But it is a delight to gather with all of you as we consider and meditate on the incarnation of our Savior, Jesus Christ, without which there would be no hope for sinners like us. But because he has come and took on flesh like us, we can worship and praise and hope for eternal life. I would ask that you would now stand for the call to worship from Revelation chapter 5 verses 13 and 14. And I heard every creature in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and in the sea, and all that is in them saying, to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing, and honor, and glory, and might forever and ever. And the four living creatures said, Amen, and the elders fell down and worshiped. Beloved in the Lord, grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's pray. Our great God and Father in heaven, we come before you even now to give you praise and worship for the giving of your son, who took on flesh that we might have life. May your spirit be upon each of us, working in our hearts as we consider the implications and the wonder of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. We pray this in his name, amen. If you would take your psalter handle and turn to hymn 297, lift up your heads ye mighty gates, hymn 297. When Thou didst unite the gates, O God, in Thy glory place, The King of kings is drawing near, The Savior of the world is near. O come, let us adore Him, and sing of Him, His kingdom, His holiness, His jeopardy, and His strife. Oh, let's stand to save the world, and cry to God, my heart ♪ Let me not in her presence feel ♪ ♪ Thy grace and love in me reveal ♪ ♪ So come, my soul, and proclaim ♪ ♪ That with thine owner I remain ♪ ♪ Thy holy spirit guide us on ♪ And all God's people said, Amen. Please be seated. If you turn in the back of your psalter or hymnal to the Westminster Larger Catechism, We're gonna reflect a little bit on the theology of the incarnation as well as the events of the incarnation this evening. And by the way, since we didn't print bulletins, feel free to look at your device, the email with the order of service. I won't feel offended. But if you turn to the larger catechism, we'll start with question 36 and 37, identifying who our mediator is. I'll read the question, and together we'll respond with the answer. Questions 36 and 37, and keep your finger there, because we'll come back and continue as we go through. Who is the mediator of the covenant of grace? How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? Christ, the Son of God, became man by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary, of her substance and born of her, yet without sin. Amen. Now, if you would turn in your Bibles to Luke chapter two, So basically, you wanna keep your finger in Luke chapter two and another finger in the Westminster Lodger Catechism. We will go back and forth there. So Luke chapter two, this is a passage that really ought to be familiar to all of us. The thing about this is, as I mentioned on Sunday, both morning and evening, it's very easy to look at a passage like Luke chapter 2 and kind of just skim through it because we've read it so many times before. I mean, after all, we've even had and heard Linus of all people on TV, quote from Luke chapter 2. But I'm going to look first at verses 1 through 7. Luke chapter two, verses one through seven, giving some of the historical circumstance behind this, and then just give you a brief little meditation on this. In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem. because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth, and she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Now Luke, in his gospel, a gospel that is very concerned about bringing the gospel message to Gentiles, is an individual who gives a lot of attention to detail. He's very concerned with the historical background to give some sense of reliability to what he says. So roughly the time period, if we were to look on our calendar, would be approximately 6 BC to 4 BC, somewhere in there. And no, we cannot be completely dogmatic about this. But really the thing that I want us to consider The fact that even as we read on Sunday, a short passage from Micah chapter five, talking about the reality that the Messiah to come would be born in Bethlehem, how many hundreds of years prior to the birth of Christ was that prophecy made? And in all that time, God ordered all of history to fall into such a place that at the right time, Caesar Augustus called for a census, and it required Joseph and Mary to travel down to Bethlehem. And as a result, God fulfilled his promise. The Messiah was born in Bethlehem. Now for you and for me, we may just take this for granted. We just read this as history, it just happened. Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth. Yet, in his providential hand of guiding all of history, he caused that which he purposed to come to pass. It's one thing to make a decree. It's quite another to follow through with it. And our God has followed through. And my friends, that should be a comfort for all of us. Why? Because when we consider the end, When Christ returns again, everything between now and then has been ordained and decreed and will be so ordered in such a way that you need not fear, Christ will come again and he will accomplish all his purpose. He accomplished his purpose in bringing Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. What a coincidence, right? No, no coincidences with God. God moving in history to bring about his purpose to redeem sinners like you and me. Let's join together in singing hymn number 323, O Little Town of Bethlehem. 323, let's stand as we sing this together. ♪ Oh little town of Bethlehem ♪ ♪ How still we see thee lie ♪ ♪ Above thy heathen king ♪ Let him, like your sweet child, be ever blest in thine. Fellows and peers of all the years are blest in thee tonight. ♪ With heaven on her lap ♪ ♪ And the angels sing, the angels sing ♪ ♪ With heaven on her lap ♪ ♪ And the angels sing, the angels sing ♪ ♪ With heaven on her lap ♪ ♪ And angels sing to God the King ♪ ♪ And peace to men on earth ♪ ♪ And silently, now silently ♪ ♪ The wondrous gift is given ♪ ♪ So God imparts to you ♪ ♪ The blessings of His head ♪ ♪ The weary year is drawing near ♪ ♪ The deepest of the sea ♪ ♪ Where these storms will wave secrets to the dear land ♪ ♪ O holy child of Bethlehem ♪ ♪ Be sent to us, we pray ♪ ♪ As now God's children look to thee ♪ ♪ Be glorified today ♪ ♪ We hear the rooster crowing ♪ And together we say, amen. Please be seated. We return back to the larger catechism. Question 38 through 40, continuing the theological implications of the incarnation. Now boys and girls, I keep using that word incarnation. Simply put, it just means that God the Son came to be human like us. He took on flesh. So when you hear that word incarnation, it has to do with God the Son coming to earth and taking on a body like us, a soul like us, a will like us. in every respect, yet without sin. So that's what the word incarnation means. So question now 38 through 40. Once again, I'll read the question, and together we'll respond with the answer. Why was it requisite that the mediator should be God? and the craft of God, and the power of death, give worth and efficacy to His offerings, obedience and discretion, and to satisfy God's justice for the ear of His favor, purchase of the illiterate people, give His Spirit to them, conquer all their enemies, and bring them to everlasting salvation. Why was it requisite that the mediator should be man? Why was it requisite that the mediator should be God and man in one person? It was requisite that the mediator who was to reconcile God and man should himself be both God and man, and this in one person. Amen. There is a lot of rich theology there. And let me assure you, if you consider those things seriously and prayerfully and meditate on these concepts as the Bible lays them out before us, you will walk away with a sense of awe of God's wisdom to bring about salvation of sinners in the person and work of Jesus Christ our Lord. Well, if you would turn now to Luke chapter two again, will continue, this time a little bit longer of a section, verses 8 through 21. And in the same region, There were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. the angels went away from them into heaven. The shepherds said to one another, let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning the child. and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Now this, of course, is a passage that was quoted by Linus. We're very familiar with this, and we as Christians will sometimes marvel at the fact that they actually let this be shown on TV. But it is nonetheless good news. What is quite remarkable is the response to everyone. And it should be a picture for you and for me, an example for you and for me, as to what our response ought to be to the incarnation. First we see the shepherds working out in the field. They're tending the flocks out at night. And suddenly an angel comes and gives this grand announcement of the coming of this Messiah. And the things that were said, notice what the angel said. First off, he tells them to fear not, do not be afraid, or even potentially stop fearing. He brings good news. This is the word in Greek where we get our word gospel from. This is the gospel. The gospel is no longer just mere prophecy. It is now being fulfilled. He continues, it's good news of great joy, and notice that it's for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. This child is Christ the Lord. This child is the Savior. This humble child lying in a manger, And notice that the angel, it's almost hard to read it, but given the whole context of everything that goes on around this announcement, how can you not read the announcement of this angel with a sense of pure joy? And the thing about this is, the angel didn't need a savior. Hold on to that thought. Once the announcement finishes, a multitude of heavenly hosts come. And what do they do? They praise God. All of those heavenly hosts did not need a savior. And yet there they are, the hosts of heaven, in awe and in wonder and giving praise to God for the salvation of men, for the salvation of sinners. What should our response then be? If heavenly hosts who needed no savior could not help themselves, and could only give praise to God. What should your response be? Should it not be the same? Should we not rejoice that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh? The answer, my question is rhetorical. The answer should be obvious. We should, of course, be in awe of what has transpired. We should glorify God because he has fulfilled his promise and provided the means of salvation found in this child born in Bethlehem, Christ the Lord. And notice the song that the heavenly hosts sing. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. Now, not to get too technical here, but there is technically a textual variant. Most of us are probably familiar, we certainly know that Linus was, peace and goodwill toward men. It really has to do with a difference of one letter in the Greek. Can you believe it? One letter. That's it. But interestingly enough, though I do sometimes harp a bit on the NIV, the NIV is actually quite helpful here. It's peace among those upon whom God's favor rests. That's the emphasis. It is peace upon those upon whom God's favor rests. That's the stress. That's the good news. It's God's favor. It's God's grace toward us. These heavenly hosts are giving glory to God because of the favor that God has shown to sinful men like us. You and I will sometimes have occasional difficulty when we see other people getting praised. Sometimes we get a hint of jealousy. Sometimes we just feel like, well, what about me? Or sometimes we may think, well, that's a little overblown. They're making too big of a deal. That's just kind of another form of jealousy. Here you have the heavenly hosts. praising God for the favor that he has shown to you and to me. That's why, brothers and sisters, when we hear of loved ones, and maybe even those individuals we would far from call loved ones, become Christians, what should our attitude be? Are we gonna be like Jonah? or are we gonna be like the heavenly hosts? Give glory to God, because now this person has received favor from Him in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The heavenly hosts give praise to God. They glorify Him in the highest. All of heaven rejoices at the birth of this child who came for the sake of sinners like us. We too ought to praise. Now of course the angels leave, and what do the shepherds do? They immediately go, let's go to Bethlehem. Let's see this thing that has happened. This thing that the Lord has made known to us. And that's another little subtle thing to keep in mind here. While it is true the angels came and gave the message of the announcement of Jesus, ultimately they were bringing God's word to them. they were actually bringing God's word. And isn't it interesting that these shepherds understood that it was actually the word of the Lord. It was the word of the Lord. And again, just as a matter of a little aside, every time you hear a minister of the gospel who is faithfully preaching the word of God, you ultimately should be hearing the word of the Lord. You don't just hear the voice, such as it may be, of the person standing before you. If it is faithful to the word of God, you are hearing God's word, and we ought to rejoice. Well, they go. They go to Bethlehem. They go to where Mary is. They go to where Joseph is. And what do they find? Everything. as they have been told. It was a sign for them. Everything that they saw or heard was true. They now see with their own eyes. There before them, the Savior, Christ the Lord. And my friends, each and every day, when we open up our Bibles, Christ the Lord is presented to us. Each and every Lord's Day, as we come to worship the triune God, Christ the Lord is presented. We have access by Christ the Lord. There is no other hope save in Him. And as the shepherds, they go on, they move back, they go back to work, But they don't just kind of shrug their shoulders as if, OK, what's next? They go back. They're filled with wonder. They go back, and they share that which they've heard, what they've seen. you could say they're the first true gospel, New Testament gospel proclaimers for the sake of Christ. They go and share. Christ the Lord is born. Whether or not people believe, some people, they themselves, they wondered. They wondered at what the shepherds had told them. When you hear and you have your heart affected by the Word of God, are you filled with a desire to share what God has revealed to you? God has revealed to you that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our only hope. but it is something that fills with joy. When you have good news and you can't wait to tell your friends or can't wait to tell your family, you just can't wait for them to get home so you can share the good news. That's what we're talking about here. There is no greater news than this. The Savior, Christ the Lord, is born. He has come. The time of promise is now just a shadow. because the substance has come in Jesus Christ, our Lord. And the shepherds, they return and notice they are glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen as it had been told them. But not just them, Mary. Mary, in verse 19, Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them, considering them, meditating on them in her heart. This too provides for us an example of what our attitude ought to be concerning the doctrine of the Incarnation, the reality that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. We ought to ponder these things. That's why earlier, just a little bit before, we looked at questions concerning why the Mediator had to be God. why the mediator had to be man, why the mediator had to be both God and man in one person. All of each of those things are an incredible concept in and of themselves. but take them all together. What we have is there in Jesus Christ our Lord. God and man in one person, our mediator, the one who brings us to God on high. Let's join together in singing hymn number 318, angels we have heard on high. In 318, let's stand as we sing. He chose the emerald islands, sweetly, sweetly on the plains, where the mountains in reply, their new-manifest joyous strains. ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Gloria ♪ ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Shepherds, what is new thee? ♪ ♪ Why do you sing to me? ♪ Standard in the times we're in, we should strive for every star. Alleluia. In which else is there? ♪ Gloria in excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Come to Bethlehem and see ♪ ♪ Then whose birth the angels sing ♪ ♪ Come adore on bended knee ♪ Christ the Lord, the living King Gloria In excelsis Deo Gloria And together we say, amen. Please be seated. And now questions 41 and 42 of the larger catechism. Every once in a while, from time to time, when I talk about this, I like to remind people, though I'm sure you all know it, when we hear the name Jesus Christ, Jesus is not his first name and Christ is not his last name. That's not how it works. Jesus is his name. Christ is his title. That's not necessarily wrong to call it a name as well, but Christ is ultimately a title. And what we see here in question 41 and 42 tells us why he has the name Jesus and why he has that name or title Christ. So again, I'll read the question, together we'll respond with the answer. Why was our mediator called Jesus? Why was our mediator called Christ? Amen. He's called Jesus because he saves his people from their sins. That's what his name actually means. Not so much the English version of his name. His name means the Lord saves or the Lord is salvation. Christ, the word itself in Greek, most of you probably know this, Christos, where we get Christ from. It simply means anointed one. Just like the Hebrew word where we get Messiah, it means anointed one. Jesus, the Lord is salvation. He is the one anointed and appointed to the task of saving sinners like you and me. We'll turn back again to Luke 2. Luke chapter two, verses 22 through 38. Now to be fair, these verses do come more than a week after the actual birth of Christ. How do we know that? Well, back in verse 21, at the end of eight days, he was circumcised. Now they're about to go into Jerusalem. So some time has passed. But we consider all of this with respect to His incarnation, with respect to His birth. So while some time has passed, it hasn't been a whole lot of time, and it is all related to His birth. So Luke 2, beginning verse 22. And when the time came for their purification, according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord. Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord, and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him, and it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation. that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.' And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him, and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed, and a sword will pierce through your own soul also, so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phaneuel of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour, she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem." As I mentioned, some time has passed. And if it is, if Mary and Joseph were completely true to what the law required for the purification, This could have been up to 40 days after his birth. Jesus is already potentially about six weeks old. But be that as it may, they come into the temple, they fulfill what is required in the law of the Lord, and Simeon, this man who comes up, but we are told by Luke that he is filled with the Holy Spirit, an expression that is similar to what is described concerning Elizabeth when Mary visited her. Thus, we know that what he's got to say here is inspired from on high. And Simeon was promised that he would live to see the consolation of Israel. He would live to see the Savior. And that time has now come. And he then, in his song, begins by saying, I can now depart in peace. Remarkable statement. and he gives glory to God. His eyes have seen the salvation of the Lord, a salvation that he acknowledges that God has prepared. It was God's hand that has done all of this, and Simeon proclaims this. He is to be a light for the Gentiles, and he is to be the glory for the people of Israel. And of course, as before, Joseph and Mary, they marvel at what was said. But we get a little extra message from Simeon, particularly with respect to what he says to Mary. Now here, taken by itself, it is a bit cryptic. This child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a sign that is opposed. And notice what the, as the ESV has it parenthetically, and a sword will pierce through your own soul also. As we consider the incarnation, yes, we rejoice that Christ the Savior is born. But we also need to remember why Christ the Savior had to be born. This is, in a subtle way, what Simeon is getting at. And the reality is, though it is a joyous thing that Christ has come, we need to remember that he came, he came to die. He came to die in our place. He came to die because of our sin. And the language here of a sword piercing Mary also. Remember, Mary witnessed her son's execution. The incarnation is a glorious truth. It really is, and we should praise God for it. But at the same time, we should always remember why it is he came. Yes, we have hope. Yes, we're filled with joy, but he came to die. And so there is a sense in which as we consider the incarnation, we also ought to consider and start thinking about what we might call Good Friday. He was born for that purpose. But even as he accomplishes that purpose, you and I will not see death, not as the unbeliever sees death. This is why the Apostle Paul can cry out, where, O death, is your sting? For the believer, the one who places their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, they can be assured that death is nothing but an entrance into the presence of Christ himself. That's our hope. And at that point, our faith will become sight. We long for the day when we will see Christ. And at that point in time, we will. I don't know about you, but I can't wait. And until then, we ought to be filled with joy of the truth of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. We should have a sense of urgency to go out and tell the good news and give thanks to God for Jesus Christ who came in the flesh, that sinners like you and me can be redeemed. Oh, but I'm a terrible sinner. I mean, really bad. Christ covers those sins too. This is why He is the God-man, because His sacrifice is of infinite worth. that it covers all our sin. Yes, your sin may be great, but His grace overcomes. That's the hope that we have. This is the salvation that we have in Christ Jesus our Lord. We rejoice because Jesus is with us. Is it any wonder then, that as Matthew indicates, quoting from Isaiah, that Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. Brothers and sisters, as you gather with your family, have a good meal, have good fellowship, remember Jesus Christ. Come in the flesh and rejoice in him. Let's pray. Our Father and God in heaven, we do give you praise and thanks for all that you have accomplished. Your providential hand in directing all things for the birth of Christ in Bethlehem in accordance to what you prophesied in Micah 5. Lord, may we marvel at your sovereign hand over all of history. We also rejoice to hear the news, to understand the glory that you revealed to the shepherds. And the fact that angels who needed no savior gave praise to you for the salvation of us. May that move us to praise you. And so, Lord, as we leave here this day, work in our hearts and minds that we would have a desire to share this good news of Jesus with others. Jesus, more than a teacher, more than a good man, God the Son come in the flesh to redeem sinners like us. Thank you, Lord. And we praise you. We pray all this in Christ's name. Amen. We're going to now sing two hymns, back to back. First hymn 319, O Come All Ye Faithful, and then hymn 299, Joy to the World. So first hymn 319, let's stand as we sing this together. Come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, born the King of angels. Come, let us adore Him, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, God of God, O let us love him in Christ's love. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation. Sing all ye citizens of heaven above. Glory to God. Glory in the highest. God the heavens adore him. God the heavens adore him. God the heavens adore him. May God repay thee for this happy morning, Jesus, we give thee the glory. Word of the Father, Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King. Let earth receive her King. Let earth receive her King. Let earth receive her King. Let earth receive her King. ♪ We'll take our place ♪ ♪ When ever it's all said and done ♪ ♪ We can stand tall ♪ ♪ We can stand tall ♪ ♪ Beneath the stepping stones ♪ ♪ Beneath the stepping stones ♪ ♪ Beneath the stepping stones ♪ ♪ We'll take our place ♪ Is what I sing in love. For as the birds sing love. For as the birds sing love. For as the birds sing love. For as the birds sing love. We will show you how it is. and all God's people said, amen. But for now, beloved, lift up your eyes and receive the blessing that Christ himself has purchased for you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you both now and forevermore, amen.