WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.179 Sometimes good news can feel a bit like indifferent news or maybe irrelevant news. 00:00:07.900 --> 00:00:14.419 So when that friend of yours comes to you to let you know the good news that they have won the lottery, 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:19.580 there's a part of you, the good part, that says, I'm really happy for you, and you mean it genuinely. 00:00:19.580 --> 00:00:25.900 But there's the more honest part of you that sits there and says, well, that's good news for you, but that's irrelevant for me. 00:00:26.179 --> 00:00:28.420 You know, it's external news, maybe. 00:00:28.860 --> 00:00:32.260 Good news would be, hey, you've won the lottery and you're going to give me half. 00:00:32.740 --> 00:00:36.640 Or good news would be, you've won the lottery and I have as well. 00:00:36.760 --> 00:00:38.980 You know, it was a syndicate ticket or something like that. 00:00:39.400 --> 00:00:45.760 Good news can sometimes feel like irrelevant news if it feels like news that has nothing to do with you. 00:00:46.380 --> 00:00:54.280 Doesn't matter how good it is, if it doesn't connect to you, it falls into that category of kind of irrelevant, kind of unimportant, 00:00:54.820 --> 00:00:57.660 and you kind of feel a bit ambivalent towards the whole thing. 00:00:58.420 --> 00:01:04.519 Now, is it possible that that's where Christmas sits for some of us? 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:08.420 Now, you've been through plenty of Christmases. 00:01:08.579 --> 00:01:09.780 We pull them out every year. 00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:10.700 It happens. 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:11.620 It's unavoidable. 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:13.920 There's bits of it that you know are good. 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:17.140 You know, there's family time, which might be good or bad. 00:01:17.260 --> 00:01:18.379 There's overeating. 00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:19.659 There's all the fantastic things. 00:01:19.740 --> 00:01:23.159 Even the Christian part of Christmas, it's a good story. 00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:26.359 I mean, we've been doing dramas about this year after year. 00:01:26.439 --> 00:01:27.459 We never get tired of it. 00:01:27.500 --> 00:01:28.140 We wheel it out. 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:32.200 We invent extra animals to be part of the nativity because it is such a good story. 00:01:32.579 --> 00:01:37.920 It's good, but it kind of feels like this separate story. 00:01:39.179 --> 00:01:45.479 It kind of feels like it's a story over there, maybe a story for the world, but it's not a story for me. 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:49.820 It's not good news for me specifically or personally. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:51.859 I mean, this story has everything. 00:01:52.520 --> 00:01:53.820 It's got scandal pregnancy. 00:01:54.600 --> 00:01:55.840 It's got refugees. 00:01:56.439 --> 00:01:57.980 It's got angel messengers. 00:01:58.200 --> 00:01:59.579 It's got a virgin birth. 00:01:59.980 --> 00:02:03.939 It's even got attempted genocide in there when Herod tries to kill all the babies. 00:02:03.939 --> 00:02:11.919 But for such a great story, it still feels like kind of someone else's news. 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:13.900 It feels like a story. 00:02:15.099 --> 00:02:19.099 It doesn't feel like something that makes a difference to me. 00:02:19.879 --> 00:02:30.699 Even the miracle of Christmas, that God became human, feels like it's a story. 00:02:30.699 --> 00:02:38.319 But we need to ask the question as we come to Christmas, as we hear a story that we've heard a thousand times, 00:02:38.500 --> 00:02:40.919 as we sing carols that we've sung over and over, 00:02:41.199 --> 00:02:46.039 as we remind ourselves of this incredible narrative of these incredible miracles, 00:02:46.219 --> 00:02:49.539 we need to ask the question, why Christmas? 00:02:51.019 --> 00:02:52.799 Why did God do this? 00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:58.959 Because then we're maybe just a small chance of recognizing that this is not irrelevant for anyone. 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:01.500 This is not indifferent for anyone. 00:03:01.640 --> 00:03:06.520 As Steve has already encouraged us, you can't respond to the Christmas story with apathy or disinterest. 00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:12.540 It's either the best news in the world or the scariest, most condemning thing that's going to make you respond in anger. 00:03:12.659 --> 00:03:15.219 We need to ask the question, why? 00:03:15.219 --> 00:03:23.639 Why would an infinite God, who is all-powerful, who existed before the creation of the world, 00:03:23.719 --> 00:03:29.139 who has no beginning and no end, who created everything that we see, feel, hear, taste, touch, 00:03:29.860 --> 00:03:35.199 why would that God choose to become a baby? 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:39.340 For a good story? 00:03:39.340 --> 00:03:47.219 The answer that Hebrews 2 is for you. 00:03:50.960 --> 00:03:54.199 Not for generally people, for you. 00:03:55.879 --> 00:04:02.319 The whole Christmas story, the miracle of God becoming a baby, becoming flesh, is for you. 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:08.400 I just want to focus on one verse from that Hebrews 2 passage that was read out, verse 17. 00:04:08.859 --> 00:04:10.400 And I'll get Laura to throw it on the screen again. 00:04:11.939 --> 00:04:15.680 For this reason, this is the explanation, this is the answer. 00:04:15.799 --> 00:04:21.939 For this reason, he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:27.879 in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, 00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:31.879 and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 00:04:32.159 --> 00:04:34.980 The context of Christmas helps us answer this question. 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:41.180 The context for Christmas, the context for Jesus, the context for God becoming flesh, 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:45.139 is separation, is gap, is distance. 00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:51.079 The reality of God and creation is that from the beginning, it's been a progressive separation 00:04:51.079 --> 00:04:55.980 and not an accidental and intentional, willful rejection of God. 00:04:55.980 --> 00:05:03.620 So those that were created have consciously and actively and increasingly made the decision 00:05:03.620 --> 00:05:08.400 to reject God, to ignore him, to pretend like he doesn't matter. 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:12.040 That's the context of the world into which the baby Jesus is born. 00:05:12.300 --> 00:05:15.360 But it's not just a world context, it's a you context. 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:20.480 So as you come to Christmas this year, and as you come to Christmas every year, 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:24.520 you've got to come understanding that the context into which you hear this message 00:05:24.519 --> 00:05:31.299 that God became a human is a context of you in separation from God, 00:05:32.359 --> 00:05:34.299 of you distanced from God. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:40.079 You cut off from God, cut off from his goodness, cut off from his grace, cut off from his love. 00:05:40.899 --> 00:05:43.259 God is holy and powerful, you are not. 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:46.799 God is pure and just and good, you are not. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:51.960 There is a gap, a chasm that cannot be crossed. 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:53.759 That's the context for Christmas. 00:05:54.259 --> 00:05:58.939 A God who is good, a God whose blessing and love is desirable, 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:07.660 and then you, who doesn't deserve it, who can't attain it, who can't get it, 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:09.060 no matter how much you want it. 00:06:09.060 --> 00:06:16.040 The context for Christmas is gap, is distance, is separation. 00:06:17.860 --> 00:06:22.199 And into that gap, God expresses his heart. 00:06:23.780 --> 00:06:29.639 God expresses his desire to have relationship with people like you and me who do not deserve it. 00:06:29.639 --> 00:06:36.079 Christmas is God saying, I love you in spite of the fact that you don't deserve it. 00:06:36.740 --> 00:06:39.139 In spite of the fact that the gap is your fault. 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:43.379 You're the one who distanced yourself from God. 00:06:44.139 --> 00:06:45.899 You're the one who rejected him. 00:06:46.199 --> 00:06:51.399 But Christmas in that manger is God saying, I love you enough to cross that divide. 00:06:51.399 --> 00:06:57.819 And he crosses it by sending Jesus to connect us to him. 00:06:58.519 --> 00:07:02.019 To be a merciful and faithful high priest. 00:07:02.659 --> 00:07:04.459 Now I want to stop on that word for a sec, 00:07:04.539 --> 00:07:07.939 because priest is a word that might have some baggage in it for us. 00:07:08.739 --> 00:07:11.439 When we think priest, I don't know what your picture is. 00:07:11.479 --> 00:07:13.299 It might involve fancy outfits. 00:07:14.139 --> 00:07:18.560 It might involve some sort of primitive tribal thing 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:25.040 where the priest is somehow elevated and removed from the riffraff like the rest of us. 00:07:25.579 --> 00:07:30.879 We have this potentially distorted idea of what a priest does and how a priest functions. 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:36.519 But really, what a priest is, is a mediator, a go-between. 00:07:37.100 --> 00:07:42.600 A priest's job is to bring two parties that are separated by something together. 00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:45.259 That's how a priest functions. 00:07:45.259 --> 00:07:50.480 Priests identify with both parties so that the two parties can come together. 00:07:50.620 --> 00:07:52.240 That's all a priest is. 00:07:52.339 --> 00:07:54.339 We don't need to worry about any of the other things. 00:07:54.500 --> 00:07:57.879 And so here in this verse, Jesus is human. 00:07:59.079 --> 00:08:00.199 He's like us. 00:08:00.599 --> 00:08:06.839 In order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. 00:08:06.839 --> 00:08:13.099 So he's the one that steps into the gap and takes a pure, holy, majestic, powerful, just, pure God 00:08:13.099 --> 00:08:24.259 and can connect him to an impure, powerless, disobedient, sinful person like me and like you. 00:08:25.639 --> 00:08:28.559 See, priests identify with those they represent. 00:08:28.779 --> 00:08:34.980 And this priest, Jesus, identifies with the Father who sends him. 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:40.100 He comes as the one who can offer mercy. 00:08:40.460 --> 00:08:46.039 And to do that, to be someone who can offer mercy, he has to be the one who's been wronged. 00:08:47.659 --> 00:08:48.800 He has to be God. 00:08:49.259 --> 00:08:50.539 God's the one who's been wronged. 00:08:50.620 --> 00:08:51.800 God's the one who's been ignored. 00:08:52.180 --> 00:08:53.320 God's the one who's been rejected. 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:58.340 And so for a priest to be able to offer mercy, he has to be the one who's been wronged. 00:08:58.520 --> 00:09:05.420 So if I was to punch Nick in the face right now and Steve said, you're forgiven, that's very nice. 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:08.960 But Steve's not actually in the position to offer mercy. 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:14.860 The one who's been injured, attacked, wronged is the only one who can offer mercy. 00:09:15.060 --> 00:09:19.520 The issue in our separation between us and God is that we have rejected God. 00:09:19.760 --> 00:09:21.780 And so only God can offer mercy. 00:09:21.779 --> 00:09:25.720 This has been the problem with most problem priests throughout human history. 00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:29.559 Is they can represent us because they're like us. 00:09:29.679 --> 00:09:32.600 But they can't stand in the position of God and offer mercy. 00:09:33.019 --> 00:09:34.079 Because they're not God. 00:09:34.699 --> 00:09:36.240 They haven't been wronged. 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:39.279 They can't adequately represent him. 00:09:40.139 --> 00:09:45.279 And even if they were to say that they could, how would you have confidence that their words of forgiveness, 00:09:46.539 --> 00:09:49.860 their communication that you had been given mercy was legitimate? 00:09:49.860 --> 00:09:55.019 How would you have any confidence based on the words of somebody just like you, 00:09:56.740 --> 00:09:57.340 imperfect, 00:09:58.220 --> 00:10:01.820 to then go and face up to a perfect God? 00:10:04.620 --> 00:10:08.120 Jesus had to be God to be able to be the priest that could offer mercy. 00:10:08.580 --> 00:10:11.800 And mercy was what was required because the gap issue 00:10:11.800 --> 00:10:14.440 was a judgment issue. 00:10:14.440 --> 00:10:19.160 The context of Christmas is a judgment context. 00:10:20.280 --> 00:10:24.340 The reason Jesus had to be not only a priest who was merciful and faithful, 00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:28.460 but also the one that would make atonement for sins or make payment for sins, 00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:30.020 is because sin is the problem. 00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:34.560 Sin is the thing that had to be dealt with. 00:10:34.680 --> 00:10:36.240 Sin is the reason there's a gap. 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:42.299 Now, when we think about sin, we might instantly think about the obvious sins. 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:48.340 We go straight away to drugs and sex and power and all those sorts of things. 00:10:48.460 --> 00:10:56.139 But really, what the Bible says sin is, in Romans 1, is a failure to glorify God. 00:10:57.200 --> 00:10:59.720 It's a failure to love him the way he deserves. 00:10:59.720 --> 00:11:03.000 It's a failure to recognize that he is God, we are not. 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:05.580 A failure to recognize that he is creator. 00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:08.500 He has the right to be in charge, to be in control. 00:11:10.560 --> 00:11:14.180 A failure to give him the authority and honor that he deserves. 00:11:16.259 --> 00:11:20.740 And in its place, to give ourselves authority that is not ours. 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:27.779 The result of rejecting one in authority is judgment. 00:11:27.779 --> 00:11:29.980 That's what happens. 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:34.620 If you ignore the police out of some weird warped sense of entitlement 00:11:34.620 --> 00:11:36.879 that somehow you should be in charge and they should not, 00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:40.519 the result will be judgment, will be consequence. 00:11:40.819 --> 00:11:43.980 When you reject one in rightful authority, the result is judgment. 00:11:44.139 --> 00:11:50.600 And the judgment that we experience for our rejection of God is distance. 00:11:52.419 --> 00:11:55.179 It's the inability to even come to him anymore. 00:11:57.779 --> 00:12:02.500 Which is why there are things wrong with our world. 00:12:04.079 --> 00:12:07.100 This week, as you no doubt read the papers, 00:12:08.139 --> 00:12:12.699 as we see people being murdered just for living in a city that some other people want, 00:12:14.620 --> 00:12:17.959 the reason for that kind of suffering and injustice 00:12:17.959 --> 00:12:22.839 is because we have rejected the one who is rightfully in authority. 00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:26.280 And the judgment we've received is he said, 00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:27.220 okay, see how you go. 00:12:28.740 --> 00:12:30.440 See what happens when you're in charge. 00:12:34.060 --> 00:12:37.840 And even as we begin to realize that it's not working, 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:39.399 things should be different, 00:12:41.100 --> 00:12:44.320 the gap continues to be a gap that we cannot cross ourselves. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:47.300 Judgment is the distance. 00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:47.779 Christmas. 00:12:49.199 --> 00:12:51.079 And so Christmas is Jesus coming 00:12:51.079 --> 00:12:53.740 to be our substitute, 00:12:54.279 --> 00:12:57.719 to make the payment that needs to be made for our sin, 00:12:58.519 --> 00:13:01.219 to close the gap between us and God. 00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:02.339 Christmas 00:13:02.339 --> 00:13:05.819 is God taking a step towards you, 00:13:05.859 --> 00:13:08.059 even as you've been backpedaling through your life. 00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:10.319 Christmas 00:13:10.319 --> 00:13:12.439 is God saying, 00:13:12.579 --> 00:13:13.339 I love you, 00:13:14.339 --> 00:13:15.819 while we're still saying, 00:13:15.959 --> 00:13:16.419 stay away. 00:13:16.419 --> 00:13:20.479 Christmas 00:13:20.479 --> 00:13:23.699 is you in your most disobedient moment, 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:27.319 receiving affection 00:13:27.319 --> 00:13:29.319 from a loving Heavenly Father. 00:13:31.079 --> 00:13:33.199 Christmas is God's first move 00:13:33.199 --> 00:13:35.819 in bringing wayward children back to himself. 00:13:36.279 --> 00:13:38.319 The baby in the manger is God's step, 00:13:38.419 --> 00:13:40.240 not just towards the world, 00:13:41.219 --> 00:13:41.839 towards you. 00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:45.779 You've got to catch this. 00:13:46.659 --> 00:13:48.779 If Christmas has just become that thing 00:13:48.779 --> 00:13:50.000 that we celebrate every year, 00:13:50.059 --> 00:13:51.539 you've got to listen again. 00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:52.839 The why of Christmas, 00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:54.819 the why of every miracle 00:13:54.819 --> 00:13:55.659 that we will celebrate 00:13:55.659 --> 00:13:56.759 in the next week and a bit, 00:13:57.879 --> 00:13:58.500 is you. 00:14:00.819 --> 00:14:01.979 Is God saying, 00:14:02.199 --> 00:14:02.939 I love you, 00:14:03.059 --> 00:14:04.519 even though you don't deserve it. 00:14:04.819 --> 00:14:05.959 Jesus is the priest 00:14:05.959 --> 00:14:08.240 who can give us access to God 00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:09.559 because he comes from God, 00:14:09.699 --> 00:14:11.319 he speaks on God's behalf, 00:14:11.439 --> 00:14:14.059 he's God's chosen representative and priest. 00:14:14.059 --> 00:14:15.879 He's the one who can offer mercy. 00:14:16.619 --> 00:14:18.000 But there's two halves to it. 00:14:19.559 --> 00:14:21.059 He can represent God, 00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:22.799 but more than that, 00:14:23.339 --> 00:14:25.759 because he becomes a baby, 00:14:26.459 --> 00:14:28.379 because he becomes a human, 00:14:28.479 --> 00:14:30.679 he can represent us too. 00:14:31.479 --> 00:14:33.239 If he was just from God, 00:14:33.299 --> 00:14:34.339 that would be fantastic. 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:35.199 It would be amazing 00:14:35.199 --> 00:14:36.139 that God would choose 00:14:36.139 --> 00:14:37.479 to express his love like that. 00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:39.519 But a priest needs to be able 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:41.080 to represent both parties. 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:44.279 Needs to be able 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:45.240 to draw them together. 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:48.240 That's why he had to be made like us 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:49.740 in every way. 00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:51.779 Not human-like, 00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:53.539 not human-ish. 00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:55.519 Human. 00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:57.240 Helpless. 00:14:58.300 --> 00:14:58.779 Hungry. 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:00.320 Tired. 00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:01.659 Tempted. 00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:04.259 As God's representative, 00:15:04.459 --> 00:15:06.500 he takes the first step towards us, 00:15:07.059 --> 00:15:08.120 towards bringing us back 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:09.459 into a relationship with God. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:13.000 And as a human representative, 00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:15.319 as your representative, 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:19.480 he brings you the rest of the way. 00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:24.679 He represents you in his life, 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:27.860 perfectly obedient to his heavenly father, 00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:30.240 and he represents you in his death. 00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:33.980 Where he makes payment for your sin, 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:35.480 for my sin. 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:37.980 Christmas, 00:15:38.939 --> 00:15:40.659 God becoming a human, 00:15:40.819 --> 00:15:42.399 is why Easter works. 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:47.159 The payment required for human sin 00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:48.159 is human death. 00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:51.039 The substitute necessary 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:52.980 is like for like. 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.719 You on the chopping block, 00:15:54.839 --> 00:15:55.899 him on the chopping block. 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:59.159 For Easter to be hopeful, 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:01.819 you need Jesus to come as a human 00:16:01.819 --> 00:16:03.179 in the manger 00:16:03.179 --> 00:16:05.120 on that very first Christmas night. 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:08.139 Only one who is like us 00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:09.620 could represent us. 00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:11.819 Only one who is like us 00:16:11.819 --> 00:16:12.779 can take our place 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:13.819 and pay the price 00:16:13.819 --> 00:16:15.000 for sin and death. 00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:16.519 It is true that hope 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:18.399 is born at Christmas. 00:16:19.539 --> 00:16:21.219 Hope for more than your existence 00:16:21.219 --> 00:16:21.959 right now. 00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:23.799 Hope for a world 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:25.279 where there is no more Aleppo. 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:28.220 No more war. 00:16:28.579 --> 00:16:29.360 No more suffering. 00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:30.319 No more injustice. 00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:31.819 Hope is born on that night 00:16:31.819 --> 00:16:33.179 because finally the means 00:16:33.179 --> 00:16:34.379 of fixing those things 00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:35.740 can be brought near 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:36.459 through Jesus. 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:39.199 Hope for your own life 00:16:39.199 --> 00:16:40.899 where there is not 00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:41.939 suffering, 00:16:42.339 --> 00:16:42.819 where there is not 00:16:42.819 --> 00:16:43.600 discontent, 00:16:43.699 --> 00:16:44.639 where there is not depression, 00:16:44.819 --> 00:16:45.679 where there is not loneliness, 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:47.019 where there is not unemployment. 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:49.980 That is only possible 00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:51.819 in the power of a God 00:16:51.819 --> 00:16:53.659 who can deal with all the things 00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:55.219 that cause that in our life. 00:16:55.939 --> 00:16:57.159 With a God who can give us 00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:57.659 the certainty 00:16:57.659 --> 00:16:59.059 of his unconditional love, 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:00.500 his goodness 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:01.339 and his provision. 00:17:02.860 --> 00:17:03.799 Hope for you 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:04.980 is born at Christmas. 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.720 Hope for the world 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:09.420 is born at Christmas. 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:14.539 If Christmas is indifferent news, 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:18.319 you haven't understood it. 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:22.139 I remember, 00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:23.819 I've shared with those of you 00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:24.960 who have been around here 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:25.980 a few times 00:17:25.980 --> 00:17:26.759 that I'm on a journey 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:28.099 from Grinch 00:17:28.099 --> 00:17:29.539 to Christmas enthusiast. 00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:31.919 And some parts of Christmas, 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:32.899 not all parts of Christmas, 00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:33.799 some parts are still 00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:34.799 a little bit annoying to me, 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:36.319 but one of the things 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:38.000 that used to really anger me 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:38.519 at Christmas 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:39.960 was walking through the shops 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:40.899 and when I say Christmas, 00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:42.299 I mean like late July 00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:43.099 when they start playing 00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:43.799 Christmas carols. 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:46.220 And I'd be wandering 00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:47.500 through the shops 00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.980 and I'd hear a song 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:50.339 like the one we just sung, 00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:51.680 O Holy Night. 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:53.279 And there was a part of me 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:53.559 that went, 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:54.420 oh man, 00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:56.519 what an incredible truth 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:59.680 that Christ is born, 00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:01.880 that heaven is offered, 00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:03.160 that forgiveness is available, 00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:04.380 that God shows mercy 00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:05.420 to people like us. 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:06.759 And then I'd look at 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:08.400 all these people around me, 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.559 either oblivious 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.859 to the fact the song's playing 00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:14.759 or tapping their feet 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.900 or humming along, 00:18:15.900 --> 00:18:17.440 oblivious to what the song 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:17.920 is saying, 00:18:19.060 --> 00:18:20.420 completely indifferent 00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:22.340 to the reality 00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:23.400 that is being proclaimed. 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:25.980 See, Christmas is hopeful 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:28.360 and or offensive. 00:18:30.560 --> 00:18:32.080 See, the necessary context 00:18:32.080 --> 00:18:33.519 for us to understand Christmas 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:34.840 is the offensive message 00:18:34.840 --> 00:18:37.000 that you are cut off from God. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:39.300 That's what we celebrate, 00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:40.480 that there is grace 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:41.560 and hope in Jesus 00:18:41.560 --> 00:18:42.880 because we know 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:44.400 we need grace and hope 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:47.220 because we know 00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:48.440 we don't deserve it. 00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:52.000 And so, 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:54.460 I used to get agitated 00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:55.220 because I would look 00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:55.920 at these people 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:57.780 who are oblivious 00:18:57.780 --> 00:18:58.520 to the fact 00:18:58.520 --> 00:19:00.500 that they are 00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:01.580 right now 00:19:01.580 --> 00:19:02.140 sitting under 00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:03.100 the judgment of God, 00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:05.860 right now deserving 00:19:05.860 --> 00:19:06.960 of the judgment of God, 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:08.080 just like I am. 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:11.139 But they are oblivious 00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:11.899 to that fact. 00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:13.500 And so, 00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.099 the message 00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:14.899 that the God 00:19:14.899 --> 00:19:16.379 who has rightful authority 00:19:16.379 --> 00:19:16.839 over them, 00:19:17.619 --> 00:19:18.839 rightful punishment 00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:19.379 for them, 00:19:20.419 --> 00:19:21.519 the message 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:22.339 that that God 00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:22.879 has chosen 00:19:22.879 --> 00:19:24.000 to love them anyway 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:25.539 means nothing 00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:26.059 to them. 00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:28.639 And it used to make me 00:19:28.639 --> 00:19:29.819 so angry 00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:31.919 that you watch 00:19:31.919 --> 00:19:33.000 carols in the domain 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:34.380 and people 00:19:34.380 --> 00:19:34.660 who, 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:35.420 you know, 00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:36.940 have no idea 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:37.660 who Jesus is 00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:38.319 or what he does 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:39.180 just, 00:19:39.339 --> 00:19:39.579 you know, 00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:41.000 smile and happily 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:41.680 sing along 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:42.819 about the saviour 00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:43.420 of the world. 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:45.420 He's saving us 00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:46.079 from judgment. 00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:47.880 I feel like I want 00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:48.640 to write a carol 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:49.460 about judgment 00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:50.880 so that people 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:51.640 can catch it 00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:52.420 just for a second. 00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:56.859 If Christmas 00:19:56.859 --> 00:19:57.819 is indifferent 00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:58.440 to you, 00:19:59.000 --> 00:19:59.700 if it's just 00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:00.359 another thing 00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:01.099 that comes around 00:20:01.099 --> 00:20:02.160 annually in the year, 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:03.440 I don't think 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.060 you've got it. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:06.779 You know the story, 00:20:06.860 --> 00:20:07.740 you know the details, 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.840 but I don't think 00:20:09.840 --> 00:20:10.700 you get the why. 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:13.560 I don't think 00:20:13.560 --> 00:20:14.380 you understand 00:20:14.380 --> 00:20:15.759 the heart of God 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.500 on display. 00:20:17.560 --> 00:20:18.660 Christmas is God 00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:19.680 bridging a gap 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.600 that you made. 00:20:22.040 --> 00:20:22.900 Christmas is God 00:20:22.900 --> 00:20:23.920 stepping towards you 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:24.259 even though 00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:25.259 you don't deserve it. 00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:26.500 The real miracle 00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:27.019 of Christmas 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:27.779 is not so much 00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:28.480 what happened, 00:20:28.840 --> 00:20:29.660 it's a miracle, 00:20:29.800 --> 00:20:30.620 but the real miracle 00:20:30.619 --> 00:20:32.259 is why it happened. 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:36.139 The miracle 00:20:36.139 --> 00:20:36.699 of Christmas 00:20:36.699 --> 00:20:37.579 is that God 00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.599 is making a way 00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:39.539 for you to be 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.279 friends with him. 00:20:42.679 --> 00:20:43.699 God choosing 00:20:43.699 --> 00:20:44.679 to show mercy 00:20:44.679 --> 00:20:46.819 to a world 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.939 that's rejected him. 00:20:50.139 --> 00:20:51.119 In the manger 00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:54.079 is an invitation 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:56.220 for anyone 00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:57.079 who will respond 00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:59.919 to find mercy, 00:21:01.619 --> 00:21:02.000 forgiveness, 00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:03.740 hope, 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.579 and peace 00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:07.720 in a relationship 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.500 with the God 00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.779 who rules all things. 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:13.259 Christmas is truly 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:15.759 the day that hope 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:17.039 is 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:19.399 and can be 00:21:19.399 --> 00:21:20.159 born for you. 00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:24.639 If you're 00:21:24.639 --> 00:21:25.119 somebody 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:25.539 who's been 00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:26.279 following Jesus 00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:26.920 for a while, 00:21:28.159 --> 00:21:28.980 I want to 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:29.480 encourage you 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:30.079 this Christmas 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:31.119 to focus 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:31.779 on the why. 00:21:33.859 --> 00:21:34.579 Focus on 00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:35.159 what Christmas 00:21:35.159 --> 00:21:35.779 tells you 00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:36.599 about how God 00:21:36.599 --> 00:21:37.740 feels towards you. 00:21:40.119 --> 00:21:40.799 Enjoy the 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:41.220 nativity, 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:44.200 celebrate the 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:44.779 miracle of 00:21:44.779 --> 00:21:45.680 the virgin birth, 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:46.779 the star in the sky, 00:21:46.900 --> 00:21:47.660 the wise men. 00:21:48.900 --> 00:21:49.460 It is all 00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:49.980 miraculous, 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:51.960 but focus 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:52.700 on the miracle 00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:53.560 that God 00:21:53.560 --> 00:21:54.519 shows you 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:54.900 mercy 00:21:54.900 --> 00:21:56.100 when you don't 00:21:56.100 --> 00:21:56.660 deserve it. 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:58.480 That God 00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.560 pays his cost 00:21:59.560 --> 00:22:01.000 so that you 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.360 might know 00:22:01.360 --> 00:22:01.740 what it is 00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:02.299 to be loved. 00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:04.860 And if you're 00:22:04.860 --> 00:22:05.539 not a Christian, 00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:07.700 maybe you're 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:09.039 a guest here 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:09.660 today because 00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:10.220 it's Christmas 00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:11.680 and church 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:12.100 seems like 00:22:12.100 --> 00:22:12.680 the right place 00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:13.420 to go at Christmas, 00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:15.100 I want to 00:22:15.100 --> 00:22:15.620 encourage you 00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:16.139 to look at 00:22:16.139 --> 00:22:16.659 the story 00:22:16.659 --> 00:22:18.159 again and 00:22:18.159 --> 00:22:18.819 understand that 00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:19.779 it's more 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.379 than a story. 00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:22.419 It's God 00:22:22.419 --> 00:22:23.199 speaking to 00:22:23.199 --> 00:22:23.419 you. 00:22:25.239 --> 00:22:26.179 It's God 00:22:26.179 --> 00:22:27.079 doing something 00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:28.000 for you. 00:22:29.879 --> 00:22:30.479 It's 00:22:30.479 --> 00:22:30.859 ultimately 00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:31.359 God's 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:31.979 invitation 00:22:31.979 --> 00:22:32.779 to you. 00:22:35.979 --> 00:22:36.919 In Jesus 00:22:36.919 --> 00:22:38.579 is the 00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:39.019 offer of 00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:39.399 mercy, 00:22:40.199 --> 00:22:40.579 forgiveness, 00:22:41.379 --> 00:22:41.659 hope, 00:22:42.219 --> 00:22:42.799 and peace 00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:45.359 to anyone 00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:46.599 who would 00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:47.039 respond. 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:47.700 Thank you. 00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:47.799 Thank you.