WEBVTT

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 Well, please turn back to Galatians 4, if you have a Bible.

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 The perfect gift, I don't know if you give gifts at Christmas, if you're into that kind of thing, but the perfect gift is a gift that is given in just the right place at just the right time.

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 I've told this story before, but I think it's worth telling again, the story of passengers who are waiting to board a flight to Toronto in Canada.

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 They waited in the departure lounge, and as they waited, they were asked on a survey, what would be your ideal Christmas present?

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 If you could have anything, what would it be? That was the simple question.

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 But what they didn't know, filling out this questionnaire, was that the airline, in a publicity stunt, during the flight, was going to track down every single item that people wished for, that they dreamed of.

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 And then in the exact place, at exactly the right time, the gifts would be delivered, just as the passengers got to luggage reclaim, you know, with the conveyor belt coming around.

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 Instead of suitcases and bags, they see boxes with wrapping and ribbons and name tags moving along, mobile phones and a snowboard and free flights for the family.

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 One family got a 4K 50-inch plasma screen TV.

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 And people were elated getting the right presence in the right place at the right time.

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 Apart from one sceptic who regretted his choice after telling the questionnaire, he simply wanted a pair of socks.

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 And he was absolutely kicking himself.

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 Because a gift was being prepared, just what they'd always wanted, that would be in the right place, just at the right time.

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 Just right.

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 The best kind of gift.

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 It's a really cheesy story, isn't it?

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 But that is Paul's take on the incarnation.

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 And I want to focus in on chapter 4, verse 4 and 5 this morning.

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 Just those two verses.

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 Because in that passage, Paul, in his treatment of the birth of Jesus Christ, says that the gift God gives is perfect.

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 It is just right.

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 It is given to fulfil our needs perfectly because it's given at the right time.

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 And it's given in the right place.

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 They're my two points this morning.

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 It was given just at the right time.

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 Given just at the right time.

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 There are stories over the internet of births with the most incredible timing.

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 One couple celebrated the birth of their daughter on the 10th of the 10th month, 2010.

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 But the amazing thing was that their second child, so the one born before that child, was born on the 9th of the 9th, 2009.

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 That was their second child.

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 Their first child, believe it or not, yes, you know where this is going, was born on the 8th of the 8th, 2008.

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 The timing was incredible.

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 It was impeccable.

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 And Paul says that the gift was even more perfectly timed than that.

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 Look at verse 4.

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 When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son, born of a woman.

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 The gift, it came just at the right time, Paul says.

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 There was something very timely about his birth.

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 The timing was almost incredible.

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 If you think about it, what we know about the birth of the Lord Jesus, it came, didn't it?

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 He came as the Roman Empire brought a unique window in history for the Gospel to travel.

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 There was the Pax Romana, the kind of peace of the land in the Empire.

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 There was a good transportation system.

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 And like never before, the Greek language was the common language.

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 So that the message of Jesus' ministry could spread throughout the known world.

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 It was a unique window of opportunity in history.

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 And it was finely tuned as we read the Gospel accounts of the birth.

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 It just so happened that a decree from Augustus, Caesar Augustus, was sent out.

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 Meaning that Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem to be registered, fulfilling the word of the prophets.

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 All of the elements in time came together just at the right moment, didn't they?

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 When Herod, that paranoid madman, just happened to be on the throne.

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 That he might force the exile of the young Jesus to Egypt, fulfilling the scriptures.

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 God's timing, as you read the Gospel accounts, there's more, isn't there?

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 It was, and is, and will always be perfect.

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 His gifts are not given one day late, or one day early.

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 God timed it to perfection for all these political and cultural and linguistic and prophetic elements to align purposefully.

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 And when we read the Gospels, we say, don't we, you are kidding me.

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 This is impeccable timing.

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 It's incredible timing.

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 He is a master of timing in the giving of his gifts.

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 But there is more to this than even all of that.

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 The timing of the gift was more rich than that, Paul says.

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 And do you remember, in this section of the letter, the timing here is much deeper and it's much more spiritual, actually.

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 I don't know if you've ever thought about the question of why Jesus was born when he was born.

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 Sort of in the whole timeline of God's people.

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 Why now?

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 Why not send Jesus the day after Adam and Eve sinned?

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 Why not?

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 Jesus could have been born, couldn't he?

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 He could have been crucified on that first week after the fall.

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 Couldn't he?

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 He could have died for sin then.

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 Why wait this long to send Jesus?

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 Or, why not wait even longer?

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 Why has he already come?

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 Why not just send him just before Jesus comes back?

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 He could have sent Jesus, I don't know, on the Monday, couldn't he?

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 Jesus could have died on the Wednesday and then ascended and come back on the Friday.

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 It could have all happened in one week.

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 Why this timing?

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 Why these gaps?

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 Because for Paul, the timing is more than just matching up the events in the Roman Empire,

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 although that is amazing, isn't it?

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 It is actually about the real purpose of time in the life of God's people.

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 Where the timing is just right for them to receive the gift.

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 They needed to be in arrivals at the right time as the gift emerged.

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 We saw last Sunday, didn't we, how the time before the birth, Paul says, was a time under captivity, under the law.

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 The people of Israel, they were kept by the law.

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 For they were waiting for a perfect man to fulfil it for them.

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 In faith.

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 That was what the Lord drew them towards.

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 Faith in God to send this person.

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 They were waiting for freedom from its demands.

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 And then in chapter 4, Paul uses another analogy of waiting, doesn't he, in verse 1.

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 He says, I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave.

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 Though he's the owner of everything, but he's under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.

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 A child in a family needing to wait until a date set by dad before he comes into an inheritance.

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 Until then he's under guardians, isn't he, and managers.

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 And so he's saying, Jesus' gift, the gift of Jesus was timed.

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 He didn't come until now.

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 Because in God's timing, he knew that something needed to happen with his people.

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 They needed to grow up.

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 Like a child, God's people needed to come of age, spiritually.

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 I remember growing up in our house, mum and dad kept a box on top of the wardrobe.

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 And in that box was a gift for me.

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 It was going to be a gift.

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 I knew what it was going to be, a train set, but I didn't know what that meant.

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 But I'd never seen it fully.

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 And I had to wait until I grew up.

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 That's what they always used to say.

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 Wait until you grow up.

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 And I thought it was so unfair.

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 Why not now?

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 Why not today?

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 Why can't I have this gift now?

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 But when the day eventually did come, I understood,

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 just looking at the intricacy of the railway,

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 and the workings of the carriages and all the rest of it,

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 and the expense and the value of the gift.

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 It just needed time.

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 I needed time in the longing and the looking up

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 at the unreachable heights of the wardrobe.

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 To receive it with a joy and a fuller thanksgiving,

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 the timing had to be just right.

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 And Paul says God's people for their childhood were imprisoned

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 until the coming faith would be revealed.

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 And under managers until the date set by the Father.

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 We, as God's people, needed to understand

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 what it was going to cost God to be our God.

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 We needed to learn the nature of our sins over time.

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 We needed to be humbled as a people by our own weaknesses.

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 And so his timing isn't just practical and kind of pragmatically,

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 perfectly aligned.

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 It is parental timing.

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 God doesn't send Jesus too early,

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 so that we could learn throughout an age of this captivity under the law,

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 about his grace and his forgiveness and his long suffering,

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 and this preparation time,

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 and what it would mean to give his son for us in this way.

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 And he doesn't wait too long either,

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 lest God's people should fall under absolute despair and disappointment.

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 But God knew we needed time.

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 And so he designated that period of salvation history

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 for his people to be under guardians in this world,

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 to receive the gospel message,

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 and to look to him by faith,

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 to understand what on earth, literally, he was going to do,

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 to appreciate what he was going to do.

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 And he knows that we need that too.

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 God never does things too soon.

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 He never does them too late,

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 in my life and in your life.

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 And when we long and when we look upwards,

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 we can be sure, can't we,

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 that his gifts, all of them,

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 are given at the right time.

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 B.B. Warfield said that each event

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 falls with exact precision

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 into its proper place

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 in the unfolding of his eternal plan.

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 Nothing, however small, however strange,

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 occurs without his ordering,

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 or without its peculiar fitness

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 for its place in the working of his purpose.

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 I don't know if you give presents on Christmas Day,

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 but growing up,

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 it always had to be timed properly.

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 I don't know if it's just tradition,

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 but there was always a time

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 to do the presents.

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 You know?

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 Not too early,

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 kind of spoil the mood

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 with too many things,

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 too many toys around,

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 but not too late,

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 so that the kids weren't half asleep.

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 So we would exchange gifts

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 after lunch,

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 at three o'clock.

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 Three p.m.

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 My dad had it all worked out,

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 and he would sit next to the Christmas tree

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 and divvy out the presents.

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 Dad knows best

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 with these kind of things,

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 I learnt.

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 And it's as if God operates

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 a bit like that,

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 isn't it?

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 He chooses the timing

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 for the gift giving.

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 He parentally sets the routine.

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 He asks, doesn't he,

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 how long should they wait?

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 How long is too long?

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 My people need a period

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 of humbling,

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 and of understanding,

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 and of learning,

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 and of training,

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 and of captivity

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 under this law,

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 that they need to know

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 this needs to be fulfilled

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 in some way,

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 and what that is going to mean.

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 And when the time is right,

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 I will send this gift.

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 When will they be ready?

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 He asks those questions,

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 doesn't he?

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 So that they will see

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 and understand

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 my glorious generosity

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 much better,

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 when they will be humbled,

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 and they will be hopeful.

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 But notice how he describes

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 the timing of the gift

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 in verse 4.

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 He says,

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 when the fullness of time

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 had come,

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 God sent forth his Son.

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 When the fullness of time

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 had come.

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 One way of measuring time

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 is to pour

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 a kind of liquid

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 or something

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 from one container

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 into another,

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 isn't it?

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 So think of an hourglass

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 where sand drops

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 into the bottom bit,

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 or you could drip,

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 drip, drip some water

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 into a bucket,

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 couldn't you?

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 And that would take

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 a certain amount of time,

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 and you can measure it.

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 And Paul is saying here,

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 time works like that

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 in God's schedule,

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 in God's mind.

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 Time is not just

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 this sort of endless thing

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 that is out there

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 that we can kind of

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 fit around and play with.

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 Time is a created thing,

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 and it's measured out,

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 and poured out,

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 and apportioned to

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 all of history,

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 and measured back to God.

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 There is a beginning

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 of time,

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 isn't there,

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 in Genesis 1,

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 and there is an end

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 of time in this world.

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 And as the water

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 drip, drip,

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 drip,

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 drips,

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 day after day,

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 and month after month,

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 and century after century,

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 God is the one

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 who is filling

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 his bucket of time.

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 And as Jesus arrives,

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 the drips,

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 Paul is saying,

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 are reaching the brim

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 of the bucket.

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 It's like one of those

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 infinity pools,

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 isn't it,

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 where you can't see

00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:03.620
 the edge anymore.

00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:07.039
 You can't see the brim anymore.

00:16:07.539 --> 00:16:08.740
 Time itself,

00:16:08.939 --> 00:16:10.240
 in the giving of this gift,

00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:12.899
 in an absolute sense,

00:16:12.939 --> 00:16:14.279
 is drawing to a close.

00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:15.759
 It's full now,

00:16:16.179 --> 00:16:16.879
 Paul is saying.

00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:19.279
 And so we see,

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:19.700
 can't we,

00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:20.879
 that time,

00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:22.879
 that history itself,

00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:24.639
 is marked,

00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:25.580
 beginning,

00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:26.340
 middle,

00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:27.360
 and end,

00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:29.159
 by what God

00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:30.460
 is planning to give

00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:31.399
 to his people.

00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:33.220
 Do you see this connection?

00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:36.320
 All of history

00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:38.439
 is God's Christmas

00:16:38.439 --> 00:16:39.860
 family gift schedule.

00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:42.440
 Where time

00:16:42.440 --> 00:16:43.360
 is not marked

00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:44.799
 by geological ages,

00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:46.419
 or periods of technology,

00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.899
 Bronze Age,

00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:48.639
 and Iron Age,

00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.919
 and Information Age,

00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:51.559
 or Enlightenment Age.

00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:52.840
 They're not important

00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:53.759
 to God, actually.

00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:55.899
 All the ages,

00:16:56.059 --> 00:16:57.120
 and all time,

00:16:57.259 --> 00:16:57.960
 is simply

00:16:57.960 --> 00:17:00.460
 before or after

00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:01.960
 three o'clock

00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:02.659
 in the afternoon.

00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:04.740
 Gift-giving time.

00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:08.880
 That's how he measures it.

00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:10.880
 And so now

00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:12.240
 the gift has been given,

00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:13.680
 the whole bucket

00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.519
 of history

00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:15.339
 is filled.

00:17:16.639 --> 00:17:17.680
 And it's filled,

00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:18.599
 all of it,

00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:19.639
 for this moment.

00:17:20.579 --> 00:17:21.579
 All of the waiting,

00:17:21.859 --> 00:17:22.740
 and all of the training,

00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:23.920
 and all of the captivity

00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:24.900
 under the law,

00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:26.619
 and all of the learning

00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:27.819
 fills this bucket

00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:28.900
 all time.

00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:30.920
 And all times,

00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:31.920
 good or bad,

00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:32.799
 fill this bucket.

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:35.599
 So that we would learn,

00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:36.180
 as a people,

00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:37.000
 how desperately

00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:38.279
 we needed this gift.

00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:40.299
 That we would learn,

00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:41.500
 through backsliding,

00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.799
 and through judgments,

00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:43.900
 and through

00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:45.799
 disappointments,

00:17:45.940 --> 00:17:46.940
 and encouragements,

00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:48.019
 and exile,

00:17:48.920 --> 00:17:50.259
 how much we needed it.

00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.559
 But this is

00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:53.759
 the whole purpose

00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:54.380
 of history.

00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:56.619
 To time the gift.

00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:58.400
 3pm.

00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:01.880
 God doesn't just choose

00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:03.319
 the most suitable time

00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:04.240
 to send his son,

00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:04.700
 does he?

00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:06.200
 Neither does he

00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:07.039
 sort of sit around

00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:07.980
 twiddling his thumbs,

00:18:08.099 --> 00:18:09.019
 waiting for this date

00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:09.779
 that he's set,

00:18:09.900 --> 00:18:10.940
 sometime in the future.

00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:14.160
 That night in Bethlehem

00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:16.640
 was about parental timing.

00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:18.819
 In the Christmas

00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:20.259
 family gift schedule.

00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:23.299
 Time to get the box

00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:24.359
 down from the wardrobe,

00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:25.119
 God said.

00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:28.240
 And as we reflect on that,

00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:29.319
 we realise, I think,

00:18:29.380 --> 00:18:30.400
 three things here.

00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:31.880
 We realise that God

00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:33.140
 is the perfect giver

00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:33.700
 of gifts.

00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:36.359
 Not only does he know

00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:37.299
 what we need,

00:18:37.400 --> 00:18:39.539
 but when we need it.

00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:43.220
 Aren't much of our lives

00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:44.740
 spent asking

00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:46.159
 that question,

00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:47.339
 how long,

00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:48.079
 oh Lord?

00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:50.119
 How long?

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.000
 But we realise,

00:18:53.139 --> 00:18:53.399
 don't we,

00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:54.200
 he is a God

00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:54.779
 who gives

00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:56.299
 at the right time.

00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.240
 Just think of

00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:59.159
 the Lord Jesus

00:18:59.159 --> 00:19:00.899
 meeting with

00:19:00.899 --> 00:19:01.659
 his disciples

00:19:01.659 --> 00:19:02.859
 on that last

00:19:02.859 --> 00:19:05.639
 moments together

00:19:05.639 --> 00:19:07.079
 before his crucifixion.

00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:09.279
 he says to Peter,

00:19:09.399 --> 00:19:10.579
 the bemused Peter,

00:19:10.699 --> 00:19:11.379
 as he washes

00:19:11.379 --> 00:19:12.279
 Peter's feet,

00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:12.759
 doesn't he?

00:19:13.139 --> 00:19:14.339
 What I am doing

00:19:14.339 --> 00:19:15.480
 to you now,

00:19:15.679 --> 00:19:17.139
 you don't understand,

00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:19.119
 but afterwards

00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:20.240
 you will understand.

00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:23.180
 we might think,

00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:23.640
 might we,

00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:24.799
 why did this

00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:25.440
 happen

00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:26.940
 now?

00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:28.839
 Of all the times

00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:29.500
 this could have

00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:30.240
 happened to me,

00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.200
 why now?

00:19:31.299 --> 00:19:32.200
 Why not then?

00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:34.259
 And why can't

00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:35.120
 that thing

00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:35.819
 I want

00:19:35.819 --> 00:19:36.740
 happen now?

00:19:38.620 --> 00:19:39.579
 But we remember

00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:40.059
 that God

00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:40.579
 is the one

00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:41.120
 with the bucket,

00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:43.720
 with the gift-giving

00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:44.700
 family schedule,

00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.740
 and Dad

00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:46.839
 knows best.

00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:49.720
 Spurgeon said,

00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:51.079
 those who have

00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:51.660
 hope

00:19:51.660 --> 00:19:53.339
 can wait.

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.279
 It's true,

00:19:55.360 --> 00:19:55.700
 isn't it?

00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:58.240
 We realise

00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:58.819
 that he is

00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.600
 a great giver

00:19:59.600 --> 00:20:00.039
 of gifts,

00:20:00.100 --> 00:20:01.059
 and then we realise

00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:01.839
 how much

00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:02.360
 he loves

00:20:02.360 --> 00:20:03.140
 his people.

00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:06.339
 Because all

00:20:06.339 --> 00:20:07.220
 of history,

00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:08.559
 everything that

00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.259
 happens,

00:20:10.120 --> 00:20:11.400
 leave or remain,

00:20:12.380 --> 00:20:13.440
 war or peace,

00:20:14.360 --> 00:20:15.079
 winter or

00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:15.460
 summer,

00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:17.180
 all of it

00:20:17.180 --> 00:20:18.759
 is designed

00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:19.700
 for the gifts

00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:20.359
 of God

00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:20.759
 to be

00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:21.220
 manifest

00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:22.160
 and enjoyed

00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:22.680
 at the right

00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:23.180
 time,

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.519
 and for him

00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:25.140
 to be praised

00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:25.759
 for that.

00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:27.480
 Just fancy that,

00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.839
 just think of that.

00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:30.440
 Romans 8, 28,

00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:31.359
 Paul says,

00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:32.099
 we know that for

00:20:32.099 --> 00:20:32.819
 those who love

00:20:32.819 --> 00:20:33.119
 God,

00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:34.000
 all things

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:35.319
 work together

00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:35.799
 for good,

00:20:35.879 --> 00:20:36.420
 for those who

00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:36.839
 are called

00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:37.480
 according to

00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:38.079
 his purpose.

00:20:38.879 --> 00:20:39.440
 And we see

00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.099
 that all of

00:20:40.099 --> 00:20:40.920
 history is

00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:41.619
 centred on

00:20:41.619 --> 00:20:42.180
 this giving

00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:42.759
 of a gift.

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:42.879
 gift.

00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:44.379
 We see that

00:20:44.379 --> 00:20:45.160
 God marks

00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:45.720
 time and

00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:46.420
 measures it

00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:47.599
 with a view

00:20:47.599 --> 00:20:48.359
 to the salvation

00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:49.079
 of his people,

00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:49.900
 and he cares

00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:50.740
 that much.

00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:52.539
 That all of

00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.160
 history is

00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:53.799
 about the

00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:54.460
 church,

00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:56.160
 his people,

00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:58.160
 and his glory

00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:58.680
 within it,

00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.180
 and then

00:20:59.180 --> 00:21:00.180
 receiving gifts

00:21:00.180 --> 00:21:00.779
 from him.

00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.099
 And then

00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:03.440
 thirdly,

00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:04.180
 we realise

00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:04.519
 that the

00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:05.019
 time is

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:05.460
 full.

00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:08.100
 God sent

00:21:08.100 --> 00:21:08.799
 his son

00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:09.380
 in the

00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:09.960
 fullness of

00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:10.340
 time,

00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:11.100
 when the

00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:11.940
 bucket was

00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.460
 at the

00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.059
 very brim,

00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:13.640
 the top.

00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:15.680
 Folks,

00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:16.160
 this is

00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:16.920
 nearly it.

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:19.640
 With the

00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:20.039
 birth of

00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:20.299
 Jesus,

00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:20.920
 the bucket

00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:22.140
 is nearly

00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:23.120
 over-spilling

00:21:23.120 --> 00:21:25.279
 in all of

00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:25.680
 history,

00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:26.360
 and what a

00:21:26.360 --> 00:21:26.799
 time to

00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.259
 live in.

00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:29.900
 If Abraham,

00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:30.660
 the father

00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:31.440
 of faith,

00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:32.100
 were here

00:21:32.100 --> 00:21:32.880
 right now,

00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:33.840
 he would

00:21:33.840 --> 00:21:34.620
 be absolutely

00:21:34.620 --> 00:21:35.440
 blown away.

00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.220
 At the

00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:36.860
 knowledge,

00:21:37.600 --> 00:21:38.000
 and the

00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:38.640
 perspective

00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:39.279
 that we

00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:39.799
 have on

00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.259
 salvation

00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:40.680
 history,

00:21:40.840 --> 00:21:41.860
 that he

00:21:41.860 --> 00:21:42.360
 would get

00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:43.059
 to eat

00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:43.720
 and drink

00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:44.200
 with the

00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:44.740
 risen Lord

00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.120
 Jesus,

00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:46.680
 the one

00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:47.079
 that he

00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:47.680
 had faith

00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:47.940
 in,

00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:48.360
 without

00:21:48.360 --> 00:21:49.100
 knowing it

00:21:49.100 --> 00:21:49.940
 explicitly.

00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:51.259
 What a

00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:51.740
 time to be

00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:52.019
 in.

00:21:53.100 --> 00:21:53.400
 And with

00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:53.799
 all that

00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:54.559
 history behind

00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:54.759
 us,

00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:55.000
 and with

00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:55.380
 all that

00:21:55.380 --> 00:21:55.840
 collective

00:21:55.840 --> 00:21:56.480
 experience,

00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:56.880
 and we

00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:57.940
 are closer

00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:58.559
 now than

00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.059
 we ever

00:21:59.059 --> 00:22:00.579
 were to

00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:01.100
 that last

00:22:01.100 --> 00:22:01.440
 day of

00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:01.600
 his

00:22:01.600 --> 00:22:02.180
 return.

00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:03.559
 And so

00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:03.900
 the gift

00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:04.299
 was given

00:22:04.299 --> 00:22:04.799
 at just

00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:05.220
 the right

00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:05.779
 time,

00:22:06.360 --> 00:22:06.799
 in the

00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:07.380
 fullness of

00:22:07.380 --> 00:22:07.680
 time,

00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:08.420
 but secondly,

00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:10.480
 it was given

00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.000
 in just the

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.819
 right place.

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.700
 It was given

00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:14.420
 in just the

00:22:14.420 --> 00:22:14.920
 right place.

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.579
 What do I

00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:15.900
 mean?

00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:16.700
 It was given

00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:17.620
 in Bethlehem,

00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:19.360
 in Judea,

00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:19.900
 that's where

00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:20.620
 he was born,

00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:22.579
 in the place

00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:23.059
 that God

00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.759
 had worked

00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:24.400
 in and

00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:25.160
 dwelt in,

00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:25.600
 and we

00:22:25.600 --> 00:22:26.299
 could list

00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:26.680
 again,

00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:27.140
 couldn't we,

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:27.740
 all the

00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.940
 prophecies and

00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:29.799
 fulfilments of

00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.160
 how the

00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:31.400
 Messiah was

00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:31.940
 to be born

00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:32.320
 in that

00:22:32.320 --> 00:22:32.840
 place.

00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:34.500
 We can

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:35.259
 see God's

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:36.299
 placement is

00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:37.740
 just perfect,

00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:38.900
 just as his

00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:39.759
 timing is.

00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:41.200
 Jesus

00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:42.120
 travelling to

00:22:42.120 --> 00:22:42.900
 Egypt and

00:22:42.900 --> 00:22:43.440
 growing up

00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:44.080
 in Nazareth,

00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:45.480
 all part of

00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:45.980
 being in the

00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:47.039
 right place

00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:47.640
 for Jesus'

00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:48.440
 lowly

00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:49.000
 ministry.

00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:51.480
 Paul,

00:22:51.580 --> 00:22:51.900
 though,

00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:52.700
 again,

00:22:52.860 --> 00:22:53.600
 sees a deeper

00:22:53.600 --> 00:22:54.559
 perfection in

00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:55.360
 the placing of

00:22:55.360 --> 00:22:55.720
 the gift.

00:22:55.820 --> 00:22:56.360
 Just look at

00:22:56.360 --> 00:22:57.180
 verse 4 again

00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:57.480
 there.

00:22:58.900 --> 00:23:00.200
 God sent

00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:01.160
 forth his

00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:01.759
 son,

00:23:02.320 --> 00:23:02.920
 born of

00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:03.380
 woman,

00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.560
 born under

00:23:05.560 --> 00:23:06.299
 the law,

00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.000
 to redeem

00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:08.500
 those who

00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:08.860
 were under

00:23:08.860 --> 00:23:09.400
 the law.

00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:11.680
 Paul says

00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:12.759
 that is the

00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:14.620
 place where

00:23:14.620 --> 00:23:15.360
 Jesus was

00:23:15.360 --> 00:23:15.720
 born.

00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:18.019
 He is born

00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:18.740
 in a stable,

00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:19.440
 he is born

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:20.460
 in this world,

00:23:21.340 --> 00:23:21.920
 he comes to

00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:22.380
 us in the

00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:22.779
 place of

00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:24.539
 human flesh,

00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:25.720
 and all of

00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:26.140
 those things

00:23:26.140 --> 00:23:26.560
 are true,

00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:27.379
 but it's so

00:23:27.379 --> 00:23:28.220
 that he

00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:28.579
 could be

00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:29.019
 born in

00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:29.980
 this place,

00:23:31.159 --> 00:23:32.240
 under the

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:32.779
 law.

00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.440
 Under the

00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.019
 law,

00:23:36.659 --> 00:23:37.700
 which binds

00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:38.940
 human beings,

00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.619
 which makes

00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:41.679
 demands of

00:23:41.679 --> 00:23:42.119
 us,

00:23:42.339 --> 00:23:43.200
 right demands,

00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.039
 which because

00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:45.779
 of our failure

00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:46.419
 it brings

00:23:46.419 --> 00:23:47.240
 condemnation

00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:47.940
 upon us.

00:23:48.919 --> 00:23:49.399
 God's

00:23:49.399 --> 00:23:50.039
 holy law.

00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.000
 Remember

00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:52.679
 that Paul is

00:23:52.679 --> 00:23:53.379
 talking here,

00:23:53.419 --> 00:23:53.639
 isn't he,

00:23:53.659 --> 00:23:54.000
 about the

00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.319
 accumulation of

00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:56.480
 ceremonial

00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:57.120
 and religious

00:23:57.120 --> 00:23:57.680
 laws,

00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:59.440
 which signified

00:23:59.440 --> 00:23:59.960
 for God's

00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:00.819
 people their

00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:02.079
 imperfections,

00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.240
 and their

00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:04.400
 inability to

00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:05.519
 save themselves,

00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.740
 and Jesus is

00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.759
 born into a

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.940
 situation of

00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:09.839
 bondage,

00:24:10.380 --> 00:24:11.799
 he is born in

00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:12.319
 a place of

00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:12.960
 imprisonment,

00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:13.779
 he is brought

00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:14.140
 up,

00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:14.480
 isn't he,

00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.759
 behind bars,

00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.680
 under means

00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:19.579
 to be subject

00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:20.860
 to something,

00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:22.160
 to be a

00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:22.920
 servant of

00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:23.319
 something,

00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:24.019
 he is servant

00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:24.940
 of the law,

00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:26.779
 and where

00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:27.559
 you are born

00:24:27.559 --> 00:24:28.480
 determines how

00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:28.940
 you are going

00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.319
 to live the

00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:29.819
 rest of your

00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:30.200
 life,

00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:30.720
 doesn't it?

00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:31.720
 It determines

00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:32.519
 what you will

00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:32.980
 do,

00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:34.519
 and what job

00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:35.000
 you'll have,

00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:35.619
 and how you'll

00:24:35.619 --> 00:24:36.000
 live,

00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:37.879
 and he is born

00:24:37.879 --> 00:24:38.779
 in that place

00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:39.339
 of submission

00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:40.180
 to the law,

00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:41.160
 and this

00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:42.920
 will be his

00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:44.059
 whole life,

00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:46.299
 this is his

00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:47.059
 vocation,

00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:49.240
 to live a life

00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:50.400
 of perfection

00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:51.500
 and submission.

00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:53.600
 It is such

00:24:53.600 --> 00:24:54.920
 unexpected behaviour

00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:55.740
 for a king to

00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:55.960
 have,

00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.259
 isn't it?

00:24:56.280 --> 00:24:57.019
 To be born

00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.780
 in a prison,

00:24:57.880 --> 00:24:58.759
 to be subject

00:24:58.759 --> 00:25:00.300
 to something.

00:25:01.280 --> 00:25:02.160
 It's told the

00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:02.540
 story,

00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:03.160
 and I don't know

00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:03.660
 if it's true,

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.259
 but it's a great

00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:04.920
 story anyway,

00:25:05.380 --> 00:25:06.660
 of King Henry VIII,

00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.600
 he once dressed

00:25:07.600 --> 00:25:08.680
 up as a commoner

00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:09.620
 to have a

00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:10.580
 night-time walk

00:25:10.580 --> 00:25:11.180
 in London,

00:25:11.380 --> 00:25:12.280
 but at one time

00:25:12.280 --> 00:25:13.259
 two police

00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:14.560
 constables mistook

00:25:14.560 --> 00:25:15.700
 him for a

00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.340
 vagabond,

00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.759
 and arrested

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.000
 him,

00:25:18.120 --> 00:25:18.600
 throwing him

00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:19.320
 into prison.

00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:21.000
 The police

00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:22.000
 were mortified

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:23.280
 when they

00:25:23.280 --> 00:25:23.780
 found out

00:25:23.780 --> 00:25:24.560
 who he was,

00:25:25.320 --> 00:25:26.320
 expecting the

00:25:26.320 --> 00:25:27.240
 worst kind

00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:28.320
 of reprisals.

00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:29.240
 We've just

00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:30.100
 put King Henry

00:25:30.100 --> 00:25:31.220
 VIII in prison,

00:25:32.340 --> 00:25:33.080
 but he chose

00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:33.900
 to stay in the

00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:34.480
 cell for the

00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:34.820
 night,

00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:36.000
 and he rewarded

00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:36.560
 the police

00:25:36.560 --> 00:25:37.320
 constables for

00:25:37.320 --> 00:25:37.980
 their efforts.

00:25:39.380 --> 00:25:39.920
 It's a pretty

00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.740
 unusual behaviour,

00:25:40.860 --> 00:25:41.140
 isn't it?

00:25:41.220 --> 00:25:42.200
 And it is such

00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:43.060
 unusual behaviour

00:25:43.060 --> 00:25:44.040
 that God the

00:25:44.040 --> 00:25:46.160
 King comes

00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:47.000
 and willingly

00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:48.340
 stays in prison,

00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:49.980
 stays in the

00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:50.180
 prison,

00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:50.840
 he comes to

00:25:50.840 --> 00:25:52.180
 be a man

00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:52.560
 in the

00:25:52.560 --> 00:25:53.259
 prison for

00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:53.660
 a time,

00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:54.420
 he comes

00:25:54.420 --> 00:25:55.340
 with his

00:25:55.340 --> 00:25:55.860
 eyes on

00:25:55.860 --> 00:25:56.539
 those who

00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.019
 are under

00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:57.500
 the law

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:58.160
 to share

00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:58.740
 that prison

00:25:58.740 --> 00:25:59.460
 with them.

00:26:01.160 --> 00:26:01.440
 And so

00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:02.019
 he is a

00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:02.360
 King who

00:26:02.360 --> 00:26:02.759
 is not

00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.400
 aloof

00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:05.500
 from where

00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:06.340
 he rules,

00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.539
 he rules

00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:08.340
 next to the

00:26:08.340 --> 00:26:09.000
 people in

00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.539
 their prison

00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:10.120
 with them,

00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:10.700
 he comes

00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:11.440
 in our

00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.120
 flesh,

00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:13.940
 and experiences

00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:15.080
 our temptations,

00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:15.920
 and he feels

00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:16.500
 our prison,

00:26:16.620 --> 00:26:17.360
 he is with

00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:18.140
 us in that

00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:18.640
 sense.

00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:20.840
 But not

00:26:20.840 --> 00:26:21.580
 just so that

00:26:21.580 --> 00:26:23.040
 he can give

00:26:23.040 --> 00:26:23.400
 us some

00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:23.940
 company,

00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:25.500
 being born

00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:25.920
 of woman,

00:26:26.060 --> 00:26:26.480
 being born

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:26.900
 under the

00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:27.040
 law,

00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:28.180
 not just so

00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:28.700
 that he can

00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:28.940
 say,

00:26:29.040 --> 00:26:29.740
 I know what

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.360
 it's like to

00:26:30.360 --> 00:26:30.980
 be human,

00:26:31.100 --> 00:26:31.580
 although he

00:26:31.580 --> 00:26:32.220
 can say that

00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:32.759
 to us.

00:26:33.320 --> 00:26:34.040
 I know what

00:26:34.040 --> 00:26:34.860
 it's like to

00:26:34.860 --> 00:26:35.759
 face temptation,

00:26:36.020 --> 00:26:36.759
 I know what

00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:37.360
 it's like to be

00:26:37.360 --> 00:26:38.240
 limited and

00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:38.860
 mortal and

00:26:38.860 --> 00:26:39.340
 weak and

00:26:39.340 --> 00:26:39.820
 imprisoned,

00:26:40.520 --> 00:26:41.520
 it's not just

00:26:41.520 --> 00:26:42.080
 so that he

00:26:42.080 --> 00:26:42.940
 can do that,

00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:44.580
 no,

00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:45.220
 he is with

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:46.100
 us in the

00:26:46.100 --> 00:26:46.460
 prison,

00:26:47.380 --> 00:26:48.340
 so he can

00:26:48.340 --> 00:26:49.059
 get us out

00:26:49.059 --> 00:26:49.340
 of the

00:26:49.340 --> 00:26:49.660
 prison.

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.779
 He is born

00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:53.299
 under the

00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:53.460
 law,

00:26:53.580 --> 00:26:54.120
 verse 5,

00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:55.539
 to redeem

00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:57.059
 those who

00:26:57.059 --> 00:26:57.460
 were under

00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.100
 the law.

00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:00.600
 The whole

00:27:00.600 --> 00:27:01.559
 purpose of

00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:02.400
 his slavery

00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:04.080
 is to get

00:27:04.080 --> 00:27:04.539
 us out of

00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:04.799
 it,

00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:06.600
 and to

00:27:06.600 --> 00:27:07.240
 release us

00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:07.640
 from it,

00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:08.279
 to redeem

00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:08.759
 us from

00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.080
 it,

00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:11.279
 and make

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.100
 us graduate

00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:12.899
 from being

00:27:12.899 --> 00:27:13.899
 slaves,

00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.339
 to being

00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:16.319
 sons,

00:27:16.639 --> 00:27:17.579
 adopted sons,

00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:18.279
 and receiving

00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:18.879
 all of those

00:27:18.879 --> 00:27:19.659
 privileges.

00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.339
 God,

00:27:22.699 --> 00:27:23.279
 the king,

00:27:23.419 --> 00:27:24.059
 comes and

00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:25.399
 willingly stays,

00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:26.179
 he comes to

00:27:26.179 --> 00:27:27.599
 be with men

00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:28.379
 in the prison,

00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:31.419
 to redeem

00:27:31.419 --> 00:27:32.059
 those who

00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:32.500
 are in the

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:32.799
 prison.

00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:34.319
 I was trying

00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:35.059
 to find a

00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:36.359
 good analogy

00:27:36.359 --> 00:27:37.039
 of this,

00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.240
 and I realise

00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:38.740
 actually the

00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:39.559
 best analogies

00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:39.919
 are in the

00:27:39.919 --> 00:27:40.659
 Bible itself,

00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:41.139
 aren't they?

00:27:41.219 --> 00:27:42.000
 Because the

00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.559
 story of

00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:43.720
 Joseph is

00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:45.119
 just perfect

00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:45.440
 here,

00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:45.759
 isn't it?

00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:46.460
 This is what

00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:46.980
 happened to

00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:47.279
 him.

00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:49.400
 He is the

00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:49.720
 guy,

00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.059
 isn't he,

00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:50.859
 who is always

00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:51.599
 in the wrong

00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:52.400
 place at the

00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:53.200
 wrong time

00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:54.579
 growing up,

00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:54.940
 isn't he?

00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.680
 He's thrown

00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:56.400
 into a pit

00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:56.859
 by his

00:27:56.859 --> 00:27:57.200
 brothers,

00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.420
 he's sold

00:27:58.420 --> 00:27:59.420
 into slavery,

00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:01.019
 he's falsely

00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:01.619
 accused,

00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:02.140
 and he ends

00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:02.740
 up in prison

00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:03.779
 for two years.

00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:06.359
 But isn't it

00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:07.259
 in the very

00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:08.599
 fact of his

00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:09.359
 slavery,

00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:11.779
 that brings

00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.859
 rescue for

00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:13.459
 his brothers,

00:28:14.719 --> 00:28:16.179
 and for all

00:28:16.179 --> 00:28:16.500
 the people

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.099
 of Egypt.

00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:19.219
 It is his

00:28:19.219 --> 00:28:20.759
 very imprisonment

00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:21.719
 that leads to

00:28:21.719 --> 00:28:22.579
 the redemption

00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:24.299
 of his brothers,

00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:25.259
 and the giving

00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:26.299
 of food in the

00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:26.579
 famine.

00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:29.000
 He even

00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:29.959
 saves those

00:28:29.959 --> 00:28:30.759
 people who put

00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.279
 him in prison

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:31.819
 in the first

00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:32.299
 place,

00:28:32.419 --> 00:28:32.819
 doesn't he,

00:28:32.879 --> 00:28:33.579
 his brothers.

00:28:33.579 --> 00:28:35.899
 And that

00:28:35.899 --> 00:28:36.240
 would have

00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:37.039
 never happened

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.740
 had Joseph

00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:39.139
 remained outside

00:28:39.139 --> 00:28:40.119
 of the pit,

00:28:40.939 --> 00:28:41.659
 or outside

00:28:41.659 --> 00:28:42.559
 of the prison.

00:28:43.619 --> 00:28:44.579
 He needed

00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.220
 to be

00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:46.339
 imprisoned to

00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:48.019
 redeem his

00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:48.339
 brothers.

00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:50.619
 This was

00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:51.539
 his reason

00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:52.379
 for living.

00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:53.799
 Not just

00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:54.539
 his birth,

00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:55.460
 not just

00:28:55.460 --> 00:28:56.019
 his death,

00:28:56.159 --> 00:28:56.839
 but all he

00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.379
 did as a

00:28:57.379 --> 00:28:58.439
 man was

00:28:58.439 --> 00:28:59.139
 part of this

00:28:59.139 --> 00:29:00.980
 vocation of

00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.559
 being under

00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:02.119
 the law.

00:29:03.579 --> 00:29:04.399
 And if you

00:29:04.399 --> 00:29:05.019
 think about it,

00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:05.799
 the visible

00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:06.659
 place of

00:29:06.659 --> 00:29:07.679
 Jesus' birth

00:29:07.679 --> 00:29:09.460
 matches the

00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:10.220
 invisible

00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:11.500
 place,

00:29:11.579 --> 00:29:12.220
 doesn't it,

00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.199
 of his life.

00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:14.039
 He was born

00:29:14.039 --> 00:29:14.939
 in a cattle

00:29:14.939 --> 00:29:15.500
 shed,

00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:16.779
 placed in a

00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:17.359
 manger with

00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:17.799
 the muck

00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:18.439
 and the mess.

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.039
 He is born

00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.839
 as a lowly

00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:20.500
 outcast.

00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:22.079
 He's born

00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:22.720
 not in a

00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:23.460
 palace to be

00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:24.039
 a proud

00:29:24.039 --> 00:29:24.559
 king,

00:29:25.139 --> 00:29:26.379
 but in a

00:29:26.379 --> 00:29:27.119
 stable to

00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:27.960
 be a servant

00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.720
 king,

00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:30.899
 to be a

00:29:30.899 --> 00:29:32.019
 slave king,

00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:34.039
 to redeem

00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:35.160
 those who

00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:35.839
 are slaves

00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:36.299
 under the

00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:37.480
 law with

00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:37.799
 him.

00:29:40.139 --> 00:29:40.720
 Some might

00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.099
 have thought

00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:41.660
 might may

00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:42.480
 with the

00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:42.980
 sending of

00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:43.539
 the son,

00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:44.240
 as they

00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:44.660
 looked at

00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:45.220
 him there

00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:46.579
 in the

00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:46.920
 manger,

00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:48.599
 this king,

00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:50.220
 surely he

00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:50.660
 is in the

00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:51.359
 wrong place

00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:51.720
 at the

00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.299
 wrong time

00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:52.619
 here.

00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:54.720
 Well,

00:29:54.859 --> 00:29:55.480
 hindsight is

00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:55.940
 a wonderful

00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:56.319
 thing,

00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:56.799
 isn't it?

00:29:56.799 --> 00:30:02.000
 God was

00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.799
 preparing the

00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:04.059
 perfect gift,

00:30:05.299 --> 00:30:06.039
 that all

00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:06.639
 of history

00:30:06.639 --> 00:30:07.399
 would vow

00:30:07.399 --> 00:30:08.019
 to his

00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:08.700
 plan for

00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:09.119
 the giving

00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:09.659
 of it,

00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.299
 for his

00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:11.919
 gifts are

00:30:11.919 --> 00:30:12.379
 given at

00:30:12.379 --> 00:30:13.419
 just the

00:30:13.419 --> 00:30:14.019
 right time

00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:14.339
 and in

00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:14.700
 just the

00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:15.399
 right place

00:30:15.399 --> 00:30:16.740
 for us

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.019
 and for

00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:17.700
 our salvation,

00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:18.500
 for the

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.259
 coming of

00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:20.220
 age of

00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:20.980
 his church

00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:22.639
 and for

00:30:22.639 --> 00:30:23.339
 his praise

00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:23.779
 and for

00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:23.980
 our

00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.519
 thanksgiving.

00:30:24.519 --> 00:30:26.980
 I think

00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:27.379
 the hard

00:30:27.379 --> 00:30:27.700
 thing in

00:30:27.700 --> 00:30:28.099
 the Christian

00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:29.440
 life is

00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:29.900
 that we

00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:30.319
 have to

00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:31.139
 wait and

00:30:31.139 --> 00:30:32.139
 maybe more

00:30:32.139 --> 00:30:32.779
 it's the

00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.539
 question while

00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.099
 we wait,

00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:35.519
 why are

00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.220
 we waiting?

00:30:37.879 --> 00:30:38.539
 And so

00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:38.980
 often we

00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:39.660
 just have to

00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:40.039
 say, I

00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.660
 don't know

00:30:40.660 --> 00:30:41.720
 actually why.

00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.920
 We want to

00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:44.500
 try and

00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:45.359
 guess and

00:30:45.359 --> 00:30:46.359
 measure God's

00:30:46.359 --> 00:30:47.240
 bucket of

00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:47.759
 time, don't

00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:48.039
 we?

00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:50.379
 But all we

00:30:50.379 --> 00:30:52.220
 know is

00:30:52.220 --> 00:30:52.920
 that Dad

00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:54.079
 knows best.

00:30:55.099 --> 00:30:56.720
 And we

00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:57.440
 as those

00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:57.879
 who have

00:30:57.879 --> 00:30:58.279
 hope,

00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:00.299
 we can

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:00.680
 wait.

00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:01.139
 We can

00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:00.740
 wait.

00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.139
 We can

00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:01.139


00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:01.139


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