Let's turn to Luke chapter 2, and we'll take the reading from verse 8 of the chapter. So Luke's gospel chapter 2, and we'll take the reading from verse 8, and we'll read down to the verse number 20. Luke chapter 2, verse 8. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And though the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were so afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. This shall be a sign on to you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest on an earth, peace, goodwill toward men. It came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, The shepherds said one to another, let us now go even on to Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things. and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them. Amen. And may God be pleased to bless this, the public reading of his word. Let's stand briefly for prayer together. Our loving father, we come before thee, praying that thou wilt now minister through the word Bless our waiting souls. We thank Thee for a more sure word of prophecy. And Lord, if the word of angels be steadfast, Lord, surely the word of God is most certainly steadfast and sure. And Lord, Thou hast said in Thy word, O God, how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? We thank Thee for the one who brought salvation. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. To those who know not the Savior, may they come to know Him, whom to know is life eternal. Answer, now these are prayers. We offer them in our Savior's precious name. Amen. You may be seated. The ministry of angels is a very interesting topic to trace through. the Holy Scriptures. Angels make their first appearance in the book of Genesis just after the fall of our first parents in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve were banished from God's paradise, angels known as cherubim were stationed at the east entrance of the garden. to stop Adam and Eve re-entering the paradise of God. When you come to the last book of the Bible, the book of the Revelation, you'll find angels appearing not on earth, but this time in heaven. When John is shown the holy Jerusalem by one of the seven angels, which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, John is so overwhelmed by the sight that he sees that he falls down and begins to worship the angel. Immediately, the angel rebukes John and says these words to him, "'See thou do it not, for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book. Worship God.'" Throughout the Scriptures, you'll find that angels appeared and ministered to so many Bible characters. You'll find angels ministering and appearing to people like Lot, to Jacob, to Moses, to David, to Hezekiah, to Zechariah, to Daniel, to Peter, to Cornelius, and to Paul. You'll also find that angels played a pivotal role and an integral part in the birth, life, ministry, teaching, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Savior's conception was announced by angels to both Mary and to Joseph. Gabriel came to Mary. The angel of the Lord came to Joseph. The Son of God was tempted by a fallen angel, the devil, and then was ministered to by angels subsequent to his temptation in the wilderness. Christ's teaching is replete with references to the angelic beings. He experienced the ministry of an angel there in Gethsemane's garden just before he went to the cross, that angel coming and strengthening him. Angels were present at the Savior's tomb following His resurrection from the dead. And at His ascension, two angels appeared and spoke to the apostles and told them to go back to Jerusalem and to wait for the promise. For this same Jesus would so come in like manner. We could say that every part of the Savior's earthly pilgrimage was ministered or it was marked by the ministry of angels. And so it should come as no surprise to us when we read of the Savior's birth that angels played an important role in that most momentous event. Commissioned and dispatched by God, the angel of the Lord appeared to a group of Bethlehem shepherds to communicate and to announce to them that a Savior had been born. Having relayed that message to the shepherds, the night sky then was filled with the angelic hosts who praised God for the birth of this newborn King. It is this account of which the angels play an important role. that we read together in Luke chapter 2. And from this portion of God's Word, I want to preach a message that I've entitled, The Angelic Announcement and Anthem. The Angelic Announcement and Anthem. The first matter that I want to address in this message, and let me say that it will be the longest, and so don't be worried. It is the longest point today. But the first matter I want to address is then that A thought within her titled the angelic announcement. You know all of us like to hear of the birth of a newborn. We all love to hear the news of the safe arrival of a little one into a family. How that news is announced has evolved down through the years. Before telephones were ever invented, it would have been relayed by simply the correspondence through a post by way of a letter to the family members that a new one was born into the family. But now there are quicker ways in which that announcement is made known, whether it's a text message or an email, whether it is via telephone call, maybe a WhatsApp message, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter post, all of these things are employed today to announce the birth of a new one. The British royal family, as I've said before, they announced the birth of an heir to the British monarchy and to the throne of our nation in a most unique way, a way much different than the announcement of the birth of any commoner of which we are known by following the safe arrival of the heir, the child. The reigning monarch is informed by way of an encrypted telephone line. Then an official statement is sent out to the royal website and then sent to media outlets themselves. Confirmation of the birth is then also made via a bulletin board. I'm sure you've seen it. They're placed on a little easel. at the four court gates of Buckingham Palace for all of the passing public to see. It is a most unique way to announce the birth of the heir to the British throne. But as unique as that is, to have angels, to have angels to announce your birth is most certainly on a completely different level. In fact, only one child ever had their birth announced in such a way, and that child was the Christ child. To the terrified shepherds, the angel of the Lord proclaimed these words from the verse 10, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be on to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Regarding then the announcement, this angelic announcement, a number of matters I want to highlight to you as we walk our way through these three verses here in Luke's Gospel, chapter 2. I want you to notice, first of all, to whom the announcement was made. To whom the announcement was made. You see, if we were to announce the birth of the Son of God, we would surely announce that birth to world leaders. We would have got them together, or sent out ambassadors or messengers, postmen with the message, and sent that message immediately to the world leaders that a king had been born in Israel. We would have made it known to government officials, or we would have made it known to what we would call now today the influencers of society. But to none of these people was this communication first made. You see, when we read this text, it doesn't say, now there were in the same country scribes and Pharisees keeping watch over their scrolls by night. It doesn't say here in the text, now there were in the same country kings and priests keeping watch over their palaces by night. The text doesn't say now there were in the same country economists keeping watch over their money by night. But the text says there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night. Now to any shepherds listening today, do not get offended at what I'm about to say, but I'm informed that shepherds in Bible times were known as men of dishonesty. They were unreliable. They most certainly were irreligious and they were unsavory characters. Such was their reputation for dishonesty that shepherds were never allowed to testify in the law courts. Their testimony would have been deemed to be unreliable. Such was their character. They were uneducated. They were unskilled men. They were individuals that occupied the bottom rung of Jewish society. The only people, I am told, that were lower than the shepherds at this particular time in Jewish history were lepers. Lepers, then shepherds, as you climbed the rung of Jewish society. However, with all that said, we must not forget that two of the greatest figures in Israel's history, Moses and David, were shepherds. Moses was a shepherd. David was a shepherd. Moreover, and above that, Jesus Christ himself described himself as the good shepherd, while other New Testament writers described him as the great and as the chief shepherd. And yet it was to shepherds Christ, or the angel of the Lord, appeared to communicate a message that a Savior had been born in Bethlehem. What do we learn? What do we learn from this? fact, this detail with regard to the recipients of the news that a Savior had been born. Well, we learn this very simple truth that the gospel is suited for the despised. The gospel is suited for the lowly. The gospel is suited for the outcasts, those that society thinks little of. The gospel is for the sinner. That's a wonderful thought to dwell upon. If you're not a Christian, that the gospel, this gospel, this good news is for you today. It was to very ordinary people going about their ordinary daily tasks that the gospel message first came to. And God is teaching us a valuable lesson here whenever we consider who we are to witness to and who we are to communicate the gospel to. It is to the common man. It is to our fellow man, our neighbors, our loved ones, our work colleagues, our school friends, not those who occupy the highest rungs of society. Although they need the gospel, very much do they need the gospel, but the gospel is suited for the despised, to the outcast, to those who deem and are deemed to be sinners and need off the gospel message. I wonder, today does God find you as such a person? You see, God found in these shepherds those who not only were willing to hear the message, but they were willing to obey the message that they heard. I wonder, does God find you such a person? You hear the word, but will you obey the word? The word of God to you today is to repent of sin and to believe the gospel, but will you obey that word? These shepherds gladly and willingly received the message, no questioning at all. No, when they heard it, it says that they said, let us now go even to Bethlehem and see the thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. Verse 16, and they came with haste. Oh, the urgency in it to come in contact with the Christ. I wonder, is there any urgency in your heart today to come into contact with the living Christ of God. You see, this communication of the good news to these shepherds confirms a truth that we thought about a few weeks ago in our gospel service. There in 1 Corinthians 1, verse 26 and 27, that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the things that are wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." The ones to whom it was communicated to. Consider a second truth regarding this angelic announcement, namely by whom the announcement was made. A holy angel conveyed to these shepherds the most important news that was ever to break in the news cycle of this world. And like the angel who told Mary that she was going to have the Christ child in her womb, the angel that brought this news to these humble shepherds that Christ was born is not named. The title, the angel of the Lord, is but the only hint as to the angel's identity. Nothing else is known about the angel, just simply that he is called the angel of the Lord. He is one of the Lord's angels. One of these holy created beings who did not fall in that great rebellion at the dawn of human history with Lucifer, the son of the morning, that created angel as well, but rather this angel remained in his perfect and his innocent and in his holy He state, and thereby he is commissioned by God, but no mention of who it is. We know that it's Gabriel who comes to Mary, but we do not know this angel's identity, only as I've said, by the title that he bears, and rightly so. For it was not the messenger that was the important thing that night, but rather it was the message that he brought. The message, not the messenger, was the most important thing the night that Christ was born on earth. And we learn from that, brethren and sisters, that it's the communication and not the communicator that is the most important thing when it comes to the gospel and to its success. You see, the success of the gospel does not depend on the oratory. It does not depend on the intelligence. It does not depend on the communication skills. of the preacher, of the communicator, but rather the success of the gospel is dependent on God the Holy Spirit who takes the truth of God's Word as it is preached. Even though that preaching is done in great weakness, it is His ministry and it is His work that gives the gospel its success. And so really, I believe the non-identification of this angel Not letting us know his name is just to remind us that it's not the messenger, it's the message that is important. What a message it was. Christ is born. A Savior is born. And really, brethren and sisters, that's all that's important. The world really doesn't need to know who we are. They don't need to read about our credentials. They don't need to understand our education. They need to know nothing about us, just simply that we are communicating the message that Christ has been born. Oh, for a greater faith among them, the people of God, when it comes to the gospel itself, that great communication, the great power that there is in the gospel as it is preached, the power of God unto salvation is still found in the gospel. There's a third matter for us to consider as we think about this angelic announcement, and that is the announcement itself, the announcement that was made What did the angel of the Lord communicate to these lowly shepherds on this historic night in Israel's history, in world history? Well, the substance, the meat of the message that they brought is found there, I believe, in the words of the verse 11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Let me dissect that verse just a little. I want you to note a number of things with me. I want you to notice that the angel communicated to them who was born, who it was that was born, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. It's who the angel said was born that night. Each word in that statement is so important. Each word is so important if we are to fully grasp the wondrous mystery that now is unfolding in Bethlehem or has unfolded in Bethlehem's manger or that stable or that place where Christ was born, a Savior. Let's consider that, a Savior. How suitable for man's need, a Savior was born. As sinners, we need a Savior, one who can deliver, one who can rescue, one who can save us from the malady and from the misery and from the madness of sin. And so God sends a Savior in the person of His own dear Son. Someone once wrote, if our greatest need had it been information, God would have sent us an educator If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us an engineer. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, He would have sent us an entertainer. If our greatest need had been leadership, He would have sent us a politician. But our greatest need was forgiveness, and so He sent a Savior. He sent a Savior. The church of Jesus Christ, We need to get back to remembering that God sent His Son into the world to save His people from their sin, because that's our greatest need, a Savior. And so a Savior is born. Not only a Savior, but Christ is born. Christ, or the Greek term is Christos, comes from a verb which means to rob or to anoint, to consecrate to an office. That's the verb from which this noun, Christ, appears. It really brings to our mind the thought that Christ is the one who has been anointed. Jesus Christ is the anointed one. He is the fulfillment of all three Old Testament offices that required a person to be anointed before they were consecrated into that particular office. What were those offices? They were the offices of prophet, priest, and king. And thus, therefore, there is no ordinary child in the manger. No, this is the one who has been born as God's anointed prophet, priest, and king. He is anointed to execute those offices. Christ is born. Not only is Christ is born, the Lord is born. He wasn't born to become Lord. He is Lord. He is King of Kings, and He is Lord of Lords. The title Lord, kurios, is the Greek term. It is a title of honor. It really speaks of one who is supreme in authority and in honor. It is one who is God. It is a title that is given only to Him, the Lord of glory, The King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. It is a title that points to this baby's claim to deity. Now there's no doubt that whenever Christ was born, he had all of the physical features that a human being would have. He had arms, and he had legs, and he had hair, and he had a nose, and he had eyes, and he had ears, and he had a mouth, and he had a tongue. He had everything that a human baby would have had. He just looked like a child. And yet, though very much human in appearance, this is God manifest in the flesh. This is the mystery of it. Great being the mystery of godliness, God manifests in the flesh. And who is this child in the manger? This is the Lord of glory. This is who it is. The hymn writer said, who is he? Yonder stall, at whose feet the shepherds fall, tis the Lord. A wondrous story, tis the Lord, the King of glory. At His feet we humbly fall, crown Him, crown Him, Lord of all. It's the Lord, the Lord of glory, the Lord of angels, the high and lofty One, the infinite becomes an infant, marvel of marvels, a Savior. This is what we need. This is who we need, Christ the Anointed One, the One who is able to execute as our Mediator the offices of prophet, priest, and king. He is the Lord. Hi, is He your Lord today? Is He your Savior? Is He your King? Is there room in your life? Is there room in your heart for Christ, Son of God? The angel's communication not only alerts the shepherds to who was born, but it also alerts the shepherds to where Christ was born. The location where they would find this newborn king was given to the shepherds in this angelic announcement. The angel told them that he would be born, or that he had been born, in the city of David. In the city of David. Now lest we think that the city of David refers to Jerusalem, We only but have to look back to the verse 4 of the chapter to show us that when the angel spoke of the city of David, he wasn't speaking of Jerusalem, but he was speaking about Bethlehem. Because it says there in Luke chapter 2 and the verse 4, and Joseph also went up out of Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, onto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David. And so we're in no doubt what's being spoken of here. It's not Jerusalem, often known as the city of David. No, this city of David, this place of David's birth is Bethlehem, the house of bread. Christ is the bread of life. He came down as the bread of life from heaven. But I want you to think about three notable men who were born and who were natives of Bethlehem, because all of those three men are types and they are pictures of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, the first man, you may not have even heard of him. You may be, sorry, you may have read of him, but its name may not be familiar to you. His name is Ibzan, Ibzan. In Judges chapter 12, the verses 8 and 9, we read, And after him, speaking of Japhnath, Isban of Bethlehem judged Israel. And he had thirty sons and thirty daughters whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons, and he judged Israel seven years. Ibzan was one of Israel's judges during the times of the judges. We think of Gideon, we think of Samson, we think of Shamgar, these men who were judges in Israel. These are the familiar names to us. But here's another judge in the land of Israel, and he is deemed as one who came from this city, Bethlehem, this town, Bethlehem. He healed from Bethlehem. This judge was a Bethlehemite. Well, who is Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ is the appointed judge of all men. He is the appointed judge of all men. God the Father, according to John chapter 5 and the verse 22, has committed all judgment onto the Son. And so, Ibzan is a picture of Jesus Christ, the judge of all men. Then we think of another man who was born in Bethlehem. His name was Boaz. Boaz was the second notable man who was a resident of Bethlehem. Who was Boaz? Well, Boaz was that wealthy kinsman who had the right. He had the right and he had the resources. Now you need to remember that. He had the right and he had the resources to redeem all that pertained to Elimelech. including those things that belonged not only to Elimelech, but to Elimelech's son, and that included Ruth. That included Ruth. He had the right and the resources to redeem Ruth, to redeem Ruth. Jesus Christ is the Kinsman Redeemer of his people, and he has the right And he has the resources to redeem his people from the hand of the enemy. And so in Boaz, we see a picture of Jesus Christ. He was from Bethlehem, the same town in which Christ would be born. And then David. David was the third notable man who lived in Bethlehem. As a shepherd, David would have tended the flocks in Bethlehem's fields. that Bethlehem's shepherd would leave the fields one day to become Israel's king. We could say that David was the shepherd king. David was the shepherd king. This boy from Bethlehem became the king of Israel. Is Jesus Christ not the shepherd king? He is the great and the good and the chief shepherd has been enthroned as king over all things, crowned with glory and with honor. Brethren, sisters, I believe it is no accident that Jesus Christ was born in the same city as these notable men. He was the fulfillment of all they were. He is judge. He is shepherd. He is king. He is redeemer. This one from Bethlehem, He is the fulfillment. He is the anti-type of the types, Isban, Boaz, and David. Bethlehem, the place where he was born. Third matter that the angelic communication alerts the shepherds to, and that is for what reason Christ was born. Mark the word in verse 11, Savior. For it is that word that points us to the reason why Christ came into the world. He came not to establish a theological school of thought. He came not to be an example or a role model, although he did that as a byproduct of his coming into this world. But he came into this world for one purpose, and that was to save. That was to save. He came to redeem. Be a Savior. This is why he came. And who did he come to save? Well, this is very interesting. Notice that the angel, when communicating the message, in the verse number 11, the angel did not say, for unto us is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. But the angel said, unto you. unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." You see, this angel did not need a Savior. This angel required no Savior because he had remained in the holy estate which God had formerly created the angel in. And so he doesn't, as it were, bring himself into this message. This message is not for the angels. They need no Redeemer. They never fail. Not like man who fell from his first estate and plunged into sin. But he says, unto you, unto you, the sinner. Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. The Savior is born for the fallen sons of Adam, not for the fallen angels. The message wasn't on to you and to the fallen angels. The Savior is born. No salvation for them. No salvation for them. But they are reserved in blackness of darkness forever, those angels who fail. But the mercy of God and the grace of God is that a Savior is born to you, to you. I am not only to these Jewish shepherds, but goes on to say these tidings, verse 10, fear not, for I bring you, there you go, there I bring you, the Jews, these Jewish shepherds, I bring you as Jews, good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. There's the opening of the door to the Gentiles. all peoples of the world. This good news is for Christ was born to die. Through his death, he obtained eternal redemption for his people. 1 John 4 verse 14 puts it like this, the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. The Savior of the world. Here you are today facing another Christmas not knowing not knowing the Christ of Christmas. Oh, that you would come today. You come to know him savingly. Then you'll be able to say, as Mary said of him, he is my Savior. He's my Savior. There is a second brief matter that I want to address you on, and that is the angelic anthem. Because having communicated to the shepherds the news that the Savior had been born, the angel of the Lord is then joined by a multitude of the heavenly hosts who begin to praise God. Just listen to their anthem as this heavenly host begins to praise God. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. There are but two parts to that anthem. There is a Godward part. There is a manward part. Note the God word part, that part is contained in those words, glory to God. Glory to God in the highest. The heavenly hosts did not pray, glory be to God, but rather they exclaimed, glory is to God in the highest. The angels ascribe glory to God here. And it is in this we see the purpose for why they exist. The angels exist to bring glory to God. Glory to God, not glory to Mary, not glory to the shepherds, not glory to us, but glory to God. Glory to God. They exist to bring glory to God, and that they do unceasingly in heaven. They laud him. They extol Him every moment of every day in glory, though there be but an eternal day. They lift His praise. They sing His praise. They extol His name. The angels, the angels, they exist to bring glory to God. And in a similar way, this is the reason why we exist. We exist. to bring glory to God. Does our catechism not say that? Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. The Apostle Paul encourages us to bring glory to God in every aspect of our lives, whether we eat or whether we drink or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. I wonder, am I doing that, not just in public, but in private, in my home, with my family, behind closed doors? Am I doing all to the glory of God? Is my life bringing glory to God? And the Reverend Edward Purnett The author of the hymn, All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name, came to die. These were his last words. He said this, Glory to God in the height of his divinity. Glory to God in the depth of his humanity. Glory to God in his all sufficiency. And into his hand, I commend my spirit. Reverend Purnett died glorifying his God. Or may we do the same. There is a Godward aspect in this anthem. Oh, how we should remind ourselves of that when we sing His praise. It is to God. But there is a manward aspect to this anthem. Glory to God in the highest and on earth. Now our attention is taken from heaven, from glory, and down to earth, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men. The Prince of Peace had been born, and through his gospel would convey peace to all who would receive it. The Son of God came to make peace, and that he did through the death, his death upon the cross, and through the shedding of his precious blood. And whenever gospel peace enters the trusting sinner, that peace makes the believer live at peace with his fellow man. It is a peace of conscience. It is a peace of heart. It is a peace of soul, a peace of mind that is being spoken of here, all of which comes into the life when Christ is received as Savior and we then are at peace with God. There's peace for a troubled There's peace for a troubled world found in this Savior. And then goodwill is spoken about in this anthem, goodwill toward men. Knowing that phrase, I believe we get a glimpse into the heart of God. His will is a goodwill for mankind. God hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Peter will tell us that he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He seeks the good of those he created. Goodwill, the goodwill of God. May this day the goodwill of God lead you to trust in this Savior who was sent into the world. What a night. What an encounter. What news. It's no wonder that the shepherds, having heard the angels, no wonder they said one to another, let us now go even to Bethlehem and see the thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us. When they came to Bethlehem, they found it all to be true. They found it all true. He was there waiting for them. Isn't that a marvelous thought? He was there waiting for them. Because, sinner, He's waiting for you. He's waiting for you to leave your sin behind. He's waiting for you to come to Him. You'll find Him as a living Savior waiting for you. Those shepherds, they left the sheep to find the lamb. The shepherds left the sheep to find the Lamb, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Beloved, angels will not be appearing to us, but we don't need angelic announcements and we don't need angelic anthems to relate to us the gospel because we have this book to tell us that. We have a more sure word of prophecy than even the words of angels. We have got this book. Let us then do what the shepherds did. Let us spread the news far and wide that the Savior has been born, and may many come to receive it, and may many come to believe it. Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Last day, last night when Christ was born. Let's bow our heads in prayer together. Again, let me just remind you to wait there until I get to the gate today, please. And for those children, your little gifts there are out in the hallway. But please remember the greatest gift is the gift of God, which is eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord. And so receive him as you receive the gift. Receive him gladly. Receive him willingly. Receive Him without giving anything in return. Oh, may you receive Him today. May God bring you to Himself even just now. Loving Father, we thank Thee for that newborn King, for the Christ. We thank Thee for His birth. We thank Thee that beyond the manger, there was a life of untiring service, and willing obedience to the Father's will, meeting all the precepts of the law, and then dying upon the tree to secure eternal redemption for his people. We bless thee that he not only died, Not only was he buried, but on the third day he rose again, and he's a living Savior, the living Christ. O may those who know him not come to him. May they receive him as Savior, as Christ, and as Lord. We offer prayer now in our Savior's wondrous name. Amen and amen. Thank you.