WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.500 If you could turn to page 7 in the sheet that you were given, I'm going to speak from Matthew 2 and verses 1-12. 00:00:09.580 --> 00:00:14.500 ! And there's an abundance of sermon title puns from this chapter. 00:00:14.500 --> 00:00:17.820 So, Stars, Schemes and Dreams. 00:00:18.440 --> 00:00:22.199 Or you might have heard Wise Men Worship Jesus Still. 00:00:22.580 --> 00:00:24.660 Star Trek, to name a few. 00:00:25.460 --> 00:00:32.700 But I think there's no story of Jesus' birth that's been more distorted over the years. 00:00:32.780 --> 00:00:34.960 Let me try and prove my point with a quiz. 00:00:35.100 --> 00:00:38.579 You're not going to shout out. You can whisper your answers to the person next to you. 00:00:39.500 --> 00:00:40.939 But let me ask you some questions. 00:00:41.079 --> 00:00:42.340 How many wise men were there? 00:00:44.060 --> 00:00:45.079 What were their names? 00:00:47.079 --> 00:00:49.140 How did they get to Jerusalem? No shouting out. 00:00:51.079 --> 00:00:52.140 When did they arrive? 00:00:52.140 --> 00:00:54.960 What country were they from? 00:00:56.340 --> 00:00:58.560 And if you know the answers to those questions, 00:00:59.500 --> 00:01:04.739 you're probably more familiar with sentimental carols and tradition 00:01:04.739 --> 00:01:06.920 than with what the Bible says about them. 00:01:07.739 --> 00:01:09.319 Let me give you the answers to the quiz. 00:01:10.340 --> 00:01:12.780 We don't know how many wise men there were. 00:01:13.180 --> 00:01:13.980 There could have been three. 00:01:14.840 --> 00:01:16.799 There could have been ten. I'd quite like to think there were 500. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:23.299 We don't know that Casper, Melchior, Balthazar were their names. 00:01:23.420 --> 00:01:24.319 We don't know their names. 00:01:25.560 --> 00:01:26.879 We don't know how they got there. 00:01:28.099 --> 00:01:29.899 There's no mention of camels. 00:01:30.840 --> 00:01:34.780 I think we can safely rule out one on a bus, one on a car, one on a scooter. 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:35.479 The belongings to two. 00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:38.200 They didn't arrive at Christmas night. 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:40.239 They went to a house. 00:01:41.219 --> 00:01:42.319 And not a stable. 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:46.779 And all we know about them is that they're from the east. 00:01:48.379 --> 00:01:52.339 And so Matthew, who wrote this gospel, is very short on Christmas trimmings. 00:01:52.639 --> 00:01:53.339 There's no stable. 00:01:53.979 --> 00:01:54.879 There's no shepherds. 00:01:54.939 --> 00:01:56.079 It's a very plain account. 00:01:57.079 --> 00:02:02.759 But he's very, very clear on who and why we're celebrating tonight. 00:02:02.760 --> 00:02:09.599 In the last verse of Matthew chapter 1, we're told Jesus was born. 00:02:11.080 --> 00:02:17.659 And in verse 2 of chapter 2, it tells us that we celebrate the birth of God's king. 00:02:19.640 --> 00:02:25.259 Jesus, and not the wise men, however many there were, is the hero of the story. 00:02:25.960 --> 00:02:27.439 Two points for you tonight. 00:02:27.580 --> 00:02:31.860 First of all, the contrast of the kings, and then the contrast of the responses. 00:02:32.860 --> 00:02:34.260 So look at verses 1 and 2 on page 7. 00:02:34.360 --> 00:02:34.800 Can you do that? 00:02:35.060 --> 00:02:35.640 Look down with me. 00:02:36.420 --> 00:02:40.380 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, 00:02:40.600 --> 00:02:42.920 Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 00:02:43.020 --> 00:02:44.780 Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? 00:02:45.600 --> 00:02:48.780 We saw his star in the east, and we've come to worship him. 00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:54.840 When you put them together, you don't have to be very astute, do you, 00:02:54.840 --> 00:02:56.440 to realise that there's two kings. 00:02:56.439 --> 00:03:02.780 There's King Herod, verse 1, and then there's the king of the Jews. 00:03:04.139 --> 00:03:06.000 That's not an editorial coincidence. 00:03:06.579 --> 00:03:08.560 It is a deliberate statement. 00:03:09.740 --> 00:03:11.800 Herod was the man-made king. 00:03:13.139 --> 00:03:16.020 Jesus is the God-born king. 00:03:16.199 --> 00:03:17.180 Let's look at that contrast. 00:03:17.560 --> 00:03:20.620 Herod, he's half Jew, he's half Edomite. 00:03:20.620 --> 00:03:25.900 But Herod, the man-made king, he was appointed king by the Roman Senate about 40 BC. 00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:27.280 You can look him up in history. 00:03:28.539 --> 00:03:30.039 King Herod was an outsider. 00:03:31.080 --> 00:03:33.219 In fact, he was a vicious outsider. 00:03:34.219 --> 00:03:35.159 He killed his mother. 00:03:36.420 --> 00:03:38.180 He killed his favourite wife. 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:40.680 And so you wonder what happened to the least favourite. 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:43.819 He killed at least three of his sons. 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:46.980 His reign is characterised by paranoia. 00:03:48.360 --> 00:03:53.360 He was always vulnerable to a king rising up, to a true Israelite. 00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:59.240 King Herod had sleepless nights about a king from the true Davidic dynasty. 00:04:00.180 --> 00:04:02.080 That somebody would come from King David's line. 00:04:02.360 --> 00:04:06.180 Think of that situation today, where there's a royal line. 00:04:07.180 --> 00:04:09.600 But now there's someone else on the throne. 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:12.099 And of course, that someone else would be vulnerable. 00:04:13.539 --> 00:04:16.480 Herod hears the news he's been dreading for decades. 00:04:16.860 --> 00:04:17.759 There's another king. 00:04:18.899 --> 00:04:20.139 A king of the Jews. 00:04:21.719 --> 00:04:24.879 Jesus, well, he's got the credentials. 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:28.379 If you go back to right at the start of Matthew's Gospel, 00:04:28.819 --> 00:04:30.540 the very first verse says, 00:04:30.699 --> 00:04:33.279 Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:36.259 It's telling you right from the start, 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:39.199 Jesus is definitely in the royal line. 00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:44.640 And so you see Herod, the man appointed king, 00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:47.340 is terrified. 00:04:49.480 --> 00:04:50.620 Can you see in verse 2, 00:04:51.400 --> 00:04:54.340 this baby has been born king. 00:04:54.339 --> 00:04:57.139 He's not born to be king. 00:04:58.419 --> 00:05:00.060 He's in the royal line. 00:05:00.179 --> 00:05:02.139 And he's born in the right place. 00:05:02.139 --> 00:05:05.439 He's born in the little town of Bethlehem. 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:09.639 And that quote that we're given there in verse 6, 00:05:09.819 --> 00:05:11.000 is from the Old Testament. 00:05:11.079 --> 00:05:13.039 It's from the Old Testament prophet Micah. 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:16.760 This king has been born in the right place. 00:05:16.760 --> 00:05:18.240 He's geographically authentic. 00:05:18.900 --> 00:05:20.980 So what we're being told in Matthew 2, 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:22.060 is in the words of the carol, 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:25.259 the hopes and fears of all the years 00:05:25.259 --> 00:05:27.160 are met indeed tonight. 00:05:28.259 --> 00:05:30.540 The promised one of the Old Testament, 00:05:31.139 --> 00:05:33.079 God's long promised king, has arrived. 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:37.100 And incredibly, Herod gets that. 00:05:37.100 --> 00:05:40.040 There's more contrast. 00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:41.740 What kind of king will Jesus be? 00:05:42.020 --> 00:05:44.080 Will he be like King Herod, the tyrant? 00:05:45.300 --> 00:05:47.780 And the contrast is not only in their origin, 00:05:48.379 --> 00:05:50.140 but in the nature of their kingship. 00:05:50.139 --> 00:05:53.120 I think tragically, 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:55.379 sometimes people can look at Christianity 00:05:55.379 --> 00:05:58.659 and think that Jesus is a tyrant 00:05:58.659 --> 00:06:01.459 telling you what you can and can't do. 00:06:02.339 --> 00:06:04.360 That Jesus makes demands on your time, 00:06:04.699 --> 00:06:05.199 your money. 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:07.019 He tells you who you can sleep with 00:06:07.019 --> 00:06:08.219 and who you can't sleep with. 00:06:08.419 --> 00:06:09.719 But if you look at verse 6, 00:06:09.819 --> 00:06:12.079 just over the page, on page 8, 00:06:13.139 --> 00:06:15.279 look what it says about this king. 00:06:16.279 --> 00:06:19.159 For out of you will come a ruler 00:06:19.160 --> 00:06:21.540 who will be a shepherd of my people. 00:06:22.540 --> 00:06:25.939 And that idea of a king who's also a shepherd 00:06:25.939 --> 00:06:27.920 is throughout the Old Testament. 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:32.220 I think Matthew is drawing here 00:06:32.220 --> 00:06:35.740 from when King David was crowned king of Israel. 00:06:36.640 --> 00:06:38.780 And we're told in 1 Samuel 5 verse 2, 00:06:39.020 --> 00:06:40.860 you shall shepherd my people Israel 00:06:40.860 --> 00:06:42.600 and you shall become their ruler. 00:06:43.820 --> 00:06:46.600 Here is the king in David's line, 00:06:46.600 --> 00:06:49.320 but he's the king in fulfillment to David. 00:06:50.320 --> 00:06:52.680 He is the king, but he's also a shepherd. 00:06:54.100 --> 00:06:55.160 He rules. 00:06:55.860 --> 00:06:57.000 But how does he rule? 00:06:57.980 --> 00:06:59.560 He rules as a caring shepherd. 00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:02.480 What does a good shepherd do? 00:07:02.980 --> 00:07:06.740 A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 00:07:06.980 --> 00:07:07.720 Do you remember Herod? 00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:11.640 He is the one who will kill to keep his throne. 00:07:12.760 --> 00:07:15.340 But Jesus is the one who will die 00:07:15.340 --> 00:07:17.240 because he's on the throne. 00:07:18.580 --> 00:07:20.100 You see, Herod was troubled 00:07:20.100 --> 00:07:22.040 when he heard the news of the king of the Jews 00:07:22.040 --> 00:07:23.700 and all Jews slim with them. 00:07:23.960 --> 00:07:25.060 They sensed a threat. 00:07:26.960 --> 00:07:28.940 They knew of Herod's paranoia. 00:07:29.440 --> 00:07:30.880 He'd killed his mother, his wife, 00:07:30.960 --> 00:07:31.960 at least two of his sons. 00:07:32.100 --> 00:07:33.400 They had good reason to fear. 00:07:33.399 --> 00:07:35.399 But in chapter 2 in verse... 00:07:37.079 --> 00:07:39.239 Chapter 2, we're told that he will be a shepherd. 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:43.120 There's a joke at the time 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:44.959 when this was written, 00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:47.919 which spoke that it was a rhyme in the original, 00:07:48.039 --> 00:07:49.539 that it was safer to be Herod's pig 00:07:49.539 --> 00:07:50.319 than Herod's son. 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:53.479 This man killed for his throne. 00:07:54.699 --> 00:07:57.339 But the one the wise men wanted to see 00:07:57.339 --> 00:07:58.560 will die, 00:07:58.599 --> 00:08:00.919 not because he is forced off his throne, 00:08:00.920 --> 00:08:02.920 but he will die for his people. 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:05.680 He will give his life 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:07.020 for the sheep. 00:08:08.420 --> 00:08:09.939 Matthew tells us that at his birth 00:08:09.939 --> 00:08:11.379 and at his death, 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:12.600 he's given a title, isn't he? 00:08:12.620 --> 00:08:13.460 The king of the Jews. 00:08:14.960 --> 00:08:16.720 And so there's a choice for the wise men. 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:20.360 As there is a choice for each one of us tonight. 00:08:21.720 --> 00:08:23.100 There's the pomp and the rank 00:08:23.100 --> 00:08:24.280 and the visible power 00:08:24.280 --> 00:08:26.000 of the Herods of this world. 00:08:27.280 --> 00:08:29.060 Or there's the seeming weakness 00:08:29.060 --> 00:08:30.160 and vulnerability 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:32.059 and near invisibility 00:08:32.740 --> 00:08:33.580 of God's king. 00:08:34.860 --> 00:08:36.759 And the Magi, they chose wisely. 00:08:38.519 --> 00:08:39.600 Well, we know, don't we, 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:40.559 from 2,000 years, 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:43.600 Herod is dead and gone, isn't he? 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:46.399 Herod was an important man, 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:47.340 a very important man, 00:08:47.399 --> 00:08:48.879 but his kingdom was small. 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:51.500 And even in his time, 00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:52.960 Herod was not the most important person 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:53.460 in the world. 00:08:54.919 --> 00:08:56.139 As far as I'm aware, 00:08:56.259 --> 00:08:57.000 there is nobody 00:08:57.000 --> 00:08:58.899 who is worshipping Herod tonight. 00:09:00.299 --> 00:09:01.279 As far as I'm aware, 00:09:01.340 --> 00:09:01.960 there is nobody 00:09:01.960 --> 00:09:04.059 that will celebrate Herod's birthday. 00:09:05.340 --> 00:09:06.200 Nobody says, 00:09:06.419 --> 00:09:07.799 I follow Herod's rule. 00:09:09.500 --> 00:09:11.279 But the king of the Jews 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:12.440 born that night 00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:13.440 is a universal 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:14.980 and everlasting king. 00:09:16.779 --> 00:09:17.940 There's a clue to that. 00:09:18.860 --> 00:09:19.960 Where are the Magi from? 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:22.440 The Magi are from the east, 00:09:22.539 --> 00:09:22.799 aren't they? 00:09:22.840 --> 00:09:23.720 They are not Jewish. 00:09:23.720 --> 00:09:26.759 If you go back to the Old Testament, 00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:27.980 you will see that 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:29.060 there's this promise 00:09:29.060 --> 00:09:31.480 again and again and again 00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:33.980 that God's king 00:09:33.980 --> 00:09:36.040 will be a universal king 00:09:36.040 --> 00:09:36.800 for all people 00:09:36.800 --> 00:09:37.680 and for all time. 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:39.920 Psalm 72 says this, 00:09:39.920 --> 00:09:40.980 it was like the national anthem 00:09:40.980 --> 00:09:41.800 for the people of Israel. 00:09:42.139 --> 00:09:42.639 May he, 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:43.420 that's God's king, 00:09:43.480 --> 00:09:44.960 have dominion from sea to sea, 00:09:45.060 --> 00:09:45.840 from rivers 00:09:45.840 --> 00:09:46.960 to the ends of the earth. 00:09:47.580 --> 00:09:49.460 May the kings of Tarshish 00:09:49.460 --> 00:09:51.060 and of the coastlands 00:09:51.060 --> 00:09:51.759 render him tribute. 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:53.139 May the kings of Sheba 00:09:53.139 --> 00:09:54.819 and Sheba bring him gifts. 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:55.899 May all kings 00:09:55.899 --> 00:09:57.059 fall down before him 00:09:57.059 --> 00:09:58.860 and all nations serve him. 00:09:59.220 --> 00:10:01.340 Blessed be his glorious name forever. 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:03.019 May the whole earth 00:10:03.019 --> 00:10:04.000 be filled with his glory. 00:10:05.539 --> 00:10:06.740 What Matthew is telling you, 00:10:06.899 --> 00:10:08.419 that what Israel looked for 00:10:08.419 --> 00:10:09.100 and prayed for 00:10:09.100 --> 00:10:10.100 is beginning to happen. 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:13.600 We are seeing in miniature 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:14.759 in Matthew chapter 2 00:10:14.759 --> 00:10:15.960 that the king of the Jews 00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:17.480 is actually the king of the nations. 00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:20.259 The promise is given 00:10:20.259 --> 00:10:21.039 in the Old Testament 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:22.399 that God is going to bless 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:23.460 all the nations 00:10:23.460 --> 00:10:25.439 is here being fulfilled. 00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:28.279 The nations are coming 00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:29.639 to Jesus. 00:10:31.019 --> 00:10:33.240 An international mighty king 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:35.799 who will rule over his people 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:36.559 forever. 00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:39.439 And so here in Matthew 2 00:10:39.439 --> 00:10:42.819 is the beginning of many nations 00:10:42.819 --> 00:10:44.220 coming to Jesus. 00:10:44.220 --> 00:10:47.240 Millions upon millions 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:48.000 upon millions 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:49.440 have since done that. 00:10:50.500 --> 00:10:51.480 People like me 00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:52.320 who are not Jewish 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:53.580 who have been cut 00:10:53.580 --> 00:10:54.560 into the story. 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:56.440 And Matthew 00:10:56.440 --> 00:10:57.480 at the end of his book 00:10:57.480 --> 00:10:59.080 says exactly the same thing. 00:10:59.139 --> 00:10:59.360 He says, 00:10:59.460 --> 00:11:00.420 go into all the world 00:11:00.420 --> 00:11:01.340 and tell people 00:11:01.340 --> 00:11:03.480 about this universal 00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:04.860 and everlasting king. 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:05.580 You see, 00:11:05.680 --> 00:11:06.300 Matthew 2 00:11:06.300 --> 00:11:07.080 is telling you 00:11:07.080 --> 00:11:08.120 that the baby 00:11:08.120 --> 00:11:09.300 or the toddler 00:11:09.300 --> 00:11:10.540 as he is in Matthew 2 00:11:10.539 --> 00:11:12.679 is God's king 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:14.079 and so get on your knees 00:11:14.079 --> 00:11:14.819 and worship him. 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:18.419 And if this is the start 00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:19.179 of God's plan 00:11:19.179 --> 00:11:20.179 what will it be like 00:11:20.179 --> 00:11:22.259 when Jesus comes back? 00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:24.679 We're told, 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:25.839 do you know what will happen then? 00:11:26.019 --> 00:11:26.639 The Bible says 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:27.579 when Jesus comes back 00:11:27.579 --> 00:11:28.919 every knee will bow 00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:30.419 whether you've bowed 00:11:30.419 --> 00:11:31.379 the knee before or not. 00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:35.000 Mohammed's knee will bow. 00:11:36.919 --> 00:11:38.500 Piers Morgan's knee will bow. 00:11:38.500 --> 00:11:42.519 The Dalai Lama will bow his knee. 00:11:43.100 --> 00:11:43.820 Rishi Sunak, 00:11:43.899 --> 00:11:44.379 Joe Biden, 00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:45.039 Donald Trump, 00:11:45.419 --> 00:11:46.559 they will bow their knee 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:47.559 before King Jesus. 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:49.720 You 00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:52.679 will bow your knee. 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:56.539 And will you bow your knee now 00:11:56.539 --> 00:11:59.639 or will you bow your knee then? 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:02.320 And if I was you 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:03.080 I would make sure 00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:04.279 I bow my knee now 00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:06.460 and worship the universal king. 00:12:06.460 --> 00:12:09.720 The contrast of the kings. 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:11.180 But secondly 00:12:11.180 --> 00:12:12.220 the contrast of responses. 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:13.780 He's the universal king 00:12:13.780 --> 00:12:14.519 but that doesn't mean 00:12:14.519 --> 00:12:16.400 that he's universally acclaimed 00:12:16.400 --> 00:12:16.980 and welcomed. 00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:19.720 There are different responses 00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:20.000 aren't there? 00:12:20.040 --> 00:12:20.580 I think there are three. 00:12:20.680 --> 00:12:21.759 Firstly there's the Magi. 00:12:22.800 --> 00:12:24.519 We don't know anything about them 00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:26.040 apart from this passage. 00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:28.500 What did they know? 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:31.000 But it seems they must have known 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:31.940 some of the Jewish scriptures 00:12:31.940 --> 00:12:34.340 to be looking for the king of the Jews. 00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:37.000 It's absolutely remarkable isn't it? 00:12:37.019 --> 00:12:38.060 They see the star 00:12:38.060 --> 00:12:39.379 and they trek. 00:12:39.460 --> 00:12:40.500 They trek to Jerusalem 00:12:40.500 --> 00:12:43.759 where they expected the child to be born. 00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:45.460 That's where you'd expect the child to be born 00:12:45.460 --> 00:12:46.340 in the capital city. 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:48.840 And then they go on to Bethlehem 00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:50.200 where they're told to. 00:12:51.019 --> 00:12:52.440 And they give Jesus gifts. 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:54.780 Some have put special emphasis on the gifts. 00:12:55.820 --> 00:12:57.340 Some have said it's gold for a king, 00:12:58.120 --> 00:12:59.240 frankincense for a prophet, 00:12:59.920 --> 00:13:00.519 myrrh for a priest. 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:01.840 I'm not completely sure about that. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:04.280 But the gifts that they gave 00:13:04.280 --> 00:13:05.420 were of great value. 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:08.000 And you have to wonder 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:09.820 that they went so far 00:13:09.820 --> 00:13:11.100 with so little to go on. 00:13:12.820 --> 00:13:14.759 They eagerly arrive at Jerusalem. 00:13:17.100 --> 00:13:18.320 And they talk with Herod. 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:21.200 And Herod is troubled. 00:13:22.700 --> 00:13:23.820 He is so troubled 00:13:23.820 --> 00:13:25.280 that he gets the theologians in. 00:13:25.780 --> 00:13:26.900 The religious guys. 00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:29.259 And they know 00:13:29.259 --> 00:13:30.899 where the king of the Jews 00:13:30.899 --> 00:13:31.659 is going to be born. 00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:32.959 They know that Bethlehem 00:13:32.959 --> 00:13:34.000 is the birthplace 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:34.919 of the promised king. 00:13:36.079 --> 00:13:37.120 But they can't be bothered 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:38.000 to go there themselves. 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:41.059 The wise men, 00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:43.100 they have so little 00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:43.919 to go on. 00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:46.340 But the chief priests 00:13:46.340 --> 00:13:47.699 and the teachers of the law, 00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:49.899 they have so much, 00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:51.899 but they're not going to stir. 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:54.620 And Matthew again 00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:56.419 is deliberately contrasting 00:13:56.419 --> 00:13:56.840 for you. 00:13:57.139 --> 00:13:57.919 He is showing you 00:13:57.919 --> 00:13:59.720 the eagerness of the Magi 00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:00.779 to worship Jesus. 00:14:01.659 --> 00:14:03.539 Despite their limited knowledge. 00:14:04.459 --> 00:14:05.299 And he contrasts it 00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:06.179 with the apathy 00:14:06.179 --> 00:14:08.379 of the Jewish leaders. 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:12.240 Apathy isn't new. 00:14:15.179 --> 00:14:16.399 What does apathy mean? 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:18.439 I don't care, you say. 00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:21.280 It means, isn't it? 00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:21.940 You can't be bothered. 00:14:24.040 --> 00:14:25.340 It's really frightening, isn't it? 00:14:25.380 --> 00:14:26.200 That some of us 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:27.460 can know our Bibles 00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:30.120 and you can be really familiar 00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:31.620 with the story of Christmas 00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:32.740 like many of us are. 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:35.660 But that doesn't necessarily 00:14:35.660 --> 00:14:36.880 lead to knowing 00:14:36.880 --> 00:14:37.980 and loving Jesus. 00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:40.980 If the chief priests 00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:42.240 and the teachers of the law 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:43.220 were around today, 00:14:44.440 --> 00:14:45.420 they'd be church leaders. 00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:48.240 Incredibly well read, 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:49.200 incredibly sophisticated. 00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:50.899 They'd be the religious 00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:51.620 establishment. 00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:52.899 But they still 00:14:52.899 --> 00:14:54.379 wouldn't know 00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:55.440 and love Jesus. 00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:58.240 You see, for the Magi, 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:00.419 no trouble is too great 00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:00.740 for them. 00:15:01.680 --> 00:15:02.600 For the Pharisees 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:03.379 and the religious leaders, 00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:04.379 they cannot be bothered. 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:06.539 And their apathy 00:15:06.539 --> 00:15:07.460 in the end 00:15:07.460 --> 00:15:09.120 led to opposition. 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:12.399 Herod's devious plan 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:13.399 shows he's against Jesus 00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:14.299 right from the off, isn't it? 00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:15.080 He's threatened by him. 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:18.540 And so even at his birth, 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:19.080 can you see, 00:15:19.160 --> 00:15:20.360 Jesus is dividing people 00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:21.160 into two camps 00:15:21.160 --> 00:15:22.840 just like he's dividing 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:24.120 us into two camps. 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:27.340 Those who are for him 00:15:27.340 --> 00:15:29.780 and those who are against him. 00:15:29.779 --> 00:15:32.379 What's the result 00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:33.439 of these three responses? 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:34.699 Well, verse 10, 00:15:34.839 --> 00:15:35.799 for the Magi, 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:38.179 they saw the star 00:15:38.179 --> 00:15:40.059 and they're overjoyed. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:41.899 And they come to the house, 00:15:41.980 --> 00:15:42.740 they see the child 00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:44.339 with his mother Mary, 00:15:44.439 --> 00:15:45.079 they bow down 00:15:45.079 --> 00:15:45.779 and they worship him. 00:15:47.299 --> 00:15:49.059 They open up their treasures, 00:15:49.179 --> 00:15:49.639 they present him 00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:50.319 with gifts of gold 00:15:50.319 --> 00:15:50.879 and frankincense 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:51.319 and myrrh. 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:53.799 Can you just see 00:15:53.799 --> 00:15:54.480 the response? 00:15:54.699 --> 00:15:55.100 They came 00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:56.000 and they worshipped Jesus. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.100 What did they experience? 00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:58.399 They experienced 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:01.100 great joy. 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:03.480 Exceedingly 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:04.279 great 00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:05.500 joy. 00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:08.580 I wonder 00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:09.159 whether you know 00:16:09.159 --> 00:16:09.840 anything of that. 00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:12.940 That is 00:16:12.940 --> 00:16:14.039 real 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:15.580 Christianity. 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:17.940 That is 00:16:17.940 --> 00:16:18.559 the reason 00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:19.580 we as a church exist. 00:16:20.580 --> 00:16:21.240 That is 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:22.600 what we're inviting you 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.539 into tonight. 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:24.259 Real 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:25.980 exceeding 00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:26.360 joy. 00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:29.179 How will you 00:16:29.179 --> 00:16:29.960 react 00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:31.939 to King Jesus? 00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:34.559 Will you 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:35.759 search for him? 00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:36.439 Will you 00:16:36.439 --> 00:16:37.299 look for him? 00:16:37.439 --> 00:16:37.840 Will you 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:38.819 read about him? 00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:40.799 Come back 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:41.419 on a Sunday 00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:42.139 and find out 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:42.700 more about him. 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:43.139 It's really 00:16:43.139 --> 00:16:44.480 why we're so excited 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:45.240 about this course 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:46.059 Hope Explored. 00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:46.580 It's going to run 00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:47.659 on three Wednesdays 00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:48.059 in January. 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:49.019 Wednesday the 10th 00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:50.259 and the 17th 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:51.779 and the 24th. 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:53.200 And it's an opportunity 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:54.179 for you to hear 00:16:54.179 --> 00:16:55.739 more about Jesus 00:16:55.739 --> 00:16:56.519 and hear 00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:57.679 more about what 00:16:57.679 --> 00:16:58.319 he claims 00:16:58.319 --> 00:16:59.359 and to hear more 00:16:59.359 --> 00:17:00.120 about that 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:01.500 exceedingly great 00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:02.379 joy that he 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:02.979 offers you. 00:17:03.979 --> 00:17:04.980 Come with your 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:05.379 questions. 00:17:05.639 --> 00:17:06.859 Come with your 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:07.440 concerns. 00:17:07.740 --> 00:17:08.119 Come with your 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:08.500 doubts. 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.759 You'd be really 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:10.539 really welcome. 00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:11.679 Three Wednesdays 00:17:11.679 --> 00:17:12.619 in January. 00:17:12.619 --> 00:17:15.759 will you 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:16.359 be a fool 00:17:16.359 --> 00:17:18.839 and not 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:19.239 bother 00:17:19.239 --> 00:17:21.899 ignore him 00:17:21.899 --> 00:17:23.739 maybe 00:17:23.739 --> 00:17:24.659 think he's 00:17:24.659 --> 00:17:25.239 unimportant 00:17:25.239 --> 00:17:25.539 maybe 00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:26.959 box him up 00:17:26.959 --> 00:17:27.379 with the other 00:17:27.379 --> 00:17:28.179 Christmas decorations 00:17:28.179 --> 00:17:29.019 get him out again 00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:29.500 next year. 00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:30.359 That is a tragic 00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:30.839 mistake. 00:17:30.959 --> 00:17:31.459 I beg you 00:17:31.459 --> 00:17:32.119 don't do it. 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:34.559 Or will you 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:35.039 recognise 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:36.199 that the baby 00:17:36.199 --> 00:17:37.679 born in 00:17:37.679 --> 00:17:38.419 Bethlehem 00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:41.060 is God's 00:17:41.060 --> 00:17:41.420 King 00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:43.500 whom God 00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:44.160 has sent 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:44.720 into this 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.019 world 00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:46.080 to bring you 00:17:46.080 --> 00:17:47.080 exceedingly 00:17:47.080 --> 00:17:47.860 great 00:17:47.860 --> 00:17:48.900 joy. 00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:51.259 Let's bow 00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:51.700 before him 00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:52.200 now and let's 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:52.440 pray. 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:52.480 pray.