WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.140 Good stuff. 00:00:01.860 --> 00:00:05.860 Well, folks, can I just say what we're all thinking? 00:00:07.740 --> 00:00:09.740 How well did he do at reading those names? 00:00:11.740 --> 00:00:14.740 If ever there's a guy in this church family who you need for the moment like that, 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:17.000 we have one in Alistair. 00:00:18.519 --> 00:00:21.679 But we're going to be thinking about that over the next 15 minutes or so. 00:00:22.280 --> 00:00:26.080 Here is a popular everyday sentence. 00:00:26.359 --> 00:00:27.339 I want you to complete it. 00:00:28.379 --> 00:00:29.640 We use it all the time. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.460 In our culture, here it is. 00:00:32.759 --> 00:00:37.600 You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your what? 00:00:38.740 --> 00:00:39.579 Your family. 00:00:40.659 --> 00:00:43.500 That's what we're going to be thinking about over the next 15 minutes or so 00:00:43.500 --> 00:00:45.939 as we prepare our hearts for Christmas Day. 00:00:46.859 --> 00:00:51.960 I think it's true, isn't it, that probably more at this time of year than any other 00:00:51.960 --> 00:00:56.320 that we are aware of our families. 00:00:56.320 --> 00:01:00.219 I think if you stop someone in the street and said, what is Christmas all about? 00:01:00.340 --> 00:01:04.519 I think that would probably be one of the first things that people would say, isn't it? 00:01:04.519 --> 00:01:07.040 It's a time for family. 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:09.359 Christmas is all about family. 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:15.560 And I think actually when you come to the Bible, there's actually a lot of truth to that. 00:01:15.640 --> 00:01:18.920 Probably way more than people understand. 00:01:19.260 --> 00:01:21.780 Christmas is all about family. 00:01:22.500 --> 00:01:28.780 But in a much bigger and better way than we often stop to think. 00:01:28.780 --> 00:01:32.480 Let me ask you, how are you feeling about spending time with viewers? 00:01:32.599 --> 00:01:33.480 Rhetorical question. 00:01:35.019 --> 00:01:36.540 How are you feeling about it? 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:40.280 Because families are funny things, aren't they? 00:01:41.540 --> 00:01:45.079 Best described as a mixed bag. 00:01:45.079 --> 00:01:48.900 And our families, we've got the success stories. 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:51.560 We've got the shame stories. 00:01:52.420 --> 00:01:54.140 We've got the trophies in the cabinet. 00:01:54.379 --> 00:01:58.140 We have the skeletons in the closet and everything in between. 00:01:58.259 --> 00:02:01.379 If you're here tonight and you think that you're unique with that, 00:02:02.299 --> 00:02:05.019 then can I plead with you to understand that you're not that special. 00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:09.259 We all have our stuff in our families. 00:02:09.259 --> 00:02:13.019 And the family that we're going to spend time with tonight, getting to know them, 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:14.899 really is no different. 00:02:15.879 --> 00:02:17.120 Full of mistakes. 00:02:18.759 --> 00:02:19.840 Full of incidents. 00:02:20.179 --> 00:02:20.979 Full of grief. 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:22.639 Full of pain. 00:02:22.859 --> 00:02:24.099 Full of family fallouts. 00:02:24.340 --> 00:02:25.419 Full of quarreling. 00:02:25.620 --> 00:02:26.479 Full of tears. 00:02:27.060 --> 00:02:31.579 Here is a family, the one that we've just read, that's full of mess. 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:35.359 This is Jesus' family tree. 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:41.080 And is given to us by this man called Matthew. 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:45.400 Now, Matthew is a Jewish man. 00:02:45.800 --> 00:02:50.900 Matthew is a man who has made some really bad calls in life. 00:02:52.600 --> 00:02:58.080 And those bad decisions have turned him into public enemy number one. 00:02:59.120 --> 00:02:59.220 Right? 00:02:59.580 --> 00:03:01.660 Matthew was a tax collector. 00:03:01.660 --> 00:03:05.300 That was the bad decision that he made at some point in his life. 00:03:05.720 --> 00:03:08.440 What that meant was that he collected taxes. 00:03:08.740 --> 00:03:10.440 Already off to a bad start. 00:03:11.140 --> 00:03:13.980 But he collected taxes from his fellow Jews. 00:03:14.380 --> 00:03:15.040 Even worse. 00:03:15.800 --> 00:03:17.400 And he gave them to the Romans. 00:03:17.760 --> 00:03:20.300 And he took a little cut of the proceeds for himself. 00:03:20.460 --> 00:03:21.720 I think that's what they call, isn't it? 00:03:21.720 --> 00:03:22.860 A full house. 00:03:24.020 --> 00:03:25.560 Why is public enemy number one? 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:31.340 A man who got rich because he sold his soul to the enemy. 00:03:32.259 --> 00:03:38.000 Friends, we are not the first generation in history to really despise those kind of people. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:44.259 But Matthew is a man who had an encounter with this man, Jesus. 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:50.900 And that encounter flipped his life totally upside down and totally the right way around. 00:03:50.900 --> 00:03:57.360 And what he did is he left the tax collecting behind and he decided to follow this man, Jesus. 00:03:57.360 --> 00:04:06.540 And he's written it all down so that his generation and every generation ever since would pick it up and read his story. 00:04:06.539 --> 00:04:14.699 And about the life that messy people like you and like me can find in this Jesus. 00:04:14.699 --> 00:04:21.899 And he kicks it off, his account of Jesus, by telling us about the family that Jesus was born into. 00:04:21.979 --> 00:04:29.680 Boys and girls, if you've got your sheets there, you are welcome to, as Peter said, draw your family tree and see how it connects with what we're going to be thinking about tonight. 00:04:30.659 --> 00:04:31.959 Matthew starts here. 00:04:31.959 --> 00:04:44.019 And that tells us that in Matthew's mind, we need to understand this if we're to understand who this man, Jesus, is. 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:49.240 Now, this family tree, make no mistake that it roots Jesus in history. 00:04:50.019 --> 00:04:50.159 Right? 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:51.319 So this is not Narnia. 00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:54.039 This is not us going into the wardrobe here. 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:56.759 This is real history and real people. 00:04:56.879 --> 00:04:58.259 It dates Jesus in history. 00:04:58.479 --> 00:05:00.539 But I think it does more than that. 00:05:00.540 --> 00:05:04.900 And if you remember one thing from tonight, I hope you remember lots of things. 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:06.640 But if you remember one thing, remember this. 00:05:07.740 --> 00:05:16.960 That the kind of family that Jesus comes from tells us everything that we need to know about the family that Jesus has come for. 00:05:19.020 --> 00:05:25.939 The people that Jesus comes from tells us everything that we need to know about the people that Jesus has come for. 00:05:25.939 --> 00:05:35.439 And whoever you are here tonight, whether or not you would call yourself a Christian, maybe this is the first time in a long time that you've been inside a church building. 00:05:35.620 --> 00:05:36.219 We love you. 00:05:36.500 --> 00:05:37.339 We welcome you. 00:05:37.620 --> 00:05:40.439 Let me say this is great news for all of us tonight. 00:05:41.959 --> 00:05:47.240 Because Matthew is declaring two things to us with all of these names. 00:05:48.579 --> 00:05:49.579 Here's the first thing. 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:52.759 He's declaring this is us. 00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:56.800 Verse 6. 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:04.699 Matthew takes us to one of the most celebrated men in the Old Testament story. 00:06:04.779 --> 00:06:06.399 One of you picked it up as we read it through. 00:06:06.980 --> 00:06:10.480 This man whose name is King David. 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:16.800 The man of whom God said, here is a man after my own heart. 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:21.079 You don't get much bigger in terms of compliments from God than that. 00:06:21.500 --> 00:06:24.120 Here's how Matthew could have written verse 6. 00:06:25.520 --> 00:06:27.259 Jesse, the father of King David. 00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:29.199 David, the father of Solomon. 00:06:29.580 --> 00:06:31.520 Solomon, the father of Rehoboam. 00:06:31.879 --> 00:06:34.019 And so on and so forth. 00:06:34.080 --> 00:06:35.939 But that is not what Matthew does. 00:06:36.259 --> 00:06:37.379 And he does it deliberately. 00:06:37.379 --> 00:06:39.800 He writes, 00:06:39.980 --> 00:06:42.779 Jesse, the father of King David. 00:06:43.100 --> 00:06:46.860 At which point every Jewish reader of this gospel is whooping and cheering. 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:47.899 Give us more of David. 00:06:48.040 --> 00:06:48.600 Yeah, David. 00:06:48.699 --> 00:06:49.319 That's our boy. 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:50.180 Go on, my son. 00:06:50.819 --> 00:06:52.319 Tell us more about David. 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:53.639 Matthew. 00:06:55.639 --> 00:06:56.980 And Matthew goes on and says, 00:06:57.300 --> 00:06:58.519 David, the father of Solomon, 00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:02.439 whose mother had been Uriah's wife. 00:07:02.439 --> 00:07:09.939 So what Matthew does is he makes a beeline for David's most shameful and the lowest moment in his life. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:15.899 Where God's chosen king desires a married woman called Bathsheba. 00:07:16.019 --> 00:07:16.839 Gets her pregnant. 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:23.720 Tries to cover it up by encouraging her husband to sleep with her so that he could pretend that the baby was his. 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:26.920 And then have the whole thing arranged so that Uriah would be killed. 00:07:27.220 --> 00:07:29.720 That's something straight off the Jeremy Kyle show, isn't it? 00:07:30.019 --> 00:07:31.120 That's what David did. 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:33.980 Before God outs him. 00:07:35.139 --> 00:07:38.160 And David pens that psalm that we get. 00:07:38.300 --> 00:07:39.360 Psalm 51. 00:07:39.660 --> 00:07:41.500 And you can look at it in your own time if you like. 00:07:41.560 --> 00:07:44.160 Where David lays his soul out before God. 00:07:44.220 --> 00:07:44.560 And he says, 00:07:44.780 --> 00:07:46.620 God, against you alone have I sinned. 00:07:47.240 --> 00:07:51.340 Pleads with God to forgive him and create in him a new heart. 00:07:51.620 --> 00:07:53.220 But Matthew brings this up. 00:07:54.360 --> 00:07:55.379 As if to say, 00:07:55.500 --> 00:08:00.079 let's remember that little episode in David's life, shall we? 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:04.319 But the thing is that Matthew could have easily airbrushed that whole thing out. 00:08:06.719 --> 00:08:11.620 Like some kind of Google camera where you can change people's faces from sad to happy, right? 00:08:11.719 --> 00:08:12.899 Could have done that with this. 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:14.180 But he didn't. 00:08:14.419 --> 00:08:14.979 As if to say, 00:08:15.060 --> 00:08:17.120 do you see what kind of people we are? 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:22.740 And when you start to read this list of names through that lens, 00:08:22.840 --> 00:08:29.360 you come to see that Jesus was born into and through a family full of mistakes and questions. 00:08:30.139 --> 00:08:31.920 Of liars like Isaac. 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:35.700 Of family feuders like Judah and his brothers. 00:08:36.100 --> 00:08:38.659 And that musical has been in town, hasn't it, over the past few weeks? 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:43.240 I was about to say George Osborne, but it's Donny Osmond in that one. 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:45.879 But that musical, isn't it? 00:08:45.920 --> 00:08:50.120 Why is it that it continues to grip our hearts every time it comes to town? 00:08:50.120 --> 00:08:54.340 Because these brothers are gripped with envy and they sell Joseph for money. 00:08:54.419 --> 00:08:57.139 There's something about that family that we connect with. 00:08:58.580 --> 00:09:02.060 Of deceivers and of doubters like Tamar. 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:04.679 Of womanizers like Solomon. 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:10.759 Of arrogant pride that exists in the kings like Rehoboam and Ahaz and Manasseh. 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:13.700 And the horrendous choices that they make down the line. 00:09:13.700 --> 00:09:15.980 And at the end there he drops it in. 00:09:16.100 --> 00:09:20.520 The nation that was sent into exile because of the rebellion against God. 00:09:20.940 --> 00:09:23.759 And on and on and on we could go. 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:24.860 Matthew is saying, 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:29.860 Do you see how badly wrong we've got this? 00:09:31.520 --> 00:09:34.160 Do you see how much we've messed this up? 00:09:34.980 --> 00:09:38.080 And I'm not writing this from my ivory tower looking down. 00:09:38.220 --> 00:09:42.600 I'm writing as one who knows how much I have horrendously failed in my life. 00:09:42.600 --> 00:09:46.740 Which is why I feel right at home in Jesus' family of faith. 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:49.580 Let me ask you. 00:09:49.620 --> 00:09:52.080 Do you ever feel that in your own life? 00:09:52.100 --> 00:09:53.840 As you sit in bed at the end of the day. 00:09:54.980 --> 00:09:57.040 And you think back on the day that's gone. 00:09:58.820 --> 00:10:00.360 And the things that you said. 00:10:00.940 --> 00:10:02.000 The things that you did. 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:04.560 The thoughts that went through your mind. 00:10:05.379 --> 00:10:09.279 And the full weight of that sits in you like some kind of sumo wrestler. 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:09.940 And you think, 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:11.660 Man alive, what on earth was I doing? 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:18.279 And all of a sudden you realize here is a family that all of us could fit into quite easily. 00:10:18.899 --> 00:10:19.560 Matthew is saying, 00:10:19.659 --> 00:10:20.279 This is us. 00:10:22.440 --> 00:10:25.420 In the words of Puritan Thomas Watson, 00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:28.180 Till sin is bitter, 00:10:29.180 --> 00:10:30.700 Christ will not be sweet. 00:10:30.700 --> 00:10:35.660 Because I consider how amazing is it that, 00:10:35.660 --> 00:10:36.480 Says Matthew, 00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:40.259 That Jesus would step right into our sinful, 00:10:41.160 --> 00:10:41.960 Warts and all, 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:43.160 Messy, 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:44.400 Flesh and blood, 00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:45.660 Human existence. 00:10:46.800 --> 00:10:52.040 That Jesus would be willing to step into our mess. 00:10:53.180 --> 00:10:54.460 Into your mess, 00:10:54.640 --> 00:10:55.680 Into my mess. 00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:57.379 That Jesus was willing, 00:10:57.839 --> 00:10:58.620 As God, 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:01.099 To take on a human body. 00:11:01.939 --> 00:11:07.199 And that is why he is a saviour who is able to sympathise with us in our weakness. 00:11:07.899 --> 00:11:10.139 And he is a saviour who can help. 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:11.500 Because he knows, 00:11:11.939 --> 00:11:13.079 And because he loves. 00:11:14.479 --> 00:11:15.000 Matthew's saying, 00:11:15.079 --> 00:11:15.739 This is us. 00:11:15.740 --> 00:11:20.299 But here is the second thing that he is declaring to us with this family tree. 00:11:21.659 --> 00:11:22.240 He is saying, 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:22.940 This is him. 00:11:24.940 --> 00:11:26.019 Who is this Jesus? 00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:27.100 Matthew calls him, 00:11:27.139 --> 00:11:27.840 If you notice it there, 00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:28.600 The Messiah. 00:11:29.680 --> 00:11:31.779 God's anointed rescuer. 00:11:31.899 --> 00:11:35.759 The one who would deliver his people from their enemies. 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:40.740 And whose rule would be seen by all and be established forever. 00:11:40.740 --> 00:11:42.220 That's what God had promised. 00:11:42.940 --> 00:11:45.620 Right back at the beginning of the Bible story in Genesis 3. 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:51.220 That he was going to send someone who would go to battle with the devil. 00:11:51.340 --> 00:11:55.139 Who would undo the effects of sin and death. 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:56.820 He would put it into reverse. 00:11:57.799 --> 00:11:58.759 And Matthew is saying, 00:11:58.879 --> 00:11:59.680 He is here. 00:12:01.659 --> 00:12:03.539 Jesus is the son of Abraham, 00:12:03.860 --> 00:12:04.440 Says Matthew. 00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:05.659 Now you hear that name, 00:12:06.539 --> 00:12:07.700 And the original leaders, 00:12:07.899 --> 00:12:08.940 You think blessing. 00:12:08.940 --> 00:12:12.860 In the early chapters of the first book of the Bible, 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:14.120 God had taken Abraham, 00:12:14.300 --> 00:12:15.560 And he promised him a people. 00:12:16.880 --> 00:12:18.380 And he promised him a place. 00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:21.160 And he promised that not only would he bless Abraham, 00:12:21.580 --> 00:12:24.180 But actually through one of Abraham's offspring, 00:12:24.660 --> 00:12:26.180 Someone down the family line, 00:12:26.520 --> 00:12:30.640 God was going to bless the nations and the peoples of the world. 00:12:30.820 --> 00:12:33.000 And it's amazing when you read that list of names, 00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:34.580 Because what it includes, 00:12:35.020 --> 00:12:37.820 Are disreputable outsiders. 00:12:37.820 --> 00:12:40.840 People like Ruth, 00:12:41.920 --> 00:12:42.980 Who's from Moab, 00:12:43.040 --> 00:12:45.720 Who's from the kind of enemy over across the street. 00:12:46.140 --> 00:12:47.060 She's from those people. 00:12:47.220 --> 00:12:48.860 She's welcomed into God's people. 00:12:49.660 --> 00:12:51.720 You get people like Rahab, 00:12:51.800 --> 00:12:54.240 Whose life was full of question marks. 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:56.720 She is welcomed into God's people, 00:12:56.780 --> 00:12:59.800 Because she makes the decision that she wants to follow this God. 00:12:59.799 --> 00:13:04.839 And Jesus is the son of David. 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:09.399 God makes another promise as you follow the Bible story, 00:13:09.559 --> 00:13:13.479 That through David's line, 00:13:14.359 --> 00:13:17.179 God will establish the kingly rule of his son forever. 00:13:17.699 --> 00:13:19.659 This king who's going to come down this line, 00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:21.879 Is going to build the ultimate temple, 00:13:22.019 --> 00:13:24.740 The ultimate place where God lives and dwells. 00:13:24.740 --> 00:13:28.139 So here's your Christmas scented candle from this. 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:30.100 Abraham, 00:13:30.680 --> 00:13:31.279 Blessing, 00:13:31.940 --> 00:13:32.480 David, 00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:33.580 King. 00:13:34.940 --> 00:13:38.680 And both of those promises find their ultimate and glorious fulfillment 00:13:38.680 --> 00:13:43.220 In the one who's born in the stable in Bethlehem. 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:45.840 Matthew's declaring to his generation, 00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:49.100 Would you see how badly long we've got this as a people? 00:13:51.180 --> 00:13:53.000 Look at the ways we've messed it up. 00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:55.259 But praise God, 00:13:55.300 --> 00:13:56.899 It was never about our abilities. 00:13:57.680 --> 00:13:58.720 It was never about us. 00:13:58.779 --> 00:14:01.240 It was all about him being faithful. 00:14:02.540 --> 00:14:05.779 Now maybe just to help us see this just as we close. 00:14:07.940 --> 00:14:10.160 Can I tell you something cool about a member of my family? 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:13.139 See, 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:17.539 When the Commonwealth Games was in Glasgow back in 2014, 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:20.699 My cousin was chosen from his school 00:14:20.699 --> 00:14:27.120 To carry the Commonwealth flame on part of its journey to Celtic Park. 00:14:27.839 --> 00:14:28.000 Right? 00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:31.279 I was expecting a little bit more enthusiasm than that. 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:32.039 I thought that was cool. 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:34.579 But here's the thing. 00:14:34.860 --> 00:14:38.620 His leg that he had was only about half a mile. 00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:40.399 It might have even been less than that. 00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:43.220 But he had one job that he needed to do. 00:14:44.179 --> 00:14:44.960 One job. 00:14:45.080 --> 00:14:45.620 Really simply. 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:46.259 Do you know what it is? 00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:48.580 Don't drop it. 00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:51.019 Don't drop it. 00:14:53.399 --> 00:14:56.060 Now can you imagine if this promise that God had made 00:14:56.060 --> 00:14:59.159 Was contingent on human beings, 00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:00.060 Not dropping it. 00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:04.359 The baton would have been dropped within hours, 00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:06.279 Let alone hundreds of years. 00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:11.479 This is not about mankind's ability to behave well enough 00:15:11.479 --> 00:15:15.319 To get this promise all the way to the starting line. 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:17.399 This is about God's 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:23.019 Being faithful despite mankind's catalogue of failings 00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:26.699 To be a God who keeps his promises. 00:15:26.700 --> 00:15:32.040 And this God who at the right time sent forth his son. 00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:35.940 And we celebrate his birth tomorrow. 00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:38.420 This promised Messiah. 00:15:38.580 --> 00:15:41.820 This one who came to seek and save sinners. 00:15:42.020 --> 00:15:44.100 This king who would go to the cross 00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:48.660 To make a way for sinful people like you and I 00:15:48.660 --> 00:15:51.340 To be blessed beyond belief. 00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:54.460 Because we through our faith in Jesus 00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:57.399 Can be made right with and know 00:15:57.399 --> 00:16:00.660 This unbelievably good and loving God. 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:02.280 The God who made us. 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:05.899 And know him as our father. 00:16:07.820 --> 00:16:09.740 Matthew says this is us. 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:12.800 But this is him. 00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:16.300 Christmas truly is all about family. 00:16:16.299 --> 00:16:18.799 The kind of family. 00:16:19.419 --> 00:16:21.019 That Jesus comes from. 00:16:21.819 --> 00:16:24.139 Tells us everything that we need to know 00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:27.539 About the family that Jesus has come for. 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:29.379 Let me pray. 00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:33.979 And gracious God. 00:16:34.079 --> 00:16:36.120 And loving heavenly father. 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:40.159 Many of us Lord will be feeling just now 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:40.679 How. 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:44.560 Just how well we'd fit into this family 00:16:44.560 --> 00:16:46.799 Of mistakes. 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:48.799 Of shame. 00:16:49.179 --> 00:16:50.019 Of tears. 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:51.460 Of grief. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:52.480 And of mess. 00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:53.080 Lord we. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:55.220 Particularly tonight. 00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:57.899 Feel it so acutely. 00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:01.700 And I particularly pray for those 00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:03.139 Of us in this room. 00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:04.579 Maybe those of us watching online. 00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:06.899 For whom this time of year 00:17:06.899 --> 00:17:08.579 Is particularly difficult. 00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:12.299 And we thank you that you are not 00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:13.980 A distant and silent God. 00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:16.039 You are God. 00:17:16.419 --> 00:17:18.039 Come near. 00:17:19.439 --> 00:17:21.819 You have come near in Jesus. 00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:24.579 And as we look at him. 00:17:25.199 --> 00:17:27.079 We see what you are like. 00:17:27.919 --> 00:17:29.460 And we could not imagine 00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:30.579 A more wonderful. 00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:31.139 Wonderful. 00:17:31.699 --> 00:17:32.179 Savior. 00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:35.160 Jesus strong and kind. 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:38.480 Jesus full of grace and truth. 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:41.400 Jesus the light of the world. 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:43.500 Mighty God. 00:17:44.360 --> 00:17:45.600 Wonderful counselor. 00:17:46.600 --> 00:17:47.640 Prince of peace. 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:49.440 Everlasting. 00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:50.519 Father. 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:54.180 And I ask that your spirit would come now. 00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:56.700 And he would help each of us. 00:17:56.700 --> 00:17:58.799 To savor the beauty. 00:17:59.299 --> 00:18:00.720 And the wonder of him. 00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:02.299 A little bit more. 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:05.380 Help us to find our everything. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.420 In the one who was born. 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.840 The baby king. 00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:09.940 In Bethlehem. 00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:13.180 And it's in his wonderful and precious name. 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:13.720 That we pray. 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:15.080 Amen. 00:18:15.080 --> 00:18:15.180 Amen. 00:18:15.180 --> 00:18:15.220 Amen. 00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:15.240 Amen. 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:15.279 Amen. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:17.279 Amen. 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:17.319 Amen. 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:19.180 Amen. 00:18:19.180 --> 00:18:19.279 Amen. 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:19.299 Amen. 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:19.759 Amen. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:20.319 Amen. 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:21.319 Amen. 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:22.319 Amen. 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:23.259 Amen. 00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:23.319 Amen. 00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:23.380 Amen. 00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:23.400 Amen. 00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:23.840 Amen. 00:18:23.840 --> 00:18:24.360 Amen. 00:18:24.360 --> 00:18:24.400 Amen. 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:24.420 Amen. 00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:24.960 Amen. 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:25.420 Amen. 00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:26.680 Amen.