WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.780 And let me add my welcome to the other welcomes here this morning. 00:00:03.879 --> 00:00:05.400 My name's Steve. I've never met you before. 00:00:06.020 --> 00:00:07.700 I've seen you past here at St Paul's. 00:00:07.799 --> 00:00:14.820 And what a great day to be gathering on this Christmas Day to celebrate the birth of Jesus. 00:00:15.500 --> 00:00:18.359 Christmas is huge. It's big. 00:00:18.359 --> 00:00:29.140 It is incredible that something that is started so small would grow into something as magnificent as it is today. 00:00:29.140 --> 00:00:36.820 So small that a poor, unwed teenage girl would give birth to a baby. 00:00:37.260 --> 00:00:45.939 And this day, 2,000 years later, around half of the world's population, 3.5 billion people celebrate Christmas. 00:00:47.179 --> 00:00:52.900 160 countries in our world declare it to be a holiday season. 00:00:53.100 --> 00:00:57.920 That's over 80% of our countries in this world declare it to be a holiday season. 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:08.799 To go from something so small to something so big points to something clearly very significant that's happening here on this very first Christmas Day. 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:13.519 It's celebrated differently around the world. 00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:24.399 But one of the interesting things about Christmas, which we don't get in any other celebrations throughout our calendar year in the year, 00:01:25.039 --> 00:01:30.039 is the fact that the giving and receiving as gifts is so widely spread. 00:01:30.140 --> 00:01:32.679 You know, like birthdays or retirement, that sort of stuff. 00:01:32.920 --> 00:01:35.560 It's normally one person getting all the gifts. 00:01:35.560 --> 00:01:40.579 Whereas Christmas is about everyone involving and sharing the gifts. 00:01:40.980 --> 00:01:47.820 And it's pointing to the symbolic nature of the magnificence of the gift of Jesus Christ. 00:01:47.900 --> 00:01:51.140 Who he is and what he has come to do for our sake. 00:01:51.219 --> 00:01:53.960 That's what makes Christmas so, so big. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:57.840 And that's where we want to head today as we look at Matthew chapter 2. 00:01:58.099 --> 00:01:59.939 It'd be great if you got your Bibles open. 00:01:59.939 --> 00:02:07.920 We want to see three personal gifts, three personal reactions, and one personal response to the person of Jesus. 00:02:08.020 --> 00:02:09.300 So three personal gifts. 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:11.219 We read there in verse 11. 00:02:12.500 --> 00:02:17.759 Jesus, as a baby, received a bunch of gifts, three gifts from some strangers. 00:02:18.139 --> 00:02:19.020 Odd sort of thing. 00:02:20.300 --> 00:02:24.860 He gets gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. 00:02:24.860 --> 00:02:32.540 As a poor peasant girl, Mary would have been fairly pleased, I'd imagine, with this. 00:02:32.740 --> 00:02:34.920 You know, like these are expensive gifts. 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:43.180 And so this newborn baby comes with this extensive trust fund that would have been deeply encouraging for her. 00:02:43.780 --> 00:02:49.380 But these gifts are deeply personal and confusing at the same time. 00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:54.200 They reveal, in the end, three significant things. 00:02:54.860 --> 00:03:01.320 Who Jesus is, what he came to do, and how he did it. 00:03:02.040 --> 00:03:05.500 The gold that he receives points to the kingship of Jesus. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:13.400 Gold was a gift that was brought to an audience of a king in the ancient Near East in the first century. 00:03:13.640 --> 00:03:17.480 You didn't turn up to a king without a gift of gold. 00:03:17.479 --> 00:03:24.479 So the Magi, when they turned up, were expecting to see a king. 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:34.699 Once upon a time when Queen Elizabeth II visited Australia, the nation, the grateful nation of Australia, gave her the 50th edition of Who's Who in Australia. 00:03:35.399 --> 00:03:36.899 That's the gift she received. 00:03:37.319 --> 00:03:39.139 Obviously, we really appreciate her. 00:03:39.139 --> 00:03:47.599 So they turn up to say, where is the one born who's to be born king of the Jews? 00:03:49.019 --> 00:03:54.619 And what alerted them to the arrival of a new king is in the second half of verse 2. 00:03:55.500 --> 00:04:00.819 We saw his star in the east and we have come to worship him. 00:04:00.819 --> 00:04:06.159 Now, the Magi were astrologers. 00:04:06.539 --> 00:04:09.159 They were magicians and interpreters of dreams. 00:04:09.739 --> 00:04:13.519 And in the ancient world, people believed in astrology. 00:04:13.780 --> 00:04:18.980 And so the Magi, in their culture, were considered the elite. 00:04:19.719 --> 00:04:20.699 They were the academics. 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:23.759 They were the wise men, the professors. 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:32.339 And when these guys saw the star, they really recognised in this moment that something significant was happening. 00:04:33.079 --> 00:04:33.959 Why is that? 00:04:34.920 --> 00:04:46.480 Well, in 44 BC, Julius Caesar, when he died, one of the most astonishing flukes in history, if you like, took place. 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:52.060 A nova appeared in the sky above his funeral. 00:04:52.060 --> 00:05:04.340 And so from that moment on in the ancient Near East, stars were associated with great men and particularly rulers. 00:05:05.459 --> 00:05:08.540 And so these Magi are putting two and two together here. 00:05:08.899 --> 00:05:14.740 And so what would have particularly encouraged them to dust off their passports and head off 00:05:14.740 --> 00:05:21.680 was the strong rumour in the first century that there would be a change in world dominion. 00:05:22.060 --> 00:05:26.500 Rule would start to come out of centralised in Judea. 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:36.819 Famous and diverse first century historians like Tacitus, Josephus and Suetonius all recorded this incident. 00:05:36.819 --> 00:05:49.620 It would have been not really much of a leap at all for the Magi to conclude that political changes were underway when they saw the star. 00:05:50.779 --> 00:05:58.560 And they set out on this long and difficult journey to find the ruler of the world and to offer him gold. 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:03.639 But frankincense or incense was an unexpected gift. 00:06:04.379 --> 00:06:13.800 Because this gift was used by priests in the temple as they mediated between God and people. 00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:20.520 That is, frankincense was symbolic of relationship with God. 00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:28.620 And so the Magi were recognising Jesus at this point, not just as a king, but as a priest. 00:06:29.699 --> 00:06:36.159 The one who would mediate between God and humanity, the divine and a rebellious people. 00:06:37.379 --> 00:06:44.060 But the third gift would have really been something that would have thrown any brand new mother, the gift of myrrh. 00:06:44.060 --> 00:06:53.780 That's because in the first century ancient Near East, myrrh was the main ingredient for the embalming of a dead body. 00:06:54.899 --> 00:06:56.360 It's a symbol of death. 00:06:57.600 --> 00:07:00.319 And so the gift of myrrh is prophetic. 00:07:01.540 --> 00:07:06.620 The baby born a king and priest was a baby born to die. 00:07:06.620 --> 00:07:14.959 And that, in the end, is what was needed to bring about reconciliation between God and humanity. 00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:18.560 Jesus would die for the sins of humanity. 00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:25.180 The title, King of the Jews, is only used twice in Matthew's Gospel. 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:31.439 Here at the birth of Jesus, again at the crucifixion of Jesus. 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:41.139 Born a king who exercises his rule by sacrificing himself to bring us back into relationship with God. 00:07:41.180 --> 00:07:42.100 That's the three gifts. 00:07:42.920 --> 00:07:48.500 Who Jesus is, what he came to do, and how he would do it. 00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:54.300 And then, in this text, we see three reactions to the person of Jesus. 00:07:54.300 --> 00:08:06.580 One thing you notice in all the historical biographies of Jesus is that whenever Jesus turns up, he divides people's opinion rapidly. 00:08:07.300 --> 00:08:09.160 It's like he's this bowling ball. 00:08:09.319 --> 00:08:11.300 It just sort of smashes people's views. 00:08:12.300 --> 00:08:17.060 And see, here at the start of his life, we see three immediate reactions. 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:21.939 And really, if you like, two groups, two camps forming already. 00:08:21.939 --> 00:08:24.779 One is full of praise and welcome. 00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:27.959 The other is full of hatred, opposition, and indifference. 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:30.219 So first of all, we have hostile Herod. 00:08:30.759 --> 00:08:32.320 Herod lies through his teeth. 00:08:32.460 --> 00:08:33.059 Verse 8. 00:08:33.539 --> 00:08:36.000 Go and make a careful search for the child. 00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:42.100 As soon as you find him, report to me so that I too may go and worship him. 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:50.879 Now, Herod has as much interest in worshipping Jesus as I have to take up knitting lessons. 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:54.120 Which, you don't know me, no interest at all. 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:58.639 Later in the chapter, we read Herod didn't fool the Magi. 00:08:58.740 --> 00:09:03.879 They sneak off a different way, telling, you know, without telling Herod where Jesus is. 00:09:03.960 --> 00:09:05.139 And he is furious. 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:08.120 He is furious, Herod. 00:09:10.179 --> 00:09:11.159 So furious. 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:18.199 He orders all the boys two years old and under in Bethlehem and all of its surrounds to be put to death. 00:09:19.899 --> 00:09:21.039 And Mel was right. 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:26.179 I heard Mel there when she's reading the emotion associated with that. 00:09:26.899 --> 00:09:29.459 This guy is a brutal tyrant. 00:09:30.139 --> 00:09:31.379 A brutal tyrant. 00:09:31.459 --> 00:09:32.799 He was known to be brutal. 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:36.279 Anyone who challenged his authority at all was murdered. 00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:41.659 He killed one of his wives and two of his sons. 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:46.259 He's the Roman appointed king of the Jews. 00:09:46.839 --> 00:09:50.279 And he does not like the news that a king has been born. 00:09:50.579 --> 00:09:53.019 He is immediately threatened. 00:09:54.100 --> 00:09:57.399 And his response is hatred and fear. 00:09:58.039 --> 00:10:04.659 A hatred of anything or anyone that threatened his self-centeredness and autonomy. 00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:16.639 This account of deception and fear, bloodshed, injustice and homelessness are all too familiar. 00:10:17.480 --> 00:10:19.899 There is an awful lot wrong in our world today. 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:29.079 One under the spectrum says that the reason there's so much problem in our world today is because of the rich and powerful. 00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:31.500 We need to blame the rich and powerful people. 00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:40.379 This world tends to make the poor, the minority groups in our world the heroes, the victims and the heroes at the same time. 00:10:40.679 --> 00:10:48.919 The other end of the spectrum are those who insist that it's the immoral, irresponsible people who are the main problem in our world. 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:56.559 And this view of the world tends to make hardworking, decent, middle class people, the heroes of the world. 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:02.500 And yet what we have here, and in fact the full teaching of the Bible, 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:09.559 is that the source of evil in the world and the source of our problems in life, 00:11:09.740 --> 00:11:11.779 the underlying issue of everything, 00:11:12.419 --> 00:11:14.139 is in fact the human heart. 00:11:14.139 --> 00:11:23.319 Herod's reaction to Jesus here is just a glimpse of all of us. 00:11:24.819 --> 00:11:26.500 If you want to be king, 00:11:27.559 --> 00:11:30.080 you want to rule your life, 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:32.220 autonomous over your life, 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:35.620 and someone else comes along and says that they're king, 00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:39.220 then only one person has to give way. 00:11:41.460 --> 00:11:44.560 Only one person can sit on the absolute throne. 00:11:47.299 --> 00:11:51.019 And Jesus came into this world and in from his birth, 00:11:51.779 --> 00:11:53.539 his claim to be king, 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:54.560 to be God, 00:11:55.580 --> 00:11:57.620 to be the ultimate ruler of all things. 00:11:57.620 --> 00:12:00.360 And throughout his life, 00:12:00.440 --> 00:12:03.639 he calls for an allegiance so supreme 00:12:03.639 --> 00:12:09.000 that it makes all other commitments in life look weak in comparison. 00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:13.460 It is a claim to absolute authority, 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:16.779 a summons to unconditional loyalty, 00:12:17.299 --> 00:12:23.659 and it inevitably triggers deep resistance from every human heart. 00:12:23.659 --> 00:12:27.719 Who has the right to rule my life? 00:12:28.219 --> 00:12:33.519 That is the most disturbing question possible for any human heart. 00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:37.980 We want to remain on the throne of our lives at all costs. 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:40.559 It's interesting how we do it. 00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:47.399 Some of us use religion to hold God at arm's length. 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:52.179 We try to put God into a position where he owes us 00:12:52.179 --> 00:12:54.199 in some kind of way 00:12:54.199 --> 00:12:56.519 because, you know, we've been obedient 00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:57.819 or we do things for him. 00:12:57.919 --> 00:12:59.100 And so we want to, 00:12:59.199 --> 00:13:01.659 ultimately, we want to stay on control of our thrones. 00:13:01.779 --> 00:13:02.379 We want to be in, 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:05.100 and we want to keep even God in our back pockets of controlling. 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:06.360 So some of us use religion. 00:13:07.100 --> 00:13:10.620 Some of us flee from religion altogether, 00:13:11.439 --> 00:13:12.939 become atheists maybe, 00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:16.180 and they only proclaim that there is no God. 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:22.060 Either way, we're expressing our natural hostility 00:13:22.060 --> 00:13:25.360 to anyone controlling, ruling our life, 00:13:25.560 --> 00:13:26.700 and particularly God. 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:30.220 What is interesting here, 00:13:30.940 --> 00:13:33.400 if you read to the verse 19, 00:13:34.020 --> 00:13:35.740 Herod could not get rid of Jesus, 00:13:36.260 --> 00:13:38.680 even with an entire army at his disposal. 00:13:38.679 --> 00:13:40.879 In fact, verse 19 says, 00:13:41.079 --> 00:13:41.859 just very simply, 00:13:42.479 --> 00:13:43.099 Herod died. 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:45.239 He died. 00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:48.539 That's Herod, hostile Herod. 00:13:48.579 --> 00:13:50.019 And then we have the passive priests. 00:13:51.159 --> 00:13:53.219 Their reaction is not as hostile as Herod, 00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:54.219 but it's just as negative. 00:13:55.059 --> 00:13:56.479 They're the ones who simply do nothing. 00:13:58.259 --> 00:14:00.419 He is a non-entity in their life. 00:14:01.459 --> 00:14:03.059 And this group is represented 00:14:03.059 --> 00:14:04.419 by the chief priests and the scribes. 00:14:04.479 --> 00:14:04.899 Verse 4, 00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:06.799 gathering together all the chief priests 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:08.319 and scribes of the people, 00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:10.839 Herod inquired of them 00:14:10.839 --> 00:14:13.120 where the Messiah was to be born. 00:14:16.219 --> 00:14:17.199 They told him, 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:19.919 well, this is what history tells us. 00:14:19.939 --> 00:14:20.879 This is what we know 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:22.059 about where the Messiah, 00:14:22.299 --> 00:14:23.019 the king of the Jews, 00:14:23.079 --> 00:14:23.579 is to be born. 00:14:23.799 --> 00:14:25.120 He's going to be born in Bethlehem. 00:14:25.359 --> 00:14:26.419 They told him, 00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:28.719 these are the elite, 00:14:28.859 --> 00:14:29.679 these are the scholars, 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:31.099 these are the Bible guys, 00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:31.639 and they said, 00:14:31.699 --> 00:14:32.339 here it is. 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:34.000 He's going to be born there. 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:37.500 And then it was back to normal for them. 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:40.539 They didn't even so much as raise a sandal. 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:43.120 Why not go with the Magi? 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:45.519 This is your job after all 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:46.740 to know where the Messiah is 00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:47.440 and when he's coming. 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:49.039 Why not go with them? 00:14:50.059 --> 00:14:51.379 They knew it all, 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.519 and yet they knew nothing. 00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:56.879 They knew their Bibles. 00:14:57.059 --> 00:14:57.759 They were the scholars. 00:14:57.899 --> 00:15:00.240 They had no problem in answering Herod, 00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:02.460 and yet they entirely missed God. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:09.539 Their apathy eventually handed 00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:11.679 into outright opposition to Jesus. 00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:13.480 In the end, 00:15:13.539 --> 00:15:14.940 their knowledge of Jesus 00:15:14.940 --> 00:15:15.879 and who he is 00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:17.259 made as no substitute 00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:18.460 for obedience to him. 00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:21.500 But the final reaction we see, 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:23.740 and the only positive one, 00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:26.139 is the malleable Magi. 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:27.940 It's the best word I could find 00:15:27.940 --> 00:15:29.220 to represent their response 00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:30.220 that starts with an M. 00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:34.300 I'm trying to get it all working out here. 00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:36.480 Their response is remarkable. 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:39.259 Impressed by what they saw 00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:40.480 in the sky that night, 00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:42.620 they journeyed west to Judea 00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:44.600 to find out what it all meant. 00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:47.480 It is astonishing 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:50.580 that these men 00:15:50.580 --> 00:15:53.779 with so little to go on 00:15:53.779 --> 00:15:55.340 should venture so far 00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:58.680 to endure such hardship in travel 00:15:58.680 --> 00:16:00.879 and face such uncertainty 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:02.379 of finding the one 00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:04.060 to whom the star pointed. 00:16:04.059 --> 00:16:09.679 And what is more, 00:16:09.739 --> 00:16:11.339 they gave him costly gifts 00:16:11.339 --> 00:16:12.339 and the worship 00:16:12.339 --> 00:16:14.259 and the honour of their hearts. 00:16:15.219 --> 00:16:16.599 It is astonishing 00:16:16.599 --> 00:16:20.519 where the religious leaders 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:21.799 expend no time, 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:22.379 no energy, 00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:23.239 no expense 00:16:23.239 --> 00:16:24.679 or inconvenience, 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:26.439 where Herod expended 00:16:26.439 --> 00:16:28.259 a great deal of time 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:28.979 and energy 00:16:28.979 --> 00:16:29.559 and expense 00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:30.099 and inconvenience 00:16:30.099 --> 00:16:31.139 to try and find Jesus 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:32.039 in order to kill him. 00:16:32.339 --> 00:16:33.519 The Magi expend 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:34.739 a great deal of time 00:16:34.739 --> 00:16:36.059 and energy 00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:36.799 and expense 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:38.639 and inconvenience 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:39.659 to try and find Jesus 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:40.719 so that they could worship 00:16:40.719 --> 00:16:41.639 and honour him. 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:44.019 The Magi 00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:45.339 are the worshippers, 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:48.159 the ones who joyfully 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:50.359 ascribe dignity, 00:16:51.319 --> 00:16:51.899 authority 00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:54.359 and honour to King Jesus 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:55.940 and whose lives 00:16:55.940 --> 00:16:57.820 are satisfied in him. 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:01.139 Even if they did not know fully 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:02.300 what they were getting into 00:17:02.300 --> 00:17:02.980 at this point, 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:05.799 they went on the journey 00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:07.620 expecting to see a king, 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:10.120 which is why they turned up 00:17:10.120 --> 00:17:10.860 to the palace 00:17:10.860 --> 00:17:12.500 in Jerusalem. 00:17:14.620 --> 00:17:15.180 Instead, 00:17:15.360 --> 00:17:16.079 they were directed 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:17.759 to a king, 00:17:18.839 --> 00:17:20.460 not like Herod, 00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:21.880 a king, 00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:25.280 not a tyrannical ruler, 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:27.040 not in a palace, 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:27.980 not in a throne, 00:17:28.360 --> 00:17:30.080 but to a king 00:17:30.080 --> 00:17:31.740 in a manger, 00:17:32.520 --> 00:17:33.140 a baby, 00:17:34.040 --> 00:17:34.380 helpless, 00:17:34.840 --> 00:17:35.080 weak 00:17:35.080 --> 00:17:35.980 and humble. 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:39.440 The kingship of Jesus 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:41.260 is fundamentally 00:17:41.260 --> 00:17:42.360 different 00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:43.500 than the kingship 00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:44.100 of Herod. 00:17:44.099 --> 00:17:47.299 when Queen Victoria 00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:49.119 ruled as the British monarch 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:50.719 in the 1800s, 00:17:51.459 --> 00:17:52.219 she controlled 00:17:52.219 --> 00:17:53.059 a third of the world 00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:53.719 at that point 00:17:53.719 --> 00:17:55.299 and one day 00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:55.959 she said 00:17:55.959 --> 00:17:57.779 that she couldn't wait 00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.559 to meet Jesus 00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:59.399 and she was asked 00:17:59.399 --> 00:18:00.000 why 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:01.119 and her response 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:02.000 was profound, 00:18:02.419 --> 00:18:03.699 so that I can cast 00:18:03.699 --> 00:18:04.319 my crown 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:05.000 before him. 00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:08.919 Even Queen Victoria 00:18:08.919 --> 00:18:09.639 recognised 00:18:09.639 --> 00:18:10.539 that even as the, 00:18:11.399 --> 00:18:11.759 in fact, 00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:12.199 at that time, 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:13.920 the most powerful person 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:14.960 in the world, 00:18:15.620 --> 00:18:16.720 she too had a ruler, 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:19.220 one who deserved 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:20.000 her everything, 00:18:21.140 --> 00:18:21.900 even her crown. 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:24.700 So there's the, 00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:25.700 there's the two, 00:18:25.840 --> 00:18:27.340 the three broad responses, 00:18:28.120 --> 00:18:28.680 indifference, 00:18:29.340 --> 00:18:29.819 hostility 00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:31.039 and worship 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:32.400 and really 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:32.720 they're, 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:33.059 they're, 00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:33.660 they're divided 00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:34.620 into two camps, 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.160 the positive 00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:35.660 and the negative. 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:37.160 So I want to speak 00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:38.759 to two broad groups 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:39.440 here today 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:40.920 about what your 00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:42.059 personal response 00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:42.620 might be. 00:18:43.420 --> 00:18:44.059 Firstly, 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:44.740 the Christians. 00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:46.580 Let me just say 00:18:46.580 --> 00:18:47.180 those who 00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:48.279 accept 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:49.519 Jesus 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:50.340 and Christmas 00:18:50.340 --> 00:18:51.240 and Christianity. 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:55.200 If that is you, 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:57.240 I think it's important 00:18:57.240 --> 00:18:57.940 for you to remember 00:18:57.940 --> 00:18:58.620 that 00:18:58.620 --> 00:19:00.380 every Christian 00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:02.400 still has 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:03.080 a heart 00:19:03.080 --> 00:19:03.940 of residual 00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:04.519 anger 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.480 and hostility 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.420 towards God. 00:19:07.299 --> 00:19:08.160 Every one of us. 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:10.240 and it will always 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:11.320 be there to the end. 00:19:12.360 --> 00:19:13.340 And that is why 00:19:13.340 --> 00:19:14.720 it is so hard 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.820 to pray, 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:16.860 to give, 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:17.540 to obey, 00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:18.259 to grow. 00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:19.440 There is still 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:20.279 that Herod 00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:21.460 in each of us. 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:22.980 There is still 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.920 something in us 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:26.080 that fights God. 00:19:27.120 --> 00:19:28.400 We cannot glide 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:29.100 through 00:19:29.100 --> 00:19:30.720 the Christian life. 00:19:31.300 --> 00:19:32.200 We've got to be 00:19:32.200 --> 00:19:33.519 far more intentional 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:34.880 about 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:36.040 Christian growth 00:19:36.040 --> 00:19:36.640 to overcome 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:37.540 all of those 00:19:37.540 --> 00:19:38.080 bad habits. 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:38.740 which is why 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:39.860 we keep talking 00:19:39.860 --> 00:19:40.519 about taking 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:41.160 your next step 00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:42.120 here at St Paul's. 00:19:42.620 --> 00:19:43.220 But taking 00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:44.019 your next step 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:44.600 knowing 00:19:44.600 --> 00:19:46.600 that the God 00:19:46.600 --> 00:19:47.440 who you are 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:48.100 obeying 00:19:48.100 --> 00:19:49.120 is not 00:19:49.120 --> 00:19:49.840 Herod, 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:51.340 a tyrannical ruler. 00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:54.240 He is a God 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:54.620 of grace 00:19:54.620 --> 00:19:55.200 and mercy. 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:56.860 A God 00:19:56.860 --> 00:19:57.680 who laid aside 00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:58.340 his glory 00:19:58.340 --> 00:19:59.000 as we have 00:19:59.000 --> 00:19:59.519 already sung 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.100 this morning 00:20:00.100 --> 00:20:01.340 and descended 00:20:01.340 --> 00:20:02.720 humbly 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:04.200 to serve us. 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:05.500 That kind 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:05.840 of king 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:06.519 is calling 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:07.019 you to follow 00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:07.319 him. 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:09.579 Now, 00:20:09.659 --> 00:20:10.119 if however 00:20:10.119 --> 00:20:10.619 you're here 00:20:10.619 --> 00:20:11.119 today 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:12.619 and you're 00:20:12.619 --> 00:20:13.259 unsure 00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:13.819 about 00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:14.579 Christmas 00:20:14.579 --> 00:20:15.619 and 00:20:15.619 --> 00:20:16.259 Christianity 00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:17.359 or perhaps 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:17.980 even the 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.579 existence of 00:20:18.579 --> 00:20:18.899 God, 00:20:19.899 --> 00:20:20.939 if there's 00:20:20.939 --> 00:20:21.439 one thing 00:20:21.439 --> 00:20:21.699 you want 00:20:21.699 --> 00:20:21.899 to hear 00:20:21.899 --> 00:20:22.199 from me, 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:22.480 you need 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:22.759 to hear 00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:23.220 this. 00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:25.759 you are 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.180 not 00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:26.839 objective 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:29.059 in your 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:29.420 view. 00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:31.880 You are 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:32.220 not 00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:32.779 objective 00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:33.360 in your 00:20:33.360 --> 00:20:33.900 view of 00:20:33.900 --> 00:20:34.259 Jesus 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:35.120 and God 00:20:35.120 --> 00:20:35.819 and Christmas 00:20:35.819 --> 00:20:36.779 and Christianity. 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.720 It is an 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:39.220 absolute 00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:39.960 fallacy 00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:41.480 that anyone 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:41.980 would say 00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:42.360 that they're 00:20:42.360 --> 00:20:42.779 objective. 00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:44.019 You're not. 00:20:45.640 --> 00:20:46.079 The 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:48.240 philosopher 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:48.839 Thomas 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:49.539 Nagel, 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:50.900 he's an 00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:51.140 American 00:20:51.140 --> 00:20:51.500 philosopher, 00:20:51.600 --> 00:20:51.819 he's an 00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:52.140 atheist, 00:20:52.140 --> 00:20:53.200 who's very 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:53.920 candid about 00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:54.540 this point. 00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.259 He wrote, 00:20:56.420 --> 00:20:57.020 I'm talking 00:20:57.020 --> 00:20:57.600 about the 00:20:57.600 --> 00:20:58.160 fear of 00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:58.520 religion 00:20:58.520 --> 00:20:59.100 itself. 00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:00.880 I'm speaking 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:01.960 from experience, 00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:03.480 being strongly 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:04.280 subject to 00:21:04.280 --> 00:21:04.740 this fear 00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:05.259 myself. 00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:07.280 I want 00:21:07.280 --> 00:21:08.340 atheism to 00:21:08.340 --> 00:21:09.020 be true 00:21:09.020 --> 00:21:10.100 and are 00:21:10.100 --> 00:21:11.140 made uneasy 00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:11.940 by the fact 00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.360 that some 00:21:12.360 --> 00:21:12.840 of the most 00:21:12.840 --> 00:21:13.600 intelligent 00:21:13.600 --> 00:21:14.780 and well 00:21:14.780 --> 00:21:15.220 informed 00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:15.860 people I 00:21:15.860 --> 00:21:16.780 know are 00:21:16.780 --> 00:21:17.220 religious 00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:17.700 believers. 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:19.560 It isn't 00:21:19.560 --> 00:21:20.080 just that I 00:21:20.080 --> 00:21:21.120 don't believe 00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:21.820 in God 00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:22.419 and naturally 00:21:22.419 --> 00:21:22.759 I hope 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.679 that my 00:21:23.679 --> 00:21:24.159 belief is 00:21:24.159 --> 00:21:24.539 right. 00:21:25.139 --> 00:21:26.179 I hope 00:21:26.179 --> 00:21:26.599 there is 00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:27.240 no God. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:28.579 I don't 00:21:28.579 --> 00:21:29.200 want there 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:29.659 to be a 00:21:29.659 --> 00:21:30.000 God. 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:30.859 I don't 00:21:30.859 --> 00:21:31.519 want the 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:32.159 universe to 00:21:32.159 --> 00:21:32.579 be like 00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:32.899 that. 00:21:33.379 --> 00:21:34.079 My guess 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:34.899 is that 00:21:34.899 --> 00:21:35.379 cosmic 00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:35.980 authority 00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:36.539 problem 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.299 is not 00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:37.919 rare. 00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:40.559 His point 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:41.200 is, 00:21:42.139 --> 00:21:42.679 and which 00:21:42.679 --> 00:21:43.059 is why I 00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:43.679 respect him 00:21:43.679 --> 00:21:43.980 at this 00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:44.359 point, 00:21:44.939 --> 00:21:45.279 is that 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:46.000 he's entirely 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.559 honest. 00:21:47.659 --> 00:21:48.759 He's entirely 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.279 honest. 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:49.379 honest. 00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:51.639 Nobody is 00:21:51.639 --> 00:21:52.599 neutral about 00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:53.740 whether Christmas 00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:54.440 is true. 00:21:56.299 --> 00:21:57.220 Thomas Hagel 00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:58.259 is entirely 00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:58.879 honest. 00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:00.460 I don't 00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:01.160 want there 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:01.559 to be a 00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.019 God who 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:02.559 rules my 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:02.940 life. 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:04.279 I want 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:04.839 to be 00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:06.660 Herod in 00:22:06.660 --> 00:22:07.279 my life. 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:11.220 none of 00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:11.720 us are 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:12.139 neutral 00:22:12.139 --> 00:22:14.399 about 00:22:14.399 --> 00:22:14.639 whether 00:22:14.639 --> 00:22:15.000 Christmas 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.639 is true. 00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:17.059 If the 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:17.460 Son of 00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.139 God was 00:22:18.139 --> 00:22:18.839 really born 00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:19.200 in a 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:19.539 manger, 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:21.720 then every 00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:22.839 single person 00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:23.599 has lost the 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.079 rights to 00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:24.700 oversee their 00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:25.160 lives, 00:22:25.339 --> 00:22:25.940 if it's 00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:26.160 true. 00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:28.500 You cannot 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:29.279 be objective 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:29.879 about a 00:22:29.879 --> 00:22:30.359 claim like 00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:30.639 that. 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.539 So just 00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:33.920 keep that 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:34.359 in mind 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.420 for the 00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:35.680 rest of 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:35.920 Christmas 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:36.240 Day, 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:37.200 if that's 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:37.519 where you 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:37.920 sit at 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:38.299 the moment. 00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:39.099 In other 00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:39.460 words, 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:40.579 what I'm 00:22:40.579 --> 00:22:41.140 encouraging you 00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:41.839 to do is 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:43.440 question your 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:43.980 doubts. 00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:45.779 Doubt your 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.279 doubts, 00:22:46.620 --> 00:22:47.519 if you like. 00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:49.859 Now I 00:22:49.859 --> 00:22:50.559 figure you've 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.559 got a bunch 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.039 of stuff on 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:52.519 your plate 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:54.120 in the next 00:22:54.120 --> 00:22:55.859 24 hours, 00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:56.359 the next few 00:22:56.359 --> 00:22:56.799 days, 00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:58.819 but maybe 00:22:58.819 --> 00:22:59.920 soon you 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:00.539 might want to 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.099 look at that 00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:01.500 issue, 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.299 come back to 00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:02.720 it again. 00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:04.299 Who is 00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:04.659 Jesus? 00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:05.659 What did 00:23:05.659 --> 00:23:05.960 he come 00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:06.440 to do 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:07.019 and what 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.299 did it 00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:07.720 cost him 00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.059 to do 00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:08.200 it? 00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:09.279 The 00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:09.919 Magi 00:23:09.919 --> 00:23:11.980 were the 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:13.099 knowledgeable 00:23:13.099 --> 00:23:13.700 men of 00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:14.139 the East. 00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:14.519 They were 00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:15.720 the wise 00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:16.019 men, 00:23:16.099 --> 00:23:16.619 the sages, 00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:17.379 the elites, 00:23:17.579 --> 00:23:18.119 the academic 00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:18.619 elite, 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:19.579 but their 00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:20.659 knowledge about 00:23:20.659 --> 00:23:21.539 the events 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:22.899 of the 00:23:22.899 --> 00:23:23.599 first Christmas 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:24.659 only took 00:23:24.659 --> 00:23:25.200 them so 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:25.619 far. 00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:27.419 It only 00:23:27.419 --> 00:23:28.139 took them 00:23:28.139 --> 00:23:29.299 to the 00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:29.779 palace 00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:31.460 in Jerusalem. 00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:31.579 Jerusalem. 00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:32.819 Their 00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:33.500 observation 00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:33.799 of the 00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:34.759 star took 00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.220 them to 00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:35.519 Jerusalem, 00:23:35.600 --> 00:23:36.019 but that's 00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:36.279 it. 00:23:37.180 --> 00:23:38.200 The only 00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:38.640 way they 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:39.079 got to 00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:39.880 Bethlehem 00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:41.019 was because 00:23:41.019 --> 00:23:41.779 of the 00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:42.079 scholars 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:42.579 saying, 00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:43.420 the Bible 00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:44.539 says he's 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.079 over there. 00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:48.279 They had 00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:48.880 to consult 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:49.360 the Bible 00:23:49.360 --> 00:23:49.840 to find 00:23:49.840 --> 00:23:50.259 Jesus, 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:51.440 and in 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:51.819 finding 00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:52.340 Jesus, 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:53.079 they found 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:53.480 what they 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:53.720 had been 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:54.360 looking for 00:23:54.360 --> 00:23:54.900 all of 00:23:54.900 --> 00:23:55.559 their life. 00:23:56.940 --> 00:23:57.960 These wise 00:23:57.960 --> 00:23:58.880 men found 00:23:58.880 --> 00:23:59.660 the wisdom 00:23:59.660 --> 00:24:00.220 that they 00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:00.519 had been 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:01.279 looking for 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:02.099 all of 00:24:02.099 --> 00:24:02.879 their life. 00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:05.799 So I 00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:06.059 just want 00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:06.420 to say 00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:06.740 it without 00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.279 explaining 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:07.539 it. 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:08.079 I haven't 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:08.440 got time 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:08.980 to explain 00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.139 it, 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:09.680 unpack it, 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:09.899 and you'd 00:24:09.899 --> 00:24:10.259 be grateful 00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:10.579 for that 00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:11.079 right now. 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:12.680 Jesus 00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:14.599 is the 00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:15.660 answer to 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:16.519 everything 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:17.119 that you've 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:17.799 been searching 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.680 for your 00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:19.740 entire life. 00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:22.720 There you 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:22.879 go. 00:24:23.139 --> 00:24:23.299 I'm not 00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:23.480 going to 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:24.039 unpack that 00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:24.440 any further 00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:24.779 than that. 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:26.839 I just 00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:27.259 hope that 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:27.559 sits. 00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:28.279 He is 00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:28.960 your goal. 00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:29.859 He is 00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:30.639 your destination 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:31.560 in life. 00:24:34.840 --> 00:24:35.680 I'm hoping 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:37.160 that encourages 00:24:37.160 --> 00:24:37.840 you to 00:24:37.840 --> 00:24:38.680 pursue that. 00:24:39.259 --> 00:24:39.920 Why would 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:40.320 I make 00:24:40.320 --> 00:24:40.940 such an 00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:41.420 outrageous 00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:41.960 claim? 00:24:44.040 --> 00:24:44.759 I want to 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.200 encourage you 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:45.720 to be like 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.240 these wise 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:46.660 men and 00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:47.100 search for 00:24:47.100 --> 00:24:47.440 Jesus. 00:24:48.020 --> 00:24:48.880 But go to 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:49.400 the source. 00:24:49.840 --> 00:24:50.540 The evidence 00:24:50.540 --> 00:24:51.500 is overwhelming 00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:52.460 and it is 00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:52.840 compelling. 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:53.640 As Ash 00:24:53.640 --> 00:24:54.240 told us this 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:54.540 morning, 00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:55.380 there are 00:24:55.380 --> 00:24:56.280 New Testaments, 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:56.600 there are 00:24:56.600 --> 00:24:57.259 Bibles floating 00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:57.980 around everywhere 00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:58.980 in this 00:24:58.980 --> 00:24:59.420 place, 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.140 out there 00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:00.339 in the 00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:00.480 free. 00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.599 If you 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:02.000 haven't got 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:02.220 one, 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:02.660 take it 00:25:02.660 --> 00:25:03.140 and go. 00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:04.640 Take it 00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:05.220 and read 00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:05.460 it. 00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:07.019 Or there's 00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:07.279 a few 00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:07.740 copies of 00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:07.980 this, 00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:08.880 Is Christmas 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:09.660 Unbelievable? 00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:10.700 Or there's 00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.099 other ones 00:25:11.099 --> 00:25:11.860 like Word 00:25:11.860 --> 00:25:12.079 Wonder. 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:13.360 We here at 00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:13.839 St. Paul's 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.200 would be 00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:15.480 delighted at 00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.720 any point to 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:17.599 sit with you 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:19.480 and to 00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:20.980 engage with 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:21.599 those questions 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:22.139 you have 00:25:22.139 --> 00:25:22.679 and to 00:25:22.679 --> 00:25:23.139 help you 00:25:23.139 --> 00:25:24.399 see why 00:25:24.399 --> 00:25:26.319 Jesus is 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:26.819 the wisdom 00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:27.159 you've been 00:25:27.159 --> 00:25:27.699 searching for 00:25:27.699 --> 00:25:28.179 all of your 00:25:28.179 --> 00:25:28.599 life. 00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:30.019 And even if 00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:30.559 that means if 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:31.199 you're online 00:25:31.199 --> 00:25:32.299 and you're at 00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:32.980 another part of 00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:34.419 this world, 00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:35.279 such as my 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:35.779 mate Matt, 00:25:35.879 --> 00:25:36.379 who's currently 00:25:36.379 --> 00:25:36.839 in Utah, 00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:38.899 checking in 00:25:38.899 --> 00:25:39.240 for the 00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:39.619 service. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:40.379 You two 00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:40.939 guys in 00:25:40.939 --> 00:25:41.339 Utah, 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.039 check in 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:42.939 if you like. 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:43.959 We'd be 00:25:43.959 --> 00:25:45.559 delighted to 00:25:45.559 --> 00:25:46.399 help you see 00:25:46.399 --> 00:25:47.259 why Jesus 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:48.299 is the 00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:48.519 answer. 00:25:48.619 --> 00:25:49.220 So consider 00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:49.759 Jesus. 00:25:50.619 --> 00:25:51.140 That's the 00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:51.960 call for this 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:52.299 Christmas. 00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:53.180 Ponder who 00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:53.759 he is, 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.200 what he came 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:55.700 to do, 00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:57.079 and what it 00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:58.119 cost him to 00:25:58.119 --> 00:25:58.660 do it, 00:25:59.119 --> 00:25:59.779 and what it 00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.660 means now 00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:02.379 to bow down 00:26:02.379 --> 00:26:02.799 and worship 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.700 him 2,000 00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:04.299 years later. 00:26:04.660 --> 00:26:05.240 Merry Christmas.