Luke 2:1-20 Salvation Sung To You By Angels
Announcements and welcome Thys v L
Bible Reading Isaiah 9:1,2,6,7 - For to Us a Child Is Born Steve
Isaiah 9: 1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:1,2,6,7
Much has been made about the phenomenon called El Nino. It is the talk of the world. El Nino is a climatic change in the waters of the Pacific Ocean that raises the surface temperature a few degrees and has impact all over the globe. In some places it brings warm weather during winter. In other places it brings flooding or drought. The effects are different in different places.
El Nino is Spanish for "the Child" and refers to Jesus because the warm waters of El Nino always come around Christmas time.
It is a fitting title, because the coming of Jesus always has had and always will have far-reaching effects. For some his coming is wonderfully good and pleasant and for some it is dangerous and devastating. Depending on how we respond to the Christ child he may bring us peace and salvation and eternal life . . . or judgement and eternity without God.
This year the most important El Nino is not the climate but the Christ.
Sing: BoW 252 - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Bible Reading Matthew 1:1,17, 18-25
Salvation was predicted long ago:
The Prophets Predicted it As Grace 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given"
Matt 1: 20 behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
Micah 7: 18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. 19 He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. 20 You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
The Prophets Predicted it As Saviour
2 Samuel 22: 3 my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.
2 Kings 13: 5 (Therefore the LORD gave Israel a savior, so that they escaped from the hand of the Syrians, and the people of Israel lived in their homes as formerly.
Nehemiah 9:27 Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies.
Psalms 17:7 Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.
Psalms 106:21 They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt,
Isaiah 19:20 It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the LORD because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them.
Isaiah 43:3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. 11 I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.
Isaiah 45: 15 Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.
21 Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me.
Isaiah 49:26 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine. Then all flesh shall know that I am the LORD your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."
Isaiah 60:16 You shall suck the milk of nations; you shall nurse at the breast of kings; and you shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
Isaiah 63: 8 For he said, "Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely." And he became their Savior.
Jeremiah 14:8 O you hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night?
Hosea 13: 4 But I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior.
Sing: BoW 271 - O Come, All Ye Faithful (4 verses)
Bible Reading John 1:1-18
Sing: BoW 270 - Joy to the World
It was an ordinary night! There was nothing out of the ordinary about the sheep in the field, and nothing out of the ordinary about the shepherds themselves. But, on this otherwise ordinary night – something extraordinary happened. Suddenly, the Bible tells us, there was a glow. The glory of God Himself shone around the shepherds, and an angel appeared with a message of Good News. Everything about that night was changed, and what was ordinary became EXTRA-ordinary! A night of miracles! A supernatural moment in history never seen before.
Angels had clearly taken an interest in the birth of the Saviour.
But they could only stoop to look into this mystery, for they could not feel the misery that we feel through sin, nor can they experience the fullness of joy that we can experience through salvation. They did not need to be saved.
Bible Reading Luke 2:1-20
Salvation In the Saviour was Proclaimed:
Angels are messengers. In fact, the Greek word for messenger is "angel." The #1 job of an angel is to communicate God's message. If angels get nervous and breathless, this angel must have been shuddering and panting. And the shepherds were no better, terrified just about to death at the sight of the angel. This was the most important message the angel would ever deliver. He spoke it word for word the way God wanted it said: "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:10-12)
Sing: BoW 268 - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Sing: BoW 257 - Angels We Have Heard On High
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God.. Luke 2:13 "Gloria in excelsis Deo"—the chorus to "Angels We Have Heard on High" is distinct and rings through our head and heart each Christmas. The phrase originated in southern France where shepherds used to call out through song to each other on Christmas Eve, "Gloria in excelsis Deo." According to some, the phrase may have come from a Medieval Latin chorale. In 1916 Edward Barnes arranged and printed our modern version of the carol. But what a vivid reminder of that first Christmas occurred: angels and shepherds rejoicing at the birth of the Saviour. |
What would Christmas be without angels? The greatest concentration of angelic activity in the Bible undoubtedly surrounds the life of Christ—His birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and return. Whether visible or invisible, angels hovered around the Son of Man at His every step. They announced His birth to Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. They ministered to Him after He was tempted. He spoke of them frequently in His teachings. They comforted Him in the Garden and were ready to deliver Him from the cross, had He called. They proclaimed His resurrection, explained His ascension, and worshiped with joy at His re-enthronement.
So it was with awe and wonder that the multitudes of heaven assembled one night over a little scruffy patch of pasture on the outskirts of Bethlehem. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!'" (Luke 2:14) Is the phrase "Gloria in excelsis Deo" echoing through your mind? It can be easy to allow the busyness of the days to fill our mind. So today we take time to stop and give God the glory for the gift of His Son.
Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? Say what may the tidings be Which inspire your heav'nly song? Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo
We Should, like the angels, Glorify His Wonderful Person
We Should, like the angels, Glorify His Wise Purpose
1Peter 1:10-12 SG
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
The angels Glorify His Wonderful Person
The angels Glorify His Wise Purpose
What about you?
Salvation is to Be Received
"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."
Then the angel was joined by thousands of his buddies who praised God with words in unison. They didn't sing . . .they said: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
Interesting! The peace isn't for everybody. It's just for those who believe in Jesus and receive the favour of God. They are those who love and praise God. They are merely messengers. God is the one who is important, not the angels. They were merely the messengers of the moment in the Christmas story. The real center of attention was the child of eternity. He was the one to forever reset the calendars of history.
"Saviour" explains the whole purpose of Jesus' birth. He came to save us from sin. If we miss that, we miss Jesus. He's not most about mangers or angels, or holidays, or politics or happiness. He's most about salvation.
The whole premise of Jesus' coming is that every human being is a sinner lost from God and heaven. Jesus came to die, pay the penalty for sin, and bring us back to God.
That is why it is so important for every person to decide to accept Jesus as Savior. To merely acknowledge him as a great man of history is not enough. He must be acknowledged and accepted as Saviour or we will die forever in our sins.
"Christ" is a title meaning "Messiah." It means that he was anointed or chosen to represent God on earth and accomplish God's great purposes in history. He is God's Man. He is the one God promised would come. He is extra special. He is one of a kind. He is the Christ!
"Lord" is the word ancient Jews used to refer to God. This is a most amazing word to be connected to Jesus. He is "the Lord Jesus" - - that means that Jesus is God. Not just from God but God himself. 100% God. When we pray to Jesus, we're praying to God. When we follow Jesus, we are following God. When we love Jesus, we are loving God.
God came to earth, became human like us in order to save us from sin so that we can be forever with him in heaven. That is the biggest news of all of history. It is the most amazing and wonderful thing that has ever happened. The child born in Bethlehem should be the centre point of history! All dates before and after his birth should be calculated around him. He is the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour. The Child born in that manger was not only the centre point of all human history, He is the centre point for the Universe. All angelic hosts worship Him. They are excited to see God the Son appear in human form.
Centre Point in Pitt Street. The tower in the centre of Sydney that was to be the highest building and the centre point around which the whole of Sydney rotates. But many other buildings have been built that are taller now, and obscure Centre Point tower.
The child born in the manger should be the centre point for your individual life.
He is the Savior, Christ the Lord! He is the centre point! But so often other things obscure our view, and that which is most important because lesser in importance. But the problem isn't that He isn't still Lord of the Universe. We have just chosen to let other things obscure the view.
He came with the purpose of sacrificing Himself for your sins. He came to redeem you. "And when I think, that God His son not sparing, sent Him to die I can scarce can take it in, that on the cross my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin!"
Will you acknowledge Him today as the centre point of your life? Receive this Saviour as your own Saviour and Lord. Listen to the angels.
"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."
Sing: BoW 367 - How Great Thou Art (vv. 1, 3, 4)
Benediction Steve
Sing: BoW 265 - Glory to God
December 24
Call To Worship Isaiah 40:1-5
Law and Grace 2 Sam 7:1-17
Luke 1:57-80 Saving Christmas -Zechariah's Benedictus
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,60 but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John."61 And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name."62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called.63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea,66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace."
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Days were dark and difficult for a middleaged composer named George who had recently suffered a stroke. His health had finally been broken by an anxious and difficult life. The stroke had paralyzed the left side of his face, causing intense pain.
Most days, he could barely afford to pay his rent and was facing the possibility of debtor's prison. He was despondent and discouraged — frankly, life was dark and despairing. One night in 1741, depressed and defeated, he wandered the lonely streets deep in thought trying to come up with a plan — some hope in life. When he returned to his home, an envelope had been dropped off by a friend. His friend had wanted to encourage him, and he had simply copied off a number of verses — Biblical prophecies of the coming Messiah.
George Handel read through them, then tossed the pages aside and crawled into bed, but he couldn't sleep. Biblical phrases he had just read kept coming back to his mind — the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. . . it is the glory of God . . . Hallelujah!
He got up and went to his piano and for the next 24 days, didn't stop writing. For three weeks straight, he composed, hardly stopping to eat or sleep, refusing to see anyone.
Finally, a friend managed to get inside the apartment where he found George Handel surrounded by sheets of music strewn everywhere; tears were streaming down his face as he said to his friend, "I do believe I have seen . . . the greatness of God." And Handle's Messiah was soon completed.
For 400 years in Israel's history, there had been little to sing about. Following the prophecies of Malachi, between Malachi and the Gospels of the New Testament, there has been no word from God. No prophet of God spoke either words of judgment or words of encouragement. It was a time which came to be known as the 400 years of silence.
But then, the most amazing things began to happen. Angel sightings, supernatural events, surprising joy — and music being composed again.
And from the most unlikely places. In a village overrun by Roman soldiers where immorality was legendary, a teenage girl composes a song rich with Old Testament passages, a song of her own Savior and the miracle of her conception, though yet a virgin.
In fact, as Luke's Gospel opens — just in the first 2 chapters, you have as many as 5 songs, and the theme running throughout them all is joy. And the major theme is Salvation.
For the first time in 400 years, choruses of Hallelujah are beginning to echo throughout the land. This was all such good news leading us to great joy.
How could someone not be joyful about salvation?
God develops the theme of salvation.
Here in this passage called the Benedictus, just like Mary's song is called the Magnificat because of the first words of this song. Benedictus. "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel," Blessings.
Following Mary's song of joy, an old priest, well past his prime, has had a surprise baby boy born to his elderly wife and him. They live out in the country, away from the religious power players of the nation. Yet God has chosen their miracle baby to become the next prophet — following Malachi — and their son will introduce the Messiah.
And now it's this old priest's opportunity to start singing — or more than likely what would have sounded like chanting — as he delivers his own composition of joy.
Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, let's go back to where
Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. Luke 1:57-59a
This was the sign of the Abrahamic covenant — the mark of a Jewish male in obedience to the law — which would have given John the necessary credentials as an Israelite prophet.
We're told here that everybody they know have shown up for this joyous ceremony and time of celebration which traditionally included the naming of the son, on his 8th day.
And it was customary in these days to name a son after his father or grandfather, especially if they were highly esteemed men.
So if anybody was going to be named after his father, this baby would certainly be Zechariah Jr. In fact, notice the family drama that's breaking out here at the ceremony — the middle part of verse 59 tells us that:
they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John." And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name." That's the Biblical way of saying, "Are you crazy? Nobody in your family is named John — where did that name come from? You can't name him John — there's no one in our family called John. But Elizabeth chooses the name John!
But Elizabeth is refusing to budge, and Zechariah can't even speak yet, because he's still under the discipline of God for his earlier unbelief. So here's Elizabeth, terribly outnumbered, but unmoved; in spite of the entire family and the entire neighborhood insisting on Zechariah, Elizabeth says: "He's going to be called John." I mean, nobody would tangle with this 80- year-old new mother. She's obviously learned from her husband writing it all out for her earlier, that Gabriel told him this was God's choice to name their son, John — which means, God is gracious. That's the message God wanted Israel to hear from His prophet: not just a message of repentance from sin, but a message of the forgiving grace of God.
Look what the neighbours do next verse 62 — they ask Zechariah.
And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." Luke 1:62-63
He gets a tablet — this word refers to a wooden tablet covered with wax. And he writes something amazing here. He confirms what Elizabeth said earlier in verse 60, but he uses a different tense of the verb. He doesn't write, "He shall be called John", he writes: "His name is John!" It's already settled! What's more, he was already John, in the womb, before he was born. He's not being named today at this ceremony; he was already named before any of you showed up with your vote. He was named "John" by God, a little more than 9 months ago. And with that statement of obedience and humility, God reopens Zechariah's ears and mouth. And immediately, Zechariah begins to speak words of praise to God. We're told in the next verse — I love this — that "awe came on all their neighbors." (v. 65)
And he begins to sing — now Zechariah has been composing his own version of the Hallelujah Chorus — it's loaded with Old Testament passages and allusions — perhaps as many as 33 different connections to the Old Testament. There are several stanzas in this composition, depending on how it's outlined; I'll break it down into three stanzas.
The prophecy of Zechariah about God's salvation
Beginning at verse 68:
Blessed by the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. Luke 1:68-75
Salvation is Brought to You By A Person.
Zechariah is singing about the future in the past tense — He has visited us; He has redeemed us; He has raised up a horn of salvation. God did it. So though not done it was as good as done because God did it!
Salvation is Confirmed To You By Prophecies
David's House 2 Sam 7 5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in?6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling.7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"'8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel.9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son…. my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'"
Israel's enemies
Covenant with Israel
Redeem Israel
Salvation is Announced to you by the Preacher
The prophecy of Zechariah about the ministry of his son Notice v. 76:
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins because of the tender mercy of our God." Luke 1:76-78a
Can you imagine this scene — there hasn't been a prophet for 400 years. And now, Zechariah is holding a prophet in his arms. He's singing now directly to John
— "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High . . . you're going to go before the Lord, our redeemer."
His ministry is described as one preparing the way for the Messiah He's literally going to be the advance agent for Jesus Christ — he will prepare the way.
Isa 40:1-5 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
3 A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
That expression was rooted in ancient history where good roads weren't the norm. Most roads were simply tracks across fields and as they led into towns, they were often rutted and muddy; the wheels of the carts would often get bogged down and get stuck.
If a king were traveling to visit a town, a lot of effort would be put into preparing the road leading into and through the town. It would often be leveled and drained and raised and paved with stone pavers for the royal chariot or carriage.
Early in the Roman Empire, those raised roads paved with stone pavers were called highways — they were called highways long before we called them highways.
And to this day, there's nothing like a good highway to get you where you're going.
John is going into spiritual road construction; he's going to announce to the world that the King is on His way — the royal Son of the Most High is coming.
John is going to build a highway with his preaching for the Messiah to ride directly into the hearts of those who will believe.
With that in mind, Zechariah's final stanza describes this Messiah; this is:
Salvation is Made Personal By His Power
The prophecy of Zechariah about the coming Sunrise
Notice verse 78 – the middle part: "The sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1:78b-79
What will the Saviour, the Son of God do for you?
• He will release those captured by the darkness;
• He will rescue those facing inevitable death and eternal judgment
• He will give inner peace to those who know nothing of it. This is a bleak and yet realistic description of the human race – throughout human history:
• living in darkness and despair • facing inevitable death and Judgment
• hungry for peace and satisfaction
The world here is described realistically: darkness, dying and despairing.
But the sunrise is about to break into the dark and despairing world.
Zechariah sings: the Sunrise from on high is on His way!
• The Apostle Peter wrote that Jesus Christ was like a day dawning and a morning star rising in your hearts (2 Peter 1:19);
• John called him "the bright and Morning Star" (Revelation 22:16);
• Salvation is described as being rescued from the power of darkness and being brought into the kingdom of God's beloved Son (Colossians 1:13);
• Our mission as believers is to declare the praises – to sing the hallelujah's – of those who have been called out of darkness and into this marvelous light (I Peter 2:9);
• And we are promised that in the end, in the kingdom of everlasting light, that we, the redeemed will actually shine with the brilliant light of the sun (Matthew 13:43).
The sunrise is on His way
And in the meantime, we have every reason to sing Hallelujah to our Redeemer.
George Handel would take this song of prophecy from Zechariah and turn it into music.
The people who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, have seen a great light — the sun is rising — and the light of His gospel will rescue us from eternal death; and lead our feet into the perfect peace of God.
No wonder believers sing — hallelujah!
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