WEBVTT

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 Good morning, friends. My name is Daniel. I'm a pastor at Church of the Messiah, and like George said, a very hopeful church planter.

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 We're looking to plant a church in Canada, and yeah, it has been a tough go, but these are the times where it seems like God shows off a bit,

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 when things seem very implausible, maybe even impossible, and the Lord shows up so that all the glory will unmistakenedly be given to him.

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 So pray for us. It's a real joy this morning to open up God's word. Yeah, we'll get right into it. Let me pray.

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 Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for your goodness and kindness to us. Lord, open our eyes to see our ears, to hear our hearts,

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 to understand what your word would say to us by your spirit. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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 So, first Sunday of 2021, and I have some wise advice for you guys. And here it is.

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 Do not invest in Blockbuster video. Instead, invest in Netflix.

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 Before you go on and say Blockbuster doesn't exist, it technically does exist.

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 There's one location still around. I think it's in Oregon.

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 And they are still traded on the stock market, at least as of New Year's Eve 2020, when I was putting this together.

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 It still trades. The stock is down 17.5%.

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 So, if you want to buy a share of Blockbuster, you can buy one for 7 one-hundredths of a penny.

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 So, a good deal, probably not given that. It just went down 17.5%.

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 Meanwhile, Netflix, you know, it's worth something like $30 billion.

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 This is not wise advice.

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 I say this as a big joke because, ironically, Blockbuster had a chance to buy Netflix back in the late 90s.

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 And they laughed at the founders.

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 Anyways, I don't bring up the story to talk about Blockbuster's blunders.

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 But just to simply say that this is obvious advice.

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 There's nothing wise about this.

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 But if I was to tell you this back in 1999,

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 I don't know.

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 That would be pretty ridiculous advice.

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 I would be probably the smartest, most financially savvy 13-year-old at the time.

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 But it's interesting how wisdom proves itself with the passage of time.

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 Time and again, this current generation,

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 talks as if we are the most wise generation that has ever existed.

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 The people that went before us, they were dummies.

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 Maybe not dummies, but not as progressively advanced as us.

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 George kind of cracks a joke about how just because people didn't have flush toilets

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 doesn't mean they weren't smart.

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 But we treat it kind of like that.

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 As time goes by, we somehow fall into this fallacy that we are the wisest.

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 That the prevailing wisdom of the moment is the wisdom of all the ages.

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 But it's not quite true.

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 You know, it's interesting.

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 The prevailing wisdom, 150, 140, whatever years ago,

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 from both political parties here in Canada,

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 was to forcibly remove indigenous children from their families

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 and put them in residential schools.

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 And we know that there's been an absolute...

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 There's horror stories of that.

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 That was prevailing wisdom from our cultural and political elites.

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 The intelligent people at the time.

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 And I'm not looking back on them and saying,

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 listen, tear down all the statues.

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 I'm just making a point that that was the prevailing wisdom.

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 The prevailing wisdom in the 30s was to turn a boat away

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 that was seeking safe harbor at our shores in Canada

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 that had almost a thousand Jewish people in it.

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 And that boat was sent back to Europe.

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 And a quarter of those people died in Nazi camps.

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 That was prevailing wisdom at the time.

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 It's interesting that our culture prides itself

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 at being the tip of the sword.

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 And yet time and again,

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 the future generations look back just a generation prior

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 and they are ashamed.

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 Or people in the current culture

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 that are more historically minded,

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 they'll look back and say,

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 hey, listen, we're following the same follies

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 that happened yesteryear.

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 But either way, there is this kind of hubris

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 that says we are the smart ones

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 and those people are, they're backwards.

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 And we have huge national apologies

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 and restitution and all of these,

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 I guess, noble-minded things

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 to correct the mistakes of the past

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 while failing to understand

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 that we're likely creating those same mistakes

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 in the present.

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 So where can we find wisdom?

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 Real wisdom.

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 A wisdom that doesn't just last one generation,

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 but lasts multiple generations,

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 maybe forever.

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 Where can we find this wisdom?

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 It's a worthwhile thing to consider

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 on the first Sunday of the new year.

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 And George just read the biblical story

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 of the Magi or the wise men

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 venturing from the east to pay homage

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 and worship the Christ child in Bethlehem.

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 I think, and we will see this morning,

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 that this passage, this biblical story

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 is full of examples of real wisdom.

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 Wisdom that has lasted

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 not just one or two generations,

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 but has lasted up until the present

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 from 2,000 years prior.

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 That this is wisdom that is eternal.

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 So if you have your Bible,

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 please turn with me to Matthew chapter 2,

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 verses 1 to 12.

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 I'll be reading out of the same version

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 that George was reading,

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 the English Standard Version.

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 So we'll get into the text in a minute,

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 but we'll see just a few aspects

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 of what godly, real, eternal wisdom looks like.

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 And there's three things I'm going to touch on.

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 The first thing is that real, godly, eternal wisdom,

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 this text will show us that it is inclusive.

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 That it is also authentic and humble.

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 And finally, it is courageous.

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 And it is something that has deep conviction.

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 So inclusive, authentic and humble and courageous.

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 So let's look at the first one, inclusive.

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 So it's important to put this text into context.

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 So this is the passage that is traditionally read

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 on the Feast of Epiphany.

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 Epiphany on the Christian calendar

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 will be this upcoming Wednesday, January 6th.

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 And like George mentioned,

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 it is the end, it marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas.

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 And it is traditionally understood

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 as the Epiphany of Christ to the Gentiles

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 or to the nations or to the non-Jewish people.

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 And the Magi are these non-Jewish people.

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 Although there were instances throughout the Old Testament

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 of non-Jews being included in the people of God,

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 we can think of Ruth.

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 We can think of Moses' wife, Zipporah.

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 Esther, well, Esther was, but man, so is Ruth.

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 Rahab is what I was thinking of.

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 That these are key people in the biblical story

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 that were not Jews,

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 but were considered a part of God's people.

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 But by far, the majority of God's people

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 in the Old Testament were from the historical

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 ethnic seed of Abraham.

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 They were Jewish people.

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 And although it's very clear throughout Scripture

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 that God's desire was for all the nations to worship him,

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 that the Jewish people had a special job

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 to be the light to the nations,

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 and they failed at that.

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 And by the time Jesus' birth comes around,

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 there was suspicion among the Jewish people

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 against non-Jews.

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 And it's understandable.

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 There was conquering nations that would come in.

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 There was constant falls into,

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 falling into idolatry.

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 There was almost like a colonization,

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 first of the Greeks,

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 and then eventually the Romans.

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 All probably legitimate reasons

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 to be suspicious of non-Jews,

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 but the point is they were suspicious,

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 and this is not what God had called them to.

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 So in walked the Magi,

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 right off the bat in Matthew chapter 2.

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 And they were most certainly not Jewish.

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 They come from the East,

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 and we're not sure exactly where in the East.

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 The text doesn't tell us maybe Persia,

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 maybe Babylon.

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 They were diviners.

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 They were astrologers.

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 Not in the way kind of NASA does astrology,

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 but they look to the stars for prophecy and for signs.

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 All these things, interestingly,

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 were things that the Hebrew scriptures forbade.

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 The point is these people were as far from Jewish

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 as a part of the in crowd as you could get.

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 And yet, they are juxtaposed here by Matthew with the in crowd.

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 So take a look with me.

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 Chapter 2, verse 1,

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 and we'll read down to verse 4.

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 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea

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 in the days of Herod the king,

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 Herod is,

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 he is of some Jewish background,

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 but he was essentially put in place

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 to be the king of Judea,

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 but really he was an extension of Rome.

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 But he was the political elite at the time.

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 So in the days of Herod the king,

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 behold, the wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,

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 the wise men, the Magi,

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 saying,

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 Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?

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 For we saw his star when it rose

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 and have come to worship him.

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 When Herod the king heard this,

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 he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him.

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 And assembling all the chief priests

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 and scribes of the people,

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 those are the religious elites.

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 These are the spiritual leaders

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 and really the cultural leaders

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 of the people at the time.

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 Herod inquired of them,

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 the scribes and the chief priests,

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 where the Christ was to be born.

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 And then they go on to tell him.

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 It's interesting here that these people

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 are supposed to be the real leaders,

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 the people that are leading

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 and showing by example

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 to God's people

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 how to be a light among the nations.

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 And here they are juxtaposed with the Magi.

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 And the Magi are the,

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 apart from Jesus,

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 they're the real stars in this story.

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 Not Herod,

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 not the chief priests,

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 not the scribes.

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 And it's interesting

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 because inclusivity in our day

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 is quite the buzzword.

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 There is such a push

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 to accept people

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 for how they are

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 regardless of who they love,

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 what they do,

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 what families they come from.

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 And in a sense,

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 there is a nobility to this.

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 There is a desire

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 to not have people on the out,

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 but have people on the in.

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 But all too often,

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 this inclusivity

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 looks to exclude certain people.

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 There has to be

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 some sort of uniformity of thought.

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 And when somebody

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 has, say for instance,

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 a traditional view on marriage,

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 on monogamous,

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 heterosexual marriage,

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 that flies in the face

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 of inclusivity in our culture.

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 That's one example.

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 There are many.

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 But it's interesting

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 that in our day,

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 inclusivity looks a lot

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 like exclusivity.

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 There's an inclusivity

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 when it aligns

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 with a certain type of thought.

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 There is no plurality

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 of thought here.

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 And just in case

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 you're watching at home

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 and you're a Christian,

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 you think that I'm letting you

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 off the hook

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 and just railing

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 on our culture,

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 it happens in the church

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 all the time.

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 Sometimes really subtly,

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 sometimes overt,

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 but it's there.

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 We have this habit

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 in the church

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 of forcing conformity

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 onto people

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 before they actually

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 join the church.

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 We expect a certain

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 type of talk,

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 a certain type of dress,

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 a certain type of

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 vernacular behavior,

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 political affiliations.

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 It's like there's this

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 big list of things

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 you ought to endorse

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 and then you can come

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 into the church.

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 But that's not the way

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 of the scriptures.

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 That's not the way

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 of the Bible.

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 And yet we see the scriptures

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 speak so favorably here

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 about the wise men,

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 just as they are.

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 Nowhere does Matthew

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 condemn their religious practices

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 as they are seeking out

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 the Christ child,

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 nor does he justify it either.

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 But what he does do

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 is he commends

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 their eagerness

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 and courage

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 to travel

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 the distance

00:14:50.539 --> 00:14:51.279
 they traveled

00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:52.960
 all the way

00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:53.960
 at great cost

00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:55.039
 to see Christ

00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:55.860
 and to worship him.

00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:57.779
 It's very,

00:14:57.940 --> 00:14:58.620
 very interesting

00:14:58.620 --> 00:15:00.720
 that no longer

00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:03.200
 is the invitation

00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:04.539
 for the people of God

00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:07.439
 just to one specific

00:15:07.439 --> 00:15:08.159
 people group.

00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:09.740
 But it's for all people.

00:15:10.579 --> 00:15:11.319
 All people,

00:15:11.419 --> 00:15:12.379
 regardless of where

00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:13.299
 they have come from.

00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:15.279
 Regardless of their

00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:17.360
 socioeconomic background,

00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:19.639
 the language they speak,

00:15:19.719 --> 00:15:20.980
 the family they come from,

00:15:21.099 --> 00:15:22.459
 the things that happened

00:15:22.459 --> 00:15:24.319
 in their past,

00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:25.779
 the things that they did

00:15:25.779 --> 00:15:26.779
 in their past,

00:15:27.779 --> 00:15:30.860
 whether they're male

00:15:30.860 --> 00:15:31.639
 or female,

00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:34.220
 regardless of the color

00:15:34.220 --> 00:15:35.000
 of their skin,

00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:36.779
 that there is this

00:15:36.779 --> 00:15:37.659
 wonderful,

00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:38.480
 wonderful

00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:39.919
 inclusivity

00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:41.259
 that we see

00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:42.039
 in the scriptures

00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:43.100
 that the wise men

00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:44.480
 are just so,

00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:45.679
 it's so evidently

00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:47.340
 they are lifted high

00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:48.699
 as the

00:15:48.699 --> 00:15:50.960
 real in crowd

00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:52.019
 in this

00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:54.600
 scriptural

00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:55.399
 story.

00:15:57.139 --> 00:15:58.899
 So change must come

00:15:58.899 --> 00:16:00.740
 for a Christian,

00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:01.480
 but it has to come

00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:02.320
 after salvation.

00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:03.620
 We have to understand that.

00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:05.360
 It can't be a precursor

00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:06.159
 for salvation.

00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:08.200
 We come as we are.

00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:09.379
 We are broken.

00:16:09.659 --> 00:16:11.379
 We are beggars.

00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:12.159
 We are sinners.

00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:15.360
 That's the only prerequisite

00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:16.200
 and that is something

00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:16.700
 that is shared

00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:17.899
 by all of humanity.

00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:18.460
 This is what

00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:19.259
 the scripture teaches.

00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:20.580
 If you struggle

00:16:20.580 --> 00:16:21.340
 with that idea

00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:22.700
 that humans

00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:23.840
 are inherently sinful,

00:16:24.659 --> 00:16:24.879
 I mean,

00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:25.440
 I would say

00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:26.600
 take a bit of a

00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:28.399
 survey of history.

00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:30.120
 There is a lot

00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:30.459
 of good,

00:16:30.699 --> 00:16:32.699
 but the running

00:16:32.699 --> 00:16:34.779
 thing that seems

00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:36.159
 to unify humanity

00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:38.000
 is sinfulness,

00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:39.000
 is brokenness.

00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:45.480
 The wisdom

00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:46.879
 of the scriptures,

00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:49.480
 of this story,

00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:50.419
 it speaks to

00:16:50.419 --> 00:16:51.600
 this inclusivity.

00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:54.120
 And in many ways

00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:56.200
 to be a Christian

00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:57.620
 is to be

00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.759
 your most authentic

00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.580
 self.

00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:02.279
 So we touched

00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:03.620
 on the inclusivity,

00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:04.900
 real,

00:17:05.120 --> 00:17:06.259
 genuine inclusivity

00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:08.640
 of the wisdom

00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:10.120
 of this story.

00:17:10.120 --> 00:17:10.980
 But there is also

00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:11.799
 this authentic

00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:12.819
 and humble aspect

00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.500
 of the wisdom

00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:14.059
 as well.

00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:17.359
 we have this

00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:18.399
 interesting exchange

00:17:18.399 --> 00:17:19.119
 between Herod

00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:19.799
 and the Magi

00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:20.619
 where Herod

00:17:20.619 --> 00:17:21.679
 tries to show

00:17:21.679 --> 00:17:23.059
 how pious he is,

00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.740
 wanting to worship

00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:25.200
 the child.

00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:25.940
 If you join me

00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:26.740
 in verse 7,

00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:27.500
 this is what it says.

00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:29.559
 Then Herod

00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:30.440
 summoned the wise men

00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:30.899
 secretly

00:17:30.899 --> 00:17:31.899
 and ascertained

00:17:31.899 --> 00:17:32.279
 from them

00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:33.259
 what time

00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:33.839
 the star

00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:34.659
 had appeared.

00:17:35.139 --> 00:17:35.639
 And he sent

00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:36.339
 them to Bethlehem

00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:36.639
 saying,

00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:37.679
 go and search

00:17:37.679 --> 00:17:38.139
 diligently

00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:38.960
 for the child.

00:17:39.399 --> 00:17:39.819
 And when you

00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:40.500
 have found him,

00:17:40.659 --> 00:17:41.759
 bring me word

00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:43.059
 that I too

00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:43.779
 may come

00:17:43.779 --> 00:17:44.700
 and worship him.

00:17:45.579 --> 00:17:46.799
 We read a bit

00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:47.319
 farther,

00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:48.460
 not in our portion

00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:48.980
 this morning,

00:17:49.099 --> 00:17:50.440
 but just a few

00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:51.480
 verses down

00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.440
 in verse 16.

00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:53.599
 We see that

00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:54.240
 Herod here

00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:54.660
 is lying

00:17:54.660 --> 00:17:55.299
 through his teeth.

00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:58.240
 The Magi

00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:58.740
 are warned

00:17:58.740 --> 00:17:59.299
 in a dream

00:17:59.299 --> 00:18:00.019
 to not go back

00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:00.539
 to Herod

00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:01.039
 so they go

00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:02.299
 in an alternate way.

00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:03.899
 And Herod

00:18:03.899 --> 00:18:06.220
 is so

00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:07.220
 vexed

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:07.819
 by this.

00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:09.139
 He is so

00:18:09.139 --> 00:18:09.700
 angry

00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:11.059
 that his true

00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:11.779
 intentions

00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.399
 come out.

00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:13.200
 See,

00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:13.860
 Herod here,

00:18:14.360 --> 00:18:14.819
 he is a

00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:15.279
 pretender.

00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:15.740
 He's a

00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.299
 hypocrite.

00:18:16.620 --> 00:18:17.059
 He is

00:18:17.059 --> 00:18:18.000
 inauthentic.

00:18:18.840 --> 00:18:19.580
 He makes

00:18:19.580 --> 00:18:20.160
 believe he

00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:20.840
 is godly

00:18:20.840 --> 00:18:21.440
 when he

00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:22.000
 is anything

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:22.440
 but.

00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:23.940
 And here's

00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:24.360
 the thing.

00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:24.940
 History

00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:25.480
 tells us

00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.100
 that Herod,

00:18:27.620 --> 00:18:29.220
 so unwilling

00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:29.960
 to give up

00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:30.460
 power,

00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:32.080
 so suspicious,

00:18:32.580 --> 00:18:34.059
 so greedy

00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:36.160
 and self-absorbed

00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:36.819
 that he

00:18:36.819 --> 00:18:38.039
 killed his

00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:38.440
 wife

00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:39.700
 and some

00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:39.980
 of his

00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.400
 children

00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:42.080
 and relatives

00:18:42.080 --> 00:18:42.920
 because

00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:43.840
 he had

00:18:43.840 --> 00:18:44.300
 suspicion

00:18:44.300 --> 00:18:44.720
 that they

00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:44.940
 were going

00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:45.320
 to betray

00:18:45.320 --> 00:18:45.620
 him.

00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:46.780
 And here

00:18:46.780 --> 00:18:47.580
 in verse 16,

00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:48.300
 this is what

00:18:48.300 --> 00:18:48.740
 it says.

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:50.460
 Then Herod,

00:18:50.560 --> 00:18:51.180
 when he saw

00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:51.620
 that he had

00:18:51.620 --> 00:18:51.960
 been tricked

00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:52.519
 by the wise

00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:52.700
 men,

00:18:52.700 --> 00:18:53.860
 became furious

00:18:53.860 --> 00:18:54.560
 and he sent

00:18:54.560 --> 00:18:55.220
 and killed

00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:55.980
 all the male

00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:56.960
 children in

00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:57.480
 Bethlehem

00:18:57.480 --> 00:18:58.300
 and in all

00:18:58.300 --> 00:18:58.840
 that region

00:18:58.840 --> 00:18:59.200
 who were

00:18:59.200 --> 00:18:59.780
 two years

00:18:59.780 --> 00:19:00.259
 old

00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:01.040
 or under.

00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:02.800
 So I'll

00:19:02.800 --> 00:19:03.220
 read the rest

00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:03.400
 of it.

00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:03.940
 According to

00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:04.440
 the time

00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:05.040
 that he

00:19:05.040 --> 00:19:06.200
 had ascertained

00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:06.680
 from the

00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:07.120
 wise men,

00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:08.180
 he did

00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:08.860
 not want

00:19:08.860 --> 00:19:09.539
 to share

00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:10.340
 the throne

00:19:10.340 --> 00:19:11.200
 with this

00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:11.759
 supposed

00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.580
 king of

00:19:12.580 --> 00:19:13.080
 the Jews.

00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:14.539
 So what

00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:14.759
 does he

00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:15.120
 try to

00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:15.380
 do?

00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:16.840
 For his

00:19:16.840 --> 00:19:17.480
 own

00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.920
 pomp,

00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:19.600
 for his

00:19:19.600 --> 00:19:20.200
 own

00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:21.160
 pride,

00:19:21.360 --> 00:19:21.660
 for his

00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:22.700
 own,

00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:24.080
 so to speak,

00:19:24.140 --> 00:19:24.500
 political

00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:24.960
 welfare,

00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:25.920
 he has

00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:26.480
 people

00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:26.880
 murdered.

00:19:29.840 --> 00:19:30.480
 Inauthentic,

00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:32.440
 humble,

00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:34.039
 not humble

00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:34.660
 whatsoever,

00:19:34.840 --> 00:19:35.580
 prideful man

00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:36.139
 this Herod

00:19:36.139 --> 00:19:36.480
 was.

00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:38.339
 So we

00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:38.779
 don't have

00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:39.220
 murdering

00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:40.139
 megalomaniacs

00:19:40.139 --> 00:19:42.439
 running our

00:19:42.439 --> 00:19:42.799
 country,

00:19:42.919 --> 00:19:43.799
 our provinces.

00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:44.919
 You can

00:19:44.919 --> 00:19:45.500
 make jokes

00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.059
 and snicker

00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:46.500
 at home,

00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:47.019
 but the

00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:47.559
 truth is

00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.159
 we don't.

00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:50.099
 But we

00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:50.419
 have this

00:19:50.419 --> 00:19:50.799
 attitude

00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.339
 everywhere.

00:19:52.379 --> 00:19:53.039
 We have

00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:54.379
 this inauthenticity

00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:56.519
 that seems

00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:56.879
 to be

00:19:56.879 --> 00:19:57.240
 thoroughly

00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:57.819
 Canadian.

00:19:58.740 --> 00:19:59.439
 That we

00:19:59.439 --> 00:20:00.199
 have this

00:20:00.199 --> 00:20:02.099
 facade of

00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:02.500
 humility,

00:20:02.679 --> 00:20:03.419
 but inside

00:20:03.419 --> 00:20:03.939
 it is,

00:20:05.159 --> 00:20:05.439
 we are

00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:05.860
 prideful

00:20:05.860 --> 00:20:06.240
 people.

00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:08.340
 People

00:20:08.340 --> 00:20:08.740
 who make

00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:09.100
 themselves

00:20:09.100 --> 00:20:09.559
 out to

00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.080
 be humble

00:20:10.080 --> 00:20:10.759
 and authentic

00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.519
 and pious

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.200
 and righteous,

00:20:12.900 --> 00:20:14.240
 but when

00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:14.960
 one scratches

00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:15.680
 the surface,

00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:16.400
 you see

00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:16.700
 something

00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:17.299
 different.

00:20:18.860 --> 00:20:19.380
 The

00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:19.860
 practice

00:20:19.860 --> 00:20:20.539
 of cover

00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:21.400
 up is

00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:22.100
 alive and

00:20:22.100 --> 00:20:22.660
 well in

00:20:22.660 --> 00:20:23.000
 Canada.

00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:24.059
 We have

00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:25.120
 non-disclosure

00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:25.920
 agreements

00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:30.500
 to shut

00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:31.120
 people up

00:20:31.120 --> 00:20:33.019
 so the

00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:33.519
 truth doesn't

00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:33.980
 come out.

00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:35.879
 That is

00:20:35.879 --> 00:20:36.319
 not

00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:37.180
 humble.

00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:38.359
 That is

00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:38.680
 not

00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:39.240
 authentic.

00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:41.960
 And again,

00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:42.720
 guys,

00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:43.299
 this isn't a

00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:43.839
 thing that's

00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:44.180
 just out

00:20:44.180 --> 00:20:44.920
 there in

00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:46.180
 bad Ottawa,

00:20:46.379 --> 00:20:47.160
 bad Canada.

00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:47.980
 It's in the

00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:48.480
 church too,

00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:48.920
 isn't it?

00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:51.079
 Just in the

00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:51.660
 past few

00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:52.000
 months,

00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:53.879
 two very,

00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:56.859
 very high

00:20:56.859 --> 00:20:58.400
 profile Christian

00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:58.879
 leaders,

00:20:59.259 --> 00:20:59.859
 celebrity

00:20:59.859 --> 00:21:01.099
 Christian leaders

00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:01.459
 in the

00:21:01.459 --> 00:21:01.819
 Protestant

00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:02.299
 church,

00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:03.779
 have had a

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.359
 huge,

00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.259
 huge falling

00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:05.679
 away,

00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:08.639
 rattling

00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:09.279
 people's

00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:09.639
 faith,

00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:11.240
 purporting

00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:11.539
 to be

00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:11.959
 righteous

00:21:11.959 --> 00:21:12.899
 and holy

00:21:12.899 --> 00:21:14.439
 and humble

00:21:14.439 --> 00:21:17.079
 and their

00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:18.179
 sin has

00:21:18.179 --> 00:21:18.599
 been found

00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:18.819
 out.

00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:19.279
 In one

00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:19.659
 case,

00:21:19.959 --> 00:21:20.279
 while the

00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:20.719
 person was

00:21:20.719 --> 00:21:21.419
 still alive,

00:21:22.659 --> 00:21:23.139
 in another

00:21:23.139 --> 00:21:23.439
 case,

00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:23.899
 when somebody

00:21:23.899 --> 00:21:24.559
 passed away.

00:21:25.859 --> 00:21:26.639
 It's also

00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:27.480
 in the

00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.079
 Roman Catholic

00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:29.439
 church with

00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:30.600
 the sexual

00:21:30.600 --> 00:21:31.000
 abuse

00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:31.539
 cover-ups

00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:31.980
 as well.

00:21:32.820 --> 00:21:33.480
 This seems

00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:33.820
 to be a

00:21:33.820 --> 00:21:34.440
 human problem

00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:35.519
 and the

00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:35.820
 church is

00:21:35.820 --> 00:21:36.080
 full of

00:21:36.080 --> 00:21:36.400
 humans,

00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:37.120
 so it's

00:21:37.120 --> 00:21:37.559
 a problem

00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:37.860
 in the

00:21:37.860 --> 00:21:38.279
 church as

00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:38.539
 well.

00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:40.820
 The

00:21:40.820 --> 00:21:41.180
 interesting

00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:41.740
 thing about

00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:42.340
 the Magi

00:21:42.340 --> 00:21:44.240
 are that

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.680
 they are

00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:45.019
 actually

00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:45.480
 cultural

00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:45.900
 elites

00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:46.860
 where they're

00:21:46.860 --> 00:21:47.100
 from.

00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:48.700
 They are

00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:49.660
 people that

00:21:49.660 --> 00:21:52.080
 would be

00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:52.779
 somewhat akin

00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:53.360
 to the

00:21:53.360 --> 00:21:53.940
 scribes

00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:54.559
 and the

00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:54.820
 chief

00:21:54.820 --> 00:21:55.340
 priests,

00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:57.380
 people that

00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:57.940
 are looked

00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:58.799
 to to

00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.259
 lead,

00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:01.039
 people that

00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:01.759
 are

00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.799
 intelligent

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:05.799
 and that

00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:06.339
 they have

00:22:06.339 --> 00:22:07.059
 responsibility

00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:07.899
 that extends

00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:08.480
 far beyond

00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:08.799
 their own

00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:09.059
 home.

00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:10.799
 And yet,

00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:12.180
 with their

00:22:12.180 --> 00:22:13.200
 prestige and

00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:13.819
 their wisdom

00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.220
 in their

00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:14.960
 native countries,

00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:16.039
 they travel at

00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:16.859
 great lengths,

00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:17.940
 great lengths,

00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.779
 at great

00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.319
 cost.

00:22:21.639 --> 00:22:21.819
 We,

00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:22.299
 I mean,

00:22:22.419 --> 00:22:23.240
 just on a

00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:23.500
 pause,

00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:24.740
 we sing

00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:25.259
 We Three

00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:25.599
 Kings,

00:22:25.879 --> 00:22:26.539
 it was likely

00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:26.899
 that there

00:22:26.899 --> 00:22:27.379
 were more

00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:29.560
 of these,

00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:30.500
 and they

00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:30.940
 weren't kings,

00:22:31.080 --> 00:22:31.280
 they were

00:22:31.280 --> 00:22:32.220
 wise men or

00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:32.720
 Magi,

00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.360
 and there

00:22:33.360 --> 00:22:33.740
 was likely

00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.200
 more than

00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:34.440
 three.

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:34.820
 We say

00:22:34.820 --> 00:22:35.220
 We Three

00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:35.600
 Kings

00:22:35.600 --> 00:22:36.740
 because there

00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:37.080
 was three

00:22:37.080 --> 00:22:37.420
 gifts,

00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:38.400
 but it's

00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:38.860
 likely that

00:22:38.860 --> 00:22:39.280
 there was

00:22:39.280 --> 00:22:40.440
 multiple,

00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:40.960
 that there

00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:41.700
 was a

00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:42.440
 whole entourage

00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:42.980
 with them.

00:22:43.100 --> 00:22:43.260
 I mean,

00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:45.180
 the cost

00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:46.000
 of travel

00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.480
 must have

00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:47.020
 been

00:22:47.020 --> 00:22:47.860
 astronomical,

00:22:49.060 --> 00:22:50.040
 and yet,

00:22:50.120 --> 00:22:50.400
 what do

00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:50.840
 they do?

00:22:51.340 --> 00:22:52.200
 They seek

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:53.060
 out this

00:22:53.060 --> 00:22:53.520
 child.

00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:55.120
 They hear

00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:56.079
 this story.

00:22:56.219 --> 00:22:56.719
 It's unlikely

00:22:56.719 --> 00:22:57.159
 that they

00:22:57.159 --> 00:22:57.539
 would have

00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:59.939
 known much

00:22:59.939 --> 00:23:00.419
 of the Hebrew

00:23:00.419 --> 00:23:00.799
 scriptures,

00:23:00.919 --> 00:23:01.579
 maybe enough

00:23:01.579 --> 00:23:02.439
 to know

00:23:02.439 --> 00:23:03.279
 about this

00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:03.739
 prophecy,

00:23:04.399 --> 00:23:07.699
 but here

00:23:07.699 --> 00:23:08.259
 they are

00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:08.839
 with so

00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:09.559
 much prestige,

00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:09.979
 and they

00:23:09.979 --> 00:23:10.839
 suspend it.

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:12.959
 They spend

00:23:12.959 --> 00:23:14.559
 it to find

00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:15.239
 this child,

00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:17.099
 and then they

00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:17.719
 see this

00:23:17.719 --> 00:23:19.619
 child in a

00:23:19.619 --> 00:23:20.119
 home,

00:23:20.879 --> 00:23:21.559
 likely a

00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:21.799
 very,

00:23:21.919 --> 00:23:22.500
 very poor

00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:23.359
 home in

00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:23.879
 Bethlehem.

00:23:24.679 --> 00:23:25.319
 We remember

00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:26.119
 that Mary

00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:26.619
 and Joseph,

00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:26.919
 when they

00:23:26.919 --> 00:23:27.459
 were presenting

00:23:27.459 --> 00:23:28.000
 an offering

00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.399
 at the

00:23:28.399 --> 00:23:28.679
 temple,

00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:29.500
 all that

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:29.899
 they could

00:23:29.899 --> 00:23:30.479
 afford were

00:23:30.479 --> 00:23:31.619
 two pigeons

00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:32.579
 to sacrifice

00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:33.379
 for Jesus.

00:23:33.939 --> 00:23:34.379
 They were

00:23:34.379 --> 00:23:34.740
 poor.

00:23:35.099 --> 00:23:35.559
 These rich

00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:36.019
 people went

00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:36.599
 to a poor

00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:37.000
 home,

00:23:37.459 --> 00:23:37.919
 and in the

00:23:37.919 --> 00:23:38.059
 end,

00:23:38.139 --> 00:23:38.619
 they worshipped

00:23:38.619 --> 00:23:39.000
 just the

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.379
 child.

00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:40.799
 They didn't

00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.000
 say,

00:23:41.159 --> 00:23:41.419
 well,

00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:42.219
 bring the

00:23:42.219 --> 00:23:42.779
 child to

00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:43.079
 us.

00:23:43.179 --> 00:23:43.479
 We are

00:23:43.479 --> 00:23:43.819
 important

00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:44.179
 people.

00:23:44.619 --> 00:23:44.819
 They

00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:45.899
 condescended,

00:23:46.479 --> 00:23:47.059
 even though

00:23:47.059 --> 00:23:48.119
 Jesus was

00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:48.659
 the true

00:23:48.659 --> 00:23:49.539
 one who

00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:50.119
 condescended

00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:50.599
 from heaven

00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:51.059
 to earth.

00:23:51.439 --> 00:23:52.119
 But they

00:23:52.119 --> 00:23:53.599
 lowered

00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:54.259
 themselves.

00:23:55.159 --> 00:23:55.399
 And they

00:23:55.399 --> 00:23:55.799
 didn't do

00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.539
 it begrudgingly.

00:23:56.619 --> 00:23:57.000
 It says

00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:57.879
 that when

00:23:57.879 --> 00:23:58.519
 they found

00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.739
 in verse

00:23:59.739 --> 00:24:02.639
 9,

00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:03.579
 they went

00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:03.819
 on their

00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:04.199
 way,

00:24:04.739 --> 00:24:05.379
 verse 10,

00:24:05.479 --> 00:24:05.619
 sorry,

00:24:05.699 --> 00:24:05.939
 when they

00:24:05.939 --> 00:24:06.299
 saw the

00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:06.519
 star,

00:24:06.659 --> 00:24:07.399
 they rejoiced

00:24:07.399 --> 00:24:08.039
 exceedingly

00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:08.519
 with great

00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:08.879
 joy.

00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:10.339
 That this

00:24:10.339 --> 00:24:11.979
 was something

00:24:11.979 --> 00:24:12.859
 that completely

00:24:12.859 --> 00:24:13.819
 enraptured

00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:14.119
 them.

00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:15.000
 And they

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:15.599
 were very,

00:24:15.699 --> 00:24:15.979
 very,

00:24:15.979 --> 00:24:17.839
 very joyous

00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:18.979
 about finding

00:24:18.979 --> 00:24:19.339
 Jesus.

00:24:19.339 --> 00:24:19.740
 And they

00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:20.639
 fell down

00:24:20.639 --> 00:24:21.359
 and worshipped

00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:21.519
 him,

00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:22.279
 gave him

00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:23.139
 gifts,

00:24:23.939 --> 00:24:24.500
 kingly

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:24.980
 gifts,

00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:25.899
 royal

00:24:25.899 --> 00:24:26.419
 gifts.

00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:29.359
 We have

00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:30.179
 this true

00:24:30.179 --> 00:24:31.079
 authentic

00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:32.179
 and humble

00:24:32.179 --> 00:24:32.799
 wisdom

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:34.939
 that pursued

00:24:34.939 --> 00:24:35.699
 Christ,

00:24:36.179 --> 00:24:36.919
 pursued the

00:24:36.919 --> 00:24:37.619
 right thing,

00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.559
 even though

00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.059
 it cost

00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:39.279
 them.

00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:43.139
 So we

00:24:43.139 --> 00:24:44.279
 have a

00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:45.019
 wisdom that

00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:45.959
 is inclusive

00:24:45.959 --> 00:24:46.759
 and also

00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.919
 authentic and

00:24:47.919 --> 00:24:48.139
 humble,

00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:48.699
 but also

00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:49.259
 courageous.

00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:50.940
 Look with

00:24:50.940 --> 00:24:51.220
 me at

00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:51.700
 verse 3.

00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:54.420
 When

00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:55.140
 Herod the

00:24:55.140 --> 00:24:55.840
 king heard

00:24:55.840 --> 00:24:56.200
 this,

00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:57.140
 that the

00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:57.600
 wise men

00:24:57.600 --> 00:24:57.960
 were looking

00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:59.039
 for the

00:24:59.039 --> 00:24:59.559
 king of

00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:00.000
 the Jews,

00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:01.559
 he was

00:25:01.559 --> 00:25:02.039
 troubled in

00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:02.519
 all Jerusalem

00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:03.019
 with him.

00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:03.900
 And assembling

00:25:03.900 --> 00:25:04.500
 all the chief

00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.059
 priests and

00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:05.559
 scribes of

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:05.940
 the people,

00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:06.559
 he inquired

00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:06.940
 of them

00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:07.680
 where the

00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:08.180
 Christ was

00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:08.420
 to be

00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:08.720
 born.

00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:09.819
 They,

00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:11.200
 the priests

00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:12.519
 and scribes,

00:25:12.600 --> 00:25:13.000
 told him,

00:25:13.080 --> 00:25:13.580
 in Bethlehem

00:25:13.580 --> 00:25:14.240
 of Judea,

00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.440
 for so it

00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:15.840
 is written

00:25:15.840 --> 00:25:16.319
 by the

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:16.660
 prophet,

00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:17.559
 and you,

00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.220
 O Bethlehem,

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:18.480
 in the

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:18.900
 land of

00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.480
 Judah,

00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:19.880
 are by

00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:20.440
 no means

00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:20.980
 least among

00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:21.380
 the rulers

00:25:21.380 --> 00:25:21.839
 of Judah.

00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.380
 For from

00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:23.860
 you shall

00:25:23.860 --> 00:25:24.519
 come a

00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:25.100
 ruler who

00:25:25.100 --> 00:25:25.400
 will be

00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:26.100
 shepherd of

00:25:26.100 --> 00:25:26.740
 my people

00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.319
 Israel.

00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:30.799
 When the

00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:31.819
 Magi inquire

00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:32.740
 in Jerusalem

00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:33.799
 to Herod

00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:34.579
 where this

00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:35.360
 king of the

00:25:35.360 --> 00:25:36.980
 Jews would

00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:38.079
 be born,

00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:39.259
 where they

00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:40.059
 could find

00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:40.319
 him,

00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:41.960
 Herod enlists

00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:43.660
 the religious

00:25:43.660 --> 00:25:45.380
 experts of

00:25:45.380 --> 00:25:45.860
 the time,

00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:46.640
 the chief

00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.080
 priests

00:25:47.080 --> 00:25:47.940
 and scribes,

00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:48.900
 the thing

00:25:48.900 --> 00:25:49.240
 is they

00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:49.940
 correctly

00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:52.220
 identify the

00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:52.640
 truth in

00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:53.080
 the scriptures.

00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.060
 They know

00:25:54.060 --> 00:25:54.480
 the scriptures

00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:55.140
 very well,

00:25:55.540 --> 00:25:56.720
 and they

00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.279
 nail it.

00:25:57.400 --> 00:25:57.580
 I mean,

00:25:57.600 --> 00:25:57.960
 they just

00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:58.320
 do.

00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:00.200
 They cite

00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:01.259
 Micah chapter

00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:01.580
 five,

00:26:01.600 --> 00:26:01.900
 and if you

00:26:01.900 --> 00:26:02.320
 read Micah

00:26:02.320 --> 00:26:02.840
 chapter five,

00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:03.200
 it actually

00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:03.779
 doesn't have

00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:04.600
 that bit at

00:26:04.600 --> 00:26:04.880
 the end,

00:26:04.940 --> 00:26:05.160
 who will

00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:05.660
 shepherd my

00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:06.279
 people Israel.

00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:07.100
 But that

00:26:07.100 --> 00:26:07.779
 little bit

00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.560
 is from

00:26:08.560 --> 00:26:09.800
 King David's

00:26:09.800 --> 00:26:10.660
 coronation in

00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:11.360
 2 Samuel.

00:26:12.340 --> 00:26:13.060
 And this

00:26:13.060 --> 00:26:13.779
 is a

00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:14.180
 remarkable

00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:14.620
 thing for

00:26:14.620 --> 00:26:15.000
 them to

00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:16.420
 include in

00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:17.360
 this prophecy

00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:18.620
 because it

00:26:18.620 --> 00:26:20.980
 means that

00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:21.200
 they have

00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:22.200
 deep insight

00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:24.300
 into who

00:26:24.300 --> 00:26:26.320
 the Messiah

00:26:26.320 --> 00:26:26.920
 will be and

00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:27.400
 what he

00:26:27.400 --> 00:26:27.920
 will do.

00:26:29.360 --> 00:26:30.240
 These people

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:30.800
 know their

00:26:30.800 --> 00:26:31.200
 Bible,

00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:33.120
 and yet

00:26:33.120 --> 00:26:34.320
 it's just

00:26:34.320 --> 00:26:34.920
 the Magi

00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.500
 that go to

00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.019
 Bethlehem.

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:37.960
 King Herod

00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:38.400
 doesn't go,

00:26:38.600 --> 00:26:39.180
 and neither

00:26:39.180 --> 00:26:39.840
 do the chief

00:26:39.840 --> 00:26:40.540
 priests and

00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:41.259
 the scribes.

00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:41.659
 They had a

00:26:41.659 --> 00:26:42.000
 chance.

00:26:42.139 --> 00:26:42.920
 You'd have to

00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:43.279
 think they

00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:43.899
 had a chance,

00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:45.220
 and they

00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:45.740
 don't go.

00:26:47.139 --> 00:26:47.920
 They know

00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:48.500
 the scriptures

00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:48.899
 and they

00:26:48.899 --> 00:26:49.480
 don't act

00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:49.799
 on them.

00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:51.039
 Maybe because

00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:52.159
 like Herod,

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.740
 they were

00:26:52.740 --> 00:26:53.819
 risking their

00:26:53.819 --> 00:26:56.279
 own political

00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:57.279
 gravitas,

00:26:57.899 --> 00:26:59.059
 their own

00:26:59.059 --> 00:26:59.879
 standing within

00:26:59.879 --> 00:27:00.420
 society,

00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:00.899
 or maybe they

00:27:00.899 --> 00:27:01.119
 were just

00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:01.779
 afraid of

00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:02.039
 Herod.

00:27:02.139 --> 00:27:02.339
 I mean,

00:27:02.359 --> 00:27:02.759
 it said that

00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:03.519
 all Jerusalem

00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:05.700
 was troubled

00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:06.079
 with him.

00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:06.839
 My guess is

00:27:06.839 --> 00:27:07.139
 that all

00:27:07.139 --> 00:27:07.639
 Jerusalem was

00:27:07.639 --> 00:27:08.119
 troubled with

00:27:08.119 --> 00:27:08.440
 him because

00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:08.879
 they knew

00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:09.819
 that Herod

00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:10.779
 was a

00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:11.779
 paranoid guy

00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.059
 that could

00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:12.639
 fly off the

00:27:12.639 --> 00:27:12.939
 handle,

00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:13.879
 kill people.

00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:15.819
 They had a

00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:16.200
 chance.

00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:16.480
 They knew

00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:17.039
 the scriptures

00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:17.759
 and they

00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:18.339
 didn't act

00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:18.579
 on it.

00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:18.960
 They weren't

00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:19.460
 courageous.

00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:19.919
 They didn't

00:27:19.919 --> 00:27:20.279
 have deep

00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:20.759
 conviction.

00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:21.879
 Their wisdom

00:27:21.879 --> 00:27:23.079
 only went so

00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:24.480
 far and proved

00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:25.139
 to be a false

00:27:25.139 --> 00:27:26.059
 wisdom at that.

00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:28.299
 This is a huge

00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:29.299
 warning for

00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:30.139
 Christian people.

00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:31.079
 It's a huge

00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:31.539
 warning for

00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.000
 pastors.

00:27:33.259 --> 00:27:34.159
 We can say

00:27:34.159 --> 00:27:34.939
 the right things.

00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:35.659
 We can go to

00:27:35.659 --> 00:27:36.539
 church on Sunday.

00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:37.200
 We can take

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:37.720
 communion,

00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:38.720
 have our

00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.779
 children baptized,

00:27:40.659 --> 00:27:42.399
 do devotionals,

00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:43.539
 have a wonderful

00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:44.220
 journal,

00:27:45.659 --> 00:27:46.680
 Instagram with

00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:47.740
 your hot coffee,

00:27:47.940 --> 00:27:48.759
 beautiful journal,

00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:49.639
 your Bible open.

00:27:50.039 --> 00:27:50.839
 Everybody thinks

00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:52.240
 you are so holy.

00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:53.059
 And when you

00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:54.240
 don't follow through

00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:54.819
 with scripture,

00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.440
 when it says

00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:57.259
 something and it

00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:57.940
 convicts you of

00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:59.159
 sin and you

00:27:59.159 --> 00:27:59.960
 brush it away,

00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:01.700
 your heart gets

00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:02.299
 black.

00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:04.319
 your heart gets

00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:05.940
 stone hard.

00:28:07.159 --> 00:28:08.379
 It's a huge,

00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:09.139
 huge warning

00:28:09.139 --> 00:28:10.960
 for us.

00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:11.419
 It's a huge

00:28:11.419 --> 00:28:12.240
 warning for me.

00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:17.000
 True wisdom

00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:17.559
 isn't just

00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:18.779
 knowing what

00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:19.379
 to do,

00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:20.000
 but it's the

00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.879
 conviction and

00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:21.599
 the courage to

00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:22.039
 do it.

00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:26.339
 If you feel

00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:27.680
 like a

00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:28.940
 coworker or

00:28:28.940 --> 00:28:29.539
 a superior

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:31.339
 is encouraging

00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:31.740
 you to

00:28:31.740 --> 00:28:32.279
 compromise,

00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:33.940
 at work,

00:28:34.379 --> 00:28:35.980
 you have to

00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.419
 have the

00:28:36.419 --> 00:28:38.099
 courage and

00:28:38.099 --> 00:28:38.720
 the conviction

00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:40.039
 to stand your

00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:40.460
 ground.

00:28:40.899 --> 00:28:41.879
 There's ways to

00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:42.639
 do it that is

00:28:42.639 --> 00:28:43.639
 a bit more

00:28:43.639 --> 00:28:45.220
 winsome for

00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:45.639
 sure,

00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:47.019
 but there has

00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:47.659
 to be

00:28:47.659 --> 00:28:49.299
 courage or

00:28:49.299 --> 00:28:49.799
 else it's not

00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:50.180
 wisdom.

00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:52.779
 If you're in

00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.419
 a relationship

00:28:53.419 --> 00:28:55.240
 and there's an

00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:56.139
 unhealthiness to

00:28:56.139 --> 00:28:56.799
 the relationship

00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:58.159
 and instead of

00:28:58.159 --> 00:28:58.960
 choosing to do

00:28:58.960 --> 00:28:59.740
 the right thing

00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.980
 and repent and

00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.539
 involve other

00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:01.960
 people,

00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:02.640
 into the

00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:03.400
 relationship or

00:29:03.400 --> 00:29:04.279
 maybe break

00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:04.600
 off the

00:29:04.600 --> 00:29:05.360
 relationship if

00:29:05.360 --> 00:29:06.380
 it's not a

00:29:06.380 --> 00:29:08.460
 marriage and

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.160
 you don't act

00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:09.680
 on it,

00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:10.779
 then that is

00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:11.579
 not wise.

00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:14.819
 Wisdom is

00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:17.420
 wisdom if it

00:29:17.420 --> 00:29:17.980
 is acted

00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:18.480
 upon.

00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:25.120
 I don't look at

00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:26.059
 the chief priests

00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:27.440
 and the scribes

00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:28.000
 and think,

00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:29.039
 oh,

00:29:29.120 --> 00:29:29.880
 those guys.

00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.579
 I look at

00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.200
 them and it's

00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:31.880
 a mirror right

00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:32.559
 back at me.

00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:33.860
 You know,

00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:34.160
 you have to

00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:35.000
 understand in

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.680
 verse 16,

00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:36.779
 Herod here

00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.740
 kills all the

00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:38.120
 firstborn.

00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:38.599
 It doesn't

00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:39.099
 seem like,

00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.779
 like at best

00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:41.360
 they were,

00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:42.019
 they were

00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:42.860
 silent on it.

00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:43.139
 they didn't

00:29:43.139 --> 00:29:43.819
 try to stop

00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:44.079
 it.

00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.240
 Their

00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:49.139
 successors were

00:29:49.139 --> 00:29:49.779
 actually the

00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:51.000
 ones that

00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.879
 would push and

00:29:51.879 --> 00:29:52.679
 push and push to

00:29:52.679 --> 00:29:53.479
 have Jesus

00:29:53.479 --> 00:29:54.000
 crucified.

00:29:54.679 --> 00:29:55.539
 And yet they

00:29:55.539 --> 00:29:56.539
 knew the

00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.000
 scriptures.

00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:01.179
 Real wisdom

00:30:01.179 --> 00:30:01.719
 must be

00:30:01.719 --> 00:30:02.179
 courageous.

00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:04.139
 It must be.

00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:05.680
 in preparation

00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:06.400
 for today,

00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:07.540
 I was going

00:30:07.540 --> 00:30:07.940
 through a

00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.440
 commentary

00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:10.780
 written by

00:30:10.780 --> 00:30:12.000
 Bishop J.C.

00:30:12.080 --> 00:30:12.380
 Ryle.

00:30:12.820 --> 00:30:13.280
 That's our

00:30:13.280 --> 00:30:13.880
 seminary's

00:30:13.880 --> 00:30:14.400
 namesake.

00:30:14.780 --> 00:30:15.240
 And he said

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:15.880
 this of this

00:30:15.880 --> 00:30:17.560
 specific verse,

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:18.880
 familiarity

00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:19.520
 with the

00:30:19.520 --> 00:30:20.300
 sacred things

00:30:20.300 --> 00:30:21.540
 has an awful

00:30:21.540 --> 00:30:22.360
 tendency to

00:30:22.360 --> 00:30:22.820
 make men

00:30:22.820 --> 00:30:23.600
 despise them.

00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:27.020
 When you

00:30:27.020 --> 00:30:27.480
 think you

00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:28.120
 know what

00:30:28.120 --> 00:30:28.860
 to do and

00:30:28.860 --> 00:30:29.320
 you don't

00:30:29.320 --> 00:30:30.060
 act on it,

00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:32.360
 you become

00:30:32.360 --> 00:30:33.300
 a hard-hearted

00:30:33.300 --> 00:30:33.940
 person.

00:30:35.140 --> 00:30:36.160
 This is why

00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:36.620
 friends,

00:30:37.080 --> 00:30:37.840
 confession is

00:30:37.840 --> 00:30:38.380
 actually a

00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:38.820
 beautiful,

00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:39.480
 beautiful gift

00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:39.960
 to us.

00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:42.460
 Because it's

00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:43.060
 an opportunity

00:30:43.060 --> 00:30:43.620
 for us to

00:30:43.620 --> 00:30:44.240
 recognize that

00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:44.820
 we are sinful,

00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:45.880
 that we fall

00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:46.259
 short,

00:30:46.400 --> 00:30:48.420
 that we don't

00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:49.700
 act in wisdom

00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:51.400
 in ways and

00:30:51.400 --> 00:30:51.980
 at times that

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.360
 we should.

00:30:53.160 --> 00:30:53.580
 But we

00:30:53.580 --> 00:30:54.280
 confess it,

00:30:54.540 --> 00:30:55.200
 we communicate

00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:57.720
 it to people

00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.860
 around us that

00:30:58.860 --> 00:30:59.520
 we can trust

00:30:59.520 --> 00:31:00.080
 and love,

00:31:00.800 --> 00:31:01.640
 that love us

00:31:01.640 --> 00:31:02.060
 back.

00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:03.180
 But we also

00:31:03.180 --> 00:31:04.060
 confess it

00:31:04.059 --> 00:31:04.599
 and we

00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:05.159
 communicate it

00:31:05.159 --> 00:31:05.579
 to God.

00:31:06.859 --> 00:31:07.480
 That stuff

00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:07.899
 keeps our

00:31:07.899 --> 00:31:08.599
 heart soft.

00:31:09.659 --> 00:31:10.259
 I'd encourage

00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:10.720
 you guys,

00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:11.119
 as a bit of

00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:11.859
 a sidebar,

00:31:12.619 --> 00:31:13.440
 if you need

00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:14.079
 to confess

00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:15.039
 sins,

00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:15.759
 confess them.

00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:17.299
 You can find

00:31:17.299 --> 00:31:17.899
 somebody to

00:31:17.899 --> 00:31:18.440
 confess them

00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:20.200
 to and pray

00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:21.419
 so that you

00:31:21.419 --> 00:31:22.259
 may be healed.

00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:23.500
 The end of

00:31:23.500 --> 00:31:24.579
 the epistle

00:31:24.579 --> 00:31:25.039
 to James

00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:25.579
 says that.

00:31:25.579 --> 00:31:25.699
 wisdom,

00:31:26.119 --> 00:31:34.000
 Godly,

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.819
 long-lasting,

00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:35.619
 eternal wisdom

00:31:35.619 --> 00:31:36.799
 that is

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.720
 inclusive,

00:31:38.179 --> 00:31:38.779
 that is

00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:39.419
 authentic,

00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:41.960
 and that

00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:42.419
 is humble,

00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:43.159
 and also that

00:31:43.159 --> 00:31:43.720
 is courageous.

00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:45.079
 I don't want

00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:45.919
 people to leave

00:31:45.919 --> 00:31:47.559
 thinking that

00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:49.240
 there is no

00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:49.919
 wisdom outside

00:31:49.919 --> 00:31:50.519
 of the church.

00:31:50.699 --> 00:31:51.220
 There's nothing

00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:51.919
 to be learned

00:31:51.919 --> 00:31:52.679
 from secular

00:31:52.679 --> 00:31:53.299
 authorities.

00:31:53.299 --> 00:31:54.819
 I don't think

00:31:54.819 --> 00:31:55.159
 that's true

00:31:55.159 --> 00:31:55.359
 at all.

00:31:55.419 --> 00:31:56.059
 There's plenty

00:31:56.059 --> 00:31:56.659
 of good and

00:31:56.659 --> 00:31:57.500
 practical wisdom

00:31:57.500 --> 00:31:59.039
 to be learned

00:31:59.039 --> 00:32:00.500
 from leadership

00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:01.539
 experts and

00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:02.559
 business experts

00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:03.319
 and parenting

00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:04.079
 experts that

00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:04.799
 aren't explicitly

00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:05.980
 Christian one

00:32:05.980 --> 00:32:06.259
 way or the

00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:06.379
 other.

00:32:06.380 --> 00:32:07.100
 just yesterday,

00:32:07.660 --> 00:32:08.620
 I started

00:32:08.620 --> 00:32:09.120
 watching a

00:32:09.120 --> 00:32:09.760
 video by

00:32:09.760 --> 00:32:11.020
 Tim Ferriss.

00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:12.120
 He's this,

00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:13.180
 I don't know

00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:14.080
 exactly what he

00:32:14.080 --> 00:32:14.620
 is, but he's

00:32:14.620 --> 00:32:15.820
 something, this

00:32:15.820 --> 00:32:16.840
 lifestyle, whatever

00:32:16.840 --> 00:32:19.120
 coach, and it

00:32:19.120 --> 00:32:20.100
 was how to

00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.660
 improve your

00:32:20.660 --> 00:32:21.140
 morning routine.

00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:21.880
 I stopped the

00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:23.360
 video because I

00:32:23.360 --> 00:32:23.880
 realized this is

00:32:23.880 --> 00:32:24.660
 not applicable to

00:32:24.660 --> 00:32:26.580
 me until I

00:32:26.580 --> 00:32:27.040
 don't have young

00:32:27.040 --> 00:32:29.160
 children, but

00:32:29.160 --> 00:32:30.240
 nevertheless,

00:32:30.560 --> 00:32:31.240
 there's tons of

00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:32.040
 practical wisdom

00:32:32.040 --> 00:32:33.160
 to be gained,

00:32:33.160 --> 00:32:33.200
 gained.

00:32:33.840 --> 00:32:34.040
 But the

00:32:34.040 --> 00:32:34.340
 thing with

00:32:34.340 --> 00:32:35.279
 practical wisdom,

00:32:36.820 --> 00:32:38.740
 there's a whole

00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:39.720
 principle in

00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:40.200
 scripture that

00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:40.940
 says that God

00:32:40.940 --> 00:32:42.220
 sends rain on

00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:42.720
 the just and

00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:44.040
 the unjust, that

00:32:44.040 --> 00:32:44.620
 there is this

00:32:44.620 --> 00:32:46.120
 common grace that

00:32:46.120 --> 00:32:47.400
 allows this world

00:32:47.400 --> 00:32:48.340
 to exist in

00:32:48.340 --> 00:32:49.259
 somewhat harmony.

00:32:50.380 --> 00:32:51.940
 But this wisdom

00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:53.360
 can only lead us

00:32:53.360 --> 00:32:53.840
 so far.

00:32:53.839 --> 00:32:55.939
 It can help us

00:32:55.939 --> 00:32:56.519
 to improve our

00:32:56.519 --> 00:32:57.359
 lives, but never

00:32:57.359 --> 00:32:59.319
 fully leads us to

00:32:59.319 --> 00:33:00.199
 the ultimate end,

00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:00.679
 which is the

00:33:00.679 --> 00:33:01.500
 salvation of our

00:33:01.500 --> 00:33:01.819
 souls.

00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:04.240
 The communion

00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:05.659
 with the triune

00:33:05.659 --> 00:33:06.899
 God that all

00:33:06.899 --> 00:33:08.099
 human beings

00:33:08.099 --> 00:33:08.899
 long for, whether

00:33:08.899 --> 00:33:09.759
 they understand it

00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:11.220
 or not, this

00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:12.139
 hole in our

00:33:12.139 --> 00:33:12.740
 heart that can't

00:33:12.740 --> 00:33:13.319
 be filled with

00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:14.480
 stuff or people.

00:33:17.079 --> 00:33:17.759
 There's this

00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.639
 interesting bit in

00:33:18.639 --> 00:33:19.379
 Dante's Divine

00:33:19.380 --> 00:33:20.080
 comedy where

00:33:20.080 --> 00:33:21.580
 Dante's guide,

00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:23.440
 Virgil, who

00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:24.400
 represents human

00:33:24.400 --> 00:33:25.620
 reason, can only

00:33:25.620 --> 00:33:26.500
 take him to the

00:33:26.500 --> 00:33:27.400
 entrance of heaven,

00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:29.440
 but no farther.

00:33:30.980 --> 00:33:33.020
 It's very wise

00:33:33.020 --> 00:33:34.700
 imagery because

00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:36.240
 salvation is not

00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:37.000
 a series of

00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:39.020
 tests or head

00:33:39.020 --> 00:33:40.180
 knowledge or

00:33:40.180 --> 00:33:41.480
 whatever of some

00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:42.200
 kind of conventional

00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:43.640
 wisdom or

00:33:43.640 --> 00:33:44.160
 behavior.

00:33:45.320 --> 00:33:45.740
 And if you

00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:46.600
 somehow succeed,

00:33:46.800 --> 00:33:47.340
 you get into

00:33:47.340 --> 00:33:48.200
 heaven.

00:33:48.200 --> 00:33:48.319
 heaven.

00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:49.440
 It's not like

00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:49.840
 that at all.

00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:50.160
 Why?

00:33:50.299 --> 00:33:51.299
 Because of sin.

00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:54.100
 Sin is active

00:33:54.100 --> 00:33:55.160
 rebellion against

00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:56.420
 God that even the

00:33:56.420 --> 00:33:57.720
 most wise among

00:33:57.720 --> 00:33:59.019
 us are guilty of.

00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:01.700
 The wisest human

00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:03.519
 being is guilty

00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:04.880
 of rebellion

00:34:04.880 --> 00:34:05.900
 against God, of

00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:07.860
 sinfulness, of a

00:34:07.860 --> 00:34:09.179
 type of inauthenticity

00:34:09.179 --> 00:34:10.420
 at times, of pride,

00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.920
 of slander.

00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:12.579
 I mean, go through

00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.539
 the Ten Commandments

00:34:13.539 --> 00:34:14.720
 yourself and you'll

00:34:14.720 --> 00:34:15.460
 see, yep, check,

00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:16.159
 check, check,

00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:16.559
 check.

00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:18.699
 The most wise of

00:34:18.699 --> 00:34:20.099
 people fall into

00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:20.480
 sin.

00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:24.340
 It is impossible to

00:34:24.340 --> 00:34:26.599
 avoid all the

00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:28.059
 trials of life,

00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:29.400
 all the trip-ups of

00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:30.000
 life, all the

00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:31.079
 temptations of life.

00:34:31.480 --> 00:34:32.440
 Living completely

00:34:32.440 --> 00:34:34.460
 sinless is completely

00:34:34.460 --> 00:34:35.519
 impossible.

00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:38.059
 Except for Christ.

00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:40.799
 Christ is born.

00:34:41.199 --> 00:34:42.199
 God, the Son of God,

00:34:42.279 --> 00:34:43.119
 He is incarnate.

00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:46.219
 He lives a completely

00:34:46.219 --> 00:34:47.639
 sinless life.

00:34:47.819 --> 00:34:49.000
 He is fully God and

00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:49.659
 fully man.

00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:52.039
 In fact, 1 Corinthians

00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:54.119
 1 calls Jesus both the

00:34:54.119 --> 00:34:56.079
 wisdom and the power of

00:34:56.079 --> 00:34:56.659
 God, that He is

00:34:56.659 --> 00:34:58.059
 literally wisdom

00:34:58.059 --> 00:34:58.759
 embodied.

00:35:00.579 --> 00:35:02.299
 The wisdom and power of

00:35:02.299 --> 00:35:03.279
 God culminate with

00:35:03.279 --> 00:35:04.420
 Christ on the cross.

00:35:05.099 --> 00:35:06.000
 In God's infinite

00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:07.359
 wisdom and kindness, He

00:35:07.359 --> 00:35:08.839
 sent God, the Son of

00:35:08.839 --> 00:35:11.259
 God, to humbly take on

00:35:11.260 --> 00:35:13.180
 the form of man, to

00:35:13.180 --> 00:35:15.160
 authentically live a

00:35:15.160 --> 00:35:16.800
 perfect life without

00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:17.820
 pretense, without

00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:18.600
 hypocrisy.

00:35:19.520 --> 00:35:21.040
 And then, when faced

00:35:21.040 --> 00:35:22.700
 with the opportunity to

00:35:22.700 --> 00:35:24.720
 not see the job

00:35:24.720 --> 00:35:27.040
 through, He has the

00:35:27.040 --> 00:35:27.920
 courage and the

00:35:27.920 --> 00:35:30.400
 conviction to say to

00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:31.640
 God the Father, with

00:35:31.640 --> 00:35:32.960
 great angst in the

00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:33.900
 Garden of Gethsemane,

00:35:33.900 --> 00:35:36.079
 not my will, but

00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:37.099
 yours be done.

00:35:38.320 --> 00:35:39.139
 And then He is hung

00:35:39.139 --> 00:35:40.579
 upon a Roman crucifix,

00:35:40.660 --> 00:35:41.740
 not for His own sins,

00:35:41.820 --> 00:35:42.960
 but for yours and for

00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:43.380
 mine.

00:35:44.280 --> 00:35:45.760
 And He dies in our

00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:47.240
 place, making us right

00:35:47.240 --> 00:35:47.920
 with God.

00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:50.420
 This is the wisdom

00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:52.320
 and power of God

00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:54.079
 displayed in its full

00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:55.079
 majesty.

00:35:55.660 --> 00:35:57.420
 It's the culmination of

00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:59.000
 the wisdom and power of

00:35:59.000 --> 00:35:59.260
 God.

00:35:59.559 --> 00:36:00.840
 But it's not the start of

00:36:00.840 --> 00:36:01.000
 it.

00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:02.440
 The start is what we

00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:04.840
 see here in Bethlehem.

00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:11.239
 Jesus makes a way for

00:36:11.239 --> 00:36:13.699
 us to grow in wisdom,

00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:15.219
 to grow into wisdom.

00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:16.820
 He gives us an

00:36:16.820 --> 00:36:18.260
 opportunity to not

00:36:18.260 --> 00:36:20.500
 live shackled to sin

00:36:20.500 --> 00:36:21.559
 and to death anymore,

00:36:21.559 --> 00:36:23.440
 but to free us so

00:36:23.440 --> 00:36:25.820
 that we can live in

00:36:25.820 --> 00:36:27.440
 obedience, in wisdom.

00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:29.159
 We can proclaim with

00:36:29.159 --> 00:36:30.780
 our mouth the good

00:36:30.780 --> 00:36:33.420
 news of the gospel to

00:36:33.420 --> 00:36:35.860
 people that are not in

00:36:35.860 --> 00:36:36.540
 the in crowd.

00:36:37.340 --> 00:36:38.720
 The point of the

00:36:38.720 --> 00:36:40.880
 magi really are,

00:36:41.300 --> 00:36:43.740
 it's not so much that

00:36:43.740 --> 00:36:44.940
 the gospel has come to

00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:45.560
 the Gentiles.

00:36:45.640 --> 00:36:46.200
 It is true.

00:36:46.940 --> 00:36:49.660
 But now that God's

00:36:49.660 --> 00:36:50.660
 people are expanded,

00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:51.820
 the people of God are

00:36:51.820 --> 00:36:52.280
 expanded.

00:36:52.740 --> 00:36:54.040
 But there are plenty of

00:36:54.040 --> 00:36:55.760
 people on this planet,

00:36:55.900 --> 00:36:57.460
 in our city, in this

00:36:57.460 --> 00:36:58.320
 neighborhood, on your

00:36:58.320 --> 00:36:59.920
 street, that don't

00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:02.000
 yet know the good

00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:02.460
 news.

00:37:04.280 --> 00:37:06.080
 The wise men, as

00:37:06.080 --> 00:37:07.600
 wise as they may have

00:37:07.600 --> 00:37:09.260
 been, in the end,

00:37:09.519 --> 00:37:11.220
 were led by God to

00:37:11.220 --> 00:37:12.440
 God, by the star.

00:37:14.680 --> 00:37:16.140
 By this light in the

00:37:16.140 --> 00:37:16.519
 sky.

00:37:17.600 --> 00:37:18.820
 In the same way that

00:37:18.820 --> 00:37:21.700
 the Israelites were led

00:37:21.700 --> 00:37:22.860
 to the promised land,

00:37:22.900 --> 00:37:24.920
 out of Egypt, by this

00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:26.619
 miraculous pillar of

00:37:26.619 --> 00:37:28.400
 fire, and this cloud in

00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:30.119
 the day, the wise men

00:37:30.119 --> 00:37:32.019
 were led by God with

00:37:32.019 --> 00:37:33.500
 this miraculous light in

00:37:33.500 --> 00:37:34.000
 the sky.

00:37:36.240 --> 00:37:38.760
 We have that, the light

00:37:38.760 --> 00:37:39.960
 of Christ in us.

00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:41.760
 We have the opportunity

00:37:41.760 --> 00:37:43.039
 of proclaiming and

00:37:43.039 --> 00:37:44.619
 leading people to the

00:37:44.619 --> 00:37:44.880
 Lord.

00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:46.460
 Not because we have some

00:37:46.460 --> 00:37:47.700
 kind of power within us

00:37:47.699 --> 00:37:52.219
 that's kind of special

00:37:52.219 --> 00:37:52.839
 about us.

00:37:52.899 --> 00:37:54.000
 It's because there's a

00:37:54.000 --> 00:37:55.319
 power outside of us

00:37:55.319 --> 00:37:56.819
 that is now in us.

00:37:57.179 --> 00:37:58.339
 The Holy Spirit.

00:38:00.179 --> 00:38:02.819
 It is a great joy and

00:38:02.819 --> 00:38:03.980
 opportunity to share the

00:38:03.980 --> 00:38:04.759
 gospel with other

00:38:04.759 --> 00:38:05.059
 people.

00:38:05.299 --> 00:38:06.119
 It is scary.

00:38:06.699 --> 00:38:07.719
 I'd encourage you guys

00:38:07.719 --> 00:38:10.659
 this new year to try to

00:38:10.659 --> 00:38:11.699
 share the gospel.

00:38:12.159 --> 00:38:12.699
 To pray.

00:38:12.819 --> 00:38:13.919
 To pray for courage.

00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:23.180
 The wise men say in

00:38:23.180 --> 00:38:25.900
 verse 2,

00:38:26.780 --> 00:38:27.619
 Where is he who has

00:38:27.619 --> 00:38:28.579
 been born king of the

00:38:28.579 --> 00:38:28.840
 Jews?

00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:30.940
 For we saw his star when

00:38:30.940 --> 00:38:31.400
 it rose.

00:38:33.079 --> 00:38:35.000
 Matthew calls Jesus the

00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:37.420
 king of the Jews here in

00:38:37.420 --> 00:38:39.059
 chapter 2 right at the

00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:39.980
 beginning of the story.

00:38:40.760 --> 00:38:42.360
 He also calls Jesus king

00:38:42.360 --> 00:38:43.639
 of the Jews right at the

00:38:43.639 --> 00:38:43.900
 end.

00:38:43.920 --> 00:38:45.340
 At his death.

00:38:45.340 --> 00:38:48.139
 The sign hanging above the

00:38:48.139 --> 00:38:51.480
 dying Christ said Jesus

00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:52.840
 king of the Jews.

00:38:54.119 --> 00:38:56.159
 That this child was

00:38:56.159 --> 00:38:58.280
 destined to live but

00:38:58.280 --> 00:39:00.519
 ultimately to die for you.

00:39:01.340 --> 00:39:03.119
 And God calls this the

00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:05.360
 wisdom and power of God.

00:39:06.320 --> 00:39:07.220
 Let's pray.

00:39:08.940 --> 00:39:10.740
 Lord God I pray that you

00:39:10.740 --> 00:39:12.380
 will help us to behold the

00:39:12.380 --> 00:39:13.059
 Christ child.

00:39:14.059 --> 00:39:17.260
 Behold Jesus in all of his

00:39:17.260 --> 00:39:17.980
 glory.

00:39:18.180 --> 00:39:19.079
 All of his goodness.

00:39:19.519 --> 00:39:21.360
 All of his power and all

00:39:21.360 --> 00:39:22.079
 of his wisdom.

00:39:22.500 --> 00:39:24.160
 To understand that true

00:39:24.160 --> 00:39:27.360
 wisdom sought us out while

00:39:27.360 --> 00:39:28.400
 we were still afar.

00:39:28.940 --> 00:39:30.260
 When we were not a part of

00:39:30.260 --> 00:39:30.980
 the in crowd.

00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:33.079
 That true wisdom humbled

00:39:33.079 --> 00:39:33.780
 himself.

00:39:33.780 --> 00:39:37.000
 taking all of his divine

00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:37.660
 and all of his divine

00:39:37.660 --> 00:39:40.000
 prerogatives to condescend

00:39:41.040 --> 00:39:42.800
 to live as a poor

00:39:42.800 --> 00:39:46.000
 likely unattractive man

00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:47.760
 2,000 years ago.

00:39:47.760 --> 00:39:50.140
 to live a completely

00:39:50.140 --> 00:39:51.640
 authentic life.

00:39:51.640 --> 00:39:54.440
 To die on the cross for

00:39:54.440 --> 00:39:56.140
 our sins courageously.

00:39:56.360 --> 00:39:57.800
 Lord help us to think about

00:39:57.800 --> 00:39:58.020
 that.

00:39:58.140 --> 00:39:59.960
 Help us to dwell on that.

00:40:00.120 --> 00:40:01.300
 Help us to have the same

00:40:01.300 --> 00:40:02.880
 attitude as the wise men.

00:40:03.040 --> 00:40:05.520
 That we will rejoice with

00:40:05.520 --> 00:40:06.300
 great joy.

00:40:06.680 --> 00:40:07.780
 That we will fall at the

00:40:07.780 --> 00:40:09.860
 feet of Christ and worship

00:40:09.860 --> 00:40:10.140
 him.

00:40:10.880 --> 00:40:14.140
 Help us to be wise people.

00:40:14.139 --> 00:40:16.699
 Help us to be people that

00:40:16.699 --> 00:40:18.940
 proclaim your gospel to

00:40:18.940 --> 00:40:20.739
 whomever come across our

00:40:20.739 --> 00:40:21.159
 path.

00:40:21.400 --> 00:40:23.319
 To whomever God puts in our

00:40:23.319 --> 00:40:23.639
 path.

00:40:24.219 --> 00:40:25.900
 That we will be truly humble

00:40:25.900 --> 00:40:26.299
 people.

00:40:26.400 --> 00:40:27.000
 That we will be truly

00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:27.920
 authentic people.

00:40:28.460 --> 00:40:29.579
 And that we will be truly

00:40:29.579 --> 00:40:30.859
 courageous people.

00:40:31.779 --> 00:40:33.539
 Lord that we will feast on

00:40:33.539 --> 00:40:34.019
 your word.

00:40:34.779 --> 00:40:36.759
 And that you will help us to

00:40:36.759 --> 00:40:37.639
 act on it.

00:40:38.719 --> 00:40:40.960
 Lord help us not to look to

00:40:40.960 --> 00:40:43.539
 conventional prevailing wisdom

00:40:43.539 --> 00:40:44.960
 as if it is eternal.

00:40:44.960 --> 00:40:46.539
 But rather look to your

00:40:46.539 --> 00:40:48.619
 eternal word for true wisdom.

00:40:48.860 --> 00:40:49.820
 We pray these things in

00:40:49.820 --> 00:40:50.340
 Christ's name.

00:40:50.940 --> 00:40:51.239
 Amen.