When we think of the nativity scene, we often focus on the humble circumstances of our Savior’s birth. Today, R.C. Sproul reminds us that Jesus’ arrival into the world was also accompanied by a display of heavenly glory. Get R.C. Sproul’s book The Work of Christ, plus lifetime digital access to two of his teaching series, The Messiah Is Born and What Did Jesus Do?, for your donation of any amount: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/3785/donate Meet Today’s Teacher: R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was known for his ability to winsomely and clearly communicate deep, practical truths from God’s Word. He was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew’s Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine. Meet the Host: Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of ministry engagement for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, host of the Ask Ligonier podcast, and a graduate of Presbyterian Theological College in Melbourne, Australia. Nathan joined Ligonier in 2012 and lives in Central Florida with his wife and four children. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts
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Even though the entrance of Christ into this world comes in the circumstances of oppression, where he is virtually incognito and sent to a cave to be born, yet a very short distance away, there is an explosion of glory.
The angels appeared and lit up the sky. As a society, we set aside a day in December to celebrate that event. But many get lost in the hustle and bustle of the season and forget that Christ, the God-man, came to save His people. I think we can all learn an important lesson from the shepherds who were in Bethlehem that first Christmas night.
Hi, I'm Nathan W. Bingham, and thanks for joining us for this Wednesday edition of Renewing Your Mind. As we continue R.C. Sproul's series, Messiah is Born, don't forget that this week you can request digital access to this series, the 12-message series, What Did Jesus Do?, and its study guide, plus we'll send you Dr. Sproul's detailed yet accessible book called The Work of Christ.
When you give a year-end donation in support of Renewing Your Mind at renewingyourmind.org. Without the continued support of listeners like you, this outreach would not be possible. So please know how thankful we are for you. Well, here's Dr. Sproul as he looks back to those eyewitnesses who were the first to witness the glory of Christmas.
I remember in the decade of the sixties, in fact it was in the late sixties, that my wife and I were living briefly in Philadelphia. And shortly after we moved to the city of brotherly love, we spent a day touring the city, seeing all the famous sites that go back to the revolutionary period.
And that evening, we went to Independence Hall, and we sat in the courtyard outside of the building to witness a new kind of dramatic entertainment called a sound and light show. We had never experienced anything like this before. As we sat outside and floodlights were bathed on the walls of Independence Hall,
And a phonographic account of the signing of the Declaration of Independence was presented. And actors had been hired to speak the lines of Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin and John Adams and Witherspoon and people like that. And so as we watched these lights moving, suddenly we would hear the voice presumably of Benjamin Franklin.
And he would say something and then Thomas Jefferson would respond. And it was something we had never experienced before anywhere. And ever since that time, I've thought about this whole phenomenon of a dramatic presentation that involved sound and light. But of course, that presentation at Independence Hall was not the first sound and light show, nor the greatest sound and light show.
I think perhaps the greatest sound and light show that ever took place in history took place on a barren field, on a plain outside the tiny town of Bethlehem. Now when we consider the birth of Christ, it seems that every Christmas we hear at least one sermon that stresses the humiliation of Christ. That in the incarnation, the second person of the Trinity condescended.
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