:01.599 --> 00:40:06.480you know, I think maybe,hopefully you guys have your listening have53100:40:06.760 --> 00:40:09.670joined in some of our ramblings andare going on about the Christmas story and53200:40:09.710 --> 00:40:14.989about the Majesty of God and theMercy of God coming in the likeness of53300:40:15.110 --> 00:40:17.110sinful flesh. Hopefully this has beena blessing to you. I want to53400:40:17.150 --> 00:40:22.179end out, though, with ayou know, the holidays, Christmas time,53500:40:22.900 --> 00:40:27.980is it awesome time to proclaim theGospel. Picture is and this passage53600:40:28.260 --> 00:40:31.699in Luke in chapter two, asI share with you this is one of53700:40:31.739 --> 00:40:36.969my favorite of all time passage ofscripture. It's very, very short,53800:40:37.130 --> 00:40:40.489so it's easy to memorize and it'sin Luke Chapter two, in verse fourteen,53900:40:40.489 --> 00:40:45.170and this is the proclamation of theheavenly host of the angels, and54000:40:45.289 --> 00:40:50.239here's what they say. Glory toGod in the highest and on earth peace,54100:40:50.840 --> 00:40:53.920goodwill toward man. And when Iread that scripture, actually I get54200:40:53.920 --> 00:40:59.119till bumps a lot because I thinkabout when we see God in the Bible,54300:40:59.519 --> 00:41:02.440when we see the majesty is adescribed earlier the majesty, The holiness54400:41:02.480 --> 00:41:08.309of this God, this God whomade everything, and this God who would54500:41:08.309 --> 00:41:13.670be perfectly justified in, you know, wiping us all out. He did54600:41:13.710 --> 00:41:15.630it in one time. He didit with with the story of Noah and54700:41:15.710 --> 00:41:20.219his family and save them, butwiped out the rest of humanity, and54800:41:20.380 --> 00:41:23.460he was perfectly justified in doing so. No one's his accuser. He did54900:41:23.539 --> 00:41:27.139wrong, he did evil. Peopletry to be as accuser. He's God,55000:41:27.739 --> 00:41:31.460he made everything. Yeah, hehas the the authority over everything.55100:41:31.539 --> 00:41:34.969Right, and when his creation rebelled, agains him of that time. He55200:41:35.250 --> 00:41:39.130wiped him out and it seems,though, in that story, even God's55300:41:39.170 --> 00:41:43.130will was a good will toward man. He makes the ark big enough.55400:41:43.210 --> 00:41:46.400Every human being could have fitted thatthing and he offers. Noah was a55500:41:46.480 --> 00:41:51.719preacher who offered, appealed, itseemed. He built this art for a55600:41:51.760 --> 00:41:53.320hundred, twenty years in the middleof the desert as a testimony of the55700:41:53.360 --> 00:41:57.000people. They could have come inand got salvation, but they didn't.55800:41:57.400 --> 00:42:00.960That ark was just a picture,though, the foreshadowing of Jesus, who55900:42:00.960 --> 00:42:04.389would be the Ark of salvation forall of humanity that would come into him.56000:42:05.349 --> 00:42:08.550And we see God through bringing Jesusinto this earth as the savior.56100:42:08.630 --> 00:42:12.750Yeah, that was the proclamation ofthe angel that came to marry. He56200:42:12.869 --> 00:42:15.630will save his name will be Jesus, he will save them, as the56300:42:15.710 --> 00:42:19.059proclamation the angel that came to Joseph. His name will be Jesus, for56400:42:19.179 --> 00:42:22.739real save his people from their sins. We see in the Christmas story this56500:42:23.260 --> 00:42:27.860glory to God in the highest.So God is glorified in this story,56600:42:28.980 --> 00:42:31.530but through his peace on earth andgoodwill toward man, that he has a56700:42:31.650 --> 00:42:36.650good desire for lost humanity. AndYeah, I think some of the Jews56800:42:36.690 --> 00:42:39.769at the time of Jesus miss thepoint that God's good will was not just56900:42:39.849 --> 00:42:44.760toward the Jewish people but toward allmen, that all men would come into57000:42:44.800 --> 00:42:49.800this this relationship with God through Christand could be saved. Yeah, but57100:42:49.880 --> 00:42:53.559we see in this the disposition ofGod towards humanity, toward lost, depraved,57200:42:54.199 --> 00:43:00.349sinful humanity. was good that,he said, the savior into the57300:43:00.469 --> 00:43:04.670world, Jesus says, the sonof men comes to seek and to save57400:43:05.150 --> 00:43:07.710that which is lost. And soas we go through this Christmas season and57500:43:08.550 --> 00:43:14.219we might buy presents and put upour Christmas tree and all of that and57600:43:14.460 --> 00:43:21.340celebrate Christmas and Christmas time and bewith family. We cannot forget God's desire57700:43:21.739 --> 00:43:23.460toward all human beings to be saved. We can't forget, when we're with57800:43:23.539 --> 00:43:28.610our family and people who are lost, to share with them the hope of57900:43:28.769 --> 00:43:31.289Jesus Christ. We did a podcastsome weeks ago about how to share with58000:43:31.329 --> 00:43:34.889your family members. If you haven'tlistened to that, go back and listen58100:43:34.929 --> 00:43:37.889to that, because I think itwill be massively helpful during this season to58200:43:37.929 --> 00:43:42.119share with your family members. Butyeah, don't forget the reason. It's58300:43:42.159 --> 00:43:45.320become a Cliche, the reason forthe season. It is Jesus Christ.58400:43:45.199 --> 00:43:49.119We appreciate all those who listen.Appreciate you guys joining in with us.58500:43:49.119 --> 00:43:52.000Share this podcast with your family members, with your friends. Shoot US over58600:43:52.119 --> 00:43:55.710a tech or, I was gonnasay a tax and email. I am58700:43:55.750 --> 00:44:00.630at d parks at cities for lifecom. That's my email, addressed parks at58800:44:00.670 --> 00:44:06.829cities for lifecom. Vickie is vKassi Org at cities for lifecom. As58900:44:06.869 --> 00:44:09.820always, we encourage you guys togo to our website, www dot sidewalks59000:44:09.980 --> 00:44:14.059number, the number for Lifecom,where you can get trained and equipped to59100:44:14.059 --> 00:44:17.420do sidewall counseling. We recently justput an article out a hostage situation at59200:44:17.460 --> 00:44:21.260the abortion center. They gives anallegory of what we're dealing with and we're59300:44:21.260 --> 00:44:22.860dealing with an abortion minded woman.That we think would be a blessing to59400:44:22.900 --> 00:44:28.489you guys, but we hope thatyou're blessed about this podcast and hope that59500:44:28.610 --> 00:44:34.090you continue to listen to future podcastGod, bless and Merry Christmas. Amen,59600:44:35.929 --> 00:44:57.630use, mil use, give me. Will cost me my life,59700:45:00.909 --> 00:45:02.110but nothing's too precious.