WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.600
 Good evening, everyone. It's great to be in church with you tonight. If I've never met

00:00:04.600 --> 00:00:09.820
 you before, my name is Stephen, senior pastor here at St. Paul's. And it is always great

00:00:09.820 --> 00:00:15.660
 to be at church with you, but particularly on, I think, Christmas time. I just love Christmas

00:00:15.660 --> 00:00:19.839
 time. I've got three young girls at home right now. They've gone to bed. Hopefully they're

00:00:19.839 --> 00:00:27.600
 asleep. And just excited. The reindeer food's been put out, attracting the possums and everything

00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:33.859
 else. But they'll think it's the reindeers in the morning. Just an exciting time of year.

00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:42.260
 And with three young girls, I noticed the youngest is seven at the moment. But when they're sort

00:00:42.260 --> 00:00:49.020
 of around four or five, the height of ambition for them at this time of year, because they're

00:00:49.020 --> 00:00:56.040
 girls and because they're too old to play Jesus in the nativity, the best thing is to be merry.

00:00:56.039 --> 00:00:59.600
 They all kind of line up. They want to be merry. If they're going to have any sort of nativity

00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:08.579
 play, every five-year-old girl wants to play merry. And each year, unfortunately, only one

00:01:08.579 --> 00:01:13.819
 girl is ever picked. As it turns out, mine never been picked. I don't know how that worked

00:01:13.819 --> 00:01:22.439
 out with the senior pastor thing. Because we don't play favourites around here. Each year,

00:01:22.439 --> 00:01:28.920
 only one girl is ever picked. And they've reached the theatrical dizzying heights of being merry.

00:01:30.019 --> 00:01:36.099
 And from these two central roles, if you're not Jesus, you're not merry in the nativity

00:01:36.099 --> 00:01:41.299
 play. It's descending order of importance from that moment on. There's the Magi, which is

00:01:41.299 --> 00:01:46.939
 fantastic. There's always a bunch of angels. They don't have to say too much. There's the

00:01:46.939 --> 00:01:53.120
 shepherds. There's the King Herod. He's the boo-his guy. There's the sheep, the donkeys.

00:01:54.259 --> 00:01:59.879
 Ironically, there was actually no donkeys actually in Bethlehem at the time. But for some reason,

00:01:59.959 --> 00:02:05.500
 we've always got donkeys in the nativity scene. There's cows. And somewhere, there's some poor

00:02:05.500 --> 00:02:11.879
 lad who gets the gig of Joseph. Doesn't say anything. Like most husbands at the birthday,

00:02:11.879 --> 00:02:22.139
 their children. Just there. Because we're meant to be. And so some poor lad's got Joseph,

00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:31.159
 and he really doesn't want to really say anything at all. And the scripts often forget that in actual

00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:39.780
 fact, as we've just read, an angel also came to Joseph. He has a fairly key role in this whole

00:02:39.780 --> 00:02:48.420
 nativity scene. In fact, there's at least one thing that the angel said to Joseph that he didn't

00:02:48.420 --> 00:02:55.939
 tell anyone else. He didn't tell Mary, didn't tell the shepherds, said it just to Joseph. Angel

00:02:55.939 --> 00:03:06.080
 tells Joseph in a dream that the baby that is to be born to his fiancee, Mary, is a fulfillment of a

00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:14.600
 prophecy from hundreds of years earlier. And it's a prophecy that God would come and dwell amongst

00:03:14.600 --> 00:03:25.820
 his people. And so in this interaction between Joseph and the angel, we have a very, very invaluable

00:03:25.820 --> 00:03:32.400
 treasure. And so tonight, I just want to look at that passage from Matthew 1 really quick.

00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:41.719
 Three main things to learn from the name Emmanuel. Only Joseph was told Emmanuel is his name.

00:03:43.300 --> 00:03:52.159
 Three main things. Number one, Jesus is God. Number two, that he is human. And three, that he is with us.

00:03:52.360 --> 00:03:59.099
 So I know it's a bit after 11, but three simple things to remember. Number one, Jesus is God.

00:03:59.099 --> 00:04:07.879
 There are several ways that Matthew drives home the core Christmas message that Jesus is not simply

00:04:07.879 --> 00:04:16.199
 a great religious leader. He's not just simply a great teacher or even some angelic being, but in fact,

00:04:16.279 --> 00:04:24.819
 the divine God himself. In verse 20 of what Nick just read out to us, the angel tells Joseph that the human

00:04:24.819 --> 00:04:34.339
 life that is growing inside Mary has come not from any human being, but from his heavenly father,

00:04:34.339 --> 00:04:43.259
 from God himself. And so Jesus, if you like, has two fathers and Joseph will be Jesus' father only in a

00:04:43.259 --> 00:04:52.039
 secondary sense. Mary is told in the text, is pregnant by the Holy Spirit. God is the real father.

00:04:52.040 --> 00:05:02.020
 However, the most direct statement of Jesus' identity comes in verse 23. Matthew quotes from Isaiah chapter 7,

00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:04.840
 several hundred years before, and he says,

00:05:04.960 --> 00:05:15.700
 the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Emmanuel, which means God with us.

00:05:15.699 --> 00:05:25.300
 Now, for centuries, Jewish religious leaders and scholars had known about that prophecy,

00:05:26.159 --> 00:05:35.459
 but they had not thought that it should be taken quite literally. Matthew is saying that this promise

00:05:35.459 --> 00:05:45.339
 is greater than even all the scholars imagined. Jesus Christ is God with us because the human

00:05:45.339 --> 00:05:54.639
 life growing in the womb of Mary was a miracle performed by God himself. This child, as we have just sung,

00:05:54.759 --> 00:06:04.159
 is literally God. Now, Matthew was a Jew, which makes this statement really startling for him.

00:06:05.500 --> 00:06:14.919
 You see, the Jewish had a distinctive view of God, which made them, the people on earth,

00:06:15.339 --> 00:06:24.560
 at that time, least open to the idea that a human being could be God. At that time,

00:06:24.679 --> 00:06:32.379
 Eastern religions believed God was an impersonal force permeating all things. And so it wasn't unusual

00:06:32.379 --> 00:06:40.859
 for them to say that some human beings were, if you like, particularly great manifestations of the

00:06:40.860 --> 00:06:50.139
 divine. Western religions at the time believed that gods would disguise themselves as human beings for their own purposes.

00:06:50.379 --> 00:06:57.139
 So you see this in Greek and Roman mythology and in their concept of deity.

00:06:58.439 --> 00:07:04.879
 Jews, however, believed in a God who was both personal and infinite.

00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:17.120
 God was not a being within the universe, but was instead the ground of its existence and infinitely

00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:28.500
 transcendent above the universe. So everything in a Jewish worldview was against the idea that a human

00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:34.439
 being could be God. Jews would not even pronounce the name of their God, Yahweh.

00:07:35.540 --> 00:07:37.379
 They wouldn't even spell it.

00:07:38.980 --> 00:07:40.879
 And yet Jesus Christ,

00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:43.759
 a Jew,

00:07:45.240 --> 00:07:48.480
 by his life, by his claims and by his resurrection,

00:07:48.779 --> 00:07:52.600
 convinced his closest Jewish followers

00:07:52.600 --> 00:07:59.080
 that he was not just a prophet telling them how to find God,

00:07:59.540 --> 00:08:01.820
 but that he was God himself

00:08:01.820 --> 00:08:04.260
 coming to humanity.

00:08:06.520 --> 00:08:09.420
 Now, Matthew is not the only biblical author to teach this.

00:08:09.580 --> 00:08:09.860
 John,

00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:10.900
 the apostle,

00:08:11.260 --> 00:08:11.520
 Paul,

00:08:11.740 --> 00:08:12.420
 another Jew,

00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:13.980
 a Pharisee,

00:08:14.360 --> 00:08:15.160
 the apostle Peter,

00:08:15.540 --> 00:08:16.520
 another Jewish man,

00:08:16.580 --> 00:08:17.620
 they all declared it.

00:08:17.860 --> 00:08:18.240
 Now, of course,

00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:28.860
 the opinions of these authors would not mean much if Jesus himself hadn't clearly declared his divine identity.

00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:31.300
 All through the Gospels,

00:08:31.379 --> 00:08:32.539
 every book,

00:08:32.680 --> 00:08:33.899
 history book about Jesus,

00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:37.240
 you see Jesus constantly forgiving sin,

00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:39.639
 which only God can do.

00:08:40.500 --> 00:08:41.480
 He also claims,

00:08:41.680 --> 00:08:46.340
 I'm going to come back and I'm going to judge all of humanity across every culture and generation

00:08:46.340 --> 00:08:48.960
 and only God can do that.

00:08:49.660 --> 00:08:50.500
 And at many times,

00:08:50.580 --> 00:08:51.240
 in many ways,

00:08:51.379 --> 00:08:52.160
 Jesus Christ,

00:08:52.259 --> 00:08:53.259
 a Jewish man says,

00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:54.720
 I am God.

00:08:55.240 --> 00:09:01.220
 And thousands and thousands of people came to believe him and worship him.

00:09:05.680 --> 00:09:07.560
 It's a claim that we've just sung.

00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:13.780
 Many in this world know the claim

00:09:13.779 --> 00:09:16.199
 and give it lip service at Christmas

00:09:16.199 --> 00:09:23.980
 without thinking about the implications of that claim

00:09:23.980 --> 00:09:25.879
 and what we have just sung.

00:09:26.659 --> 00:09:29.079
 If Jesus really is God,

00:09:29.679 --> 00:09:32.159
 what does it mean for us practically?

00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:34.319
 Well, firstly,

00:09:35.339 --> 00:09:37.319
 it's a intellectual watershed.

00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:38.959
 It's a turning point for us.

00:09:39.500 --> 00:09:43.439
 Some have argued that the supreme miracle of Christianity

00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:47.100
 is not the resurrection of Christ from the dead,

00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:50.220
 but the coming of God into the world as a human being.

00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:57.560
 Of all the things that Christianity proclaims,

00:09:57.800 --> 00:10:00.960
 this one is the most staggering.

00:10:02.340 --> 00:10:04.520
 A Canadian theologian, James Packer,

00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:05.520
 puts it bluntly.

00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:06.700
 He says,

00:10:06.700 --> 00:10:08.080
 God became man.

00:10:08.700 --> 00:10:10.780
 The divine son became a Jew.

00:10:11.340 --> 00:10:14.340
 The almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby,

00:10:14.920 --> 00:10:17.320
 unable to do more than lie,

00:10:19.020 --> 00:10:19.580
 stare,

00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:21.400
 wriggle,

00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:23.580
 make noises,

00:10:24.379 --> 00:10:26.379
 needing to be fed and changed

00:10:26.379 --> 00:10:27.840
 and talked to

00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:30.540
 like any other child.

00:10:30.539 --> 00:10:34.639
 The more you think about it,

00:10:35.199 --> 00:10:39.679
 the more staggering it gets.

00:10:40.899 --> 00:10:44.459
 Nothing in fiction is as fantastic as this.

00:10:46.459 --> 00:10:48.599
 The claim that Jesus is God

00:10:48.599 --> 00:10:50.599
 is an intellectual turning point,

00:10:50.959 --> 00:10:54.379
 but it also causes a personal crisis.

00:10:54.379 --> 00:10:57.899
 A crisis is a fork in the road.

00:10:58.759 --> 00:11:00.899
 And the assertion that Jesus Christ is God

00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:01.899
 is exactly that.

00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:06.519
 Whenever you see Jesus acting in the Gospels,

00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:10.620
 you see him putting people in motion

00:11:10.620 --> 00:11:11.860
 wherever he goes.

00:11:12.059 --> 00:11:14.439
 He's like this giant bowling ball.

00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:16.080
 Wherever he goes,

00:11:16.179 --> 00:11:17.580
 he breaks up old patterns

00:11:17.580 --> 00:11:20.419
 and he sends people off into different directions.

00:11:20.419 --> 00:11:25.839
 Jesus evokes extreme reactions from everyone.

00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:29.979
 Some are so furious with him

00:11:29.979 --> 00:11:32.959
 that they try to run him off a cliff and kill him.

00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:35.319
 Others are so terrified by him

00:11:35.319 --> 00:11:36.339
 that they say,

00:11:36.599 --> 00:11:38.719
 just depart from me, Jesus.

00:11:39.219 --> 00:11:40.819
 Get away from me.

00:11:41.699 --> 00:11:44.439
 And others fall down before him

00:11:44.439 --> 00:11:46.019
 and worship him.

00:11:47.579 --> 00:11:49.439
 Why the extreme reactions?

00:11:51.079 --> 00:11:53.699
 It's because of who he claims to be.

00:11:55.860 --> 00:11:58.039
 If he is who he is,

00:11:58.299 --> 00:11:59.459
 who he says he is,

00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:02.479
 then you have no alternative

00:12:02.479 --> 00:12:04.500
 but to center your life around him

00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:06.439
 as we have just sung.

00:12:07.419 --> 00:12:08.939
 He claims to be the God

00:12:08.939 --> 00:12:10.319
 who created all things,

00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:11.779
 the source of all life,

00:12:11.860 --> 00:12:14.099
 the one who defines all reality.

00:12:14.699 --> 00:12:17.319
 And so if he is not who he says he is,

00:12:17.319 --> 00:12:20.219
 then he is someone to hate,

00:12:20.419 --> 00:12:22.860
 he is someone to run away from

00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:24.639
 because he would have to be

00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:27.559
 the greatest fraud in history.

00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:34.159
 No other response makes sense.

00:12:36.279 --> 00:12:38.799
 Either he is God or he isn't

00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:41.860
 and so he's absolutely mad

00:12:41.860 --> 00:12:47.300
 or he's infinitely wonderful.

00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:50.139
 He's one or the other.

00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:54.060
 He's not just someone in the middle

00:12:54.060 --> 00:12:55.639
 that you can just admire.

00:12:55.639 --> 00:13:02.139
 So thirdly, the claim that Jesus is God

00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:04.559
 also gives us the greatest possible hope.

00:13:05.299 --> 00:13:08.620
 You see, the one who defines all things,

00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:10.759
 creates all things,

00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:13.199
 determines, defines all reality,

00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:17.240
 says that our world is not all that there is

00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:18.779
 and there is life

00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:20.799
 and there is love after death

00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:23.320
 and that evil and suffering will one day end.

00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:26.700
 But this is not just hope for the world

00:13:26.700 --> 00:13:30.080
 despite all its unending problems,

00:13:30.680 --> 00:13:33.240
 but hope for you and me

00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:36.740
 despite all of our unending failings.

00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:41.580
 A God who was only holy

00:13:41.580 --> 00:13:46.480
 would never have come down to us in Jesus Christ.

00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:48.960
 He would have simply just said,

00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:53.060
 you lot, pull yourselves together.

00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:55.159
 Pull your socks up.

00:13:56.539 --> 00:13:58.899
 Live a little bit more morally.

00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:01.460
 Make yourself holy enough

00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:03.580
 to merit a relationship with me.

00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:08.720
 A deity, on the other hand,

00:14:08.780 --> 00:14:12.020
 that was an all-accepting God of love

00:14:12.020 --> 00:14:15.040
 would never have needed to come to earth either.

00:14:15.860 --> 00:14:19.020
 This God of the modern imagination

00:14:19.020 --> 00:14:21.480
 would have just overlooked sin and evil

00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:22.780
 and just embraced us all

00:14:22.780 --> 00:14:26.379
 like a big jelly baby.

00:14:31.220 --> 00:14:33.000
 And neither of these gods

00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:34.220
 would have bothered with Christmas.

00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:37.620
 The biblical God, however,

00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:39.360
 is infinitely holy.

00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:42.240
 So our sin cannot just be

00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:44.220
 shrugged off and ignored.

00:14:44.820 --> 00:14:46.559
 It has to be dealt with.

00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:50.019
 But he is also infinitely loving.

00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:53.299
 And he knows that we could never,

00:14:53.559 --> 00:14:55.440
 ever climb up to him.

00:14:55.820 --> 00:14:57.759
 And so he had to come to us.

00:14:57.759 --> 00:15:01.399
 God had to come himself

00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:04.360
 and do what we could not do.

00:15:05.700 --> 00:15:06.860
 Christmas means then

00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:10.220
 that there is all the hope in this world,

00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:11.439
 in him.

00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:12.819
 That's the first thing.

00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:14.399
 Jesus is God.

00:15:14.539 --> 00:15:16.139
 Secondly, Jesus is human.

00:15:17.319 --> 00:15:20.200
 This interaction between Joseph and the angel

00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:22.000
 reveals that he's God,

00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:23.379
 but also that he's human,

00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:25.500
 that he is God with us.

00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:29.100
 Christmas tells us that Jesus was truly

00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:31.019
 and fully God

00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:33.720
 and truly and fully human.

00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:35.860
 But what,

00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:37.720
 I mean, who gives a rip?

00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:38.740
 What difference does that make?

00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:42.379
 That he is actually God

00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:44.240
 who's become fully human.

00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:48.440
 It means a life

00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:50.759
 of sacrificial service,

00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:52.399
 as Jake just read out to us

00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:54.100
 from Philippians chapter 2.

00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:57.679
 That passage teaches us

00:15:57.679 --> 00:15:59.819
 that when the Son of God became human,

00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:03.439
 he did not lay aside his deity.

00:16:04.899 --> 00:16:06.939
 He was still God,

00:16:07.439 --> 00:16:10.419
 but he emptied himself of his glory.

00:16:10.419 --> 00:16:12.559
 It's said there that it was something

00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:13.799
 that he did not grasp,

00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:15.399
 something he did not use

00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:17.120
 for his own purposes,

00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:18.199
 his own gain.

00:16:18.939 --> 00:16:20.879
 He laid aside his divine rights.

00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:23.139
 He became vulnerable and ordinary

00:16:23.139 --> 00:16:24.460
 in order to save us.

00:16:24.919 --> 00:16:26.639
 I'll quote Packer again.

00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:28.120
 He puts it like this,

00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:30.200
 for the Son of God

00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:31.620
 to empty himself

00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:32.960
 and become poor

00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:35.159
 meant a laying aside of glory,

00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:39.100
 a voluntary restraint of power,

00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:41.200
 an acceptance of hardship,

00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:42.279
 of isolation,

00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:43.279
 of ill treatment,

00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:45.320
 of malice and misunderstanding,

00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:47.220
 and finally a death

00:16:47.220 --> 00:16:49.379
 that involved such agony,

00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:51.940
 spiritual even more than physical,

00:16:52.419 --> 00:16:54.379
 that his mind nearly broke

00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:55.940
 under the prospect of it.

00:16:55.940 --> 00:16:58.840
 It meant love to the utmost

00:16:58.840 --> 00:17:01.300
 for unloving humanity.

00:17:02.740 --> 00:17:05.160
 And I love how Packer,

00:17:06.100 --> 00:17:08.160
 what he does with that

00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:10.519
 and what it means for us practically.

00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:11.900
 He says,

00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:13.100
 the Christmas spirit

00:17:13.100 --> 00:17:15.440
 does not shine out

00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:17.100
 in the Christian snob.

00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:20.279
 For the Christmas spirit

00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.960
 is the spirit of those

00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:23.360
 who, like their master,

00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:25.659
 live their whole lives

00:17:25.659 --> 00:17:26.719
 on the principle

00:17:26.719 --> 00:17:29.199
 of making themselves poor,

00:17:29.719 --> 00:17:31.779
 spending and being spent

00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:34.019
 to enrich their fellow humanity,

00:17:34.699 --> 00:17:36.000
 giving time,

00:17:36.159 --> 00:17:37.399
 trouble, care and concern,

00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:39.319
 to do good to others

00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:41.819
 and not just their own friends

00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:43.740
 in whatever way

00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:45.619
 there seems need.

00:17:47.459 --> 00:17:49.159
 It's a life of service.

00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:52.620
 The fact that God became human

00:17:52.620 --> 00:17:53.700
 and entered himself

00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:54.600
 of his glory

00:17:54.600 --> 00:17:56.680
 means that you should not want

00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:57.920
 to hang out with the people

00:17:57.920 --> 00:18:00.420
 just with power and glitz

00:18:00.420 --> 00:18:02.680
 who are well networked

00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:04.040
 who can open doors for you.

00:18:04.300 --> 00:18:05.259
 You need to be willing

00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:06.200
 to go to the people

00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:07.000
 without power,

00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:08.019
 without beauty,

00:18:08.300 --> 00:18:09.060
 without the money.

00:18:09.580 --> 00:18:11.420
 That is the Christmas spirit.

00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:15.019
 It is so ironic

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:17.759
 that we spend billions on it

00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:19.759
 at Christmas time

00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:24.100
 and more often than not,

00:18:25.080 --> 00:18:26.340
 not for the needy

00:18:26.340 --> 00:18:27.539
 and for the poor.

00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:34.200
 God becoming one of us

00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:37.200
 also means infinite comfort

00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:38.039
 for the suffering.

00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:40.279
 A little bit later

00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:40.920
 in the New Testament

00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:42.859
 in Hebrews 2, verse 17.

00:18:43.539 --> 00:18:44.339
 It says that Jesus

00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:46.240
 was made just like us,

00:18:46.639 --> 00:18:48.619
 fully human in every way.

00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:50.440
 And the very next verse

00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:51.940
 tells us what this means

00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:52.759
 for us practically.

00:18:53.399 --> 00:18:53.759
 It says,

00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:55.720
 because he himself suffered

00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:57.519
 when he was tried and tested,

00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:59.619
 he is able to help those

00:18:59.619 --> 00:19:01.579
 who are being tried and tested.

00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.220
 You see,

00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:05.200
 when something bad happens to us

00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:08.059
 and real suffering comes to us,

00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:11.119
 the overwhelming feeling

00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:12.639
 we have is loneliness.

00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:15.460
 People around us,

00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:17.119
 they express sympathy,

00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:18.720
 but, you know,

00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:20.419
 you know,

00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:20.980
 in the midst of them

00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:22.119
 expressing their sympathy,

00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:23.619
 you know,

00:19:23.659 --> 00:19:24.440
 there's something about it

00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:25.619
 that doesn't help.

00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:30.000
 Then you meet someone

00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:30.940
 who knows,

00:19:31.379 --> 00:19:32.799
 who's been through

00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:35.440
 exactly what you've been through,

00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:37.160
 or virtually exactly

00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:38.059
 what you've been through.

00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:41.220
 They know what it's like.

00:19:42.320 --> 00:19:43.720
 And you pour your heart

00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:44.940
 out to that person.

00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:47.360
 They've got empathy for you.

00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:49.100
 You listen to them

00:19:49.100 --> 00:19:50.400
 and their opinions

00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:52.059
 because they've been through

00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:52.880
 the same thing.

00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:54.400
 And when they comfort you,

00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:56.019
 you feel comforted by them.

00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:58.759
 The coming of God

00:19:58.759 --> 00:19:59.620
 into this world

00:19:59.620 --> 00:20:00.920
 on the first Christmas

00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:02.539
 ultimately means

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.819
 that God suffered

00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:06.200
 and that Jesus triumphed

00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:07.200
 through suffering.

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:10.059
 And Jesus now

00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:11.940
 has infinite power

00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:12.619
 to comfort.

00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:17.139
 Christmas shows you

00:20:17.139 --> 00:20:17.859
 a God

00:20:17.859 --> 00:20:18.940
 unlike the God

00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:20.379
 of any other faith.

00:20:22.139 --> 00:20:23.339
 Have you been betrayed?

00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:26.019
 Have you been lonely?

00:20:26.619 --> 00:20:27.899
 Have you been destitute?

00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:32.759
 Have you had relationships fracture?

00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:36.180
 Have you felt abandoned?

00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:38.700
 Have you faced death?

00:20:41.360 --> 00:20:42.380
 So has he.

00:20:44.100 --> 00:20:45.740
 And he's triumphed through it.

00:20:47.860 --> 00:20:48.759
 Christianity says

00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:50.660
 God has been all the places

00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.880
 that you have been

00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:54.840
 and are potentially in right now.

00:20:55.580 --> 00:20:57.000
 He has been in the darkness

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.299
 that you are in now

00:20:58.299 --> 00:20:59.759
 and even more.

00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:02.519
 You can trust him.

00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:03.759
 You can rely on him.

00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.539
 He knows suffering.

00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:06.460
 He has the power

00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:07.140
 to comfort,

00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:08.059
 strengthen

00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:09.759
 and bring you through it

00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:11.119
 because point number three,

00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:12.859
 Jesus is with us.

00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.619
 You see,

00:21:15.660 --> 00:21:16.180
 it would have been

00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:17.339
 astonishing enough

00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:19.200
 if the Son of God

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:20.119
 had become human

00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:21.500
 and simply lived

00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:22.880
 temporarily amongst us

00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:23.279
 and left us

00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:24.460
 some really good teaching stuff

00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:24.920
 to follow.

00:21:25.339 --> 00:21:25.819
 Do this

00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:27.099
 and life will go well

00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:27.500
 for you.

00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.939
 His plans

00:21:29.939 --> 00:21:31.159
 were just so

00:21:31.159 --> 00:21:32.059
 infinitely greater

00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:32.559
 than that.

00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:33.939
 His plan

00:21:33.939 --> 00:21:34.839
 was always

00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:36.240
 to be with us.

00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:37.539
 He,

00:21:37.899 --> 00:21:38.579
 one of the first things

00:21:38.579 --> 00:21:39.079
 he did

00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:41.019
 when he went public

00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:42.159
 with his ministries,

00:21:42.379 --> 00:21:44.059
 chose 12 dudes

00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:44.759
 and,

00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:45.599
 to follow him

00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:46.399
 and appointed them

00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:47.899
 as his early apostles.

00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:50.279
 And he says,

00:21:50.399 --> 00:21:50.720
 I want,

00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:51.259
 you're going to be

00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:52.220
 with me.

00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:53.559
 What does it mean

00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:54.159
 that they are

00:21:54.159 --> 00:21:54.980
 with him?

00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:57.079
 It means being

00:21:57.079 --> 00:21:58.079
 in his presence,

00:21:58.399 --> 00:21:59.319
 conversing with him,

00:21:59.419 --> 00:22:00.179
 learning from him,

00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:01.019
 having his comfort

00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:02.859
 moment by moment

00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:04.419
 in their day-by-day life.

00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:05.419
 You see,

00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:06.139
 the purpose of God

00:22:06.139 --> 00:22:07.279
 coming into this world

00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:09.039
 is that we would

00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:10.059
 actually have

00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:11.000
 a relationship

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.740
 with him,

00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.359
 that we not just

00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:13.559
 know information

00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:14.179
 about him

00:22:14.179 --> 00:22:15.500
 but have a relationship

00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:16.379
 with him.

00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:17.839
 In Jesus,

00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:19.480
 the unapproachable God

00:22:19.480 --> 00:22:21.139
 becomes a human being

00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:22.560
 who can be known

00:22:22.560 --> 00:22:23.980
 and loved.

00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:27.360
 And through faith,

00:22:27.580 --> 00:22:28.820
 we can know

00:22:28.820 --> 00:22:29.580
 this love.

00:22:31.280 --> 00:22:32.400
 And frankly,

00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:34.440
 it doesn't stun us

00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:35.600
 as much as it should.

00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:37.420
 See,

00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:38.340
 in the Old Testament,

00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:40.140
 anytime anyone

00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:41.340
 drew near to God,

00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:43.700
 it was terrifying.

00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:45.660
 Totally terrifying.

00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:47.680
 God appears to Abraham

00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:49.400
 as a smoking furnace,

00:22:50.100 --> 00:22:51.060
 to Israel

00:22:51.060 --> 00:22:52.299
 as a pillar of fire,

00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.779
 to Job

00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:54.440
 as a hurricane

00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:55.740
 and a tornado.

00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.279
 When Moses

00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:58.620
 asked to see God

00:22:58.620 --> 00:22:59.720
 face to face,

00:23:00.080 --> 00:23:00.779
 he was told,

00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:01.160
 yeah,

00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.019
 but it'll kill you.

00:23:03.340 --> 00:23:05.039
 So great

00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:06.519
 and so high

00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:08.440
 and so unapproachable

00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:09.380
 is this God.

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:10.600
 And the message

00:23:10.600 --> 00:23:11.140
 of Christmas

00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:13.000
 means that through Jesus,

00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:15.360
 you can meet this God

00:23:15.360 --> 00:23:16.920
 and he won't kill you.

00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:19.380
 You can know

00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:20.460
 the unapproachable

00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.120
 personally

00:23:21.120 --> 00:23:22.080
 and without terror.

00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:23.759
 And when God

00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.759
 showed up in Jesus,

00:23:25.080 --> 00:23:26.320
 he was not a pillar

00:23:26.320 --> 00:23:26.880
 of fire,

00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:28.039
 he was not a tornado,

00:23:28.620 --> 00:23:30.100
 he was a baby.

00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:32.600
 Why would God

00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:33.200
 come to,

00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:34.240
 this time,

00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:35.200
 why would he come

00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:35.779
 as a baby

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:37.920
 rather than a firestorm

00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:39.000
 or a whirlwind?

00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:42.440
 Because this time

00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:43.740
 he came not to bring judgment

00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:44.660
 but to bear it.

00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:47.759
 to pay the penalty

00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:48.680
 for our sin,

00:23:49.040 --> 00:23:50.160
 to take away

00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:50.840
 the barrier

00:23:50.840 --> 00:23:51.960
 that existed,

00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:53.680
 the wall of hostility

00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:54.560
 between humanity

00:23:54.560 --> 00:23:55.300
 and God

00:23:55.300 --> 00:23:56.720
 so that we can

00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:57.560
 be together.

00:23:59.080 --> 00:24:00.360
 Jesus is God

00:24:00.360 --> 00:24:01.720
 with us.

00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:05.140
 Every Christmas,

00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:06.640
 tonight,

00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:09.480
 millions of people

00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.779
 around this world

00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:12.079
 will join with us

00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:12.759
 and sing

00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:14.139
 Jesus,

00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:15.879
 our Emmanuel.

00:24:18.879 --> 00:24:20.019
 But are you

00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:21.240
 really with him?

00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:26.099
 Do you know him

00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:28.099
 or do you

00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:29.500
 just know about him?

00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:32.359
 Jesus literally

00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:33.439
 moved heaven and earth

00:24:33.439 --> 00:24:34.599
 to get near us.

00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:36.679
 What should we

00:24:36.679 --> 00:24:38.019
 be doing now

00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:39.419
 to truly be with him?

00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:41.679
 Well,

00:24:41.699 --> 00:24:42.259
 there's one

00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:43.899
 crucial trait,

00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:45.179
 one crucial step

00:24:45.179 --> 00:24:46.159
 that's necessary

00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:47.279
 for having

00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:48.559
 a personal relationship

00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.199
 with Jesus

00:24:49.199 --> 00:24:50.959
 and it's one

00:24:50.959 --> 00:24:51.819
 that Christians,

00:24:52.219 --> 00:24:53.199
 especially in

00:24:53.199 --> 00:24:54.279
 Western society,

00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:57.680
 we often

00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.599
 overlook it.

00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:01.339
 An intimate

00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:01.940
 relationship

00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:02.680
 with Jesus

00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:04.399
 always requires

00:25:04.399 --> 00:25:05.180
 courage.

00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:06.759
 I mean,

00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:07.440
 it's often

00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:07.980
 overlooked

00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:08.480
 Joseph

00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:09.619
 in this whole

00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:09.859
 story,

00:25:09.899 --> 00:25:10.660
 how much courage

00:25:10.660 --> 00:25:11.740
 he must have had

00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:12.859
 to wake up

00:25:12.859 --> 00:25:13.619
 from a dream

00:25:13.619 --> 00:25:14.839
 with an angel

00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:16.759
 and in his

00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.440
 society

00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:18.119
 to be

00:25:18.119 --> 00:25:19.000
 shamed,

00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:21.079
 to be,

00:25:22.599 --> 00:25:23.160
 for his

00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:23.819
 fiancee

00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.679
 to be pregnant

00:25:24.679 --> 00:25:26.759
 was an act

00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:27.299
 of shame

00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:27.759
 for him

00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.500
 or for her

00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:29.179
 or for both

00:25:29.179 --> 00:25:29.639
 of them

00:25:29.639 --> 00:25:31.159
 and then to go

00:25:31.159 --> 00:25:31.839
 home and tell

00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:32.359
 his mates,

00:25:32.439 --> 00:25:32.519
 well,

00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:32.819
 actually,

00:25:32.939 --> 00:25:33.359
 I'm not the

00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:33.599
 father,

00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:34.299
 God is.

00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:37.939
 That's plausible.

00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:41.419
 It required

00:25:41.419 --> 00:25:42.500
 an immense

00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:43.139
 amount of

00:25:43.139 --> 00:25:43.559
 courage

00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:44.019
 for him

00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:44.519
 to take

00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:44.939
 Mary

00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:47.900
 and for him

00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.400
 to adopt

00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:48.920
 Jesus

00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:53.180
 and it

00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:53.600
 requires

00:25:53.600 --> 00:25:53.980
 courage

00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:54.559
 of us.

00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:55.920
 We cannot

00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:56.700
 know Jesus

00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.460
 personally

00:25:57.460 --> 00:25:58.620
 unless we

00:25:58.620 --> 00:25:59.059
 have the

00:25:59.059 --> 00:25:59.460
 courage

00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:00.039
 to admit

00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:00.519
 that we

00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:01.100
 are sinners.

00:26:03.600 --> 00:26:04.100
 Jesus'

00:26:04.320 --> 00:26:04.680
 entire

00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:05.080
 mission

00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:05.940
 is summed

00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:06.440
 up in

00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:07.059
 verse 21

00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:07.420
 of the

00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:07.880
 text that

00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:08.600
 was read

00:26:08.600 --> 00:26:09.059
 out to us

00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:09.500
 from Matthew

00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.200
 chapter 1.

00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:11.799
 He will

00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.460
 save

00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:13.299
 his people

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.180
 from their

00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:14.799
 sins.

00:26:16.440 --> 00:26:17.000
 First

00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:17.759
 and foremost,

00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:19.259
 Jesus came

00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:19.759
 to forgive

00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:20.220
 us.

00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:21.880
 Every other

00:26:21.880 --> 00:26:22.480
 blessing that

00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:23.039
 we have,

00:26:23.120 --> 00:26:23.620
 the comfort,

00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:24.240
 the hope,

00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:24.860
 every other

00:26:24.860 --> 00:26:25.980
 blessing flows

00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:26.559
 from that.

00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:28.980
 Are you

00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:29.519
 willing to

00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:29.920
 say,

00:26:30.340 --> 00:26:30.880
 I'm a moral

00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:31.380
 failure?

00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:33.080
 I don't love

00:26:33.080 --> 00:26:33.740
 God with all

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.360
 of my heart,

00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:34.880
 my soul,

00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:35.500
 my strength,

00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:36.259
 and my mind.

00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:37.400
 I don't love

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:37.940
 my neighbour

00:26:37.940 --> 00:26:39.700
 as myself.

00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:42.720
 And therefore,

00:26:42.859 --> 00:26:43.559
 I am guilty

00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:44.779
 and I need

00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:45.299
 forgiveness

00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:46.140
 and pardon

00:26:46.140 --> 00:26:47.319
 before I need

00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.319
 anything else.

00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:49.839
 That takes

00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:51.019
 enormous courage

00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:51.740
 to admit

00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:53.119
 because it

00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:53.720
 means that

00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:54.279
 you throw

00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:54.980
 your old

00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:55.839
 self-image

00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:56.259
 that you've

00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:56.740
 spent your

00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.119
 lifetime

00:26:57.119 --> 00:26:57.759
 building

00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:58.720
 out,

00:26:59.259 --> 00:26:59.700
 you throw

00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:00.160
 it out

00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:01.259
 and you get

00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:01.900
 a new one

00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:02.740
 through Jesus.

00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.220
 And yet,

00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:04.839
 this is the

00:27:04.839 --> 00:27:05.440
 foundation

00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:06.519
 of every

00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:06.960
 other

00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.640
 blessing

00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:08.240
 that Jesus

00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:08.759
 wants to

00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.180
 bring into

00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:09.820
 your life.

00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:11.019
 All the

00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:11.380
 comfort,

00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:11.920
 all the

00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:12.200
 hope,

00:27:12.380 --> 00:27:12.779
 all the

00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.680
 joyful

00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:14.299
 humility

00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:15.039
 and everything

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:15.539
 else.

00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:17.660
 So how

00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:17.940
 do we

00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:18.460
 get the

00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:19.019
 strength

00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:19.500
 to be

00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:20.120
 courageous

00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:21.259
 like that,

00:27:21.320 --> 00:27:21.920
 to admit

00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:22.799
 that we

00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.240
 are moral

00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:23.740
 failures

00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.059
 and we

00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:24.660
 need him?

00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:26.799
 By

00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.539
 looking at

00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:27.860
 him.

00:27:28.660 --> 00:27:29.180
 That's

00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:29.519
 how we

00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:29.980
 do it.

00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:31.080
 Because if

00:27:31.080 --> 00:27:31.640
 you think

00:27:31.640 --> 00:27:32.039
 it takes

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.680
 courage to

00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:33.200
 be with

00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:33.480
 him,

00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:34.299
 consider

00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:35.259
 that it

00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:35.720
 took

00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:36.799
 infinitely

00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:37.299
 more

00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:37.799
 courage

00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.019
 for

00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.359
 him

00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:38.559
 to

00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:38.740
 be

00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:38.940
 with

00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:39.379
 us.

00:27:41.419 --> 00:27:41.839
 Only

00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:42.359
 Christianity

00:27:42.359 --> 00:27:43.940
 of every

00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:44.779
 world religion

00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.259
 and

00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:46.019
 philosophies,

00:27:46.139 --> 00:27:47.279
 only Christianity

00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:48.359
 says that

00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:49.019
 one of the

00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:49.980
 attributes of

00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:50.500
 the divine

00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:51.180
 God is

00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:52.000
 courage.

00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:53.960
 No other

00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:54.799
 religion has

00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.659
 a God who

00:27:55.659 --> 00:27:56.799
 needed courage.

00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:58.180
 God is

00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:59.259
 to

00:27:59.259 --> 00:27:59.799
 God is

00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:00.680
 to

00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:01.379
 save us

00:28:01.379 --> 00:28:02.740
 only by

00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:03.859
 facing an

00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:04.619
 agonizing

00:28:04.619 --> 00:28:06.059
 death that

00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:06.639
 had him

00:28:06.639 --> 00:28:07.720
 wrestling in

00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.279
 sweat

00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:10.879
 in a

00:28:10.879 --> 00:28:11.279
 garden

00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:12.899
 just before

00:28:12.899 --> 00:28:13.139
 he was

00:28:13.139 --> 00:28:13.559
 arrested.

00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:14.960
 He became

00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.940
 mortal and

00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:17.139
 vulnerable so

00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:17.819
 that he could

00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:18.779
 suffer and be

00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:19.680
 betrayed and

00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:20.119
 killed.

00:28:20.399 --> 00:28:20.879
 He faced

00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:21.619
 all these

00:28:21.619 --> 00:28:22.339
 things

00:28:22.339 --> 00:28:24.919
 for you

00:28:24.919 --> 00:28:25.379
 and for

00:28:25.379 --> 00:28:26.539
 me and

00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:27.179
 he thought

00:28:27.179 --> 00:28:27.519
 it was

00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.299
 worth it.

00:28:29.899 --> 00:28:30.720
 Look at

00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:31.019
 him.

00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:32.659
 Face

00:28:32.659 --> 00:28:33.299
 the

00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:33.799
 darkness

00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:35.959
 for you.

00:28:36.959 --> 00:28:37.439
 Look at

00:28:37.439 --> 00:28:37.839
 him doing

00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:39.759
 that and

00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.220
 that will

00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:40.939
 enable you

00:28:40.939 --> 00:28:41.480
 to face

00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:42.379
 any darkness

00:28:42.379 --> 00:28:43.019
 yourself.

00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:44.559
 You've

00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:44.939
 heard the

00:28:44.939 --> 00:28:45.439
 phrase,

00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.179
 hark the

00:28:46.179 --> 00:28:46.819
 herald angels

00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:47.359
 sing,

00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:49.079
 mild he

00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:50.299
 lays his

00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:51.199
 glory by.

00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:52.799
 What does

00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:53.259
 it mean

00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:53.819
 mild he

00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:54.259
 lays his

00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:54.799
 glory by?

00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:55.959
 He did

00:28:55.959 --> 00:28:56.659
 it voluntarily,

00:28:57.019 --> 00:28:57.500
 he did

00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:57.980
 it willingly

00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:58.679
 and he

00:28:58.679 --> 00:28:58.980
 did it

00:28:58.980 --> 00:28:59.559
 lovingly.

00:29:00.699 --> 00:29:01.079
 No one

00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:01.819
 forced him,

00:29:02.139 --> 00:29:02.619
 it wasn't

00:29:02.619 --> 00:29:03.319
 his duty,

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.319
 he faced

00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:05.720
 unimaginable

00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:06.500
 pain and

00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:06.980
 death out

00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:07.339
 of love

00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:07.839
 for you.

00:29:08.179 --> 00:29:08.519
 Why did

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.000
 Jesus have

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.480
 the courage

00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:10.139
 to do

00:29:10.139 --> 00:29:11.059
 what he

00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:11.539
 did for

00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:11.959
 us?

00:29:12.779 --> 00:29:13.259
 Love.

00:29:14.059 --> 00:29:14.599
 No other

00:29:14.599 --> 00:29:15.099
 explanation

00:29:15.099 --> 00:29:15.699
 for it.

00:29:17.899 --> 00:29:18.299
 And how

00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:18.699
 do we get

00:29:18.699 --> 00:29:19.220
 the courage

00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.619
 to admit

00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:19.959
 that we're

00:29:19.959 --> 00:29:20.500
 sinners and

00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:20.839
 need his

00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:21.220
 forgiveness

00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:21.879
 and a

00:29:21.879 --> 00:29:22.299
 relationship

00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:22.859
 with him

00:29:22.859 --> 00:29:24.720
 exact same

00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:25.139
 way?

00:29:26.419 --> 00:29:27.139
 See him

00:29:27.139 --> 00:29:27.919
 doing all

00:29:27.919 --> 00:29:28.279
 that he

00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:28.759
 did for

00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.139
 us.

00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:30.279
 That will

00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:31.319
 draw out

00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:31.960
 of us

00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:32.899
 love for

00:29:32.899 --> 00:29:33.200
 him.

00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:35.819
 And then

00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.119
 we will

00:29:36.119 --> 00:29:36.460
 have the

00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:37.419
 courage to

00:29:37.419 --> 00:29:38.180
 put him

00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:38.859
 where he

00:29:38.859 --> 00:29:39.700
 belongs as

00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:40.099
 the God

00:29:40.099 --> 00:29:40.379
 of the

00:29:40.379 --> 00:29:40.839
 universe

00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:41.700
 in the

00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.019
 center of

00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:42.639
 our lives.

00:29:44.399 --> 00:29:45.119
 And then

00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:45.539
 he will be

00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:46.079
 with us

00:29:46.079 --> 00:29:48.379
 and you'll

00:29:48.379 --> 00:29:48.659
 be with

00:29:48.659 --> 00:29:48.899
 him.

00:29:48.900 --> 00:29:50.740
 Emmanuel.

00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:52.440
 Jesus

00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:53.160
 is God.

00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:54.720
 Jesus is

00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.080
 human.

00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:56.400
 And Jesus

00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:56.880
 is with

00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:57.180
 us.

00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:57.960
 Merry

00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:58.340
 Christmas.