25 Dec '18 - Dominic Steele

"It's always a little difficult speaking here on Christmas Day because there's always people here who are totally new to Christian things, and there are some people here who have been to 70 Christmas Days.

I think - you think - that at this point I will retell the story of 2000 years ago: Mary and Joseph and Jesus and Bethlehem, the visit by the angel, divine pregnancy, a census, Joseph's home town in Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph have to travel there, there is no room at the inn, they end up at the stable at the back and the baby Jesus is born in a manger. The shepherds, Glory to God on High, the big angel announcement: "Today in the town of David, a saviour has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord."

And I think - because if you have been paying attention in the past you might just be tempted - to tune out during this presentation. But, today, I am going to take all of that as assumed knowledge. I am going to work on the assumption that you are sophisticated and up for a challenge, and that you know the basic story. 'So I am going to look at the WHY? And I am going to try to answer that by opening up the very last book of the bible - Revelation - and look at chapter 12 of Revelation..."