3ABN Christmas Special

An Evening with Billy Blackwood

Three Angels Broadcasting Network

Program transcript

Participants: Billy Blackwood

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Series Code: 3CS

Program Code: 3CS000003A


00:01 And suddenly there was with the angel
00:02 a multitude of the heavenly host
00:04 praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest,
00:08 and on earth peace, good will toward men.
00:14 Celebrate this special season by worshipping
00:17 our Savior and King as we bring you
00:20 Christmas with Billy Blackwood.
00:28 Hark! the herald angels sing
00:32 "Glory to the newborn king"
00:37 Peace on earth, and mercy mild
00:41 God and sinners reconciled
00:46 Joyful all ye nations rise
00:50 Join the triumph of the skies
00:54 With angelic host proclaim
00:59 "Christ is born in Bethlehem"
01:03 Hark! the herald angels sing
01:08 "Glory to the newborn king!"
01:30 Christ, by highest heaven adored
01:34 Christ the everlasting Lord
01:39 Late in time behold him come
01:43 Offspring of a virgin's womb
01:47 Veiled in flesh, the God had seen
01:52 Hail the incarnate deity
01:56 Pleased, as man with men to dwell
02:01 Jesus, our Emmanuel
02:05 Hark! the herald angels sing
02:09 "Glory to the newborn king!"
02:28 Hail the heaven born prince of peace
02:34 Hail the son of righteousness
02:41 Light and life to all he brings
02:47 Risen with healing in his wings
02:54 Mild he lays his glory by
03:00 Born that may no more they die
03:05 Born to raise us son's on earth
03:11 Born to give us second birth
03:18 Hark! The herald angels sing,
03:24 "Glory to the new born King!"
03:46 I'm dreaming
03:50 Of a white Christmas
03:56 Just like the ones I used to know
04:04 Where the treetops glisten
04:09 and children listen
04:14 To hear sleigh bells in the snow
04:24 I'm dreaming
04:27 Of a white Christmas
04:34 With every Christmas card I write
04:41 May your days be merry and bright!
04:51 And may all your Christmases be white
05:01 I'm dreaming
05:04 Of a white Christmas
05:11 Just like the ones I used to know
05:18 Where the treetops glisten
05:24 and children listen
05:28 To hear sleigh bells in the snow
05:38 I'm dreaming
05:42 Of a white Christmas
05:48 With every Christmas card I write
05:56 May your days be merry and bright!
06:05 And may all your Christmases be white
06:40 Angels we have heard on high
06:44 Sweetly swinging o'er the plains
06:48 And the mountains in reply
06:52 Echoing their joyous strains!
06:56 Gloria
07:04 In excelsis Deo
07:08 Gloria
07:16 In excelsis Deo
07:28 Come to Bethlehem and see
07:32 Him whose birth the angels sing
07:36 Come, adore on bended knee
07:40 Christ the Lord, the newborn King
07:44 Gloria
07:52 in excelsis Deo
07:56 Gloria
08:04 in excelsis Deo
08:10 In excelsis Deo
08:25 Well, you've probably ever heard angels
08:27 we've heard of hike quite like that but I promise you,
08:29 you won't forget it.
08:31 You know we get that story from Luke's gospel.
08:33 He tells the story of Christ birth,
08:35 and I'm just gonna read that
08:37 and you can follow along with me in Luke Chapter 2
08:39 if you want to.
08:41 It's interesting to me
08:43 how the news was disseminated that night
08:45 how the shepherds knew,
08:46 the angels knew, the wise men knew
08:50 and obviously Mary knew.
08:54 But we read that story and we find that
08:57 God was up to something very miraculous.
09:01 In Luke Chapter 2, it reads,
09:06 "And it came to pass in those days,
09:07 that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
09:09 that all the world should be registered.
09:12 This since this first took place
09:14 while Quirinius was governing Syria.
09:16 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
09:19 And Joseph also went up from Galilee,
09:22 out of the city of Nazareth,
09:23 into Judea, to the city of David,
09:25 which is called Bethlehem,
09:26 because he was of the house and lineage of David,
09:28 to be registered with Mary,
09:30 his betrothed wife who was with child.
09:33 So it was that while they were there,
09:35 the days were completed for her to be delivered.
09:38 And she brought forth her firstborn son
09:40 and wrapped him in swaddling clothes
09:42 and laid him in a manger,
09:43 because there was no room for them in the inn.
09:47 Now they were in the same country
09:48 shepherds living out in the field,
09:50 keeping watch over their flock by night.
09:52 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them,
09:54 and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
09:56 and they were greatly afraid.
09:58 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold,
10:02 I bring you good tidings of great joy
10:04 which will be to all people.
10:06 For there is born to you this day
10:07 in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
10:13 And this will be a sign to you:
10:14 you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes
10:17 lying in a manger.
10:19 And suddenly there was a great host with the angel,
10:22 a multitude singing and praising God saying,
10:25 "Glory to God in the highest,
10:28 and on earth peace, good will toward men."
10:34 You know, we have such a treasure of carols,
10:38 of Christmas carols to tell the story of Christ's birth.
10:43 Most of us have grown up singing them.
10:48 I wonder if we thought about the songs
10:52 that that were born that night.
10:54 Obviously, the song we just sang
10:57 "Angels we have heard on high.
10:58 Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
11:00 Gloria Gloria in excelsis Deo,"
11:02 which is Latin for Glory to God in the highest.
11:05 And the songs that have been written since that night
11:08 to tell the story, there are hundreds of them.
11:11 All sharing a facet of that beautiful old story.
11:16 of that first Christmas night, that first Noel.
11:21 This is one of my favorite old carols.
11:23 I hope you enjoy it too.
11:34 The First Noel
11:38 The angel did say
11:42 Was to certain poor shepherds
11:47 In fields as they lay
11:51 In fields where they
11:55 Lay keeping their sheep
11:59 On a cold winter's night
12:04 That was so deep
12:08 Noel, Noel,
12:12 Noel, Noel
12:17 Born is the King of Israel
12:27 And then they looked
12:31 And saw a star
12:35 Shining in the east beyond
12:42 Them far
12:44 And to the earth
12:48 It gave great light
12:52 And so it continued
12:57 Both day and night
13:01 Noel, Noel,
13:05 Noel, Noel
13:10 Born is the King of Israel
13:20 Then let us all
13:25 With one accord
13:29 Sing praises
13:32 To our heavenly Lord
13:38 That hath made heaven
13:42 And earth of naught
13:46 And with his blood
13:51 Mankind has bought
13:55 Noel, Noel,
14:00 Noel, Noel
14:05 Born is the King
14:08 Of Israel
14:13 Noel, Noel,
14:17 Noel, Noel
14:22 Born is the King
14:26 Of Israel
14:39 It came upon
14:44 The midnight clear
14:48 That glorious song of old
14:56 From angels bending
15:00 Near the earth
15:04 To touch their harps of gold!
15:12 Peace on the earth,
15:15 Good will to men
15:20 From heaven's all gracious King!
15:28 The world in solemn
15:32 Stillness lay
15:36 To hear the angels sing
15:52 And ye beneath
15:56 Life's crushing load
16:00 Whose forms are bending low
16:09 Who toil along
16:13 The climbing way
16:17 With painful steps
16:21 And slow
16:25 Look now
16:27 For glad and golden hours
16:33 Come swiftly on the wing
16:41 Oh rest beside
16:45 The weary road
16:49 And hear
16:51 The angels sing
17:06 For lo! The days
17:10 Are hastening on
17:14 By prophet seen of old
17:22 When with the ever-circling years
17:30 Shall come the time foretold
17:38 When the new heaven
17:42 And earth shall own
17:46 The Prince of Peace
17:51 Their King
17:54 And the whole world
17:58 Send back the song
18:03 Which now the angels sing
18:23 I love those old songs,
18:25 I hope you love them as much as I do.
18:27 You know, I've actually written a few Christmas songs
18:29 and they're all kind of around the same theme.
18:34 They talk about what Christmas really is.
18:35 You know, the world seems to be focused on
18:37 Santa Claus and on reindeer and on Frosty the Snowman
18:42 and you know whatever else,
18:45 but the real thing and the real thing is Jesus,
18:48 the Christ in Christmas is Jesus.
18:51 And I want to do a couple of songs for you that,
18:52 that talk about that very subject
18:54 and drive the point home.
18:56 This first one, you know,
18:58 as you're sitting there in wherever you are right now,
19:01 wherever you're watching.
19:02 Probably no one's watching you okay,
19:05 so you can just join right in and sing along on this.
19:07 It doesn't matter how you sound,
19:09 we're not gonna mike you, we're not gonna tell anybody,
19:11 okay, so just be our secret,
19:12 but I want you to help me sing along on this.
19:14 This little chorus talks about what Christmas really is
19:17 and it goes like this.
19:18 The Christ in Christmas is Jesus
19:22 The glowing glory is Jesus.
19:25 He's the holy and holiday The Prince of Peace every day
19:28 The Christ in Christmas is Jesus.
19:32 Okay.
19:33 Have you got that? Can we do that one more time?
19:34 The Christ in Christmas is Jesus
19:38 The glowing glory is Jesus
19:41 He's the holy in holiday The Prince of Peace every day
19:44 The Christ in Christmas is Jesus.
19:47 A long time ago in Bethlehem
19:51 So the Holy Bible says
19:54 Stars shone bright in the heavens
19:57 Over where the baby slept
20:01 But the star of the show wasn't in the sky
20:04 On that first Christmas night
20:07 The baby boy in the manger
20:10 Was the one who created the light
20:13 Oh, the Christ in Christmas is Jesus
20:17 The glowing glory is Jesus
20:20 He's the holy in holiday The Prince of Peace every day
20:24 The Christ in Christmas is Jesus
20:27 Today there are those who still don't know
20:30 Who the Holy Christ child is
20:34 They celebrate the holiday spirit
20:36 Without realizing which is
20:40 But the star of the show isn't Santa Clause
20:43 Or he's roving those reindeer
20:47 Jesus is the Christ of Christmas
20:49 And he's the reason the season is here
20:52 Oh, the Christ in Christmas is Jesus
20:56 The glowing glory is Jesus
20:59 He's the holy in holiday The Prince of Peace every day
21:03 The Christ in Christmas is Jesus
21:06 Oh, the Christ in Christmas is Jesus
21:09 The glowing glory is Jesus
21:12 He's the holy in holiday The Prince of Peace every day
21:16 The Christ in Christmas is Jesus
21:19 Yes, the Christ in Christmas is Jesus
21:22 Yes, the Christ in Christmas is Jesus
21:29 Wow, you sound really good singing that.
21:32 I'm kidding, I can't hear you. But you really did, I'm sure.
21:34 I hope you know that Jesus is the reason for the season.
21:37 A lot of us have heard that phrase
21:39 and we realize that,
21:41 that the Christ in Christmas is Jesus.
21:43 He's really what the season is all about.
21:45 Well, this is another one of my songs
21:46 and it's about that same topic and it's called,
21:50 "Jesus is the reason for the season."
21:51 Hope you enjoy it.
22:03 At the center of time
22:08 Stands a manger
22:13 A man and his wife
22:17 A baby boy
22:21 Though the world
22:24 Had no room for this baby
22:29 The stranger he came
22:34 To make room for us
22:45 Through the ages
22:48 Men tell of his story
22:54 How God in His love
22:59 Became a man
23:03 How He willingly gave
23:08 His power
23:11 His glory
23:13 That we might become like Him
23:22 Oh, Jesus is the reason for the season
23:32 Jesus is the reason for the season
23:40 Though hues have come
23:42 And hues have gone
23:45 God's gift of love
23:47 Lives on and on
23:49 Yes, Jesus is the reason for the season
24:04 There's a thrill in the air
24:09 Each December
24:14 As families come from far and near
24:21 There's a joy in our hearts
24:26 As we stop to remember
24:32 The reason
24:34 The seasons here
24:40 Oh, Jesus is the reason for the season
24:49 Yes, Jesus is the reason for the season
24:58 Though hues have come
25:00 And hues have gone
25:03 God's gift of love lives on and on
25:07 Yes, Jesus is the reason for the season
25:16 Though hues have come and hues have gone
25:21 God's gift of love lives on and on
25:25 Yes, Jesus is the reason for the season
26:19 Silent night
26:25 holy night
26:30 All is calm
26:35 all is bright
26:42 Round yon Virgin
26:48 Mother and Child
26:54 Holy infant so tender and mild
27:05 Sleep in heavenly peace
27:17 Sleep in heavenly peace
27:31 Silent night
27:36 Holy night
27:43 Son of God
27:49 Love's pure light
27:55 Radiant beam
28:00 from Thy holy face
28:07 With the dawn
28:12 Of redeeming grace
28:18 Jesus Lord
28:23 At Thy birth
28:31 Jesus Lord
28:35 At Thy birth
28:49 Silent night
28:55 Holy night
29:01 Shepherds quake
29:07 At the sight
29:13 Glories stream
29:18 From heaven afar
29:24 Heavenly hosts
29:29 Sing hallelujah
29:36 Christ the Savior is born!
29:48 Christ the Savior is born!
30:22 You know that night in Bethlehem,
30:26 it was a night like no other.
30:28 I sometimes wonder
30:32 what the angels must have been thinking.
30:37 The angels had been in the presence of God
30:39 since time eternal.
30:43 They had worship the Lord.
30:47 They had intimate fellowship if you can,
30:52 if you will with the Father, and the Son,
30:55 and the Holy Spirit.
30:57 And now all of a sudden,
31:00 for the first time from eternity past,
31:04 something was getting ready to happen
31:05 that they just really couldn't quite understand.
31:09 God, the Son
31:13 was going to become a human baby.
31:18 Think about that.
31:19 Think about that.
31:22 You know, I guess the picture I get in my mind,
31:24 maybe this is just me,
31:25 I can't really support this necessarily from scripture
31:28 but just for me I get a picture of,
31:29 of the angels just kind of leaning
31:33 over the balconies of heaven...
31:37 holding their breath waiting to witness
31:43 what was about to happen.
31:48 You know as a kid, like most kids,
31:51 we anticipate Christmas morning,
31:53 we rush to the living room or wherever the tree is set up
31:57 and the presents are and we rip open the presents
32:00 and we, you know, we want to see what we got
32:03 and some new toy or new doll
32:06 or whatever it is and, and we just,
32:10 we take such delight in un-packaging
32:14 and ripping the bows off and the paper off
32:17 and getting the box open and seeing what's in there,
32:21 and the anticipation of all of that
32:24 is part and parcel to Christmas.
32:28 Because I think, maybe that's exactly
32:30 what the angels were doing
32:31 that silent night, that holy night,
32:33 is they were watching as the bow
32:38 and the paper if you will, the packaging came off
32:45 and the gift of God was born as a baby...
32:53 as a baby,
32:55 a helpless human baby.
32:56 The King of the universe, the King of kings,
32:59 the Lord of lords
33:02 becoming a helpless human baby.
33:07 Clothed with our humanity, clothed with our frailty,
33:13 clothed with our weakness.
33:14 You know, theologians and common people
33:20 for 2000 years have tried to,
33:23 tried to wrap their minds
33:25 around the magnitude of the incarnation.
33:31 And it's probably futile, you know we're a finite mind,
33:34 trying to comprehend the infinite mind of God.
33:41 That God would become a helpless human baby.
33:50 You know that night I'm sure, well, I'm sure,
33:55 I don't what understanding the angels had
33:58 but they were probably just in absolute awe
34:05 as they watched Jesus born of a virgin.
34:14 I love the old hymns that are written particularly
34:16 about that night.
34:18 Like that one Silent night, holy night!
34:21 Son of God love's pure light,
34:24 radiant beams from Thy holy face
34:26 with the dawn of redeeming grace.
34:29 What great words.
34:31 Because you know that was
34:32 really the whole point of Christmas.
34:34 That was really the whole point
34:37 is God's redeeming grace because we were all,
34:40 face it folks, we were all helpless and hopeless.
34:42 We were all bound for an eternity apart from God,
34:46 separated from Him, lost in our sin.
34:53 But God had a plan,
34:55 from before the foundation of the world God had a plan.
34:57 His plan was to come Himself
35:02 and to live a sinless life in our place,
35:06 to die an atoning death in our place.
35:11 To pay our sin debt in full
35:14 and to rise again on the third day
35:17 to live the life that we couldn't live,
35:20 to pay the debt we couldn't pay.
35:23 That's what the Silent Holy Night was all about.
35:26 God's redeeming grace,
35:29 He redeemed you and He redeemed me.
35:32 Those of us who placed
35:34 our faith and trust in Jesus Christ
35:36 and what He did on the cross are redeemed,
35:39 bought back
35:43 from our sin and the punishment,
35:47 the consequences.
35:49 We're bought back.
35:51 We're redeemed by God's redeeming grace.
35:54 His grace giving us what we don't deserve.
36:00 I love to say that God's grace is God giving us
36:02 what we don't deserve
36:03 and His mercy is withholding what we do deserve.
36:06 And maybe you've never thought of it
36:07 but grace can also be an acronym.
36:09 G-R-A-C-E God's Riches At Christ's Expense.
36:14 That's what the cross is all about.
36:15 That's what Christmas is all about,
36:17 because we couldn't had the cross
36:18 if we hadn't had Christmas.
36:21 So that Silent night that Holy night.
36:24 The Son of God
36:25 loves pure light became a baby in a manger.
36:31 And as I sang the song earlier
36:34 that I wrote the Christ in Christmas is Jesus.
36:36 The baby boy in the manger
36:38 was the one who created the star that night,
36:40 that shone so brightly that it guided wise men
36:43 from scholars believe thousands of miles away
36:48 and led them eventually to the place
36:51 where Jesus was that they might bring gifts of gold,
36:54 frankincense and myrrh to worship the King of kings
36:58 and the Lord of lords.
37:01 And you know that's really what we're called to do.
37:03 That's really our purpose,
37:05 if you want to know what God's purpose
37:06 for your life is ultimately.
37:08 Our purpose is to worship Him,
37:11 just to give Him glory with our lives, with our time,
37:14 with our talent, with our gifts with who all that we are
37:19 to worship the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
37:26 You know the angels are still worshipping Him
37:28 and we have an opportunity
37:31 as believers in Christ to worship Him every day.
37:36 There's another song that talks about that night that...
37:38 It's just another fabulous song, a great lyric
37:43 and a powerful message
37:46 and it takes this a step further.
37:48 Not only does it tell the story of that holy night,
37:52 but it takes it a step further
37:54 in proclaiming the gospel which says,
37:57 "Not only are we to love the Lord,
37:58 but we are to love each other."
38:02 And, and the second verse of this song was written
38:04 at a time when there was a lot of tension in our country,
38:07 there is tension in our country today.
38:09 And these words are never more applicable
38:14 than they are today.
38:16 And I hope you will listen and apply them to your heart
38:19 and your life and your relationships,
38:21 and in so doing that your light
38:23 will so shine before men that they will give God glory
38:26 and you will be a worshipper of the Most High God, listen.
38:58 O holy night
39:01 The stars are brightly shining
39:07 It is the night of the dear Savior's birth
39:16 Long lay the world
39:20 In sin and error pining
39:25 Till He appeared
39:28 And the soul felt its worth
39:34 A thrill of hope
39:38 The weary world rejoices
39:42 For yonder breaks
39:46 A new and glorious morn
39:51 Fall on your knees
39:59 O hear
40:02 The angels' voices
40:07 O night divine
40:14 O night
40:18 When Christ was born
40:22 O night
40:26 O holy night
40:34 O night divine
40:52 Truly He taught
40:56 Us to love one another
41:01 His law is love
41:04 And His gospel is peace
41:10 Chains shall He break
41:14 For the slave is our brother
41:20 And in His name
41:22 All oppression shall cease
41:28 Sweet hymns of joy
41:32 In grateful chorus raise we
41:37 With all our heart
41:40 We praise His holy name
41:45 Christ is the Lord
41:53 Oh, praise His name forever
42:01 His power
42:05 And glory ever
42:13 More proclaim
42:17 His power
42:21 And glory ever
42:29 More proclaim
42:34 Fall on your knees
42:42 O hear the angels' voices
42:50 O night divine
42:57 O night
43:01 When Christ was born
43:06 O night Divine
43:15 O night
43:20 O holy night
43:50 On that first Christmas 2000 years ago,
43:54 shepherds came from the fields
43:56 in response to the call of the angel of the Lord,
44:00 and wise men from the east
44:03 began a journey following a star
44:05 that will ultimately lead them
44:06 to the Christ child, the Messiah.
44:10 Today the call still goes out to all who would be faithful.
44:14 Come and be behold Him,
44:18 born the king of angels,
44:20 come let us adore Him, come let us adore Him.
44:24 Oh, come let us adore Him,
44:29 Christ the Lord.
44:32 That's the call to us today.
44:37 O come, all ye faithful
44:41 Joyful and triumphant
44:45 O Come ye O come ye,
44:49 To Bethlehem
44:54 Come and behold Him
44:58 Born the King of angels
45:02 O come, let us adore Him
45:06 O come, let us adore Him
45:11 O come, let us adore Him
45:15 Christ the Lord
45:20 Sing, choirs of angels,
45:24 sing in exultation
45:27 Oh, sing, all ye citizens
45:31 Of heaven above!
45:36 Glory to God
45:39 all glory in the highest
45:44 O come, let us adore Him
45:48 O come, let us adore Him
45:52 O come, let us adore Him
45:57 Christ the Lord
46:03 Yea, Lord, we greet Thee
46:07 Born this happy morning
46:11 O Jesus
46:13 To Thee be all glory given
46:20 Word of the Father
46:25 Now in flesh appearing
46:29 O come, let us adore Him
46:33 O come, let us adore Him
46:37 O come, let us adore Him
46:42 Christ the Lord
46:48 O come, let us adore Him
46:53 Christ the Lord
47:06 Today we come to adore Him
47:09 because He came,
47:12 He came as the word of the Father
47:15 in flesh appear.
47:17 He came to be Emmanuel, God with us,
47:24 He came taking on the form of a servant
47:28 humbling Himself,
47:30 becoming obedient under death.
47:32 Even the death of the cross,
47:34 because He came we can know the Father,
47:37 because He came, we could have everlasting life,
47:41 and because He came,
47:43 we can celebrate who we are in Him
47:45 and who He is in us.
47:47 There is joy because He came.
47:51 Praise the Lord.
47:53 Joy to the world! The Lord is come
47:58 Let earth receive her King
48:03 Let every heart Prepare Him room
48:08 And heaven and nature sing And heaven and nature sing
48:12 And heaven and heaven and nature sing
48:18 Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns
48:22 Let men their songs employ
48:27 While fields and floods Rocks, hills and plains
48:31 Repeat the sounding joy Repeat the sounding joy
48:36 Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy
48:53 No more let sins and sorrows grow
48:58 Nor thorns infest the ground
49:05 He comes to make His blessings flow
49:10 Far as the curse is found Far as the curse is found
49:14 Far as, far as, the curse is found
49:24 He rules the world
49:29 with truth and grace
49:34 And makes the nations prove
49:44 The glories of His righteousness
49:49 And wonders of His love And wonders of His love
49:54 And wonders, wonders of His love
49:58 And wonders, wonders of His love
50:13 His love
50:23 His love
50:39 Amen, amen.
50:41 Praise the Lord.
50:43 Praise the Lord for His unspeakable gift.
50:46 You know, being a part of the body of Christ
50:49 affords us the opportunity of being in relationship
50:53 with precious brothers and sisters
50:54 who are a blessing to know.
50:56 One such person in my life is a friend of mine named Bill.
51:00 In 1999, he wrote this following little piece
51:03 that instantly became one of my favorite Christmas readings.
51:07 And I share it and hopes
51:09 that it will minister to you as much as it has me.
51:14 It begins with a Christmas Story,
51:16 "And she brought forth her firstborn son
51:17 and wrapped him in swaddling clothes
51:20 and laid him in the manger."
51:21 Luke 2:7.
51:27 Bill writes, you know, God has an amazing way
51:29 of choosing the undesirable things of earth
51:32 and placing His beauty there.
51:36 The presence of God changes our perceptions.
51:40 It opens our eyes
51:41 from the physical into the spiritual.
51:45 It illuminates our vision.
51:49 God takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary,
51:55 the natural supernatural,
51:58 the worthless priceless.
52:03 So it was that first night in Bethlehem,
52:05 only the God of the universe would have chosen a manger
52:11 as the place to bring His Son into the world.
52:16 A feeding trough for Mary and Joseph
52:25 to lay the word made flesh.
52:27 Certainly not a place
52:29 of splendor or a palace for a king.
52:34 You know, for many people that nights,
52:35 that night their thoughts were anywhere but directed
52:39 towards a stable in Bethlehem.
52:42 How different today.
52:45 Now nativities are found in homes or front yards
52:48 or families right in your neighborhood.
52:52 The manger today has been transformed
52:58 into a thing of beauty and holiness.
53:04 But the beauty of the manger isn't because of what it is.
53:09 No, it's because of who resided there.
53:14 When we see the manger, we see Jesus.
53:20 And He makes it beautiful.
53:26 Far from the material
53:27 extravagance of Christmas today,
53:29 the first Christmas was born of humility,
53:32 and humility is the great extravagance,
53:35 even to the death on the cross.
53:39 That first night probably found many people staring down
53:44 wrong paths and dead end streets,
53:47 but I have a feeling that on that same night
53:49 all of heaven had their eyes fixed on a tiny manger.
53:56 Outside the atmosphere may have been noisy.
53:59 But I wonder if all heaven was suddenly silenced
54:03 as the Son of God came forth
54:06 from the womb of a virgin.
54:11 There were no sense of cinnamon or popery that evening,
54:15 but surely Mary and Joseph breathed
54:18 the very fragrance of God
54:21 as they cradled the Savior in their arms.
54:24 No sparkling lights hung from the exterior
54:28 of that little manger.
54:30 But the light of the world filled the interior.
54:36 And though there would be no decorated Christmas tree
54:39 in the corner,
54:42 God would choose another tree for His Son,
54:47 the Cross.
54:50 The manger seems such an unfitting place for God
54:54 to have chosen for His only Son
54:57 and yet even today God still looks to place
55:03 His beauty in undesirable places,
55:08 dirty and unlovely mangers
55:13 that now take the form of you and me.
55:24 You see it's the love of God
55:25 to look down from heaven and say,
55:29 "There's another manger.
55:31 And I want to dwell there too
55:35 and there's a another and there's another..."
55:40 And so He knocks to see if we will let Him in.
55:46 And if we do, He takes our manger
55:51 and He transforms it.
55:53 And overtime it becomes a beautiful and a holy thing.
55:59 But the beauty of our manger is not 'cause of what we are,
56:05 but because of who resides in us.
56:10 And I pray that when others see our manger,
56:13 they will see Jesus.
56:15 For He alone
56:19 can make a manger beautiful.
56:27 You know, I mentioned earlier
56:29 that our destiny, our purpose
56:34 is to worship Him.
56:37 We sang a little chorus just a few minutes ago,
56:40 that I'm sure you know but I want to ask you
56:42 just in the stillness of wherever you are you.
56:54 Would you sing that little chorus and just...
57:02 Make the manger that you're in right now...
57:14 An altar, a tabernacle...
57:23 And worship the Lord as we sing.
57:32 O come, let us adore Him
57:39 O come, let us adore Him
57:46 O come, let us adore Him
57:55 Christ the Lord
58:12 We'll give Him all the glory
58:19 We'll give Him all the glory
58:26 We'll give Him all the glory
58:35 Christ The Lord
58:42 For He alone is worthy
58:48 For He alone is worthy
58:55 For He alone is worthy
59:02 Oh, Christ the Lord
59:24 Merry Christmas.


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Revised 2023-12-19