Awaited: A Christmas Experience at Crossroads Church

Hey, Merry Christmas, I'm Kyle, this is Crossroads. And what you're about to watch is one of the freshest takes on the Christmas story that I've ever experienced. It's become a tradition in the Ransom household to watch it every year. My kids love it. So grab a friend, grab some popcorn, maybe some hot chocolate, and enjoy awaiting. Christmas is an amazing story with amazing characters. We have young virgins, we have shepherds, magi, and we're going to see all of these characters in today's production. However, the narrator is going to be a bit different. The narrators are going to be angels. When angels come upon the shepherds in a field outside of Bethlehem, they say to them, fear not, because we bring good news that it will be for all the people. For today in the town of Bethlehem, a Savior has been born to you. Now, you may have heard that verse a number of times at the Christmas season, but have you ever wondered why do they start off by saying fear not? In fact, again and again and again in the Bible when an angel shows up, the first thing they say is fear not. Why would they do that? Because no one's ever afraid of an angel, right? No one's ever afraid of fat little white babies with rosy cheeks who are making people fall in love. That's not what an angel is.

An angel is a sign that you and I are in the midst of a spiritual battle and angels are God's warriors. They are His Navy Seals. If you were to ever see an angel, you would not want to be touched by an angel because they will freak you out and jack you up. That's why they're always saying, oh, don't be afraid, don't be afraid. You and I sense that battle, even if we haven't articulated it as a spiritual battle, because we have the draw to do things that are wrong and the things that are right and things that are done wrong to us all the time. We end up getting weighed down with all kinds of things in our life that just are not the way it should be. I mean, over the course of my life, I've done so many bad things that I can't even articulate all of them, whether it's lying to my parents, cheating, gossiping, doing things I shouldn't do. These are like chains that weigh me down in my understanding of God and in my life. And these are just the chains that I've done to myself. Then there's chains that somebody else has done to me, ways people have hurt me verbally and ways people have slandered me. There's all kinds of things that are put on me and you every day.

Am I the only one who has chains? Is there anybody else who senses that you have chains in your life? Anyone? Me? Alone? Yeah, it weighs us down, it crushes us. And here's the crazy thing, in the midst of all of the things that we have in our life, the angels say unto you is born a Savior, someone that helps us to deal with all of this stuff. Because despite all of our downsides, all of our issues, all our checkered pasts, there is still a God who wants to have a relationship with us. Emmanuel, one of the names for God that means God with us, not God above us and God beyond us, but God actually coming to be with us. Israel, the original chosen people of God, whenever you see the choir today, they represent the people of God who have a past of chains, literal, physical chains of bondage and spiritual bondage. Our chains cause us to be in exile, which means separate from the life we have, separate from the land of goodness where we could reside in. And I pray that today the Son of God, Emmanuel Himself uniquely and profoundly appears to you. And now we're going to go all the way back to the beginning of Bible, to the beginning of time where there were no chains into the Garden of Eden. Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel. Israel, that mourns in lonely exile, until the Son of God appears.

In the beginning, in the beginning, in the beginning, in the beginning, God was so full of love that he longed for creation to share it with. So he made man. Male and female, in his image, he created them. Baker's Magnums And he loved them. He loved them desperately. And he gave his creation the ability to choose to love him back. We who serve the king watched God walk with his children and teach his beloved the ways of love. God and man in unity, endless possibility, strength and joy and peace and love, life below from life above, and living a life fearless. A life living a life freely, a life sharing love with only one, breathing deep I am undone. Fireflies at dusk and spring, telling jokes and harmonies, living a life fearless. A life living a life freely, a life, a life, a life, a life, living a life fearless. A life living a life freely, a life, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, Walking close, safe at your side, witness truth and love collide. Sight and sound and touch and taste, all to you the call for praise. Living life, fearless alive, Loving life, freely alive, alive, alive, alive. Living life, fearless alive, Loving life, freely alive, alive, alive, alive. From the beginning there was conflict, a fallen angel, the deceiver, seduced God's children with false promises. He and his army wanted God's beloved as their own. We watched as man chose to tear themselves away from the Creator. But as soon as they were separated from the heart of God, man was in agony.

This was not the communion they were designed for. Man cried out into the void. The Creator was just. His children had chosen, and that choice had a cost. Its payment was man's separation from their loving Father. Do not be afraid. We bring a message of hope that is for all people. We've come to tell you God's story, a love story that you are a part of. The Creator was also a God of mercy and infinite love. He could not leave his beloved in exile forever. God had a plan to ransom his children. He called forth a nation and named them Israel. Through this nation he promised to bring hope to the world. He promised them a Savior, a King who would come to free them from the bondage of sin so that they could return to their Father. We watched as man waited. The deceiver of man attacked and tortured God's children, causing trouble wherever he could. This was a war for the souls of man. Man groaned in their impatience and misery. All of the world was crying out for a new beginning, like a fresh blanket of snow. And so they waited. And so they waited. O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Emmanuel, Emmanuel Please come to thee, O Israel O come, O come, Thou King of glory Our spirits, by Thy presence here, Disperse the gloomy cloud of night And death's dark shadows point to light. Emmanuel, Emmanuel

Please come to me, all in vain, Israel Oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh Finally, it began. The Lord gave us a message to deliver. And we, the army of God, the hosts of heaven, rejoiced. The warrior was to be summoned at last. It was I who would be sent. I was ready to rally the rulers of the earth, to call them to war. But instead, God sent me to one of the most despised parts of the world, to Nazareth and to Mary, a young girl, a virgin engaged to a carpenter. He had chosen her to give birth to the promised king, Jesus, his own son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was a miracle, and Mary believed and rejoiced. Mary's fiancé, Joseph, did not understand what God had done. He planned to divorce her quietly. But Joseph was a righteous man, a descendant of King David, of the nation of Israel. And the Lord sent me to tell him that the child Mary carried was from the Holy Spirit, and that this child would save his people from their sins. This new life was not what any of us had expected. [♪ music begins ♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪

♪ He calls me Between the rock And the hard place I must break Freedom is Disgrace It's not just her And me anymore Soon the world Becomes three Life Changes Everything ♪ My heart Changes Everything ♪ Mm, mm, mm Mm, mm, mm Ah, ah, ah Ah, ah, ah Ah, ah, ah Ah, ah, ah Ah, ah, ah This Changes Everything ♪

Ah, ah, ah Ah, ah, ah Ah, ah, ah Ah, ah, ah Ah, ah, ah Ah, ah, ah Come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appears There were learned men who sought the truth, Scholars who studied the stars and all natural things known to man, Wise men, unafraid of the unknown, Feudalistly asking questions without answers, Seekers on a journey to find what lies beneath, at the center, Despite all they had discovered, they believed there was more, A designer behind the heavens, A lover behind the setting sun, An artist who hung the stars, A father who loves his creation, A king who could rule it all, They heard the whisper of the Creator, The promise of a king, They read the ancient texts, Full of prophecies of His coming, They watched for the signs, Looked for the secrets revealed in the stars, When they finally saw it, They risked everything and followed the star, Though they did not know where it led.

We three kings Have traveled so far Through fields and lands And mount, in pursuit of the sun And we with humanity seek to find What lies beyond the earth and sky Dreamers think Unsettled are we No truth we find Or love that's free But a whisper has come to our ears From afar Rise and follow the big star piano plays softly Star of wonder Star at night Star of wonder Star at night For the star of wonder Star at night Oh star of wonder Star at night For the star of wonder Star at night Oh star of wonder Star at night For the star of wonder Star at night Oh star of wonder Star at night

Oh star of wonder Star at night For the star of wonder Star at night For the star of wonder Do you have the power To give blind sight Feed the hungry And restore the weak And restore the weak And are you the one for Which we dream We three kings Have traveled so far Abandoned all For the sake of this star For the sake of this star The world was ruled by Rome Caesar called for a census to be taken so that those he oppressed could be taxed. Although Mary was near birth, Joseph had to return to his hometown Bethlehem to be counted for the census. Mary walked with Joseph beside her through rugged terrain filled with danger. How could this treacherous journey, the forced march of a common man, be the triumphant entrance of a conqueror? Could this town of Bethlehem be the birthplace of a king? O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie. Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by. O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given. So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven.

Oh No year may hear his coming, yet in this world of sin When meek souls will receive him still The dear Christ answers them O come, O come, Emmanuel's light We wait for thee tonight Yeah How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is given So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of his heaven Oh ♪ Ah ♪ ♪ No year may hear his coming ♪ ♪ Yet in this world of sin ♪ ♪ Where meek souls will receive him still ♪ ♪ The dear Christ enters in ♪ ♪ O come, O come, Emmanuel's light ♪ ♪ We wait for thee tonight ♪ ♪ Ah ♪ ♪ Ah ♪ ♪ Ah ♪ Surely there could be no greater rejection than this, to enter the world this way. No royalty rejoicing, no comfort, no celebration, only the smell of animals and mangers and hay. ♪ O come, O come, Emmanuel ♪ ♪ And ransom captive Israel ♪ ♪ Crying, O come, O come, Emmanuel's light ♪ Despite this humble beginning, we, the army of God,

knew the warrior was about to be born. The king of all kings was coming at last. The mighty one, a conqueror, the redeemer. The long-awaited savior. Summon your power, O God. Show us your strength as you have done before. Show us your power, O God. Lead us into battle. Ah! Shh. Shh, shh, shh. Shh, shh, shh. Shh. Shh. Shh. Shh. Shh. Shh. Shh. Shh. ♪ Silent night, holy night ♪ ♪ All is calm, all is bright ♪ ♪ Silent night, holy night ♪ ♪ All is calm, all is bright ♪ ♪ Silent night, holy night ♪ ♪ All is calm, all is bright ♪ ♪ Silent night, holy night ♪ ♪ All is calm, all is bright ♪ Shh. Shh, shh, shh.

Shh, shh, shh. Shh. Shh. Shh. Shh. Shh. Shh. Low and behold. Low and behold. Low and behold. Low and behold. Low and behold. Low and behold. Low and behold. Low and behold. The Silent Night Holy night, all is calm, all is bright. Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child. Holy infant so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace. La da da, la da dee da. Silent night, holy night. Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven afar. Heavenly hosts sing alleluia. Christ the Savior is born. Christ the Savior is born. La da da, la da dee da. Silent night, holy night.

Son of God, love's pure light. Radiant beams from thy holy face. With the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus, Lord at thy birth. Jesus, Lord at thy birth. La da da, la da dee da. La da da, la da dee da. La da da, la da dee da. La da da, la da dee da. We expected a battle, but God's plan was to win his victory from the inside out. This was to be a subversive plot. One that would attack the enemy from a forgotten front. Love. The Creator would win the souls of man, not with power, but with love. Love like a fresh blanket of snow. The only response to love like this is worship. Our joy shook the heavens. We, the servants of the Most High, appeared to shepherds tending their flocks nearby to announce the glorious news. They had been ransomed. by love. But the rulers of the world would not share glory. To worship another king, to acknowledge this baby boy as the Messiah, was an act of treason, punishable by death. Our call to worship was a dangerous one. The shepherds and all others who would answer our call to praise him would risk their lives in order to do so. But these who had waited so long for their Savior could do nothing else but join us in celebration. The battle was being won. Come, let us adore him. Oh, come. Oh, come. Oh, come. Come, let us adore him. Oh, come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant. Oh, come ye. Oh, come ye to Bethlehem. Oh, come and behold him, born the King of angels. Oh, come ye. Oh, come ye to Bethlehem. Oh, come. Oh, come. Oh, come. Come, let us adore him. All hail. Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning. Oh, come ye. Oh, come ye to Bethlehem. Where the Father, now in flesh, now in flesh appearing.

Oh, come ye. Oh, come ye to Bethlehem. Oh, come. Oh, come. Oh, come. Come, let us adore him. Oh, come. Oh, come. Oh, come. Come, let us adore him. Christ Jesus, Christ Jesus, Christ the Lord. Oh, Christ Jesus, Christ Jesus, Christ the Lord. Oh, come. Oh, come. Oh, come. Oh, come. Oh, come. Oh, come. Oh, come. Come, let us adore him. Oh, come. Oh, come. Oh, come. Oh, come. Oh, come. Oh, come. Come, let us adore him. Oh, come, let us adore him. Oh, holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Savior's birth Long lay the world in sin's terror pining Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth Oh, holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Savior's birth Oh, hear the angel voices Oh, night divine When Christ was born Instrumental And in His name all oppression shall cease Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus Let all within us praise His name Praise, praise His name Oh, thrill of hope The weary world rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn Fall on your knees Oh, hear the angel voices Oh, night divine When Christ was born Instrumental Instrumental Clapping Music This was the beginning of the great rescue. The love story of God was unfolding and all of creation would be swept up into it. This at last was the long awaited warrior child. The hope and savior of all creation. And we, with all humanity, rejoiced. Music Rejoice, Emmanuel Come to me, oh Israel Why is all creation bowing down to that baby? Because that baby is Lord of all creation.

Something happened 2,000 years ago that caused us to change the dating of time. Because that baby is God. God Himself taking on flesh to live the life that you and I could never leave. Only God could live His entire life, never accumulating any chain on His own. People try to put chains on Him, but He never accumulated a single chain of His own because He was God who lived a perfectly pure life. And so at the end of His life where He goes to a cross, He has room on His back for your chains and my chains so that you and I can be free of our chains. This is the good news. This is the good news that God loves you and He wants to release you and free you. When I came to understand this for the first time, I just said a prayer and it charted a new course in my life. And I wonder if you might want to say a prayer like that right now and receive Him as Savior. Go something like this. You can just pray along with me. God, I want You in my life. Jesus, I ask You, forgive me for my sin. Forgive me for my chains. Come into my heart right now and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. And as best I can, I will follow You the rest of my life. You're good. Amen. The adventure awaiting you is bigger and more life-giving than you could ever imagine. Join us every weekend for 45 minutes of challenge, hope and encouragement to guide you on your spiritual adventure.