WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.719 I invite you to keep that passage of Matthew open in front of you, Matthew chapter 2. 00:00:06.600 --> 00:00:12.740 Now this morning, as you probably guessed from the reading that Sabina brought to us, 00:00:14.280 --> 00:00:17.620 this is part of the Christmas story that we all wish wasn't there, isn't it? 00:00:18.820 --> 00:00:23.839 This is the bit that we all wish we could overlook and never, ever hear of. 00:00:24.260 --> 00:00:29.000 It grates against the sanitized Christmas story that we've all grown to love. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.060 Images of a cute little baby Jesus who doesn't cry and who sleeps away in a manger. 00:00:36.219 --> 00:00:42.960 Images of cattle chewing hay contently in the back of a big spacious cattle shed, 00:00:43.420 --> 00:00:46.719 making no noise so little baby Jesus doesn't wake up. 00:00:48.120 --> 00:00:56.320 And images of happy, content, smiling Mary and Joseph staring down at the newborn baby Jesus. 00:00:56.320 --> 00:01:00.159 That's the Christmas story we like, isn't it? 00:01:02.020 --> 00:01:03.500 But that's not really what happened. 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:09.180 Maybe we do see a little bit of that in the first half of Matthew chapter 2, 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:12.099 as the Magi come and they worship Jesus. 00:01:12.780 --> 00:01:16.560 They bring their gifts from a distant land in the east. 00:01:16.740 --> 00:01:20.099 They follow the star from their homeland. 00:01:20.099 --> 00:01:23.140 And it's rested over the place where Jesus is. 00:01:23.219 --> 00:01:24.259 And they adore him. 00:01:25.339 --> 00:01:27.859 They bestow honor on him as they worship. 00:01:29.879 --> 00:01:35.000 But then in verse 13, we see a terrible twist of events. 00:01:36.439 --> 00:01:38.479 Things start to change for the worse. 00:01:38.539 --> 00:01:44.739 And it appears that this king is on the lookout for Jesus and wants him dead. 00:01:44.739 --> 00:01:49.379 The verses that we come to this morning are tragic. 00:01:50.079 --> 00:01:51.780 A tragic part of the story. 00:01:52.579 --> 00:01:58.280 But it is a very important part of the birth narrative of Jesus. 00:01:59.060 --> 00:02:02.119 And we cannot skip over it for comfort's sake. 00:02:03.259 --> 00:02:09.099 This passage is important because it tells us that God is a promise-keeping God. 00:02:09.099 --> 00:02:14.519 And it explains to us that Jesus is the fulfillment of those promises. 00:02:16.099 --> 00:02:21.599 Right at the very beginning of the Bible, a problem is raised and it's called sin. 00:02:22.620 --> 00:02:27.699 It's when mankind decided to reject God and reject his way. 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:36.299 And since then, every single person has naturally wanted to walk their own way and say, 00:02:36.439 --> 00:02:37.819 No, God, we don't want you. 00:02:39.099 --> 00:02:42.739 To live in separation and alienation from God. 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:51.479 But, God promised that he would send someone to deal with the effect of sin. 00:02:52.500 --> 00:02:57.379 Someone who would take the rap for all the wrongdoings and someone who would deal with our sin. 00:02:58.299 --> 00:03:02.280 And make it possible for us to be back in that right relationship with God. 00:03:02.359 --> 00:03:03.180 Isn't that amazing? 00:03:03.180 --> 00:03:12.140 And we've already seen in this short Christmas series that the person who does this is Jesus Christ. 00:03:12.139 --> 00:03:21.059 But at this stage in the story, in Matthew chapter 2, verse 13 to 23, the tension is rising. 00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:26.559 The situation is becoming more and more heated and dramatic. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:30.539 And it all seems that it's lost, doesn't it? 00:03:30.539 --> 00:03:36.019 We're going to walk through this passage and draw out some of the important parts. 00:03:36.620 --> 00:03:40.019 And we're going to see how it teaches us that God is a promise keeping God. 00:03:41.359 --> 00:03:48.739 And how nothing, absolutely nothing, can thwart his promise for salvation to those who call on his name. 00:03:48.740 --> 00:03:57.620 So, in verse 13, reality hits as an angel warns Joseph in a dream to get up and go to Egypt. 00:03:59.040 --> 00:04:03.640 Now, the angel is speaking with a real sense of urgency and you get that from the passage, don't you? 00:04:04.300 --> 00:04:07.120 He isn't saying, Joseph, set your alarm for 7 a.m. 00:04:07.700 --> 00:04:13.600 Wake up, have your coffee and your cornflakes and then pack your things slowly and go for a wee family trip to Egypt. 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:20.439 Now, the angel, it seems as if he's shouting at Joseph, get up, leave now. 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:24.959 And Joseph does just that in verse 14. 00:04:26.719 --> 00:04:28.360 He didn't know the full story. 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:31.219 Joseph didn't know when he'd be back. 00:04:31.319 --> 00:04:35.259 He didn't know what was awaiting him on the road to or even in Egypt. 00:04:36.500 --> 00:04:40.939 And yet, he knew the words and will of the Lord. 00:04:40.939 --> 00:04:45.800 He acted in faith, knowing that God is a promise keeping God. 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:51.300 Imagine if we had a sliver of that obedience. 00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:59.319 The Bible is clear on many issues, yet often we walk away in disobedience because it's just more comfortable. 00:05:02.139 --> 00:05:06.699 Now, this is not the main point of the passage, but I think we should all take a leaf from Joseph's book. 00:05:06.699 --> 00:05:11.719 So the angel tells them to go to Egypt and for two reasons. 00:05:12.259 --> 00:05:19.259 One, it's the logical place with a big Jewish community there and it's outside the reach of King Herod. 00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:29.060 But two, as Matthew explains in verse 15, it is to fulfill something that took place in the Old Testament, known as the Exodus. 00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:39.579 The time when God miraculously saved his people, Israel, and called them out of slavery in Egypt, into the plan that he had for them. 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:44.000 The same will happen for Jesus, Matthew says. 00:05:45.300 --> 00:05:50.019 Hostility and hatred made his family flee for their lives into Egypt. 00:05:50.019 --> 00:05:55.620 But this is all working according to God's grand plan of salvation. 00:05:56.560 --> 00:06:02.519 And Matthew is telling us that this happened so that we could see something special in the person of Jesus. 00:06:04.219 --> 00:06:07.419 The one through whom salvation will come. 00:06:07.659 --> 00:06:10.259 The son being called out of Egypt. 00:06:10.259 --> 00:06:16.279 Matthew is highlighting to us the fact that God made a promise. 00:06:17.300 --> 00:06:22.139 And that he will follow through with that promise because he is a promise keeping God. 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:31.420 Looking at this situation from the outside, you could be thinking how on earth is any of this God's plan? 00:06:32.599 --> 00:06:36.279 How has this got anything to do with God saving the world? 00:06:36.719 --> 00:06:38.039 Everything seems lost. 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:43.660 In verse 16, there's a furious king on the lookout for Jesus. 00:06:44.100 --> 00:06:52.140 A king so adamant that his throne is threatened by this little baby boy that he does a horrible thing. 00:06:53.760 --> 00:07:04.820 In the midst of mindless rage, this king orders that every baby boy under the age of two is killed in Bethlehem and the surrounding area. 00:07:04.819 --> 00:07:09.939 We don't often hear that bit of the nativity story, do we? 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:11.639 Why? 00:07:13.159 --> 00:07:15.740 Well, because it's an absolutely horrific event. 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:21.899 Nobody wants to remember the story of a mad king killing innocent children. 00:07:22.039 --> 00:07:22.740 It's outrageous. 00:07:25.219 --> 00:07:28.740 But another reason we don't hear about this is because it seems weak. 00:07:28.740 --> 00:07:34.560 It seems as if all is lost, that God's plan has failed. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:40.600 It looks as if this promised Messiah won't even make it to his third birthday. 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:45.040 And you can feel the pain, can't you? 00:07:46.320 --> 00:07:50.420 As the path of destruction makes its way through this little town of Bethlehem. 00:07:50.960 --> 00:07:53.640 And weeping is the only sound that can be heard. 00:07:54.600 --> 00:08:01.439 In verse 18, there is weeping and mourning as mothers mourn and refuse to be comforted. 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:04.279 Because their children are no more. 00:08:06.620 --> 00:08:07.920 So much pain. 00:08:08.600 --> 00:08:10.500 So much devastation. 00:08:10.920 --> 00:08:12.219 So much destruction. 00:08:14.399 --> 00:08:19.159 This is just a snapshot of the mourning caused by Herod's hatred. 00:08:19.319 --> 00:08:19.939 But why? 00:08:21.459 --> 00:08:24.019 Because Jesus was born into a world that hated him. 00:08:25.459 --> 00:08:28.339 Born into a world that wanted nothing to do with him. 00:08:28.339 --> 00:08:31.359 And at this point, all seems lost. 00:08:32.740 --> 00:08:39.459 It seems as if God's grand plan of salvation set out before the beginning of time has crumbled. 00:08:41.579 --> 00:08:43.779 Before it even got off the starting line. 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:49.539 It seems weak and insignificant because this promised one has had to run away. 00:08:49.539 --> 00:09:01.719 But the reality is, friends, that these events, as horrible and outrageous as they are, cannot thwart God's plan. 00:09:01.720 --> 00:09:10.259 The amazing thing to notice about this is that Jesus is the very answer to Herod's sinful nature. 00:09:11.620 --> 00:09:18.639 Herod is trying to kill Jesus, but Jesus is the only person who makes it possible for people to be forgiven. 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:22.200 For people to be saved from sin and judgment. 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:28.660 All this time, God is actively protecting his son. 00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:30.240 God is keeping his promise. 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:32.040 And God is still victorious. 00:09:33.420 --> 00:09:36.140 No human effort can ever stop that. 00:09:36.259 --> 00:09:39.759 God is a faithful, promise-keeping God. 00:09:41.820 --> 00:09:44.420 Now we don't know what happened to Jesus in Egypt. 00:09:44.419 --> 00:09:50.339 We don't know the kind of situation that he spent his first years on earth in. 00:09:50.919 --> 00:09:56.839 But one thing we do know is that God was working, preserving and protecting his son. 00:09:57.539 --> 00:09:59.639 His plan of salvation. 00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:07.639 So that a broken humanity can be restored into a right relationship with God. 00:10:07.639 --> 00:10:12.699 And we see that happen because God comes through on his promise. 00:10:13.240 --> 00:10:14.860 In verse 19, look with me. 00:10:15.379 --> 00:10:20.179 An angel appears to Joseph again and tells him to return to Israel. 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:26.199 So God promised in verse 13 that he would tell Joseph when he could return. 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:29.299 And in verse 19, that is exactly what happens. 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:30.559 God fulfills his promise. 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:30.759 God bless. 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:38.259 The angel says that Herod, the one who was adamantly trying to kill Jesus, has died. 00:10:39.079 --> 00:10:40.179 It's safe to go home. 00:10:41.799 --> 00:10:43.699 But they don't go back to Bethlehem. 00:10:45.019 --> 00:10:50.739 In verse 21, Joseph hears that Herod's son is ruling in his father's place and he is afraid. 00:10:52.099 --> 00:10:55.000 And trust me, he has every single right to be afraid. 00:10:55.000 --> 00:11:03.179 Looking at the historical records of Herod and Achilles, the apple did not fall far from the tree. 00:11:03.980 --> 00:11:10.220 These were two very evil men who did unspeakable things to preserve their power. 00:11:12.100 --> 00:11:17.539 So God warns them again in a dream to go to the land of Galilee, to the town of Nazareth. 00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:24.899 A small, unassuming town with no military, political or religious significance. 00:11:25.860 --> 00:11:27.899 He's calling them to go live in the middle of nowhere. 00:11:29.100 --> 00:11:32.460 Similar to the village that my parents live in, Poiana, Romania. 00:11:32.679 --> 00:11:34.000 It's off the beaten track. 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:36.659 You need to be going there for a reason. 00:11:38.059 --> 00:11:39.440 It's not a through road. 00:11:39.539 --> 00:11:42.299 There's no real reason to be there unless you live there. 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:44.179 That's Galilee. 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:45.840 Insignificant. 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:47.559 But it's safe. 00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:51.740 It's where Jesus can be brought up and raised in safety. 00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:56.659 Again, we see God's protection, can't we? 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:03.480 And Matthew tells us in verse 23 that this little town wasn't picked at random. 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:11.360 But God sent them there again to fulfill a promise because God is a promise-keeping God. 00:12:13.920 --> 00:12:17.480 The promise being fulfilled is that Jesus would be a Nazarene. 00:12:18.820 --> 00:12:22.960 Now Matthew's probably thinking of Isaiah chapter 11 verse 1 here. 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:25.920 And you can go look at that later on this afternoon. 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:31.719 And I think Matthew's saying that Jesus is to be the branch that will bear good fruit. 00:12:32.579 --> 00:12:37.740 I think he's doing a wordplay on the Hebrew word for branch, which is similar to the word Nazarene. 00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:49.039 But the point that Matthew is bringing to our attention in this very important part of the birth narrative of Jesus is that God is a promise-keeping God. 00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:55.980 That God is faithful and that nothing, absolutely nothing, will thwart his plan of salvation. 00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:01.279 That God is faithful. 00:13:02.419 --> 00:13:05.799 Friends, at times it seems that God's plan is weak. 00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:10.579 That everything is about to crumble around us. 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:16.039 And we're sitting there wondering, why on earth is any of this happening to me? 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:25.379 The truth is that in those bleak moments, in those moments where it seems that God has been defeated, 00:13:26.359 --> 00:13:31.839 God is always reigning sovereignly and always comes through victorious. 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:38.940 Even in that moment when Jesus was whisked away to Egypt for his own safety as a child. 00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:43.540 That moment seemed bleak and tragic and weak. 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:54.519 But does that moment of bleakness and tragedy remind you of another time where everything else seemed to be stacked against Jesus? 00:13:57.019 --> 00:14:02.199 A time that everything seemed to suggest God's plan had failed. 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:11.480 Jesus is lying in a crib, then escaping to Egypt as Roman soldiers do, the unspeakable in Bethlehem. 00:14:13.379 --> 00:14:20.000 And you can picture King Herod, can't you, standing in the background waiting eagerly for the news to hear of the death of a baby boy. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:26.320 Sounds similar to the events just a few chapters later in the book of Matthew. 00:14:27.159 --> 00:14:30.960 As Jesus stands before another Roman ruler. 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:34.759 Again with his life in the balance, but this time he's an adult. 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:41.120 He stands accused of crimes that he did not commit. 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:52.820 The accusers, the accusations that have been brought against him are by the very people he was sent to save. 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:54.299 The Jews. 00:14:56.200 --> 00:14:58.179 But they didn't welcome him as King and Messiah. 00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:07.299 They didn't welcome him as the promised one from the Old Testament who would come and save the sins of the world. 00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:10.439 Instead, what did they do? 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.979 They cried out, crucify him. 00:15:13.579 --> 00:15:19.819 The mob becoming more and more agitated, standing around Jesus and they shout in unison, crucify him. 00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:26.019 They're crying for the death of the one who can bring them forgiveness. 00:15:28.959 --> 00:15:31.879 It seems that God's plan is being tested again. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:35.519 But this time there's no Egypt moment. 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:38.639 There is no place to run. 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:43.620 No way for him to get away. 00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:47.399 The only thing that stands before him is a big wooden cross. 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:48.939 No escaping. 00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:55.480 And just a few hours later, beaten and mocked, tired from carrying the cross, 00:15:55.579 --> 00:15:58.259 Jesus hangs there, nailed to a tree. 00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:03.259 Passes by mocking him. 00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:08.379 Telling him to come down and save himself if he really is the King of the Jews. 00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:10.340 Naked. 00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:11.620 Alone. 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:13.879 Beaten and torn. 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:16.840 Again, it seems that all is lost. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:21.120 Every person present would be thinking, 00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:24.299 how on earth can this be God's promise? 00:16:24.299 --> 00:16:29.919 How can this be the sent one from God? 00:16:31.419 --> 00:16:37.219 But in that final cry, which ends his life, it is finished. 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:41.759 That is the cry that changed the world forever. 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:47.480 The moment the onlookers thought was the biggest defeat. 00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:51.319 The moment the disciples cowered for fear. 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:53.539 The moment all seemed lost. 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:58.700 That was the moment of greatest victory that this world has ever seen. 00:16:58.700 --> 00:17:07.080 Jesus' birth into hostility and hatred has been leading up to this point. 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:08.880 To this very moment. 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:12.759 Because as Jesus said, it is finished. 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:16.720 The punishment for sin was paid. 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:22.519 As Jesus breathed his last and bowed his head, 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:26.620 the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:32.839 The divide that stood between man and God is obliterated. 00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:39.500 And God's salvation plan for the world was taking place. 00:17:39.899 --> 00:17:42.199 And it is continuing to take place today. 00:17:43.159 --> 00:17:47.279 There is nothing in this world that can stop God's salvation plan. 00:17:47.659 --> 00:17:48.819 No angry king. 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:50.839 No angry mob. 00:17:51.159 --> 00:17:52.099 No wooden cross. 00:17:52.179 --> 00:17:56.319 Because three days later, Jesus rose triumphantly from the grave, 00:17:56.759 --> 00:18:00.179 defeating death and paying the punishment for sins. 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:04.879 That is the message of Christmas. 00:18:06.659 --> 00:18:09.980 That is the life that we celebrate at this time of the year. 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:13.399 That is the salvation plan that Matthew presents to us. 00:18:13.439 --> 00:18:15.480 And he asks you, will you listen? 00:18:18.459 --> 00:18:19.439 Will you listen? 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:24.179 Maybe you're here and you're not a Christian. 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:29.259 I want you to know that this is the length that God went to 00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:32.740 so that you can be made into a right relationship with him. 00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:38.299 This is the extent of God's love that he took on flesh 00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:41.079 and went to die on a cross 00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:43.679 so that you could be free, 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:46.220 that you could have life, 00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:49.339 and that you could be one of his children. 00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:56.039 The world has no problem with cute little baby Jesus in a manger. 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:59.839 But they do have a problem with King and Lord Jesus 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:03.980 who calls us to repent, believe, and follow him. 00:19:04.659 --> 00:19:06.019 But that is what we see in the Bible. 00:19:07.379 --> 00:19:10.319 We see the birth of Jesus and his whole life 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:14.279 being surrounded in a whirlwind of hostility and hatred 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:19.980 so that you and me can be brought back to God again. 00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:25.099 This episode in the birth narrative of Jesus 00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:27.500 is not what we would expect. 00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:31.059 It's not the story we like to hear, 00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:34.680 but friends, it is the story that we need most. 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:38.539 This part of the birth narrative of Jesus 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:40.759 shows us that the whole of the Old Testament 00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:42.099 has been leading to this point, 00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:46.359 that all the promises of God are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. 00:19:48.459 --> 00:19:52.159 And it tells us that God is a promise-keeping God 00:19:52.159 --> 00:19:55.679 who worked to protect and preserve his son 00:19:55.679 --> 00:19:57.719 and who planned the whole thing 00:19:57.719 --> 00:20:00.119 from crib to cross 00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:01.699 so that we can be forgiven. 00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:08.619 As we anticipate the events over the next few days, 00:20:08.619 --> 00:20:12.419 with the busyness of friends and family gathering together, 00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:16.299 as children wait in anticipation for that moment 00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:18.919 when all the wrapping paper sits on the living room floor, 00:20:19.739 --> 00:20:23.619 or maybe as we look at Christmas with pain and heartache, 00:20:24.899 --> 00:20:27.739 let's remember that Christmas is about Jesus. 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:33.819 Remember that hatred and hostility he was born into 00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:36.199 and remember the tragic events of his birth. 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:40.220 And let's remember how all of this, 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:42.640 from crib to cross, 00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:45.779 shows us that God is a promise-keeping God 00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:49.100 and that he has promised salvation 00:20:49.100 --> 00:20:52.080 to all those who call on his name. 00:20:53.700 --> 00:20:55.759 And that was made possible through Jesus. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:59.039 Friends, as we draw to a close, 00:20:59.120 --> 00:21:00.900 this is the reason for the season. 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:04.200 This is the saviour that we need, 00:21:04.200 --> 00:21:06.900 the saviour that has already been freely given. 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:10.259 The question remains, 00:21:10.360 --> 00:21:12.019 will you trust in this wonderful God? 00:21:13.940 --> 00:21:17.059 In the amazing sacrifice of our saviour Jesus? 00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:19.860 And will you listen to his call 00:21:19.860 --> 00:21:22.660 to repent and believe in him this Christmas time? 00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:25.220 Let's pray together. 00:21:25.220 --> 00:21:29.360 Heavenly Father, 00:21:29.500 --> 00:21:32.779 we thank you that we can celebrate Christmas, 00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:36.299 that we can celebrate the birth of Jesus. 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:39.759 But Lord, forgive us for the times 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:42.900 when we only think about cute little baby Jesus 00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:47.279 and we don't think about his true identity 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:50.420 as God in the flesh. 00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:55.140 when we don't think about the reason that he came 00:21:55.140 --> 00:21:58.960 so that sinners like us can be made right with you. 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:04.080 Father, that is a wonderful, wonderful gift. 00:22:05.420 --> 00:22:07.660 Help us ponder that in the coming days 00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:11.220 and help us know that in our hearts. 00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:17.259 And Lord, help us live as good and true worshippers of you. 00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:20.079 We ask all of this for your glory. 00:22:20.860 --> 00:22:21.900 In Jesus' name. 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:22.980 Amen.