WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:24.000 One of the best things about Christmas is surprises, isn't it? You've got a bed on Christmas Eve, you know what your main present will be probably or you think you might know but very often it's the little presents that are so much fun and you had no idea what you were going to get and you had no idea that the person who got you the gift was so thoughtful. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:35.340 And you've not thought about it and you get the present and you just say, oh that's fantastic, I wasn't expecting, it's a great surprise. I didn't even know I wanted it but now I see that I do want it now that I've got it. 00:00:36.579 --> 00:00:45.920 And there are some people out there, they've got the gift of giving gifts. They're just brilliant at it. And those surprises in lots of ways make Christmas. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:55.980 And I hope as we look at this passage that we might get a surprise. People come with their own idea of Christmas, with their own sentimental idea of Christmas. 00:00:56.560 --> 00:01:01.380 And as Christians we want to be surprised again and again as we go to what is a familiar story. 00:01:02.760 --> 00:01:07.840 So the first surprise is this, that the birth of Jesus was supernatural, not normal. 00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:12.640 The birth of Jesus is supernatural, not normal. 00:01:14.560 --> 00:01:33.080 And I think that's worth pointing out because in many people's minds what we've just read must just, they just think well the birth of Jesus, the conception of Jesus, it's just normal, it's just like everyone else and the kind of manger that's been embellished. 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:41.280 And I guess for many people the reasoning goes like this, there was a person named Jesus 20 centuries ago and he was born in Bethlehem. 00:01:42.060 --> 00:01:44.519 But in the end he's just like us. 00:01:44.920 --> 00:01:47.459 Maybe he does some special things and the story has grown. 00:01:48.840 --> 00:01:54.039 But he was a normal man, born in the normal way, conceived in the normal way. 00:01:54.340 --> 00:01:59.640 But let's just go back to Matthew 1 and let's see that God was acting in a very, very special way. 00:02:00.060 --> 00:02:02.640 Look at verse 18, chapter 1. 00:02:03.079 --> 00:02:07.900 Before they came to Galilee, that's Joseph and Mary. 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:14.419 She was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 00:02:16.919 --> 00:02:18.039 Look at verse 20. 00:02:18.039 --> 00:02:25.359 As Joseph considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 00:02:26.099 --> 00:02:33.599 Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 00:02:33.859 --> 00:02:34.599 Same point again. 00:02:35.620 --> 00:02:36.519 Then he was 23. 00:02:36.520 --> 00:02:44.240 Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name the mother. 00:02:46.280 --> 00:02:47.620 She was a virgin. 00:02:48.860 --> 00:02:50.300 Mary was a virgin. 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:52.100 It's made really clear in the text. 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:55.800 And virgin births don't just happen, do they? 00:02:55.800 --> 00:02:58.600 And Joseph knew this. 00:02:59.480 --> 00:03:05.439 And so when Joseph finds out that she is with child, as her fiancé, he is absolutely horrified. 00:03:07.020 --> 00:03:09.820 In his mind, there is only one possible explanation. 00:03:11.080 --> 00:03:12.160 And that may be the same for you. 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:15.900 There's only one explanation for pregnancy. 00:03:16.020 --> 00:03:18.819 Of course, they didn't have medical technology that we now have. 00:03:19.539 --> 00:03:21.419 But they're not naive, and they're not deft. 00:03:21.639 --> 00:03:23.639 Pregnancy does not just happen. 00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:27.139 So Joseph, he resolves to divorce her. 00:03:27.419 --> 00:03:28.599 He is a compassionate man. 00:03:28.680 --> 00:03:29.780 He doesn't want to put on his chain. 00:03:30.099 --> 00:03:31.439 He wants to do it quietly. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:37.240 But he's told by this messenger, by this angel, not to do it. 00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:42.460 But can you see what this section of God's word does for us? 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:47.760 It says right at the start of Jesus' story, there is a God. 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:49.960 And there is a Holy Spirit. 00:03:50.659 --> 00:03:51.820 And there are angels. 00:03:52.320 --> 00:03:54.500 There are unseen messengers from God. 00:03:54.500 --> 00:03:56.860 There's a whole unseen realm. 00:03:58.240 --> 00:04:00.140 There is a living and a true God. 00:04:01.040 --> 00:04:04.900 Who, with this birth, is doing something very, very special. 00:04:04.900 --> 00:04:10.099 And this birth happened because God acted supernaturally. 00:04:10.500 --> 00:04:11.540 God intervenes. 00:04:12.920 --> 00:04:15.599 At one level, it's a great surprise, isn't it? 00:04:16.439 --> 00:04:19.060 But then at another level, it shouldn't surprise us at all. 00:04:20.300 --> 00:04:23.620 That when God came into this world, it was a little bit different. 00:04:23.740 --> 00:04:24.800 That's what you'd expect, isn't it? 00:04:24.819 --> 00:04:29.500 If God is going to enter into his creation, surely he'll do that in a different way. 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:35.500 When he left this world, well, it's a little bit different as well. 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:43.639 And we would expect the entry point of God into the world to be different, and its exit point to be different. 00:04:43.639 --> 00:04:51.719 So when you think of when the President of the US comes to the UK, it is different, isn't it? 00:04:52.599 --> 00:04:54.439 I might flew back from Edinburgh on Sunday afternoon. 00:04:55.339 --> 00:04:56.399 There was no pomp. 00:04:56.500 --> 00:04:57.459 There was no ceremony. 00:04:57.740 --> 00:05:02.279 I just walked through Terminal 5 to get on the Piccadilly 9. 00:05:02.279 --> 00:05:08.219 But when the President of the US comes, regardless of what you think of the current one, he is someone special. 00:05:09.679 --> 00:05:11.439 When he comes to the airport, it's different. 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:18.139 He doesn't come cramped up in economy class, queuing up to get his own bags, does he? 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:21.659 He doesn't have to go through security and all the hassle. 00:05:21.979 --> 00:05:26.099 He comes as the special one in the special way. 00:05:26.759 --> 00:05:28.659 And when he leaves, he leaves in a special way. 00:05:28.660 --> 00:05:39.120 And so here we have in Matthew chapter 1 and 2, an account of a supernatural baby who was fully man, but also fully God. 00:05:40.980 --> 00:05:44.960 And God acts to enter into his world. 00:05:45.940 --> 00:05:48.580 The first surprise is supernatural birth, not a normal woman. 00:05:50.060 --> 00:05:53.540 The second surprise for some of us will be that this is truth, not myth. 00:05:54.760 --> 00:05:56.960 It's truth, not myth. 00:05:58.660 --> 00:06:03.080 And so you might be thinking, God came to earth, it's just not likely. 00:06:04.500 --> 00:06:05.820 The Greeks have their myths. 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:07.660 The Greeks have their gods. 00:06:08.280 --> 00:06:09.820 A myth is a made-up story. 00:06:10.080 --> 00:06:13.620 It is a legend without any basis in history or fact. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:15.500 And it's easy just to say it's a myth. 00:06:16.900 --> 00:06:21.280 The stuff about God coming to earth, that is your story, you might say. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:26.339 It's a story that your community has made up and adopted. 00:06:26.679 --> 00:06:30.419 And there's no real reason why I should adopt your story. 00:06:31.179 --> 00:06:35.619 Why I should believe about the supernatural conception and his birth. 00:06:35.620 --> 00:06:41.280 Of course, there's long answers to that, and there's short answers to those sort of questions. 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:43.840 But let me just point you to a couple of things as you think about it. 00:06:44.819 --> 00:06:51.920 Firstly, what you have in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John is basically a record of eyewitness accounts. 00:06:53.379 --> 00:06:56.340 It is written like an eyewitness account. 00:06:56.339 --> 00:07:01.339 And we know that it was written by those who were very close to the events. 00:07:03.259 --> 00:07:14.599 And so a few weeks ago in Brentside High School, Noah came home wide-eyed, and he said that there'd been a stabbing in the school, 00:07:15.019 --> 00:07:16.659 and that a teacher had been stabbed. 00:07:17.379 --> 00:07:20.759 And there were police and there were ambulance there. 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:23.560 I said, did you see it? 00:07:24.120 --> 00:07:26.000 No, but I heard about it. 00:07:26.819 --> 00:07:28.099 Did your friends see it? 00:07:28.779 --> 00:07:30.480 No, they'd not seen it. 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:32.199 Did anyone you know had seen it? 00:07:32.579 --> 00:07:34.599 No, but everyone was talking about it, he said. 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:36.060 Everyone was talking about it. 00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:41.219 And an hour and a half later, we had an email from the head teacher, 00:07:42.039 --> 00:07:46.019 saying that there were some rumours going around with the school and on social media, 00:07:46.019 --> 00:07:51.139 and one of the dinner lady staff had fainted, 00:07:51.539 --> 00:07:53.659 and an ambulance had been caught to take her to hospital. 00:07:56.240 --> 00:07:58.419 And had anyone seen it? 00:07:59.019 --> 00:07:59.659 The stabbing? 00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:00.019 No. 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:01.959 Had anyone you know seen it? 00:08:02.339 --> 00:08:02.819 No. 00:08:03.060 --> 00:08:04.539 But everyone was talking about it. 00:08:05.159 --> 00:08:06.259 And we know what that's like, don't we? 00:08:06.259 --> 00:08:09.579 We know what it's like with schools or any closed communities. 00:08:09.579 --> 00:08:17.319 If there are eyewitnesses, they've probably got truth on their hands. 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:21.599 If there is somebody who has seen it with their own eyes, 00:08:22.139 --> 00:08:25.079 it gives you a different level of confidence in the information. 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:29.259 And so what you've got in Matthew and Mark and Luke and John 00:08:29.259 --> 00:08:30.740 is you've got eyewitness accounts. 00:08:30.860 --> 00:08:33.319 You've got something written by people, 00:08:33.819 --> 00:08:35.879 or spoken by people who were living at the time. 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:39.299 The second thing to think about, 00:08:40.360 --> 00:08:41.899 of it being truth, not myth, 00:08:42.200 --> 00:08:44.820 there's a striking bit of evidence in the text. 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:46.460 So in Matthew chapter 2, 00:08:47.419 --> 00:08:49.879 you've got this whole issue of where Jesus was born. 00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:53.899 So the Magi, these wise men astrologers, 00:08:53.960 --> 00:08:55.500 they come looking from the Jesus, 00:08:55.639 --> 00:08:56.779 they come looking from the east, 00:08:57.500 --> 00:08:59.899 the star that they followed had got them so far, 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:03.759 and they knew that there was going to be a king of the Jews who'd be born. 00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:06.879 And the star had informed them of that. 00:09:07.539 --> 00:09:09.019 They did the logical thing, 00:09:09.080 --> 00:09:11.299 they thought, where will the king of the Jews be born? 00:09:11.399 --> 00:09:13.220 Well, he'll be born in the capital, won't he? 00:09:14.340 --> 00:09:15.620 And so they come to Jerusalem. 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:17.939 He'll be born in Israel. 00:09:19.299 --> 00:09:20.159 The king of the Jews, 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:22.259 well, obviously, where does a king get born? 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:24.139 He gets born in a palace, 00:09:24.819 --> 00:09:26.439 and so they end up talking to Herod. 00:09:28.179 --> 00:09:30.179 And you can sense in these verses, I think, 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:31.939 the commotion that's going on in Jerusalem. 00:09:31.940 --> 00:09:33.820 So these visitors, they come from the east, 00:09:33.920 --> 00:09:35.060 they're a very wealthy man, 00:09:35.540 --> 00:09:38.280 and they ask the question to the current ruler, 00:09:38.400 --> 00:09:39.820 where is the king of the Jews to be born? 00:09:41.140 --> 00:09:42.640 And so King Herod calls a conference 00:09:42.640 --> 00:09:43.960 of the wise men of Jerusalem, 00:09:44.660 --> 00:09:45.420 the pundits, 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:48.160 and he asks, where is the Christ to be born? 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:49.020 Where will he be born? 00:09:49.100 --> 00:09:50.400 And they don't have an answer, verse 6. 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:52.520 They have no answer. 00:09:56.800 --> 00:09:57.740 There in verse 6, 00:09:57.820 --> 00:09:58.700 well, they have an answer. 00:09:59.740 --> 00:10:00.480 Where will he be born? 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:03.060 They told him, verse 5, 00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:04.820 in Bethlehem of Judea, 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:06.360 because it's written about that on the prophets. 00:10:07.460 --> 00:10:09.100 And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:11.360 are by no means the least among the rulers of Judah. 00:10:11.680 --> 00:10:13.039 But from you shall come a ruler 00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:15.840 who will shepherd my people, Israel. 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:18.840 You see, they say to him, 00:10:18.860 --> 00:10:20.220 no, that there is a prophecy, 00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:23.759 there is a declaration 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:25.420 that he will be born in Bethlehem. 00:10:25.480 --> 00:10:26.899 Now, why do they say that? 00:10:26.899 --> 00:10:29.379 Because they knew that 700 years prior, 00:10:29.939 --> 00:10:31.159 the prophet Micah had spoken. 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:33.079 It had been predicted, 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:34.699 God was speaking through Micah, 00:10:34.959 --> 00:10:37.019 that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. 00:10:38.519 --> 00:10:40.079 And they knew that God had said, 00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:41.039 that is what would happen. 00:10:41.779 --> 00:10:42.899 700 years earlier, 00:10:42.980 --> 00:10:44.220 that he'd be born in Bethlehem. 00:10:44.419 --> 00:10:46.240 And they knew he'd be born in Bethlehem, 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:48.820 and that is exactly where he was born. 00:10:49.340 --> 00:10:52.419 The extraordinary accuracy of the Old Testament. 00:10:53.740 --> 00:10:55.600 These prophecies come true. 00:10:56.659 --> 00:10:57.340 In history, 00:10:57.779 --> 00:10:58.799 and in real time, 00:10:58.879 --> 00:11:00.399 you can't easily be dismissed. 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:03.740 And so we're dealing with truth, 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:04.539 and not myth. 00:11:06.460 --> 00:11:08.700 The third surprise is that Jesus is essential, 00:11:08.919 --> 00:11:09.580 and not optional. 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:13.340 It was a supernatural conception. 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:13.779 Do you remember? 00:11:13.779 --> 00:11:15.319 It wasn't a normal birth. 00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:19.720 You're dealing with something that is true. 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:21.879 It's not a myth. 00:11:21.959 --> 00:11:22.899 That's a second surprise. 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:24.819 But it still leaves a great question. 00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:25.459 And the question is, 00:11:25.539 --> 00:11:26.019 so what? 00:11:26.199 --> 00:11:26.839 Big deal. 00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:30.399 Maybe it's true after all. 00:11:30.439 --> 00:11:32.159 Maybe there is a supernatural birth. 00:11:32.299 --> 00:11:34.019 But what's that going to do with me? 00:11:35.980 --> 00:11:36.959 And so can we ask the question, 00:11:37.059 --> 00:11:37.919 do I need this? 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:38.879 Do I need it? 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:42.059 And we need to think for a moment 00:11:42.059 --> 00:11:43.299 about the importance of this. 00:11:44.460 --> 00:11:44.840 And again, 00:11:44.899 --> 00:11:45.879 we're not left guessing. 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:47.559 Look at Matthew chapter 1, 00:11:47.700 --> 00:11:49.220 and include it in the name 00:11:49.220 --> 00:11:50.240 that Matthew is given, 00:11:50.539 --> 00:11:51.419 that Jesus is given. 00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:54.139 So, 00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:55.259 and parents today, 00:11:57.259 --> 00:11:58.939 and like parents today, 00:11:59.419 --> 00:12:00.740 pretty much parents down through the ages, 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:02.419 Mary and Joseph have no choice 00:12:02.419 --> 00:12:03.779 as to the name of their son. 00:12:03.779 --> 00:12:06.699 The name of their child is given. 00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:09.519 And so we have, 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:09.779 don't we, 00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:10.459 the great mystery 00:12:10.459 --> 00:12:11.439 of when a child is born, 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:12.639 what will the name be? 00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:13.720 And we ask parents, 00:12:13.779 --> 00:12:15.059 have you thought of a name yet? 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:18.079 And we hope that those children 00:12:18.079 --> 00:12:19.639 that are born that we know 00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:21.019 will be gifts of God, 00:12:21.100 --> 00:12:21.419 won't they? 00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:23.480 But Mary and Joseph are told 00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:25.839 that they are to give this child a name, 00:12:26.220 --> 00:12:27.539 and you are to give him the name 00:12:27.539 --> 00:12:28.679 Jesus. 00:12:30.379 --> 00:12:31.879 For he shall save his people 00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:32.639 from their sins. 00:12:34.220 --> 00:12:35.600 Jesus is the Greek name 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:37.959 of the Hebrew Joshua. 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:40.879 Jesus means the Lord saves, 00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:41.659 the Lord rescues. 00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:43.819 That is the name 00:12:43.819 --> 00:12:44.699 that he is to be given, 00:12:45.100 --> 00:12:46.220 because that is exactly 00:12:46.220 --> 00:12:47.059 what he will do 00:12:47.059 --> 00:12:48.839 in verse 21. 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:51.079 Verse 21, 00:12:51.220 --> 00:12:52.199 she will bear a son, 00:12:52.839 --> 00:12:53.259 and Joseph, 00:12:53.419 --> 00:12:54.720 you shall call his name Jesus, 00:12:55.579 --> 00:12:56.579 for he will save his people 00:12:56.579 --> 00:12:57.519 from their sins. 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:00.799 The name he was given 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:02.659 is the very thing 00:13:02.659 --> 00:13:03.240 that he would do. 00:13:03.779 --> 00:13:06.439 he would rescue his people 00:13:06.439 --> 00:13:07.419 from their sins. 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:09.939 He would be a saviour. 00:13:12.039 --> 00:13:13.240 So you see a tragedy 00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:15.500 on your TV screen, 00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:18.360 and you see it happening. 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:21.519 And you just want to run in 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:22.460 and save, 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:23.799 or dive in, 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:24.799 or save them. 00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:28.779 But there's no point to that, 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:30.000 because it would be suicide to do it. 00:13:31.659 --> 00:13:32.440 But Jesus, 00:13:32.580 --> 00:13:33.299 the rescuer, 00:13:33.659 --> 00:13:35.240 he dives in, 00:13:35.419 --> 00:13:37.299 he runs into the burning building. 00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:40.779 He comes into this world 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:42.939 and would die upon the cross 00:13:42.939 --> 00:13:46.000 to save you, 00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:47.299 not from burning building, 00:13:47.459 --> 00:13:48.299 or not from drowning, 00:13:48.579 --> 00:13:50.439 but to save his people 00:13:50.439 --> 00:13:52.159 from their sins. 00:13:53.959 --> 00:13:54.899 That tells you 00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:56.019 that you and I have a problem 00:13:56.019 --> 00:13:57.219 from which we need saving. 00:13:57.220 --> 00:14:00.779 King Herod, 00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:02.139 he illustrates 00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:03.100 the sin problem, 00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:08.139 he wanted to be in charge. 00:14:10.060 --> 00:14:10.580 King Herod, 00:14:10.620 --> 00:14:10.860 I think, 00:14:10.920 --> 00:14:11.680 understands Christmas 00:14:11.680 --> 00:14:12.560 very, very well. 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:14.060 He didn't want Jesus 00:14:14.060 --> 00:14:14.980 to be in charge, 00:14:14.980 --> 00:14:18.120 and so he was rid of Jesus. 00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:20.539 He said, 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:22.420 I just want to run my life 00:14:22.420 --> 00:14:23.100 my way. 00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:25.480 I want to be the one 00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:26.620 that is in charge, 00:14:26.700 --> 00:14:27.220 not Jesus. 00:14:27.980 --> 00:14:28.879 And that is sin. 00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:32.300 And so saying no to God 00:14:32.300 --> 00:14:33.879 and saying, 00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:35.180 I want to run my life 00:14:35.180 --> 00:14:35.960 my way, 00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:37.620 that brings God's 00:14:37.620 --> 00:14:39.220 just condemnation. 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:40.560 And that is a real problem. 00:14:42.300 --> 00:14:43.399 We don't feel it's a real problem. 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:46.480 But when we say no to God 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:47.019 and we say, 00:14:47.180 --> 00:14:48.060 I'm in charge, 00:14:48.220 --> 00:14:49.200 not you, 00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:51.580 that brings us 00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:52.820 into a collision course 00:14:52.820 --> 00:14:53.759 with God for judgment. 00:14:55.680 --> 00:14:56.860 But Jesus came 00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:58.480 to save you and I 00:14:58.480 --> 00:14:59.740 from that sin problem. 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:01.940 Jesus came 00:15:01.940 --> 00:15:03.000 to save you and I 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:04.379 from the condemnation 00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:06.960 by dying on a cross for us, 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:08.279 by taking the judgment 00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:10.019 we deserve upon ourselves. 00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:12.240 Jesus came into this world 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:13.580 and didn't say, 00:15:14.019 --> 00:15:14.960 I'm in charge, 00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:16.039 I'll do exactly 00:15:16.039 --> 00:15:16.940 what I want 00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:17.779 and God, 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:18.560 no way. 00:15:19.300 --> 00:15:20.500 He lived God's way. 00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:22.440 And yet, 00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:23.440 he was crucified 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:24.379 for our sin, 00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:25.240 for our rebellion, 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:26.039 for our punishment. 00:15:27.980 --> 00:15:28.980 Each one of us 00:15:28.980 --> 00:15:29.560 are sinners 00:15:29.560 --> 00:15:30.659 and we all face 00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:31.680 the judgment of God 00:15:31.680 --> 00:15:33.120 and so we all need 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:33.740 the rescue 00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:34.980 that Jesus provides. 00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:36.000 That rescue 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:36.920 is open to us. 00:15:39.060 --> 00:15:40.159 And so how will he respond? 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:43.100 How will he respond 00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:44.179 to this Jesus 00:15:44.179 --> 00:15:44.779 who was born 00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:46.419 in the most remarkable way, 00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:47.339 who came to earth, 00:15:47.779 --> 00:15:48.279 who is 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:49.919 true 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:51.339 and not a mess? 00:15:52.339 --> 00:15:52.899 How do you respond? 00:15:52.959 --> 00:15:53.339 Well, there's a number 00:15:53.339 --> 00:15:53.819 of responses. 00:15:54.819 --> 00:15:55.539 So let's just look 00:15:55.539 --> 00:15:56.519 at Herod in chapter 2. 00:15:56.959 --> 00:15:57.860 He is furious 00:15:57.860 --> 00:16:00.820 and he tries 00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:01.840 to get rid of Jesus. 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:05.379 And he won't have 00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:06.740 anyone challenging him. 00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:10.100 And people do respond 00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:10.840 to the news like that. 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:11.680 I think 00:16:11.680 --> 00:16:12.860 an authentic response 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:13.940 when people understand 00:16:13.940 --> 00:16:15.039 who Jesus is, 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:16.779 is fury. 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:19.440 They can't stand him. 00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:20.080 They can't stand 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:21.100 the thought of a God 00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:22.060 with whom they have 00:16:22.060 --> 00:16:22.560 to give account. 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:24.259 And they want 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:24.859 to get rid of him. 00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:26.779 No, thank you. 00:16:27.779 --> 00:16:28.399 I don't want him 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:29.319 interfering with my life. 00:16:29.359 --> 00:16:29.899 Well, that's the first 00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:30.719 response, isn't it, Harry? 00:16:30.959 --> 00:16:31.659 Then there's the other 00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:32.559 common reaction 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:33.079 of the people 00:16:33.079 --> 00:16:34.500 in Jerusalem. 00:16:35.979 --> 00:16:36.559 And the Magi 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:37.419 come to Jerusalem 00:16:37.419 --> 00:16:39.039 and they say, 00:16:39.139 --> 00:16:39.799 where is the King 00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:40.579 of the Jews 00:16:40.579 --> 00:16:41.159 to be born? 00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:43.559 And there's a big 00:16:43.559 --> 00:16:44.359 conference, isn't there? 00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:44.879 There's other people 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:45.219 in Jerusalem 00:16:45.219 --> 00:16:45.839 who get involved 00:16:45.839 --> 00:16:46.539 in the discussion 00:16:46.539 --> 00:16:47.899 and they work out, 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:48.339 they say, 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:49.959 yes, the King 00:16:49.959 --> 00:16:50.339 of the Jews 00:16:50.339 --> 00:16:51.079 is going to be born 00:16:51.079 --> 00:16:51.679 in Bethlehem. 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:52.979 But as far as we know, 00:16:53.099 --> 00:16:53.719 the only people 00:16:53.719 --> 00:16:54.519 who actually go 00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:55.359 to Bethlehem 00:16:55.359 --> 00:16:56.239 are the Magi. 00:16:58.539 --> 00:16:59.419 Isn't that extraordinary? 00:17:01.239 --> 00:17:01.779 There's people 00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:02.639 who travel from the East 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:03.219 because they say, 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:03.759 where is the King 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:04.119 of the Jews 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:04.700 to be born? 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:05.679 But the people 00:17:05.679 --> 00:17:06.259 that give them 00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:06.879 the information 00:17:06.879 --> 00:17:07.659 of where he's 00:17:07.659 --> 00:17:08.039 to be born, 00:17:08.139 --> 00:17:09.000 they can't be bothered. 00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:10.599 They won't travel 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:11.720 ten miles down the road. 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.980 They can't even be bothered 00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:16.159 to go and check out 00:17:16.159 --> 00:17:16.659 Bethlehem 00:17:16.659 --> 00:17:17.399 and see whether 00:17:17.399 --> 00:17:18.059 it's true or not. 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.079 They can't be bothered 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:21.559 to see whether 00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:21.879 our King 00:17:21.879 --> 00:17:22.460 has been born. 00:17:22.919 --> 00:17:23.480 Don't be like 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:23.859 these people. 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:26.579 Don't be like 00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:26.859 the people 00:17:26.859 --> 00:17:27.379 in Jerusalem 00:17:27.379 --> 00:17:28.079 who frankly 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:28.980 couldn't be bothered. 00:17:31.940 --> 00:17:32.759 The third reaction 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:33.519 is that of the Magi. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:34.240 They come from 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:34.579 the East 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:36.179 and they went 00:17:36.179 --> 00:17:36.819 and they looked 00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:39.240 and they found Jesus. 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:40.240 And how did they react 00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:40.720 to this time 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:41.240 and the 11th? 00:17:44.159 --> 00:17:45.000 Going into the house 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:45.799 they saw the child, 00:17:45.879 --> 00:17:46.539 he's probably a toddler 00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:47.039 at this point, 00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:47.579 but Mary, 00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:48.000 his mother, 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:50.259 and they fell down 00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:50.980 and they worshipped him. 00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:54.980 They opened up their bags 00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:55.960 and they give treasures. 00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:57.380 They offered him gifts 00:17:57.380 --> 00:17:58.500 of gold and frankincense 00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:58.960 and murder. 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:03.319 They searched for him, 00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:04.119 they found him, 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:05.019 they worshipped him. 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:10.220 They bowed their knee to him. 00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:12.539 The one thing 00:18:12.539 --> 00:18:13.500 that Herod 00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:14.380 would not do, 00:18:15.120 --> 00:18:15.740 they do. 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:18.039 They recognised 00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:18.779 that Jesus Christ 00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:19.460 is Lord 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.200 and King 00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:23.000 and so they fall down 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:23.860 in reverence 00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:25.579 and worship. 00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:28.500 That's the right way 00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:28.900 to recognise 00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:30.000 Jesus God. 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:31.500 Christ is God 00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:33.380 and Christ 00:18:33.380 --> 00:18:34.319 is God's 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:34.779 Saviour 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.319 and he is 00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:35.740 worthy 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.860 of our worship. 00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:39.119 And the only 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:40.279 real response 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:41.459 and true response 00:18:41.459 --> 00:18:42.199 is to come to him 00:18:42.199 --> 00:18:42.459 and say, 00:18:42.579 --> 00:18:43.479 I need rescue. 00:18:45.199 --> 00:18:45.740 And I see 00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:46.259 that he is 00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:47.000 the Saviour 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:47.659 who died 00:18:47.659 --> 00:18:48.339 on the cross 00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:48.959 for sinners 00:18:48.959 --> 00:18:49.939 and I cannot 00:18:49.939 --> 00:18:51.000 save myself 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:52.639 and so I need 00:18:52.639 --> 00:18:53.240 his salvation. 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:55.759 And so I am 00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.699 going to trust him 00:18:56.699 --> 00:18:58.399 and I'm going to 00:18:58.399 --> 00:18:58.779 follow him 00:18:58.779 --> 00:18:59.359 as my King. 00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:02.439 To recognise 00:19:02.439 --> 00:19:03.179 that he came 00:19:03.179 --> 00:19:03.899 to die 00:19:03.899 --> 00:19:04.339 for sinners 00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:04.799 like you 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:05.399 and like me. 00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:07.420 and to cry 00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:07.960 out to him 00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:09.640 and to put 00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:10.040 your trust 00:19:10.040 --> 00:19:10.440 in him 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:13.160 and to bow 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:13.900 your head 00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:14.680 before him 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:16.720 and follow him 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:17.259 as your King. 00:19:19.940 --> 00:19:20.700 And it's at that 00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:21.220 point that you 00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:21.960 leave, don't you, 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:22.580 with the most 00:19:22.580 --> 00:19:23.259 amazing gift. 00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:25.240 The most surprising 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:25.880 gift of all, 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:26.440 the gift of 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:26.820 forgiveness, 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:28.880 of peace with 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:29.180 God 00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:32.220 and of salvation. 00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:35.160 and we know, 00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:35.480 don't we, 00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:36.620 if we do that, 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:37.740 well, we will 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.259 have the most 00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:39.180 blessed Christmas 00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:41.819 despite all the 00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:42.240 restrictions. 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:44.440 Let's pray. 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:44.880 00:19:44.880 --> 00:20:14.860 Thank you.