WEBVTT

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 no matter what has been going on in our week,

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 whether it's been a good week or a bad week,

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 we can come here to be reminded of God's grace for us,

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 His love for us in His Son,

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 and draw strength from Him.

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 And so as we hear from His Word this evening,

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 let us pray together once more

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 that God would speak to us

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 and encourage us to keep going

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 and walking faithfully for Him.

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 Let's pray.

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 Heavenly Father, we thank You so much

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 for being come here this evening.

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 We thank You, Lord,

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 that You draw us to Yourself through Your Son.

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 And we just pray, Father,

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 as we are here,

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 that You would be with us,

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 that You would speak to us,

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 that You would challenge us

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 and convict us to change

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 whatever needs to be changed

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 in order that we can continue

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 to live faithfully following You.

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 And we pray, Lord, in Your Son's name.

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 Amen.

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 Well, it's all over.

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 Christmas is done for another year.

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 I hope you all had a wonderful time at Christmas

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 shared with family and friends.

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 Christmas is a beautiful time of year.

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 Not just because it's a time

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 we get to spend with family

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 and with friends,

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 but also it's a time

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 we go crazy with decorations.

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 People put up pretty lights

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 and decorations on their houses,

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 going nuts for the festive season.

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 People spend a whole lot of time

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 putting up their Christmas tree

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 and decorating it

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 and making a big deal out of it,

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 putting up stockings as well.

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 Shopping centers go absolutely wild

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 with carols and trees

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 and decorations all over the place.

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 And even now,

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 we even decorate our own cars

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 with reindeer antlers being put on them.

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 Has anyone seen those

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 driving around the streets and such?

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 Yes.

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 And is anyone here brave enough

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 to admit that they have

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 reindeer antlers on their cars?

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 There are some of you who are like,

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 oh dear.

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 So if I was to walk outside right now,

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 I would not see any, right?

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 Is that right?

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 Okay, I believe you.

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 Fair enough.

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 We go wild at Christmas

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 for a whole month.

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 We transform the way our shops look,

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 the way our houses look,

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 and even now,

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 the way our cars look.

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 All for Christmas.

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 And then on Christmas Day,

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 you might think it's all about the food.

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 You might think it's all about the presents.

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 You might even think it's all about family.

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 But let me tell you,

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 you'd be wrong.

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 According to Facebook and Instagram,

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 the whole day is about the table.

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 It's all about the table.

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 And a successful Christmas lunch

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 depends upon how good your table looks,

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 how pretty and original the bonbons are,

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 how neat and organized everything is,

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 how ornate and pretty the whole thing is.

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 Even the location is important

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 so that the environment around the table

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 can complement the beauty of the Christmas table.

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 Your table game is very important

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 at Christmas time.

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 At Christmas time,

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 we go that extra mile

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 to make the month and the day look beautiful.

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 We do it because it makes us feel good.

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 We like beautiful things.

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 And it can make our life,

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 even just for a day,

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 seem perfect and beautiful.

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 We forget everything

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 that might be going wrong for us in our life

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 and focus on the vibe around us,

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 the joy that Christmas time brings.

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 Christmas in our modern culture

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 is a time to focus on the good things in life.

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 We spend our time celebrating

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 the joy of your friends and family.

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 We celebrate good food and presents.

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 We celebrate the good times we've had this year

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 and the good times we're looking forward to next year.

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 Christmas is a time of celebration.

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 And so we don't want to be thinking about

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 the brokenness of our world.

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 We want to have fun.

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 We want to be joyful.

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 And this is why we go to such lengths.

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 Why we decorate.

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 Why we have so many presents and food.

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 And why we go all out on our dinner tables.

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 We want the day to be entirely filled

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 with joy and excitement.

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 But the reality is

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 we can't escape the brokenness of our world.

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 No matter what we do,

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 the brokenness of this world

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 will always be ready to stare at us

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 right in the face,

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 even on Christmas Day.

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 Your kids don't always like

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 the presents you get for them.

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 I'm sure there are some in your family

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 that you struggle to deal with on Christmas.

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 And Christmas time only makes you more aware of this

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 as old wounds and pains resurface once more.

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 For some of us,

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 Christmas can be quite a lonely time.

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 And the day only serves to remind us

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 of what we have lost

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 or what we've never had.

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 Our world is broken.

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 And not even Christmas Day

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 can disguise that well enough.

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 But that's wherein lies the good news.

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 Christmas Day is not about

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 disguising the ugliness

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 and the brokenness of our world.

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 Indeed, Christmas Day

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 is all about exposing it.

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 Matthew's account of the first Christmas story

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 is to clearly expose

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 the brokenness of our world.

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 He recounts a very violent account

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 of the Christmas story

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 that honestly leaves us shocked

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 and a little bit confused.

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 But as we read,

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 we learn of a God who is in control

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 despite all the brokenness

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 going on in our world.

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 We learn of a God

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 who has not overcome

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 or affected by the brokenness

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 of our world,

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 but who has a plan to expose it

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 in order to deal with it.

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 Christmas Day

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 is all about exposing

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 our brokenness

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 and dealing with it.

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 Let's read again from verse 13.

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 When they had gone,

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 an angel of the Lord

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 appeared to Joseph in a dream.

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 Get up, he said.

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 Take the child and his mother

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 and escape to Egypt.

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 Stay there until I tell you,

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 for Herod is going to search

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 for the child

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 to kill him.

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 So he got up,

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 took the child and his mother

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 during the night

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 and left for Egypt,

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 where he stayed

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 until the death of Herod.

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 And so it was fulfilled

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 what the Lord had said

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 through the prophet.

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 Out of Egypt

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 I called my son.

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 When Herod realized

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 that he had been outwitted

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 by the Magi,

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 he was furious

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 and he gave orders

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 to kill all the boys

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 in Bethlehem

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 and his vicinity

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 who were two years old

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 and under.

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 And according to the time

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 he had learned

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 from the Magi.

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 Here we learn firsthand

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 just how broken

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 and sinful

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 the world is.

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 The king of Judea

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 at this time

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 is King Herod

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 and he is quite a character.

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 As Steve mentioned

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 at our Christmas services,

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 King Herod

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 was a paranoid leader.

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 always thinking

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 he was about to be betrayed.

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 He had his brother-in-law killed,

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 his wife killed,

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 as well as both of his sons killed.

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 All because he thought

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 they were trying

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 to take over him.

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 He was an unforgiving,

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 paranoid tyrant

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 who constantly feared

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 any challenge

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 to his sovereignty.

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 And so when the Magi

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 came to him

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 and approached him

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 and asked him,

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 where is the one

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 who has been born

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 the king of the Jews,

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 we want to go

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 and worship him,

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 this sends Herod

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 into a frenzy.

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 He is the king

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 of the Jews,

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 not this newborn kid.

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 He orchestrates a plan

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 to find this newborn king

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 and kill him.

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 However,

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 this plan is foiled.

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 So what does he do?

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 Verse 16,

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 when Herod realized

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 that he had been outwitted

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 by the Magi,

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 he was furious

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 and he gave orders

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 to kill all the boys

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 in Bethlehem

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 and in its vicinity

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 who were two years old

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 and young and under.

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 To be crude,

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 he widened his net.

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 If he couldn't locate

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 Jesus exactly,

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 maybe he would manage

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 to kill him

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 in the midst

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 of killing

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 every single other boy,

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 baby boy,

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 in Bethlehem.

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 It's sick.

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 It's wicked.

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 It's pure evil.

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 I cannot begin

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 to describe

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 the sheer evil

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 of this act.

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 This event brings

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 to mind

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 the events

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 in Exodus

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 where Pharaoh

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 ordered the killing

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 of all the boys

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 of the Hebrews

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 in order to cull

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 their population.

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 And so the fact

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 that Herod

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 would dare

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 to have the audacity

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 to inflict such pain

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 and suffering

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 on his own people

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 again

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 goes to show

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 just how wicked

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 he is

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 and how horribly

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 broken

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 our world is.

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 Matthew

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 here

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 doesn't introduce

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 a Christmas story

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 that looks glamorous

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 and beautiful

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 like the Christmas stories

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 our world

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 might be used

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 to hearing

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 that are filled

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 with joy,

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 luxury,

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 comfort,

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 food and family,

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 presents and good times.

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 No,

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 Matthew

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 introduces a story

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 that is violent

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 and terrifying.

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 A story

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 that brings out

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 the brokenness

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 of our world

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 for all of us

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 to see.

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 Therefore,

00:09:25.179 --> 00:09:26.019
 as the reader,

00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:27.179
 we are exposed

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 to the sinfulness

00:09:28.699 --> 00:09:30.139
 and brokenness

00:09:30.139 --> 00:09:31.159
 of our world.

00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:32.019
 The story

00:09:32.019 --> 00:09:32.739
 of Christmas

00:09:32.739 --> 00:09:33.819
 is not only

00:09:33.819 --> 00:09:34.819
 confronting

00:09:34.819 --> 00:09:36.879
 because of the horrors

00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:37.519
 that Herod

00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:38.259
 committed,

00:09:38.620 --> 00:09:39.899
 but also because

00:09:39.899 --> 00:09:40.819
 we are reminded

00:09:40.819 --> 00:09:42.159
 that we're a part

00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:43.139
 of the same world

00:09:43.139 --> 00:09:44.039
 as Herod.

00:09:45.019 --> 00:09:45.919
 We too

00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:46.959
 contribute

00:09:46.959 --> 00:09:48.639
 towards the brokenness

00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:49.839
 of this world.

00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:51.039
 We too

00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:52.299
 are sinful,

00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:53.480
 flawed

00:09:53.480 --> 00:09:55.179
 and broken people.

00:09:56.519 --> 00:09:57.179
 And Christmas

00:09:57.179 --> 00:09:58.740
 is all about

00:09:58.740 --> 00:09:59.980
 exposing us

00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:01.539
 in such a way.

00:10:03.059 --> 00:10:03.500
 Indeed,

00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:04.219
 Christmas

00:10:04.219 --> 00:10:05.919
 deconstructs

00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:06.379
 our own

00:10:06.379 --> 00:10:08.579
 self-inflated view,

00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:09.860
 the pretty

00:10:09.860 --> 00:10:10.679
 and glamorous

00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:11.639
 idea we might

00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:12.659
 build of ourselves

00:10:12.659 --> 00:10:15.339
 and it plunges us

00:10:15.339 --> 00:10:16.199
 into the reality

00:10:16.199 --> 00:10:17.439
 that we are

00:10:17.439 --> 00:10:18.099
 desperate

00:10:18.099 --> 00:10:19.699
 and in need

00:10:19.699 --> 00:10:20.519
 of a saviour.

00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:22.319
 The story

00:10:22.319 --> 00:10:23.000
 of Christmas

00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:23.740
 exposes

00:10:23.740 --> 00:10:24.480
 our sinfulness

00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:26.360
 and brokenness

00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:27.860
 but it does not

00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:28.759
 leave us there.

00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:30.659
 It exposes

00:10:30.659 --> 00:10:31.360
 our sin

00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:32.399
 in order

00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:33.240
 to deal with it.

00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:34.379
 The story

00:10:34.379 --> 00:10:34.959
 of Christmas

00:10:34.959 --> 00:10:36.159
 is one of violence

00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:36.719
 from beginning

00:10:36.719 --> 00:10:37.399
 to end,

00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:38.240
 beginning with

00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:38.679
 the horrific

00:10:38.679 --> 00:10:39.399
 slaughter

00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:40.360
 of children

00:10:40.360 --> 00:10:42.459
 and ending

00:10:42.459 --> 00:10:43.179
 with the violent

00:10:43.179 --> 00:10:43.679
 murder

00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:44.679
 of the Son

00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:45.219
 of God.

00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:47.000
 It's barely

00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:47.959
 palatable

00:10:47.959 --> 00:10:50.139
 but that's

00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:50.759
 the story

00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:52.419
 it leaves

00:10:52.419 --> 00:10:52.939
 us feeling

00:10:52.939 --> 00:10:53.460
 sick

00:10:53.460 --> 00:10:54.080
 as we are

00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:54.860
 confronted

00:10:54.860 --> 00:10:55.259
 with the

00:10:55.259 --> 00:10:55.879
 reality of

00:10:55.879 --> 00:10:56.519
 sin in our

00:10:56.519 --> 00:10:57.000
 world

00:10:57.000 --> 00:10:57.860
 and our

00:10:57.860 --> 00:10:58.120
 own

00:10:58.120 --> 00:10:58.679
 brokenness

00:10:58.679 --> 00:10:59.259
 and sinfulness.

00:11:00.319 --> 00:11:01.120
 But there

00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:01.559
 is hope

00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:03.659
 because Jesus

00:11:03.659 --> 00:11:04.759
 did not merely

00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:06.139
 come to expose

00:11:06.139 --> 00:11:06.759
 our sin,

00:11:06.819 --> 00:11:07.700
 he came to

00:11:07.700 --> 00:11:08.639
 deal with it.

00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:10.559
 What this story

00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:11.399
 shows us

00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:12.059
 is that in his

00:11:12.059 --> 00:11:12.519
 coming,

00:11:12.759 --> 00:11:13.519
 God doesn't

00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:15.059
 merely show

00:11:15.059 --> 00:11:15.960
 that he is able

00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:16.659
 to expose

00:11:16.659 --> 00:11:17.360
 our sinfulness

00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:18.860
 but that he

00:11:18.860 --> 00:11:19.279
 is also

00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:19.879
 sovereign

00:11:19.879 --> 00:11:20.600
 over it.

00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:22.139
 He's in

00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:22.740
 control

00:11:22.740 --> 00:11:23.820
 and he can

00:11:23.820 --> 00:11:24.639
 deal with it.

00:11:25.460 --> 00:11:26.180
 The world

00:11:26.180 --> 00:11:26.840
 might be in

00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:27.399
 a chaotic

00:11:27.399 --> 00:11:28.060
 mess

00:11:28.060 --> 00:11:29.480
 but he is

00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:30.159
 able to

00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:31.240
 ruin that

00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:31.899
 chaos,

00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:33.220
 achieve his

00:11:33.220 --> 00:11:34.720
 perfect plan

00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:35.399
 and will

00:11:35.399 --> 00:11:36.899
 to save us

00:11:36.899 --> 00:11:37.800
 from our

00:11:37.800 --> 00:11:38.019
 sin.

00:11:38.820 --> 00:11:39.639
 We see it

00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:40.159
 straight up in

00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:40.800
 our passage

00:11:40.800 --> 00:11:41.519
 in the opening

00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:42.039
 verse.

00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:42.980
 An angel

00:11:42.980 --> 00:11:43.459
 of the Lord

00:11:43.459 --> 00:11:44.079
 appeared to

00:11:44.079 --> 00:11:44.579
 Joseph in

00:11:44.579 --> 00:11:44.980
 the dream.

00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:45.500
 Get up,

00:11:45.539 --> 00:11:45.879
 he said.

00:11:46.199 --> 00:11:46.659
 Take the

00:11:46.659 --> 00:11:47.099
 child and

00:11:47.099 --> 00:11:47.419
 his mother

00:11:47.419 --> 00:11:47.919
 and escape

00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:48.480
 to Egypt.

00:11:49.079 --> 00:11:49.799
 Stay there

00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:50.519
 until I tell

00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:50.879
 you,

00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:52.019
 for Herod is

00:11:52.019 --> 00:11:52.339
 going to

00:11:52.339 --> 00:11:52.740
 search for

00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:53.120
 the child

00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:53.659
 to kill

00:11:53.659 --> 00:11:54.000
 him.

00:11:54.419 --> 00:11:54.819
 In the

00:11:54.819 --> 00:11:55.399
 face of

00:11:55.399 --> 00:11:55.959
 conflict

00:11:55.959 --> 00:11:56.759
 and oppression,

00:11:57.339 --> 00:11:57.679
 God

00:11:57.679 --> 00:11:58.860
 divinely

00:11:58.860 --> 00:11:59.980
 intercedes

00:11:59.980 --> 00:12:00.980
 and ensures

00:12:00.980 --> 00:12:01.500
 that the

00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:02.439
 newborn king

00:12:02.439 --> 00:12:02.879
 would be

00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:04.000
 safe and

00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:04.639
 kept away

00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:05.339
 from Herod's

00:12:05.339 --> 00:12:06.259
 attempts to

00:12:06.259 --> 00:12:06.839
 kill him.

00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:08.159
 And Joseph

00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:09.419
 is once more

00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:09.919
 warned in

00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:10.620
 verse 22,

00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:11.360
 but when he

00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:12.200
 heard Achelaus

00:12:12.200 --> 00:12:12.799
 was reigning

00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:13.480
 in Judea

00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:14.080
 in place

00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:14.379
 of his

00:12:14.379 --> 00:12:15.100
 father Herod,

00:12:15.460 --> 00:12:15.720
 he was

00:12:15.720 --> 00:12:16.299
 afraid to

00:12:16.299 --> 00:12:16.779
 go there.

00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:17.799
 Having been

00:12:17.799 --> 00:12:18.340
 warned in

00:12:18.340 --> 00:12:18.799
 a dream,

00:12:18.980 --> 00:12:19.679
 he withdrew

00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:20.299
 to the

00:12:20.299 --> 00:12:20.799
 district of

00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:22.399
 Galilee and

00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:23.080
 he went and

00:12:23.080 --> 00:12:23.460
 lived in a

00:12:23.460 --> 00:12:23.860
 town called

00:12:23.860 --> 00:12:24.440
 Nazareth.

00:12:25.659 --> 00:12:26.279
 He shows

00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:26.759
 that in the

00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:27.659
 midst of a

00:12:27.659 --> 00:12:28.419
 broken and

00:12:28.419 --> 00:12:29.460
 violent world,

00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:31.019
 he is still

00:12:31.019 --> 00:12:31.659
 in control,

00:12:32.060 --> 00:12:32.740
 that he will

00:12:32.740 --> 00:12:33.440
 achieve his

00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:34.080
 purpose and

00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:34.399
 plan,

00:12:34.500 --> 00:12:34.919
 that this

00:12:34.919 --> 00:12:35.680
 Jesus will

00:12:35.680 --> 00:12:36.259
 save his

00:12:36.259 --> 00:12:37.320
 people from

00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:38.180
 their sins.

00:12:38.659 --> 00:12:40.019
 Death pursued

00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:40.799
 Jesus.

00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:42.539
 This was the

00:12:42.539 --> 00:12:43.100
 pattern of

00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:43.720
 his life.

00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:44.879
 But death

00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:45.939
 itself never

00:12:45.939 --> 00:12:46.899
 consumed him.

00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:47.799
 It never

00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:48.480
 caught up to

00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:49.439
 him finally and

00:12:49.439 --> 00:12:50.179
 overtook him.

00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:51.319
 No, death

00:12:51.319 --> 00:12:52.740
 had no power

00:12:52.740 --> 00:12:53.399
 over Jesus.

00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:55.240
 What happened,

00:12:55.319 --> 00:12:56.100
 as Paul says in

00:12:56.100 --> 00:12:56.860
 Philippians 2,

00:12:57.220 --> 00:12:58.100
 was that Jesus

00:12:58.100 --> 00:12:59.699
 became obedient

00:12:59.699 --> 00:13:01.179
 to death.

00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:03.360
 Death pursued

00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:04.600
 Jesus until the

00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:05.699
 appointed time

00:13:05.699 --> 00:13:06.819
 where Jesus

00:13:06.819 --> 00:13:07.679
 would become

00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:08.579
 obedient to

00:13:08.580 --> 00:13:09.560
 death in

00:13:09.560 --> 00:13:10.500
 order to

00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:11.100
 save his

00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:12.480
 people from

00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:13.139
 their sins.

00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:14.920
 What we see

00:13:14.920 --> 00:13:15.620
 here is the

00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:16.360
 incredible

00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:17.600
 sovereignty of

00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:18.600
 God working

00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:19.780
 through the

00:13:19.780 --> 00:13:20.759
 brokenness of

00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.840
 our world in

00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:22.280
 order to

00:13:22.280 --> 00:13:22.940
 redeem it.

00:13:24.040 --> 00:13:25.240
 God turns the

00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:26.100
 brokenness of

00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:27.020
 this world in

00:13:27.020 --> 00:13:27.860
 on its head.

00:13:28.680 --> 00:13:29.520
 As we saw in

00:13:29.520 --> 00:13:30.240
 the genealogy,

00:13:30.440 --> 00:13:31.639
 God uses broken

00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:32.660
 people, people

00:13:32.660 --> 00:13:33.280
 who we would

00:13:33.280 --> 00:13:34.320
 otherwise look

00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:35.080
 down upon and

00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:36.040
 despise for their

00:13:36.040 --> 00:13:37.280
 sinfulness and

00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:38.139
 their ugliness and

00:13:38.139 --> 00:13:38.879
 their yuckiness.

00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:40.299
 God uses those

00:13:40.299 --> 00:13:41.779
 people to achieve

00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:42.939
 his good and

00:13:42.939 --> 00:13:43.939
 perfect plan of

00:13:43.939 --> 00:13:44.459
 salvation.

00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:45.959
 In a broken

00:13:45.959 --> 00:13:47.059
 world where death

00:13:47.059 --> 00:13:48.259
 brings destruction

00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:49.699
 and hopelessness for

00:13:49.699 --> 00:13:50.759
 so many people,

00:13:51.220 --> 00:13:52.639
 God in his power and

00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:54.179
 sovereignty uses the

00:13:54.179 --> 00:13:56.379
 death of his son to

00:13:56.379 --> 00:13:57.659
 bring hope and

00:13:57.659 --> 00:14:00.120
 life, to save us

00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:01.299
 from our sins.

00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:03.860
 He deals with our

00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:05.419
 brokenness, our

00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:05.959
 sinfulness.

00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:07.699
 He lifts up our

00:14:07.699 --> 00:14:09.179
 head and fixes

00:14:09.179 --> 00:14:10.719
 our gaze on him,

00:14:11.339 --> 00:14:12.939
 giving us hope in

00:14:12.939 --> 00:14:13.719
 a broken world.

00:14:14.860 --> 00:14:16.199
 At Christmas time,

00:14:16.259 --> 00:14:17.079
 our world is so

00:14:17.079 --> 00:14:17.979
 focused on

00:14:17.979 --> 00:14:18.899
 forgetting the

00:14:18.899 --> 00:14:19.719
 brokenness of our

00:14:19.719 --> 00:14:20.559
 world, being

00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:21.899
 distracted instead

00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:23.099
 by the beauty and

00:14:23.099 --> 00:14:24.459
 the joy and the

00:14:24.459 --> 00:14:25.159
 glamour that is

00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:27.659
 engineered on the

00:14:27.659 --> 00:14:28.379
 day itself.

00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:29.839
 But the true

00:14:29.839 --> 00:14:30.980
 beauty of Christmas

00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:32.259
 that Matthew is not

00:14:32.259 --> 00:14:33.399
 afraid to portray

00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:34.740
 boldly is that

00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:35.980
 Jesus came to

00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:37.320
 save a broken

00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:37.919
 world.

00:14:38.779 --> 00:14:39.600
 The beauty of

00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:40.419
 Christmas is that

00:14:40.419 --> 00:14:41.139
 it doesn't try to

00:14:41.139 --> 00:14:42.700
 hide our brokenness,

00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:44.980
 it exposes it in

00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:45.799
 order to deal with

00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:46.039
 it.

00:14:47.259 --> 00:14:48.620
 The joy and the

00:14:48.620 --> 00:14:49.460
 beauty of Christmas

00:14:49.460 --> 00:14:50.419
 is that because

00:14:50.419 --> 00:14:52.320
 Jesus has come,

00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:54.940
 we are now able to

00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:56.680
 face up to our

00:14:56.680 --> 00:14:57.379
 brokenness.

00:14:58.120 --> 00:14:59.220
 We are able to

00:14:59.220 --> 00:15:00.220
 look at our

00:15:00.220 --> 00:15:01.279
 sinfulness, our

00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:02.240
 wickedness, our

00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:03.580
 brokenness, not

00:15:03.580 --> 00:15:04.360
 with fear but

00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:04.920
 with hope.

00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:07.100
 As we turn our

00:15:07.100 --> 00:15:08.040
 eyes to the one

00:15:08.040 --> 00:15:09.400
 who became sin

00:15:09.400 --> 00:15:11.560
 for us, who

00:15:11.560 --> 00:15:13.000
 carried our

00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:14.480
 sinfulness, the

00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:15.240
 sinfulness of the

00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:16.980
 world upon his

00:15:16.980 --> 00:15:17.360
 shoulders.

00:15:18.800 --> 00:15:20.040
 When we look at

00:15:20.040 --> 00:15:20.960
 our broken world,

00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:22.660
 when we look at

00:15:22.660 --> 00:15:23.940
 our broken and

00:15:23.940 --> 00:15:25.740
 sinful life, we

00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.540
 ought not to be

00:15:26.540 --> 00:15:26.920
 overcome.

00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:29.100
 We ought not to

00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:29.540
 fear.

00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:30.640
 When our

00:15:30.640 --> 00:15:32.040
 Christmas on

00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:32.759
 Christmas Day

00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:33.339
 doesn't live up

00:15:33.339 --> 00:15:33.699
 to what we

00:15:33.699 --> 00:15:34.240
 had hoped,

00:15:34.719 --> 00:15:35.519
 doesn't look as

00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:36.839
 pretty as we

00:15:36.839 --> 00:15:39.139
 wanted, we ought

00:15:39.139 --> 00:15:39.639
 not to be

00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:40.240
 dismayed.

00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:43.339
 Christmas is all

00:15:43.339 --> 00:15:45.480
 about exposing our

00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:47.159
 broken lives and

00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:48.519
 our broken world in

00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:49.620
 order to save it.

00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:51.639
 Christmas is all

00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:52.539
 about giving us

00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:54.000
 hope in the

00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:55.199
 midst of our

00:15:55.199 --> 00:15:55.919
 brokenness.

00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:57.059
 A hope that

00:15:57.059 --> 00:15:58.740
 sustains us in the

00:15:58.740 --> 00:15:59.360
 world that would

00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:01.360
 otherwise devour us.

00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:02.600
 A hope that gives

00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:03.820
 us strength as we

00:16:03.820 --> 00:16:05.560
 look to Christ who

00:16:05.560 --> 00:16:06.399
 deals with our

00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:07.779
 sinfulness and our

00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:08.460
 brokenness.

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:10.539
 That is why

00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:11.940
 Christmas is

00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:12.379
 beautiful.

00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:14.000
 That is why

00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:15.300
 Christmas is

00:16:15.300 --> 00:16:15.860
 joyful.

00:16:16.460 --> 00:16:17.659
 Because it gives

00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:18.840
 us strength through

00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:20.519
 tears, through pain,

00:16:20.680 --> 00:16:21.480
 through suffering,

00:16:22.060 --> 00:16:22.419
 through our

00:16:22.419 --> 00:16:23.980
 brokenness to keep

00:16:23.980 --> 00:16:24.600
 going.

00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:27.420
 To look at the

00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:28.159
 world in its

00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:28.959
 broken state.

00:16:29.959 --> 00:16:31.299
 To grieve, yes.

00:16:31.559 --> 00:16:32.779
 To feel the pain,

00:16:32.939 --> 00:16:33.299
 yes.

00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:34.839
 But to keep going

00:16:34.839 --> 00:16:35.959
 knowing that God

00:16:35.959 --> 00:16:37.240
 has sent his son to

00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:37.839
 deal with it.

00:16:39.459 --> 00:16:40.879
 To keep going as we

00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:42.259
 look forward to

00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:42.679
 eternity.

00:16:44.079 --> 00:16:45.399
 So, what do we do

00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:46.699
 with our traditions on

00:16:46.699 --> 00:16:47.839
 Christmas Day and at

00:16:47.839 --> 00:16:48.579
 Christmas time?

00:16:48.839 --> 00:16:50.519
 It might sound like I'm

00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:51.699
 throwing those things

00:16:51.699 --> 00:16:52.559
 under the bus a little

00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:52.819
 bit.

00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:54.079
 That Christmas should be

00:16:54.079 --> 00:16:55.259
 more about a private

00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:57.360
 reflection of what

00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:58.439
 God has done for us.

00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:00.759
 And whilst it's very

00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:01.799
 important to remember

00:17:01.799 --> 00:17:02.960
 who we are and how

00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:04.420
 broken we are, I want

00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:05.879
 to say the opposite.

00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:08.700
 Christmas is a

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.680
 wonderful time.

00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:11.079
 A joyful time.

00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:12.440
 And we should feast.

00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:13.619
 We should celebrate.

00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:14.779
 We should give

00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:15.440
 presents.

00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:16.640
 Not because these

00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:18.359
 things should distract

00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:19.240
 us from our

00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:19.879
 brokenness.

00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:21.700
 But because we know

00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:22.440
 full well.

00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:24.339
 Full well of our

00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:26.039
 brokenness and that

00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:26.859
 it has been dealt

00:17:26.859 --> 00:17:27.179
 with.

00:17:27.679 --> 00:17:29.000
 We celebrate the day

00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:30.459
 God opened our eyes

00:17:30.459 --> 00:17:31.839
 for the brokenness of

00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:32.259
 our world.

00:17:32.419 --> 00:17:33.599
 Confronted us with the

00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:34.759
 reality of our sin.

00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:36.639
 Not to put fear in us

00:17:36.639 --> 00:17:38.559
 but to give us hope.

00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:41.319
 That is something worth

00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:42.179
 celebrating.

00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:45.059
 Us broken, sinful

00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:47.839
 people enjoying peace

00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:48.720
 with God.

00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:51.539
 The Christmas story then

00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:52.559
 is not something that we

00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:54.139
 celebrate or have on our

00:17:54.139 --> 00:17:56.119
 minds only one day of the

00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:56.399
 year.

00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:57.720
 For the Christian it is

00:17:57.720 --> 00:17:58.779
 something on our hearts,

00:17:58.879 --> 00:18:00.139
 on our minds, something

00:18:00.139 --> 00:18:01.559
 that we are celebrating all

00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:03.039
 the time, every single day

00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:03.859
 of the year.

00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:05.579
 The Christmas story gives

00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:07.839
 us the capacity to look at

00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:09.460
 our brokenness and not be

00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:10.399
 overcome by it.

00:18:10.619 --> 00:18:12.759
 It informs us that only in

00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:14.500
 Jesus can we be sustained

00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:17.460
 in our brokenness and have

00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:19.559
 hope for the future.

00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:21.940
 hope in a world full of

00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:24.619
 wickedness, desperation and

00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:25.359
 brokenness.

00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:28.940
 There is a whole world out

00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:31.480
 there who needs the tough

00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:33.460
 love of having their sin

00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:34.179
 exposed.

00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:36.679
 A world who doesn't know how

00:18:36.679 --> 00:18:38.460
 to deal with their brokenness

00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:39.139
 and sinfulness.

00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:41.259
 They only know how to distract

00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:42.220
 themselves from it.

00:18:42.839 --> 00:18:44.460
 Whether it's by constantly

00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:45.899
 turning to the good things in

00:18:45.899 --> 00:18:48.079
 life, focusing on the events

00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:50.359
 themselves or otherwise.

00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:54.679
 But we, brothers and

00:18:54.679 --> 00:18:57.159
 sisters, do know how to deal

00:18:57.159 --> 00:18:58.799
 with our brokenness.

00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:00.879
 Indeed, we know the one who

00:19:00.879 --> 00:19:02.299
 has dealt with it.

00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:07.579
 Our world needs us to help

00:19:07.579 --> 00:19:09.579
 them to look towards Jesus to

00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:11.720
 deal with their brokenness.

00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:14.139
 But the thing is, is that it

00:19:14.139 --> 00:19:15.619
 starts with us.

00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:17.779
 It starts with you.

00:19:18.939 --> 00:19:20.679
 Are you looking to Jesus in

00:19:20.679 --> 00:19:22.159
 the midst of your own

00:19:22.159 --> 00:19:25.199
 brokenness and sinfulness to

00:19:25.199 --> 00:19:25.859
 find hope?

00:19:26.939 --> 00:19:28.359
 To find salvation?

00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:32.679
 Or are you allowing yourself to

00:19:32.679 --> 00:19:33.319
 be distracted?

00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:35.859
 Are you willing to be

00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:38.179
 confronted by your own broken

00:19:38.179 --> 00:19:39.939
 life, by your own sinfulness?

00:19:40.459 --> 00:19:41.939
 Or would you rather just go on

00:19:41.939 --> 00:19:43.559
 with your life and being

00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:45.159
 distracted and not even think

00:19:45.159 --> 00:19:45.679
 about that?

00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:49.240
 The story of Christmas is all

00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:51.619
 about how much God loves you.

00:19:52.159 --> 00:19:54.000
 His love for you is so great

00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.839
 that he came into our sinful,

00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:58.059
 broken world in order to

00:19:58.059 --> 00:20:00.220
 expose it for what it really is

00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:02.839
 that we might be saved from our

00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:03.299
 sins.

00:20:04.879 --> 00:20:06.339
 So do not be afraid.

00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:08.740
 Do not despair.

00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:11.639
 Christ has come to save

00:20:11.640 --> 00:20:14.920
 sinners, broken people like you

00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:15.320
 and me.

00:20:16.560 --> 00:20:18.520
 Facing up to our brokenness is

00:20:18.520 --> 00:20:19.140
 scary.

00:20:20.560 --> 00:20:21.860
 I mean, it's terrifying.

00:20:22.820 --> 00:20:24.820
 To relinquish control of

00:20:24.820 --> 00:20:26.460
 ourselves and to give it over to

00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:26.900
 God.

00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:29.840
 To realize that we are not good

00:20:29.840 --> 00:20:31.500
 enough on our own to save

00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:31.980
 ourselves.

00:20:33.020 --> 00:20:36.160
 But in the end, it ends with joy

00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:39.060
 as we trust that God

00:20:39.060 --> 00:20:40.620
 can deal with it.

00:20:41.600 --> 00:20:43.580
 As he deals with it by giving us

00:20:43.580 --> 00:20:45.000
 himself in his son.

00:20:46.080 --> 00:20:47.920
 That is why we celebrate

00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:48.800
 Christmas.

00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:51.160
 And that's what makes it

00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:51.920
 beautiful.