WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.679 Our Father, thank you for Christmas. Thank you for your Son coming down and becoming human, 00:00:08.679 --> 00:00:13.839 ! Taking on flesh. We pray that today you would open our eyes to more of what that means, how 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:18.600 ! great Jesus is, what it means for our lives. Would we come away encouraged and changed? Lord, 00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:24.339 the gospel is wonderful. There's so much we can keep growing in. Help us to grow to love 00:00:24.339 --> 00:00:30.820 Jesus more. In his name we pray. Amen. Great, and Hannah is going to come up and read the 00:00:30.820 --> 00:00:33.740 scripture passage. Welcome back. 00:00:54.340 --> 00:01:03.300 The reading today is from Daniel 7, which can be found on page 697 of the Church Bible, 00:01:03.780 --> 00:01:06.140 and it's from verse 1 to 18. 00:01:06.140 --> 00:01:20.500 So from verse 1, 00:01:20.500 --> 00:01:27.379 In the first year of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as 00:01:27.379 --> 00:01:34.159 he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. Daniel declared, 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:39.859 I saw it in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea, 00:01:40.299 --> 00:01:46.299 and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. The first was like 00:01:46.299 --> 00:01:52.259 a lion and had eagle's wings. Then as I looked, its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from 00:01:52.259 --> 00:01:57.219 the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 00:01:57.219 --> 00:02:05.539 And behold, another beast, a second one like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in 00:02:05.539 --> 00:02:13.060 its mouth between its teeth, and it was told, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I looked, 00:02:13.300 --> 00:02:20.620 and behold, another like a leopard with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, 00:02:20.620 --> 00:02:27.860 and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, 00:02:28.259 --> 00:02:35.319 terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth. It devoured and broken pieces 00:02:35.319 --> 00:02:40.680 and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, 00:02:40.900 --> 00:02:47.900 and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, 00:02:47.900 --> 00:02:54.439 a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, 00:02:54.680 --> 00:02:59.240 in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. 00:03:00.540 --> 00:03:07.500 As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white as snow, 00:03:07.900 --> 00:03:14.400 and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames. Its wheels were burning fire. 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:20.920 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him. A thousand thousand served him, 00:03:21.319 --> 00:03:27.439 and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were 00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:32.719 opened. I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. 00:03:33.420 --> 00:03:39.120 And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:45.780 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season 00:03:45.780 --> 00:03:53.680 and a time. I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son 00:03:53.680 --> 00:04:00.480 of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:08.199 and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. And his dominion is an 00:04:08.199 --> 00:04:13.620 everlasting dominion which will not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. 00:04:14.839 --> 00:04:20.939 As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 00:04:21.620 --> 00:04:25.959 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. 00:04:25.959 --> 00:04:30.299 So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 00:04:31.479 --> 00:04:35.659 These four great beasts are four kings who will arise out of the earth, 00:04:36.019 --> 00:04:40.740 but the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, 00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:44.679 forever and ever. This is the word of the Lord. 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:58.759 Great. Thank you, Hannah. You probably wonder, what is this all about? 00:05:00.660 --> 00:05:04.740 It's the most often quoted passage from the Old Testament and New Testament, but you probably 00:05:04.740 --> 00:05:07.920 think, what does this have to do with Christmas, right? We're the angels and the shepherds. 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:13.220 Actually, this passage is all about Christmas, but we're going to get there. We need to do a bit 00:05:13.220 --> 00:05:20.140 of work for that. I wondered, why don't we start with Christmas? Christmas is, of course, about 00:05:20.140 --> 00:05:27.940 God taking on flesh, Jesus becoming human. Quite often we focus on the big condescension, 00:05:28.140 --> 00:05:35.000 how infinite God becomes human. But just think about what it means. Just imagine, maybe, 00:05:35.380 --> 00:05:41.940 for us to imagine it a bit more. Imagine that Jesus was born in Hong Kong around the year 2000. 00:05:41.939 --> 00:05:48.639 What would it look like for him to be human? Well, I guess he has to go to school, right? And do lots 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:55.420 of homework and learn Chinese characters. And he lives in a small apartment in Mong Kok with, 00:05:55.420 --> 00:06:02.180 you know, with Joseph and Mary and his four little brothers. And what does he do? They celebrate the 00:06:02.180 --> 00:06:08.600 winter solstice together. And he does his chores. And again, he does lots of exams. And then, of course, 00:06:08.600 --> 00:06:15.060 later, he goes to uni. And then after that, he gets a job somewhere, you know, on the island. So he 00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:21.860 gets on the MTR in his suit. And he goes to an office. And he works long hours sending emails and 00:06:21.860 --> 00:06:28.800 doing spreadsheets. I don't know. How do you feel about that? This is almighty God. And he comes and 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:37.060 lives that kind of life. Right? An ordinary human life. Now, I think you think that's crazy, right? 00:06:37.300 --> 00:06:42.060 You probably think, what a waste of time. I mean, age 30, he quit his job and became a preacher, 00:06:42.220 --> 00:06:49.060 right? That's, OK, that's the real thing. I think that says we have a very low view of our own life, 00:06:49.100 --> 00:06:54.360 right? If we think that's a waste of time, do we think our life is a waste of time, right? You know, 00:06:54.360 --> 00:06:58.720 you have a job. You need to have a job because then you can earn money and buy food and pay rent. 00:06:58.840 --> 00:07:04.639 But actually, it's not that important, right? Or just being at home with your family and doing chores. 00:07:04.860 --> 00:07:09.460 Well, yeah, I guess it's now Christmas holiday. You can get a bit of celebration. 00:07:10.379 --> 00:07:14.580 But maybe we think our ordinary human life isn't actually that special. 00:07:15.740 --> 00:07:21.379 Well, today will be a very interesting passage. We're going to see that our lives are part of 00:07:21.379 --> 00:07:26.719 something much bigger. And I hope today will be a real encouragement to us. Now, what are we looking 00:07:26.719 --> 00:07:34.600 at today? We're doing this series, Why Jesus Came. And one thing is, Jesus came to restore God's kingdom. 00:07:35.480 --> 00:07:41.920 To restore God's kingdom. Now, maybe heard in the reading, the word kingdom, right? Here are four 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:46.719 kingdoms from the sea. And the Son of Man received the kingdom and the saints received the kingdom. 00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:52.480 I hope you've heard the kingdom language in this passage. But what is the kingdom of God? 00:07:53.580 --> 00:07:57.340 Right? If you ask different Christians, many people, how do you define the kingdom of God? 00:07:57.480 --> 00:08:02.420 They come up with all kinds of things. I mean, maybe it is that God is the king, that God is in 00:08:02.420 --> 00:08:10.040 charge and rules over everything. Well, maybe. But before Jesus came, God was also in charge. So that's 00:08:10.040 --> 00:08:15.280 not just it, right? And there must be more than that. Maybe it is that Jesus is now our king rather 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:20.159 than God the Father. Is that it? Sometimes people think, okay, the kingdom is, you know, the kingdom 00:08:20.159 --> 00:08:26.279 of heaven. It's when there's no suffering and there's joy. And Jesus came to bring the kingdom of God, 00:08:26.359 --> 00:08:33.220 well, later. Or sometimes people think, well, the kingdom of God is about justice and righteousness. 00:08:33.419 --> 00:08:38.620 So when people do good in the world and there's, you know, there's justice and compassion. And that's the 00:08:38.620 --> 00:08:45.799 kingdom of God. Well, there's some truth in every one of those. But how do they all fit together? 00:08:45.940 --> 00:08:50.480 Well, what is the kingdom of God? Well, to see that, we need to just go back to the beginning 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:55.120 of the Bible. So actually, we're going to start on page one of your Bibles in Genesis chapter 00:08:55.120 --> 00:09:00.960 one. So if you have a Bible, turn to chapter one of Genesis, the first book, page one. 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:06.519 It's not the first page. There's all these introductory pages, but you know what I mean. 00:09:08.280 --> 00:09:15.040 And then what do we see here? Well, we see a failed kingdom. The world starts with, the 00:09:15.040 --> 00:09:19.920 book starts with a failed kingdom. Now, of course, we need to start with actually before the failed 00:09:19.920 --> 00:09:25.379 kingdom, what was God's original design? How do we see the kingdom here? Well, let's look 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:34.480 at human beings and what we were supposed to be. Genesis 1 verse 26, the creation of mankind, 00:09:35.220 --> 00:09:42.740 humanity. Then God said, verse 26, let us make man in our image after our likeness and let them 00:09:42.740 --> 00:09:47.799 have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and 00:09:47.799 --> 00:09:52.559 over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. Now, what are humans here? 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:58.959 They are in the image of God. They are a copy of God, right? Like your, you know, your WhatsApp 00:09:58.959 --> 00:10:06.219 profile picture. It's a copy of who you are, a copy of God. And how are we a copy? Well, it says, 00:10:06.359 --> 00:10:14.259 let them have dominion, right? So, of course, God is the supreme king over everything. And human beings, 00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:20.419 they were copied. They are rulers in his place, right? We are stewards of creation. We're supposed to 00:10:20.419 --> 00:10:28.000 rule the world under God. I don't know what you, I mean, that's quite common. Psalm 8, one slide back, 00:10:28.599 --> 00:10:35.379 right? That's celebrated. What an honor that is. That's, so here is David praising God. What is man 00:10:35.379 --> 00:10:40.799 that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You've made him a little lower than 00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:46.279 the heavenly beings and crowns him with glory and honor. You've given him dominion over the works of 00:10:46.279 --> 00:10:52.759 your hands. You've put all things under his feet. Hey, here's a, this is humanity. We are under God, 00:10:52.819 --> 00:10:59.360 a little bit lower, and we were supposed to rule over the world. I don't know what you think ruling 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:05.620 is. You know, do we sit on a throne? Are we like, let's go, we're in a building and we vote on laws or 00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:13.299 something like that? No, it's our ordinary lives. Just our work, our, you know, families, just normal, 00:11:13.299 --> 00:11:21.279 ordinary life, but God's way, right? God is the God of love and compassion and mercy and justice. 00:11:21.979 --> 00:11:27.319 And when we live our lives that way, well, creation flourishes. That was supposed to be the beautiful 00:11:27.319 --> 00:11:34.819 world that God made where we, you know, we, we rule over the world God's way. And yeah, it would be 00:11:34.819 --> 00:11:42.439 beautiful. And that, that is the kingdom of God, the original design. But of course, as we have heard 00:11:42.440 --> 00:11:50.440 many times in Christmas, in Genesis 3, that design was broken. Adam and Eve sinned, right? They, 00:11:50.560 --> 00:11:56.500 they, they rejected God's rule. They rebelled. They went our own way. Now, what happened in there 00:11:56.500 --> 00:12:03.000 is that the kingdom was thrown upside down. The kingdom of God was thrown upside down. If you think 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:09.960 about the kingdom, it's, right? You have God on top, and then we are kind of under God, and then 00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:16.960 creation underneath, right? That's kind of the hierarchy in Genesis 1 and 2. But, all right, 00:12:17.040 --> 00:12:23.940 Adam and Eve listened to Satan. But how is Satan presented here? Look at 3 verse 1, right? So how 00:12:23.940 --> 00:12:31.720 is Satan presented? In 3 verse 1, now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field. 00:12:31.720 --> 00:12:39.300 So Satan is here presented as a beast, an animal. And Adam and Eve listened to the beast, right? 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:44.300 And so it's like animals are now on top, creation's on top, and then man underneath, and then God 00:12:44.300 --> 00:12:51.360 is kind of ignored, right? So it's like, you know, creation is thrown upside down. The kingdom 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:56.519 is, is thrown upside down. That is what we see here. It's no longer the kingdom of God. It's 00:12:56.519 --> 00:13:01.980 no longer God's way. It's now, you know, people live our way. We live Satan's way. That's 00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:08.139 what happened to the world. And this imagery of beast ruling, yeah, you see that all throughout 00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:13.100 the Bible. So we had that weird reading from Daniel talking about the kingdoms of the world, 00:13:13.179 --> 00:13:19.079 but how were they presented as beasts, right? Here are beasts that rule, I mean, very scary 00:13:19.079 --> 00:13:24.319 predators, right? Very weird. You know, they're trying to make a picture. It's just, it's just 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:31.320 weird, but it's scary, right? Because here are beasts that rule. Humans would live God's 00:13:32.020 --> 00:13:37.900 way with mercy and compassion, but beasts, they don't know God. They just rule their own 00:13:37.900 --> 00:13:43.000 way. That is what the world is like. It's people ruling their own way, living their own 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:47.500 way. It's like animals are in charge, and it's horrible, right? That is the world. And 00:13:47.500 --> 00:13:54.000 yeah, that is the world we live in now, a world ruled by beasts, right? That's what we 00:13:54.000 --> 00:14:01.200 are like. We're no longer human in a way. And yeah, that's the aspect of sin. In other 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:07.659 ways also, creation is kind of on top. So how is Adam punished? How are they punished? Well, 00:14:08.059 --> 00:14:13.559 creation almost rebels against them, right? They rebel against God, and now creation rebels 00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:20.659 against them because there's natural disasters, and work is hard, and right? Creation is now, 00:14:20.659 --> 00:14:26.139 we are being ruled by creation. It's just a mess. It's a great explanation of our world, 00:14:26.259 --> 00:14:34.159 right? Humans who rebel, creation that rebels. And just to say before we move on, it's quite 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:40.939 a humbling picture of who we are, right? We are, as humans, we are rebels. Now Christmas, 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:47.659 we often focus on us as victims, right? We're in the dark, and we need the light. And we, you 00:14:47.659 --> 00:14:51.959 know, we're in bondage, and we need freedom. And that's absolutely true. That's absolutely 00:14:51.959 --> 00:14:56.419 wonderful. But we shouldn't forget that the mess we're in is the mess of our own making. 00:14:57.199 --> 00:15:05.240 We are rebels, right? We have turned God's kingdom upside down. And yeah, and of course, 00:15:05.379 --> 00:15:10.620 because of our position, that really matters, right? Sin is not just you and God, right? 00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:15.439 Because we are supposed to rule over creation. When we sin, all of creation is messed up, 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:20.280 right? I mean, the higher someone is, the more impact they have. So a little four-year-old 00:15:20.280 --> 00:15:26.880 who sins, no one gets hurt, apart from their younger sister, right? If you have some president 00:15:26.880 --> 00:15:33.720 somewhere up there who sins, millions of people get hurt, right? The higher you are, you know, 00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:39.740 the more damage you do. And of course, we are a little lower than God, right? We rule over 00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:46.440 creation. So when we sin, all of creation is affected, right? Our rebellion is a big thing. 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:52.120 God cares about it. We're not just victims. We're rebels. We ruined God's kingdom. And it's 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:58.080 right that God does something about that, right? I don't know if you see your sin that way. 00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:07.000 We should see it as more serious than we often think. But yeah, God didn't leave his kingdom 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:14.460 in a mess. The good news of Christmas, of course, is that there is a new king. We are getting a new 00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:20.180 king. And that's already in Genesis 3, right? Already in the Garden of Eden, after Adam and Eve sinned, 00:16:20.660 --> 00:16:26.140 God promised, yeah, the gospel for the first time. So 3 verse 15, if you're still in Genesis, 00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:33.120 Genesis, the famous verse, we looked at it every week already. But to the woman, God said, 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:40.919 I will show, no, no, sorry, verse 15, God spoke to the serpent, I will put enmity between you and 00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:48.279 the woman and between your offspring and her offspring. He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:54.679 heel. Now there's going to be someone who will defeat Satan, right? Who will crush the serpent. 00:16:56.139 --> 00:17:01.740 But do you notice the imagery here? You know, where is the snake in this picture, in this verse? 00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:08.660 Where's the snake? Right? I mean, he will crush your head and you will bite his heel. So where is he? 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:15.619 He is under the feet, right? The serpent is again at the bottom, right? 00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:22.339 Heads in the Bible stands for rule and authority. Here is someone who will bring down the rule of Satan, 00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:28.720 not to destroy him, bring down his rule. And so here is a human who will be in the right place, 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:36.459 who will be under God again, right? That is what we see here, a new Adam, someone who rules the right 00:17:36.459 --> 00:17:43.500 way under God, right? Creation is again as it should be. That's the wonderful thing here. 00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:51.119 The kingdom of God is back from, yeah, this guy who will tread on the serpent. And that is, 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:55.079 I think, what you, I mean, I could show you more of that from Abraham and David and the prophets. 00:17:55.960 --> 00:18:03.140 But again, that is the wonderful news in Daniel, that vision we just read. I've put it here on the 00:18:03.140 --> 00:18:08.779 screen, right? What will happen? Well, 7 verse 13 of Daniel, you don't need to turn to it, 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:16.460 it's going to be on the screen. 7 verse 13, I saw in the night visions and behold, 00:18:16.639 --> 00:18:22.899 with the clouds of heaven, there came one like a son of man. And he came to the ancient of days 00:18:22.899 --> 00:18:30.819 and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom and so on. So 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:37.559 the kingdoms of the world is all ruled by beasts, but now here comes God's kingdom. And who is the 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:43.720 king? Well, it is a human being, a son of man. That's what it means, a human being. But here is 00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:52.220 a human. So someone who lives God's way, someone who rules and lives with mercy and justice and love 00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:59.379 and compassion. And he is given the kingdom. So the kingdom is back because there's again a real 00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:06.480 human being, a human being, which was lost at the fall. That is why Daniel, yeah, it's about Christmas. 00:19:06.760 --> 00:19:13.940 This is about Jesus who became human and as a human restored the kingdom. He was the new Adam, 00:19:14.540 --> 00:19:20.460 the new human, and now the kingdom of God is back again. Right? That's why, that's what it is about. 00:19:21.360 --> 00:19:26.240 And so Jesus had to become a human for the kingdom of God. It was not just that he needed a body, 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:32.359 yeah, to reveal God to us. And of course he needed a body to die for us. Of course, 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:40.500 that was his greatest moment. But actually, he lived his whole life under God. He lived as a human being, 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:47.559 lived a perfect life, right? God's way. And that is how he, you know, got the kingdom. That's 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:54.960 restored the kingdom because there was a human again. I hope that makes sense. So yeah, that's what Jesus did. 00:19:56.240 --> 00:20:03.859 I mean, first let's just dwell on how amazing that is. How amazing is it for Jesus to live a perfect 00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:10.059 human life? Now, what did that look like? I mean, certainly he worked, right? He was a carpenter. 00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:17.500 So he carpentered every day for the glory of God. He was the perfect worker. He was the perfect son 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:22.720 to Joseph and Mary, right? Always listened, always did his chores. He was the perfect sibling. 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:29.380 He always shared his toys and he never fought with his brothers, right? Every day of his life. He was the 00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:36.940 perfect neighbor doing good in the community, the perfect citizen, the perfect believer. He went to 00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:44.200 the synagogue and he meditated and he prayed, did his duties, right? Every moment of his life. 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:54.019 For 30 years. That's amazing, right? And this was a perfect life. I don't know what for you a good 00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:58.840 day would be. Maybe think of a good day at work. What is a good day that you're proud of? Well, 00:20:59.360 --> 00:21:05.860 basically when I didn't sin too much, right? Maybe when I only sinned in my head but didn't actually 00:21:05.860 --> 00:21:13.080 hurt someone with my words. Then that's a really good day. Well, Jesus, he didn't have a single 00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:21.159 sinful thought any day of his life. That's how perfect he was. And think of the good he did, 00:21:21.939 --> 00:21:27.179 right? Again, we just think of, well, a good day is if I don't sin. But in the confession, 00:21:27.339 --> 00:21:33.639 we always say in the evil we have done, in the good we have not done. So Jesus did what was good 00:21:33.639 --> 00:21:40.799 every moment of his life. He always glorified God. This is the maximum good you could do in every 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:48.500 situation. He did that perfectly every moment, every day of his life. That's amazing, right? If you 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:54.039 think about that, that's so much different from our lives. But he lived that perfect, beautiful life, 00:21:54.180 --> 00:22:03.099 God's way, all to restore the kingdom. And so Jesus didn't just die for you. He lived for you. He lived 00:22:03.099 --> 00:22:33.099 the perfect life for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. He lived for you. 00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:36.399 it also says something about us, right? 00:22:36.419 --> 00:22:37.959 It says something about humanity. 00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:43.179 I mean, it means that in a way our lives are very important 00:22:43.179 --> 00:22:44.919 because Jesus became a human. 00:22:45.639 --> 00:22:46.699 He became one of us. 00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:48.159 He lived our life. 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:50.059 That shows our lives matter. 00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:52.359 Let me give an illustration. 00:22:52.679 --> 00:22:55.559 I guess you know what appendicitis is, right? 00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:58.599 There's this part of your intestines called an appendix 00:22:58.599 --> 00:23:01.379 and I hope this is not a painful memory for some of you 00:23:01.380 --> 00:23:06.300 but, you know, that gets inflamed and, okay, what do the doctors do? 00:23:06.380 --> 00:23:07.900 They operate and they cut it out. 00:23:09.060 --> 00:23:09.760 It makes sense. 00:23:10.040 --> 00:23:11.900 The appendix is not good anymore. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.480 Take it out. 00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:16.000 Now, what if your heart develops a problem? 00:23:17.600 --> 00:23:18.840 Well, they don't just take it out, right? 00:23:18.840 --> 00:23:21.680 They put a new heart in it and you get a heart transplant. 00:23:22.840 --> 00:23:23.860 Why do they do that? 00:23:25.260 --> 00:23:27.720 Well, because your heart is really critical, right? 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:29.100 Your heart is really important. 00:23:29.280 --> 00:23:30.540 You can't do without your heart. 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:34.079 That's why your heart needs replacing rather than just removing. 00:23:36.339 --> 00:23:38.960 Well, Christmas shows human lives are critical 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:41.599 because Jesus became a human being. 00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:44.859 Christmas is basically a humanity transplant. 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:46.099 Does that make sense? 00:23:46.159 --> 00:23:47.339 It's a humanity transplant. 00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:52.059 The old humanity has failed but we need a humanity 00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:54.180 and so there's a new human, a new humanity. 00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:58.420 It's a transplant and on the one hand that is very humbling, right? 00:23:58.420 --> 00:24:03.100 Because we are like the old heart that didn't work anymore and needed replacing. 00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:09.439 But at the same time, it shows that, you know, our human lives were important. 00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:13.139 Human lives are important in God's plan, ordinary human lives. 00:24:14.159 --> 00:24:15.759 I mean, Jesus didn't become a dolphin. 00:24:16.659 --> 00:24:20.679 Dolphins, great creatures, they're not important in God's plan, right? 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:21.899 Jesus didn't become a dolphin. 00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:23.580 Satan. 00:24:23.580 --> 00:24:23.660 Satan. 00:24:23.880 --> 00:24:27.300 Satan was this super archangel who rebelled. 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:30.180 Jesus didn't become a super archangel. 00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:34.200 Satan wasn't important for God's kingdom, right? 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.900 Human beings are. 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:40.160 That's why Jesus became one, to replace us. 00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:41.620 Right? 00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:45.559 I mean, I know there's people here who lost their job this year. 00:24:45.659 --> 00:24:47.359 Now, there's two ways you can lose your job. 00:24:47.419 --> 00:24:48.579 I wonder which you think is worse. 00:24:48.659 --> 00:24:51.259 One is that, you know, you don't perform and you get fired 00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:52.939 and they hire someone to replace you. 00:24:53.959 --> 00:24:56.079 I think it's worse if they make you redundant 00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:57.619 and basically say, we don't need you. 00:24:57.679 --> 00:25:00.459 We can do everything without you and we don't need you. 00:25:01.959 --> 00:25:03.359 Then you feel so useless, right? 00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:09.659 Well, Jesus says that, yeah, this is not a redundancy, right? 00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:11.040 It's a replacement. 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:15.200 You're important in God's plan. 00:25:16.320 --> 00:25:19.540 The secular narrative is that we are just monkeys with large brains 00:25:19.540 --> 00:25:23.660 or that we are, you know, bacteria who are a bit overdeveloped. 00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:25.660 Then your life is not very meaningful. 00:25:25.820 --> 00:25:28.880 No, you are in the image, we are in the image of God. 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:30.600 Humans are key to God's kingdom. 00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:35.040 That's why Jesus became a human, right? 00:25:35.120 --> 00:25:36.000 So be encouraged. 00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:37.660 Your life, in a way, matters. 00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:38.340 Matters. 00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:41.759 The perfect Christian life isn't just a monk who prays all day 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.640 or something like that. 00:25:43.820 --> 00:25:49.000 The perfect Christian life includes work, family, society, 00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:51.660 all those things, right? 00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:53.420 That is the perfect Christian life. 00:25:54.060 --> 00:25:55.140 They are part of God's kingdom. 00:25:57.400 --> 00:25:59.540 Of course, the question then maybe is, okay, 00:25:59.620 --> 00:26:01.080 but then how do we fit in? 00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:03.160 Because, okay, the old heart, 00:26:03.360 --> 00:26:05.040 are we just the old heart that gets thrown away 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:06.139 and now there's a new heart? 00:26:06.940 --> 00:26:08.099 Well, there's not just a new king. 00:26:08.159 --> 00:26:10.639 There's also a new kingdom, right? 00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:13.720 Now, God's plan was never just Adam. 00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:16.940 It was a whole humanity, right? 00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:19.220 And in their case, you know, be fruitful and multiply, 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:20.799 have lots of kids, right? 00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:24.539 So that the world is filled with the image of God. 00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.819 Certainly in Daniel, right, 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:28.960 it also says the saints will receive the kingdom. 00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:30.740 It's not just the son of man, right? 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.519 There's more. 00:26:31.640 --> 00:26:33.319 There's a lot of people involved. 00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:34.960 But how do we fit in? 00:26:35.120 --> 00:26:37.859 So let's trace this imagery a bit later. 00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:41.200 Go to page 917 in your Bibles. 00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:42.539 Ephesians chapter 1. 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.700 You will hear the same language. 00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:47.039 Ephesians chapter 1, verse 22. 00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:51.279 A couple of years ago, we preached through Ephesians, 00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:53.519 so if you are good at remembering servants, 00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:55.599 you may remember this. 00:26:56.159 --> 00:26:59.000 But how do we fit in? 00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:03.439 So end of Ephesians 1 is all about Christ being exalted, right? 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:04.959 Like the son of man. 00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:06.719 But then 1, verse 22. 00:27:06.919 --> 00:27:08.399 Let me read those verses, 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:09.659 and then we're going to draw them out. 00:27:10.179 --> 00:27:10.319 Right? 00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:12.240 917. 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:17.759 And he, God, put all things under his feet, Jesus' feet, 00:27:18.199 --> 00:27:21.359 and gave him as head over all things to the church, 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.859 which is his body, 00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:25.879 the fullness of him who fills all in all. 00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:30.839 And you can hear everything under his feet, right? 00:27:30.939 --> 00:27:32.339 This is a new humanity. 00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:33.819 This is, right? 00:27:34.459 --> 00:27:35.439 Yeah, Psalm 8. 00:27:36.119 --> 00:27:37.459 But what does this picture say? 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.979 Well, here's my drawing of it, 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:40.039 all things, 00:27:40.139 --> 00:27:41.579 and then under Jesus' feet, right? 00:27:41.699 --> 00:27:42.379 You can see that. 00:27:42.779 --> 00:27:43.979 Everything is under his feet. 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:46.659 And then, okay, where's Jesus? 00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:48.959 Well, Christ is the head over everything. 00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.279 So there's Christ. 00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:52.420 But where are you? 00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:55.960 Well, verse 23, right? 00:27:56.099 --> 00:27:58.059 The church, which is his body. 00:27:59.399 --> 00:28:00.399 There's where you are. 00:28:00.639 --> 00:28:02.220 You are part of Christ. 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:06.660 You are, this new humanity is Christ, 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:08.299 but not just Christ himself, 00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.579 but those who are in Christ. 00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:10.879 That's where the church is. 00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:12.759 You are this new humanity. 00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:15.259 So this new human race, 00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:16.839 it doesn't spread through genes, 00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:18.420 it doesn't spread through having children, 00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:20.840 just unless they believe, 00:28:21.380 --> 00:28:23.180 but it spreads as people submit to Jesus 00:28:23.180 --> 00:28:24.240 and come under his rule. 00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:27.200 And then, that is this picture. 00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:30.560 The church is the new humanity in Christ. 00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.900 It's worth noting, of course, 00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:37.320 that this means the kingdom starts with belonging to Jesus, right? 00:28:37.340 --> 00:28:38.440 So people who, you know, 00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:40.060 here's a secular organization, 00:28:40.060 --> 00:28:41.800 and they do mercy and compassion. 00:28:41.800 --> 00:28:42.480 That's wonderful. 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:44.220 That's not the kingdom of God, 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:47.120 because it's not under Jesus, right? 00:28:47.119 --> 00:28:48.419 It's not in submission to Jesus. 00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.359 It also means, by the way, 00:28:50.399 --> 00:28:52.339 that if you're not a Christian, 00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:53.679 it's great that you're here. 00:28:54.679 --> 00:28:56.459 You need to become part of this 00:28:56.459 --> 00:28:58.179 by coming to Jesus. 00:28:58.719 --> 00:29:00.819 By nature, we're all part of that old humanity 00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:02.359 that's going to be cut away. 00:29:03.239 --> 00:29:04.579 But if you surrender, 00:29:04.699 --> 00:29:05.639 if you come to Jesus, 00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:07.059 you know, Jesus loves you, 00:29:07.119 --> 00:29:07.759 he forgives you, 00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:08.719 he welcomes you back. 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:10.779 Come and be part of this new humanity. 00:29:10.959 --> 00:29:12.179 But you need to turn. 00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:13.939 You're not automatically part of it. 00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:18.340 But, yeah, this is where, 00:29:18.600 --> 00:29:20.000 but this is the body of Christ. 00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:21.340 This is, right? 00:29:21.600 --> 00:29:23.320 Because head and body 00:29:23.320 --> 00:29:25.380 is not just about closeness and intimacy. 00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:27.779 Bodies do something, right? 00:29:27.820 --> 00:29:29.299 So if I send an email, 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:30.400 that's not just my head. 00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:31.900 I use my body, right? 00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.180 That's how we work. 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:34.400 We work with our bodies. 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:36.700 Our head controls our bodies, 00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:38.039 and our bodies do the work. 00:29:39.080 --> 00:29:41.180 And so if we are the body of Christ, 00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:43.220 we, you know, we are the new humanity. 00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:45.539 We live our ordinary lives in this world, 00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:48.279 and that is how Christ is at work, right? 00:29:49.600 --> 00:29:50.259 Can you see that? 00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:51.259 That's our new humanity. 00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:53.360 That's what Christmas leads to. 00:29:54.100 --> 00:29:55.480 Jesus became a human, 00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:57.340 leading to a new humanity, 00:29:57.539 --> 00:29:58.900 and that's those who are in Christ, 00:29:58.980 --> 00:29:59.500 Christ's body. 00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:01.440 Now, when is this? 00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:03.779 Of course, partly in the new creation, 00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:05.160 when there's no more sin, 00:30:05.220 --> 00:30:06.820 and we are all truly human, 00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:08.620 and without sin anymore, 00:30:08.620 --> 00:30:09.620 of course, then we'll take care 00:30:09.620 --> 00:30:10.820 of the universe under Christ. 00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:14.539 But it's here now in some way as well. 00:30:15.340 --> 00:30:15.440 Right? 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:17.539 Daniel chapter 2 talks about, 00:30:17.620 --> 00:30:18.600 yeah, again, God's kingdom, 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:20.440 but it's like a stone that grows 00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:21.720 and covers the whole earth. 00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:22.600 Right? 00:30:22.620 --> 00:30:23.560 It's about, you know, 00:30:23.600 --> 00:30:26.000 the new humanity growing right now. 00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:28.640 Ephesians, it doesn't just say this happened, 00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:29.799 but it's, you know, 00:30:29.860 --> 00:30:31.539 live a life worthy of your calling. 00:30:31.720 --> 00:30:33.019 Live out this new humanity 00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:35.120 as a new, yeah, 00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:35.920 as new humans, 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:36.820 as a new Adam. 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:37.940 Right? 00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:38.900 So, yeah, 00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:39.799 it's not just trust, 00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:40.680 being a Christian, 00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:41.039 therefore, 00:30:41.119 --> 00:30:42.220 it's not just trusting in Jesus. 00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:43.899 It's not just, 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:45.139 that's how it starts. 00:30:45.399 --> 00:30:45.519 Right? 00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:46.960 But it's not just, 00:30:47.139 --> 00:30:47.279 okay, 00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:48.500 I read my Bible and pray, 00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:49.079 and for the rest, 00:30:49.159 --> 00:30:50.220 I live my old life. 00:30:51.019 --> 00:30:51.240 No, 00:30:51.319 --> 00:30:52.619 we are a new humanity 00:30:52.619 --> 00:30:54.779 here in this world. 00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:56.480 I mean, 00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:58.039 I thought of this meme 00:30:58.039 --> 00:31:00.200 from a few years ago, 00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:01.559 from COVID. 00:31:01.799 --> 00:31:03.019 I don't know if you remember this one. 00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:04.419 Right? 00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:05.100 That's 2019, 00:31:05.420 --> 00:31:06.259 this guy lying on the couch, 00:31:06.300 --> 00:31:07.100 he's a lazy guy. 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:07.560 2020, 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:08.940 he's a responsible adult. 00:31:09.580 --> 00:31:09.740 Right? 00:31:09.800 --> 00:31:10.900 So just wait at home 00:31:10.900 --> 00:31:11.380 until, 00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:12.380 you know, 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:13.660 the vaccine rescues us. 00:31:13.779 --> 00:31:13.920 Right? 00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:15.440 That was kind of the thing back then. 00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:17.800 Sometimes as Christians, 00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:19.500 we can say like that, 00:31:19.560 --> 00:31:19.700 right? 00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:22.500 Come Emmanuel 00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:24.240 and ransom captive Israel. 00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:24.539 Right? 00:31:24.580 --> 00:31:24.940 We are, 00:31:25.380 --> 00:31:26.220 we're captive 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:27.259 and we just need to wait 00:31:27.259 --> 00:31:28.140 for Jesus to come. 00:31:28.800 --> 00:31:29.080 Right? 00:31:29.080 --> 00:31:30.000 We are in the dark 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:31.340 and we wait for Jesus to come. 00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.519 And being a Christian 00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:33.000 is just, 00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:33.199 okay, 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:34.000 you believe in Jesus 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.740 and then you wait. 00:31:35.139 --> 00:31:35.319 Right? 00:31:35.399 --> 00:31:36.559 Is this a faithful Christian? 00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:37.779 Well, 00:31:38.319 --> 00:31:38.980 no. 00:31:39.879 --> 00:31:41.139 Christmas says actually 00:31:41.139 --> 00:31:43.099 our lives matter. 00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:43.579 Partly, 00:31:43.659 --> 00:31:43.879 of course, 00:31:43.919 --> 00:31:44.819 we need to share the gospel 00:31:44.819 --> 00:31:45.980 before Jesus returns. 00:31:46.639 --> 00:31:47.379 But more, 00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.939 we are the new humanity. 00:31:49.139 --> 00:31:51.179 We are filled with the spirit. 00:31:51.439 --> 00:31:51.659 Right? 00:31:52.119 --> 00:31:52.799 And so, 00:31:53.299 --> 00:31:54.220 live that out. 00:31:54.539 --> 00:31:55.059 Human matter. 00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:55.819 Humans matter. 00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.379 Our lives matter. 00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:58.179 Right? 00:31:58.179 --> 00:32:00.339 If we live God's way, 00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:02.059 if we live ordinary lives 00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:02.939 but beautifully 00:32:02.939 --> 00:32:04.939 with love and compassion 00:32:04.939 --> 00:32:07.299 and according to God's words, 00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:08.199 yeah, 00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:10.559 this is God's kingdom restored. 00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:13.959 Humans living God's way under God. 00:32:14.099 --> 00:32:15.939 And it's a beautiful thought. 00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:16.179 Right? 00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:16.720 We are, 00:32:16.919 --> 00:32:17.240 of course, 00:32:17.379 --> 00:32:18.439 partly we are victims. 00:32:18.619 --> 00:32:19.720 I don't want to deny that. 00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:20.659 And for many of us, 00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.459 life is tough 00:32:21.459 --> 00:32:22.919 and we're struggling. 00:32:23.579 --> 00:32:24.639 But at the same time, 00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:26.139 we're something new. 00:32:26.619 --> 00:32:27.579 God is at work already. 00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:29.579 And we can live that out. 00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:29.899 Right? 00:32:29.900 --> 00:32:31.220 So when you go to work tomorrow, 00:32:31.620 --> 00:32:32.640 maybe you're on your break, 00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:34.280 maybe when you go to work soon, 00:32:34.840 --> 00:32:35.940 yeah, 00:32:36.100 --> 00:32:37.160 think of yourself like that. 00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:38.740 You're an agent of God's kingdom. 00:32:39.040 --> 00:32:40.480 God's given you a role there 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:42.040 to live out your life, 00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:43.500 to reflect Christ. 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:45.120 And that's why Jesus came, 00:32:45.160 --> 00:32:46.360 to restore God's kingdom. 00:32:46.880 --> 00:32:47.960 He is the new Adam, 00:32:48.900 --> 00:32:50.040 starting a new humanity. 00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:51.940 And if we are in him, 00:32:52.280 --> 00:32:52.480 well, 00:32:53.100 --> 00:32:54.259 we are to live that out. 00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:55.440 And that's a wonderful, 00:32:55.860 --> 00:32:56.660 beautiful thing. 00:32:56.660 --> 00:32:56.860 Right? 00:32:56.859 --> 00:32:58.179 And that the world will flourish. 00:32:58.339 --> 00:32:58.979 We will flourish. 00:32:59.139 --> 00:33:00.379 We are who we're meant to be. 00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:01.419 It's a wonderful thing. 00:33:03.619 --> 00:33:03.879 Well, 00:33:03.939 --> 00:33:04.899 why don't I pray 00:33:04.899 --> 00:33:07.119 as we reflect on that, 00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:09.000 as we do that, 00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:09.919 the music team 00:33:09.919 --> 00:33:11.179 and the communion stewards 00:33:11.179 --> 00:33:12.719 can come to the front. 00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:24.380 Father, 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.920 thank you for what Jesus did. 00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:27.660 Thank you that he lived 00:33:27.660 --> 00:33:28.640 a perfect life 00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:29.620 for all those years. 00:33:30.380 --> 00:33:31.600 The life that we could never live. 00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:33.039 The life where 00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:35.220 we fell so far short 00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:35.880 of your glory. 00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:37.059 And yet, 00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:38.779 he lived that perfectly. 00:33:38.880 --> 00:33:39.740 And he lived that for us. 00:33:39.819 --> 00:33:40.600 He won the kingdom. 00:33:40.600 --> 00:33:41.600 He gave that to us. 00:33:41.660 --> 00:33:42.420 He included us. 00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:43.880 Help us to be thankful 00:33:43.880 --> 00:33:45.120 and joyful this Christmas. 00:33:46.279 --> 00:33:46.579 And Lord, 00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:48.140 would it change 00:33:48.140 --> 00:33:49.600 who we are? 00:33:49.680 --> 00:33:50.299 Would it change 00:33:50.299 --> 00:33:51.700 how we see ourselves? 00:33:51.819 --> 00:33:52.279 That we are now 00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:53.460 part of the body of Christ. 00:33:54.180 --> 00:33:55.440 Part of this new humanity. 00:33:56.039 --> 00:33:56.960 We know humans 00:33:56.960 --> 00:33:57.980 are important. 00:33:58.839 --> 00:34:00.180 Would we see that 00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:00.900 and live that out? 00:34:01.059 --> 00:34:01.920 Out of grace. 00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:03.339 Not because of 00:34:03.339 --> 00:34:05.000 we have to become something, 00:34:05.120 --> 00:34:05.680 but because of 00:34:05.680 --> 00:34:06.579 who we already are 00:34:06.579 --> 00:34:07.279 in Christ. 00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:09.159 So give us 00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:10.000 joy 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:11.119 and meaning 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:11.860 this Christmas. 00:34:11.860 --> 00:34:13.519 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:14.760 Amen.