WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.800 Well, good morning, everyone. Welcome to church this morning. My name is Steve. I've not met you before. Lead pastor here at St. Paul's. I'd be grateful if you had your Bibles open at that point at Matthew 1. 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:36.780 As we enter into this Christmas season, a season of presents and joy and Christmas pageants. In fact, I read the story this past week of a boy who was desperate to play Joseph in the Sunday school pageant for his church. 00:00:36.780 --> 00:00:45.740 And he sort of planned for it. I think he'd been working on it for a little bit and he figured he was the prime candidate to be Joseph. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:56.939 But instead, the head of the Sunday school cast him as the landlord of the inn in Bethlehem, you know, with one line. That's it. 00:00:56.939 --> 00:01:06.939 And so this, you know, poor boy was just so, so disappointed. He protested, you know, the fact that he had this role and he should in fact be Joseph. 00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:20.939 But to no avail, he was stuck being the landlord of the inn. And all, he was really disappointed, but he really didn't let it show too much due to all the rehearsals. 00:01:20.939 --> 00:01:29.939 So, you know, when it came time for his little bit, he would say his famous line, you know, with a bunch of enthusiasm. 00:01:30.179 --> 00:01:33.959 No, there is no room in the inn for him. 00:01:35.539 --> 00:01:41.200 However, on the day of the Christmas pageant, he got his revenge. 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:51.859 So, packed house. And when it got to his moment in the spotlight, Mary and Joseph, you know, knocked on the door, asked if there was any room. 00:01:52.159 --> 00:02:00.240 And the boy smiled and said, yes, we have lots of room in the inn tonight. 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:04.500 And apparently, it was just pause. 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:06.200 You know, everyone was just silent. 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:10.879 The Sunday school, you know, director was all like, big gasp in the room. 00:02:10.979 --> 00:02:11.879 Everyone was shocked. 00:02:12.039 --> 00:02:16.000 And then awkward silence until all of a sudden the audience erupted. 00:02:16.199 --> 00:02:18.659 We laughed because Mary and Joseph, look around, what do we do now? 00:02:20.620 --> 00:02:26.520 Anyway, I suppose if you want to, if you're a male and you want to party at a Christmas pageant, 00:02:27.719 --> 00:02:34.439 you know, Joseph is the guy who, on one level, has more of a spotlight on him than anyone else. 00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:40.460 Even though, on the most part, he's sort of sitting there in the background. 00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:43.800 He doesn't say too many things at all. 00:02:44.359 --> 00:02:48.419 Although, he is at the centre of the action. 00:02:49.639 --> 00:02:58.240 What is a bit unusual, though, is that in the biblical text, we see a slightly different picture. 00:02:58.240 --> 00:03:08.140 And it is a little bit odd, if you like, that in a patriarchal society like first century Palestine, 00:03:09.379 --> 00:03:19.140 Joseph, on the most part, plays a passive role in all the biblical narratives and the Christmas narrative in particular. 00:03:19.139 --> 00:03:30.939 In fact, once we are clear of the Christmas scenes, Joseph is hardly mentioned at all in the New Testament. 00:03:32.699 --> 00:03:43.739 And yet, an angel did come to Joseph and told Joseph something that, in fact, only Joseph was told this. 00:03:43.740 --> 00:03:45.780 Only Joseph. 00:03:47.480 --> 00:03:53.500 And that is because Joseph, as the male, had naming rights to the child. 00:03:54.060 --> 00:04:03.340 And the angel said, verse 23, the child is to be called Emmanuel, God with us. 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:10.680 And so, here's what we learn from the name Emmanuel. 00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:15.219 Well, three things, it's on the St. Paul's app, which you can download, if you haven't got it. 00:04:15.640 --> 00:04:22.600 But on the St. Paul's app, Jesus is God, Jesus is human, and Jesus is with us. 00:04:22.620 --> 00:04:24.519 And that's our trajectory today. 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:26.519 So, first thing we learn is that Jesus is God. 00:04:27.160 --> 00:04:34.819 In verse 20, the angel tells Joseph that the human life growing inside of Mary has come not from any human being, 00:04:35.139 --> 00:04:37.300 but from God, from the Heavenly Father. 00:04:37.300 --> 00:04:43.379 And Joseph will be Jesus' father, if you like, in a secondary sense. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:48.480 That is, God is the real father of this child. 00:04:49.220 --> 00:04:56.639 However, the most direct statement of Jesus' identity comes in that verse 23. 00:04:56.639 --> 00:05:05.000 And in that, Matthew is quoting, himself a Jew, is quoting from Isaiah chapter 7, verse 14. 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:14.079 The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel, which means God with us. 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:22.419 Now, for centuries leading up to this moment, ever since Isaiah wrote those words, 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:30.879 that Jewish scholars had known about it, but they had never thought to take those words literally. 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:44.040 And so, what is promised here in Matthew 1, what is declared here, is greater than anyone would imagine, 00:05:44.819 --> 00:05:46.040 even for Jewish scholars. 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:53.540 Jesus Christ, this baby in this manger, is God with us. 00:05:53.540 --> 00:06:01.060 And that statement is absolutely startling for the Jewish worldview. 00:06:03.060 --> 00:06:05.000 In fact, for any worldview. 00:06:07.500 --> 00:06:13.700 Eastern religions believed God was an impersonal, infinite force, 00:06:14.400 --> 00:06:20.420 which permeated all things in the created order. 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:27.180 It wasn't unusual for Eastern religions, and still isn't today, 00:06:27.580 --> 00:06:36.160 to regard some human beings as being particularly great manifestations of the divine, 00:06:37.020 --> 00:06:40.600 such as Buddha, a manifestation of the divine. 00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:44.040 Western religions, on the other hand, 00:06:44.040 --> 00:06:54.640 and believes that gods could disguise themselves as human beings for their own purposes. 00:06:56.080 --> 00:07:01.320 And so, they believed in a personal God on one level. 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:11.740 And therefore, a personal God in the Western religion could appear to a degree, 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:16.439 in some form, momentarily, amongst human life. 00:07:16.900 --> 00:07:22.920 And so, there is references throughout Greek religions in the past, 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:28.180 the Greek history, that this particular person was a manifestation, 00:07:28.699 --> 00:07:33.139 or potentially, it was Zeus amongst us for just this moment. 00:07:33.139 --> 00:07:38.959 Jews, on the other hand, were neither Eastern or Western, 00:07:39.300 --> 00:07:43.759 but they believed that God was both personal and infinite. 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:51.120 God was not a being within the universe, 00:07:52.279 --> 00:07:57.199 but was that God was outside of the universe and the source of the universe. 00:07:57.199 --> 00:08:02.800 And so, the Hebrew worldview was, in fact, against the idea 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:08.899 that a human being, in any way, could be God. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:17.620 In fact, Jews would not even use the name of God. 00:08:17.819 --> 00:08:19.079 They still don't to this day. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:21.139 Won't even spell it. 00:08:21.139 --> 00:08:28.599 And yet, Jesus Christ, by a Jew, by his life, by his claims, 00:08:28.779 --> 00:08:36.019 by his resurrection, managed to convince his closest Jewish followers 00:08:36.019 --> 00:08:43.399 that he was much more than a prophet telling them about God, 00:08:44.179 --> 00:08:45.460 how to find God, 00:08:45.460 --> 00:08:49.620 but that he was, in fact, God himself, 00:08:50.820 --> 00:08:51.940 come to find us. 00:08:53.040 --> 00:08:57.700 He blew the categories of Eastern, Western, and Jewish worldview. 00:08:59.160 --> 00:09:02.540 And, in fact, all of his main Jewish followers 00:09:02.540 --> 00:09:05.540 declared it in his lifetime. 00:09:05.539 --> 00:09:12.059 And, of course, the opinions of these authors 00:09:12.059 --> 00:09:14.799 would not mean a whole lot at all 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:20.199 if Jesus hadn't declared himself his divine identity 00:09:20.199 --> 00:09:24.399 all through the biographical accounts, 00:09:25.059 --> 00:09:27.939 which is what sets Jesus apart from the likes of Buddha. 00:09:28.379 --> 00:09:30.919 Buddha never declared that he himself, 00:09:31.299 --> 00:09:33.980 even though characteristics of the divine 00:09:33.980 --> 00:09:36.300 never declared himself to be divine, 00:09:37.220 --> 00:09:38.139 whereas Jesus did. 00:09:40.460 --> 00:09:42.139 And what we have with Jesus 00:09:42.139 --> 00:09:44.360 is his constantly forgiving sin, 00:09:45.180 --> 00:09:47.860 which the Jews knew that only God could do, 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:49.779 and he also claims, 00:09:49.960 --> 00:09:52.639 I'm going to come back and I'm going to judge the earth, 00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:56.120 and they also knew that only God could do that. 00:09:57.420 --> 00:10:00.080 And so, at many times and in various ways, 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:03.060 Jesus Christ, a Jewish man, 00:10:03.460 --> 00:10:05.720 declared to his Jewish audience, 00:10:05.980 --> 00:10:08.040 I am God. 00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:12.639 And thousands, thousands believed him 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:16.139 and came to worship him as God. 00:10:17.900 --> 00:10:20.020 Acts chapter 2, verse 41. 00:10:20.019 --> 00:10:24.439 And so, every Christmas, 00:10:26.519 --> 00:10:31.179 people all over the world give lip service 00:10:31.179 --> 00:10:36.059 to that reality without actually thinking through 00:10:36.059 --> 00:10:38.939 what the implications are for it. 00:10:39.659 --> 00:10:41.000 What does it mean? 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:42.519 We've just sung it just then. 00:10:42.579 --> 00:10:43.419 What does it mean? 00:10:43.419 --> 00:10:47.539 If Jesus really is God, 00:10:47.620 --> 00:10:50.839 what does it actually mean for us practically? 00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:55.299 So, first, it's an intellectual turning point. 00:10:56.459 --> 00:10:59.379 Now, some have argued that the supreme miracle 00:10:59.379 --> 00:11:02.559 of Christianity is not the resurrection of Jesus, 00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:06.360 but the incarnation of Jesus, 00:11:07.439 --> 00:11:12.779 the coming of God into his world as a human being. 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:16.659 So, the late theologian J.I. Packer puts it like this, 00:11:17.079 --> 00:11:20.079 God became man, the divine son became a Jew, 00:11:20.379 --> 00:11:23.980 the almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, 00:11:24.100 --> 00:11:26.679 unable to do more than just lie and stare 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:28.019 and wriggle and make noises, 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:31.919 needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:33.399 like any other child. 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:35.419 The more you think about it, 00:11:35.559 --> 00:11:37.639 the more staggering it gets. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:42.360 Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this. 00:11:42.779 --> 00:11:49.459 The only way that we can know God 00:11:49.459 --> 00:11:54.519 is as if God comes and writes himself 00:11:54.519 --> 00:11:56.559 into the story of history 00:11:56.559 --> 00:12:00.179 so that the rest of us, 00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:01.839 the characters of history, 00:12:02.839 --> 00:12:05.360 could know the author of the story. 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:12.300 The claim of Christmas, 00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:14.440 the claim of Christianity, 00:12:15.379 --> 00:12:18.820 is that God is not the author of history, 00:12:19.399 --> 00:12:22.860 but he's also written himself 00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:24.899 into the storyline of history 00:12:24.899 --> 00:12:28.159 so that we might know the unknowable. 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:32.779 And so, the claim that Jesus is God 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:34.879 is an intellectual turning point, 00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:37.059 but it also causes a personal crisis. 00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:40.100 You see, whenever you see Jesus 00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:43.159 acting in the Gospels, 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:45.699 what he does is he evokes 00:12:45.699 --> 00:12:48.219 extreme responses from people. 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:51.980 People are so furious with him at points 00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:54.159 that they want to throw him off a cliff. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:57.600 They plot to kill him. 00:12:58.120 --> 00:13:00.659 Others are so terrified by his presence, 00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:02.060 they tell him to depart, 00:13:02.460 --> 00:13:03.360 get away from me. 00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:05.860 Others fall down before him 00:13:05.860 --> 00:13:08.019 and worship him as God. 00:13:08.920 --> 00:13:10.659 What you have here with Jesus 00:13:10.659 --> 00:13:13.259 is extreme reactions recorded. 00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:16.600 And those extreme reactions 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:22.360 are not because of the good things he does. 00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:26.159 Like telling people to love their neighbour 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:28.939 as you might love yourself. 00:13:30.299 --> 00:13:34.000 Those extreme reactions are always 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:38.580 because of who he claims to be. 00:13:38.580 --> 00:13:42.560 He claims to be the God 00:13:42.560 --> 00:13:44.340 who created all things, 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:45.759 the source of all life, 00:13:46.040 --> 00:13:48.420 the one who defines all reality. 00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:51.759 And if he is, 00:13:52.900 --> 00:13:54.700 then what that means is 00:13:54.700 --> 00:13:56.660 it's all about him. 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:01.139 And it means that our lives, 00:14:01.220 --> 00:14:02.820 as he is our creator, 00:14:03.560 --> 00:14:05.379 are defined by him 00:14:05.379 --> 00:14:07.600 and our life must be centred on him. 00:14:08.580 --> 00:14:12.600 However, if Jesus is not who he says he is, 00:14:13.400 --> 00:14:14.540 if he's not God, 00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:20.259 then he's not someone to be admired at all 00:14:20.259 --> 00:14:22.060 in any way. 00:14:23.920 --> 00:14:25.680 He is someone to be hated. 00:14:27.300 --> 00:14:29.300 He is someone to run away from, 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:30.720 to escape, 00:14:31.520 --> 00:14:35.060 because he is the greatest fraud in history 00:14:35.059 --> 00:14:39.479 and he is extremely dangerous for your life. 00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:42.959 What we see in the Gospels 00:14:42.959 --> 00:14:45.239 on the claim of who Jesus is 00:14:45.239 --> 00:14:48.479 is not this passive middle area 00:14:48.479 --> 00:14:50.419 where we can just admire the guy. 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:54.739 That category does not exist. 00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:58.339 He is either God or he isn't. 00:14:58.419 --> 00:15:00.059 He's either crazy and dangerous 00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:04.139 or he is infinitely wonderful to be worshipped. 00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:05.979 That's the only two responses. 00:15:07.379 --> 00:15:09.659 And it's a personal crisis for us all. 00:15:14.459 --> 00:15:14.899 But, 00:15:15.459 --> 00:15:16.819 thirdly, 00:15:18.079 --> 00:15:20.259 the claim that Jesus is God 00:15:20.259 --> 00:15:22.959 gives us the greatest possible hope. 00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:23.860 You see, 00:15:23.940 --> 00:15:24.879 the one who creates, 00:15:25.100 --> 00:15:26.800 the one who determines, 00:15:27.180 --> 00:15:29.740 the one who defines all reality 00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:31.580 says that our world 00:15:31.580 --> 00:15:34.160 is not all that there is. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:38.860 That there are a life 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:40.180 and there is love 00:15:40.180 --> 00:15:41.580 after death 00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:44.500 and that evil and suffering 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:45.879 will one day end. 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:48.960 And that is the hope 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:50.019 that we need 00:15:50.019 --> 00:15:51.879 in 2025. 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:56.200 Hope in a world 00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:57.820 with all its unending problems 00:15:57.820 --> 00:16:00.279 and hope for you and me 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:03.100 with all our unending failings. 00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:06.779 That's what makes 00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:08.559 Christianity so unique 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:09.940 and it's what makes 00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:11.860 the biblical accounts of Jesus 00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:12.860 and what he says 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:14.220 so crucial 00:16:14.220 --> 00:16:16.379 that we do not redefine it. 00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:18.220 That we make God 00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:19.160 something different 00:16:19.160 --> 00:16:19.980 in our minds 00:16:19.980 --> 00:16:20.800 and in our hearts. 00:16:21.660 --> 00:16:22.000 You see, 00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:24.460 a God who was, 00:16:24.899 --> 00:16:26.519 a God who's just perfect, 00:16:26.940 --> 00:16:27.920 a God who's just 00:16:27.920 --> 00:16:29.139 all about justice, 00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:30.060 a God who's gonna 00:16:30.060 --> 00:16:31.420 smite evil 00:16:31.420 --> 00:16:33.120 and make everything right 00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:34.240 that's wrong. 00:16:34.680 --> 00:16:34.920 You know, 00:16:35.040 --> 00:16:36.680 the God who is 00:16:36.680 --> 00:16:39.580 a hard taskmaster 00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:43.399 would not have come down to us 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:47.240 this God would not have arrived. 00:16:49.939 --> 00:16:51.980 He would have simply demanded 00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:54.439 that we pull ourselves together, 00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:56.740 do a bunch of moral good, 00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:58.799 obey a bunch of laws 00:16:58.799 --> 00:17:01.340 and earn the right 00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:04.279 to be loved by him. 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:08.200 On the other hand, 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:09.740 a God 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:10.899 that was 00:17:10.899 --> 00:17:12.660 an all accepting, 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:14.700 God of all accepting love 00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:17.920 would not have come down 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:18.819 to us either. 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:21.059 Would never have arrived. 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:22.619 You know, 00:17:22.639 --> 00:17:23.619 the God of the modern 00:17:23.619 --> 00:17:24.759 Western imagination 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:26.039 would have just, 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.660 there's no point of him 00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:29.039 coming into his world 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:30.899 because he's just gonna 00:17:30.899 --> 00:17:32.579 overlook every sin 00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:33.359 and every wrong 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:34.079 and every evil 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:35.259 and just embrace us 00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:36.159 for who we are 00:17:36.159 --> 00:17:38.079 and just let us 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:39.039 do our thing. 00:17:41.439 --> 00:17:42.980 Neither of those gods 00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:43.699 would have bothered 00:17:43.699 --> 00:17:44.500 with Christmas. 00:17:49.699 --> 00:17:50.980 The biblical God, 00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:51.359 however, 00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:52.899 is infinitely good 00:17:52.899 --> 00:17:53.759 and perfect 00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:56.379 and so our sin 00:17:56.379 --> 00:17:57.980 could not just be 00:17:57.980 --> 00:17:58.740 shrugged off 00:17:58.740 --> 00:17:59.779 as if it doesn't matter 00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:02.440 but he's also 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:03.799 infinitely loving 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:06.519 and he knows 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:08.240 that we could never 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.420 ever climb up 00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:10.140 to him. 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:13.180 We could never be good enough 00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:15.599 to get to him 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:18.200 and so he had to come to us. 00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:22.319 God had to come down 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:24.600 and do what we cannot do 00:18:24.600 --> 00:18:26.140 and so Christmas 00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:28.100 is full of hope 00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:28.860 for us. 00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:33.799 The second thing we see here 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.660 that Jesus is human. 00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:37.940 This interaction 00:18:37.940 --> 00:18:39.440 between Joseph 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:40.259 and the angel 00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:43.279 reveals the humanity 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:44.140 of Jesus 00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:44.960 and what difference 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:45.600 does that make 00:18:45.600 --> 00:18:46.720 in the way that we live? 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:48.140 Let me just quote Packer 00:18:48.140 --> 00:18:48.980 again on this one. 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:50.299 For the Son of God 00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:51.980 to empty himself 00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:53.259 and become poor 00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:55.900 meant a laying aside 00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:56.799 of glory, 00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:59.200 a voluntary restraint 00:18:59.200 --> 00:18:59.940 of power, 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.279 an acceptance 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:02.440 of hardship, 00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:03.839 isolation, 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.200 ill treatment, 00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:05.860 malice 00:19:05.860 --> 00:19:06.779 and misunderstanding. 00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:07.720 Finally, 00:19:08.140 --> 00:19:08.640 a death 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:09.279 that involves 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.480 such agony, 00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:11.779 spiritual 00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:13.400 even more than physical 00:19:13.400 --> 00:19:15.180 that his mind 00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:16.240 nearly broke 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:17.240 under the prospect 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:17.859 of it. 00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:20.180 It meant love 00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:21.620 to the utmost 00:19:21.620 --> 00:19:23.240 for unlovely people. 00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:26.000 And so, 00:19:26.660 --> 00:19:27.660 the Christmas spirit 00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:29.200 does not shine out 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:30.740 in the Christian snob. 00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:33.059 For the Christmas spirit 00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:33.819 is a spirit 00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:34.460 of those 00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.720 who like their master 00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:38.099 live their whole lives 00:19:38.099 --> 00:19:39.160 on the principle 00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:41.940 of making themselves poor, 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:43.259 spending 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:44.599 and being spent 00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:46.099 to enrich 00:19:46.099 --> 00:19:47.480 their fellow humans 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:49.799 giving time, 00:19:50.579 --> 00:19:50.920 trouble, 00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.299 care 00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:53.700 and concern 00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:55.339 to do good 00:19:55.339 --> 00:19:56.019 to others 00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:57.180 and not just 00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:58.379 their own friends 00:19:58.379 --> 00:20:00.099 in whatever way 00:20:00.099 --> 00:20:02.200 there seems need. 00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:04.160 You see, 00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:04.840 the fact that 00:20:04.840 --> 00:20:05.580 God 00:20:05.580 --> 00:20:07.299 became human 00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:10.580 and emptied 00:20:10.580 --> 00:20:11.000 himself 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.840 of his glory 00:20:11.840 --> 00:20:13.480 means 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:14.400 that we should 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:15.100 not want 00:20:15.100 --> 00:20:15.700 to hang out 00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:16.600 just with people 00:20:16.600 --> 00:20:18.200 who are going 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:19.620 to enrich us 00:20:19.620 --> 00:20:20.519 and advance us 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:21.360 in some way. 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:23.539 People who are 00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:23.940 just going to 00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:24.700 open the doors 00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:25.319 for us. 00:20:26.620 --> 00:20:27.299 We need 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:28.460 to be willing 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:29.259 to go 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:29.920 to the 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:31.100 people 00:20:31.099 --> 00:20:32.039 without the power, 00:20:32.199 --> 00:20:32.899 without the beauty, 00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:33.779 without the money 00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:34.799 all because 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.219 God 00:20:35.219 --> 00:20:35.859 became 00:20:35.859 --> 00:20:36.759 one 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:37.719 of us. 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:42.159 And the fact 00:20:42.159 --> 00:20:42.419 that 00:20:42.419 --> 00:20:43.359 he became 00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:44.119 one of us 00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:44.679 human 00:20:44.679 --> 00:20:48.000 it means 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.399 that 00:20:48.399 --> 00:20:49.179 there's 00:20:49.179 --> 00:20:49.980 infinite 00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:50.799 comfort 00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:51.740 in our 00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:52.439 suffering 00:20:52.439 --> 00:20:54.419 right now. 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:55.339 Hebrews 00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:56.000 chapter 2 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.599 verse 17 00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:57.079 says that 00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:57.399 Jesus 00:20:57.399 --> 00:20:58.359 made like us 00:20:58.359 --> 00:20:59.259 fully human 00:20:59.259 --> 00:20:59.919 in every way 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:00.800 and the very 00:21:00.800 --> 00:21:01.440 next verse 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:02.019 tells us 00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:02.400 what that 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:03.259 means for us 00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:05.060 because he 00:21:05.060 --> 00:21:05.460 himself 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:06.060 suffered 00:21:06.060 --> 00:21:06.860 when he 00:21:06.860 --> 00:21:07.120 was 00:21:07.120 --> 00:21:07.600 tried 00:21:07.600 --> 00:21:08.960 and tested 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:10.220 he is 00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:10.640 able 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:11.880 to help 00:21:11.880 --> 00:21:12.360 those 00:21:12.360 --> 00:21:13.060 who are 00:21:13.060 --> 00:21:13.380 being 00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:13.960 tried 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:14.380 and 00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:14.800 tested. 00:21:16.080 --> 00:21:16.240 You see 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:16.759 when something 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:17.519 bad happens 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:17.860 and real 00:21:17.860 --> 00:21:18.140 suffering 00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:18.720 comes to 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.060 us 00:21:19.060 --> 00:21:19.759 one of 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:19.960 the 00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:20.779 consequences 00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.140 of 00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:21.660 suffering 00:21:21.660 --> 00:21:22.660 in our 00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:23.080 world 00:21:23.080 --> 00:21:23.759 is this 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:25.440 a deep 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:25.960 sense of 00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:26.560 loneliness 00:21:26.560 --> 00:21:27.180 that comes 00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:27.660 with it. 00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:29.799 You know 00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:30.259 as if I'm 00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:30.960 walking this 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:31.519 myself 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:33.519 no one's 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:34.060 been on this 00:21:34.060 --> 00:21:34.380 journey 00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:34.700 the way 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:35.039 that I've 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:35.299 been on 00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:35.500 this 00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:35.820 journey 00:21:35.820 --> 00:21:38.259 and what 00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:38.620 happens 00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:38.880 in the 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:39.039 midst 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:39.200 of 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:39.680 suffering 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:42.080 is that 00:21:42.080 --> 00:21:42.400 people 00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:43.299 around us 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:44.940 express 00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:45.640 some 00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:46.460 level of 00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:46.940 sympathy 00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:51.200 but deep 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:51.799 down 00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:53.880 it doesn't 00:21:53.880 --> 00:21:54.560 seem to 00:21:54.560 --> 00:21:55.240 help a 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:55.519 lot. 00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:57.400 it's 00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:57.839 great to 00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:58.200 know that 00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:58.619 people are 00:21:58.619 --> 00:21:59.160 there and 00:21:59.160 --> 00:21:59.319 they're 00:21:59.319 --> 00:21:59.819 acknowledging 00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:00.480 your pain 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:00.680 but it 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:00.980 doesn't 00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:01.619 seem to 00:22:01.619 --> 00:22:02.319 help a 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:02.639 lot 00:22:02.639 --> 00:22:05.180 but then 00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:06.599 we meet 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:07.220 someone 00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:08.420 who's been 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:09.119 through a 00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:09.599 similar thing 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.000 that we've 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.619 been through 00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:11.980 and we 00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:12.460 pour our 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:13.059 heart out 00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:13.379 to that 00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:13.859 person 00:22:13.859 --> 00:22:14.359 and they 00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:14.960 listen 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:16.579 they 00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:17.200 listen 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:20.759 there's a 00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.240 connection 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:22.720 and we 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.339 start to 00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:23.920 listen to 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:24.220 their 00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:24.839 opinions 00:22:24.839 --> 00:22:25.759 because 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.079 they've 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:26.259 been 00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:26.500 through 00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:26.699 the 00:22:26.699 --> 00:22:26.939 same 00:22:26.939 --> 00:22:27.419 thing 00:22:27.419 --> 00:22:28.079 it's 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:28.299 like 00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:28.539 you 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:29.279 journey 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:29.720 with 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:29.879 them 00:22:29.879 --> 00:22:30.019 in 00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:30.220 that 00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:30.699 moment 00:22:30.699 --> 00:22:33.899 the 00:22:33.899 --> 00:22:34.279 coming 00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:34.559 of 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:34.939 God 00:22:34.939 --> 00:22:35.279 into 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:35.579 this 00:22:35.579 --> 00:22:36.299 world 00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:37.699 ultimately 00:22:37.699 --> 00:22:38.519 means 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:39.119 that 00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:39.299 he 00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:39.899 suffered 00:22:39.899 --> 00:22:41.539 and 00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:41.679 that 00:22:41.679 --> 00:22:41.819 he 00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:41.980 in 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.119 fact 00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:43.240 triumphed 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:43.959 through 00:22:43.959 --> 00:22:44.659 suffering 00:22:44.659 --> 00:22:45.759 and 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.319 therefore 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:46.919 he 00:22:46.919 --> 00:22:47.299 has 00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:48.299 infinite 00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:49.159 power 00:22:49.159 --> 00:22:50.240 to 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:50.839 comfort 00:22:50.839 --> 00:22:51.139 the 00:22:51.139 --> 00:22:51.839 sufferer 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:54.299 this 00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:54.599 God 00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:54.779 is 00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:55.559 unlike 00:22:55.559 --> 00:22:55.819 the 00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:56.139 God 00:22:56.139 --> 00:22:56.339 of 00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:57.000 any 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.559 other 00:22:57.559 --> 00:22:58.339 faith 00:22:58.339 --> 00:22:58.679 in 00:22:58.679 --> 00:22:58.919 this 00:22:58.919 --> 00:22:59.419 world 00:22:59.419 --> 00:23:04.639 so 00:23:04.639 --> 00:23:04.859 have 00:23:04.859 --> 00:23:05.000 you 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:05.259 been 00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:05.819 betrayed 00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:08.439 do you 00:23:08.439 --> 00:23:08.599 feel 00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:09.059 abandoned 00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:09.299 and 00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:09.720 lonely 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:12.559 have 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:12.679 you 00:23:12.679 --> 00:23:12.919 been 00:23:12.919 --> 00:23:13.599 destitute 00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:15.799 facing 00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:16.419 death 00:23:16.419 --> 00:23:17.259 even 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:19.500 so 00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:19.680 has 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:19.900 he 00:23:19.900 --> 00:23:21.819 he's 00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:22.039 been 00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:22.240 through 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:22.359 it 00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:22.680 all 00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:26.539 Jesus 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:26.879 has 00:23:26.879 --> 00:23:27.440 been 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:28.440 all 00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:28.700 the 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:29.259 places 00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:29.940 that 00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:30.240 you 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:30.720 are 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.279 right 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:31.879 now 00:23:31.879 --> 00:23:34.079 including 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:34.599 mental 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.140 health 00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:36.119 his 00:23:36.119 --> 00:23:36.680 mind 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:37.099 nearly 00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:37.660 broke 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:40.460 in the 00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:40.859 garden of 00:23:40.859 --> 00:23:41.379 Gethsemane 00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:49.120 he's 00:23:49.120 --> 00:23:49.480 been 00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:49.740 in 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:49.920 the 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:50.460 darkness 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:50.780 that 00:23:50.780 --> 00:23:50.940 you 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:51.120 are 00:23:51.120 --> 00:23:51.600 now 00:23:51.600 --> 00:23:53.500 and 00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:53.760 much 00:23:53.760 --> 00:23:54.120 more 00:23:54.120 --> 00:23:55.740 he 00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.000 has 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.580 suffered 00:23:56.580 --> 00:23:58.160 and 00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:58.300 he 00:23:58.300 --> 00:23:58.520 has 00:23:58.520 --> 00:23:58.700 the 00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:58.960 power 00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.100 to 00:23:59.100 --> 00:23:59.520 comfort 00:23:59.520 --> 00:24:00.200 he 00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:00.360 has 00:24:00.360 --> 00:24:00.520 the 00:24:00.520 --> 00:24:00.780 power 00:24:00.780 --> 00:24:00.940 to 00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.440 strengthen 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.280 and 00:24:02.280 --> 00:24:02.400 he 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:02.480 has 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:02.640 the 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:02.880 power 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:03.060 to 00:24:03.060 --> 00:24:03.460 bring 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:03.760 you 00:24:03.760 --> 00:24:04.060 through 00:24:04.060 --> 00:24:04.300 it 00:24:04.300 --> 00:24:08.460 because 00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:08.920 thirdly 00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:09.180 he's 00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:09.420 with 00:24:09.420 --> 00:24:09.800 us 00:24:09.800 --> 00:24:10.380 not 00:24:10.380 --> 00:24:10.580 just 00:24:10.580 --> 00:24:11.320 momentarily 00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:11.619 but 00:24:11.619 --> 00:24:11.859 he 00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:12.259 is 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:12.619 with 00:24:12.619 --> 00:24:13.200 us 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:14.519 you 00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:14.659 see 00:24:14.659 --> 00:24:15.139 God's 00:24:15.139 --> 00:24:15.539 plans 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:15.759 were 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.319 infinitely 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:16.839 greater 00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.099 than 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:17.339 a 00:24:17.339 --> 00:24:18.960 short 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:19.480 visit 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:21.500 gifting 00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:21.819 us 00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:22.159 with a 00:24:22.159 --> 00:24:22.659 good 00:24:22.659 --> 00:24:23.220 example 00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:23.559 of how 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:23.859 to live 00:24:23.859 --> 00:24:24.319 life 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:24.559 and 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.359 a 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:25.579 bunch 00:24:25.579 --> 00:24:25.700 of 00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:25.980 helpful 00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.659 teaching 00:24:26.659 --> 00:24:28.139 his 00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:28.779 plan 00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:30.619 in 00:24:30.619 --> 00:24:31.240 becoming 00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:31.819 human 00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:32.679 was 00:24:32.679 --> 00:24:33.019 to 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:34.480 always 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.059 be 00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:35.639 human 00:24:35.639 --> 00:24:36.559 and 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:36.720 to 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:37.159 always 00:24:37.159 --> 00:24:37.359 be 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:37.579 with 00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:37.939 us 00:24:37.939 --> 00:24:39.119 Jesus 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:39.799 chose 00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:40.819 a 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.399 12 00:24:41.399 --> 00:24:42.700 apostles 00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.399 disciples 00:24:43.399 --> 00:24:44.099 initially 00:24:44.099 --> 00:24:44.679 and 00:24:44.679 --> 00:24:45.200 appointed 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:45.599 them 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:46.000 so that 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.179 they 00:24:46.179 --> 00:24:46.379 would 00:24:46.379 --> 00:24:46.559 be 00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:46.799 with 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:47.139 him 00:24:47.139 --> 00:24:49.319 chosen 00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:49.700 to be 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.000 in 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:50.259 his 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:50.960 presence 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.539 conversing 00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:52.759 with 00:24:52.759 --> 00:24:52.939 him 00:24:52.939 --> 00:24:53.399 learning 00:24:53.399 --> 00:24:53.759 from 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:54.059 him 00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:54.720 having 00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:54.960 his 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:55.779 comfort 00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:56.200 moment 00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:56.419 by 00:24:56.419 --> 00:24:56.859 moment 00:24:56.859 --> 00:24:57.819 you 00:24:57.819 --> 00:24:58.000 see 00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:58.339 in 00:24:58.339 --> 00:24:58.779 Jesus 00:24:58.779 --> 00:24:59.740 the 00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.939 unapproachable 00:25:00.939 --> 00:25:01.619 God 00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:04.000 becomes 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.399 a 00:25:04.399 --> 00:25:04.739 human 00:25:04.739 --> 00:25:05.419 being 00:25:05.419 --> 00:25:06.059 who 00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:06.319 can 00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:06.559 be 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:07.000 known 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.419 and 00:25:07.419 --> 00:25:08.039 loved 00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:10.239 and 00:25:10.239 --> 00:25:10.839 frankly 00:25:10.839 --> 00:25:13.099 that 00:25:13.099 --> 00:25:13.839 reality 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.559 does not 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.379 stun us 00:25:15.379 --> 00:25:15.979 as much 00:25:15.979 --> 00:25:16.319 as it 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:16.679 should 00:25:16.679 --> 00:25:18.239 moment 00:25:18.239 --> 00:25:18.519 by 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:18.959 moment 00:25:18.959 --> 00:25:20.359 you see 00:25:20.359 --> 00:25:20.619 in the 00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:20.819 Old 00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:21.299 Testament 00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:22.039 God 00:25:22.039 --> 00:25:22.679 appears 00:25:22.679 --> 00:25:23.139 to 00:25:23.139 --> 00:25:23.619 Abraham 00:25:23.619 --> 00:25:24.379 as a 00:25:24.379 --> 00:25:25.199 smoking 00:25:25.199 --> 00:25:25.919 furnace 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:27.420 to 00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:28.100 Israel 00:25:28.100 --> 00:25:28.320 his 00:25:28.320 --> 00:25:28.620 people 00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:29.019 as a 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:29.259 pillar 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:29.580 of 00:25:29.580 --> 00:25:30.019 fire 00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:30.580 to 00:25:30.580 --> 00:25:31.120 Job 00:25:31.120 --> 00:25:31.779 as a 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.460 hurricane 00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:33.140 and 00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:33.340 when 00:25:33.340 --> 00:25:33.880 Moses 00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:34.560 asked 00:25:34.560 --> 00:25:34.740 to 00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:35.259 see 00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:35.840 the 00:25:35.840 --> 00:25:36.160 face 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:36.360 of 00:25:36.360 --> 00:25:36.759 God 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:37.160 he 00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:37.420 was 00:25:37.420 --> 00:25:37.960 told 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:38.480 if 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:38.660 I 00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:39.120 showed 00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:39.480 myself 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:39.759 to 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:40.000 you 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:40.240 it 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:40.420 would 00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:40.860 kill 00:25:40.860 --> 00:25:41.220 you 00:25:41.220 --> 00:25:42.180 so 00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:42.820 great 00:25:42.820 --> 00:25:43.200 and 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:43.620 high 00:25:43.620 --> 00:25:43.960 and 00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:44.539 holy 00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:45.720 is 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.019 and 00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:46.800 unproachable 00:25:46.800 --> 00:25:47.080 is 00:25:47.080 --> 00:25:47.580 God 00:25:47.580 --> 00:25:48.860 and 00:25:48.860 --> 00:25:49.000 yet 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:49.220 the 00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:49.580 message 00:25:49.580 --> 00:25:49.779 of 00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:50.180 Christmas 00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:51.259 means 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:51.580 that 00:25:51.580 --> 00:25:52.580 through 00:25:52.580 --> 00:25:53.480 Jesus 00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:55.180 you 00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:55.400 can 00:25:55.400 --> 00:25:55.840 see 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:56.279 God 00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:57.299 you 00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:57.539 can 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:57.819 meet 00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.259 God 00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:58.699 you 00:25:58.699 --> 00:25:58.899 can 00:25:58.899 --> 00:25:59.339 know 00:25:59.339 --> 00:25:59.659 him 00:25:59.659 --> 00:26:00.359 personally 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:01.519 without 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:02.199 any 00:26:02.199 --> 00:26:02.720 terror 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:03.019 at 00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.619 all 00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:07.059 when 00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:07.339 God 00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:07.599 showed 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:07.799 up 00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:07.959 in 00:26:07.959 --> 00:26:08.259 Jesus 00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:08.699 Christ 00:26:08.699 --> 00:26:08.879 he 00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:09.000 was 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.139 a 00:26:09.139 --> 00:26:09.519 baby 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:12.439 this 00:26:12.439 --> 00:26:12.839 time 00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:13.039 he 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:13.639 came 00:26:13.639 --> 00:26:14.500 not 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:14.659 to 00:26:14.659 --> 00:26:14.839 bring 00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:15.419 judgment 00:26:15.419 --> 00:26:15.779 but 00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:16.119 in 00:26:16.119 --> 00:26:16.319 fact 00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:16.519 to 00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:16.759 bear 00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:17.279 judgment 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:18.519 to 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:19.019 pay 00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.399 the 00:26:19.399 --> 00:26:19.759 penalty 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:20.039 for 00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:20.259 our 00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:20.559 sin 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:20.939 to 00:26:20.939 --> 00:26:21.220 take 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:21.439 away 00:26:21.439 --> 00:26:21.659 the 00:26:21.659 --> 00:26:22.159 barrier 00:26:22.159 --> 00:26:23.039 between 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.879 humanity 00:26:23.879 --> 00:26:24.199 and 00:26:24.199 --> 00:26:24.599 God 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.039 so 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:25.240 that 00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:25.519 when 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:26.120 humanity 00:26:26.120 --> 00:26:26.680 faced 00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:27.200 God 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:28.299 if 00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:28.500 that 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:28.960 barrier 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:29.579 stayed 00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:30.500 we 00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:30.680 would 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:30.859 be 00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:31.859 obliterated 00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:34.859 Jesus 00:26:34.859 --> 00:26:35.339 is 00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:35.660 God 00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:35.900 with 00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:36.380 us 00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:37.799 and 00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:37.940 so 00:26:37.940 --> 00:26:38.079 I 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:38.440 ask 00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:38.579 you 00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:38.740 are 00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:38.900 you 00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:39.200 really 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:39.500 with 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:39.759 him 00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:40.720 do 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:41.059 you 00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:41.559 know 00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:41.940 him 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.799 or 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:43.120 just 00:26:43.120 --> 00:26:43.620 about 00:26:43.620 --> 00:26:44.019 him 00:26:44.019 --> 00:26:44.059 ! 00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:44.639 God 00:26:44.639 --> 00:26:47.980 there 00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:48.119 is 00:26:48.119 --> 00:26:48.420 one 00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:48.920 crucial 00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:49.500 trait 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.980 necessary 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:51.379 for 00:26:51.379 --> 00:26:51.660 having 00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:51.839 a 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:52.200 personal 00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:52.839 relationship 00:26:52.839 --> 00:26:53.160 with 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:53.579 Jesus 00:26:53.579 --> 00:26:54.900 one 00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:55.379 crucial 00:26:55.379 --> 00:26:55.759 trait 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:57.079 and 00:26:57.079 --> 00:26:57.200 in 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:57.500 actual 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:57.839 fact 00:26:57.839 --> 00:26:58.420 it's 00:26:58.420 --> 00:26:59.859 probably 00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:00.240 the 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:00.779 trait 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.019 that 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.240 is 00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:01.819 most 00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:02.700 overlooked 00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:04.759 an 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:05.279 intimate 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:06.000 relationship 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.379 with 00:27:06.379 --> 00:27:06.759 Jesus 00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:07.619 always 00:27:07.619 --> 00:27:08.400 requires 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:09.139 courage 00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:11.759 courage 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:15.420 we 00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:16.200 cannot 00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:16.780 know 00:27:16.780 --> 00:27:17.380 Jesus 00:27:17.380 --> 00:27:18.320 personally 00:27:18.320 --> 00:27:21.120 as 00:27:21.120 --> 00:27:21.700 I've 00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:21.920 just 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:22.460 outlined 00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:22.660 it 00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:23.080 here 00:27:23.080 --> 00:27:23.880 unless 00:27:23.880 --> 00:27:24.400 we 00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:24.640 have 00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:25.000 the 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:25.680 courage 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:27.320 to 00:27:27.320 --> 00:27:27.980 admit 00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:29.600 that 00:27:29.600 --> 00:27:30.140 we 00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:30.600 are 00:27:30.600 --> 00:27:31.560 sinners 00:27:31.560 --> 00:27:32.520 morally 00:27:32.520 --> 00:27:33.400 flawed 00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:35.920 admit 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:36.220 that 00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:36.480 we 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:37.480 have 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.200 chosen 00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:38.480 to 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:38.799 live 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:39.400 life 00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:41.160 rejecting 00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:41.660 our 00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:42.080 creator 00:27:42.080 --> 00:27:42.600 God 00:27:42.600 --> 00:27:42.940 and 00:27:42.940 --> 00:27:43.180 live 00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:43.500 life 00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:43.819 our 00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:44.240 way 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:44.740 you 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:44.920 see 00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:45.340 Jesus 00:27:45.340 --> 00:27:45.980 entire 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:46.420 mission 00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:46.660 is 00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:46.980 summed 00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:47.180 up 00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:47.519 there 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:47.860 in 00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:48.080 verse 00:27:48.080 --> 00:27:48.559 21 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:49.279 he's 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:49.680 Emmanuel 00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:50.080 God 00:27:50.080 --> 00:27:50.279 with 00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:50.519 us 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.019 why 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:51.600 he 00:27:51.600 --> 00:27:51.840 will 00:27:51.840 --> 00:27:52.500 save 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:52.960 his 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:53.380 people 00:27:53.380 --> 00:27:53.740 from 00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:54.039 their 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.580 sins 00:27:54.580 --> 00:27:55.559 you 00:27:55.559 --> 00:27:55.680 see 00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:56.000 first 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:56.180 and 00:27:56.180 --> 00:27:56.519 foremost 00:27:56.519 --> 00:27:57.299 that's 00:27:57.299 --> 00:27:57.440 what 00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:57.580 he 00:27:57.580 --> 00:27:57.880 came 00:27:57.880 --> 00:27:58.340 for 00:27:58.340 --> 00:27:59.059 he 00:27:59.059 --> 00:27:59.299 took 00:27:59.299 --> 00:27:59.500 on 00:27:59.500 --> 00:27:59.840 human 00:27:59.840 --> 00:28:00.500 flesh 00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:00.720 to 00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.019 forgive 00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:01.500 us 00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:02.279 and 00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:02.580 so 00:28:02.580 --> 00:28:03.440 it's 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:03.980 courage 00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:04.400 it 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:04.620 takes 00:28:04.620 --> 00:28:05.039 a lot 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:05.180 of 00:28:05.180 --> 00:28:05.559 courage 00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:06.039 to 00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:06.559 admit 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:07.240 I 00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:07.660 am 00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:09.060 a 00:28:09.060 --> 00:28:09.480 moral 00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:10.240 failure 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:12.220 I 00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.420 don't 00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:12.840 love 00:28:12.840 --> 00:28:13.220 God 00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:13.400 with 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:13.540 all 00:28:13.540 --> 00:28:13.740 my 00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.100 heart 00:28:14.100 --> 00:28:14.340 my 00:28:14.340 --> 00:28:14.960 soul 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.100 and 00:28:15.100 --> 00:28:15.240 my 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.640 strength 00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:15.740 and 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:15.880 my 00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:16.259 mind 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:16.580 I 00:28:16.580 --> 00:28:16.800 don't 00:28:16.800 --> 00:28:17.019 love 00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:17.220 my 00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:17.519 neighbor 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:17.860 as 00:28:17.860 --> 00:28:18.660 myself 00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:19.380 and 00:28:19.380 --> 00:28:19.640 therefore 00:28:19.640 --> 00:28:19.900 I 00:28:19.900 --> 00:28:20.060 am 00:28:20.060 --> 00:28:20.580 guilty 00:28:20.580 --> 00:28:21.060 and 00:28:21.060 --> 00:28:21.200 I 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:21.580 need 00:28:21.580 --> 00:28:22.080 forgiveness 00:28:22.080 --> 00:28:22.420 and 00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:22.840 pardon 00:28:22.840 --> 00:28:23.240 before 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:23.759 anything 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.240 else 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:24.980 that's 00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:25.240 what I 00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:25.500 need 00:28:25.500 --> 00:28:25.700 from 00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:26.100 God 00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:26.459 God 00:28:26.459 --> 00:28:28.599 it 00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:28.980 takes 00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:29.119 an 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:29.799 enormous 00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:30.139 amount 00:28:30.139 --> 00:28:30.279 of 00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:30.579 courage 00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:30.759 to 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:30.899 admit 00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:31.199 those 00:28:31.199 --> 00:28:31.619 things 00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:32.740 it 00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:33.079 means 00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:33.939 throwing 00:28:33.939 --> 00:28:34.459 out 00:28:34.459 --> 00:28:34.699 the 00:28:34.699 --> 00:28:35.159 old 00:28:35.159 --> 00:28:35.879 self 00:28:35.879 --> 00:28:36.439 image 00:28:36.439 --> 00:28:36.659 that 00:28:36.659 --> 00:28:36.879 you've 00:28:36.879 --> 00:28:37.139 made 00:28:37.139 --> 00:28:37.339 for 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:37.859 yourself 00:28:37.859 --> 00:28:38.679 and 00:28:38.679 --> 00:28:38.899 getting 00:28:38.899 --> 00:28:39.279 a new 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:39.579 one 00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:39.859 through 00:28:39.859 --> 00:28:40.419 Jesus 00:28:40.419 --> 00:28:42.279 and 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:42.619 that 00:28:42.619 --> 00:28:43.179 admission 00:28:43.179 --> 00:28:45.539 that I 00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:45.759 am 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.339 morally 00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:46.899 flawed 00:28:46.899 --> 00:28:47.379 and I 00:28:47.379 --> 00:28:48.059 need 00:28:48.059 --> 00:28:48.759 Jesus 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:49.199 as 00:28:49.199 --> 00:28:49.480 my 00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:49.919 savior 00:28:49.919 --> 00:28:49.919 00:28:49.919 --> 00:28:51.559 is 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:51.740 the 00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.039 very 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:52.740 foundation 00:28:52.740 --> 00:28:53.620 for 00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:53.980 all 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:54.160 the 00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:54.440 other 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:54.839 things 00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:55.140 that 00:28:55.140 --> 00:28:55.480 this 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:55.920 God 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:56.640 wants 00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:56.819 to 00:28:56.819 --> 00:28:57.039 bring 00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:57.380 into 00:28:57.380 --> 00:28:57.640 your 00:28:57.640 --> 00:28:58.079 life 00:28:58.079 --> 00:28:58.579 all 00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:58.759 the 00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.240 comfort 00:28:59.240 --> 00:28:59.799 all 00:28:59.799 --> 00:28:59.960 the 00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:00.299 hope 00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:01.019 all 00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:01.359 the 00:29:01.359 --> 00:29:02.079 joyful 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:02.720 humility 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:03.180 and 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:03.660 everything 00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:04.099 else 00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:05.519 the 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:06.140 only 00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:06.839 way 00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:07.460 that 00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:07.640 we 00:29:07.640 --> 00:29:07.839 would 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:08.059 have 00:29:08.059 --> 00:29:08.380 such 00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.000 courage 00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.900 the 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:10.120 only 00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:10.380 way 00:29:10.380 --> 00:29:10.539 we 00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:10.640 would 00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:11.380 get 00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:11.599 the 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:12.019 strength 00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:12.319 to be 00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:12.880 courageous 00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:13.120 and 00:29:13.120 --> 00:29:13.440 admit 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:13.799 that 00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:14.380 is 00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:14.579 by 00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:14.920 looking 00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:15.180 to 00:29:15.180 --> 00:29:15.500 Jesus 00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:16.000 himself 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:16.880 he's 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:16.980 the 00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.180 only 00:29:17.180 --> 00:29:17.579 source 00:29:17.579 --> 00:29:17.720 of 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:17.900 that 00:29:17.900 --> 00:29:18.359 courage 00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:19.839 he's 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:19.960 not 00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:20.140 just 00:29:20.140 --> 00:29:20.299 the 00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:20.579 source 00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:20.720 of 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:20.880 our 00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:21.259 comfort 00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:21.579 and 00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:21.779 our 00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.279 salvation 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.220 and 00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:23.420 our 00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:23.880 hope 00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:24.500 but 00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:24.720 he 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:24.920 is 00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:25.200 the 00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:25.579 source 00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:25.799 of 00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:25.940 the 00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:26.400 courage 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:27.400 you 00:29:27.400 --> 00:29:27.519 see 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:27.779 if 00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:27.940 it 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:28.279 takes 00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:28.799 courage 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:28.980 to 00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:29.120 be 00:29:29.120 --> 00:29:29.359 with 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:29.660 him 00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:30.779 consider 00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:32.799 consider 00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:33.799 that 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:34.000 it 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:34.259 took 00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:35.420 infinitely 00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:35.799 more 00:29:35.799 --> 00:29:36.339 courage 00:29:36.339 --> 00:29:36.519 for 00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:36.720 him 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:36.880 to 00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:37.000 be 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:37.180 with 00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:37.640 us 00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:39.460 infinitely 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:39.839 more 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:40.339 courage 00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:42.120 apart 00:29:42.120 --> 00:29:42.680 from 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:43.460 Christianity 00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:45.579 no 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:45.980 other 00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.480 religion 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:47.079 says 00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:47.299 that 00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:47.599 one 00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:47.759 of 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.039 the 00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:48.539 attributes 00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:48.920 of 00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:49.079 the 00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:49.620 divine 00:29:49.620 --> 00:29:50.740 is 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.480 courage 00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:54.759 he 00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:55.200 became 00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:55.740 mortal 00:29:55.740 --> 00:29:57.759 he 00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:58.059 became 00:29:58.059 --> 00:29:58.579 vulnerable 00:29:58.579 --> 00:30:00.620 so 00:30:00.620 --> 00:30:00.900 that 00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:01.640 he 00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:01.880 could 00:30:01.880 --> 00:30:02.360 suffer 00:30:02.360 --> 00:30:03.160 be 00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:03.700 betrayed 00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:04.599 and 00:30:04.599 --> 00:30:05.200 killed 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:07.360 he 00:30:07.360 --> 00:30:07.880 faced 00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:08.200 our 00:30:08.200 --> 00:30:08.779 darkness 00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:09.339 so 00:30:09.339 --> 00:30:09.519 that 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:09.740 we 00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:09.900 can 00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:10.120 have 00:30:10.120 --> 00:30:10.299 the 00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:10.539 light 00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:10.700 of 00:30:10.700 --> 00:30:11.200 life 00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:13.299 and 00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:13.660 that 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:14.299 means 00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:14.559 that 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:14.940 because 00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:15.259 he's 00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:15.480 done 00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:15.660 that 00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:15.880 for 00:30:15.880 --> 00:30:16.220 us 00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:16.700 it 00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:17.220 enables 00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:17.640 us 00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:17.900 to 00:30:17.900 --> 00:30:18.519 face 00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:19.859 any 00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:20.319 darkness 00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:20.980 ourselves 00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:22.160 and 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:22.660 still 00:30:22.660 --> 00:30:23.119 have 00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:23.379 the 00:30:23.379 --> 00:30:23.700 light 00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:23.940 of 00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:24.440 hope 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:26.859 and 00:30:26.859 --> 00:30:27.000 he 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:27.160 did 00:30:27.160 --> 00:30:27.279 it 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:27.480 all 00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:27.839 willingly 00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:28.259 for 00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:28.720 us 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:30.980 it's 00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:31.220 there 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:31.539 actually 00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:31.759 in the 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:32.019 Christmas 00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:32.359 carol 00:30:32.359 --> 00:30:32.720 we haven't 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:33.099 sung it 00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:33.539 well I'm 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:33.819 sure we're 00:30:33.819 --> 00:30:33.980 going to 00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.240 sing in 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:34.460 the next 00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:34.639 few 00:30:34.639 --> 00:30:34.900 weeks 00:30:34.900 --> 00:30:35.119 but 00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:35.779 the 00:30:35.779 --> 00:30:36.039 Christmas 00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:36.480 carol 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:36.879 hark 00:30:36.879 --> 00:30:37.039 the 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:37.259 herald 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:37.579 angels 00:30:37.579 --> 00:30:38.039 sing 00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:39.579 there's 00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:40.339 a line 00:30:40.339 --> 00:30:40.799 in 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:41.079 that 00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:41.920 carol 00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:42.460 which 00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:43.079 where we 00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:43.420 sing 00:30:43.420 --> 00:30:44.440 mild 00:30:44.440 --> 00:30:45.779 he lays 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.379 his glory 00:30:46.379 --> 00:30:46.879 by 00:30:48.519 --> 00:30:49.119 what that 00:30:49.119 --> 00:30:50.000 means 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.599 is 00:30:50.599 --> 00:30:51.579 he 00:30:51.579 --> 00:30:52.639 voluntarily 00:30:52.639 --> 00:30:53.539 did it 00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:54.559 he 00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:55.279 willingly 00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:55.940 did it 00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:56.259 he 00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:57.099 lovingly 00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:57.440 did it 00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:58.319 no one 00:30:58.319 --> 00:30:59.019 forced him 00:30:59.019 --> 00:30:59.379 to lay 00:30:59.379 --> 00:31:00.099 his glory 00:31:00.099 --> 00:31:00.720 aside 00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.480 to come 00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:01.879 into this 00:31:01.879 --> 00:31:02.139 world 00:31:02.139 --> 00:31:02.480 and love 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:02.639 us 00:31:02.639 --> 00:31:03.500 he faced 00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:05.079 unimaginable 00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:05.839 pain 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:06.819 and death 00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:07.779 and darkness 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:08.839 out of love 00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:09.779 for humanity 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:12.879 and so 00:31:12.879 --> 00:31:13.420 why did 00:31:13.420 --> 00:31:14.039 Jesus have 00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:14.680 the courage 00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:15.420 to do 00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:16.160 what he 00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:16.579 did for 00:31:16.579 --> 00:31:16.960 us 00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:19.100 love 00:31:19.100 --> 00:31:21.500 how do 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.019 we get 00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:22.840 the courage 00:31:22.840 --> 00:31:23.799 to admit 00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:24.279 that we're 00:31:24.279 --> 00:31:24.680 sinners 00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:24.960 and we 00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:25.480 need his 00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:25.900 forgiveness 00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:26.360 and a 00:31:26.360 --> 00:31:26.779 relationship 00:31:26.779 --> 00:31:27.299 with him 00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:29.440 exactly 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:30.000 the same 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:30.500 way 00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:33.319 by looking 00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:33.799 to him 00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:35.900 and seeing 00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:37.160 all that 00:31:37.160 --> 00:31:37.620 he has 00:31:37.620 --> 00:31:38.220 done 00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:39.380 for us 00:31:39.380 --> 00:31:42.340 that 00:31:42.340 --> 00:31:43.420 consistently 00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:44.240 looking at 00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:44.539 him 00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:45.900 and what 00:31:45.900 --> 00:31:46.380 it cost 00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:46.740 him 00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:47.720 will 00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.200 draw 00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:48.720 out 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:49.160 love 00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:49.839 for him 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:52.940 and then 00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:53.380 we will 00:31:53.380 --> 00:31:53.880 have the 00:31:53.880 --> 00:31:54.259 courage 00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:54.660 to put 00:31:54.660 --> 00:31:54.779 him 00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:55.180 into the 00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:55.400 centre 00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:55.740 of our 00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:56.359 lives 00:31:56.359 --> 00:31:57.839 and then 00:31:57.839 --> 00:31:58.380 he will 00:31:58.380 --> 00:31:58.759 be 00:31:58.759 --> 00:31:59.599 with you 00:31:59.599 --> 00:32:02.740 and you 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.220 with him 00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:05.539 that's 00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:06.000 Christmas 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:07.640 and so 00:32:07.640 --> 00:32:08.859 two 00:32:08.859 --> 00:32:10.099 really quick 00:32:10.099 --> 00:32:10.759 implications 00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:11.640 for us 00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:12.880 this morning 00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:15.960 if you're 00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:16.260 someone 00:32:16.260 --> 00:32:16.640 here 00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:16.920 and you 00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:17.200 don't 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:17.580 know 00:32:17.580 --> 00:32:18.180 Jesus 00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:19.760 I want 00:32:19.760 --> 00:32:20.160 to call 00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:20.440 you to 00:32:20.440 --> 00:32:20.640 be 00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:21.120 courageous 00:32:21.120 --> 00:32:21.540 this 00:32:21.540 --> 00:32:21.820 morning 00:32:21.820 --> 00:32:24.480 he has 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:24.980 come to 00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:25.360 you 00:32:25.360 --> 00:32:27.140 come to 00:32:27.140 --> 00:32:27.400 him 00:32:27.400 --> 00:32:28.060 this 00:32:28.060 --> 00:32:28.340 morning 00:32:28.340 --> 00:32:30.220 admit 00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:31.060 that you're 00:32:31.060 --> 00:32:31.420 a moral 00:32:31.420 --> 00:32:31.960 failure 00:32:31.960 --> 00:32:32.980 come to 00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:33.240 him 00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:34.100 and find 00:32:34.100 --> 00:32:35.580 in him 00:32:35.580 --> 00:32:36.060 mercy 00:32:36.060 --> 00:32:36.740 and grace 00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:37.340 and love 00:32:37.340 --> 00:32:37.980 and forgiveness 00:32:37.980 --> 00:32:39.880 secondly 00:32:39.880 --> 00:32:40.259 if you're 00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:40.660 someone 00:32:40.660 --> 00:32:42.079 who does 00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:42.680 know 00:32:42.680 --> 00:32:43.079 Jesus 00:32:43.079 --> 00:32:43.519 you've 00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:43.799 already 00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:44.220 come to 00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:44.500 him 00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:45.519 I want 00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:45.880 to call 00:32:45.880 --> 00:32:46.200 you to 00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:46.380 have 00:32:46.380 --> 00:32:46.920 courage 00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:47.680 this 00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:48.240 Christmas 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:49.740 I want 00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:49.880 you to 00:32:49.880 --> 00:32:50.019 have 00:32:50.019 --> 00:32:50.660 courage 00:32:50.660 --> 00:32:52.519 to pray 00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:53.440 for someone 00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:54.920 that they 00:32:54.920 --> 00:32:55.299 might 00:32:55.299 --> 00:32:56.440 come to 00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:56.860 Jesus 00:32:56.860 --> 00:32:57.519 this 00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:57.920 Christmas 00:32:57.920 --> 00:32:59.660 and courage 00:32:59.660 --> 00:33:00.539 to follow 00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:01.180 through with 00:33:01.180 --> 00:33:01.380 that 00:33:01.380 --> 00:33:02.059 personally 00:33:02.059 --> 00:33:03.799 and invite 00:33:03.799 --> 00:33:04.140 them to 00:33:04.140 --> 00:33:04.559 church 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:05.440 and so 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:06.120 we've got 00:33:06.120 --> 00:33:06.519 the Christmas 00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:07.120 invites 00:33:07.120 --> 00:33:07.680 out there 00:33:07.680 --> 00:33:08.060 on the 00:33:08.060 --> 00:33:08.539 Christmas 00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:09.120 station 00:33:09.120 --> 00:33:09.519 near the 00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:09.860 kitchen 00:33:09.860 --> 00:33:10.860 and can 00:33:10.860 --> 00:33:11.180 also 00:33:11.180 --> 00:33:11.980 there's a 00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:12.140 little 00:33:12.140 --> 00:33:12.820 basket 00:33:12.820 --> 00:33:13.120 there 00:33:13.120 --> 00:33:14.160 these are 00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:14.500 feet 00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:14.860 by the 00:33:14.860 --> 00:33:15.180 way 00:33:15.180 --> 00:33:17.180 it's a 00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:17.440 bit hard 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:17.759 to cut 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.180 the toes 00:33:18.180 --> 00:33:18.519 out 00:33:18.519 --> 00:33:21.420 so 00:33:21.420 --> 00:33:22.480 what I'd 00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:22.840 encourage 00:33:22.840 --> 00:33:23.140 you to 00:33:23.140 --> 00:33:23.700 do 00:33:23.700 --> 00:33:25.080 is to 00:33:25.080 --> 00:33:25.279 have 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:25.799 courage 00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:26.820 and to 00:33:26.820 --> 00:33:27.360 go there 00:33:27.360 --> 00:33:28.039 get one 00:33:28.039 --> 00:33:28.440 of these 00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:28.900 and put 00:33:28.900 --> 00:33:29.320 the name 00:33:29.320 --> 00:33:29.560 of the 00:33:29.560 --> 00:33:29.860 person 00:33:29.860 --> 00:33:30.340 just their 00:33:30.340 --> 00:33:30.980 first name 00:33:30.980 --> 00:33:31.460 or a 00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:32.340 you know 00:33:32.340 --> 00:33:34.200 whatever 00:33:34.200 --> 00:33:35.180 a friend 00:33:35.180 --> 00:33:35.500 of mine 00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:37.539 and put 00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:37.980 their name 00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:38.460 and just 00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:38.899 stick it 00:33:38.899 --> 00:33:39.379 on the 00:33:39.379 --> 00:33:39.759 wall 00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:41.440 this is the 00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:41.940 person that 00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:42.339 I'm praying 00:33:42.339 --> 00:33:42.759 for for 00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:43.099 Christmas 00:33:43.099 --> 00:33:44.279 this is the 00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:44.779 person I'm 00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:44.940 going to 00:33:44.940 --> 00:33:45.599 invite this 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:45.980 Christmas 00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:47.019 so do that 00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:47.619 after the 00:33:47.619 --> 00:33:48.039 service 00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:48.839 let's pray 00:33:48.839 --> 00:33:51.480 invite the 00:33:51.480 --> 00:33:52.920 band up 00:33:52.920 --> 00:33:57.139 gracious 00:33:57.139 --> 00:33:59.319 loving 00:33:59.319 --> 00:33:59.700 heavenly 00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:00.059 father 00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:00.559 we thank 00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:01.339 you for 00:34:01.339 --> 00:34:02.700 sending 00:34:02.700 --> 00:34:03.420 your one 00:34:03.420 --> 00:34:03.940 and only 00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:04.220 son 00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:04.400 the 00:34:04.400 --> 00:34:04.580 Lord 00:34:04.580 --> 00:34:04.860 Jesus 00:34:04.860 --> 00:34:05.360 Christ 00:34:05.360 --> 00:34:06.600 we thank 00:34:06.600 --> 00:34:07.039 you for 00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:07.740 his love 00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:08.460 his mercy 00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:09.180 his forgiveness 00:34:09.180 --> 00:34:11.880 we thank 00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:12.220 you 00:34:12.220 --> 00:34:14.340 that you're a 00:34:14.340 --> 00:34:14.760 God not 00:34:14.760 --> 00:34:15.420 just of 00:34:15.420 --> 00:34:16.260 justice 00:34:16.260 --> 00:34:18.079 but a 00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:18.460 God of 00:34:18.460 --> 00:34:19.119 deep mercy 00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:19.960 and forgiveness 00:34:19.960 --> 00:34:21.800 and so 00:34:21.800 --> 00:34:22.780 if there are 00:34:22.780 --> 00:34:23.780 any here 00:34:23.780 --> 00:34:24.639 this morning 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:26.320 who are 00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:26.840 wavering 00:34:26.840 --> 00:34:27.260 with that 00:34:27.260 --> 00:34:27.980 courage 00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:29.840 to come 00:34:29.840 --> 00:34:30.480 to you 00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:31.440 Holy 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:32.039 Spirit 00:34:32.039 --> 00:34:35.079 send the 00:34:35.079 --> 00:34:35.420 light of 00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:35.780 life 00:34:35.780 --> 00:34:37.039 into their 00:34:37.039 --> 00:34:37.639 hearts right 00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:38.099 now and 00:34:38.099 --> 00:34:38.400 bring them 00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:38.800 to you 00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:40.639 and for 00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:41.079 those of us 00:34:41.079 --> 00:34:41.480 who do 00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:42.119 know you 00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:43.320 help us 00:34:43.320 --> 00:34:44.079 to courageously 00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:44.599 take our 00:34:44.599 --> 00:34:45.240 next step 00:34:45.240 --> 00:34:46.440 leading into 00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:46.940 your love 00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:47.619 this Christmas 00:34:47.619 --> 00:34:48.760 and we ask 00:34:48.760 --> 00:34:49.219 it for your 00:34:49.219 --> 00:34:49.500 sake 00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:50.280 Amen