WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.720 Well, great to see you this morning, folks. 00:00:01.800 --> 00:00:05.759 Why don't we just pray as we come to God's word this morning. 00:00:05.879 --> 00:00:07.080 Heavenly Father, we've been singing. 00:00:07.879 --> 00:00:10.580 What gift of grace is Jesus, our Redeemer? 00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:16.260 And Lord, it's our prayer that you would help us to gaze upon him today. 00:00:16.559 --> 00:00:21.500 And just to take in something more, I guess as we gear up to the 25th, 00:00:21.559 --> 00:00:26.039 to take in something more this Sunday and over the next few Sundays, Father, 00:00:26.039 --> 00:00:32.659 that's going to help us savor something more of the greatness of that gift in him. 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:36.820 So Lord, we ask for your spirit that he would come and he would help us as we turn to your word now. 00:00:36.920 --> 00:00:43.060 And we know that you hear us because we pray confidently in Jesus' precious name. Amen. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:48.159 Well, if you have your Bibles there, why don't you turn to Matthew chapter 1. 00:00:49.239 --> 00:00:53.960 And this is where we are going to kick off our Christmas series this morning. 00:00:53.960 --> 00:00:58.820 We're going to look at the first couple of chapters of Matthew's gospel over the next few weeks. 00:00:59.079 --> 00:01:02.539 And today we're kicking off with the genealogy. 00:01:03.480 --> 00:01:05.960 And you're all raring to go with this one, I can tell. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:08.560 So why don't you turn to Matthew chapter 1. 00:01:11.159 --> 00:01:17.060 And as we come to Matthew chapter 1, let me just tell you about a text conversation I was having with my dad the other night. 00:01:17.060 --> 00:01:20.240 My dad's into text. He's quite up on that. 00:01:21.219 --> 00:01:23.659 So I was texting my dad and I said, Dad, I've got one question for you. 00:01:24.279 --> 00:01:26.439 Have we got any famous people in our family? 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:28.939 And he replied. 00:01:29.239 --> 00:01:32.039 I could see the little dot, dot, dot coming up in the thing and it was going on for ages. 00:01:32.139 --> 00:01:33.619 And I thought, boy, this is going to be a good one. 00:01:34.099 --> 00:01:34.639 Dot, dot, dot. 00:01:34.859 --> 00:01:36.359 And he said, yes, actually. 00:01:36.619 --> 00:01:38.179 And he wasn't 100% certain on this. 00:01:38.219 --> 00:01:39.979 So there's the caveat he's asked me to give it. 00:01:40.099 --> 00:01:40.280 OK. 00:01:40.679 --> 00:01:43.500 He sent me a picture back of this man called Jimmy McMullen. 00:01:44.599 --> 00:01:44.939 OK. 00:01:44.939 --> 00:01:46.579 Born in the west coast of Scotland. 00:01:47.579 --> 00:01:50.379 Jimmy was a footballer in the 1920s. 00:01:50.379 --> 00:01:52.879 He went on to play for Manchester City. 00:01:53.579 --> 00:02:02.739 And he was capped 16 times for Scotland and was part of the famous Wembley Wizards team, which beat England 5-1 at Wembley in 1928. 00:02:02.739 --> 00:02:06.280 Not going to lie, I was absolutely delighted with that. 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:12.439 And some of your faces, I can see, are not all that impressed with that. 00:02:13.359 --> 00:02:14.379 But here's what I want you to do. 00:02:14.419 --> 00:02:16.479 I want you to turn to your neighbour for 20 seconds. 00:02:16.659 --> 00:02:16.719 OK. 00:02:17.379 --> 00:02:19.780 Got any good people stories in your family? 00:02:20.759 --> 00:02:22.439 Go for it 20 seconds and we'll come back. 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:22.659 OK. 00:02:26.020 --> 00:02:36.340 So I'd imagine, and you can come up and tell me afterwards if you want, that many of us have got some really cool stories about people in our family down the generations. 00:02:37.340 --> 00:02:39.280 A lot of cool stories, I'd imagine, are out there. 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:45.159 But let me just flip the question around for a minute and ask me if you've got any bad stories. 00:02:47.900 --> 00:02:49.060 You get any bad stories? 00:02:49.060 --> 00:02:57.920 You know those, as we look back on our families, as we know them, you know those times where we look back on things and we actually, that brings back a lot of painful memories. 00:02:58.920 --> 00:03:05.280 And that brings back periods of our life that actually we'd rather forget about and we'd pretend kind of didn't happen. 00:03:06.060 --> 00:03:12.980 We've got that saying, don't we, in our culture that you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family. 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:14.719 And that's kind of what we mean by that, isn't it? 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:18.120 This group of people that you're kind of born into. 00:03:18.419 --> 00:03:21.539 And it's got some good stories, it's got some bad stories. 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:30.539 But actually we look back on our families and we all think we're blessed, but we're kind of cursed at the same time. 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:36.740 And what we're going to spend some time doing today is we're going to be thinking about a really messy family. 00:03:36.740 --> 00:03:39.360 Really messy family. 00:03:40.140 --> 00:03:41.580 One full of mistakes. 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:44.500 And one full of incidents. 00:03:45.560 --> 00:03:47.580 One full of skeletons in the closet. 00:03:48.620 --> 00:03:49.860 One full of pain. 00:03:50.540 --> 00:03:51.860 One full of shame. 00:03:52.100 --> 00:03:53.140 One full of questions. 00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:54.600 One full of quarreling. 00:03:55.140 --> 00:03:56.560 One full of mess. 00:03:56.560 --> 00:04:03.000 And I hope this greatly encourages us today as we look at Jesus' family. 00:04:03.939 --> 00:04:06.800 That this is the kind of human family that he comes from. 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:08.240 He was born into. 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:13.939 And actually we begin to see that all of us are from families like this. 00:04:14.480 --> 00:04:16.800 We're all from families like this. 00:04:17.639 --> 00:04:21.560 And here is Jesus' family given to us today by this man called Matthew. 00:04:21.740 --> 00:04:22.759 We'll hear about him in a second. 00:04:22.759 --> 00:04:25.480 And it's given to us warts and all. 00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:27.480 Warts and all. 00:04:28.719 --> 00:04:30.180 So here is this guy called Matthew. 00:04:30.259 --> 00:04:32.899 And I think this is really important to see who wrote this. 00:04:32.980 --> 00:04:34.219 Not just because it's a fact. 00:04:34.620 --> 00:04:38.599 But actually it begins to help us see something of what Matthew is trying to do here. 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:40.139 Here is Matthew. 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:41.339 He wrote the gospel. 00:04:41.500 --> 00:04:42.500 He's a Jewish guy. 00:04:43.819 --> 00:04:48.120 And I think it's fair to say that life has been a bit of a mess for Matthew. 00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:51.000 A bit of a mess for Matthew. 00:04:51.060 --> 00:04:51.939 Here's what you need to imagine. 00:04:51.939 --> 00:04:52.719 I was trying to imagine this. 00:04:52.819 --> 00:04:53.699 Getting into the text. 00:04:54.379 --> 00:04:56.600 Someone comes around to Matthew's dad's house for dinner. 00:04:57.519 --> 00:04:57.699 Right? 00:04:58.199 --> 00:04:59.920 And he says, great to see you again. 00:05:00.360 --> 00:05:01.459 I think his name was Alphaeus, wasn't it? 00:05:01.480 --> 00:05:02.519 Great to see you again, Alphaeus. 00:05:03.500 --> 00:05:04.379 How's your boy doing? 00:05:05.620 --> 00:05:06.220 You know your boy? 00:05:06.339 --> 00:05:07.019 One of your sons? 00:05:07.180 --> 00:05:07.800 What's his name again? 00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:08.399 What's his name again? 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:09.639 Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama. 00:05:10.659 --> 00:05:10.939 Matthias. 00:05:11.100 --> 00:05:11.420 No, no, no. 00:05:11.720 --> 00:05:12.040 Matthew. 00:05:12.139 --> 00:05:12.720 How's he doing? 00:05:12.779 --> 00:05:13.920 What's he up to these days? 00:05:15.159 --> 00:05:19.699 And Matthew's dad at this point is trying to instantly change the subject. 00:05:19.699 --> 00:05:21.979 Let's talk about the weather in the Middle East. 00:05:22.099 --> 00:05:23.959 How it's dry and dusty again. 00:05:24.259 --> 00:05:28.399 Let's talk about the latest news in the Capernaum Gazette. 00:05:28.459 --> 00:05:33.839 Let's talk about anything which will stop us having to talk about what my son does for a living. 00:05:34.759 --> 00:05:34.939 Right? 00:05:34.939 --> 00:05:42.459 I just don't want to go there because my boy has turned his back on our people. 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:44.040 Right? 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:47.139 Matthew in a previous life had turned his back on his own people. 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:48.259 He's a tax collector. 00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:49.660 This is what he does for a job. 00:05:50.300 --> 00:05:53.399 Which meant he collected taxes from his fellow Jews. 00:05:54.079 --> 00:05:59.379 Collected the money and he handed it over to the enemy of the time who are the Romans. 00:05:59.659 --> 00:06:03.220 And to make it worse, he actually takes a little slice of that for himself. 00:06:03.220 --> 00:06:10.460 So Matthew is rich and Matthew is hated all because he has sold his soul to the dark side. 00:06:11.760 --> 00:06:17.820 But Matthew's a guy who in his life had an encounter with Jesus. 00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:23.620 And life as Matthew knew it was instantly flipped on its head. 00:06:24.640 --> 00:06:29.140 And he decided, this man Jesus, I'm going to follow him with my life. 00:06:29.139 --> 00:06:43.519 And he's written a book so that his generation of Jews and every generation ever since could pick this up and read about Jesus for ourselves. 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:49.099 And it's as almost as if Matthew's giving us this gospel saying, you can come to know him too. 00:06:49.100 --> 00:06:56.560 If Jesus is interested in a rebel like me, then boy, you need to see that he will love a person like you. 00:06:59.460 --> 00:07:00.600 Let me tell you about him. 00:07:00.800 --> 00:07:03.820 And so he kicks it off with this account of Jesus' life. 00:07:03.939 --> 00:07:07.080 He tells us about the family that Jesus was born into. 00:07:07.200 --> 00:07:09.540 And so here we have Matthew chapter 1 verse 1. 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:13.760 And you're probably thinking to yourself, here is 20 minutes of my life I'm not going to get back. 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:14.580 Right? 00:07:14.579 --> 00:07:16.819 As you see this long list of names. 00:07:17.919 --> 00:07:20.979 But if it maybe just whets your appetite to tune in for the next 15 minutes, 00:07:21.099 --> 00:07:23.839 and we won't go for a huge amount of times this morning, 15, 20 minutes. 00:07:24.459 --> 00:07:30.579 This passage provided me with the richest devotional time which I've had this year with the Lord. 00:07:31.740 --> 00:07:32.000 Okay? 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:37.379 Read this, was praying, was sensing God's spirit, helping me understand what's going on here. 00:07:37.379 --> 00:07:42.439 And I left this passage, verses 1 to 17, thinking, Lord, you are brilliant. 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:44.319 You are brilliant. 00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:48.599 And my prayer for us today is that we would come to that place as well. 00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:52.099 As we see ourselves, and as we see the glory of the Lord Jesus, 00:07:52.219 --> 00:07:57.699 that we would come to understand something more about how awesome he is. 00:07:57.779 --> 00:07:59.979 So come with me to verse 1. 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:05.680 And let's see why this is great news for whoever you are here today, 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:07.560 as we gaze at Jesus' family. 00:08:07.719 --> 00:08:09.680 Because Matthew, there's two points today. 00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:09.899 Okay? 00:08:09.979 --> 00:08:13.039 Matthew's screaming at us two things as we read this genealogy. 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:14.140 Here is the first one. 00:08:14.980 --> 00:08:15.939 This is us. 00:08:17.420 --> 00:08:20.000 Really simply, this is us. 00:08:20.140 --> 00:08:23.340 And to help us see this, come with me to verse 6. 00:08:23.339 --> 00:08:32.100 And to one of the most celebrated men in the Old Testament story, whose name is King David. 00:08:33.500 --> 00:08:41.819 The man who God said of him, and what incredible words, that David is a man after my own heart. 00:08:42.179 --> 00:08:43.839 David's an incredible man of faith. 00:08:44.199 --> 00:08:46.079 Incredible man of faith, as you read them in the scripture. 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:49.280 But here's how, verse 6, if you got it there. 00:08:50.280 --> 00:08:51.920 Here's kind of how I would have written it. 00:08:53.100 --> 00:08:53.280 Okay? 00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:56.060 The Graham Shanks, definitely uninspired version. 00:08:56.460 --> 00:08:57.400 Here's what I would have written. 00:08:57.700 --> 00:08:59.540 Here's what Matthew could have written. 00:08:59.860 --> 00:09:01.560 Jesse, the father of King David. 00:09:01.660 --> 00:09:02.240 Track with me. 00:09:02.580 --> 00:09:03.960 Jesse, the father of King David. 00:09:04.180 --> 00:09:05.480 David, the father of Solomon. 00:09:06.540 --> 00:09:08.080 Solomon, the father of Rehoboam. 00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:10.200 That would have made a great genealogy, wouldn't it? 00:09:10.560 --> 00:09:11.660 We'd have seen the connections. 00:09:11.780 --> 00:09:12.460 We would have got it. 00:09:12.460 --> 00:09:15.180 But that's not what Matthew does. 00:09:16.340 --> 00:09:20.980 He writes, Jesse, the father of King David. 00:09:21.019 --> 00:09:23.840 At which point, if you're a Jewish reader of this, you are whooping and cheering. 00:09:24.540 --> 00:09:24.720 Right? 00:09:25.160 --> 00:09:25.500 Yeah. 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:27.019 There's our boy. 00:09:28.019 --> 00:09:28.820 There's David. 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:30.180 There's our boy. 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:31.120 Go on, my son. 00:09:31.460 --> 00:09:32.080 Come on, Matthew. 00:09:32.220 --> 00:09:34.540 Tell us more about David. 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:36.220 Tell us more. 00:09:37.820 --> 00:09:39.280 Okay, so Matthew goes on. 00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:45.139 David, the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife. 00:09:46.919 --> 00:09:53.259 So Matthew makes a beeline for David's lowest and most shameful moment in his life. 00:09:55.079 --> 00:09:57.279 Where God's chosen king desires a woman called Bathsheba. 00:09:58.019 --> 00:09:58.740 He sleeps with her. 00:09:58.819 --> 00:09:59.539 He gets her pregnant. 00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:04.899 He tries to cover her up by encouraging Uriah to come back from the battlefield to sleep with his wife 00:10:04.899 --> 00:10:08.279 so that David could pretend that the baby was Uriah's. 00:10:08.539 --> 00:10:10.399 And then he arranges to have Uriah killed. 00:10:10.620 --> 00:10:14.079 Okay, this is something straight off the Jeremy Kyle show, right here in Scripture. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:20.679 David thinks he's played a blinder because his plan is gone according to purpose. 00:10:21.720 --> 00:10:22.860 But God outs him. 00:10:22.860 --> 00:10:26.879 And David pens Psalm 51. 00:10:27.060 --> 00:10:28.519 You can look up this later where he says, 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:30.899 God, against you alone have I sinned. 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:35.300 And this prayer we get of David who feels the weight of his own sin. 00:10:35.419 --> 00:10:39.220 Who says, pleads with God, would you create in me a new heart? 00:10:40.680 --> 00:10:42.639 Fails the weight of his sin, what he's done. 00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:44.919 Please, God, would you give me a new heart? 00:10:44.919 --> 00:10:50.639 And Matthew says, why don't we remember that little episode in David's life, will we? 00:10:51.379 --> 00:10:53.639 Let's remember that little episode in his life. 00:10:53.659 --> 00:10:55.799 And the thing is, he could have easily not have mentioned that. 00:10:56.899 --> 00:10:58.039 Easily not have mentioned that. 00:10:58.059 --> 00:11:00.939 And I'm sure that would have probably sold a lot more copies in the time. 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:04.979 Gone down a lot better with his Jewish readers if he hadn't have mentioned that. 00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:05.879 But he did. 00:11:06.539 --> 00:11:09.179 As if to say, hey, even our best guy. 00:11:09.919 --> 00:11:11.319 Even our pin-up boy. 00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:15.560 For all his strengths was a murderer and a cheat. 00:11:18.180 --> 00:11:21.000 And then when you start to read this list of names through that lens, 00:11:21.920 --> 00:11:27.220 all of a sudden you come to see the mess of a family that Jesus was born into. 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:28.660 Now let's just skim them. 00:11:29.020 --> 00:11:30.320 Just picking out a few, okay? 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:33.760 You've got in Jesus' family, you've got liars like Isaac. 00:11:35.220 --> 00:11:39.360 You've got family feuders like Judah and his brothers were. 00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:40.840 Right? 00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:42.360 Like envy, strife. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:43.080 What do they say? 00:11:43.180 --> 00:11:44.080 Get Joseph killed. 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:45.860 Get him in that well. 00:11:45.940 --> 00:11:46.940 Get him sold for money. 00:11:48.399 --> 00:11:51.639 Of deceivers and of doubters like Tamar. 00:11:51.780 --> 00:11:54.899 Of questionable women of the night like Rahab. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:58.480 Of womanizers, idolaters like Solomon. 00:11:58.660 --> 00:12:03.519 Of arrogant pride like kings Rehoboam and Ahaz and Manasseh. 00:12:04.200 --> 00:12:04.519 That they demonstrated. 00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:11.299 Demonstrated and the horrendous choices that they made as they led the nation away from worshipping God. 00:12:11.299 --> 00:12:13.399 Straight into worshipping idols. 00:12:13.539 --> 00:12:20.779 And of a nation who has been sent into exile for their rebellion against a holy God. 00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:24.059 And on and on and on and on you could go. 00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:28.959 And Matthew's screaming at us, screaming at his fellow Jews. 00:12:29.439 --> 00:12:32.079 Do you see how badly wrong we have got this? 00:12:33.199 --> 00:12:36.679 Do you see how we have messed this up? 00:12:36.899 --> 00:12:41.479 And I'm not writing this looking down from my ivory tower saying if only we could have upped our game. 00:12:41.579 --> 00:12:43.639 Maybe God's promise would have come to pass. 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:47.000 I'm writing this because this is a family where I feel right at home. 00:12:47.159 --> 00:12:53.019 Because he came from messes like you and like me and like every name in this genealogy. 00:12:57.639 --> 00:13:00.379 Let me ask you, do you ever feel the weight of your own sin at night? 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:08.899 As you look back and you sit in your bed and you think about the day that's gone by. 00:13:09.019 --> 00:13:10.879 And you think about the things that you said. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:13.840 And you think about the things that you did. 00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:15.139 Even to those who you love. 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:17.700 And the thoughts that went through your mind. 00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:22.320 And the full weight of your sin comes crashing down in you. 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:24.779 Sitting on you like some kind of sumo wrestler. 00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:26.720 And you think to yourself, who am I? 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:29.519 That God would love somebody like me. 00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:34.439 Man alive, what was I doing? 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:38.259 And all of a sudden you begin to see that this is a family tree. 00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:40.620 Where you and I would feel right at home. 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:44.159 Okay, David, you budge that way on the couch. 00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:45.419 Solomon, you budge that way, boys. 00:13:45.460 --> 00:13:46.740 Because I'm coming straight in there. 00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:48.919 Straight in there. 00:13:50.019 --> 00:13:52.539 And that's why this gives hope to all of us today. 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:53.539 No matter who you are. 00:13:53.620 --> 00:13:55.799 No matter what you think about the God of the Bible. 00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:57.919 No matter what you think of Jesus. 00:13:59.460 --> 00:14:02.399 Friends, this is the kind of family that he was born into. 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:06.919 Because these are the kind of people that he has come to rescue from their sin. 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:14.159 You know, I was reading yesterday morning, Hebrews chapter 2. 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:16.099 And you can check this out in your own time. 00:14:16.219 --> 00:14:17.879 The second half of Hebrews chapter 2. 00:14:17.939 --> 00:14:21.959 The writer trying to get his readers to understand that Jesus was human. 00:14:21.960 --> 00:14:26.759 And why does he say, he talks about Jesus taking on flesh and blood. 00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:27.620 Right? 00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:30.400 Just coming into our sinful humanity. 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:32.480 Adopting a human body. 00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:33.340 Why does that matter? 00:14:33.420 --> 00:14:34.379 He says three things. 00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:37.220 Why did he do it? 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:40.019 First of all, he did it because he came to destroy the works of the devil. 00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:45.379 He came to taste death and destroy the devil who had us in the hold of death. 00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:47.139 Destroy the works of the devil. 00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:48.919 Secondly, to atone for sin. 00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:50.840 To make a way. 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:53.700 Offer himself as a perfect sacrifice. 00:14:53.700 --> 00:15:00.000 To make a way that we could be reconciled with the God who our sin had separated us from. 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:01.179 Came to atone for our sin. 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:02.259 And what's the third thing? 00:15:02.840 --> 00:15:03.960 That he came to help. 00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:06.840 He came to help. 00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:09.620 Those who are Abraham's offspring. 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:13.179 He came to rescue us. 00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:16.980 And he came as a great high priest like we were reading about at the star. 00:15:17.460 --> 00:15:19.240 Who knows what it is to be human. 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:25.139 And whoever you are here today, again, you need to know that Jesus has walked where we walk. 00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:27.700 He's taken on our humanity. 00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:30.379 He's stepped into our warts and all. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:33.700 Messy flesh and blood human existence. 00:15:33.700 --> 00:15:38.300 And he is a savior who is able to sympathize with us in our every weakness. 00:15:38.300 --> 00:15:41.900 Because he's been one who we read earlier who has been tempted in every way like we are. 00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:44.140 What a savior. 00:15:45.660 --> 00:15:48.300 Jesus steps into this mess. 00:15:48.400 --> 00:15:49.160 Why did he do it? 00:15:49.160 --> 00:15:51.560 He did it because of the father's great love for us. 00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:54.279 And giving us his son. 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:57.399 Matthew says this is us. 00:15:57.479 --> 00:15:59.939 Second thing he says is this is him. 00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:02.079 This is him. 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:03.099 Come with me to verse 1. 00:16:03.179 --> 00:16:03.959 Who is this Jesus? 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:06.319 Matthew calls him the Messiah. 00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:07.339 There's our term. 00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:12.800 God's anointed rescuer. 00:16:13.540 --> 00:16:16.899 The one who God said he would send. 00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:21.800 And you can trace this promise through the Old Testament story. 00:16:21.940 --> 00:16:24.720 And it's all in the Christmas devotional. 00:16:24.820 --> 00:16:26.639 We want to do this over the next few weeks. 00:16:26.740 --> 00:16:30.000 The serpent crusher that God said he would send in Genesis 3. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:33.240 To crush the head of the serpent. 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:34.919 To destroy him. 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:35.779 That promise. 00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:37.879 God is going to send him. 00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:39.059 Now here's what he does. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:42.179 Matthew takes two Old Testament characters. 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:44.259 And he helps us see that this is the savior. 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:45.820 This is the Messiah that God has promised. 00:16:45.940 --> 00:16:46.419 Come with me. 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:47.879 Jesus is first of all. 00:16:47.940 --> 00:16:48.960 Do you see the son of Abraham? 00:16:50.179 --> 00:16:50.360 Right. 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:51.019 He was in the kids talk. 00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:52.379 I didn't even know it was going to be in the kids talk. 00:16:52.419 --> 00:16:53.320 I love it when that happens. 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:54.440 Does all the work for me. 00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:55.820 Right. 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:58.100 He is the son of Abraham. 00:16:58.100 --> 00:16:59.960 You hear that word as an Old Testament Jew. 00:17:00.019 --> 00:17:00.800 And you think blessing. 00:17:00.940 --> 00:17:01.860 That was the phrase wasn't it? 00:17:02.040 --> 00:17:02.480 Blessing. 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:04.440 That God had taken Abraham. 00:17:04.620 --> 00:17:05.759 And he promised him a people. 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:07.740 And he promised him a place. 00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:10.519 And he promised that he would bless Abraham. 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:13.500 And that through Abraham the world would be blessed. 00:17:13.940 --> 00:17:15.819 Through one of his offspring. 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.420 Singular. 00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:21.339 And Jesus is the son of David. 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:23.799 Again you follow the Bible story down the line. 00:17:23.900 --> 00:17:24.660 And through the years. 00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:27.019 And God makes another promise to King David. 00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:29.359 That he will establish the kingly rule. 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:32.039 Of David's son forever. 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:36.559 And it will be David's son who will build the ultimate temple. 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:39.019 The place where God dwells. 00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:41.740 So you hold these things together. 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:43.319 Abraham blessing. 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:45.420 David's mighty king. 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:47.740 And both of these Matthew is saying. 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:49.539 Find their glorious fulfillment. 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:54.240 In the one who was born in a stable in Bethlehem. 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:57.079 Matthew is screaming at his generation. 00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:59.960 Would you see how badly wrong we have got this? 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:03.319 Would you see how badly we have messed this up? 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:07.160 But praise God it was never about us being perfect. 00:18:09.380 --> 00:18:11.500 Here's another little claim to fame I have in my family. 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.940 Probably should have started with this one. 00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:14.319 But we'll pitch this one now. 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:16.279 My little cousin. 00:18:16.419 --> 00:18:17.700 If you remember the Commonwealth Games. 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:19.619 When it was in Glasgow back in 2014. 00:18:19.879 --> 00:18:21.799 My cousin was chosen I think by lot. 00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:24.960 To be part of the journey that carried the torch. 00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:29.119 So he jogged in Mogai in Glasgow. 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:30.919 He jogged for half a mile. 00:18:31.419 --> 00:18:32.639 Along a little stretch. 00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:33.579 Took the baton. 00:18:33.939 --> 00:18:35.240 Got it to the next person. 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:37.500 And smiled as he did it. 00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:38.899 And got it all the way. 00:18:39.099 --> 00:18:40.059 Is it pass, pass, pass. 00:18:40.099 --> 00:18:41.500 All the way to Celtic Park. 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.619 For the opening ceremony. 00:18:42.779 --> 00:18:44.759 But he was given one job. 00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:45.900 In three words. 00:18:46.579 --> 00:18:46.799 Right? 00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:47.799 He had one job. 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:49.200 Do you know what that job was? 00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.920 Don't drop it. 00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:55.079 Don't drop it. 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:57.140 That was his one job. 00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:01.859 Now picture this genealogy like a real release. 00:19:01.859 --> 00:19:06.500 Can you imagine if it was up to these people. 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:09.599 Over hundreds of years. 00:19:09.919 --> 00:19:11.740 To get this promise. 00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:13.799 To the starting line. 00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:15.899 And not drop it. 00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:20.479 Friends this would have been dropped within hours. 00:19:21.639 --> 00:19:22.459 Within hours. 00:19:23.639 --> 00:19:24.679 But thank goodness. 00:19:25.139 --> 00:19:27.240 That it wasn't about. 00:19:27.639 --> 00:19:28.740 Mankind's ability. 00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:31.639 To keep the baton from dropping. 00:19:32.139 --> 00:19:33.659 This is about a God. 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:35.439 Who is a covenant God. 00:19:35.979 --> 00:19:37.279 Who promises. 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:38.879 And he delivers. 00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:42.359 You know it's funny isn't it. 00:19:42.379 --> 00:19:42.879 Because this is. 00:19:42.979 --> 00:19:44.559 If ever there was a two week period this year. 00:19:44.639 --> 00:19:46.199 Where we're skeptical of promises. 00:19:47.939 --> 00:19:49.059 It's this one isn't it. 00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:51.779 We hear some big promises. 00:19:53.199 --> 00:19:54.019 And we're going to be asked to. 00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:56.439 Make a decision of some big promises. 00:19:56.439 --> 00:19:57.500 In a couple of weeks. 00:19:58.379 --> 00:19:59.379 But we have to understand. 00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:00.579 That God makes this promise. 00:20:00.579 --> 00:20:01.939 Not as a kind of politician. 00:20:01.939 --> 00:20:03.439 Trying to gain our vote. 00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:05.559 What God promises. 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.619 He delivers. 00:20:06.819 --> 00:20:08.419 He is the covenant God. 00:20:08.699 --> 00:20:09.740 He is the Lord. 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:10.759 He is Yahweh. 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:12.819 You can bank your life. 00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:14.740 On the fact that he will deliver. 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:18.379 This was never about their ability. 00:20:18.379 --> 00:20:19.759 To get it to the starting line. 00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:21.599 This was about God being God. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:23.919 God being the covenant keeping God. 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:25.259 Who at the right time. 00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:26.519 As we read in that passage. 00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:27.519 In Galatians. 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.759 Sent forth his son. 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:31.779 To seek. 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:33.700 And to save sinners. 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:36.619 The king who would go to the cross. 00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:37.619 To make a way. 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:39.980 For sinful people. 00:20:40.139 --> 00:20:41.160 To be blessed. 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:43.259 Beyond belief. 00:20:44.639 --> 00:20:46.619 Because they through faith in Jesus. 00:20:46.619 --> 00:20:47.879 Can be made right with. 00:20:47.879 --> 00:20:49.920 And know this unbelievably good. 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:51.039 And loving God. 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:52.519 As their father. 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:56.500 That God is not like Santa. 00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:59.599 He shows his goodness. 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:00.680 Only if we are good enough. 00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:01.519 That's what we sing. 00:21:01.579 --> 00:21:01.940 Isn't it? 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:03.259 That he is making a list. 00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:04.359 He is checking it twice. 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:05.039 Going to find out. 00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:05.980 He is naughty and nice. 00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:07.019 As if when we are good. 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:07.900 He will give us things. 00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:09.119 Friends. 00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:10.259 God shows us his goodness. 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:13.200 And the fact that when we weren't good. 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:15.639 He showed his goodness. 00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:16.859 Not giving us stuff. 00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:18.799 It is so much better than that. 00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:20.420 He gave us himself. 00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:22.820 What gift of grace. 00:21:23.100 --> 00:21:24.400 Is Jesus our redeemer. 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:25.360 There is no more. 00:21:26.080 --> 00:21:27.140 For God to give. 00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:29.060 He has given us. 00:21:30.100 --> 00:21:30.420 Himself. 00:21:31.100 --> 00:21:32.259 In the giving of his son. 00:21:32.360 --> 00:21:34.640 What a great and good God this is. 00:21:35.840 --> 00:21:36.740 You know just as we close. 00:21:36.820 --> 00:21:38.340 One of my favourite Christmas carols is. 00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:39.200 Come all ye faithful. 00:21:39.320 --> 00:21:39.400 Right. 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:40.680 We will be singing it probably next week. 00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:41.539 Or the week after that. 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.759 It is the one that has got that line. 00:21:43.860 --> 00:21:45.420 Oh come let us adore him three times. 00:21:45.580 --> 00:21:47.100 And no one really knows at what point. 00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:47.880 They are meant to join in. 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:49.980 And everybody just kind of goes for it. 00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:52.120 And we all look at each other like we do know what is happening. 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:52.360 Right. 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.519 That one. 00:21:55.120 --> 00:21:56.740 Well I read a great article this week. 00:21:56.860 --> 00:21:58.799 And it is in the pastor's pen if you want to check it out. 00:21:58.860 --> 00:22:00.319 By a guy called Sam Albury. 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:02.799 And Sam Albury is a pastor of a church down south. 00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:06.200 And then he is kind of reflecting on the. 00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:09.180 The fact that every year when he sings that song. 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:10.400 He feels a bit like a fraud. 00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:13.720 Because he sings that song and. 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:15.740 He says I don't feel faithful. 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:18.180 And I don't feel joyful. 00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:20.740 And I don't feel triumphant. 00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:25.220 Because life has battered him down. 00:22:25.340 --> 00:22:26.440 And he is right isn't he. 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:28.220 Like none of us get to Christmas. 00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:30.180 And we think boy I am full of energy. 00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:31.759 Boy I am raring to go here. 00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:33.140 What is it we get to Christmas. 00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:34.080 And we collapse. 00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:37.320 And not just physically. 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:39.060 I imagine we get to the end of a year. 00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:40.700 And we are aware of how much we have. 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:42.960 It's not gone to plan this year. 00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:44.820 How things that we hope would happen. 00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:45.640 Haven't happened. 00:22:45.840 --> 00:22:47.400 And we sit there aware of. 00:22:47.800 --> 00:22:49.980 How much we have failed. 00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:53.080 And we feel the weight of our sin. 00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:54.640 And we think about the regrets. 00:22:54.800 --> 00:22:55.360 And the mistakes. 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:57.040 I often think it's why as a culture. 00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:58.080 We love New Year. 00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:01.579 And we love thinking of New Year's resolutions. 00:23:01.579 --> 00:23:04.419 Because we'll do anything for a fresh start. 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:07.139 Something to reflect on after this. 00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:09.079 Anyway so Sam Albury is at his church. 00:23:09.179 --> 00:23:10.419 And he realises that in his church. 00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:12.519 He's not the only one who feels like this. 00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:14.899 As he's interacting with people. 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:17.639 So what he did is he took the opening lyrics of that song. 00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.919 And he slightly tweaked it. 00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:24.779 To reflect how his own heart was feeling. 00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:26.019 And I think I'll show you in a minute. 00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:28.400 I think he makes a profoundly honest point. 00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:31.420 And so let me just take his lyrics as we close. 00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:32.980 And add it to this tune. 00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:35.859 And you'll see what I mean. 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:37.700 So he writes this. 00:23:37.859 --> 00:23:37.960 Okay. 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:41.139 O come all ye faithless. 00:23:42.379 --> 00:23:44.160 Joyless and defeated. 00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:48.900 O come, O come ye to Bethlehem. 00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:51.480 Come and behold him. 00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:53.759 Born the king of angels. 00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:55.940 O come, let us adore him. 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:58.059 O come, let us adore him. 00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:59.700 O come, let us adore him. 00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:01.799 Christ the Lord. 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:05.400 Matthew's saying to us today as we read this. 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.519 He's saying this is us. 00:24:07.379 --> 00:24:08.279 This is us. 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:11.119 But he's also saying this is him. 00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:12.619 He's here. 00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:15.119 So friends let me just. 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.920 As we close. 00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:19.900 Why don't you just take a moment in silent reflection to yourself. 00:24:19.900 --> 00:24:24.200 And I'd encourage you just in this own time to offer your own prayers to the Lord. 00:24:24.280 --> 00:24:28.460 As we just reflect on what has been a very honest passage today. 00:24:28.600 --> 00:24:29.860 And then I'll close us in prayer. 00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:36.459 Gracious God and Heavenly Father. 00:24:36.459 --> 00:24:40.240 We thank you for your word. 00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:46.579 Thank you, Father, for its honesty. 00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:49.119 But the fact that it portrays reality. 00:24:49.119 --> 00:25:00.539 And Lord, I want to pray particularly for those of us today who are acutely feeling just how much we would fit into this family of mess. 00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:05.740 Lord, we bring to you our situations. 00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:07.259 We bring to you the people. 00:25:07.879 --> 00:25:09.480 We bring to you our circumstances. 00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:14.839 And Lord, thank you that you are God who calls us to cast all our burdens on you. 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:16.899 Because you care for us. 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:24.500 And Lord, I pray that you would help us today to fix our eyes on Jesus. 00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:34.599 The one who has stepped into this broken world to redeem and to rescue men and women, boys and girls, to himself. 00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:41.660 And I pray, Father, that as we journey over the next few weeks, Lord, that your spirit would come and help us once again. 00:25:42.339 --> 00:25:44.400 Grasp something of his greatness. 00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:47.519 His incomparable love for us. 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:50.700 And so, Father, thank you that you love us. 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:53.500 And we just pray these things, Lord. 00:25:53.500 --> 00:26:04.720 And as we move into a time of communion now, we ask, Lord, that something of the sacrifice of Jesus and the fact that he is risen and reigning, Lord, would inspire us today. 00:26:05.619 --> 00:26:08.259 And so, Father, we pray these things knowing that you hear us. 00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:11.200 Because we pray in Jesus' precious name. 00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:12.000 Amen.