WEBVTT 00:00:00.500 --> 00:00:01.140 Good morning. 00:00:01.219 --> 00:00:04.240 Please turn with me in your Bibles to the Gospel of Matthew. 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:06.640 For those of you who don't know me, my name is Sean. 00:00:06.780 --> 00:00:08.919 I am one of the pastors of Trinity Cambridge Church. 00:00:09.700 --> 00:00:14.179 It's my great joy and privilege to preach God's Word to you this morning. 00:00:14.580 --> 00:00:16.460 If you don't have a Bible, please raise your hand. 00:00:16.519 --> 00:00:19.640 We'd love to give you a copy that you can have, and you can use that while you're here 00:00:19.640 --> 00:00:19.900 also. 00:00:20.080 --> 00:00:21.839 So I see a hand here for Elder. 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:23.339 Could someone grab the Bible for him? 00:00:24.800 --> 00:00:25.019 Yeah. 00:00:25.580 --> 00:00:25.800 Okay. 00:00:26.019 --> 00:00:26.800 I think... 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:28.760 He's got it. 00:00:28.760 --> 00:00:29.420 He's not good. 00:00:29.420 --> 00:00:29.820 You got it? 00:00:29.820 --> 00:00:31.460 Oh, I think he's getting you one, too. 00:00:31.719 --> 00:00:31.879 Yeah. 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:33.560 Yeah. 00:00:33.700 --> 00:00:34.020 It's good. 00:00:34.100 --> 00:00:34.399 That'd be great. 00:00:36.939 --> 00:00:37.600 Thank you, Gabe. 00:00:37.780 --> 00:00:39.039 Elder, if you could raise your hand. 00:00:39.380 --> 00:00:39.579 Yeah. 00:00:40.380 --> 00:00:40.719 Okay. 00:00:41.859 --> 00:00:42.179 Yeah. 00:00:42.179 --> 00:00:42.240 Yeah. 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:48.120 Matthew is the first book in the New Testament. 00:00:48.379 --> 00:00:49.980 Matthew, chapter 2. 00:00:51.719 --> 00:00:53.320 We're in verses 1 to 12. 00:00:53.320 --> 00:01:02.159 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word. 00:01:02.159 --> 00:01:02.179 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word. 00:01:02.179 --> 00:01:20.500 Heavenly Father, we humble ourselves before your Word again. 00:01:20.500 --> 00:01:20.560 Amen. 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:26.539 We are your servants. 00:01:26.540 --> 00:01:27.540 I am your servant. 00:01:27.540 --> 00:01:31.500 I am your servant. 00:01:34.500 --> 00:01:37.740 We have gathered not to hear a man speak. 00:01:41.180 --> 00:01:43.240 We've come to be addressed by our King. 00:01:43.239 --> 00:01:52.199 So, Lord, speak to us from your Word in the reading and preaching of your Word. 00:01:52.200 --> 00:02:03.680 Humble those who have yet to pledge their allegiance to you who are in this room. 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:09.219 Exalt the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. 00:02:09.219 --> 00:02:20.500 And remind us again of what kind of King he is. 00:02:21.860 --> 00:02:23.039 The King of mercy. 00:02:24.120 --> 00:02:25.020 The King of grace. 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:31.500 That we might serve him with gladness. 00:02:32.500 --> 00:02:34.120 And fall before him in worship. 00:02:37.079 --> 00:02:38.479 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:39.239 Amen. 00:02:41.719 --> 00:02:44.780 If you are able, please stand for the reading of God's Word. 00:02:44.859 --> 00:02:47.159 I will read from Matthew 2, verses 1 to 12. 00:02:59.159 --> 00:03:04.500 Now, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the King, 00:03:04.500 --> 00:03:09.900 behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:14.419 Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? 00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:19.740 For we saw his star when it rose, and have come to worship him. 00:03:19.740 --> 00:03:25.600 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 00:03:26.040 --> 00:03:31.280 And assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:32.560 Christ was to be born. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:34.560 They told him, 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:39.360 In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet. 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:46.040 And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judea, are by no means least among the rulers of Judea. 00:03:46.040 --> 00:03:51.780 For from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. 00:03:51.780 --> 00:03:59.939 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:02.979 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:09.000 Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:11.900 that I too may come and worship him. 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:16.620 After listening to the king, they went on their way. 00:04:16.620 --> 00:04:25.000 And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 00:04:26.439 --> 00:04:31.439 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:39.959 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. 00:04:39.959 --> 00:04:47.959 Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:55.399 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. 00:04:56.179 --> 00:04:58.379 This is God's holy and authoritative word. 00:04:58.599 --> 00:04:59.060 You may be seated. 00:04:59.060 --> 00:05:13.459 It's a joke among pastors that this passage spoils some of our favorite Christmas carols. 00:05:14.980 --> 00:05:20.360 I know one that I've sang twice already this season is We Three Kings. 00:05:20.360 --> 00:05:29.639 And first, this passage tells us that these wise men come to visit Jesus, but that they are not kings. 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:36.660 Technically, they are not kings, even though they are kingly people, as you can see, from their retinue, 00:05:36.780 --> 00:05:39.180 from the treasures they bring, their wealth and prestige. 00:05:40.460 --> 00:05:41.580 But they're not kings. 00:05:42.699 --> 00:05:46.199 And secondly, this passage never tells us there's three of them, 00:05:46.199 --> 00:05:49.979 even though we like to sing that there's three wise men or three kings. 00:05:51.219 --> 00:05:54.979 Traditionally, we assume that there were three magi because of the three gifts. 00:05:55.560 --> 00:05:57.979 But the text never actually tells us that. 00:05:58.060 --> 00:06:01.680 We just know that there's more than one because magi is a plural term. 00:06:03.339 --> 00:06:06.399 But more than spoiling some of our Christmas carols, 00:06:06.539 --> 00:06:13.259 this passage intends to upend our expectations of what a king is supposed to be, 00:06:13.259 --> 00:06:16.300 what the messianic king should be. 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:19.159 Who is Jesus the Christ? 00:06:20.219 --> 00:06:21.379 Who is he really? 00:06:22.259 --> 00:06:23.639 And what kind of king is he? 00:06:24.819 --> 00:06:28.219 This passage teaches us that Jesus is the servant king 00:06:28.219 --> 00:06:31.560 who deserves our worship and fealty. 00:06:32.219 --> 00:06:36.819 And we're going to examine the three main characters in the passage in turn. 00:06:36.819 --> 00:06:38.360 First, the searching magi. 00:06:38.899 --> 00:06:40.519 Second, the troubled king. 00:06:41.019 --> 00:06:43.399 And third, the worshipped child. 00:06:45.019 --> 00:06:47.620 First, we meet the wise men from the east. 00:06:47.779 --> 00:06:49.100 It says in verses 1 and 2, 00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:53.139 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, 00:06:53.659 --> 00:06:56.860 behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 00:06:57.459 --> 00:06:59.939 Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:03.500 For we saw his star when it rose, 00:07:04.159 --> 00:07:05.600 and we have come to worship him. 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:12.400 The actual word that translated wise men here is magi. 00:07:13.020 --> 00:07:17.360 The magi were originally members of the Persian priestly caste, 00:07:17.720 --> 00:07:20.439 and they served as advisors to the king. 00:07:21.080 --> 00:07:25.400 The magi were scholars and priests who specialized in astrology 00:07:25.400 --> 00:07:27.760 and the interpretation of dreams 00:07:27.760 --> 00:07:32.260 and various forms of divination and the magical arts occasionally. 00:07:32.259 --> 00:07:37.899 They're similar to the Babylonian court magicians and astrologers we see in the book of Daniel. 00:07:38.860 --> 00:07:44.000 And these magi were renowned throughout the Greco-Roman world for their skills and divination. 00:07:44.579 --> 00:07:50.519 And everyone in the Greco-Roman world knew that the best magi were from the east. 00:07:50.519 --> 00:07:55.680 And these are magi from the east, east of Jerusalem, that is. 00:07:55.979 --> 00:07:59.839 That's why it's remarkable when in 1 Kings 4.30, it notes that Solomon, 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:05.079 King Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people in the east, 00:08:05.419 --> 00:08:08.019 because that's what the east was known for. 00:08:09.019 --> 00:08:11.199 Persia, Babylonia, although that region. 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:16.899 That these wise men practiced astrology is clear from the context in verse 2. 00:08:17.079 --> 00:08:17.240 It says, 00:08:17.479 --> 00:08:21.300 For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. 00:08:22.199 --> 00:08:26.439 Some people argue that the magi saw planets in retrograde motion, 00:08:26.519 --> 00:08:29.719 or maybe two planets that are in conjunction, like Jupiter and Saturn. 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:33.480 Some people argue that they saw a comet or a supernova. 00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:38.600 And still others argue that it's a miraculous star that defies natural explanation. 00:08:38.600 --> 00:08:43.639 It's impossible to be sure because the Bible doesn't really tell us those specifics. 00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:51.840 What is important, however, for us to know is that this star recalls the prophecy of Balaam in Numbers 24, verse 17. 00:08:52.940 --> 00:08:53.360 He said, 00:08:53.460 --> 00:08:55.600 I see him, he's prophesying. 00:08:55.820 --> 00:08:59.259 I see him, but not now, but not near. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:00.920 I behold him, but not near. 00:09:01.060 --> 00:09:05.899 A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel. 00:09:05.899 --> 00:09:10.039 He shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:14.340 This was understood by the Jews as a messianic prophecy, 00:09:14.340 --> 00:09:19.179 because both the star and the scepter are symbols of kingship. 00:09:20.539 --> 00:09:25.699 And Balaam, like these magi, was a diviner from the east. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:29.759 1,400 years after Balaam's prophecy, 00:09:30.179 --> 00:09:34.439 once again, diviners from the east come to Israel, God's people, 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:41.300 and they say that they have seen a star that represents the rise of the king of the Jews, 00:09:41.400 --> 00:09:42.760 the birth of the king of the Jews. 00:09:43.640 --> 00:09:47.080 So in the ancient world, astrology was a popular science. 00:09:47.700 --> 00:09:51.880 It's actually becoming increasingly more the case here, even today. 00:09:53.140 --> 00:09:57.960 But obviously it's discredited nowadays in so many ways. 00:09:57.960 --> 00:10:01.840 But back then, even emperors took astrology very seriously. 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:08.000 So when a comet appeared that supposedly predicted the demise of Emperor Nero, 00:10:08.840 --> 00:10:12.500 he was so afraid that he was going to fall, that he was going to die soon, 00:10:12.580 --> 00:10:15.220 that he killed a whole bunch of nobles 00:10:15.220 --> 00:10:21.740 in a desire to fulfill that prediction in the stars, in the heavens, 00:10:21.920 --> 00:10:24.000 so that he himself can be spared. 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:29.700 So the magi were taken very seriously in this culture, 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:33.340 and so their arrival creates an understandable stir. 00:10:34.460 --> 00:10:35.840 It says in verses 3 to 4, 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:52.300 The wealthy magi presumably arrived with an entourage. 00:10:52.700 --> 00:10:56.840 Since verse 11 tells us that they came bearing not just three loan gifts, but treasures. 00:10:58.340 --> 00:11:00.100 They probably had some people to help them with that. 00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:07.120 Their arrival likely was no ordinary affair that people were used to seeing day to day, 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:08.879 but something that happened rarely. 00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:14.600 So their world-shaking announcement that the king of the Jews has been born 00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:18.620 causes, it troubles the king, Herod, 00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:21.840 and it troubles all Jerusalem with him. 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:28.399 But note that while these magi knew that the king of the Jews has been born, 00:11:28.840 --> 00:11:33.580 they didn't know where exactly the king of the Jews has been born, 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:36.899 which is why they arrived with a question in verse 2, 00:11:37.340 --> 00:11:40.019 Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? 00:11:40.680 --> 00:11:44.720 And the answer to that question does not come from other wise men, 00:11:45.100 --> 00:11:49.060 but from Scripture, from God's Word. 00:11:49.059 --> 00:11:52.419 The chief priests and the scribes tell King Herod, 00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:55.879 remind him of a prophecy in Scripture, in verses 5 to 6, 00:11:56.519 --> 00:11:59.819 In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet, 00:12:00.259 --> 00:12:02.539 And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, 00:12:02.839 --> 00:12:05.599 are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, 00:12:05.959 --> 00:12:09.659 for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. 00:12:10.299 --> 00:12:14.539 This is an abbreviated quotation of Micah 5, verses 2 to 4, 00:12:14.539 --> 00:12:19.819 which prophesied that the Messianic king would come and be born in Bethlehem. 00:12:20.699 --> 00:12:22.659 And having figured out the location, 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:25.279 the king Herod now summons the wise men, 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:30.079 and then he sends them to Bethlehem to search diligently for the child. 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:32.279 And it's in that search in the right city 00:12:32.279 --> 00:12:34.679 that they are guided again by the star later on. 00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:39.839 Matthew could have easily omitted this story of the magi, 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:42.820 as Mark and Luke and John, in fact, do. 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:44.240 They do omit this story. 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:48.420 But Matthew includes it here for a couple reasons, 00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:50.000 to illustrate a couple things. 00:12:50.300 --> 00:12:52.840 And first, God's grace towards sinners. 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:56.899 Second, God's grace toward all nations. 00:12:58.080 --> 00:12:59.100 Think about it for a minute. 00:12:59.100 --> 00:13:03.280 How can it be that these Gentiles, 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:05.940 and not just any Gentile, 00:13:05.940 --> 00:13:09.000 but these pagan astrologers 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:13.340 are able to discern from observing the stars 00:13:13.340 --> 00:13:14.820 that the king of the Jews has been born? 00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:17.100 Isn't that remarkable? 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:22.280 Astrology is expressly forbidden in Scripture. 00:13:24.760 --> 00:13:26.900 Deuteronomy 18, 10 to 11 says, 00:13:27.020 --> 00:13:28.820 anyone who practices divination, 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:31.660 or tells fortunes, or interprets omens, 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:34.940 or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a medium, or a necromancer, 00:13:34.940 --> 00:13:36.840 or one who inquires of the dead, 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:39.660 is an abomination to the Lord. 00:13:42.300 --> 00:13:45.680 These magi are, by definition, 00:13:46.400 --> 00:13:48.120 an abomination to the Lord. 00:13:50.420 --> 00:13:52.320 In Isaiah 47, 13, 00:13:52.420 --> 00:13:55.900 the prophet Isaiah mocks those who gaze at the stars, 00:13:55.980 --> 00:13:58.160 who divide the heavens and gaze at the stars, 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:00.200 in hopes of discerning the future. 00:14:00.200 --> 00:14:04.300 The reason why the Bible forbids all forms of divination 00:14:04.300 --> 00:14:06.600 and astrology is because they are all attempts 00:14:06.600 --> 00:14:09.980 to learn what God has not revealed to us. 00:14:10.640 --> 00:14:12.520 Because they are attempts to control 00:14:12.520 --> 00:14:15.240 what is outside of our control. 00:14:16.220 --> 00:14:19.240 We want God to speak on our own terms. 00:14:20.540 --> 00:14:22.920 We want to find a way around God 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:27.139 to find certainty and assurance 00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:28.919 where God has not offered it. 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:33.319 So these magi are sinning, 00:14:33.459 --> 00:14:34.479 and they are doing wrong. 00:14:35.699 --> 00:14:37.219 Yet God is so gracious 00:14:37.219 --> 00:14:39.459 that he reveals himself 00:14:39.459 --> 00:14:42.579 even to these pagan astrologers 00:14:42.579 --> 00:14:46.459 who are stumbling about in the darkness 00:14:46.459 --> 00:14:49.439 looking for the light of the truth of God. 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:54.660 God arranges the stars 00:14:54.660 --> 00:14:58.060 so as to reveal his son, Jesus, 00:14:58.180 --> 00:15:00.400 to bear witness to his son, Jesus Christ, 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:02.560 so that even the magi can come to know him. 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:06.220 Some of you are here this morning 00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:07.780 because you are seeking God. 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:11.500 You are searching for God, 00:15:11.940 --> 00:15:12.980 like these magi. 00:15:14.300 --> 00:15:15.960 But you have not yet found him. 00:15:15.960 --> 00:15:20.780 Maybe you have dabbled in other religions, 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:22.300 like these magi. 00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:23.420 Maybe you have even tried out 00:15:23.420 --> 00:15:25.000 various forms of divination. 00:15:25.940 --> 00:15:28.519 You need to stop trying to find God 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:29.720 in your own way. 00:15:31.280 --> 00:15:33.060 You need to stop trying to 00:15:33.060 --> 00:15:34.920 jerry-rig your spiritual life. 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:38.280 And you need to start reading the manual. 00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:43.040 Because God has revealed himself to us 00:15:43.040 --> 00:15:44.120 in the way of salvation, 00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:45.740 in his word. 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:49.900 The magi knew that the king of the Jews 00:15:49.900 --> 00:15:50.519 has been born, 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:53.040 but only from scripture can they learn 00:15:53.040 --> 00:15:55.280 that this king is the Messiah, 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:56.879 the promised Messiah, 00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:58.540 the long-awaited Messiah 00:15:58.540 --> 00:16:01.460 who will save his people from their sins, 00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:03.300 as we saw in Matthew 1, 21. 00:16:04.660 --> 00:16:06.960 No matter where you have been in life, 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:09.639 no matter what you have done in life, 00:16:10.060 --> 00:16:12.060 no matter what kind of dark secrets 00:16:12.060 --> 00:16:13.220 you harbor and you hide 00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:14.320 from those around you, 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:17.260 Jesus the Christ is able to save you 00:16:17.260 --> 00:16:19.260 from your sins. 00:16:22.260 --> 00:16:24.960 Even people who are an abomination to God, 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:27.360 because of their sins, 00:16:27.640 --> 00:16:30.400 like you, like me, 00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:35.500 God in Christ can save us from our sins. 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:41.000 So that those who once were an abomination 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:43.799 because of their sins are changed, 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:45.000 they are chosen, 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:48.179 they are made treasure of possessions 00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:51.480 and beloved sons and daughters of the living God. 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:54.820 And secondly, 00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:56.580 the story of the magi teaches us 00:16:56.580 --> 00:16:59.360 that God's grace extends beyond the Jews 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:00.300 to all nations. 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:02.000 In the Old Testament, 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:05.079 the East is where the pagan nations 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:07.420 that are excluded from God's promise 00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:09.220 and plan live. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:12.339 The East, right, 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:14.559 if you remember from Abraham's story, 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:16.220 Abraham is the father of the Jews, 00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:20.799 but Abraham had other wives besides Sarah, 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:24.700 and he also had other sons besides Isaac, 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:27.240 who was God's chosen line 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:29.680 through whom the messianic king would come. 00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:31.720 And because Abraham knew 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:33.680 that the promise of God for him 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:35.700 would be fulfilled through Isaac's line, 00:17:36.380 --> 00:17:38.660 in Genesis 25, verse 5 to 6, 00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:41.160 he gives everything he has to Isaac, 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:43.700 and then he just gives his other sons 00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:45.519 some gifts and sends them away. 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:49.540 And where does he send these sons away to? 00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:53.019 He says he sent them away from his son Isaac, 00:17:53.600 --> 00:17:55.960 eastward, to the east country. 00:17:57.860 --> 00:17:59.360 This is a poignant phrase 00:17:59.360 --> 00:18:02.279 because after Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, 00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:06.940 humanity is exiled out from the east of the Garden 00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:08.440 because that's where the entrance is 00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:09.700 to the Garden of Eden. 00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:12.340 And in Genesis 4, 16, it says, 00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:15.140 Cain went away from the presence of the Lord 00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:17.200 and settled in the land of Nod, 00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:18.940 east of Eden. 00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:21.960 In this way, east of Eden, 00:18:22.360 --> 00:18:23.720 east of the promised land, 00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:26.059 is a painful reminder of sin. 00:18:26.460 --> 00:18:29.799 It represents humanity's separation from God, 00:18:30.080 --> 00:18:31.660 their alienation from God. 00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:34.819 But now, because the promised Messiah has come, 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:37.240 and the descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:39.799 the true son of David has come, 00:18:40.620 --> 00:18:44.220 through him God reconciles all nations to himself, 00:18:44.420 --> 00:18:47.380 even from the east. 00:18:49.660 --> 00:18:50.920 In Christ Jesus, 00:18:51.099 --> 00:18:53.579 all those who put their faith in Jesus for salvation 00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:56.519 become children of God through faith. 00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:59.960 That's why it says in Galatians 3, 28, 29, 00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:02.400 there is neither Jew nor Greek, 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:03.960 neither Jew nor Gentile. 00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:06.859 There is neither slave nor free. 00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:08.440 There is no male and female, 00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:11.180 for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:13.339 And if you are Christ's, 00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:15.960 then you are Abraham's offspring, 00:19:16.339 --> 00:19:17.759 heirs according to promise. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:20.599 Even those from the east 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:23.079 can be counted heirs of Abraham, 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:25.899 according to the promise. 00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:27.980 In light of this, 00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:28.899 it is no coincidence 00:19:28.899 --> 00:19:30.939 that these magi bow down before Jesus 00:19:30.939 --> 00:19:32.460 and present as gifts to Jesus 00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:33.919 gold and spices, 00:19:34.659 --> 00:19:36.339 frankincense and myrrh. 00:19:36.899 --> 00:19:39.000 Because in 1 Kings chapter 10, 00:19:39.139 --> 00:19:40.439 when Queen of Sheba, 00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:43.199 who also comes from the east and the south, 00:19:43.939 --> 00:19:45.799 paid homage to King Solomon in Jerusalem, 00:19:45.939 --> 00:19:47.000 she brought gold 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:49.939 and a very great quantity of spices. 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:52.460 Jesus is being portrayed 00:19:52.460 --> 00:19:55.059 as the new and better Solomon, 00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:58.100 the true and greater son of David. 00:19:58.559 --> 00:20:00.279 In fact, Jesus says that explicitly 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:01.660 in Matthew 12, 42. 00:20:01.900 --> 00:20:03.519 He says that the Queen of Sheba 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:05.440 will rise up at the judgment 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:07.820 and condemn the faithless generation. 00:20:08.600 --> 00:20:10.460 For she came from the ends of the earth 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:11.900 to hear the wisdom of Solomon 00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:12.940 and behold, 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:15.460 something greater than Solomon is here. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:16.620 And that's Jesus. 00:20:16.619 --> 00:20:20.219 It was prophesied that the nations 00:20:20.219 --> 00:20:21.699 would come and bow down 00:20:21.699 --> 00:20:23.079 to the Messianic king 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:25.339 and that they would present gifts to him. 00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:27.599 Psalm 72, 10 to 11, 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:28.739 it says this, 00:20:29.339 --> 00:20:30.599 that the royal son, 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:32.379 the king that God has chosen, 00:20:32.879 --> 00:20:33.479 it says of him, 00:20:33.639 --> 00:20:34.959 may the kings of Tarshish 00:20:34.959 --> 00:20:35.859 and of the coastlands 00:20:35.859 --> 00:20:37.000 render him tribute. 00:20:37.500 --> 00:20:38.899 May the kings of Sheba 00:20:38.899 --> 00:20:40.619 and Seba bring gifts. 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:43.299 May all kings fall down before him. 00:20:43.399 --> 00:20:44.979 All nations serve him. 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:48.079 And what do these magi from the east do? 00:20:48.140 --> 00:20:50.140 They fall down before Jesus in worship 00:20:50.140 --> 00:20:51.700 and they bring gifts 00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:52.920 and pay him tribute. 00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:55.720 Likewise, it says in Isaiah 60, 00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:57.180 verse one through six, 00:20:57.299 --> 00:21:00.059 arise, shine for your light has come 00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:01.599 and the glory of the Lord 00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:02.759 has risen upon you. 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:03.559 For behold, 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:05.160 darkness shall cover the earth 00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:06.960 and thick darkness the peoples. 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:09.480 But the Lord will arise upon you 00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:11.420 and his glory will be seen upon you 00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:13.620 and nations shall come to your light 00:21:13.619 --> 00:21:15.859 and kings to the brightness of your rising. 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:18.939 All those from Sheba shall come. 00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:22.159 They shall bring gold and frankincense 00:21:22.159 --> 00:21:24.259 and shall bring good news, 00:21:24.339 --> 00:21:25.559 the praises of the Lord. 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.779 Everything's prophesied. 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:33.359 They bring magi, 00:21:33.479 --> 00:21:33.899 what gifts, 00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:35.419 gold and frankincense. 00:21:35.659 --> 00:21:36.899 They bring good news, 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:38.699 the tidings that the king of the Jews 00:21:38.699 --> 00:21:40.539 has come to save his people. 00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.519 But yes, 00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:43.019 more than just that, 00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:45.619 the presence of the magi here 00:21:45.619 --> 00:21:46.879 in this scene tells us 00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:47.799 that this king 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:49.940 is no king of Jews only. 00:21:50.980 --> 00:21:53.359 He is no regional king like Herod. 00:21:54.119 --> 00:21:55.839 He is the universal king, 00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:57.639 the sovereign king, 00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:59.940 the king of kings. 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.779 His name, 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:05.159 every tongue will confess 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:07.640 and before him 00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:08.920 every knee will bow. 00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:10.960 And that's why 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:12.000 when we pray together 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:12.500 as a church 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:13.420 during prayers of the people, 00:22:13.540 --> 00:22:14.680 we don't merely pray 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:15.800 for our own locality. 00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:17.720 We pray for the nations 00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:19.980 because Jesus is king 00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:21.519 not only among Americans 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:23.620 but among all peoples 00:22:23.620 --> 00:22:24.779 and among all nations. 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:29.180 I was contacted this week 00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:30.920 by a fellow 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:32.160 Williams College alum, 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:34.599 class of 1965, 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.660 so he's a lot older than me. 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:38.599 And he's writing a book 00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:39.220 on the history 00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:40.319 of Williams College 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:41.240 and Williamstown, 00:22:41.420 --> 00:22:42.539 which also includes 00:22:42.539 --> 00:22:43.000 the history 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:44.079 of the Haystack Movement. 00:22:44.899 --> 00:22:45.500 For those of you 00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:46.059 who don't know, 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:47.259 the Haystack Movement 00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:50.480 commemorates, 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.779 it's on Williams College campus, 00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.619 it commemorates 00:22:52.619 --> 00:22:53.500 the prayer meeting 00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.940 that several Williams College 00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:56.259 students partook in 00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:58.420 next to a haystack 00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:59.859 in 1806. 00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:01.259 It was there 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.079 that these students 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:03.000 made a commitment 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:04.480 to spread the gospel 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:05.819 among the foreign nations. 00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:07.960 And they were instrumental 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:08.980 in the founding 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:09.980 of the American Board 00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:10.599 of Commissioners 00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:11.339 for Foreign Missions, 00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:12.940 which is the first 00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:14.099 foreign missionary society 00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:15.059 in the United States. 00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:16.799 It's that organization 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.579 that sent out 00:23:17.579 --> 00:23:18.480 Adoniram Justin 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.380 and Luther Rice 00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:20.579 as the first official 00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:21.599 foreign missionary 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:22.180 sent out 00:23:22.180 --> 00:23:23.019 from the United States. 00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.900 I happened to be 00:23:24.900 --> 00:23:25.859 a student at Williams 00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:26.720 in 2006 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:27.880 during the bicentennial 00:23:27.880 --> 00:23:28.460 celebration 00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:29.859 of the event. 00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:31.619 And because of that, 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:33.019 I had written some op-eds 00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:34.000 and this alum 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:35.299 got a hold of those op-eds 00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:36.980 and tracked me down, 00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:38.480 saw that I was a pastor 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:39.460 and wrote to me 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:40.759 asking for some comments 00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:42.259 about the Haystack Movement 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:42.880 and the monuments 00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:43.599 so that he could include 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:44.200 it in his book. 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.859 And I was sad to hear 00:23:46.859 --> 00:23:47.819 that apparently, 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:49.059 this is what he told me, 00:23:49.059 --> 00:23:50.779 that the Haystack Monument 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:52.440 had been crudely defaced 00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:53.220 in 2018 00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:54.720 and in 2023 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:56.639 by people 00:23:56.639 --> 00:23:57.359 who think 00:23:57.359 --> 00:23:58.319 that missionary work 00:23:58.319 --> 00:24:00.500 is inherently imperialistic 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:02.000 because they don't believe 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:02.659 that anyone 00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:03.279 should impose 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:04.759 their religious beliefs 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.480 on anyone else. 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:09.000 But here's my problem 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.619 with that view. 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:12.299 If Jesus 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:13.399 is a local 00:24:13.399 --> 00:24:14.359 deity, 00:24:14.359 --> 00:24:16.019 if Jesus 00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:17.799 is a regional king, 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:18.619 then yes, 00:24:18.899 --> 00:24:19.740 that makes sense. 00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:23.740 When you're in the U.S., 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.659 you're under the authority 00:24:24.659 --> 00:24:25.099 of the President 00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:25.819 of the United States 00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:26.219 of America. 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:27.259 When you go to China, 00:24:27.379 --> 00:24:28.199 you're under the authority 00:24:28.199 --> 00:24:28.740 of the President 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.899 of China. 00:24:30.899 --> 00:24:31.219 Sure, 00:24:31.399 --> 00:24:32.199 local kings 00:24:32.199 --> 00:24:33.539 and local rulers, 00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.699 that makes sense. 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.439 But Jesus 00:24:37.439 --> 00:24:38.939 is not a local king. 00:24:40.419 --> 00:24:41.599 Jesus is not 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:42.659 a regional king. 00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:46.159 Jesus 00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:48.419 is the king 00:24:48.419 --> 00:24:49.599 of kings 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.819 over all 00:24:50.819 --> 00:24:51.779 the earth. 00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:53.719 That's why 00:24:53.719 --> 00:24:54.959 we do not have 00:24:54.959 --> 00:24:55.579 the luxury 00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:56.639 to say to people, 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:57.459 well, 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.439 Jesus is for me, 00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.379 but maybe he's not 00:24:59.379 --> 00:24:59.740 for you. 00:25:00.879 --> 00:25:01.899 We do not have 00:25:01.899 --> 00:25:02.319 that luxury. 00:25:04.679 --> 00:25:05.399 This is why 00:25:05.399 --> 00:25:06.159 we cannot say, 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:06.359 well, 00:25:06.419 --> 00:25:07.139 Jesus is for 00:25:07.139 --> 00:25:08.539 our country, 00:25:08.699 --> 00:25:09.339 but maybe not 00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:09.819 for yours, 00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:10.519 maybe not 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:11.119 for your culture. 00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:13.459 We can't say that. 00:25:14.359 --> 00:25:15.479 Because Jesus' 00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:16.299 kingship 00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:16.979 demands 00:25:16.979 --> 00:25:17.819 the allegiance 00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:19.519 of every single 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.699 person on this earth. 00:25:22.699 --> 00:25:24.119 He deserves it. 00:25:28.419 --> 00:25:29.359 And that's why 00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:30.279 we must share 00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.619 the gospel 00:25:30.619 --> 00:25:31.199 with our neighbors. 00:25:31.919 --> 00:25:32.479 That's why 00:25:32.479 --> 00:25:33.379 we must make 00:25:33.379 --> 00:25:33.959 disciples 00:25:33.959 --> 00:25:35.719 of all nations. 00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:35.779 Christians. 00:25:40.100 --> 00:25:41.519 So on the one hand, 00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:43.120 it's right when 00:25:43.120 --> 00:25:43.600 people say, 00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:43.779 well, 00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:44.839 Christianity is not 00:25:44.839 --> 00:25:45.960 primarily a political 00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:46.779 religion. 00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:48.039 That is true 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:48.819 because Jesus said 00:25:48.819 --> 00:25:49.360 in John 18, 00:25:49.420 --> 00:25:49.839 36, 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:50.319 my kingdom 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:51.480 is not of this world. 00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:53.400 In his first coming, 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.380 Jesus did not come 00:25:54.380 --> 00:25:54.900 to establish 00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:55.819 an earthly kingdom. 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:58.019 But on the other hand, 00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.620 Christianity is 00:25:59.620 --> 00:26:00.860 profoundly political, 00:26:02.860 --> 00:26:03.720 radically subversive, 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:04.240 subversive 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:06.279 because it creates 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:07.140 a people 00:26:07.140 --> 00:26:09.000 whose primary 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:10.079 allegiance 00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:10.960 is not to 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:12.140 any earthly king 00:26:12.140 --> 00:26:13.039 but to King Jesus. 00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:15.720 And this is why 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:17.220 all throughout history, 00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:18.900 autocrats and despots 00:26:18.900 --> 00:26:19.920 have feared 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:20.660 Christians 00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:21.920 and have sought 00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:22.620 to control 00:26:22.620 --> 00:26:23.559 and subjugate 00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.160 Christians 00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:26.940 because they know 00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:28.039 our loyalty lies 00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:29.440 to someone else. 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:34.500 and that's why 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:35.140 it makes sense 00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:36.080 in verse 3 00:26:36.080 --> 00:26:36.500 when it says, 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:37.820 when Herod the king 00:26:37.820 --> 00:26:38.640 heard this, 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:41.080 he was troubled 00:26:41.080 --> 00:26:42.799 and all Jerusalem 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:43.279 with him. 00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:46.000 Herod the king 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:46.559 mentioned here 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:47.779 is Herod the first. 00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.340 Wikipedia calls him 00:26:50.340 --> 00:26:51.059 Herod the great 00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:52.080 but I do not give him 00:26:52.080 --> 00:26:52.580 that favor. 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:53.740 He is Herod the first. 00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:57.779 He was a Roman 00:26:57.779 --> 00:26:59.279 Jewish client king. 00:27:00.019 --> 00:27:00.960 Most of the time 00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:01.980 the Bible mentions 00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:03.019 King Herod, 00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:03.680 it's referring to 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.420 his son 00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:07.099 King Antipas 00:27:07.099 --> 00:27:08.259 or Herod Antipas 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:09.900 or to his grandson 00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:11.019 Herod Agrippa 00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:12.599 but in the early 00:27:12.599 --> 00:27:13.420 chapters of Matthew 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.380 when Herod's mentioned 00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:15.640 it's Herod the first. 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:19.099 He rose to power 00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:19.920 largely because 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:20.599 of his father's 00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:21.180 good relations 00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:22.079 with Julius Caesar. 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:24.119 He carried favor 00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:24.759 with the Romans 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.539 and got himself 00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.379 appointed as the 00:27:26.379 --> 00:27:27.119 provincial governor 00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:27.699 of Galilee 00:27:27.699 --> 00:27:28.519 and eventually 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.519 through many brutal 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.339 tactics and after 00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:31.000 many murders 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:31.919 he eventually became 00:27:31.919 --> 00:27:33.539 sole king of Judea 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:35.099 with the approval 00:27:35.099 --> 00:27:35.679 and permission 00:27:35.679 --> 00:27:37.279 of the Roman Senate. 00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:40.119 So immediately 00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:41.139 when Herod hears 00:27:41.139 --> 00:27:42.119 the retinue of Magi 00:27:42.119 --> 00:27:43.839 asking where is he 00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:44.839 who has been born 00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:46.879 king of the Jews 00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:48.740 Herod is troubled 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:50.339 because you see 00:27:50.339 --> 00:27:51.720 Herod was not born 00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:53.039 king of the Jews. 00:27:54.119 --> 00:27:55.359 He was appointed 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:56.199 king of the Jews 00:27:56.199 --> 00:27:56.899 by the Romans 00:27:56.899 --> 00:27:59.839 and despite his 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:00.899 rebuilding of the 00:28:00.899 --> 00:28:01.599 Jewish temple 00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:02.720 and his many projects 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.919 and his pretensions 00:28:03.919 --> 00:28:04.960 of being the savior 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.599 of the Jews 00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:07.259 he did not come 00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:08.559 from the messianic line 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:10.439 as Jesus did 00:28:10.439 --> 00:28:11.859 as Matthew took pains 00:28:11.859 --> 00:28:12.460 to show us 00:28:12.460 --> 00:28:13.259 in chapter 1 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:14.059 of his book. 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:16.699 And according to 00:28:16.699 --> 00:28:17.740 second century historian 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.799 Julius Africanus 00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:20.419 Herod destroyed 00:28:20.419 --> 00:28:21.859 all of the Jewish 00:28:21.859 --> 00:28:23.159 genealogical records 00:28:23.159 --> 00:28:23.819 that were preserved 00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:25.039 in the public archives. 00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:25.500 Why? 00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:27.519 Because he was 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.700 he was shamed 00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.299 embarrassed 00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:30.099 by his 00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:31.399 Edomian heritage 00:28:31.399 --> 00:28:32.579 because he was 00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.180 descended 00:28:33.180 --> 00:28:34.579 not from Jacob 00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:35.139 Israel 00:28:35.139 --> 00:28:36.419 but from Esau. 00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:39.200 Not from the chosen line 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:40.419 but from the excluded line. 00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:42.799 He feared 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:44.339 that someone 00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:45.079 one day 00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:46.000 would show up 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:47.359 with an actual 00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:48.339 royal lineage 00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:49.180 and say 00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:50.019 I am the king 00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.539 of the Jews. 00:28:53.559 --> 00:28:54.180 In fact 00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:54.619 Herod 00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:55.980 was such a paranoid 00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:57.279 and suspicious man 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:58.599 in general 00:28:58.599 --> 00:28:59.380 that he killed 00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:00.619 two of his ten wives 00:29:00.619 --> 00:29:02.079 and three of his sons 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:02.799 he executed 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.460 for suspicion 00:29:03.460 --> 00:29:04.059 of treason. 00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.859 So Herod's head 00:29:06.859 --> 00:29:07.759 already full 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:09.000 of murderous plots 00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:10.240 is already spinning 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:11.059 in full gear 00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:12.380 in this passage. 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:13.980 He wants to know 00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.640 he inquires 00:29:14.640 --> 00:29:15.140 the Magi 00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:15.779 in verse 7 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:17.039 what time 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.859 did the star 00:29:17.859 --> 00:29:18.319 appear? 00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.799 I mean who cares 00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:20.379 what time? 00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:21.000 Why do you want to know 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.639 what time 00:29:21.639 --> 00:29:22.139 the star appeared? 00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:23.460 Because he wants to know 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:25.519 how old the child is 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:27.660 so he can find him 00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.180 and kill him. 00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:30.079 That's what we'll see 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:30.559 next week. 00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.920 And he tells 00:29:34.920 --> 00:29:35.399 the Magi 00:29:35.399 --> 00:29:35.819 in verse 8 00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.839 go and search 00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:37.379 diligently 00:29:37.379 --> 00:29:38.240 for the child 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.559 and when you have 00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:39.960 found him 00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.700 bring me word 00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:41.440 that I too 00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:42.160 may come 00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:43.960 and worship him. 00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:47.740 hypocrisy. 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:51.019 He has no intention 00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:51.920 of bowing down 00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:53.139 to another king. 00:29:54.579 --> 00:29:55.379 He is just 00:29:55.379 --> 00:29:56.220 recruiting the Magi 00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:57.240 to be informants 00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:58.339 in his secret service. 00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:02.259 Imagine yourself 00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:03.019 in Herod's shoes 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:03.519 for a minute. 00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:04.700 The Magi 00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:05.500 from the east 00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:05.920 comes 00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:07.039 with a lot 00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:07.660 of fanfare. 00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:08.819 Where is he 00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:09.500 who has been born 00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:10.379 king of the Jews? 00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:11.160 For we saw 00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:11.660 his star 00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:12.160 when it rose 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:12.599 and have come 00:30:12.599 --> 00:30:13.359 to worship him. 00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:15.579 What did you say? 00:30:18.899 --> 00:30:19.799 Did you say 00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:21.459 king of the Jews? 00:30:26.699 --> 00:30:27.399 That's me. 00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:31.439 Did you say 00:30:31.439 --> 00:30:32.459 he was born 00:30:32.459 --> 00:30:34.279 king of the Jews? 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.199 Interesting. 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.719 You say 00:30:38.719 --> 00:30:39.699 you saw a star 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:42.279 and you've come 00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:43.460 to worship him? 00:30:44.080 --> 00:30:45.420 To pay your respects 00:30:45.420 --> 00:30:45.900 to him 00:30:45.900 --> 00:30:46.700 and bow down 00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:47.340 before him? 00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:49.500 Well you never 00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:50.900 came to my inauguration? 00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:56.600 You never came 00:30:56.600 --> 00:30:57.460 to bow before me? 00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:02.299 And notice 00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:03.299 that the Magi 00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:04.460 are never 00:31:04.460 --> 00:31:05.120 described 00:31:05.120 --> 00:31:05.860 in this passage 00:31:05.860 --> 00:31:07.259 as falling down 00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:07.900 before Herod 00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:08.620 as they do 00:31:08.620 --> 00:31:09.940 before Jesus 00:31:09.940 --> 00:31:10.620 who is still 00:31:10.620 --> 00:31:11.740 a mere child. 00:31:15.540 --> 00:31:16.040 Herod 00:31:16.040 --> 00:31:17.200 is seething 00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:18.320 with murderous 00:31:18.320 --> 00:31:18.680 anger 00:31:18.680 --> 00:31:19.580 beneath his mask 00:31:19.580 --> 00:31:20.240 of cordiality 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:20.920 because he is 00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:21.380 troubled. 00:31:22.180 --> 00:31:23.160 He is threatened. 00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:24.700 He knows 00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:26.580 there can only 00:31:26.580 --> 00:31:27.300 be one. 00:31:31.140 --> 00:31:33.900 In 333 B.C., 00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:35.280 Alexander 00:31:35.280 --> 00:31:35.900 the king 00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:37.640 of Macedon 00:31:37.640 --> 00:31:38.560 thoroughly 00:31:38.560 --> 00:31:39.060 defeated 00:31:39.060 --> 00:31:39.920 Darius III, 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:41.020 king of Persia 00:31:41.020 --> 00:31:41.540 at the Battle 00:31:41.540 --> 00:31:42.120 of Isis. 00:31:43.300 --> 00:31:44.480 He decimated 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:45.280 the Persian army 00:31:45.280 --> 00:31:46.080 and then he took 00:31:46.080 --> 00:31:46.820 Darius' mother, 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:47.259 wife, 00:31:47.300 --> 00:31:47.759 and daughters 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:48.520 all captive. 00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:49.520 A complete defeat 00:31:49.520 --> 00:31:50.160 for Darius. 00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:51.900 The demoralized 00:31:51.900 --> 00:31:52.300 Darius 00:31:52.300 --> 00:31:53.380 before the next battle 00:31:53.380 --> 00:31:54.320 proposed a truce 00:31:54.320 --> 00:31:55.000 to Alexander 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:55.720 offering him 00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:56.900 all the lands 00:31:56.900 --> 00:31:57.940 west of the Euphrates, 00:31:58.300 --> 00:31:59.440 his daughter's hand 00:31:59.440 --> 00:32:00.000 in marriage, 00:32:00.280 --> 00:32:00.880 his son, 00:32:01.020 --> 00:32:01.320 Ocus, 00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:02.300 as a hostage, 00:32:03.020 --> 00:32:04.540 and 30,000 talents 00:32:04.540 --> 00:32:05.820 as ransom price 00:32:05.820 --> 00:32:06.360 for the rest 00:32:06.360 --> 00:32:06.920 of his family. 00:32:07.640 --> 00:32:09.440 But Alexander 00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:10.840 famously rejected 00:32:10.840 --> 00:32:11.759 his offer saying, 00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.500 heaven cannot 00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:14.820 brook two sons 00:32:14.820 --> 00:32:16.000 nor earth 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.960 two masters. 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.840 In other words, 00:32:22.420 --> 00:32:23.520 this land 00:32:23.520 --> 00:32:25.300 is not big enough 00:32:25.300 --> 00:32:26.320 for two kings, 00:32:27.160 --> 00:32:27.500 Darius. 00:32:27.560 --> 00:32:27.720 Darius. 00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:33.839 there can only be 00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:35.600 one supreme ruler. 00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:38.579 Alexander didn't want 00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:39.579 a part of the Persian 00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:40.000 empire. 00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:41.600 He wanted all of it 00:32:41.600 --> 00:32:42.200 under his rule 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:42.799 and eventually 00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:43.600 he does conquer 00:32:43.600 --> 00:32:44.400 all of Persia. 00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:47.560 we see a similar 00:32:47.560 --> 00:32:48.340 conflict here 00:32:48.340 --> 00:32:49.000 in Matthew 2. 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:51.019 Look at how many times 00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:51.740 Herod is called 00:32:51.740 --> 00:32:52.780 king in this passage. 00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:53.340 Verse 1, 00:32:53.400 --> 00:32:54.160 in the days of Herod 00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:54.720 the king. 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:55.620 Verse 3, 00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:56.180 when Herod 00:32:56.180 --> 00:32:56.980 the king 00:32:56.980 --> 00:32:57.540 heard this. 00:32:57.759 --> 00:32:58.140 Verse 9, 00:32:58.200 --> 00:32:58.759 after listening 00:32:58.759 --> 00:32:59.820 to the king, 00:33:00.200 --> 00:33:00.980 Matthew is making 00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:01.860 this contrast 00:33:01.860 --> 00:33:03.100 and this conflict 00:33:03.100 --> 00:33:04.580 between King Herod 00:33:04.580 --> 00:33:05.880 and King Jesus 00:33:05.880 --> 00:33:06.900 very obvious. 00:33:07.620 --> 00:33:08.960 Who is the real 00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:10.120 king of the Jews? 00:33:11.119 --> 00:33:11.979 Matthew's answer 00:33:11.979 --> 00:33:13.039 is also very obvious. 00:33:13.699 --> 00:33:14.339 It's Jesus. 00:33:15.139 --> 00:33:16.000 The Magi are given 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:17.119 two contradicting 00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:17.679 commands 00:33:17.679 --> 00:33:18.899 from these two kings. 00:33:19.399 --> 00:33:19.979 King Herod 00:33:19.979 --> 00:33:20.479 tells them 00:33:20.479 --> 00:33:21.359 to report back 00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:21.699 to him 00:33:21.699 --> 00:33:22.259 once they have 00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:23.339 found this child 00:33:23.339 --> 00:33:24.439 king, 00:33:24.439 --> 00:33:24.959 the Christ. 00:33:25.379 --> 00:33:26.279 But God 00:33:26.279 --> 00:33:27.019 warns them 00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:27.539 in a dream 00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:28.339 not to return 00:33:28.339 --> 00:33:28.799 to Herod 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:29.979 in verse 12. 00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:31.159 And which king 00:33:31.159 --> 00:33:31.699 do they obey? 00:33:31.779 --> 00:33:32.159 Of course, 00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:32.879 King Jesus. 00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:35.179 They departed 00:33:35.179 --> 00:33:35.979 to their own country 00:33:35.979 --> 00:33:36.879 by another way. 00:33:37.179 --> 00:33:37.819 They take the long 00:33:37.819 --> 00:33:38.319 way around 00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:39.699 because there can be 00:33:39.700 --> 00:33:40.480 only one king. 00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:44.299 Our world today 00:33:44.299 --> 00:33:45.380 has many rulers 00:33:45.380 --> 00:33:46.259 and many kings 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:47.059 but the heavens 00:33:47.059 --> 00:33:47.799 and the earth 00:33:47.799 --> 00:33:49.059 will only brook 00:33:49.059 --> 00:33:49.980 one king 00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:50.860 in the end. 00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:53.120 And that's 00:33:53.120 --> 00:33:53.759 King Jesus. 00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:57.000 Many of our lives 00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:58.360 we live 00:33:58.360 --> 00:33:58.779 as 00:33:58.779 --> 00:34:00.660 wannabe kings. 00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:03.120 We want 00:34:03.120 --> 00:34:04.059 no one else 00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:04.700 telling us 00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:05.700 how to live, 00:34:06.059 --> 00:34:07.279 what we can do 00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:08.679 and what we cannot do. 00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:11.039 We obey God 00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:12.019 as long as 00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:13.159 it fits 00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:14.439 with our will, 00:34:15.179 --> 00:34:17.500 our desires. 00:34:18.419 --> 00:34:19.539 But as soon as 00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:20.439 there's a conflict 00:34:20.439 --> 00:34:21.219 of wills, 00:34:22.399 --> 00:34:22.980 our will 00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:24.000 trumps God's will 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:24.759 and we betray 00:34:24.759 --> 00:34:25.759 the reality 00:34:25.759 --> 00:34:26.719 that we think 00:34:26.719 --> 00:34:27.359 of ourselves 00:34:27.359 --> 00:34:27.980 as the highest 00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:28.399 authority, 00:34:28.579 --> 00:34:28.980 not God. 00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:29.039 God. 00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:33.740 But there can only 00:34:33.740 --> 00:34:34.320 be one. 00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:37.820 Heaven cannot 00:34:37.820 --> 00:34:38.860 brook two sons 00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:39.380 nor earth 00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:40.019 two masters. 00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:42.400 Where does 00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:43.539 your loyalty 00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:43.920 lie? 00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:47.400 Our sinful 00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:47.940 flesh 00:34:47.940 --> 00:34:48.780 resists 00:34:48.780 --> 00:34:49.500 the kingship 00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:49.960 of Jesus. 00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:54.199 I know 00:34:54.199 --> 00:34:54.599 this 00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:55.619 because 00:34:55.619 --> 00:34:56.519 every day 00:34:56.519 --> 00:34:57.460 I must 00:34:57.460 --> 00:34:57.880 wrestle 00:34:57.880 --> 00:34:58.440 with my 00:34:58.440 --> 00:34:59.300 selfish desires. 00:34:59.519 --> 00:35:00.320 Every day 00:35:00.320 --> 00:35:01.019 I am faced 00:35:01.019 --> 00:35:01.460 with many 00:35:01.460 --> 00:35:01.980 decisions. 00:35:02.659 --> 00:35:03.380 King Jesus 00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:04.099 wants me 00:35:04.099 --> 00:35:04.340 to be 00:35:04.340 --> 00:35:05.079 patient here 00:35:05.079 --> 00:35:07.840 but 00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:08.599 King me 00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:10.280 wants 00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:10.639 everything 00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:11.199 my way 00:35:11.199 --> 00:35:13.119 right now. 00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:19.880 King Jesus 00:35:19.880 --> 00:35:20.559 wants me 00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:21.519 to listen 00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:22.000 well to 00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:22.519 other people 00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:23.299 to be 00:35:23.299 --> 00:35:24.400 slow to 00:35:24.400 --> 00:35:24.759 speak 00:35:24.759 --> 00:35:25.239 but quick 00:35:25.239 --> 00:35:25.739 to hear 00:35:25.739 --> 00:35:26.980 but King 00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:27.359 me 00:35:27.359 --> 00:35:29.059 wants to 00:35:29.059 --> 00:35:29.659 blabber on 00:35:29.659 --> 00:35:29.900 and on 00:35:29.900 --> 00:35:30.159 and on 00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:30.480 and on 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:32.299 and make 00:35:32.299 --> 00:35:32.980 the conversations 00:35:32.980 --> 00:35:33.579 all about 00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:33.839 me. 00:35:38.799 --> 00:35:39.359 King 00:35:39.359 --> 00:35:39.900 Jesus 00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:40.699 wants me 00:35:40.699 --> 00:35:41.599 to subordinate 00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.799 my desires 00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:43.280 and my 00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:43.800 dreams 00:35:43.800 --> 00:35:44.960 under 00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:45.460 his 00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:45.980 purposes 00:35:45.980 --> 00:35:46.280 and 00:35:46.280 --> 00:35:46.980 priorities 00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:48.640 but King 00:35:48.640 --> 00:35:48.940 me 00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:49.480 wants to 00:35:49.480 --> 00:35:50.000 subordinate 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:50.840 his word 00:35:50.840 --> 00:35:51.200 and his 00:35:51.200 --> 00:35:51.519 will 00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:52.420 under my 00:35:52.420 --> 00:35:52.900 dreams 00:35:52.900 --> 00:35:53.620 and my 00:35:53.620 --> 00:35:54.039 desires 00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:54.360 because 00:35:54.360 --> 00:35:55.140 no way 00:35:55.140 --> 00:35:55.480 I'm giving 00:35:55.480 --> 00:35:56.039 that up. 00:35:58.720 --> 00:35:59.320 Do you 00:35:59.320 --> 00:35:59.640 know how 00:35:59.640 --> 00:36:00.480 smart I 00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:00.660 am? 00:36:00.720 --> 00:36:00.880 Do you 00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:01.280 know how 00:36:01.280 --> 00:36:02.080 gifted I 00:36:02.080 --> 00:36:02.220 am? 00:36:02.260 --> 00:36:02.440 Do you 00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:02.960 know what 00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:03.300 kind of 00:36:03.300 --> 00:36:03.660 heritage 00:36:03.660 --> 00:36:04.240 I have? 00:36:04.580 --> 00:36:04.820 No, 00:36:04.860 --> 00:36:05.140 I'm not 00:36:05.140 --> 00:36:05.360 giving 00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:05.820 that up. 00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:15.140 there can 00:36:15.140 --> 00:36:15.539 only be 00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:15.800 one. 00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.720 When was 00:36:20.720 --> 00:36:21.160 the last 00:36:21.160 --> 00:36:22.240 time you 00:36:22.240 --> 00:36:23.160 believed the 00:36:23.160 --> 00:36:23.780 Bible even 00:36:23.780 --> 00:36:24.120 when you 00:36:24.120 --> 00:36:24.680 came across 00:36:24.680 --> 00:36:25.380 something that 00:36:25.380 --> 00:36:26.300 offended your 00:36:26.300 --> 00:36:26.880 sensibilities? 00:36:29.500 --> 00:36:30.220 When was 00:36:30.220 --> 00:36:30.560 the last 00:36:30.560 --> 00:36:31.220 time you 00:36:31.220 --> 00:36:32.340 obeyed God's 00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:32.840 word even 00:36:32.840 --> 00:36:33.180 when you 00:36:33.180 --> 00:36:33.760 came across 00:36:33.760 --> 00:36:34.740 something that 00:36:34.740 --> 00:36:35.300 you really 00:36:35.300 --> 00:36:36.200 didn't like 00:36:36.200 --> 00:36:37.140 and didn't 00:36:37.140 --> 00:36:37.920 want to 00:36:37.920 --> 00:36:38.220 do? 00:36:38.220 --> 00:36:38.420 Do you 00:36:38.420 --> 00:36:47.980 this is 00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:48.380 why 00:36:48.380 --> 00:36:49.320 reading the 00:36:49.320 --> 00:36:50.639 Bible is 00:36:50.639 --> 00:36:51.420 always a 00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:52.340 moral exercise 00:36:52.340 --> 00:36:53.360 not just a 00:36:53.360 --> 00:36:54.200 mental one or 00:36:54.200 --> 00:36:54.800 an intellectual 00:36:54.800 --> 00:36:56.240 one because 00:36:56.240 --> 00:36:56.960 every time you 00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:57.700 read this 00:36:57.700 --> 00:36:58.340 book God's 00:36:58.340 --> 00:36:58.680 word you're 00:36:58.680 --> 00:36:59.340 faced with 00:36:59.340 --> 00:36:59.880 a choice 00:36:59.880 --> 00:37:01.139 and there 00:37:01.139 --> 00:37:01.760 can only 00:37:01.760 --> 00:37:02.599 be one 00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:03.039 king. 00:37:05.700 --> 00:37:06.159 Is your 00:37:06.159 --> 00:37:06.940 primary allegiance 00:37:06.940 --> 00:37:07.320 to an 00:37:07.320 --> 00:37:08.260 earthly king 00:37:08.260 --> 00:37:09.140 or a 00:37:09.140 --> 00:37:09.440 political 00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:11.040 party or 00:37:11.040 --> 00:37:11.420 is it to 00:37:11.420 --> 00:37:12.020 king Jesus? 00:37:13.280 --> 00:37:13.760 Is your 00:37:13.760 --> 00:37:14.420 primary allegiance 00:37:14.420 --> 00:37:15.000 to another 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:16.160 man or 00:37:16.160 --> 00:37:16.860 another woman 00:37:16.860 --> 00:37:17.200 in your 00:37:17.200 --> 00:37:18.160 life or 00:37:18.160 --> 00:37:18.620 is it to 00:37:18.620 --> 00:37:19.360 king Jesus? 00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:21.820 Is your 00:37:21.820 --> 00:37:22.560 primary allegiance 00:37:22.560 --> 00:37:23.720 to yourself 00:37:23.720 --> 00:37:25.860 or to 00:37:25.860 --> 00:37:26.580 king Jesus? 00:37:32.700 --> 00:37:33.460 If you're 00:37:33.460 --> 00:37:33.980 like me you 00:37:33.980 --> 00:37:34.660 fight this 00:37:34.660 --> 00:37:35.700 every day. 00:37:38.260 --> 00:37:40.400 I call 00:37:40.400 --> 00:37:41.080 myself a 00:37:41.080 --> 00:37:41.400 servant 00:37:41.400 --> 00:37:42.300 of the 00:37:42.300 --> 00:37:42.580 king. 00:37:43.140 --> 00:37:44.080 I am a 00:37:44.080 --> 00:37:44.480 servant of 00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:44.780 the king 00:37:44.780 --> 00:37:45.200 by his 00:37:45.200 --> 00:37:45.600 grace. 00:37:47.280 --> 00:37:47.860 And I 00:37:47.860 --> 00:37:48.180 want to 00:37:48.180 --> 00:37:48.920 honor him 00:37:48.920 --> 00:37:49.280 and I 00:37:49.280 --> 00:37:49.680 want to 00:37:49.680 --> 00:37:50.340 pay homage 00:37:50.340 --> 00:37:50.880 to him 00:37:50.880 --> 00:37:51.140 and I 00:37:51.140 --> 00:37:51.480 want to 00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:52.060 see all 00:37:52.060 --> 00:37:52.380 people 00:37:52.380 --> 00:37:53.200 prostrate 00:37:53.200 --> 00:37:53.960 and lie 00:37:53.960 --> 00:37:54.500 down and 00:37:54.500 --> 00:37:55.000 worship 00:37:55.000 --> 00:37:55.880 him but 00:37:55.880 --> 00:37:56.960 every day 00:37:56.960 --> 00:37:57.900 I get in 00:37:57.900 --> 00:37:58.340 the way. 00:37:59.640 --> 00:38:00.500 Every day 00:38:00.500 --> 00:38:01.120 I get in 00:38:01.120 --> 00:38:01.480 the way. 00:38:01.480 --> 00:38:06.980 and I 00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:07.260 have to 00:38:07.260 --> 00:38:07.719 die 00:38:07.719 --> 00:38:08.199 again. 00:38:09.340 --> 00:38:09.659 No 00:38:09.659 --> 00:38:10.240 Sean. 00:38:11.760 --> 00:38:12.400 That's 00:38:12.400 --> 00:38:13.000 not your 00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:13.519 place. 00:38:15.679 --> 00:38:16.619 Fall down 00:38:16.619 --> 00:38:17.260 before him. 00:38:17.260 --> 00:38:24.840 is king 00:38:24.840 --> 00:38:25.160 Jesus 00:38:25.160 --> 00:38:25.620 really 00:38:25.620 --> 00:38:26.080 worthy 00:38:26.080 --> 00:38:26.700 of our 00:38:26.700 --> 00:38:27.900 wholehearted 00:38:27.900 --> 00:38:28.540 worship 00:38:28.540 --> 00:38:30.340 and absolute 00:38:30.340 --> 00:38:30.880 fealty? 00:38:31.100 --> 00:38:31.720 Yes he 00:38:31.720 --> 00:38:32.040 is. 00:38:34.840 --> 00:38:35.560 And let 00:38:35.560 --> 00:38:35.820 me show 00:38:35.820 --> 00:38:36.260 you why. 00:38:36.880 --> 00:38:37.300 We're already 00:38:37.300 --> 00:38:37.860 seeing that 00:38:37.860 --> 00:38:38.440 Jesus is no 00:38:38.440 --> 00:38:38.840 ordinary 00:38:38.840 --> 00:38:39.420 child and 00:38:39.420 --> 00:38:39.620 that he 00:38:39.620 --> 00:38:39.960 is no 00:38:39.960 --> 00:38:40.380 ordinary 00:38:40.380 --> 00:38:40.860 king. 00:38:41.380 --> 00:38:41.880 That these 00:38:41.880 --> 00:38:42.400 foreign 00:38:42.400 --> 00:38:43.120 dignitaries 00:38:43.120 --> 00:38:43.740 travel a 00:38:43.740 --> 00:38:44.420 long distance 00:38:44.420 --> 00:38:44.860 to come 00:38:44.860 --> 00:38:45.180 and pay 00:38:45.180 --> 00:38:45.780 homage to 00:38:45.780 --> 00:38:46.440 him and 00:38:46.440 --> 00:38:47.240 they prostrate 00:38:47.240 --> 00:38:47.700 themselves 00:38:47.700 --> 00:38:48.260 before him 00:38:48.260 --> 00:38:48.860 in worship 00:38:48.860 --> 00:38:49.860 which is a 00:38:49.860 --> 00:38:50.360 sign of 00:38:50.360 --> 00:38:51.220 abject 00:38:51.220 --> 00:38:51.940 submission 00:38:51.940 --> 00:38:53.460 because you 00:38:53.460 --> 00:38:53.940 can't do 00:38:53.940 --> 00:38:54.539 anything when 00:38:54.539 --> 00:38:55.000 you're lying 00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:55.559 flat on the 00:38:55.559 --> 00:38:55.700 ground. 00:38:55.800 --> 00:38:56.079 You can't 00:38:56.079 --> 00:38:56.740 defend yourself. 00:38:56.860 --> 00:38:56.980 You're 00:38:56.980 --> 00:38:57.480 completely 00:38:57.480 --> 00:38:58.480 and helplessly 00:38:58.480 --> 00:38:58.780 at the 00:38:58.780 --> 00:38:59.480 mercy of 00:38:59.480 --> 00:38:59.980 the person 00:38:59.980 --> 00:39:00.280 you are 00:39:00.280 --> 00:39:00.820 buying down 00:39:00.820 --> 00:39:01.360 to and 00:39:01.360 --> 00:39:01.880 that's the 00:39:01.880 --> 00:39:02.440 gesture that 00:39:02.440 --> 00:39:02.860 they bring 00:39:02.860 --> 00:39:03.420 to this 00:39:03.420 --> 00:39:03.700 king. 00:39:07.179 --> 00:39:07.840 And they 00:39:07.840 --> 00:39:08.280 do that to 00:39:08.280 --> 00:39:08.539 him when 00:39:08.539 --> 00:39:08.860 he's still 00:39:08.860 --> 00:39:09.400 a child. 00:39:10.460 --> 00:39:11.200 And that 00:39:11.200 --> 00:39:12.920 picture of 00:39:12.920 --> 00:39:14.280 these important 00:39:14.280 --> 00:39:14.880 people, 00:39:15.619 --> 00:39:15.900 these 00:39:15.900 --> 00:39:17.039 VIPs, 00:39:17.820 --> 00:39:18.440 prostrate 00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:19.019 before a 00:39:19.019 --> 00:39:19.860 child Jesus 00:39:19.860 --> 00:39:20.360 is a 00:39:20.360 --> 00:39:20.720 wonderful 00:39:20.720 --> 00:39:21.240 illustration 00:39:21.240 --> 00:39:21.660 of what 00:39:21.660 --> 00:39:22.360 Jesus teaches 00:39:22.360 --> 00:39:22.680 us in 00:39:22.680 --> 00:39:23.320 Matthew 18 00:39:23.320 --> 00:39:23.960 1-4. 00:39:24.420 --> 00:39:24.920 When his 00:39:24.920 --> 00:39:25.760 disciples ask 00:39:25.760 --> 00:39:25.920 him, 00:39:26.200 --> 00:39:26.940 who is the 00:39:26.940 --> 00:39:27.639 greatest in 00:39:27.639 --> 00:39:27.940 the kingdom 00:39:27.940 --> 00:39:28.340 of heaven? 00:39:30.340 --> 00:39:31.240 Jesus tells 00:39:31.240 --> 00:39:31.480 them, 00:39:31.840 --> 00:39:32.360 he calls to 00:39:32.360 --> 00:39:32.599 him a 00:39:32.599 --> 00:39:32.980 child, 00:39:33.139 --> 00:39:33.559 puts him 00:39:33.559 --> 00:39:33.840 in the 00:39:33.840 --> 00:39:34.260 midst of 00:39:34.260 --> 00:39:34.559 them and 00:39:34.559 --> 00:39:34.840 says, 00:39:35.240 --> 00:39:35.780 truly I 00:39:35.780 --> 00:39:36.180 say to 00:39:36.180 --> 00:39:36.500 you, 00:39:37.019 --> 00:39:37.700 unless you 00:39:37.700 --> 00:39:38.240 turn and 00:39:38.240 --> 00:39:38.920 become like 00:39:38.920 --> 00:39:39.539 children, 00:39:40.019 --> 00:39:40.579 you will 00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:41.400 never enter 00:39:41.400 --> 00:39:41.840 the kingdom 00:39:41.840 --> 00:39:42.260 of heaven. 00:39:43.139 --> 00:39:43.420 Whoever 00:39:43.420 --> 00:39:44.260 humbles himself 00:39:44.260 --> 00:39:44.740 like this 00:39:44.740 --> 00:39:45.340 child is the 00:39:45.340 --> 00:39:46.019 greatest in 00:39:46.019 --> 00:39:46.400 the kingdom 00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:46.800 of heaven. 00:39:48.200 --> 00:39:49.240 Jesus is a 00:39:49.240 --> 00:39:49.860 king who 00:39:49.860 --> 00:39:50.600 has humbled 00:39:50.600 --> 00:39:52.300 himself, the 00:39:52.300 --> 00:39:53.500 son of God 00:39:53.500 --> 00:39:54.260 who took on 00:39:54.260 --> 00:39:55.300 human flesh 00:39:55.300 --> 00:39:56.940 and has 00:39:56.940 --> 00:39:57.380 become a 00:39:57.380 --> 00:39:58.059 son of man. 00:39:58.800 --> 00:39:59.640 He came to 00:39:59.640 --> 00:40:00.360 our world as 00:40:00.360 --> 00:40:01.200 a baby and 00:40:01.200 --> 00:40:01.880 grew up as a 00:40:01.880 --> 00:40:02.300 toddler. 00:40:02.519 --> 00:40:03.160 This Jesus 00:40:03.160 --> 00:40:04.160 literally became 00:40:04.160 --> 00:40:04.620 a child. 00:40:06.800 --> 00:40:07.740 And if we 00:40:07.740 --> 00:40:08.300 want to be 00:40:08.300 --> 00:40:09.120 great in the 00:40:09.120 --> 00:40:09.900 kingdom of God, 00:40:10.220 --> 00:40:11.260 we must emulate 00:40:11.260 --> 00:40:11.920 his humility. 00:40:11.920 --> 00:40:15.860 theologian and 00:40:15.860 --> 00:40:16.539 biblical counselor 00:40:16.539 --> 00:40:17.360 David Paulison 00:40:17.360 --> 00:40:18.680 once summarized 00:40:18.680 --> 00:40:19.200 Christian 00:40:19.200 --> 00:40:20.039 sanctification 00:40:20.039 --> 00:40:21.159 succinctly this 00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:21.380 way. 00:40:21.880 --> 00:40:22.480 This is what it 00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:23.079 means to become 00:40:23.079 --> 00:40:23.980 sanctified, to 00:40:23.980 --> 00:40:25.099 become more, to 00:40:25.099 --> 00:40:25.880 grow as a 00:40:25.880 --> 00:40:27.519 Christian, to 00:40:27.519 --> 00:40:28.180 become more 00:40:28.180 --> 00:40:29.740 childlike toward 00:40:29.740 --> 00:40:30.599 God, our 00:40:30.599 --> 00:40:32.139 Father, and to 00:40:32.139 --> 00:40:32.880 become more 00:40:32.880 --> 00:40:34.260 Christlike toward 00:40:34.260 --> 00:40:34.900 other people. 00:40:37.539 --> 00:40:38.519 It's simple that 00:40:38.519 --> 00:40:38.940 way, isn't it? 00:40:38.940 --> 00:40:41.579 In the natural 00:40:41.579 --> 00:40:42.960 realm, the more 00:40:42.960 --> 00:40:43.900 we grow, the more 00:40:43.900 --> 00:40:44.720 independent we 00:40:44.720 --> 00:40:45.079 become. 00:40:46.679 --> 00:40:47.760 But maturity 00:40:47.760 --> 00:40:48.940 works backwards 00:40:48.940 --> 00:40:49.619 in the spiritual 00:40:49.619 --> 00:40:49.940 realm. 00:40:51.200 --> 00:40:52.179 The more we 00:40:52.179 --> 00:40:53.260 grow, the more 00:40:53.260 --> 00:40:54.480 dependent on God 00:40:54.480 --> 00:40:54.940 we become. 00:40:55.980 --> 00:40:57.260 The more humble 00:40:57.260 --> 00:40:58.400 and prayerful and 00:40:58.400 --> 00:40:59.639 dependent we 00:40:59.639 --> 00:41:00.000 become. 00:41:00.360 --> 00:41:01.200 The more we 00:41:01.200 --> 00:41:02.179 recognize our 00:41:02.179 --> 00:41:03.039 own, that our 00:41:03.039 --> 00:41:04.079 own righteousness 00:41:04.079 --> 00:41:05.300 is woefully 00:41:05.300 --> 00:41:07.039 inadequate, the 00:41:07.039 --> 00:41:08.240 more we cling 00:41:08.239 --> 00:41:09.379 ever more to 00:41:09.379 --> 00:41:09.939 the righteousness 00:41:09.939 --> 00:41:11.159 of Christ alone, 00:41:11.919 --> 00:41:13.199 more and more to 00:41:13.199 --> 00:41:13.959 the mercy and 00:41:13.959 --> 00:41:14.819 grace of God 00:41:14.819 --> 00:41:15.599 alone, we become 00:41:15.599 --> 00:41:16.659 more dependent as 00:41:16.659 --> 00:41:17.179 we grow, not 00:41:17.179 --> 00:41:17.479 less. 00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:21.539 And the 00:41:21.539 --> 00:41:22.699 worshipped child 00:41:22.699 --> 00:41:23.739 king is also a 00:41:23.739 --> 00:41:24.479 wonderful illustration 00:41:24.479 --> 00:41:25.500 of Matthew 20, 00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:27.319 25 to 28, when 00:41:27.319 --> 00:41:28.559 Jesus says, you 00:41:28.559 --> 00:41:29.319 know that the 00:41:29.319 --> 00:41:30.079 rulers of the 00:41:30.079 --> 00:41:31.159 Gentiles lorded 00:41:31.159 --> 00:41:31.719 over them and 00:41:31.719 --> 00:41:32.539 their great ones 00:41:32.539 --> 00:41:33.739 exercise authority 00:41:33.739 --> 00:41:34.399 over them. 00:41:34.879 --> 00:41:36.000 It shall not be 00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:36.759 so among you. 00:41:36.760 --> 00:41:38.800 But whoever 00:41:38.800 --> 00:41:39.640 would be great 00:41:39.640 --> 00:41:40.340 among you must 00:41:40.340 --> 00:41:41.180 be your servant, 00:41:41.700 --> 00:41:42.220 and whoever 00:41:42.220 --> 00:41:43.180 would be first 00:41:43.180 --> 00:41:44.060 among you must 00:41:44.060 --> 00:41:44.960 be your slave, 00:41:45.320 --> 00:41:46.080 even as the 00:41:46.080 --> 00:41:46.920 son of man came 00:41:46.920 --> 00:41:48.280 not to be served, 00:41:48.500 --> 00:41:49.600 but to serve, 00:41:49.820 --> 00:41:50.600 and to give his 00:41:50.600 --> 00:41:51.700 life as a ransom 00:41:51.700 --> 00:41:52.500 for many. 00:41:54.480 --> 00:41:56.060 When we behold 00:41:56.060 --> 00:41:57.760 King Jesus in his 00:41:57.760 --> 00:41:59.620 incarnation, in the 00:41:59.620 --> 00:42:00.840 frailty and 00:42:00.840 --> 00:42:02.320 vulnerability of this 00:42:02.320 --> 00:42:03.480 human child we see 00:42:03.480 --> 00:42:05.240 in Matthew 2, we see 00:42:05.239 --> 00:42:07.079 clearly that Jesus 00:42:07.079 --> 00:42:08.539 came not to be 00:42:08.539 --> 00:42:10.259 served, but to 00:42:10.259 --> 00:42:11.339 serve and to give 00:42:11.339 --> 00:42:12.079 his life as a 00:42:12.079 --> 00:42:12.839 ransom for many. 00:42:15.839 --> 00:42:17.000 Jesus is called 00:42:17.000 --> 00:42:18.079 the king of the 00:42:18.079 --> 00:42:18.739 Jews, right, in 00:42:18.739 --> 00:42:19.179 verse 2. 00:42:20.559 --> 00:42:21.419 Jesus is never 00:42:21.419 --> 00:42:22.279 again called the 00:42:22.279 --> 00:42:22.939 king of the Jews 00:42:22.939 --> 00:42:24.059 in the rest of the 00:42:24.059 --> 00:42:24.739 gospel of Matthew 00:42:24.739 --> 00:42:25.919 until we get to the 00:42:25.919 --> 00:42:27.699 very end, chapter 27, 00:42:28.239 --> 00:42:30.199 when Jesus is being 00:42:30.199 --> 00:42:32.439 tried and crucified 00:42:32.440 --> 00:42:34.539 to give his life as 00:42:34.539 --> 00:42:35.420 a ransom for many. 00:42:38.679 --> 00:42:40.260 In Matthew 27, 00:42:40.619 --> 00:42:41.720 Pilate calls him the 00:42:41.720 --> 00:42:42.559 king of the Jews, 00:42:43.019 --> 00:42:43.960 and the soldiers 00:42:43.960 --> 00:42:45.220 twist together a 00:42:45.220 --> 00:42:46.440 crown of thorns and 00:42:46.440 --> 00:42:47.159 put it on his head 00:42:47.159 --> 00:42:48.440 and put a reed on 00:42:48.440 --> 00:42:49.639 his right hand as a 00:42:49.639 --> 00:42:52.639 mock scepter, and 00:42:52.639 --> 00:42:53.420 then they kneel 00:42:53.420 --> 00:42:54.440 before him and mock 00:42:54.440 --> 00:42:54.900 him saying, 00:42:55.019 --> 00:42:55.920 hail king of the 00:42:55.920 --> 00:42:56.260 Jews. 00:42:57.200 --> 00:42:58.300 And when Jesus is 00:42:58.300 --> 00:42:59.200 crucified, they put a 00:42:59.200 --> 00:43:00.159 sign above his head 00:43:00.159 --> 00:43:02.279 which reads, this is 00:43:02.279 --> 00:43:03.859 Jesus, the king of 00:43:03.859 --> 00:43:04.339 the Jews. 00:43:05.059 --> 00:43:06.000 This parallel 00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:07.159 acclamation from 00:43:07.159 --> 00:43:08.079 chapter 2 to 00:43:08.079 --> 00:43:09.920 chapter 27 of Jesus 00:43:09.920 --> 00:43:11.019 being hailed as the 00:43:11.019 --> 00:43:11.679 king of the Jews 00:43:11.679 --> 00:43:13.199 invites a stark 00:43:13.199 --> 00:43:13.819 contrast. 00:43:16.639 --> 00:43:17.719 Think about this. 00:43:17.759 --> 00:43:19.879 If you only read 00:43:19.879 --> 00:43:21.039 Matthew 2, 1 to 12, 00:43:22.079 --> 00:43:23.019 you didn't know the 00:43:23.019 --> 00:43:23.659 rest of the gospel 00:43:23.659 --> 00:43:24.379 story, don't know 00:43:24.379 --> 00:43:25.179 the rest of Matthew, 00:43:25.980 --> 00:43:26.839 would you imagine 00:43:26.839 --> 00:43:27.980 that Jesus' life 00:43:27.980 --> 00:43:29.639 would end like that? 00:43:30.159 --> 00:43:37.000 He's the king of the 00:43:37.000 --> 00:43:37.379 Jews. 00:43:42.699 --> 00:43:44.159 His birth was 00:43:44.159 --> 00:43:47.059 foretold thousands of 00:43:47.059 --> 00:43:48.239 years before he came. 00:43:49.279 --> 00:43:50.719 He's the fulfillment of 00:43:50.719 --> 00:43:51.779 all of the Old Testament 00:43:51.779 --> 00:43:52.699 prophecies. 00:43:57.119 --> 00:43:58.519 His birth was 00:43:58.519 --> 00:44:00.039 announced by a star 00:44:00.039 --> 00:44:00.639 in heaven. 00:44:02.000 --> 00:44:03.259 The magi from the 00:44:03.259 --> 00:44:04.219 east came to pay 00:44:04.219 --> 00:44:05.039 homage to him and 00:44:05.039 --> 00:44:06.300 they fell down before 00:44:06.300 --> 00:44:07.320 him and worshipped 00:44:07.320 --> 00:44:07.679 him. 00:44:10.539 --> 00:44:11.360 How would you 00:44:11.360 --> 00:44:12.639 imagine that story 00:44:12.639 --> 00:44:13.340 to unfold? 00:44:14.780 --> 00:44:16.000 Oh yes, he's 00:44:16.000 --> 00:44:17.059 surely going to be a 00:44:17.059 --> 00:44:17.719 great one. 00:44:20.059 --> 00:44:21.280 He's going to conquer 00:44:21.280 --> 00:44:21.759 kingdoms. 00:44:22.960 --> 00:44:23.880 He's going to have 00:44:23.880 --> 00:44:25.579 kings bow their knees 00:44:25.579 --> 00:44:26.179 before him. 00:44:29.779 --> 00:44:30.900 He's going to be the 00:44:30.900 --> 00:44:33.000 first, the greatest. 00:44:36.079 --> 00:44:38.079 But Jesus came to be 00:44:38.079 --> 00:44:42.119 the last, to be a 00:44:42.119 --> 00:44:44.920 servant king, to give 00:44:44.920 --> 00:44:46.380 his life as a ransom 00:44:46.380 --> 00:44:47.920 for many. 00:44:47.920 --> 00:44:53.380 only myrrh he receives 00:44:53.380 --> 00:44:54.400 at the end of his life 00:44:54.400 --> 00:44:56.019 in John 19, 39, is the 00:44:56.019 --> 00:44:57.539 myrrh that they use as a 00:44:57.539 --> 00:44:59.059 spice mixture when they 00:44:59.059 --> 00:44:59.659 bury him. 00:44:59.659 --> 00:45:07.839 Why does King Jesus do 00:45:07.839 --> 00:45:08.259 that? 00:45:13.059 --> 00:45:14.460 It would be so painful 00:45:14.460 --> 00:45:15.579 for me if I were there 00:45:15.579 --> 00:45:16.819 in the first century 00:45:16.819 --> 00:45:21.059 to watch Jesus endure 00:45:21.059 --> 00:45:22.519 what he endures, the 00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:24.659 shame, the pain, and the 00:45:24.659 --> 00:45:25.299 humiliation. 00:45:27.579 --> 00:45:29.059 Jesus, you don't deserve 00:45:29.059 --> 00:45:29.460 that. 00:45:33.759 --> 00:45:35.219 You deserve honor. 00:45:37.039 --> 00:45:38.860 Your feet should never 00:45:38.860 --> 00:45:40.519 touch this dirty earth. 00:45:43.000 --> 00:45:44.279 Right up my shoulders. 00:45:44.980 --> 00:45:45.880 Let us carry you 00:45:45.880 --> 00:45:46.779 everywhere you go. 00:45:48.639 --> 00:45:49.659 They don't deserve to 00:45:49.659 --> 00:45:50.519 talk to you like that. 00:45:50.599 --> 00:45:51.679 Let me have a word with 00:45:51.679 --> 00:45:51.900 them. 00:45:55.980 --> 00:45:57.619 But Jesus endures all of 00:45:57.619 --> 00:45:57.820 it. 00:45:59.059 --> 00:46:02.779 He dies a sinner's death 00:46:02.779 --> 00:46:04.659 on the cross because he 00:46:04.659 --> 00:46:05.820 knows that that is the 00:46:05.820 --> 00:46:08.460 only way he can subdue a 00:46:08.460 --> 00:46:10.639 rebel heart because he 00:46:10.639 --> 00:46:11.799 knows that our hearts are 00:46:11.799 --> 00:46:13.139 in rebellion against his 00:46:13.139 --> 00:46:14.440 kingship, the kingship of 00:46:14.440 --> 00:46:14.799 God. 00:46:14.800 --> 00:46:14.860 God. 00:46:17.140 --> 00:46:20.140 So he rules us at the cross. 00:46:20.400 --> 00:46:22.920 He dies for our sins on the 00:46:22.920 --> 00:46:24.240 cross so that we can be 00:46:24.240 --> 00:46:25.820 freed from our slavery to 00:46:25.820 --> 00:46:27.080 sin so that we can be 00:46:27.080 --> 00:46:28.620 transferred from the kingdom 00:46:28.620 --> 00:46:30.900 of darkness to the kingdom of 00:46:30.900 --> 00:46:32.300 the light of God and the 00:46:32.300 --> 00:46:33.680 kingdom of his beloved son. 00:46:33.679 --> 00:46:34.679 God. 00:46:34.679 --> 00:46:35.679 God. 00:46:35.679 --> 00:46:36.679 God. 00:46:36.679 --> 00:46:37.079 God. 00:46:37.079 --> 00:46:37.679 God. 00:46:37.679 --> 00:46:37.839 God. 00:46:37.839 --> 00:46:39.159 That can only happen because 00:46:39.159 --> 00:46:41.000 Jesus died for our sins and was 00:46:41.000 --> 00:46:42.359 raised from the dead. 00:46:42.360 --> 00:46:42.400 God. 00:46:49.200 --> 00:46:50.960 Do you know a king like that? 00:46:52.039 --> 00:46:52.660 No. 00:46:52.800 --> 00:46:53.920 There's no king like that. 00:46:56.000 --> 00:46:57.260 There's only one. 00:46:57.260 --> 00:46:57.300 God. 00:46:59.900 --> 00:47:03.260 And that's why he's worthy of 00:47:03.260 --> 00:47:05.660 all our worship and all our 00:47:05.660 --> 00:47:07.640 fealty and the loyalty and 00:47:07.640 --> 00:47:09.140 allegiance of every nation and 00:47:09.140 --> 00:47:09.860 kingdom on earth. 00:47:11.080 --> 00:47:12.300 Let's pray together. 00:47:12.300 --> 00:47:12.340 Father. 00:47:26.019 --> 00:47:29.500 Oh, Father, what precious gift you 00:47:29.500 --> 00:47:31.860 have given us in Jesus Christ, 00:47:31.960 --> 00:47:32.380 your son. 00:47:38.580 --> 00:47:40.700 Oh, Lord, we praise you that 00:47:40.699 --> 00:47:46.099 castaways that we are and we 00:47:46.099 --> 00:47:47.019 deserve to be. 00:47:49.019 --> 00:47:51.619 That you have made us a kingdom. 00:47:54.899 --> 00:47:57.480 That you have given us a king in 00:47:57.480 --> 00:47:57.939 Jesus. 00:47:59.500 --> 00:48:01.259 Oh, Lord, we serve him. 00:48:02.139 --> 00:48:03.299 We worship him. 00:48:04.159 --> 00:48:05.439 We bow before him. 00:48:06.079 --> 00:48:07.579 And we love him. 00:48:07.579 --> 00:48:12.880 Help us to do so more and more 00:48:12.880 --> 00:48:16.880 as Jesus deserves. 00:48:18.699 --> 00:48:19.940 For your glory, God. 00:48:21.480 --> 00:48:23.139 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:48:23.639 --> 00:48:23.920 Amen.