WEBVTT

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 I remember the first job that I ever got was as a counter worker at KFC.

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 It was an exciting first career step.

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 But I remember when I was applying for that job,

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 I got really focused on developing my resume to hand in,

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 to convince them that they should employ me.

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 The difficult thing about writing a resume when you're about 14

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 is that you don't really have a whole lot you can put on it.

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 I had no previous employment, and so instead,

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 once I got the first bit with my name and address and date of birth

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 and all the really official things down,

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 I set about filling my resume and padding it out as best as I could

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 with all the mad skills that I had that I could think of,

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 some of which didn't completely apply to working at Kentucky Fried Chicken.

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 I was sure to notify my future employer that I drank close to a litre of Coke a day

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 because I thought that was impressive.

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 I was sure to alert him also that I had a gift for watching movies

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 and then being able to quote key lines at appropriate moments in conversations

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 and then laugh at them regardless of if anyone else knew what I was talking about.

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 I also informed him that I had two brothers and two sisters,

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 as if that would somehow make me a better employee.

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 But as if that wasn't the worst,

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 just to make sure he knew what a valuable asset I would be to the company,

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 I also told him exactly how many grand finals I'd played in

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 as a junior footballer playing Australian Rules football.

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 Now, none of this, in pretty much everything on my resume,

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 had absolutely nothing to do with working at KFC.

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 Luckily, not a lot has to do with working at KFC,

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 so I think you hand in your name and you'd get the tick.

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 No offence to anyone who works at KFC.

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 But the point is, resumes are supposed to include information

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 that is appropriate or pertinent to the job that you're trying to get.

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 You know, had I maybe liked chicken,

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 then that might have been a tick on my resume.

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 I did, but just forgot to mention it.

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 But the point is, you include things that are going to convince

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 whoever you're handing this piece of paper to

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 that you are the right person for the job.

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 Now, the reason I tell you that is because this exciting bit of Scripture

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 that I have just worked my way through in the reading here

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 is actually more like a resume.

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 It's not a simple genealogy where we just go,

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 this person's son and their person's son and so on and so on.

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 In the ancient world, genealogies are more like resumes.

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 They're designed to tell you a little bit about the credibility of a person.

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 Now, this one traces all the way back to Abraham,

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 which is a huge chunk of human history,

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 and there's actually not enough generations for this to be a full, complete one.

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 But that's okay, because that's not how genealogies worked.

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 The point was to give you the highlights or the important people

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 that showed you that Jesus is qualified for the job that he's applying for, if you like.

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 This is a resume to give us Jesus' credentials.

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 Not every detail, not every person is in there, just the ones that matter,

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 just the ones that are important.

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 And a little bonus bit of information that I didn't mention this morning,

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 but someone asked me a question about it.

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 Why the 14, 14, 14?

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 Well, this, when it was originally written,

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 would have been designed like an acrostic poem.

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 And the 14s, that would have been in really simple language,

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 in Greek and in Hebrew when it was written,

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 it would have been designed to be something memorable

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 so that you could have just spat it out like a memory verse,

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 because they thought this was so important,

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 they wanted it to stick in people's minds.

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 So it's not a complete genealogy,

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 it's a highlights reel to tell us something about Jesus.

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 And so straight away we know that even though deep down

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 we're hoping I'm going to jump to verse 18

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 and the bit they come after and the bit we can understand really easily,

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 that we should pay attention to this.

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 Because of everything that happened from Abraham to Jesus,

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 Matthew, when he was inspired by God to write this gospel,

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 thought that this list of names was a good place to start.

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 With everything that Jesus had done in his life,

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 all the miracles, all the excitement, all the teaching,

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 everything that happened,

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 Matthew thought this would be a good first interaction

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 for people with Jesus.

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 And you've got to ask yourself the question,

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 why would you start with that?

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 If you were writing the gospel,

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 if you were going to be informing people

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 about this incredible person Jesus

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 that you'd met or heard about,

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 why would you start with something which, let's be honest,

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 doesn't come up in anyone's favourite Bible passages?

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 It is the bit we skip over.

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 It's the one day in our quiet times

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 where we're motivated to read more.

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 So why start with this?

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 Why is this a good spot?

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 Well, I was reading this week a story

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 about a missionary who worked in Papua New Guinea.

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 He was doing some work with some translators

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 and they were translating this particular bit of scripture,

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 all of Matthew's gospel,

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 but they'd given it to the locals to start reading.

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 They were just in early stages.

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 And the locals came back with this page open

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 with a look of wonder and amazement on their face.

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 And they showed it to the missionary and the translator.

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 They're ready to ask questions.

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 And the translator apparently confessed

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 that he was ready to flip them over to chapter 2

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 so that they could get into some good and exciting things.

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 And they said, no, no, no, no.

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 This is amazing.

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 And he's like, maybe we've translated it wrong.

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 And they're like, no, this is amazing.

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 They explained that up until that point,

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 up until they got to Matthew chapter 1,

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 they'd always thought that Jesus was kind of like a fairy,

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 imaginary.

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 Good stories, impressive.

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 But now they could look at his lineage,

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 they could look at his ancestry,

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 and they said, so Jesus is real.

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 It totally changed the way that they had to re-engage

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 with every other thing that they'd heard about Jesus.

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 See, it matters that we start at this particular point

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 because if we don't,

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 there's always the possibility

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 that people hear the story of Christmas, Easter, whatever,

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 the miraculous birth,

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 and file it away under stories like Santa

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 or the tooth fairy.

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 It's nice.

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 They're good.

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 They sound impressive.

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 But it's just imaginary.

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 And so it's important that we start here.

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 The senior minister from a church down the road,

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 down at Roseville, John Dixon,

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 who is a fairly esteemed historian,

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 has a quote, and I could be misquoting him,

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 so I need to put a disclaimer on this.

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 But he says something like,

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 and he does this publicly, online, regularly,

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 if you can find me a credible historian

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 who denies the existence of Jesus,

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 I'll eat a page of my Bible.

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 And this is a guy who has thousands of Facebook friends,

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 many of whom are atheists,

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 and try to argue with him regularly,

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 and no one has found a credible historian

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 who will try and say that Jesus didn't exist.

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 And that might be really comforting for us as Christians,

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 but the reality is,

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 every single one of us has had a conversation with somebody,

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 a work colleague, a neighbour,

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 someone we care about, a family member,

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 who does believe that Jesus didn't exist,

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 who does believe that it's all just a nice myth,

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 it's just a comfortable thing for us to hold on to,

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 and so the gospel begins here,

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 because this is really important.

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 Before we hear about what he's done,

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 what he's going to do,

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 who he is, anything else,

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 we need to understand,

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 Jesus is real.

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 The point of these generations,

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 the point of this list,

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 is to say that there's ancestry,

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 he's human,

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 he's a person.

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 It's not just magic,

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 it's real.

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 It's like in the end of Luke's gospel,

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 when Jesus has died and he's risen,

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 and he appears to his disciples,

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 he does something really strange.

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 He asks them for food.

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 And he does it for their sake,

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 so that they can realise he's a person.

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 He's hungry.

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 He says, touch me.

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 It's not a vision.

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 I'm not a ghost.

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 I'm a human.

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 And the same goes here.

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 Before we move into the rest of this gospel,

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 and we're going to over the next few weeks,

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 we need to start by understanding,

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 Jesus is real.

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 Because if he's not real,

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 then everything we're going to read

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 becomes kind of unimpressive and unimportant.

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 We need to know he's real

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 when we open up to a passage like Hebrews chapter 2

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 and verse 14 and read this.

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 Since the children, that's us,

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 have flesh and blood,

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 he too, Jesus,

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 shared in their humanity

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 so that by his death,

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 he might destroy him

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 who holds the power of death,

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 that is the devil,

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 and free those who all their lives

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 were held in slavery

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 by their fear of death.

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 For what Jesus does later in his life

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 to matter or be powerful or significant,

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 we need to have as a starting point,

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 he's real.

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 He's human.

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 He's flesh and blood.

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 He's like us.

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 He's tempted like us.

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 He suffers like us.

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 Why start here?

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 Because we need to start from a place

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 where we recognise who is lying in that manger.

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 It's a human baby.

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 It's a real person.

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 The second question we need to ask

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 as to why this genealogy is,

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 why would you include these people?

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 Remembering this doesn't cover every generation

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 from Abraham to Jesus.

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 It's a highlights package.

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 Why choose these names?

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 And the answer to that

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 is going to tell us a whole lot

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 about how God works.

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 A whole lot about what we should expect

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 to see from Jesus

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 as we continue to walk through Matthew

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 and even now in our lives.

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 Earlier this week,

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 Sal and I were having a conversation.

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 Bailey is a little over three and a half now.

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 And so we're getting to the point

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 where we're trying to explain more to him.

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 You know, Christmas comes up.

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 We're trying to talk about

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 how God came as a baby

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 and stuff like that.

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 And I don't know if you've ever tried

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 to do that to a three-year-old,

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 but suddenly you start doing

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 these backflips and U-turns

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 because you realise you're getting

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 into really convoluted

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 and complex language.

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 And look, it is amazing

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 and complex and beautiful

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 and majestic,

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 but it's hard to explain

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 to a three-year-old.

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 And Sal and me were chatting

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 about it afterwards

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 and she was just kind of sitting there going,

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 I just can't imagine Jesus

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 as like a three-year-old,

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 as Bailey's age.

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 But he was.

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 Like, it is actually

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 a really ridiculous thing

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 for us to process

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 that the God who is infinite,

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 the God who created everything,

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 the God who sustains everything,

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 we sung it just a second ago

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 that while he's lying on the hay,

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 he's maintaining the stars

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 and the planets and everything.

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 It's an illogical story

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 that an infinite God

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 could be packed into a little baby,

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 but that's actually

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 kind of the point.

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 This genealogy,

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 this story of this beginning

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 of Jesus' life

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 reminds us that God's plans

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 and our plans

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 are often not the same thing.

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 The way God works

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 and the way we expect him to work

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 are often not the same thing.

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 We just don't think the way he does.

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 If by some weird twist

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 we could end up in the driver's seat

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 and our job was to plan a way

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 to save people

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 by using a specific nation in history,

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 there is no way

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 that our plan would look

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 anything like his did.

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 At any point.

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 Just time after time

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 through this list of names,

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 he does it different.

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 Let's pick a couple.

00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:40.179
 Rahab.

00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:42.019
 She's there in verse 5.

00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:44.600
 She's the mother of Boaz.

00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:46.039
 So there's a few women in here

00:11:46.039 --> 00:11:47.340
 which is strange in itself.

00:11:47.439 --> 00:11:48.539
 In an ancient genealogy,

00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:49.700
 women did not get a run.

00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:51.360
 But Rahab gets a mention.

00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:54.440
 Rahab is not even an Israelite.

00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:55.720
 She's not even one of the nation

00:11:55.720 --> 00:11:56.460
 that God chose.

00:11:56.560 --> 00:11:57.539
 She's not even technically

00:11:57.539 --> 00:11:59.240
 one of the pure breeds,

00:11:59.320 --> 00:11:59.800
 if you like,

00:11:59.860 --> 00:12:01.019
 from the bloodline

00:12:01.019 --> 00:12:03.200
 that he chose

00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:04.100
 out of all creation.

00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:07.500
 She belonged to the city of Jericho.

00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:09.659
 The way she comes into the story

00:12:09.659 --> 00:12:13.139
 is by protecting a few Jewish spies

00:12:13.139 --> 00:12:14.120
 who were in there

00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:15.080
 scouting out her city

00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:15.779
 to conquer it.

00:12:15.779 --> 00:12:17.240
 Basically,

00:12:17.419 --> 00:12:18.459
 all we know about Rahab

00:12:18.459 --> 00:12:20.199
 is she was a prostitute,

00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:22.339
 she betrayed her city

00:12:22.339 --> 00:12:23.659
 by protecting the spies,

00:12:23.939 --> 00:12:26.259
 and she was the mother of Boaz.

00:12:27.579 --> 00:12:28.839
 That's about all we know.

00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:32.240
 If you were designing a lineage

00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:34.019
 for your king

00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:35.459
 and saviour of the world,

00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:38.059
 would you give the prostitute a run?

00:12:38.059 --> 00:12:42.019
 If you had countless generations

00:12:42.019 --> 00:12:42.799
 to choose from,

00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:43.519
 this isn't even

00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:44.439
 everyone's in there

00:12:44.439 --> 00:12:45.739
 so you've got to include her,

00:12:46.339 --> 00:12:47.799
 would you pick her out?

00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:50.559
 And so I want everyone to know

00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:52.059
 that she was part of the story.

00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:54.179
 She was part of the journey

00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:54.959
 to get to Jesus.

00:12:55.839 --> 00:12:56.739
 There's no way

00:12:56.739 --> 00:12:58.059
 we would pick this path,

00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.639
 but God does.

00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:01.860
 Let's pick another name.

00:13:02.659 --> 00:13:03.299
 Verse 7.

00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:04.919
 Sorry, verse 6.

00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:06.699
 Jesse, the father of King David.

00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:08.159
 David, the father of Solomon,

00:13:08.939 --> 00:13:09.740
 whose mother

00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:11.639
 had been Uriah's wife.

00:13:12.019 --> 00:13:13.439
 This one doesn't even get named.

00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:15.879
 She's Uriah's wife.

00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:18.500
 This is Bathsheba.

00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:19.740
 For those who are familiar

00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:20.500
 with the story,

00:13:20.939 --> 00:13:22.259
 David is the king.

00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:23.299
 He's wandering on his roof.

00:13:23.419 --> 00:13:24.620
 He spots an attractive woman

00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:25.500
 taking a bath.

00:13:25.939 --> 00:13:27.000
 Finds out she's married,

00:13:27.100 --> 00:13:27.620
 doesn't care,

00:13:27.740 --> 00:13:28.299
 sleeps with her,

00:13:28.419 --> 00:13:29.000
 gets her pregnant,

00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:29.639
 has a baby,

00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:30.320
 kills her husband,

00:13:30.419 --> 00:13:31.220
 takes her as his wife.

00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:34.340
 Not exactly a high moral point

00:13:34.340 --> 00:13:36.340
 in David's life,

00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:37.620
 let alone Israel's history.

00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:39.340
 And yet,

00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:41.559
 this woman,

00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:44.159
 this wife of another man,

00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:48.340
 is not only part of the bloodline,

00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:50.279
 she's included in the highlights package.

00:13:52.460 --> 00:13:52.940
 Again,

00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:53.899
 that's just not how

00:13:53.899 --> 00:13:54.960
 we would write the story.

00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:56.860
 Can you imagine

00:13:56.860 --> 00:13:58.759
 a politician's PR team

00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:00.799
 including this sort of history

00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:02.340
 in the election campaign?

00:14:03.700 --> 00:14:05.340
 We don't think like this.

00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:06.779
 We don't function like this.

00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:08.200
 And God is saying,

00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:10.399
 before we get to Jesus' life,

00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:12.000
 before we get to the way he acts,

00:14:12.100 --> 00:14:12.600
 the teaching,

00:14:12.700 --> 00:14:13.139
 the miracles,

00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:13.879
 anything else,

00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:15.319
 we need to be reminded

00:14:15.319 --> 00:14:16.559
 that God doesn't work

00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:17.299
 the way we do.

00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:19.700
 His plans are not our plans.

00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:21.460
 He has unique ideas

00:14:21.460 --> 00:14:23.500
 about the ways that things,

00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:24.160
 the ways things,

00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:26.720
 the way things should work.

00:14:28.040 --> 00:14:29.000
 But there's something

00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:30.440
 really encouraging about that.

00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:33.240
 Not just these women,

00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:34.320
 plenty of the men,

00:14:35.320 --> 00:14:38.040
 are people that we wouldn't choose.

00:14:38.039 --> 00:14:40.539
 but they are people

00:14:40.539 --> 00:14:41.399
 that God chose.

00:14:43.019 --> 00:14:44.419
 It tells us a little bit

00:14:44.419 --> 00:14:45.099
 about the fact

00:14:45.099 --> 00:14:46.199
 that God is somebody

00:14:46.199 --> 00:14:47.839
 who chooses people

00:14:47.839 --> 00:14:50.039
 who don't belong.

00:14:50.839 --> 00:14:51.539
 Chooses people

00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:53.099
 who maybe society doesn't like.

00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:53.740
 Chooses people

00:14:53.740 --> 00:14:54.480
 who are broken.

00:14:55.079 --> 00:14:55.659
 Chooses people

00:14:55.659 --> 00:14:57.079
 who maybe they're full of shame.

00:14:58.579 --> 00:14:59.459
 And draws them

00:14:59.459 --> 00:15:00.819
 not only into the nation,

00:15:00.959 --> 00:15:02.779
 not only into that group of people

00:15:02.779 --> 00:15:03.539
 that he's chosen,

00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:05.139
 but gives them positions

00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:06.220
 of prominence,

00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:08.319
 lifts them up,

00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:10.799
 includes them in the story,

00:15:11.059 --> 00:15:11.860
 in the bloodline,

00:15:11.939 --> 00:15:13.039
 in this resume

00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:15.600
 for his saviour.

00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:18.419
 One other one

00:15:18.419 --> 00:15:19.199
 that comes up there.

00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:22.419
 Verse 11 and 12.

00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:23.539
 Josiah,

00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:24.699
 the father of Jeconiah

00:15:24.699 --> 00:15:25.299
 and his brothers

00:15:25.299 --> 00:15:26.740
 at the time of the exile

00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:27.299
 to Babylon.

00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:29.480
 Now the exile is in there

00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:30.799
 almost like it's a person.

00:15:33.580 --> 00:15:34.480
 The exile

00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:35.340
 is the time

00:15:35.340 --> 00:15:35.980
 when Israel

00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:36.920
 was at its lowest.

00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:38.899
 The exile

00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:39.500
 was the time

00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:40.940
 after it had its high peaks

00:15:40.940 --> 00:15:41.879
 with Solomon as king

00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:42.779
 and everything was great

00:15:42.779 --> 00:15:44.060
 and suddenly now

00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:44.600
 in judgment

00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:45.600
 they get carted off

00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.180
 in slavery

00:15:46.180 --> 00:15:47.320
 to the Babylonians.

00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:48.440
 They lose

00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:49.560
 their national identity.

00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:51.180
 They lose the temple

00:15:51.180 --> 00:15:51.740
 where they used

00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:52.639
 to worship God.

00:15:53.080 --> 00:15:54.500
 They lose confidence

00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:55.779
 in God himself,

00:15:56.060 --> 00:15:57.039
 confidence in his goodness.

00:15:57.180 --> 00:15:57.899
 They lose confidence

00:15:57.899 --> 00:15:58.779
 in his promises.

00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:02.139
 It really is the point

00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:02.860
 where for many

00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:03.580
 God's plans

00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:04.340
 start to fail.

00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:06.899
 Many in Israel

00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:07.560
 gave up

00:16:07.560 --> 00:16:08.279
 and improvised

00:16:08.279 --> 00:16:09.019
 their own version

00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:09.920
 of who God was.

00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:11.120
 Many began to doubt

00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.039
 that he could actually

00:16:12.039 --> 00:16:12.539
 deliver

00:16:12.539 --> 00:16:13.500
 on the things

00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:14.279
 that he had promised

00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:15.420
 at that point.

00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:17.560
 So why would you

00:16:17.560 --> 00:16:18.220
 include that

00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:20.440
 in this highlights reel

00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:21.560
 in this resume

00:16:21.560 --> 00:16:22.740
 of getting to your saviour?

00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:23.899
 Isn't that the bit

00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:24.960
 you'd try and skip over

00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:25.620
 and try and pretend

00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:26.200
 never happened?

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:30.820
 Well again,

00:16:31.420 --> 00:16:32.320
 God is saying

00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:33.639
 I don't work like you.

00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:36.759
 even in the bits

00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:37.899
 that we don't understand,

00:16:37.899 --> 00:16:38.960
 the bits where it feels

00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:39.620
 hopeless,

00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:41.659
 he was still

00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:43.039
 marching towards

00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:43.820
 Jesus.

00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:46.680
 Everything that happened

00:16:46.680 --> 00:16:47.560
 throughout all

00:16:47.560 --> 00:16:48.800
 of Israel's history

00:16:48.800 --> 00:16:49.940
 was building up

00:16:49.940 --> 00:16:50.519
 to Jesus.

00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:51.659
 Even the bits

00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:52.259
 that they thought

00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:52.940
 were failures

00:16:52.940 --> 00:16:53.820
 or wrong bits,

00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:56.259
 he was still using them.

00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:57.960
 And now

00:16:57.960 --> 00:16:58.460
 at the end

00:16:58.460 --> 00:16:58.960
 of this

00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:00.460
 somewhat unique

00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:01.259
 and colourful

00:17:01.259 --> 00:17:02.060
 family line,

00:17:02.059 --> 00:17:04.000
 we meet

00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.700
 the Messiah,

00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:06.720
 the descendant

00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.240
 of David,

00:17:07.399 --> 00:17:08.159
 the chosen one,

00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:09.099
 the promised one.

00:17:10.159 --> 00:17:10.679
 And so God

00:17:10.679 --> 00:17:11.579
 is saying to us

00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:12.419
 before we get

00:17:12.419 --> 00:17:13.359
 into his life,

00:17:13.679 --> 00:17:14.480
 before we see

00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:15.099
 what he does,

00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:15.980
 be excited

00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:16.700
 that he's here,

00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:18.339
 be expectant

00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:18.899
 for what he's

00:17:18.899 --> 00:17:19.619
 going to achieve,

00:17:20.899 --> 00:17:21.879
 but just remember

00:17:21.879 --> 00:17:24.019
 he might do

00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:24.879
 things differently

00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:26.720
 to how you

00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:27.180
 would have him

00:17:27.180 --> 00:17:27.540
 do them.

00:17:29.100 --> 00:17:29.760
 He might have

00:17:29.760 --> 00:17:30.260
 a plan

00:17:30.260 --> 00:17:30.920
 that is slightly

00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:31.840
 unique compared

00:17:31.840 --> 00:17:32.640
 to your plan.

00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:34.980
 How he'll work,

00:17:35.080 --> 00:17:35.680
 what he'll achieve,

00:17:35.760 --> 00:17:36.440
 all that will come

00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:36.980
 next,

00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:39.380
 but before we get

00:17:39.380 --> 00:17:39.640
 there,

00:17:39.760 --> 00:17:40.740
 there's this sense

00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:41.980
 and this reminder

00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:42.640
 that God

00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:43.460
 has a unique

00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:44.060
 wisdom,

00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:46.260
 a unique perspective

00:17:46.260 --> 00:17:46.920
 on the world

00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:47.700
 that we live in.

00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:49.760
 He works in ways

00:17:49.760 --> 00:17:50.880
 that we don't expect.

00:17:51.820 --> 00:17:52.520
 And even this

00:17:52.520 --> 00:17:53.020
 beautiful,

00:17:53.180 --> 00:17:53.980
 miraculous birth

00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:54.299
 that we're going

00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:54.680
 to get to

00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:55.079
 over the next

00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:55.819
 couple of weeks

00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:57.700
 will end

00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:58.240
 in a bloody

00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:58.920
 execution.

00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:04.279
 And that will

00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:04.680
 be good.

00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:06.940
 That will be

00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:07.779
 part of his plan.

00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:11.400
 It could be

00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:12.099
 that right now

00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:12.960
 in your life,

00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:14.980
 the challenge

00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.620
 you are feeling,

00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:16.220
 the wrestle

00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:16.860
 that you're having

00:18:16.860 --> 00:18:17.519
 with God

00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:18.660
 is that he's not

00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:19.500
 doing what you

00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:20.360
 want him to do.

00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:21.920
 He's not answering

00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:22.539
 that prayer

00:18:22.539 --> 00:18:23.120
 that you keep

00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:23.940
 bringing to him.

00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:25.420
 He's not delivering

00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:26.240
 on what for you

00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:27.180
 is just the obvious

00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:28.160
 good that he should

00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:28.860
 deliver on.

00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:32.779
 And the encouragement

00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:33.880
 and the challenge

00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:35.579
 of this passage

00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:36.000
 is

00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:38.360
 just because he's

00:18:38.360 --> 00:18:38.860
 not working

00:18:38.860 --> 00:18:39.700
 the way you want

00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:40.019
 him to

00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:40.579
 doesn't mean

00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:41.099
 that he's not

00:18:41.099 --> 00:18:41.480
 working.

00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:45.259
 Even in the

00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:46.039
 situations that

00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:46.660
 you might not

00:18:46.660 --> 00:18:47.180
 choose,

00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:49.480
 he's still at

00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:49.860
 work.

00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:51.859
 even in the

00:18:51.859 --> 00:18:52.359
 bits that you

00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:52.639
 might have

00:18:52.639 --> 00:18:53.199
 been ashamed

00:18:53.199 --> 00:18:53.559
 of,

00:18:54.219 --> 00:18:55.379
 like Israel

00:18:55.379 --> 00:18:55.719
 and its

00:18:55.719 --> 00:18:56.199
 exile,

00:18:56.859 --> 00:18:58.000
 God is

00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:58.559
 still at

00:18:58.559 --> 00:18:58.939
 work.

00:19:02.979 --> 00:19:03.539
 And just

00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:03.799
 because he's

00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:04.279
 not working

00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:04.740
 the way you

00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.039
 want,

00:19:06.339 --> 00:19:07.339
 it's actually

00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:07.740
 okay.

00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:11.240
 Even though he

00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:11.679
 might not be

00:19:11.679 --> 00:19:12.259
 doing the things

00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:12.799
 that you wish

00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:13.279
 he would,

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:15.519
 that's actually

00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:16.000
 okay.

00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:18.200
 Because God's

00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:19.019
 plan is always

00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:19.859
 bigger and better

00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:20.559
 than your plan.

00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:23.659
 A couple of

00:19:23.659 --> 00:19:24.200
 weeks ago,

00:19:24.379 --> 00:19:25.059
 a week ago

00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:25.339
 now,

00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:26.259
 I went away

00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:26.700
 on holidays

00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:27.480
 with my family,

00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.579
 with Bailey and

00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.399
 Hudson and Sal's,

00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:30.240
 the first family

00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:30.740
 with the four,

00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:31.679
 first holiday

00:19:31.679 --> 00:19:32.319
 with the four of

00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:32.559
 us.

00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:33.480
 And it was

00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:33.940
 really fun.

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.460
 We stayed in a

00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.259
 caravan park,

00:19:35.379 --> 00:19:36.220
 and caravan parks

00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:36.740
 have got this

00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:37.200
 whole holiday

00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:37.980
 thing sussed.

00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:38.720
 Keep the kids

00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:39.039
 happy,

00:19:39.139 --> 00:19:39.619
 which keeps the

00:19:39.619 --> 00:19:40.119
 parents happy,

00:19:40.179 --> 00:19:40.500
 which keeps

00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:40.940
 people coming

00:19:40.940 --> 00:19:41.299
 back.

00:19:41.679 --> 00:19:41.980
 And the

00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:42.419
 caravan park

00:19:42.419 --> 00:19:42.940
 we went to

00:19:42.940 --> 00:19:43.960
 had more kids

00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:44.919
 equipment and

00:19:44.919 --> 00:19:45.759
 activities and

00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:46.779
 stuff than I've

00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:47.440
 ever seen in

00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:47.980
 like a theme

00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:48.379
 park.

00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:49.980
 This one had a

00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:50.700
 jumping pillow.

00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:51.140
 If you don't

00:19:51.140 --> 00:19:51.420
 know what that

00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:51.559
 is,

00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:51.940
 it's like a

00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:52.519
 jumping castle

00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:53.319
 that's somehow

00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:54.099
 been buried into

00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:54.599
 the ground.

00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:55.740
 Very entertaining

00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.180
 for kids.

00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:56.680
 Bailey would have

00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:57.099
 stayed on it for

00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:57.460
 hours.

00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:58.599
 It had play

00:19:58.599 --> 00:19:58.980
 equipment,

00:19:59.140 --> 00:19:59.920
 it had putt-putt

00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:00.180
 golf,

00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:01.220
 it had trampolines,

00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:02.259
 it had go-karts.

00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.680
 It also had a

00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:04.779
 water theme park

00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:05.759
 in the caravan park.

00:20:05.860 --> 00:20:06.360
 This is all just

00:20:06.360 --> 00:20:06.620
 free.

00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:07.539
 Just wander in

00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:07.980
 there whenever you

00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:08.140
 want.

00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:09.000
 There's slides,

00:20:09.120 --> 00:20:09.640
 there's a tipping

00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:10.019
 bucket,

00:20:10.380 --> 00:20:11.299
 there's a whirlpool,

00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:12.720
 there's water pistols

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.319
 to shoot at each

00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:13.500
 other,

00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:14.400
 there's waterfalls.

00:20:14.900 --> 00:20:15.640
 It was amazing.

00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:16.559
 Bailey thought that

00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:17.559
 he was in heaven on

00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:17.940
 earth.

00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.380
 Every morning he

00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:19.840
 would wake up at

00:20:19.840 --> 00:20:20.559
 6am and be like,

00:20:20.620 --> 00:20:21.059
 water park?

00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:21.840
 I said,

00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:22.539
 it opens at 9,

00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:22.799
 mate.

00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:24.299
 He would ask me

00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:25.140
 every five seconds

00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:25.680
 for the rest of

00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:26.000
 the day.

00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:27.380
 He loved it.

00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:28.180
 He had a fantastic

00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:28.500
 time.

00:20:28.580 --> 00:20:29.160
 He was pretty

00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:29.820
 emotional when we

00:20:29.820 --> 00:20:30.380
 had to come home,

00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:30.880
 I won't lie.

00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:31.460
 We really had to

00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:32.000
 break it to him

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.200
 easy that we

00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:33.660
 weren't turning

00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:34.200
 around at any

00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:34.519
 point and

00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:34.820
 returning.

00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:35.680
 Every day since,

00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:36.080
 just about,

00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:36.400
 he said,

00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:36.840
 can we go to

00:20:36.840 --> 00:20:37.400
 the water park?

00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:38.160
 No,

00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:38.820
 no we can't.

00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:39.380
 It's a six-hour

00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:39.720
 drive.

00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:42.019
 Now that he's

00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:42.420
 starting to

00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:43.279
 understand holidays

00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:44.080
 and understand that

00:20:44.080 --> 00:20:44.820
 they're good and

00:20:44.820 --> 00:20:45.460
 they're fun and

00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:45.980
 that we as a

00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:46.660
 family get to do

00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:47.380
 some fun things,

00:20:47.620 --> 00:20:48.340
 we thought we'd

00:20:48.340 --> 00:20:49.160
 let him know that

00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:49.960
 we've got a big

00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:51.039
 family holiday plan

00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:51.640
 for next year,

00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:52.500
 something special,

00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:53.240
 something unique.

00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:53.819
 We're actually going

00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:54.960
 to go overseas.

00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:55.519
 And we said,

00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.160
 are you excited for

00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:56.460
 holidays?

00:20:56.819 --> 00:20:57.380
 And he said,

00:20:58.200 --> 00:20:58.799
 will there be a

00:20:58.799 --> 00:20:59.279
 water park?

00:21:00.019 --> 00:21:00.579
 I said,

00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:00.920
 no,

00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:01.620
 but that's okay

00:21:01.620 --> 00:21:02.000
 because we're

00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:03.079
 going to Fiji and

00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:03.380
 they're going to

00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:04.799
 have afros and

00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:05.680
 pools and we can

00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:06.480
 go snorkeling.

00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.279
 And he just looks

00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:07.799
 at me and says,

00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:09.160
 water park?

00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:11.100
 He hasn't quite

00:21:11.099 --> 00:21:11.619
 got it yet.

00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:13.240
 He's so obsessed

00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:14.599
 with his thing,

00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:15.879
 with how good it

00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:16.079
 was,

00:21:16.119 --> 00:21:16.719
 that he doesn't

00:21:16.719 --> 00:21:17.679
 even comprehend

00:21:17.679 --> 00:21:18.379
 that there might

00:21:18.379 --> 00:21:19.099
 be something better,

00:21:20.019 --> 00:21:20.939
 that Fiji might be

00:21:20.939 --> 00:21:21.539
 an improvement.

00:21:21.659 --> 00:21:22.399
 As good as the

00:21:22.399 --> 00:21:23.619
 caravan park was,

00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:24.659
 that there might

00:21:24.659 --> 00:21:25.359
 be something that

00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:26.459
 is even more fun

00:21:26.459 --> 00:21:27.279
 and more exciting

00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:27.779
 than what he's

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.599
 already experienced.

00:21:28.699 --> 00:21:29.759
 And often we do

00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:30.480
 this with God.

00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:31.219
 We come to him

00:21:31.219 --> 00:21:31.480
 and say,

00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:31.719
 God,

00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.639
 please do this.

00:21:33.179 --> 00:21:33.859
 And we get so

00:21:33.859 --> 00:21:34.439
 obsessed with

00:21:34.439 --> 00:21:35.559
 whatever this is,

00:21:35.659 --> 00:21:36.339
 give me a job,

00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:37.199
 fix my health,

00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:37.959
 give me a partner,

00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:38.859
 whatever it is,

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.879
 that we can't

00:21:39.879 --> 00:21:40.779
 possibly imagine

00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:41.379
 that there's a

00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:41.619
 better,

00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.740
 that God has a

00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:44.619
 plan other than

00:21:44.619 --> 00:21:45.259
 ours that is

00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:46.539
 still good for us.

00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:50.160
 And so we start

00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:51.139
 Matthew's gospel,

00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:51.980
 we start looking

00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:52.460
 at Jesus,

00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:53.480
 we start to meet

00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:54.319
 our saviour by

00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:55.139
 being reminded

00:21:55.139 --> 00:21:57.299
 that God works

00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:58.240
 different to us

00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.200
 and his plan

00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:00.359
 is always

00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:01.259
 better.

00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:03.940
 We get to

00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:04.799
 Jesus and we

00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:05.899
 meet our

00:22:05.899 --> 00:22:06.440
 saviour.

00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:08.639
 His name

00:22:08.639 --> 00:22:09.700
 itself means

00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:10.319
 saviour.

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.539
 Jesus means

00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:13.160
 God who

00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:13.759
 saves.

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.660
 Christ means

00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:15.200
 the chosen

00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:15.379
 one.

00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:15.759
 He's the

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.859
 chosen saviour.

00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.460
 It's his job

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:17.859
 description.

00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.539
 It's his name.

00:22:18.599 --> 00:22:18.940
 It's what he's

00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:19.559
 here to do.

00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:21.879
 The challenge

00:22:21.879 --> 00:22:22.460
 for us is to

00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:23.180
 trust him to

00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:23.759
 do it his

00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:24.079
 way.

00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:26.779
 This

00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:27.180
 newborn

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:27.720
 king,

00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:29.559
 this humble

00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:30.160
 baby,

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.779
 will identify

00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:32.399
 with his

00:22:32.399 --> 00:22:32.980
 subjects,

00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:34.180
 will bear

00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:34.920
 their shame,

00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:36.019
 take their

00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.519
 punishment,

00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:37.599
 offer them

00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:38.319
 love instead

00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:38.960
 of judgment,

00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:43.539
 and he'll

00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:43.960
 do it in a

00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:44.420
 way that none

00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:44.840
 of us would

00:22:44.840 --> 00:22:45.259
 have chosen.

00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:47.360
 We wouldn't

00:22:47.360 --> 00:22:47.799
 have sent

00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:48.340
 our king

00:22:48.340 --> 00:22:48.819
 to the

00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:49.180
 cross.

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:53.940
 God's plan

00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:54.360
 was always

00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:54.740
 bigger.

00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:56.220
 This

00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:56.799
 genealogy

00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:57.400
 starts with

00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:57.940
 Abraham.

00:22:58.799 --> 00:22:59.440
 The promises

00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:00.160
 that God made

00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:00.700
 to Abraham

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:01.380
 way back in

00:23:01.380 --> 00:23:02.000
 Genesis chapter

00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.600
 12, right

00:23:02.600 --> 00:23:02.819
 near the

00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.200
 beginning of

00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:03.620
 the Bible,

00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.140
 was that he

00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:04.579
 would give

00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:05.620
 him land,

00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:05.940
 that he

00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.160
 would give

00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:06.480
 him lots

00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:06.980
 of descendants,

00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:07.420
 that they'd

00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:07.680
 be a

00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.000
 nation,

00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:08.680
 and that

00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:08.940
 he would

00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:09.559
 be a

00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:11.579
 blessing to

00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:12.319
 Abraham and

00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:13.140
 through Abraham.

00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:14.819
 And pretty

00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:15.539
 much right up

00:23:15.539 --> 00:23:16.079
 to Jesus,

00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:16.680
 the biggest

00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:17.319
 picture that

00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:17.860
 anyone had

00:23:17.860 --> 00:23:18.299
 about that

00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:18.920
 centred around

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:19.400
 a piece of

00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:19.819
 land that's

00:23:19.819 --> 00:23:20.279
 now in the

00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:20.839
 Middle East,

00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:22.460
 centred around

00:23:22.460 --> 00:23:23.220
 as many great

00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:24.059
 grandchildren as

00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:24.700
 Abraham could

00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.200
 muster,

00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:26.720
 and centred

00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:27.200
 around them

00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:27.759
 being kind

00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:28.220
 of rich.

00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:31.099
 And Jesus

00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:31.960
 turns up and

00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:32.500
 says, no,

00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:33.059
 there's always

00:23:33.059 --> 00:23:33.640
 been a better

00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:34.019
 plan.

00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:36.220
 God walks

00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:36.779
 them through

00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:37.460
 things like

00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:38.339
 the exile to

00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:38.879
 say, no,

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.599
 I've always

00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:40.359
 had more in

00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:40.799
 mind for

00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.000
 you.

00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:43.599
 The whole

00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:44.879
 nation thing

00:23:44.879 --> 00:23:46.200
 is now open

00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:46.859
 to anyone

00:23:46.859 --> 00:23:47.879
 who would

00:23:47.879 --> 00:23:48.619
 follow Jesus,

00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:49.619
 open to

00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:50.099
 people like

00:23:50.099 --> 00:23:50.559
 Rahab.

00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:53.400
 The whole

00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:54.019
 land thing

00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:54.519
 is not just

00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.059
 about some

00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:55.839
 country somewhere

00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:56.460
 on the earth,

00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:56.879
 but it's

00:23:56.879 --> 00:23:57.180
 heaven.

00:23:58.779 --> 00:23:59.420
 It's a

00:23:59.420 --> 00:24:00.460
 perfect creation

00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:01.059
 for us to

00:24:01.059 --> 00:24:01.500
 enjoy.

00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:03.639
 And the

00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:04.380
 blessing thing,

00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:06.440
 that's more

00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:06.960
 than we can

00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:07.680
 even begin

00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.960
 to comprehend.

00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:13.440
 One of the

00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:13.900
 things I love

00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:14.480
 about Christmas

00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.060
 at the moment

00:24:15.060 --> 00:24:15.759
 is as a dad

00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.680
 I'm rediscovering

00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:17.180
 how to talk

00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:17.740
 about Christmas

00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:18.400
 in really

00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:19.360
 basic language.

00:24:19.840 --> 00:24:20.300
 Like I said,

00:24:20.360 --> 00:24:20.820
 I struggle

00:24:20.820 --> 00:24:21.140
 when I'm

00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:21.560
 trying to do

00:24:21.560 --> 00:24:21.820
 it, but

00:24:21.820 --> 00:24:22.420
 thankfully some

00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:22.980
 gifted people

00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:23.280
 have written

00:24:23.280 --> 00:24:23.780
 kids' books

00:24:23.780 --> 00:24:24.280
 about it.

00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:25.380
 And one of

00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:25.660
 the books

00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:26.160
 that we read

00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:26.620
 with Bailey

00:24:26.620 --> 00:24:27.060
 that goes

00:24:27.060 --> 00:24:27.340
 through the

00:24:27.340 --> 00:24:28.100
 nativity story,

00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:28.420
 it's one of

00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:28.720
 those great

00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.480
 textured books

00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:29.880
 that's full

00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:30.240
 of glitter,

00:24:30.420 --> 00:24:30.680
 so you don't

00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:31.140
 scratch your

00:24:31.140 --> 00:24:31.720
 hands over it.

00:24:31.840 --> 00:24:32.040
 Anyway,

00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.560
 recommend it.

00:24:33.640 --> 00:24:34.000
 for your

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.580
 summer reading.

00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:36.120
 I love the

00:24:36.120 --> 00:24:36.680
 line in it,

00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.040
 when the

00:24:37.040 --> 00:24:37.800
 angels appear,

00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:38.040
 and we're

00:24:38.040 --> 00:24:38.480
 sitting there

00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:38.900
 with Bailey,

00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:39.340
 I've read it

00:24:39.340 --> 00:24:40.120
 so many times

00:24:40.120 --> 00:24:40.780
 before I even

00:24:40.780 --> 00:24:41.360
 paid attention

00:24:41.360 --> 00:24:41.700
 to what I

00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:42.140
 was saying.

00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:43.540
 This textured

00:24:43.540 --> 00:24:44.160
 angel was

00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:44.560
 talking to

00:24:44.560 --> 00:24:45.000
 the shepherds

00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.540
 in the field

00:24:45.540 --> 00:24:46.780
 and says,

00:24:47.280 --> 00:24:48.900
 tonight Jesus

00:24:48.900 --> 00:24:49.440
 has been

00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:49.800
 born,

00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:51.680
 a saviour

00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:52.080
 has been

00:24:52.080 --> 00:24:52.420
 born,

00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:53.500
 and he

00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:54.140
 will bring

00:24:54.140 --> 00:24:56.520
 all of

00:24:56.520 --> 00:24:56.920
 God's

00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:57.360
 blessings

00:24:57.360 --> 00:24:58.820
 to people

00:24:58.819 --> 00:24:59.980
 on earth.

00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:05.259
 All

00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:06.759
 of God's

00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:07.819
 blessings,

00:25:09.659 --> 00:25:10.399
 forgiveness,

00:25:11.659 --> 00:25:12.099
 mercy,

00:25:13.159 --> 00:25:13.700
 hope,

00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:15.299
 comfort,

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:16.980
 provision,

00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:19.779
 everything

00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:20.839
 found in

00:25:20.839 --> 00:25:21.179
 Jesus.

00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:23.480
 These small

00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:24.240
 plans that we

00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:24.799
 have for our

00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.240
 life where

00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:26.079
 God might fix

00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:26.720
 a circumstance

00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.699
 here or a

00:25:27.699 --> 00:25:28.059
 difficulty

00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:28.480
 there.

00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:31.879
 Before we

00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:32.500
 see what he

00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:32.960
 does,

00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:33.819
 God is

00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:34.259
 calling us

00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:34.639
 to lift

00:25:34.639 --> 00:25:35.139
 our eyes

00:25:35.139 --> 00:25:35.679
 and understand

00:25:35.679 --> 00:25:36.299
 that he

00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:36.799
 can and

00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:37.179
 will do

00:25:37.179 --> 00:25:37.619
 more than

00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:37.859
 we've

00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:38.279
 begun to

00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:38.839
 dream of.

00:25:43.859 --> 00:25:44.519
 This is

00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:44.839
 not a

00:25:44.839 --> 00:25:45.480
 message from

00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:46.559
 God to

00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:46.939
 come and

00:25:46.939 --> 00:25:47.299
 fix our

00:25:47.299 --> 00:25:47.759
 problems.

00:25:48.679 --> 00:25:49.419
 The baby

00:25:49.419 --> 00:25:49.699
 in the

00:25:49.699 --> 00:25:50.199
 manger is

00:25:50.199 --> 00:25:50.480
 God

00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:50.960
 himself,

00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:52.699
 showing

00:25:52.699 --> 00:25:53.119
 up,

00:25:54.159 --> 00:25:54.839
 drawing near

00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:55.259
 to people

00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:56.000
 like us,

00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:57.279
 people who

00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:57.359
 have

00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:57.639
 ignored

00:25:57.639 --> 00:25:57.939
 him,

00:25:58.679 --> 00:25:58.960
 treated

00:25:58.960 --> 00:25:59.339
 him like

00:25:59.339 --> 00:25:59.740
 he didn't

00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:00.039
 matter.

00:26:04.639 --> 00:26:05.419
 So why

00:26:05.419 --> 00:26:06.039
 start here?

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:09.379
 Why include

00:26:09.379 --> 00:26:10.099
 these people?

00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:10.639
 Why this

00:26:10.639 --> 00:26:11.220
 particular

00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:11.960
 resume for

00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:12.240
 Jesus?

00:26:14.919 --> 00:26:15.439
 Well,

00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.099
 last week I

00:26:16.099 --> 00:26:16.539
 got to meet

00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:16.980
 my nephew

00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:17.339
 for the

00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:17.879
 first time.

00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:18.559
 My older

00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:18.960
 brother had

00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:19.179
 a little

00:26:19.179 --> 00:26:19.720
 boy called

00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.099
 Xavier.

00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:21.199
 He's

00:26:21.199 --> 00:26:21.579
 tiny.

00:26:22.199 --> 00:26:22.699
 He was

00:26:22.699 --> 00:26:23.079
 born,

00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:23.379
 well,

00:26:23.419 --> 00:26:23.539
 he's

00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:24.019
 relatively

00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.720
 tiny compared

00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.099
 to my

00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:25.379
 boys,

00:26:25.380 --> 00:26:26.140
 but he

00:26:26.140 --> 00:26:26.440
 was born

00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:26.800
 at three

00:26:26.800 --> 00:26:27.140
 kilos,

00:26:27.260 --> 00:26:27.540
 he's now

00:26:27.540 --> 00:26:27.740
 about

00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.520
 3.7

00:26:28.520 --> 00:26:28.900
 and that's

00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.380
 smaller than

00:26:29.380 --> 00:26:29.780
 my boys

00:26:29.780 --> 00:26:30.200
 were even

00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:30.560
 born.

00:26:31.280 --> 00:26:31.780
 So when I

00:26:31.780 --> 00:26:32.220
 was holding

00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:32.380
 him,

00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:32.900
 I was really

00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:33.420
 nervous.

00:26:33.620 --> 00:26:33.800
 I'm like,

00:26:33.820 --> 00:26:34.220
 I'm a dad,

00:26:34.300 --> 00:26:34.880
 I've had two

00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:35.420
 newborns,

00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:36.120
 I've held

00:26:36.120 --> 00:26:36.580
 many of

00:26:36.580 --> 00:26:37.800
 your newborns

00:26:37.800 --> 00:26:39.640
 and I was

00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:40.200
 freaked out

00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:40.500
 that he was

00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:40.700
 going to

00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.020
 break.

00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:42.020
 He had

00:26:42.020 --> 00:26:42.780
 the tiniest

00:26:42.780 --> 00:26:43.660
 little arms

00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.400
 and legs

00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:45.140
 and when

00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:45.340
 they're

00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:45.820
 newborn and

00:26:45.820 --> 00:26:46.060
 they just

00:26:46.060 --> 00:26:46.360
 have that

00:26:46.360 --> 00:26:46.920
 squeaky

00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:47.940
 cry and

00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:48.120
 you just

00:26:48.120 --> 00:26:48.400
 sit there

00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:48.600
 and go

00:26:48.600 --> 00:26:49.080
 the slightest

00:26:49.080 --> 00:26:49.680
 thing and

00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:50.040
 this could

00:26:50.040 --> 00:26:50.640
 be all

00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.540
 over.

00:26:51.760 --> 00:26:52.700
 He's so

00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:53.880
 helpless and

00:26:53.880 --> 00:26:54.340
 he was really

00:26:54.340 --> 00:26:54.860
 cute as

00:26:54.860 --> 00:26:55.680
 well but

00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:56.019
 there was a

00:26:56.019 --> 00:26:56.440
 big bit of

00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:57.220
 just nervousness

00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:57.700
 whenever I was

00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:58.100
 holding him

00:26:58.100 --> 00:26:58.360
 because he's

00:26:58.360 --> 00:26:58.660
 not even

00:26:58.660 --> 00:26:59.360
 mine so I

00:26:59.360 --> 00:26:59.640
 can't even

00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:00.059
 sort out the

00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:00.480
 mess later

00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.100
 in life if I

00:27:01.100 --> 00:27:01.380
 do something

00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:02.500
 wrong so I

00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:03.080
 kept giving him

00:27:03.080 --> 00:27:03.500
 back to my

00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:03.960
 brother and

00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:04.380
 saying thanks

00:27:04.380 --> 00:27:04.620
 for the

00:27:04.620 --> 00:27:05.180
 short hold.

00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:06.680
 the reason

00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:07.019
 that we

00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:07.759
 start here

00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:09.140
 the reason

00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:09.799
 we find

00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:10.380
 out who

00:27:10.380 --> 00:27:11.019
 Jesus is

00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:11.519
 going to

00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:12.019
 be the

00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:12.400
 reason we

00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:12.860
 find out

00:27:12.860 --> 00:27:13.539
 his credentials

00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.220
 before we

00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:14.640
 meet that

00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:15.140
 little baby

00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:15.400
 in the

00:27:15.400 --> 00:27:16.519
 manger is

00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.000
 so that we

00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:17.560
 don't look

00:27:17.560 --> 00:27:18.480
 and see what

00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:19.060
 I saw when

00:27:19.060 --> 00:27:19.440
 I met my

00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:19.700
 nephew.

00:27:20.920 --> 00:27:21.580
 We don't

00:27:21.580 --> 00:27:22.140
 look and see

00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:22.600
 a helpless

00:27:22.600 --> 00:27:23.420
 little baby.

00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:27.320
 When we

00:27:27.320 --> 00:27:27.700
 come to

00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:28.460
 Christmas when

00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.019
 we come to

00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:29.900
 Jesus even

00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:30.640
 as the baby

00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:31.019
 in the

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:33.380
 manger we

00:27:33.380 --> 00:27:34.080
 need to look

00:27:34.080 --> 00:27:34.720
 and see the

00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:35.160
 one who

00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:36.120
 brings hope.

00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:39.259
 We need to

00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:39.620
 look and

00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:40.340
 understand that

00:27:40.340 --> 00:27:40.940
 even in a

00:27:40.940 --> 00:27:41.980
 baby God

00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:42.560
 is still in

00:27:42.560 --> 00:27:43.060
 control.

00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:44.600
 Even though we

00:27:44.600 --> 00:27:45.100
 would have sent

00:27:45.100 --> 00:27:46.019
 a warrior this

00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:46.940
 baby is the

00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:47.600
 means by which

00:27:47.600 --> 00:27:48.320
 God will

00:27:48.320 --> 00:27:50.040
 bring blessing.

00:27:51.080 --> 00:27:52.160
 This baby is

00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:52.840
 the means by

00:27:52.840 --> 00:27:53.540
 which God will

00:27:53.540 --> 00:27:54.600
 provide forgiveness

00:27:54.600 --> 00:27:56.600
 and love to

00:27:56.600 --> 00:27:57.140
 people like

00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:57.640
 Rahab,

00:27:59.600 --> 00:28:00.640
 people like

00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:00.900
 you,

00:28:02.620 --> 00:28:03.200
 people like

00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:03.460
 me.

00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:08.680
 we start

00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:10.819
 here because

00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:11.400
 we need to

00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:12.600
 know this

00:28:12.600 --> 00:28:13.220
 Christmas and

00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:13.940
 every Christmas

00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:16.240
 the baby is

00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.559
 real.

00:28:18.140 --> 00:28:18.880
 It's not just

00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:19.519
 any baby.

00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.620
 This is the

00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:23.240
 baby that brings

00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:23.600
 hope.

00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.539
 This is the

00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:25.960
 baby that

00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:26.799
 changes everything.

00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:30.740
 this is the

00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:31.419
 baby that

00:28:31.419 --> 00:28:32.559
 brings all

00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.839
 of God's

00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:35.180
 blessings to

00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:35.639
 people on

00:28:35.639 --> 00:28:35.919
 earth.

00:28:37.919 --> 00:28:38.779
 Let's pray.

00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:38.839
 Let's pray.

00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:44.439
 Father God,

00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:45.000
 we want to

00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:47.399
 just thank and

00:28:47.399 --> 00:28:48.039
 praise you

00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:49.659
 for all that

00:28:49.659 --> 00:28:50.159
 you have done

00:28:50.159 --> 00:28:50.980
 throughout history,

00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:53.179
 for the way you

00:28:53.179 --> 00:28:54.339
 have persevered and

00:28:54.339 --> 00:28:55.240
 been patient with

00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:55.939
 your disobedient

00:28:55.939 --> 00:28:56.359
 people,

00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:59.000
 for your

00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.859
 commitment to

00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:00.319
 and your

00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:01.119
 faithfulness to

00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:01.740
 your promises.

00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:01.940
 promises.

00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:05.079
 We want to

00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:05.599
 thank you that

00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:06.240
 even though we

00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.140
 sometimes have

00:29:07.140 --> 00:29:08.099
 different plans or

00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:09.000
 different ideas of

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.640
 what should be,

00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:12.319
 that your plan is

00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:13.079
 always better.

00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:15.700
 That in spite of

00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:16.620
 our complaining and

00:29:16.620 --> 00:29:17.720
 whinging sometimes that

00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.460
 you're not doing what

00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:19.759
 we want, you

00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:20.720
 continue to give us

00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:21.299
 better than we

00:29:21.299 --> 00:29:21.740
 deserve.

00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:25.539
 Father, please open

00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.460
 our eyes so that

00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:27.339
 this Christmas and

00:29:27.339 --> 00:29:28.039
 every day of our

00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:29.120
 lives we see not a

00:29:29.120 --> 00:29:29.900
 helpless baby,

00:29:29.900 --> 00:29:32.660
 but we see a

00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:33.820
 significant act where

00:29:33.820 --> 00:29:34.519
 you entered our

00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:34.860
 world.

00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:37.759
 We see hope on

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:38.080
 offer.

00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.800
 We see the

00:29:40.800 --> 00:29:41.540
 beginning of your

00:29:41.540 --> 00:29:43.080
 work to ultimately

00:29:43.080 --> 00:29:44.300
 take our shame and

00:29:44.300 --> 00:29:44.880
 our punishment.

00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:49.720
 Father, this

00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.840
 Christmas we pray for

00:29:50.840 --> 00:29:51.780
 ourselves and we pray

00:29:51.780 --> 00:29:52.600
 for those who we

00:29:52.600 --> 00:29:53.420
 know and care about

00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:54.160
 who don't know you

00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:54.400
 yet.

00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:58.000
 Help them to see

00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:59.040
 you in the manger.

00:29:59.900 --> 00:30:01.940
 help them to see

00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:03.080
 the love that you

00:30:03.080 --> 00:30:03.440
 offer.

00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:04.720
 Help them to

00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.560
 recognize that

00:30:05.560 --> 00:30:06.420
 Christmas is an

00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:07.080
 invitation.

00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:09.180
 It's an opportunity

00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:10.200
 to taste your

00:30:10.200 --> 00:30:10.980
 blessing, your

00:30:10.980 --> 00:30:13.420
 goodness, to know

00:30:13.420 --> 00:30:14.000
 your incredible

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.480
 love.

00:30:16.780 --> 00:30:17.759
 Father, may we

00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:18.900
 taste afresh this

00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:19.180
 year.

00:30:20.800 --> 00:30:21.340
 Amen.

00:30:21.340 --> 00:30:21.420
 Amen.

00:30:21.420 --> 00:30:21.480
 Amen.

00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:21.500
 Amen.

00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:21.519
 Amen.