WEBVTT 00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:05.060 Good morning, everyone. My name is James. It's good to be with you today. 00:00:05.580 --> 00:00:11.060 I really like all of the stories that add up to the colour of Christmas. 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:17.600 The Christmas lights and the decorations, Santa, the elves, the movies and the Christmas carols. 00:00:18.179 --> 00:00:23.480 Yesterday, my family, we bought a real Christmas tree for the first time in years, 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:28.120 and it just smells delightful. I'll bring in a piece of it next week if you just want to smell it. 00:00:28.120 --> 00:00:37.399 It's great. I love it. But this week, I thought I would do some investigation into the origin of some of these Christmas stories. 00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:43.120 So I started with Santa Claus. One author describes the history of Santa... 00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:47.359 Let me see if I can get this guy to work this morning. There we go. 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:53.820 One author describes the history of Santa as involving a building project by a Byzantine emperor, 00:00:53.820 --> 00:00:58.960 a story about a father preparing to sell his own daughters into prostitution, 00:00:59.939 --> 00:01:04.680 a hoard of stolen bones reported to have magical properties, 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:08.299 armies of crusading knights, Protestant zealots, 00:01:08.680 --> 00:01:10.900 the author of Twas the Night Before Christmas, 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:16.000 a poem you probably read as a child but didn't realise how influential it was, 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:18.280 Santa Claus, and Coca-Cola. 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:25.219 All of these different aspects build up to the magic of whatever Santa Claus is. 00:01:26.180 --> 00:01:29.579 Now, I feel like I could do a deep dive into each of those different aspects of history, 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:30.340 but we're going to move on. 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:31.579 What about the elves? 00:01:32.439 --> 00:01:37.159 Well, they come from German and Scandinavian origins, from folk stories. 00:01:37.159 --> 00:01:43.340 Our elves were house gnomes with magical powers to protect their homes from evil. 00:01:43.340 --> 00:01:50.420 The stories were modernised in the 1800s to look about how we would expect elves to look. 00:01:51.859 --> 00:01:56.219 There's a story of some classic little fairy pixie-looking elves. 00:01:56.939 --> 00:01:58.280 And then what about the Christmas tree? 00:01:58.740 --> 00:02:00.980 The Christmas tree that I put up in my house yesterday. 00:02:01.580 --> 00:02:05.760 Well, one article I read suggested that the evergreen tree 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:11.099 represents the pagan themes of fertility and new life in the darkness of winter. 00:02:11.099 --> 00:02:13.099 And this is why we have... 00:02:13.979 --> 00:02:16.299 What plant is this representing, Carmen? 00:02:16.379 --> 00:02:16.939 What is this? 00:02:18.900 --> 00:02:19.299 Greenery. 00:02:19.419 --> 00:02:19.900 Okay, thank you. 00:02:21.659 --> 00:02:27.099 Well, holly, ivy, and mistletoe, these are the Christmas plants. 00:02:28.219 --> 00:02:30.439 You know, you have them hanging and you kiss people under them. 00:02:30.659 --> 00:02:33.859 These are the only plants that flower in winter. 00:02:33.860 --> 00:02:37.460 And so it's a symbol of new life. 00:02:38.980 --> 00:02:43.680 But then, as one legend goes, an English monk, Boniface, 00:02:44.120 --> 00:02:47.420 was doing some missionary work in Germany in the 8th century. 00:02:47.860 --> 00:02:52.280 And the story goes that some native Germans were sacrificing to the oak trees 00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:53.680 because they were pagans. 00:02:53.780 --> 00:02:54.860 They worshipped the trees. 00:02:55.400 --> 00:02:59.480 And so Boniface grabbed his axe and he chopped down to the tree 00:02:59.480 --> 00:03:01.200 to stop the pagans from worshipping it. 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:05.359 And the legend has it that a fir tree, the Christmas-shaped tree, 00:03:05.579 --> 00:03:07.959 a fir tree grew out of the fallen oak tree. 00:03:08.679 --> 00:03:12.539 The fir tree has a triangular shape, represents the Trinity, 00:03:13.039 --> 00:03:15.079 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:18.060 And so they brought the fir tree into the house 00:03:18.060 --> 00:03:20.159 as a sign of their new Christian faith. 00:03:21.620 --> 00:03:25.159 And then I learned a new one on Thursday night. 00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:30.259 In recent years, in Chinese culture, in China at least, 00:03:30.620 --> 00:03:31.680 there's been a new tradition. 00:03:33.780 --> 00:03:39.620 Christmas Eve is called Ping An Ye, peace night in Chinese. 00:03:40.139 --> 00:03:44.000 And it kind of sounds like apple in Chinese, which is Ping Guo. 00:03:44.699 --> 00:03:48.780 And so Christmas Eve is called Ping An Guo, 00:03:49.159 --> 00:03:51.019 which means peace apples. 00:03:51.020 --> 00:03:54.020 And so in recent years, Christmas Eve, 00:03:54.180 --> 00:03:56.580 you would give apples to each other 00:03:56.580 --> 00:03:58.820 until it was banned by the Chinese government. 00:04:00.020 --> 00:04:05.280 Christmas just has this long history of strange stories 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:09.980 and exaggerations all being amalgamated into each other. 00:04:10.219 --> 00:04:12.719 And so it's just this mix of pagan worship, 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:16.460 ancient folklore, legends, corporate greed, 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:17.699 all coming together. 00:04:17.699 --> 00:04:23.560 The stories of Christmas seem so far from their origins. 00:04:24.300 --> 00:04:27.800 But what about that other Christmas story? 00:04:28.759 --> 00:04:31.480 The story of God becoming a person, 00:04:32.039 --> 00:04:35.939 born as a baby, to die on the cross, 00:04:36.360 --> 00:04:39.879 raised to life so that we might have life ourselves. 00:04:40.339 --> 00:04:42.199 Is this just a hodgepodge story? 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:46.060 Is this just a hodgepodge of a special baby? 00:04:46.060 --> 00:04:49.139 And there was another story about a man who could do miracles. 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:51.639 And maybe there was another story from another culture 00:04:51.639 --> 00:04:53.600 about a resurrection. 00:04:54.220 --> 00:04:58.939 And then there's another story about a nation waiting for salvation. 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:04.019 Is the story of the baby at Christmas 00:05:04.019 --> 00:05:07.220 and the Christian faith just an exaggeration? 00:05:07.220 --> 00:05:14.040 Is it just an amalgamation of stories that we'll never really know the true origin of? 00:05:15.080 --> 00:05:17.220 Can we trust anything the Bible says? 00:05:18.500 --> 00:05:20.340 This month we're asking the question, 00:05:20.520 --> 00:05:22.300 Is Christmas unbelievable? 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:24.960 We're asking some pointed questions. 00:05:25.940 --> 00:05:29.320 And there is going to be a phone number on the screen texting your questions. 00:05:29.440 --> 00:05:31.020 We'll answer them straight after the service. 00:05:31.180 --> 00:05:33.140 Or you can come and ask me straight after church. 00:05:33.139 --> 00:05:36.919 But the challenge for us today is to question 00:05:36.919 --> 00:05:40.079 whether we believe the story of Jesus at Christmas 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:43.099 just because it's the story we know. 00:05:44.439 --> 00:05:45.899 Maybe there's exaggerations. 00:05:46.099 --> 00:05:48.399 Or is the story of Christmas real? 00:05:48.860 --> 00:05:50.399 And can we trust the Bible? 00:05:51.060 --> 00:05:53.899 Is there a truthful core to it that we'll never get to? 00:05:54.079 --> 00:05:56.079 Or is it true and we can believe it? 00:05:56.719 --> 00:05:58.560 Let me pray as we have a look at this. 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:01.740 Heavenly Father, I thank you for Christmas, 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:07.199 for this time that seems to come quickly every year 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:12.379 where our shops sing of your greatness, 00:06:13.139 --> 00:06:16.920 where Christmas carols are on and Christmas movies are on 00:06:16.920 --> 00:06:18.120 and we put up decorations. 00:06:18.340 --> 00:06:20.660 But Lord, help us to understand 00:06:20.660 --> 00:06:24.560 whether we can trust your word, 00:06:25.180 --> 00:06:26.540 especially about Christmas. 00:06:26.540 --> 00:06:29.040 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:06:29.340 --> 00:06:29.740 Amen. 00:06:31.100 --> 00:06:32.640 We're going to start by having a look. 00:06:32.860 --> 00:06:33.680 Oh, there's that great picture. 00:06:33.780 --> 00:06:34.580 I keep missing that picture. 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:38.220 We're going to start with the eyewitnesses to the truth. 00:06:39.620 --> 00:06:41.820 In John's record of the gospel, 00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:45.680 there is a character who sits in the same seat as us 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:47.200 asking the same question. 00:06:47.860 --> 00:06:49.560 Can I trust you? 00:06:49.860 --> 00:06:50.900 What can I believe? 00:06:52.040 --> 00:06:53.000 His name is Thomas. 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:56.639 And he missed out on seeing the risen Jesus 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:58.139 when he appeared to his disciples. 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:00.899 So have a look at verse 24 with me. 00:07:03.079 --> 00:07:04.720 Wendy's going to push the buttons for me, I think. 00:07:04.779 --> 00:07:05.279 Thank you, Wendy. 00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:08.300 Now, Thomas, also known as Didymus, 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:09.199 one of the 12, 00:07:09.300 --> 00:07:11.620 was not with disciples when Jesus came. 00:07:12.100 --> 00:07:13.560 So the other disciples told him, 00:07:13.819 --> 00:07:16.720 we have seen the Lord just like us. 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:19.360 Thomas missed out on seeing the risen Jesus. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:21.840 He didn't believe the story. 00:07:22.420 --> 00:07:22.960 But he said to them, 00:07:23.220 --> 00:07:25.460 unless I see the nail marks 00:07:25.460 --> 00:07:27.300 and put my finger where the nails were 00:07:27.300 --> 00:07:28.699 and put my hand into his side, 00:07:28.780 --> 00:07:30.199 I will not believe. 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:31.500 He doesn't say, 00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:33.420 I'm finding this hard to believe. 00:07:34.620 --> 00:07:36.160 I just really can't believe it. 00:07:36.199 --> 00:07:38.800 He says, I will not believe. 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:42.980 Can you imagine if your 12 or your 11 best friends 00:07:42.980 --> 00:07:44.920 came up to you and told you, 00:07:45.139 --> 00:07:46.300 there's a cure for COVID. 00:07:46.500 --> 00:07:47.520 It is over. 00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:48.839 It's done. 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:50.019 And you said, 00:07:50.799 --> 00:07:51.560 do you know what? 00:07:51.579 --> 00:07:52.279 I'm not going to believe 00:07:52.279 --> 00:07:55.799 until I get a PhD in microbiology. 00:07:56.359 --> 00:07:57.359 I will not believe 00:07:57.359 --> 00:07:59.639 until I fully investigate everything myself. 00:08:01.079 --> 00:08:03.099 Thomas even then was living in a post-truth environment. 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:04.879 I don't believe your truth, 00:08:05.039 --> 00:08:06.159 but only my truth. 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:09.339 He's only risen if I have seen that he is risen. 00:08:11.139 --> 00:08:13.060 Thomas doubted because he hadn't seen it for himself. 00:08:13.180 --> 00:08:15.180 He wanted to trust his own senses. 00:08:15.180 --> 00:08:16.420 And now Jesus, 00:08:16.660 --> 00:08:18.160 Jesus is good. 00:08:18.280 --> 00:08:20.819 He is good and generous to Thomas, 00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:22.660 even though he doubted. 00:08:23.459 --> 00:08:24.220 Verse 26, 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:25.180 a week later, 00:08:25.579 --> 00:08:26.680 when Thomas is there, 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:28.759 Jesus appears to Thomas 00:08:28.759 --> 00:08:29.939 and he says, 00:08:30.100 --> 00:08:30.920 peace be with you. 00:08:31.540 --> 00:08:31.800 Okay, 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:32.419 come on, 00:08:32.460 --> 00:08:32.720 Thomas, 00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:34.500 put your finger into my side. 00:08:34.820 --> 00:08:35.200 Come on, 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:35.879 you can do it. 00:08:35.980 --> 00:08:36.460 I'll let you, 00:08:36.740 --> 00:08:38.480 here's exactly what you wanted. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:40.779 And Thomas says, 00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:43.920 he reacts and calls him God, 00:08:43.980 --> 00:08:45.539 my Lord and my God. 00:08:46.259 --> 00:08:48.779 And then Jesus really speaking to us says, 00:08:49.159 --> 00:08:50.480 because you have seen me, 00:08:50.680 --> 00:08:51.580 you have believed. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:53.139 Blessed are those, 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:53.899 us, 00:08:54.039 --> 00:08:56.159 who have not seen Jesus 00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:58.060 and yet have believed. 00:08:58.500 --> 00:08:59.600 And then we get the whole purpose. 00:08:59.700 --> 00:09:00.420 This is the purpose. 00:09:00.539 --> 00:09:01.139 This is the point. 00:09:01.220 --> 00:09:03.680 This is the key part of John 20 for us today. 00:09:03.679 --> 00:09:04.879 These are written 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:06.419 that you may believe 00:09:06.419 --> 00:09:08.519 that Jesus is the Messiah, 00:09:08.979 --> 00:09:09.759 the son of God, 00:09:10.139 --> 00:09:11.099 and that by believing 00:09:11.099 --> 00:09:13.299 you may have life in his name. 00:09:13.879 --> 00:09:15.259 John wrote down the records 00:09:15.259 --> 00:09:16.739 of the eyewitnesses 00:09:16.739 --> 00:09:18.079 to be trustworthy 00:09:18.079 --> 00:09:19.779 with the purpose 00:09:19.779 --> 00:09:21.339 of believing in Jesus. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:23.739 These are not just a collection of stories. 00:09:24.179 --> 00:09:25.219 It's not just interesting. 00:09:25.459 --> 00:09:26.099 John wasn't hoping 00:09:26.099 --> 00:09:27.539 for a bestseller for Christmas. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:30.719 These are eyewitness testimony 00:09:30.719 --> 00:09:31.620 recorded 00:09:31.620 --> 00:09:33.199 so that we might believe 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:34.759 that Jesus is the Messiah. 00:09:37.040 --> 00:09:37.800 Trusting others 00:09:37.800 --> 00:09:39.860 is how people have always operated. 00:09:40.660 --> 00:09:41.640 Not all of us 00:09:41.640 --> 00:09:43.080 are experts in science 00:09:43.080 --> 00:09:44.460 and historians 00:09:44.460 --> 00:09:46.480 and social scientists. 00:09:46.980 --> 00:09:48.120 We are always people 00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:48.640 who have listened 00:09:48.640 --> 00:09:50.379 to other people's opinion. 00:09:51.280 --> 00:09:51.980 This is why 00:09:51.980 --> 00:09:53.240 we pull out our phones 00:09:53.240 --> 00:09:53.740 in the morning 00:09:53.740 --> 00:09:54.540 and check the weather 00:09:54.540 --> 00:09:55.460 and find out 00:09:55.460 --> 00:09:56.259 it's going to be 00:09:56.259 --> 00:09:58.240 pretty hot today, I think. 00:09:59.180 --> 00:09:59.800 We are people 00:09:59.800 --> 00:10:01.280 who routinely trust others 00:10:01.280 --> 00:10:02.460 and the same goes 00:10:02.460 --> 00:10:03.280 for with history. 00:10:05.500 --> 00:10:07.420 We trust the eyewitnesses. 00:10:08.620 --> 00:10:10.720 But if there were eyewitnesses, 00:10:11.139 --> 00:10:13.519 why is there such a lag 00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:15.320 between the events happening 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:16.940 and the writing? 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:18.960 Surely that means 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:20.759 it's open to exaggeration. 00:10:21.060 --> 00:10:22.460 Surely it means that 00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:24.780 they've forgotten the story 00:10:24.779 --> 00:10:26.899 and they've just written it down 00:10:26.899 --> 00:10:28.120 and they've written it down wrong. 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:30.179 Jesus is reported 00:10:30.179 --> 00:10:31.039 to have been crucified 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:32.600 around AD 30 00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:33.740 and then the first 00:10:33.740 --> 00:10:34.860 of the books of the Bible 00:10:34.860 --> 00:10:35.579 of the New Testament, 00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:36.159 Galatians, 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:37.620 was written about AD 50. 00:10:38.419 --> 00:10:38.899 Mark 00:10:38.899 --> 00:10:39.799 is written 00:10:39.799 --> 00:10:41.139 between about 50 and 60 00:10:41.139 --> 00:10:42.259 and then John, 00:10:43.100 --> 00:10:45.079 the most recent gospel, 00:10:45.220 --> 00:10:46.860 was written around AD 90. 00:10:46.860 --> 00:10:49.659 That is a fair time lag, 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:50.840 some might say. 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:54.139 Can we trust the reports 00:10:54.139 --> 00:10:55.100 if they were written later? 00:10:56.259 --> 00:10:57.340 There's a children's game 00:10:57.340 --> 00:10:59.440 that I remember 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:00.620 and fondly remember playing 00:11:00.620 --> 00:11:01.519 called Telephone. 00:11:02.220 --> 00:11:03.419 It has another, 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:04.320 a more unhelpful name, 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:04.980 Chinese Whispers, 00:11:05.100 --> 00:11:06.039 but we'll go with Telephone, 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:08.120 where you start with one person, 00:11:08.220 --> 00:11:08.919 I'm going to pick on Nick, 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:10.779 I'm going to tell Nick a phrase, 00:11:11.379 --> 00:11:12.320 I'm going to get back on camera, 00:11:12.680 --> 00:11:12.960 Nick, 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:14.000 the phrase is, 00:11:14.060 --> 00:11:14.360 you know, 00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:16.139 yellow jelly bean 00:11:16.139 --> 00:11:17.940 and then Nick's going to tell people 00:11:17.940 --> 00:11:19.139 and it's going to get to the line 00:11:19.139 --> 00:11:20.019 and it's going to get over here 00:11:20.019 --> 00:11:21.040 and Kel is finally 00:11:21.040 --> 00:11:21.860 going to be the last one 00:11:21.860 --> 00:11:22.800 and he's going to tell us 00:11:22.800 --> 00:11:23.220 what he's heard 00:11:23.220 --> 00:11:24.620 and it's morphed into 00:11:24.620 --> 00:11:26.060 potato piano 00:11:26.060 --> 00:11:27.120 or something like this. 00:11:27.400 --> 00:11:28.160 We know this game, 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:29.379 this is quite a fun game, 00:11:30.139 --> 00:11:31.300 I always loved it as a kid. 00:11:32.139 --> 00:11:33.180 Some think that 00:11:33.180 --> 00:11:35.860 the story of the Bible 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:37.100 starts with that, 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:37.360 you know, 00:11:37.420 --> 00:11:38.780 the phrase was originally 00:11:38.780 --> 00:11:39.840 Jewish leader 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:41.900 and it's retold 00:11:41.900 --> 00:11:42.720 and told 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:44.300 over so many years 00:11:44.300 --> 00:11:45.160 that the meaning 00:11:45.160 --> 00:11:46.360 has been completely lost 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:47.920 and that Jesus, 00:11:49.160 --> 00:11:49.940 who was maybe 00:11:49.940 --> 00:11:50.700 just a guy 00:11:50.700 --> 00:11:51.580 and influential leader, 00:11:51.700 --> 00:11:52.340 all of a sudden 00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:53.300 by the time we get to 00:11:53.300 --> 00:11:54.200 it being written down, 00:11:54.460 --> 00:11:55.180 Jesus is now 00:11:55.180 --> 00:11:56.700 God himself 00:11:56.700 --> 00:11:58.180 who can walk on water 00:11:58.180 --> 00:11:59.160 and come back to life. 00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:01.519 Clearly 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:02.639 an exaggeration 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:03.540 some might say. 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:05.360 One historian, 00:12:05.700 --> 00:12:06.480 Richard Baucom, 00:12:07.060 --> 00:12:07.660 argues that 00:12:07.660 --> 00:12:08.720 one of the key reasons 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:09.240 that there is 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:10.720 a time delay 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:11.860 between the events 00:12:11.860 --> 00:12:12.639 of the writing 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:14.659 between the events 00:12:14.659 --> 00:12:15.539 and the writing 00:12:15.539 --> 00:12:17.320 is that the eyewitnesses 00:12:17.320 --> 00:12:18.080 were dying out. 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:20.039 Unlike the game 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:21.259 of telephone with kids, 00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:22.560 the stories 00:12:22.560 --> 00:12:23.960 were not passed 00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:25.360 along a single line. 00:12:26.220 --> 00:12:26.740 They were told 00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:27.680 to many people. 00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:29.340 So when Jesus 00:12:29.340 --> 00:12:30.320 was alive, 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:31.200 he proclaimed 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:31.960 in synagogues, 00:12:32.019 --> 00:12:32.639 he preached 00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:33.680 to thousands of people. 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:34.080 You think about 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:35.180 the feeding of the 5,000. 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:37.080 Large crowds 00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:37.659 followed him 00:12:37.659 --> 00:12:38.000 and he had 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:38.659 an intimate group 00:12:38.659 --> 00:12:39.360 of 12 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.219 that followed 00:12:40.219 --> 00:12:41.179 his every step. 00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:42.839 And then 00:12:42.839 --> 00:12:43.959 with the eyewitnesses, 00:12:44.039 --> 00:12:44.379 there are 00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:46.319 so many specific 00:12:46.319 --> 00:12:47.259 people mentioned 00:12:47.259 --> 00:12:48.039 in the Bible. 00:12:48.539 --> 00:12:49.899 Specific eyewitnesses. 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:51.360 Mary Magdalene, 00:12:51.959 --> 00:12:52.639 Peter and Andrew, 00:12:52.939 --> 00:12:54.600 sons of Jonah. 00:12:54.919 --> 00:12:55.659 James and John, 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:56.500 sons of Zebedee. 00:12:56.980 --> 00:12:58.480 Even Thomas Didymus 00:12:58.480 --> 00:12:59.000 here 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:00.679 has a specific name. 00:13:01.559 --> 00:13:02.039 In the news 00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:02.779 immediately after 00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:03.839 Jesus' death 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:05.259 and resurrection, 00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:06.240 you can imagine 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:06.899 people would have 00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:07.700 gone up to Thomas 00:13:07.700 --> 00:13:08.300 and said, 00:13:08.899 --> 00:13:09.200 oh, 00:13:09.420 --> 00:13:10.060 you're the guy 00:13:10.060 --> 00:13:11.120 who doubted Jesus. 00:13:12.300 --> 00:13:13.379 Did you really see him? 00:13:14.700 --> 00:13:15.320 And then maybe 00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:16.080 he would 00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:17.259 remember 00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:18.500 his doubt 00:13:18.500 --> 00:13:19.700 that Jesus was alive 00:13:19.700 --> 00:13:21.440 and be grieved. 00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:22.560 But then maybe 00:13:22.560 --> 00:13:23.660 his face would light up 00:13:23.660 --> 00:13:24.840 remembering how good 00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:25.820 Jesus was to him. 00:13:27.100 --> 00:13:28.160 And so what do you do 00:13:28.160 --> 00:13:29.400 as the eyewitnesses 00:13:29.400 --> 00:13:30.220 who saw Jesus 00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:30.900 start aging 00:13:30.900 --> 00:13:31.800 and dying out? 00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:32.820 You visit them 00:13:32.820 --> 00:13:34.060 and you write it down 00:13:34.060 --> 00:13:35.020 and you record it. 00:13:36.140 --> 00:13:37.020 And if this is true, 00:13:37.300 --> 00:13:37.900 the Gospels 00:13:37.900 --> 00:13:39.280 are not like 00:13:39.280 --> 00:13:40.879 a story passed 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:42.280 along many years. 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:43.320 It is 00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:44.420 the story 00:13:44.420 --> 00:13:45.980 to the first person. 00:13:47.900 --> 00:13:48.680 This is what 00:13:48.680 --> 00:13:49.320 really happened. 00:13:51.280 --> 00:13:52.280 And the beauty is 00:13:52.280 --> 00:13:53.300 that when it's written down, 00:13:53.680 --> 00:13:54.560 there are still people 00:13:54.560 --> 00:13:56.200 around who are eyewitnesses. 00:13:56.340 --> 00:13:56.940 So you could say, 00:13:57.020 --> 00:13:57.960 hey, I got this letter. 00:13:58.560 --> 00:13:59.520 Did this really happen? 00:14:01.300 --> 00:14:02.280 One of my children 00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:03.079 recently thought 00:14:03.079 --> 00:14:03.759 it would be a really 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:04.759 good idea 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:06.220 to start spreading 00:14:06.220 --> 00:14:06.959 some rumours. 00:14:07.839 --> 00:14:08.679 They were at school 00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:10.019 saying they had COVID 00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:13.000 and their friends 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:14.399 were rightly distressed. 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:17.299 And so Alyssa 00:14:17.299 --> 00:14:17.720 got a call 00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:18.240 from the school 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:18.659 saying, 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:19.600 your child 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:20.059 is saying 00:14:20.059 --> 00:14:20.559 that they took 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:21.419 a COVID test 00:14:21.419 --> 00:14:22.339 and that you 00:14:22.339 --> 00:14:23.199 were eyewitnesses, 00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:24.079 you saw the test 00:14:24.079 --> 00:14:24.579 and you let them 00:14:24.579 --> 00:14:25.299 go to school anyway? 00:14:26.659 --> 00:14:27.059 Yes, 00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:28.100 they did take 00:14:28.100 --> 00:14:28.860 a COVID test. 00:14:29.339 --> 00:14:29.720 No, 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:30.440 they don't 00:14:30.440 --> 00:14:30.920 have COVID. 00:14:34.920 --> 00:14:35.660 And so 00:14:35.660 --> 00:14:37.420 there's an exaggeration. 00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:38.379 A change 00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:39.080 in the story 00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:39.820 got told. 00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:40.940 It was right 00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:41.580 to a point 00:14:41.580 --> 00:14:42.160 but then it was 00:14:42.160 --> 00:14:42.660 exaggerated. 00:14:43.340 --> 00:14:44.200 And you could check 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:45.180 with the eyewitnesses. 00:14:45.460 --> 00:14:46.139 Did this happen? 00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:46.620 No, 00:14:46.660 --> 00:14:47.040 it didn't. 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:50.279 Don't let the facts 00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:50.759 get in the way 00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:51.540 of a good story, 00:14:51.660 --> 00:14:52.100 my child, 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:53.240 maybe you would have thought. 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:54.240 The Bible 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:55.480 can be trusted 00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:57.139 because it is 00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:58.159 not an exaggeration. 00:14:59.580 --> 00:15:00.180 Written down 00:15:00.180 --> 00:15:01.519 when eyewitnesses 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:02.279 were still alive. 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:04.120 Written very early. 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:05.200 We might think 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.480 it is a time lag 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:07.279 but there is 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:08.480 no time lag there. 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:09.539 The Bible 00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:10.000 was written 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:10.899 very early 00:15:10.899 --> 00:15:12.100 with eyewitnesses 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:12.840 still around 00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:14.060 so it could be checked. 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:16.899 It was written 00:15:16.899 --> 00:15:17.539 very early 00:15:17.539 --> 00:15:18.560 and if it wasn't 00:15:18.560 --> 00:15:18.980 real, 00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:19.759 people would have 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.440 called it out. 00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:20.759 No, 00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:21.600 don't be silly. 00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:22.560 Jesus didn't really 00:15:22.560 --> 00:15:23.440 walk on water. 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:24.240 It was just 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:25.000 low tide 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:25.660 that day. 00:15:27.660 --> 00:15:28.220 Eyewitnesses 00:15:28.220 --> 00:15:29.380 like Thomas 00:15:29.380 --> 00:15:30.500 were around 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:31.660 long after 00:15:31.660 --> 00:15:32.180 they were written. 00:15:32.920 --> 00:15:33.760 So what we have 00:15:33.760 --> 00:15:34.280 recorded 00:15:34.280 --> 00:15:35.860 is history 00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:36.580 and the Bible 00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:37.380 can be trusted. 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:39.800 But not only that, 00:15:40.760 --> 00:15:41.280 the Bible 00:15:41.280 --> 00:15:41.880 has 00:15:41.880 --> 00:15:43.680 embarrassing 00:15:43.680 --> 00:15:44.840 truth to it. 00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:45.920 There is a phrase 00:15:45.920 --> 00:15:46.600 called the ring 00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:47.320 of truth. 00:15:48.300 --> 00:15:48.920 It is a test 00:15:48.920 --> 00:15:49.380 to see whether 00:15:49.380 --> 00:15:50.280 a story sounds 00:15:50.280 --> 00:15:51.400 like a fanciful tale 00:15:51.400 --> 00:15:52.780 and an exaggerated 00:15:52.779 --> 00:15:54.339 story or real 00:15:54.339 --> 00:15:54.759 history. 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:56.279 The idea of it 00:15:56.279 --> 00:15:56.779 says that when 00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:57.980 people lie 00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:59.199 or make up a story, 00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:00.319 they don't add 00:16:00.319 --> 00:16:01.679 material to make 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:02.480 them lose 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:03.120 credibility. 00:16:04.079 --> 00:16:04.839 I know a man 00:16:04.839 --> 00:16:05.579 who broke 00:16:05.579 --> 00:16:06.199 his leg. 00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:07.419 Now, 00:16:07.439 --> 00:16:07.980 he could have 00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:08.579 said that he 00:16:08.579 --> 00:16:09.319 had just fallen 00:16:09.319 --> 00:16:09.659 over, 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:11.600 but the truth 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:12.379 is more 00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:13.019 embarrassing. 00:16:13.819 --> 00:16:14.639 He was trying 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:15.519 to show his 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:16.419 son how to 00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:18.539 do a bike 00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:19.639 trick on a 00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:20.299 half pipe 00:16:20.299 --> 00:16:21.000 that he'd set 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:21.279 up, 00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:22.220 thinking he 00:16:22.220 --> 00:16:22.659 was much 00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:23.039 younger than 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:23.360 he really 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:23.799 was, 00:16:23.940 --> 00:16:24.320 and he 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:24.879 came off 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:25.519 it and 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:25.840 landed 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:26.600 heavily and 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:26.960 broke his 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:27.259 leg. 00:16:28.659 --> 00:16:29.679 One story 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:30.600 I fell 00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:32.700 is true, 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:33.360 but the real 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:34.519 story is far 00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:35.460 more embarrassing, 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:36.639 far more 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:36.980 shameful, 00:16:37.460 --> 00:16:38.000 and it's not 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:38.639 the story you'd 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:39.500 choose to tell 00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:40.879 unless it was 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:41.200 true. 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:42.840 If you were 00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:43.279 going to make 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:43.919 up a story to 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:44.659 try and convince 00:16:44.659 --> 00:16:45.519 people that Jesus 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.379 was real, 00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:47.639 and not only that 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:48.159 he was real, 00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:48.840 but he'd come 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:49.620 back to life and 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.120 that he is 00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:51.320 God, you 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:51.740 would want to 00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:52.200 make it the 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:53.139 most plausible 00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:53.919 story ever. 00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:55.360 But the 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:55.820 Gospels are 00:16:55.820 --> 00:16:56.560 actually really 00:16:56.560 --> 00:16:57.179 embarrassing. 00:16:58.340 --> 00:16:59.539 Peter, one 00:16:59.539 --> 00:17:00.179 of Jesus' 00:17:00.419 --> 00:17:01.759 closest friends, 00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:03.179 had a key 00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:04.599 hand in writing 00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:05.299 Mark's Gospel. 00:17:06.180 --> 00:17:06.859 If I were 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:08.640 Peter, and I 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:09.299 was involved in 00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:10.420 writing it, I 00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:10.839 would have made 00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:11.480 myself look a 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:11.920 lot better. 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:13.599 Instead, Peter 00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:15.319 betrays Jesus 00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:16.460 three times. 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:18.420 His most 00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:19.400 cowardly and 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:20.120 moral failure. 00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:22.300 Peter was one 00:17:22.300 --> 00:17:22.820 of the key 00:17:22.820 --> 00:17:23.320 leaders in the 00:17:23.320 --> 00:17:24.039 early church. 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:25.420 The only way 00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:26.220 he'd let his 00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:27.380 betrayal be 00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:28.140 told was if it 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:28.539 was really 00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:28.940 true. 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:30.539 If I was 00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:31.080 writing about 00:17:31.080 --> 00:17:31.340 Jesus' 00:17:31.600 --> 00:17:32.800 resurrection, I'd 00:17:32.800 --> 00:17:33.360 want it to be 00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:35.000 as believable and 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:35.900 plausible as 00:17:35.900 --> 00:17:36.360 possible. 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:37.840 And there's two 00:17:37.840 --> 00:17:39.200 small aspects of 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:39.620 the resurrection 00:17:39.620 --> 00:17:40.400 that are just 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:42.840 embarrassing, and 00:17:42.840 --> 00:17:43.500 lean it to have 00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:44.220 the ring of truth 00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:44.560 to it. 00:17:45.360 --> 00:17:45.880 And they both 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:46.620 involve the first 00:17:46.620 --> 00:17:47.019 witnesses. 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:48.559 John records 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:50.259 Mary Magdalene 00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:51.700 went to Jesus' 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:52.799 tomb, but 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:53.639 found it empty. 00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:55.259 Standing there 00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:55.980 crying, Jesus 00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:56.839 comes up to her, 00:17:57.180 --> 00:17:57.940 and Jesus says, 00:17:58.819 --> 00:17:59.879 if you can go to 00:17:59.879 --> 00:18:00.299 the next slide, 00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:00.759 thank you, Wendy. 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:01.900 Jesus says to 00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:03.639 Mary, woman, why 00:18:03.639 --> 00:18:04.539 are you crying? 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:05.240 Who is it you 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:06.000 are looking for? 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:08.079 Thinking he was 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:09.579 the gardener, she 00:18:09.579 --> 00:18:10.839 said, sir, if you've 00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:11.940 carried him away, 00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:12.779 tell me where you've 00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:13.059 put him. 00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:14.920 Mary confuses 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:15.740 Jesus with a 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.160 gardener. 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:17.559 It's just a 00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:19.680 small, little 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:21.559 note, embarrassing 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.680 for the future of 00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:23.019 Mary. 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:25.059 I saw Jesus, I 00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:25.400 thought he was 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:25.920 just tidying up 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:26.339 the gardens. 00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:29.200 In all four 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:29.940 gospels about 00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:30.819 Jesus, the first 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:31.759 witnesses to the 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:32.460 resurrection are 00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:32.740 women. 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:36.140 Luke 24, it 00:18:36.140 --> 00:18:37.140 was Mary Magdalene, 00:18:37.539 --> 00:18:38.660 Joanna, Mary the 00:18:38.660 --> 00:18:40.099 mother of James, and 00:18:40.099 --> 00:18:41.660 the others with 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:42.900 them who told this 00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:43.519 to the apostles. 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:44.839 But the apostles, 00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:45.579 they did not 00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:46.099 believe the 00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:47.519 women because 00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:48.420 their words seemed 00:18:48.420 --> 00:18:49.059 to them like 00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:49.799 nonsense. 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:51.660 In the first 00:18:51.660 --> 00:18:52.920 century Jewish 00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:55.099 culture, women's 00:18:55.099 --> 00:18:56.000 testimony wasn't 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:56.940 accepted in court. 00:18:57.819 --> 00:18:58.519 People didn't 00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:59.240 listen to them. 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:00.960 And even Jesus' 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:02.660 friends, the 00:19:02.660 --> 00:19:05.759 apostles, didn't 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:07.000 believe what seemed 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.579 to them like a 00:19:07.579 --> 00:19:08.480 ridiculous story. 00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:10.299 Jesus coming back 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:10.819 to life. 00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:11.980 You would not 00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:13.019 report that. 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:14.679 You would not 00:19:14.679 --> 00:19:15.720 tell that women 00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:16.539 were the first to 00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:17.379 see him and were 00:19:17.379 --> 00:19:18.599 the first to share 00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:19.500 the good news, 00:19:20.359 --> 00:19:21.819 unless it actually 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:22.259 happened. 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:24.779 It's another deeply 00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:25.839 embarrassing aspect 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:26.799 for the early church 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.159 leaders. 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:28.839 An exaggerated 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:31.099 story told by a 00:19:31.099 --> 00:19:32.220 bunch of women was 00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:33.740 easily discredited. 00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:34.460 You're going to 00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.139 trust those women? 00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:36.220 That's ridiculous. 00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:38.640 But again, these 00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:39.640 women's names were 00:19:39.640 --> 00:19:41.660 recorded because 00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:42.220 they were eyewitnesses. 00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:43.839 They could be 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:44.880 trusted and they 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:46.120 could be visited to 00:19:46.120 --> 00:19:46.920 ask if this really 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:47.299 happened. 00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:49.220 Now, none of this 00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:50.500 is its own proof. 00:19:51.660 --> 00:19:52.799 But when it's 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:54.779 read, it holds 00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:55.799 together as a story 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:56.880 that has the ring of 00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:57.539 truth to it. 00:19:57.799 --> 00:19:58.559 One that clearly 00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.360 suggests that the 00:19:59.360 --> 00:20:01.559 Gospels are history 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:03.480 and they're not an 00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:04.140 exaggeration. 00:20:04.140 --> 00:20:06.480 So the stories 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:07.080 about Christmas 00:20:07.080 --> 00:20:08.600 like Santa and 00:20:08.600 --> 00:20:09.400 the elves, the 00:20:09.400 --> 00:20:10.180 Christmas tree and 00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:11.960 even peace apples, 00:20:12.540 --> 00:20:13.640 these have been 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:15.460 added together into 00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:16.780 a hodgepodge 00:20:16.780 --> 00:20:18.780 boiling mess of 00:20:18.780 --> 00:20:19.920 Germanic, American, 00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:21.320 Chinese, religious, 00:20:21.580 --> 00:20:23.900 cultural mishmash. 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:26.460 But the story at the 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:28.259 heart of it, God 00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:30.960 become man, born and 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:32.120 placed in an animal's 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:32.759 food trough. 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:35.920 raised to be 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:37.819 murdered in the 00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:38.579 most embarrassing, 00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:39.579 shameful way, 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:40.980 crucified on a 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:41.259 cross. 00:20:41.640 --> 00:20:42.980 This story is true. 00:20:43.879 --> 00:20:44.980 The Bible can be 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:45.359 trusted. 00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:49.140 My kids have the 00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:50.119 best conversations 00:20:50.119 --> 00:20:51.140 with me at the 00:20:51.140 --> 00:20:52.140 most annoying times. 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:54.859 And that is, just 00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:55.519 after I've tucked 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.379 them into bed and 00:20:56.379 --> 00:20:57.160 just after I've said 00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:57.799 goodnight, that's 00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:59.039 when their brains 00:20:59.039 --> 00:20:59.940 just start ticking. 00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:01.779 And recently I'd 00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:02.519 prayed with one of 00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:03.180 them, we'd read the 00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:04.259 Bible, saying 00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:05.220 goodnight, you 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:06.779 know, just about to 00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.660 step out the door. 00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:09.420 And one of them 00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:11.599 started asking the 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:14.960 question, how can I 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:15.359 know? 00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.879 How can I know that 00:21:17.879 --> 00:21:18.319 it's real? 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:21.160 Can Jesus speak to 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:21.399 me? 00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:22.700 Then I'd know. 00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.160 My heart went out 00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:25.480 for them. 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:27.180 They wanted 00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:27.839 certainty. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:30.099 In a time where 00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:30.779 kids are juggling 00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:32.000 with all the 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:33.079 different stories and 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:34.699 finding out what is 00:21:34.699 --> 00:21:36.819 true, what is 00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:38.619 fairy tale, what can 00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:40.179 be trusted, my kid 00:21:40.179 --> 00:21:41.279 wanted certainty. 00:21:42.459 --> 00:21:43.480 I want to know that 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.399 this magnificent, 00:21:44.939 --> 00:21:46.519 wonderful, life-changing 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:48.000 story is real. 00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:49.959 Don't let me be 00:21:49.959 --> 00:21:50.419 disappointed. 00:21:51.159 --> 00:21:51.859 Not again, not 00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:52.879 after I believed all 00:21:52.879 --> 00:21:53.500 these fairy tales. 00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:54.099 Don't let me be 00:21:54.099 --> 00:21:54.839 disappointed again. 00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:57.720 I want you to 00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:58.740 have the same 00:21:58.740 --> 00:22:00.059 comfort that I 00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:00.759 gave my child. 00:22:02.119 --> 00:22:04.159 Jesus is real. 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:06.720 God is real. 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:08.099 Jesus, God made 00:22:08.099 --> 00:22:09.379 flesh, came and 00:22:09.379 --> 00:22:11.339 dwelt with us. 00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:13.220 It is no mere 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:14.000 story or 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:14.819 exaggeration. 00:22:15.959 --> 00:22:17.019 People saw him. 00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:18.799 They touched him. 00:22:18.879 --> 00:22:19.539 They knew him. 00:22:19.699 --> 00:22:20.559 They ate with him. 00:22:21.679 --> 00:22:22.519 And just as John 00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:23.439 20 said, it was 00:22:23.439 --> 00:22:24.259 written down so 00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:24.960 that we might 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:25.440 believe. 00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:28.379 The Bible is no 00:22:28.379 --> 00:22:29.579 exaggeration, is no 00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:30.259 fairy tale. 00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:32.460 But Jesus came, 00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:33.059 giving us the 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:34.460 comfort that God 00:22:34.460 --> 00:22:35.359 is with us. 00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:36.980 He knows us. 00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:38.799 Because we are in 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:39.339 need of him. 00:22:40.379 --> 00:22:41.019 Because we are 00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:42.359 people who are 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:42.920 prone to 00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:43.740 exaggeration 00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:45.079 ourselves. 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:47.720 We are prone to 00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:48.420 tell ourselves that 00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:48.859 we've got everything 00:22:48.859 --> 00:22:49.240 together. 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:51.039 Prone to think that 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:51.660 we don't need help 00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:52.259 from God. 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.480 that we pretend 00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:54.200 that we can do 00:22:54.200 --> 00:22:54.379 it. 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.640 Effectively, we're 00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:56.400 telling ourselves 00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:57.400 fairy tales and 00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:57.980 we're living in 00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.819 those fairy tales. 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:01.559 Very rarely do we 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:02.839 reveal the deep 00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:03.900 embarrassing and 00:23:03.900 --> 00:23:04.640 shameful truth of 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:05.140 who we are. 00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:07.339 We might let it 00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:08.500 slip in front of a 00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:08.960 good friend. 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:10.740 Sometimes the 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.619 mask of our 00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:12.420 identity might 00:23:12.420 --> 00:23:12.779 drop. 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.579 But God sees 00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:15.180 through our 00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:16.720 exaggerations, the 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.759 walls and the 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:18.759 masks we put on. 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:20.240 He knows deeply 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.099 who we are. 00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:22.359 He knows our 00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:23.339 secret sins and 00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:23.940 our shame. 00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:25.359 But despite that, 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.660 he offers us love 00:23:26.660 --> 00:23:27.440 and forgiveness. 00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.500 1 Peter 2 says 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:30.440 that we are chosen 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:31.859 and precious to 00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:32.240 God. 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:35.900 This is no 00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:36.640 exaggeration. 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.480 Now it sounds 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.700 like a wild tale 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:39.759 that we could be 00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:41.140 loved and chosen 00:23:41.140 --> 00:23:42.740 and precious to 00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.480 the God of the 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.819 universe. 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:46.200 But this is the 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:46.940 wonderful truth of 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:47.339 the gospel. 00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:49.259 we who were 00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:50.339 once far off are 00:23:50.339 --> 00:23:51.240 brought close in 00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:51.579 Jesus. 00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:54.799 Today, in a 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.439 minute as we head 00:23:55.439 --> 00:23:57.619 out to eat, drink 00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:58.980 coffee, head to 00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:00.179 the shops to buy 00:24:00.179 --> 00:24:01.159 Christmas decorations, 00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:02.959 to buy a Christmas 00:24:02.959 --> 00:24:03.480 ham. 00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.379 That's a note for 00:24:04.379 --> 00:24:05.220 you, Alyssa, buy a 00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:05.799 Christmas ham. 00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:07.859 As we head off and 00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:09.019 to do many different 00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:11.500 things, we will tell 00:24:11.500 --> 00:24:12.539 many tales about 00:24:12.539 --> 00:24:13.319 ourselves that we're 00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:13.639 okay. 00:24:14.459 --> 00:24:15.339 Many other people 00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:16.199 will tell us tales 00:24:16.199 --> 00:24:16.879 about them. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:17.460 They will 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:18.140 exaggerate. 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:19.780 You should buy 00:24:19.780 --> 00:24:20.160 this. 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:21.380 You should trust 00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:21.740 me. 00:24:23.320 --> 00:24:24.340 But there is only 00:24:24.340 --> 00:24:25.320 one God who would 00:24:25.320 --> 00:24:26.640 shamefully and 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:28.020 embarrassingly die on 00:24:28.020 --> 00:24:29.460 the cross, showing 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:30.340 his love for you. 00:24:31.300 --> 00:24:33.000 Hold fast to him 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.520 this Christmas. 00:24:34.100 --> 00:24:34.640 Let me pray. 00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:37.420 Heavenly Father, I 00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:38.040 thank you for your 00:24:38.040 --> 00:24:40.340 word and that we 00:24:40.340 --> 00:24:42.640 can indeed trust in 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:42.840 you. 00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:44.380 We can trust in 00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:45.820 you because your 00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:46.519 word was written 00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:46.899 down. 00:24:47.319 --> 00:24:48.319 As John 20 said, 00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:48.960 it was written so 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:49.419 that we might 00:24:49.419 --> 00:24:50.339 believe that Jesus 00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:52.059 is the Messiah, the 00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:54.960 Son of God, sent by 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:58.419 you to die for us so 00:24:58.419 --> 00:24:59.240 that we could be 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:00.099 precious with you. 00:25:01.159 --> 00:25:02.399 Father, help us to 00:25:02.399 --> 00:25:03.659 trust in you today. 00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:04.659 Amen. 00:25:04.659 --> 00:25:04.779 Amen. 00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:04.819 Amen. 00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:04.839 Amen. 00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:04.859 Amen. 00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:04.879 Amen. 00:25:04.879 --> 00:25:04.899 Amen. 00:25:04.899 --> 00:25:04.919 Amen. 00:25:04.919 --> 00:25:04.939 Amen. 00:25:04.939 --> 00:25:04.960 Amen. 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:06.879 Amen. 00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:06.919 Amen. 00:25:06.919 --> 00:25:06.939 Amen. 00:25:06.939 --> 00:25:08.879 Amen. 00:25:08.879 --> 00:25:08.919 Amen. 00:25:08.919 --> 00:25:08.980 Amen. 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:09.000 Amen. 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:09.039 Amen. 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:10.919 Amen. 00:25:10.919 --> 00:25:11.000 Amen. 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:12.960 Amen. 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:13.000 Amen. 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:13.039 Amen. 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:14.000 Amen. 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.960 Amen.