WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.700 Great, well how good was that folks? Zoom Nativity, there you go. Wonderful, just let me just thank again everyone who's been involved in putting that together. 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:13.439 So much hard work in not just the days before but the months before as well putting that all together. 00:00:13.640 --> 00:00:19.600 So incredibly well done to everybody. Great to see those of you this morning who have not met. 00:00:20.039 --> 00:00:23.100 It's wonderful to welcome you to the church. My name is Graeme, I'm the pastor here. 00:00:23.100 --> 00:00:28.839 Simple question for us this morning. Where were you born? Where were you born? 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.060 I don't know about you but I love the stories that you hear about babies who were born in strange places. 00:00:36.219 --> 00:00:40.519 Do you know the kind of stories I mean? If you go online you'll find some of these stories. 00:00:40.620 --> 00:00:44.620 I went online this week and found great stories, right? 00:00:44.679 --> 00:00:50.600 Like the little baby who was born on board a Turkish airways flight headed for Burkina Faso. 00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:57.879 Great story that one. Or the woman down in Birmingham who gave birth while she was giving evidence in court. 00:00:57.880 --> 00:01:01.219 Right? Cracking story that one. Or here's my favourite. 00:01:01.460 --> 00:01:07.640 The woman down in Cambridgeshire who gave birth in her local post office. 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:16.520 Right? An opportunistic shop owner weighed the newborn and figured it would cost £8.22 to send it as a first class package. 00:01:17.820 --> 00:01:21.280 And then the next day the newspaper ran with the headlines. 00:01:21.420 --> 00:01:24.120 See if you can guess this. This was my favourite part of the story. 00:01:24.120 --> 00:01:28.780 Now that's what I call a special delivery. 00:01:29.880 --> 00:01:32.800 Sometimes these jokes kind of write themselves don't they? 00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:37.000 But since we're on the topic of births. 00:01:37.160 --> 00:01:42.140 Have you ever considered where Jesus was born? 00:01:42.960 --> 00:01:46.439 Not so much talking about the major. I'm talking about Bethlehem. 00:01:46.760 --> 00:01:51.280 Have you ever stopped to think about the significance of Bethlehem? 00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:54.599 Okay? Maybe you're here today and you're watching this and you think to yourself, 00:01:54.700 --> 00:01:58.700 Well surely Jesus is another one of those kind of stories. 00:01:59.620 --> 00:02:02.079 Alright? A baby born in a strange place. 00:02:02.680 --> 00:02:04.980 I bet he's grown up with a cracking story. 00:02:05.240 --> 00:02:07.960 Right? Imagine that the conversation starter that's that one. 00:02:08.020 --> 00:02:09.460 When you have that awkward round the room. 00:02:09.539 --> 00:02:11.080 Let's say one fact about ourselves. 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:12.939 Boom! You're straight in there with that one. 00:02:14.280 --> 00:02:16.099 Or maybe you're here today and you are a Christian. 00:02:16.099 --> 00:02:23.180 And you've maybe connected the dots between that prophecy that we hear at Christmas time from Micah 00:02:23.180 --> 00:02:26.840 about the baby who was to be born in Bethlehem. 00:02:26.859 --> 00:02:29.039 And you think, well of course it needed to be there. 00:02:30.659 --> 00:02:33.060 Here's what I want, whoever you are here today, 00:02:33.219 --> 00:02:37.400 I want you to come and see that the fact that Jesus was born in Bethlehem 00:02:37.400 --> 00:02:39.479 is profoundly significant. 00:02:39.479 --> 00:02:45.439 And it gets us right to the heart of who he is and what he has come to do. 00:02:45.519 --> 00:02:48.039 So come with me, if you've got a Bible there, to Luke chapter 2. 00:02:49.239 --> 00:02:56.280 And travel with me to O little town of Bethlehem as we find it in the first century. 00:02:56.419 --> 00:03:02.339 Now if you read around on this, historians generally agree that you're looking at a town 00:03:02.340 --> 00:03:05.979 with most likely under a thousand people. 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:11.439 And some historians even put that somewhere closer to 300 people. 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:13.939 So this is a small place. 00:03:15.259 --> 00:03:20.420 And truth be told, there's not a lot that goes on in Bethlehem as far as we know it. 00:03:21.580 --> 00:03:25.360 But imagine that you get a last minute package deal, 00:03:25.480 --> 00:03:27.219 jet two holidays and the sales, 00:03:27.379 --> 00:03:30.500 and you find yourselves on the plane, you're headed to Bethlehem, right? 00:03:30.500 --> 00:03:33.099 And you walk in Bethlehem streets, 00:03:33.780 --> 00:03:36.280 and you see the tourist information center, 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:37.680 and you make a beeline for it, 00:03:37.719 --> 00:03:39.639 and you ask the person behind the desk, 00:03:39.939 --> 00:03:42.960 what should I know about Bethlehem? 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:48.039 I imagine the person behind the desk would have alerted you to the fact that 00:03:48.039 --> 00:03:50.920 Bethlehem is kind of famous for two things. 00:03:52.120 --> 00:03:52.319 Okay? 00:03:53.539 --> 00:03:56.659 Firstly, it's the place where King David, 00:03:57.520 --> 00:03:59.219 Israel's most celebrated king, 00:03:59.219 --> 00:04:01.439 this is the place where he's from. 00:04:02.740 --> 00:04:04.180 As if you've ever driven down south, 00:04:04.340 --> 00:04:06.960 you'll know that you'll come to this place, 00:04:07.379 --> 00:04:09.319 kind of close to the border on the motorway, 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:11.340 called Echofekin, right? 00:04:11.419 --> 00:04:13.800 Which I think is just the best Scottish place name ever. 00:04:14.599 --> 00:04:16.420 You're driving down just off the motorway, 00:04:16.939 --> 00:04:18.779 and there's a big sign there that says, 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:22.360 this is the birthplace of Thomas Carlyle, right? 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:24.920 One of Scotland's kind of most famous sons, 00:04:24.920 --> 00:04:26.460 and I imagine the locals there, 00:04:26.540 --> 00:04:28.720 they take great pride in the fact that he was born there, 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:31.000 and they probably get a lot of trade from it too. 00:04:32.280 --> 00:04:33.860 So you can imagine you go into Bethlehem, 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:35.819 you might see something like this as you enter. 00:04:36.280 --> 00:04:36.480 Okay? 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:39.780 Birthplace of King David. 00:04:40.520 --> 00:04:41.600 You see, Luke mentioned that, 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:42.420 you've got the verses there, 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:44.800 in verse 4 and verse 11. 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:48.660 Bethlehem is the city of David. 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:48.920 Okay? 00:04:48.960 --> 00:04:49.740 It's probably his nickname, 00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:51.620 the city of David. 00:04:51.620 --> 00:04:53.959 And the Old Testament story, 00:04:53.980 --> 00:04:54.259 I love it, 00:04:54.300 --> 00:04:56.579 it's where Samuel goes to Bethlehem. 00:04:56.780 --> 00:04:57.720 It's where he goes to, 00:04:58.399 --> 00:04:59.300 that God tells him to go, 00:04:59.420 --> 00:05:01.500 to appoint the new king of Israel. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:02.100 Okay? 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:02.660 And in that scene, 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:04.680 what is David doing in the sea? 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:07.220 He's tending his sheep. 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:09.240 Because I think that's the other thing 00:05:09.240 --> 00:05:10.439 that Bethlehem is known for. 00:05:10.540 --> 00:05:13.019 It's known for shepherds. 00:05:14.139 --> 00:05:14.540 Okay? 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:16.620 And it was a common job all over in this day, really. 00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:18.240 But apparently the shepherds in Bethlehem 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:20.399 had one special job assigned to them. 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:23.719 They had to raise and protect 00:05:23.719 --> 00:05:26.659 the best, spotless, perfect lambs 00:05:26.659 --> 00:05:29.019 and take them on the four and a half mile trip 00:05:29.019 --> 00:05:29.659 to Jerusalem 00:05:29.659 --> 00:05:31.579 so that they could be used 00:05:31.579 --> 00:05:33.519 in the sacrificial worship at the temple. 00:05:34.419 --> 00:05:34.560 Right? 00:05:34.620 --> 00:05:35.199 One of those kind of, 00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:36.019 it's a dirty job, 00:05:36.099 --> 00:05:37.439 but somebody's got to do it kind of gigs. 00:05:39.019 --> 00:05:41.879 So bring these two things together 00:05:41.879 --> 00:05:43.039 and think of it this way. 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:43.599 Okay? 00:05:45.019 --> 00:05:46.719 If the Bethlehem Tourist Information Shop 00:05:46.719 --> 00:05:48.299 had a gift shop section, 00:05:48.300 --> 00:05:50.240 and you were able to purchase 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:52.079 a kind of Bethlehem scented candle, 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:53.639 the smells of which reminded you 00:05:53.639 --> 00:05:54.360 of your time there. 00:05:54.520 --> 00:05:54.680 Okay? 00:05:55.280 --> 00:05:56.579 You'd light this scented candle 00:05:56.579 --> 00:05:57.300 and after a while, 00:05:57.379 --> 00:05:58.920 you'd detect the distinct smells 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:02.340 of king and of sheep. 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:05.620 Try and work creatively and seasonally 00:06:05.620 --> 00:06:06.379 in these illustrations. 00:06:06.600 --> 00:06:07.019 There you go. 00:06:07.980 --> 00:06:08.759 King and sheep. 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:10.040 King and sheep. 00:06:10.040 --> 00:06:14.260 And do you see how the Bethlehem backdrop 00:06:14.260 --> 00:06:15.160 is so fitting 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:17.980 as the place where Jesus is born? 00:06:19.020 --> 00:06:19.160 Okay? 00:06:19.220 --> 00:06:21.080 For here at this day in Bethlehem is born, 00:06:21.500 --> 00:06:23.780 is born a king the likes of which 00:06:23.780 --> 00:06:25.300 we have never seen before. 00:06:26.400 --> 00:06:26.740 Okay? 00:06:26.980 --> 00:06:28.040 You know, I love that scene 00:06:28.040 --> 00:06:29.759 as David is chosen as king. 00:06:30.580 --> 00:06:32.020 Samuel goes to Jesse and he says, 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:33.200 where are your sons? 00:06:34.400 --> 00:06:36.540 God has told me it's your son. 00:06:36.600 --> 00:06:37.560 Where are your sons? 00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:39.560 And Jesse wheels them out one by one. 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:40.199 Right? 00:06:40.420 --> 00:06:41.939 And Samuel says, 00:06:42.259 --> 00:06:42.879 it's not him. 00:06:43.899 --> 00:06:44.939 No, it's not him. 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:46.480 And it's not him. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:47.180 And it's not him. 00:06:47.220 --> 00:06:47.579 And it's not him. 00:06:47.639 --> 00:06:48.160 Go anymore. 00:06:48.680 --> 00:06:49.780 And Jesse says, 00:06:49.819 --> 00:06:50.780 well, there is the youngest. 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:53.100 There is my boy David. 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:54.759 And Samuel clogs eyes on them 00:06:54.759 --> 00:06:55.660 and says, that's him. 00:06:55.980 --> 00:06:56.500 That's him. 00:06:57.860 --> 00:06:59.279 What's the Lord seen in David? 00:07:00.300 --> 00:07:02.620 What does he look for in his king? 00:07:03.620 --> 00:07:05.720 But here's a great sense 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:07.420 of the heart of the God of the Bible 00:07:07.420 --> 00:07:08.759 who, what does he look for? 00:07:10.080 --> 00:07:11.480 Man looks on the outside, 00:07:11.699 --> 00:07:13.259 but God looks on the heart. 00:07:14.699 --> 00:07:15.180 Right? 00:07:15.400 --> 00:07:17.259 God wants a king whose heart 00:07:17.259 --> 00:07:18.240 will beat for him, 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:20.060 who will lead the people 00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:21.800 in joyful worship 00:07:21.800 --> 00:07:24.180 and of wholehearted obedience, 00:07:24.180 --> 00:07:26.939 which is a delight to God. 00:07:27.259 --> 00:07:29.480 And sure, David makes some massive mistakes 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:30.300 in his life. 00:07:31.580 --> 00:07:32.780 But God calls him, 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:35.200 he's a man after my own heart. 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:36.500 It says, God says of David, 00:07:36.620 --> 00:07:37.699 that's my kind of king. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:38.500 That's him. 00:07:38.579 --> 00:07:39.379 That's my kind of king. 00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:41.579 And as David grows as king, 00:07:41.659 --> 00:07:43.459 the Lord makes him this binding promise. 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:45.339 You get it in 2 Samuel 7, 00:07:45.479 --> 00:07:47.000 which is one of the most important promises 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:48.099 in the Bible. 00:07:48.819 --> 00:07:49.899 Makes a promise to one of, 00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:51.259 the line of David's, 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:53.060 one of his sons, 00:07:53.259 --> 00:07:55.159 that God will establish him on the throne. 00:07:55.160 --> 00:07:57.439 And his rule will be forever. 00:07:57.780 --> 00:07:59.400 His victory will be final. 00:07:59.620 --> 00:08:01.720 His peace that he will grant 00:08:01.720 --> 00:08:02.360 will be forever. 00:08:02.520 --> 00:08:03.360 And in him, 00:08:04.140 --> 00:08:05.600 people will find rest. 00:08:07.400 --> 00:08:08.100 And God says, 00:08:08.180 --> 00:08:10.660 I will be a father to him. 00:08:10.660 --> 00:08:13.660 And he will be a son to me. 00:08:14.940 --> 00:08:16.300 And so as the kingly bat 00:08:16.300 --> 00:08:17.879 is passed down the line, 00:08:18.080 --> 00:08:19.140 it falls. 00:08:19.280 --> 00:08:20.440 And you're left asking the question 00:08:20.440 --> 00:08:20.900 as the reader, 00:08:21.020 --> 00:08:21.760 as you're reading your Bible, 00:08:21.900 --> 00:08:22.180 thinking, 00:08:22.340 --> 00:08:23.700 what has happened to God's promise? 00:08:24.060 --> 00:08:25.060 Where is this king? 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:27.599 And then in Thunder's look 00:08:27.599 --> 00:08:28.579 at verse 4, 00:08:29.259 --> 00:08:30.019 chapter 2, 00:08:30.779 --> 00:08:31.579 placing Jesus 00:08:31.579 --> 00:08:33.439 through his earthly father, 00:08:33.559 --> 00:08:33.819 Joseph, 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:35.360 having traveled back to Bethlehem 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:36.259 because of the census, 00:08:36.519 --> 00:08:38.340 squarely in the lineage 00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:39.740 of David. 00:08:42.120 --> 00:08:43.100 As if to say, 00:08:43.700 --> 00:08:47.559 here is the long expected king. 00:08:48.439 --> 00:08:49.980 The one that God promised, 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:51.419 the one that the world needs. 00:08:51.559 --> 00:08:52.500 Here he is. 00:08:53.700 --> 00:08:56.200 Come now long expected Jesus, 00:08:56.379 --> 00:08:58.140 born to set thy people free. 00:08:58.259 --> 00:08:59.940 Here is God's king. 00:09:00.740 --> 00:09:01.120 Friends, 00:09:01.140 --> 00:09:01.700 and in our world 00:09:01.700 --> 00:09:02.240 where this year 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:03.520 has so often been about 00:09:03.520 --> 00:09:04.460 the character 00:09:04.460 --> 00:09:06.860 of political leaders 00:09:06.860 --> 00:09:07.740 across the world, 00:09:07.940 --> 00:09:09.560 across all kinds of positions, 00:09:10.440 --> 00:09:12.759 and what they're really made of, 00:09:14.060 --> 00:09:14.940 one is to know 00:09:14.940 --> 00:09:16.820 that you will not find 00:09:16.820 --> 00:09:17.800 a king like this 00:09:17.799 --> 00:09:19.479 who holds 00:09:19.479 --> 00:09:20.659 who stops 00:09:20.659 --> 00:09:21.500 to bind 00:09:21.500 --> 00:09:23.379 the wounds 00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:24.299 of the lonely, 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:25.859 who associates 00:09:25.859 --> 00:09:27.279 those who are 00:09:27.279 --> 00:09:28.039 society's 00:09:28.039 --> 00:09:29.219 outcasts, 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:30.299 whose wisdom 00:09:30.299 --> 00:09:32.199 is unsurpassable 00:09:32.199 --> 00:09:32.839 and leaves 00:09:32.839 --> 00:09:33.819 listeners 00:09:33.819 --> 00:09:34.519 then and 00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:35.059 today 00:09:35.059 --> 00:09:36.459 amazed 00:09:36.459 --> 00:09:38.139 and one who 00:09:38.139 --> 00:09:38.639 says 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:39.879 to all the weary 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:41.039 and the broken, 00:09:41.500 --> 00:09:41.879 and that's 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:42.819 all of us 00:09:42.819 --> 00:09:44.059 right now, 00:09:44.839 --> 00:09:45.579 he says, 00:09:45.580 --> 00:09:50.920 come unto me and I will give you rest. 00:09:52.680 --> 00:09:56.520 You know, I had a wonderful story from a lady called Isabella, 00:09:56.660 --> 00:10:00.379 who's part of King's Church, which is just at the bottom of Leamington Terrace here. 00:10:00.580 --> 00:10:03.980 She's given her story about how she came to know Jesus 00:10:03.980 --> 00:10:06.100 and what it is that he means to her. 00:10:06.160 --> 00:10:09.320 And she simply said, you can find it on their Facebook page. 00:10:09.700 --> 00:10:11.420 She said, coming to know Jesus, she said, 00:10:11.420 --> 00:10:15.180 it's like putting on for the first time some collective glasses. 00:10:16.580 --> 00:10:19.080 Everything has become clearer. 00:10:20.379 --> 00:10:22.759 Here's the testimony of all those who love this King, 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:25.200 that there is life to be found in this King, 00:10:25.400 --> 00:10:27.639 that there is refuge to be found in this King, 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:29.820 that there is purpose to be found in this King, 00:10:29.900 --> 00:10:32.080 that there is joy to be found in knowing this King, 00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:35.360 this King who is our Saviour, this King who is our brother. 00:10:36.460 --> 00:10:37.540 Here is God's King. 00:10:39.220 --> 00:10:41.540 He is born in Bethlehem a King, 00:10:42.040 --> 00:10:44.920 the likes of which we have never seen before. 00:10:46.379 --> 00:10:48.740 And here is born in Bethlehem a Lamb, 00:10:49.400 --> 00:10:51.120 the likes of which we've never known before. 00:10:52.540 --> 00:10:54.300 You know, perhaps this year has been a year 00:10:54.300 --> 00:10:58.620 where as a society we've maybe recaptured something 00:10:58.620 --> 00:11:01.080 of the true meaning of that word sacrifice. 00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:02.620 Right? 00:11:02.680 --> 00:11:06.000 What is it we used to do every Thursday evening during lockdown? 00:11:06.160 --> 00:11:07.759 I always remember it because it was a Thursday at 8, 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:09.820 because that was the day when I used to come in here 00:11:09.820 --> 00:11:11.340 and to record the sermon for the Sunday, 00:11:11.340 --> 00:11:13.500 and I had to quickly get it done before we start clapping. 00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:14.580 Right? 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:14.980 What do we do? 00:11:15.040 --> 00:11:16.240 We clap for our carers. 00:11:17.280 --> 00:11:18.920 Thank you for the sacrifice you're making. 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:19.820 They're still making it. 00:11:19.920 --> 00:11:21.060 Thank you for what you're doing. 00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:23.759 All the healthcare workers putting yourselves in the front line. 00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:25.139 Thank you. 00:11:26.620 --> 00:11:28.160 I know I was flicking through the channels the other night. 00:11:28.220 --> 00:11:31.240 I found myself watching a bit of the Royal Variety Show. 00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:32.100 Okay? 00:11:32.139 --> 00:11:34.139 It's amazing what you're watching a Tuesday night. 00:11:35.100 --> 00:11:36.019 Royal Variety Show. 00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:38.399 The undoubted star of the evening was Captain Tom. 00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:40.559 I know, remember Captain Tom? 00:11:41.620 --> 00:11:42.679 What is it he did? 00:11:42.740 --> 00:11:45.759 He did, what, 100 laps in his garden on his Zimmer frame 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:47.000 to raise money for the NHS. 00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:48.519 Right? 00:11:48.539 --> 00:11:49.519 Just a wonderful thing. 00:11:49.699 --> 00:11:51.860 And there's the Royal Variety Show. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:52.799 He's singing a duet. 00:11:53.579 --> 00:11:54.639 Somebody to lean on. 00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:56.220 He's singing it with Michael Ball. 00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:57.079 Right? 00:11:57.179 --> 00:11:59.500 Scoring a million points on the cheese factor scale. 00:11:59.740 --> 00:11:59.899 Okay? 00:12:00.059 --> 00:12:01.939 But we loved it. 00:12:01.980 --> 00:12:02.639 And we get it. 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:03.899 And yes, absolutely. 00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:05.720 There is sacrifice. 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:08.740 There is the idea of somebody giving up their rights, 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:13.100 laying them aside in the cause of lovingly serving others. 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:16.379 Friends, you will not find a king like Jesus. 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:20.700 And you will not find a sacrifice like the one Jesus is prepared to make. 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:25.580 Jesus, the eternal Son of God, 00:12:26.620 --> 00:12:28.420 who knew heaven's riches, 00:12:28.560 --> 00:12:32.399 who knew glorious joy with his Father in heaven, 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:34.660 who was willing to leave it to come into the world 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:37.059 in order to show us what the Father is like. 00:12:37.579 --> 00:12:37.980 In other words, 00:12:38.019 --> 00:12:39.860 if you want to know what the God of the Bible is like, 00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:40.959 you'll look at Jesus. 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:46.579 And he left it in order to come and serve and to save. 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:50.199 And let me encourage you to come tonight. 00:12:50.259 --> 00:12:52.939 We're going to think and marvel and feast more on this truth. 00:12:53.059 --> 00:12:53.559 Come tonight. 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:54.120 Dial in. 00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:55.719 If you're thinking of coming in person, 00:12:55.819 --> 00:12:56.839 there's still spaces left. 00:12:56.899 --> 00:13:00.240 I'm sure if you email and let us know you're coming, 00:13:00.299 --> 00:13:01.279 we'll tell you if there's a space. 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:02.139 Dial in tonight. 00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:03.460 We're going to think more about this truth. 00:13:03.559 --> 00:13:05.340 Here is the king come to serve and save. 00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:05.600 You see, 00:13:05.659 --> 00:13:07.539 the whole idea of having a perfect, 00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:08.840 firstborn, 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:11.360 sacrificial lamb at the temple 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:15.539 is that sin and all its ugliness against our creator 00:13:15.539 --> 00:13:16.460 deserves death. 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:20.039 And as you watch the lamb die, 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:25.559 you can have certainty and assurance and peace 00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:31.299 because you know that the spotless lamb took my place 00:13:31.299 --> 00:13:35.139 and it died my death. 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:36.619 And as it were, 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:38.959 I get its life. 00:13:41.599 --> 00:13:42.099 And so here, 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:42.959 verse seven, 00:13:43.319 --> 00:13:45.219 here is Mary giving birth to what? 00:13:46.319 --> 00:13:47.879 Her firstborn son. 00:13:50.259 --> 00:13:52.500 And Mary really did love a little lamb 00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:55.200 whose fleece was white as snow. 00:13:56.679 --> 00:13:59.799 Here is Jesus who lived a perfect life 00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:01.639 driven by a love for his father 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:03.600 and a desire to show us his father 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:05.759 and win his people for himself 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:07.840 so that we can share in and know 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:09.980 the love of this delightful God. 00:14:11.100 --> 00:14:13.440 Life as it was always intended to be, 00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:16.179 who shed his blood and dies for us, 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:18.820 a sacrificial and a substitutionary death 00:14:18.820 --> 00:14:19.659 from the cross. 00:14:19.659 --> 00:14:22.480 And as we trust in him, 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:24.019 and maybe you need to do that today, 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:26.959 we can know the truth of those six words 00:14:26.959 --> 00:14:28.959 that Micah spoke about the ruler 00:14:28.959 --> 00:14:30.839 who would stand for us. 00:14:31.819 --> 00:14:33.199 Born in Bethlehem. 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:35.500 Not just what he would give us, 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:37.159 but what he would be for us. 00:14:37.299 --> 00:14:40.639 He will be our peace. 00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:43.779 And he will be our peace. 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:46.059 You know, 00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:47.759 I used to study with a guy called Suraj. 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:50.879 He's now church planting, 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:52.200 starting a church in Nepal, 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.159 where he's from. 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:54.720 In a previous life, 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:56.279 he was into drugs and gangs, 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:57.500 running with the police, 00:14:57.740 --> 00:15:00.360 and repeatedly in and out of jail. 00:15:00.659 --> 00:15:01.220 And inside, 00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:01.899 he just used to, 00:15:01.980 --> 00:15:03.139 he just called himself, 00:15:03.220 --> 00:15:04.039 I'm just angry, 00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:04.860 is what he said. 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:05.240 Right? 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:06.659 Just angry all the time. 00:15:06.819 --> 00:15:07.159 Angry. 00:15:08.819 --> 00:15:09.860 And he heard about Jesus 00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:11.960 and about his sin 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:12.919 that he knew was there, 00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:14.179 but he didn't know what to do with 00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:15.759 and he didn't even want to admit 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:16.360 was there. 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:17.639 And he heard about the Jesus 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:18.500 who loved him. 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:22.279 And by dying for him, 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:25.299 and as he gave his life to Jesus, 00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:25.779 as he said, 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:27.100 that's the king that I'm going to follow 00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:28.139 for the first time in his life, 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:29.360 as he gave his life to Jesus, 00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:29.759 he said, 00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:31.759 I had peace. 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:35.899 Because he'd been arrested 00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:37.000 by the Prince of Peace. 00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:40.220 And so friends, 00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:40.939 how fitting then, 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:41.840 in many respects, 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:44.480 that a group of shepherds 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:46.340 should be the ones 00:15:46.340 --> 00:15:47.179 to know about, 00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:47.919 celebrate, 00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:48.980 and declare 00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:51.100 the news concerning 00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:52.259 the birth of God's Lamb. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:55.439 This good news. 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:57.539 That's what the angels call it, 00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:57.759 isn't it? 00:15:57.819 --> 00:15:59.340 It's not medium news. 00:15:59.340 --> 00:16:01.040 It's good news. 00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:03.360 This gospel 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:04.980 that is for all people. 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:05.920 No wonder the angels 00:16:05.920 --> 00:16:08.100 celebrate in glorious unison, 00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:10.440 telling what God is doing 00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:11.180 in this moment. 00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:11.820 No wonder. 00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:14.200 Here is Jesus. 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:14.540 Friends, 00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:15.180 where were you born? 00:16:16.300 --> 00:16:16.920 Where were you born? 00:16:18.800 --> 00:16:19.360 Here is 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:22.320 the birth in little Bethlehem, 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:24.660 the city of David, 00:16:25.660 --> 00:16:27.400 the city of shepherds, 00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:29.699 of the greatest 00:16:29.699 --> 00:16:31.279 shepherd king 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:32.879 there ever was. 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:36.600 O holy child of Bethlehem, 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:38.399 descend to us, 00:16:38.459 --> 00:16:38.899 we pray. 00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:40.899 Cast out our sin 00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:41.759 and enter in. 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:43.279 Be born in us today. 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:45.959 We hear the Christmas angels 00:16:45.959 --> 00:16:48.019 the great glad tidings tell. 00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:49.240 O come to us, 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:50.779 abide with us, 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:51.819 our Lord, 00:16:52.319 --> 00:16:52.759 Emmanuel. 00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:54.419 Let us pray. 00:16:54.419 --> 00:16:54.519 Amen. 00:16:57.399 --> 00:17:00.459 O Father, 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:01.379 we thank you so much 00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:01.879 that into 00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:04.279 our world right now 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:06.160 of disappointing news, 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:08.779 that we come face to face 00:17:08.779 --> 00:17:09.299 this morning 00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:10.539 with the good news. 00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:12.980 We just praise you, 00:17:13.059 --> 00:17:13.680 Heavenly Father, 00:17:13.779 --> 00:17:14.799 that the birth of Jesus 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:16.240 tells us who you are 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:16.920 and what you're like. 00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:17.819 Thank you so much, 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:18.079 Lord, 00:17:18.139 --> 00:17:19.279 for your wonderful love 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:19.859 for us 00:17:19.859 --> 00:17:21.879 and sending Jesus. 00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:24.360 And so, 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:24.560 Father, 00:17:24.600 --> 00:17:25.220 I pray that 00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:27.200 at this time especially, 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:27.580 Lord, 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:28.620 that we would know 00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:30.500 the one who is 00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:31.540 the Prince of Peace. 00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:33.780 Thank you that he, 00:17:35.260 --> 00:17:35.520 Lord, 00:17:35.560 --> 00:17:36.860 is the King above all kings 00:17:36.860 --> 00:17:38.940 and he's the Lord 00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:39.660 above all lords. 00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:39.940 And so, 00:17:40.040 --> 00:17:40.120 Father, 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:41.380 I pray for us here today, 00:17:42.060 --> 00:17:42.860 wherever we're at, 00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:43.880 that we would know him 00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:44.500 as our Lord 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.100 and our Savior, 00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:46.480 our friend 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:47.040 and our brother. 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.940 And we pray these things 00:17:48.940 --> 00:17:49.740 in his precious 00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:51.259 and in his worthy name. 00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:52.100 Amen.