WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.700 Let's listen to God's word together. 00:00:04.940 --> 00:00:07.759 The birth of Jesus Christ. 00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:14.439 In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus 00:00:14.439 --> 00:00:16.760 that all the world should be registered. 00:00:18.240 --> 00:00:24.800 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria 00:00:24.800 --> 00:00:29.179 and all went to be registered, each to his own town. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.600 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, 00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:39.100 to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, 00:00:39.560 --> 00:00:42.460 because he was of the house and lineage of David, 00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:46.240 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:50.939 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 00:00:51.760 --> 00:00:55.100 And she gave birth to her firstborn son 00:00:55.100 --> 00:00:59.379 and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, 00:00:59.380 --> 00:01:02.219 because there was no place for them in the inn. 00:01:05.640 --> 00:01:09.579 And in the same region, there were shepherds out in the field, 00:01:10.020 --> 00:01:12.079 keeping watch over their flock by night. 00:01:12.520 --> 00:01:14.560 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, 00:01:14.600 --> 00:01:16.700 and the glory of the Lord shone around them, 00:01:16.719 --> 00:01:18.280 and they were filled with great fear. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:20.540 And the angel said to them, 00:01:20.540 --> 00:01:24.320 Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy 00:01:24.320 --> 00:01:28.060 that will be for all the people. 00:01:28.960 --> 00:01:33.240 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, 00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:35.240 who is Christ the Lord. 00:01:36.240 --> 00:01:38.520 And this will be a sign for you. 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:43.180 You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. 00:01:43.180 --> 00:01:49.000 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, 00:01:49.140 --> 00:01:51.120 praising God and saying, 00:01:51.600 --> 00:01:52.920 Glory to God in the highest, 00:01:53.160 --> 00:01:57.080 and on earth, peace among those with whom he is pleased. 00:01:58.740 --> 00:02:01.760 When the angels went away from them into heaven, 00:02:02.160 --> 00:02:03.680 the shepherds said to one another, 00:02:04.219 --> 00:02:07.940 Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, 00:02:08.260 --> 00:02:10.060 which the Lord has made known to us. 00:02:10.060 --> 00:02:13.740 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph 00:02:13.740 --> 00:02:15.699 and the baby lying in a manger. 00:02:16.280 --> 00:02:17.400 And when they saw it, 00:02:17.580 --> 00:02:21.620 they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 00:02:21.800 --> 00:02:24.699 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 00:02:25.659 --> 00:02:27.759 But Mary treasured up all these things, 00:02:28.379 --> 00:02:29.759 pondering them in her heart. 00:02:30.659 --> 00:02:31.920 And the shepherds returned, 00:02:32.500 --> 00:02:34.439 glorifying and praising God 00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:36.460 for all they had heard and seen 00:02:36.460 --> 00:02:38.379 as it had been told them. 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:39.840 This is the word of God. 00:02:40.060 --> 00:02:59.319 That was completely intentional, of course. 00:03:00.699 --> 00:03:01.520 Well, great. 00:03:01.659 --> 00:03:03.080 And a warm welcome also from me. 00:03:03.159 --> 00:03:04.640 If you don't know me, my name is Niels, 00:03:04.939 --> 00:03:06.060 part of the staff team. 00:03:06.060 --> 00:03:09.340 I'm looking forward to speaking to you from God's word. 00:03:09.900 --> 00:03:12.120 Yeah, about the message of Christmas. 00:03:12.580 --> 00:03:16.039 But why don't we pray before we listen? 00:03:16.039 --> 00:03:19.639 And the angel said, 00:03:19.719 --> 00:03:21.780 I bring you good news of great joy 00:03:21.780 --> 00:03:22.979 that will be for all the people. 00:03:23.620 --> 00:03:25.079 Father, I pray for each of us here 00:03:25.079 --> 00:03:28.939 that indeed Christmas would be good news of great joy. 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:31.159 No matter whether we've been in church for decades 00:03:31.159 --> 00:03:33.039 or this is our first time in church, 00:03:33.479 --> 00:03:34.659 no matter how much we know, 00:03:35.060 --> 00:03:36.799 would you convince us today 00:03:36.799 --> 00:03:38.799 that Jesus is good news 00:03:38.799 --> 00:03:40.379 and would we rejoice in that. 00:03:40.819 --> 00:03:41.979 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:42.620 Amen. 00:03:42.620 --> 00:03:42.740 Amen. 00:03:44.180 --> 00:03:44.539 Great. 00:03:45.500 --> 00:03:46.599 Well, Christmas, of course, 00:03:46.659 --> 00:03:48.800 is a celebration of the birth of a baby. 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:52.360 Now, I don't know if you guys know what this is. 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:56.460 No, no, right. 00:03:56.659 --> 00:03:59.120 It's some biscuits with some kind of sugar sprinkles. 00:04:00.740 --> 00:04:02.659 I think there's one Dutch person here 00:04:02.659 --> 00:04:03.740 who probably knows what it is. 00:04:03.780 --> 00:04:04.900 This is a Dutch tradition. 00:04:04.900 --> 00:04:06.539 When a baby is born, 00:04:07.080 --> 00:04:08.719 you kind of make these biscuits 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:09.900 and give it to your neighbors 00:04:09.900 --> 00:04:10.980 and to your friends 00:04:10.980 --> 00:04:12.599 to celebrate the birth. 00:04:12.740 --> 00:04:14.140 In this case, you can see the blue. 00:04:14.480 --> 00:04:15.580 It was a baby boy. 00:04:16.280 --> 00:04:16.379 Right? 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:19.500 So, yeah, it's a way to celebrate someone's birth. 00:04:19.740 --> 00:04:21.500 People, different countries, 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:22.439 have different traditions. 00:04:22.860 --> 00:04:24.379 Sometimes you watch an old movie 00:04:24.379 --> 00:04:26.579 and in America, in the 30s, 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:27.620 there's a baby born 00:04:27.620 --> 00:04:29.399 and so the dad goes around 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:31.100 handing out cigars to everyone. 00:04:31.340 --> 00:04:32.519 Apparently, that's how you celebrate 00:04:32.519 --> 00:04:34.079 a baby's birth back then. 00:04:34.899 --> 00:04:36.899 Maybe, I don't know which country you're from, 00:04:37.060 --> 00:04:38.879 you probably have some ways of celebrating 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:39.719 because, you know, 00:04:40.279 --> 00:04:43.219 a birth of a baby is a wonderful thing, right? 00:04:43.259 --> 00:04:44.379 You should celebrate it. 00:04:44.899 --> 00:04:46.099 You should announce it. 00:04:46.419 --> 00:04:49.139 In the past, people would put it in the newspaper, right? 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:52.019 Every week, there's a list of babies born 00:04:52.019 --> 00:04:55.419 or you would send a card to all your friends 00:04:55.419 --> 00:04:57.459 and then, of course, Facebook came along 00:04:57.459 --> 00:04:59.299 and now people post it on Instagram. 00:05:00.039 --> 00:05:01.500 But, yeah, you would announce it. 00:05:01.500 --> 00:05:03.339 You would celebrate it 00:05:03.339 --> 00:05:04.579 because you do that. 00:05:05.699 --> 00:05:08.159 But Christmas is a little bit over the top, isn't it? 00:05:09.060 --> 00:05:10.639 Now, my kids are really special 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:14.599 but I'm not sure that kind of 2,000 years later 00:05:14.599 --> 00:05:17.419 the whole world will be celebrating their birth, right? 00:05:18.939 --> 00:05:20.739 Why would we celebrate Christmas? 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:22.599 What makes this birth, 00:05:23.019 --> 00:05:24.560 what makes actually this person 00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:26.139 who was born so special 00:05:26.139 --> 00:05:27.560 that, yeah, the whole world 00:05:27.560 --> 00:05:30.120 should be celebrating his birth 2,000 years later? 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:31.660 That's what we're going to think about. 00:05:32.139 --> 00:05:34.459 In a way, the story we just read is very familiar. 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:36.780 We saw it acted out pretty accurately, 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:38.319 maybe apart from Bruce Lee, 00:05:38.819 --> 00:05:40.519 in the story just now. 00:05:41.720 --> 00:05:44.639 They had Mary coming to Bethlehem 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:45.540 and giving birth 00:05:45.540 --> 00:05:47.639 and the shepherds and the angels 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:48.540 and all those things. 00:05:49.420 --> 00:05:51.360 But usually, the key to a story 00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:52.959 in the Bible, certainly, 00:05:53.079 --> 00:05:53.879 is in the speeches. 00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:55.219 And we get a speech 00:05:55.219 --> 00:05:57.379 explaining what's going on. 00:05:57.920 --> 00:05:58.399 And so, 00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:00.319 that's in verses 10 and 11. 00:06:00.480 --> 00:06:02.319 It's an angel of the Lord, right? 00:06:02.459 --> 00:06:04.540 I mean, if someone like that shows up 00:06:04.540 --> 00:06:05.740 and gives a speech, 00:06:05.819 --> 00:06:06.240 you listen. 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:07.259 And what does he say? 00:06:07.779 --> 00:06:08.300 Verse 10, 00:06:08.300 --> 00:06:10.439 And the angel said to them, 00:06:10.759 --> 00:06:11.520 Fear not, 00:06:11.660 --> 00:06:12.340 for behold, 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:15.079 I bring you good news of great joy 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:17.139 that will be for all the people. 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:20.000 For unto you is born this day 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:21.460 in the city of David 00:06:21.460 --> 00:06:22.199 a Savior, 00:06:22.420 --> 00:06:23.600 who is Christ the Lord. 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:24.920 And so, 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:26.100 it's a birth announcement 00:06:26.100 --> 00:06:27.580 about this baby. 00:06:28.180 --> 00:06:30.040 And what do we learn about this baby 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:30.680 that makes, 00:06:31.019 --> 00:06:31.300 well, 00:06:31.460 --> 00:06:32.840 makes this so worth celebrating? 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:34.519 And the first thing 00:06:34.519 --> 00:06:35.400 that strikes you, 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:35.939 of course, 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:37.600 is that this is a royal birth, 00:06:37.780 --> 00:06:38.040 right? 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:38.960 We've heard it in the play. 00:06:39.060 --> 00:06:40.040 It's a royal birth. 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:41.240 This is a king. 00:06:41.540 --> 00:06:42.460 And not just a king. 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:45.280 This is like the capital K king. 00:06:46.220 --> 00:06:46.620 So, 00:06:46.740 --> 00:06:47.420 he is born 00:06:47.420 --> 00:06:49.240 in the city of David. 00:06:50.040 --> 00:06:51.439 Why not say Bethlehem? 00:06:51.520 --> 00:06:52.560 Why mention David? 00:06:53.220 --> 00:06:53.420 Well, 00:06:53.460 --> 00:06:53.820 David, 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:54.680 in the Bible, 00:06:54.780 --> 00:06:55.580 is the ancestor 00:06:55.580 --> 00:06:56.660 of the royal family. 00:06:57.020 --> 00:06:57.240 So, 00:06:57.300 --> 00:06:57.759 emphasizing, 00:06:57.960 --> 00:06:58.080 hey, 00:06:58.140 --> 00:06:58.820 this is the city 00:06:58.820 --> 00:07:00.400 where kings come from. 00:07:00.820 --> 00:07:02.320 And here is a king. 00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:04.080 And not just any king, 00:07:04.200 --> 00:07:05.320 he is Christ. 00:07:05.939 --> 00:07:06.379 Well, 00:07:06.460 --> 00:07:07.320 Christ is a, 00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:08.620 it's not a last name, 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:09.659 Jesus Christ. 00:07:09.740 --> 00:07:10.439 It's a title. 00:07:10.819 --> 00:07:13.480 A title for God's chosen king. 00:07:13.599 --> 00:07:14.599 God said that one day 00:07:14.599 --> 00:07:15.519 there would be a king 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:16.860 who would rule, 00:07:17.139 --> 00:07:18.339 not just a country, 00:07:18.459 --> 00:07:19.120 not just the world, 00:07:19.240 --> 00:07:20.040 rule the universe. 00:07:20.680 --> 00:07:22.139 He would be called the Christ. 00:07:22.300 --> 00:07:23.740 And the angel says, 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:24.000 well, 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:25.560 the Christ has just been born. 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:27.879 He's called the Lord. 00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:29.339 Again, 00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:30.259 I don't know what you think 00:07:30.259 --> 00:07:30.839 is a Lord. 00:07:30.839 --> 00:07:32.439 Maybe you're familiar 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:33.139 with Britain 00:07:33.139 --> 00:07:34.459 and you see those politicians. 00:07:34.459 --> 00:07:35.560 They're called lords, 00:07:35.679 --> 00:07:35.859 right, 00:07:35.899 --> 00:07:37.039 with their wigs and stuff. 00:07:37.719 --> 00:07:38.039 Well, 00:07:38.219 --> 00:07:39.579 this is not a politician. 00:07:39.799 --> 00:07:40.459 In the Bible, 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:42.959 the Lord is God's name. 00:07:43.719 --> 00:07:43.979 So, 00:07:44.179 --> 00:07:45.379 this baby 00:07:45.379 --> 00:07:46.659 is, 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:47.679 according to the angel, 00:07:47.779 --> 00:07:48.859 that's God himself 00:07:48.859 --> 00:07:50.579 who comes down 00:07:50.579 --> 00:07:51.579 and is born 00:07:51.579 --> 00:07:52.419 as a human being 00:07:52.419 --> 00:07:54.339 and to be king 00:07:54.339 --> 00:07:55.620 of the whole universe. 00:07:56.479 --> 00:07:56.639 Right? 00:07:56.759 --> 00:07:57.979 This is how big this is. 00:07:58.100 --> 00:07:58.600 No wonder 00:07:58.600 --> 00:07:59.680 this is for the whole world. 00:07:59.800 --> 00:07:59.879 Right? 00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:01.120 No wonder it's, 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:01.620 you know, 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:02.680 2000 years later, 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:03.759 we're still remembering that. 00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:04.379 This is someone 00:08:04.379 --> 00:08:06.060 you can't ignore. 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:06.680 You know, 00:08:06.740 --> 00:08:08.879 maybe we live our own life, 00:08:08.939 --> 00:08:09.600 our own way. 00:08:10.060 --> 00:08:11.160 The Bible would say 00:08:11.160 --> 00:08:11.620 that actually 00:08:11.620 --> 00:08:12.819 there is a king 00:08:12.819 --> 00:08:13.660 over everything 00:08:13.660 --> 00:08:14.520 and that's Jesus. 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:16.620 And yet, 00:08:16.700 --> 00:08:17.660 if this is a king, 00:08:18.520 --> 00:08:19.740 if this is God himself, 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:22.240 then this birth 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:22.900 is really, 00:08:22.900 --> 00:08:23.620 really weird. 00:08:24.700 --> 00:08:25.140 Because, 00:08:25.700 --> 00:08:26.060 well, 00:08:26.100 --> 00:08:26.920 we saw it a little bit 00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:27.420 in the play, 00:08:27.980 --> 00:08:28.939 but what does the angel 00:08:28.939 --> 00:08:29.819 go on to say? 00:08:30.060 --> 00:08:30.259 Well, 00:08:30.340 --> 00:08:31.220 he's Christ the Lord 00:08:31.220 --> 00:08:32.539 and this will be 00:08:32.539 --> 00:08:33.420 a sign for you. 00:08:33.539 --> 00:08:34.580 You will find a baby 00:08:34.580 --> 00:08:36.300 wrapped in a swaddling cloth 00:08:36.300 --> 00:08:37.820 and lying in a manger. 00:08:38.560 --> 00:08:39.920 The baby is in a manger 00:08:39.920 --> 00:08:40.360 and, 00:08:40.519 --> 00:08:40.680 you know, 00:08:40.740 --> 00:08:41.379 Luke mentioned it 00:08:41.379 --> 00:08:42.060 three times, 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:42.680 in a manger. 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:43.639 Now, 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:44.879 we hear the word manger 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:46.539 after 2000 years 00:08:46.539 --> 00:08:47.080 of Christmas. 00:08:47.620 --> 00:08:48.720 And when you hear manger, 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:49.480 we think of 00:08:49.480 --> 00:08:50.500 away in a manger 00:08:50.500 --> 00:08:51.639 and we think of 00:08:51.639 --> 00:08:52.539 Christmas trees 00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:53.480 and mistletoe 00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:54.259 and all those things. 00:08:54.379 --> 00:08:55.500 It's very nostalgic. 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:57.399 But do you know 00:08:57.399 --> 00:08:58.740 what a manger really is? 00:09:00.500 --> 00:09:00.700 Right? 00:09:00.779 --> 00:09:01.980 It's a feeding trough 00:09:01.980 --> 00:09:03.320 for animals. 00:09:04.179 --> 00:09:04.960 Can you imagine 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:06.039 the children singing that? 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:07.460 Away in a feeding trough. 00:09:07.820 --> 00:09:08.279 It just, 00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:09.740 it doesn't fit, 00:09:09.799 --> 00:09:10.019 right? 00:09:10.340 --> 00:09:11.460 A feeding trough. 00:09:12.500 --> 00:09:13.460 It's not nostalgic. 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:14.299 That's dirty. 00:09:14.500 --> 00:09:14.620 So, 00:09:14.700 --> 00:09:14.820 oh, 00:09:14.820 --> 00:09:15.720 we have some picture here. 00:09:16.139 --> 00:09:16.379 And so, 00:09:16.460 --> 00:09:17.120 you go to Google 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:18.440 and you look for feeding trough. 00:09:18.440 --> 00:09:20.480 And you get a few sheep here. 00:09:21.560 --> 00:09:22.480 A feeding trough. 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:23.820 And then one with a pig. 00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:25.280 And, 00:09:25.380 --> 00:09:26.460 you know, 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:27.480 some goats. 00:09:29.020 --> 00:09:30.680 This is a feeding trough. 00:09:30.980 --> 00:09:31.940 This is really 00:09:31.940 --> 00:09:32.420 what, 00:09:32.780 --> 00:09:34.100 where Jesus was kind of born. 00:09:35.100 --> 00:09:35.420 And, 00:09:35.640 --> 00:09:35.960 ugh. 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:36.500 All right? 00:09:36.740 --> 00:09:37.760 I hope you feel 00:09:37.760 --> 00:09:39.100 that's disgusting. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:40.420 I mean, 00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:41.020 I've, 00:09:41.020 --> 00:09:42.360 I've lived in Hong Kong 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:43.140 for a while now. 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:44.540 My hygiene standards 00:09:44.540 --> 00:09:45.900 are a lot lower 00:09:45.900 --> 00:09:46.980 than most Hong Kongers. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:47.280 Right? 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:48.100 For me, 00:09:48.199 --> 00:09:48.980 germs are good. 00:09:49.079 --> 00:09:50.299 They build your immune system. 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:53.100 Even I wouldn't put 00:09:53.100 --> 00:09:53.939 a newborn baby 00:09:53.939 --> 00:09:55.019 in a feeding trough. 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:55.259 Right? 00:09:55.879 --> 00:09:56.240 This, 00:09:56.360 --> 00:09:57.159 this disgusting. 00:09:57.860 --> 00:09:58.100 It, 00:09:58.100 --> 00:09:58.259 it's, 00:09:58.259 --> 00:09:58.879 it's shameful. 00:09:59.120 --> 00:09:59.319 Right? 00:09:59.399 --> 00:09:59.919 Here is a, 00:10:00.740 --> 00:10:01.679 why would you put 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:02.659 your newborn baby, 00:10:03.139 --> 00:10:04.179 the king of the universe, 00:10:04.319 --> 00:10:06.079 in a feeding trough 00:10:06.079 --> 00:10:06.579 in the, 00:10:06.959 --> 00:10:08.779 in this disgusting thing? 00:10:09.439 --> 00:10:10.620 It's humiliating. 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:10.879 Right? 00:10:10.939 --> 00:10:11.319 Especially, 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:11.679 yeah, 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:13.419 this is no ordinary baby. 00:10:13.539 --> 00:10:14.039 This is a, 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:15.199 this is the king. 00:10:15.199 --> 00:10:16.579 This is God himself. 00:10:16.580 --> 00:10:17.379 He should, 00:10:17.500 --> 00:10:17.639 yeah, 00:10:17.720 --> 00:10:18.600 born in a palace, 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:19.259 as we heard, 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:21.460 surrounded by all the government officials 00:10:21.460 --> 00:10:23.259 and the best doctors. 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:25.960 And presumably, 00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:26.879 if he's God, 00:10:26.940 --> 00:10:27.660 he had a choice. 00:10:27.900 --> 00:10:28.000 Right? 00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:29.780 But most of us don't have a choice 00:10:29.780 --> 00:10:30.560 where we are born 00:10:30.560 --> 00:10:31.460 and when we are born. 00:10:31.540 --> 00:10:32.500 It just happens to us. 00:10:32.940 --> 00:10:33.840 But if you're God 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:35.200 and you control everything 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:36.320 and you know the future 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:37.460 and you control the future, 00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:39.520 surely you can make sure 00:10:39.520 --> 00:10:40.500 there's a room at the inn 00:10:40.500 --> 00:10:41.220 when you get born. 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:41.680 Right? 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:42.759 You can do that. 00:10:42.819 --> 00:10:44.299 Except that Jesus didn't do that. 00:10:44.419 --> 00:10:46.079 Jesus chose to be born 00:10:46.079 --> 00:10:48.739 in a feeding trough. 00:10:50.319 --> 00:10:52.939 And I think that is deliberate. 00:10:53.399 --> 00:10:55.120 It's supposed to tell us something 00:10:55.120 --> 00:10:56.379 about what it's like 00:10:56.379 --> 00:10:58.599 for God to come down. 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:00.479 Because, 00:11:00.659 --> 00:11:00.839 yeah, 00:11:00.939 --> 00:11:01.839 this is a mess, 00:11:01.959 --> 00:11:02.120 right? 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:03.500 The feeding trough is a mess. 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:05.359 But think about it like that. 00:11:05.439 --> 00:11:06.559 Imagine you are God. 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:07.459 What is it like? 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:09.359 And so you're in heaven. 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:10.820 You're on a throne, 00:11:11.259 --> 00:11:12.279 ruling the universe, 00:11:13.019 --> 00:11:14.000 millions of angels 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:15.019 worshipping you. 00:11:15.379 --> 00:11:17.019 Everything is pure 00:11:17.019 --> 00:11:17.980 and beautiful 00:11:17.980 --> 00:11:19.039 and love 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:19.720 and joy 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:20.419 and peace. 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:21.740 It's perfect, 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:22.019 right? 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:24.300 And then you come down 00:11:24.300 --> 00:11:24.980 to this world. 00:11:25.100 --> 00:11:26.060 What is this world like? 00:11:26.980 --> 00:11:27.180 Well, 00:11:27.220 --> 00:11:28.039 there's wars 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:29.620 and there's injustice 00:11:29.620 --> 00:11:31.180 and there's conflict 00:11:31.180 --> 00:11:32.620 and there's abuse 00:11:32.620 --> 00:11:34.240 and disease 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:35.240 and hunger 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:36.519 and pain 00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:37.960 and frustration 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:39.100 and decay 00:11:39.100 --> 00:11:40.460 and suffering. 00:11:41.540 --> 00:11:41.940 Actually, 00:11:42.060 --> 00:11:43.120 this world is a mess, 00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:43.420 right? 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:44.480 If you think about it. 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:45.879 Not just the world, 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:46.860 maybe even your life. 00:11:46.920 --> 00:11:47.620 You look at your life 00:11:47.620 --> 00:11:48.100 and you think, 00:11:48.560 --> 00:11:49.600 why would God want to come 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:50.399 into my life? 00:11:50.420 --> 00:11:51.920 Because my life is such a mess. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:53.240 This world is such a mess. 00:11:54.420 --> 00:11:55.360 That is what it's like 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:57.480 for God to come down, 00:11:57.879 --> 00:11:59.519 to come and live with us. 00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:00.540 It's entering 00:12:00.540 --> 00:12:02.460 a terrible mess. 00:12:02.460 --> 00:12:04.980 God chose to enter a mess, 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:06.200 our mess. 00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:09.700 Why would you do that, 00:12:09.920 --> 00:12:10.120 though, 00:12:10.180 --> 00:12:10.379 right? 00:12:10.920 --> 00:12:11.759 Why would you, 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:12.660 I mean, 00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:13.100 for me, 00:12:13.220 --> 00:12:14.800 why would I want to jump 00:12:14.800 --> 00:12:16.060 into a pool of mud 00:12:16.060 --> 00:12:16.860 or something like that? 00:12:16.920 --> 00:12:18.300 I would never do that, 00:12:18.340 --> 00:12:18.660 would I? 00:12:20.300 --> 00:12:20.640 Well, 00:12:20.640 --> 00:12:21.840 here is one situation 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:22.960 in which I would jump 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:23.940 into a pool of mud. 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:26.100 What if I'm hiking 00:12:26.100 --> 00:12:27.560 and I'm with one of my kids 00:12:27.560 --> 00:12:29.000 and one of them 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:30.100 falls into this pool? 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:31.160 Danger, 00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:31.780 deep mud. 00:12:32.780 --> 00:12:33.040 Now, 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:33.799 I know what I would do, 00:12:33.839 --> 00:12:33.959 right? 00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:35.219 I would jump into that pool 00:12:35.219 --> 00:12:36.480 and try to get them out. 00:12:36.579 --> 00:12:37.219 I love them. 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:38.579 I want to rescue them. 00:12:38.819 --> 00:12:40.099 I'm willing to enter 00:12:40.099 --> 00:12:41.679 the mess. 00:12:41.839 --> 00:12:43.240 I'm willing to do this 00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:44.819 in order to save 00:12:44.819 --> 00:12:45.599 someone I love. 00:12:46.860 --> 00:12:47.179 Well, 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:48.079 that is exactly 00:12:48.079 --> 00:12:49.219 what Jesus did. 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:50.679 Christmas 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:51.679 is not just 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:52.480 a royal birth, 00:12:52.599 --> 00:12:54.079 a shameful birth. 00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:55.879 It's a saving birth. 00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:56.860 Look again 00:12:56.860 --> 00:12:58.079 at what the angel says. 00:12:58.839 --> 00:12:59.500 Verse 11, 00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:00.919 for unto you 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:02.419 is born this day 00:13:02.419 --> 00:13:03.980 in the city of David 00:13:03.980 --> 00:13:05.159 a savior, 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:06.919 a rescuer. 00:13:07.860 --> 00:13:08.580 Jesus came 00:13:08.580 --> 00:13:09.600 to save us. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:10.740 Out of love 00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:11.340 for us 00:13:11.340 --> 00:13:12.519 who were sinking 00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:13.659 in our own mess, 00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:15.179 Jesus came. 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:16.519 And he couldn't save us 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:17.220 from a distance. 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:18.779 He couldn't save us 00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:19.480 from up in heaven. 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:21.200 He had to come down, 00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:22.440 which is why he came 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:23.480 and was born 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:24.419 as a baby, 00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:25.159 so that he could 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:26.179 get us out. 00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:27.519 Now, 00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:28.500 you may wonder why. 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:29.779 We talked about it 00:13:29.779 --> 00:13:30.700 a bit in the play. 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:31.919 How did we get 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:32.639 into this mess? 00:13:32.779 --> 00:13:32.919 Well, 00:13:33.179 --> 00:13:34.460 this world is God's world 00:13:34.460 --> 00:13:35.440 and God made us 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:36.259 to know him, 00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:37.059 to love him, 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:37.840 to have a relationship 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:38.440 with him, 00:13:39.259 --> 00:13:40.940 but most of us, 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:41.240 well, 00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:42.139 we don't live like that, 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:42.360 right? 00:13:42.379 --> 00:13:43.220 We've turned away, 00:13:43.299 --> 00:13:43.960 all of us, 00:13:44.419 --> 00:13:45.120 and trying to live 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:46.000 in God's world 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:47.539 in a different way, 00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:48.799 it leads to a mess. 00:13:49.019 --> 00:13:49.500 That's why, 00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:50.379 yeah, 00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:51.320 we need forgiveness. 00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:52.960 That's why Jesus 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:53.600 had to come. 00:13:54.139 --> 00:13:54.559 Ultimately, 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:55.639 he had to die 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:56.320 for us. 00:13:57.080 --> 00:13:57.659 Can you think 00:13:57.659 --> 00:13:58.059 of anything 00:13:58.059 --> 00:13:58.779 more shameful 00:13:58.779 --> 00:13:59.539 than a manger? 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:00.139 Well, 00:14:00.179 --> 00:14:00.620 how about 00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:01.559 a criminal's death 00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:02.079 on a cross, 00:14:02.199 --> 00:14:03.339 which is ultimately 00:14:03.339 --> 00:14:03.899 what he did, 00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:04.159 but, 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:04.759 you know, 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:05.699 that's a big story. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:07.279 I'm not going 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:08.159 to talk about it now, 00:14:08.299 --> 00:14:09.839 but this is the message 00:14:09.839 --> 00:14:10.459 of Christus. 00:14:10.579 --> 00:14:12.059 Jesus came down 00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:13.659 and entered our mess 00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:15.079 to rescue us, 00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:16.039 to get us out, 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:18.059 and if that is true, 00:14:18.419 --> 00:14:18.620 well, 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:20.519 surely that is good news 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:21.279 of great joy, 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:21.559 right? 00:14:21.740 --> 00:14:22.720 Being rescued, 00:14:22.839 --> 00:14:23.259 can you think 00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:23.699 of anything 00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:24.600 more joyful 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:25.920 and more wonderful 00:14:25.920 --> 00:14:26.640 than death, 00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:27.240 right? 00:14:27.280 --> 00:14:27.940 Such a joy 00:14:27.940 --> 00:14:29.540 to be able 00:14:29.540 --> 00:14:30.100 to get out 00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:30.580 of the mess, 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:30.820 to, 00:14:31.180 --> 00:14:32.000 Jesus promises, 00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:32.860 you know, 00:14:32.920 --> 00:14:34.200 that we be in a world 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:34.980 without pain, 00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:36.320 without conflict, 00:14:36.540 --> 00:14:38.120 without suffering, 00:14:38.560 --> 00:14:38.780 right? 00:14:39.040 --> 00:14:39.480 Wonderful. 00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:41.580 And not just, 00:14:41.700 --> 00:14:41.860 well, 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:42.740 into the world, 00:14:43.080 --> 00:14:43.920 Jesus rescued us 00:14:43.920 --> 00:14:44.520 to know him. 00:14:44.580 --> 00:14:45.660 He doesn't just rescue us 00:14:45.660 --> 00:14:46.420 and send us away, 00:14:47.060 --> 00:14:47.280 we, 00:14:47.780 --> 00:14:48.400 he adopts us 00:14:48.400 --> 00:14:49.180 into our family. 00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:50.079 Christmas is really 00:14:50.079 --> 00:14:51.419 the most wonderful news. 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:54.159 At the same time, 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:55.579 if you're new 00:14:55.579 --> 00:14:56.399 to Christian things, 00:14:56.479 --> 00:14:56.899 if you're here, 00:14:56.959 --> 00:14:57.719 you wouldn't call yourself 00:14:57.719 --> 00:14:58.120 a Christian. 00:14:58.219 --> 00:14:59.679 Maybe this is quite a lot 00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:00.219 to take in, 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:00.459 right? 00:15:00.739 --> 00:15:01.039 Like, 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:01.359 whoa, 00:15:01.459 --> 00:15:02.179 there is a God 00:15:02.179 --> 00:15:03.139 and he came down 00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:04.979 and he came to rescue us 00:15:04.979 --> 00:15:06.179 because we need rescuing. 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:07.579 It's quite a lot 00:15:07.579 --> 00:15:08.139 to take in. 00:15:09.319 --> 00:15:09.719 So, 00:15:09.939 --> 00:15:11.000 how would you respond 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:11.500 to this? 00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.739 How would you respond 00:15:12.739 --> 00:15:13.159 to this, 00:15:13.579 --> 00:15:15.099 to this news? 00:15:16.539 --> 00:15:16.939 First, 00:15:16.939 --> 00:15:18.059 can I encourage you, 00:15:18.059 --> 00:15:19.679 don't ignore it, 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:20.799 right? 00:15:20.819 --> 00:15:21.439 If someone says 00:15:21.439 --> 00:15:22.579 they've come to rescue you, 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:23.299 you normally wouldn't 00:15:23.299 --> 00:15:23.859 ignore it, 00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:24.039 right? 00:15:24.599 --> 00:15:25.639 Imagine you're hiking 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:26.859 and suddenly 00:15:26.859 --> 00:15:28.000 there's this helicopter 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:29.719 and someone on a rope 00:15:29.719 --> 00:15:30.359 comes down 00:15:30.359 --> 00:15:30.719 and says, 00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:31.879 I've come to rescue you. 00:15:32.739 --> 00:15:33.639 What would you say? 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:34.699 Well, 00:15:34.719 --> 00:15:35.239 good for you. 00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:37.299 Very interesting. 00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:38.199 And you go 00:15:38.199 --> 00:15:38.899 on your hike, 00:15:38.959 --> 00:15:39.099 right? 00:15:39.219 --> 00:15:40.219 You wouldn't do that. 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:41.819 Maybe there's something 00:15:41.819 --> 00:15:42.259 going on. 00:15:42.339 --> 00:15:43.379 Maybe it's fake. 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:44.519 Maybe there's something 00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:45.299 really going on 00:15:45.299 --> 00:15:46.279 but you wouldn't just 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:47.619 ignore it, 00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:47.839 right? 00:15:48.059 --> 00:15:49.179 You would ask questions, 00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:49.459 you know? 00:15:49.559 --> 00:15:49.699 Hey, 00:15:49.739 --> 00:15:50.339 is this genuine? 00:15:50.459 --> 00:15:50.959 Who is this? 00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:51.899 What's really going on? 00:15:51.979 --> 00:15:52.939 Why do I need rescuing? 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:54.319 You would do something. 00:15:55.299 --> 00:15:55.519 Well, 00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:57.479 have you done that 00:15:57.479 --> 00:15:57.859 with Jesus? 00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:59.239 Maybe this is a great 00:15:59.239 --> 00:15:59.799 opportunity. 00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:00.179 Well, 00:16:00.339 --> 00:16:01.879 if the Bible says 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:02.619 Jesus has come 00:16:02.619 --> 00:16:03.219 to rescue, 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:05.259 let me look into that. 00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:06.599 What are a few options? 00:16:07.319 --> 00:16:07.819 You could read 00:16:07.819 --> 00:16:08.959 a biography of Jesus. 00:16:09.219 --> 00:16:09.359 So, 00:16:09.439 --> 00:16:09.879 if you look 00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:11.039 over there, 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:12.399 a few places 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:13.099 around the room, 00:16:13.179 --> 00:16:13.599 we have 00:16:13.599 --> 00:16:14.119 these 00:16:14.119 --> 00:16:15.959 little biography 00:16:15.959 --> 00:16:16.559 of Jesus. 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:16.679 Jesus. 00:16:17.119 --> 00:16:17.879 This one is called 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:18.379 Mark. 00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:19.779 We've read from Luke, 00:16:19.839 --> 00:16:20.739 but Luke is very long, 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:21.799 so this is a shorter one. 00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:22.519 It's more, 00:16:22.839 --> 00:16:23.159 but, 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:23.619 you know, 00:16:23.659 --> 00:16:24.479 you read through it 00:16:24.479 --> 00:16:25.899 and you see what Jesus 00:16:25.899 --> 00:16:26.419 is like. 00:16:27.099 --> 00:16:27.359 You know? 00:16:27.559 --> 00:16:28.619 It's real history. 00:16:29.079 --> 00:16:29.279 I mean, 00:16:29.319 --> 00:16:30.279 you've heard the reading, 00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:30.559 right? 00:16:30.599 --> 00:16:31.919 It's in the dead year 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:33.099 when Quirinius was governor, 00:16:33.339 --> 00:16:33.659 et cetera. 00:16:33.819 --> 00:16:34.379 It's history, 00:16:34.599 --> 00:16:35.659 but was this man 00:16:35.659 --> 00:16:36.279 a good teacher? 00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:38.219 Or was this really 00:16:38.219 --> 00:16:39.099 God's king 00:16:39.099 --> 00:16:39.879 come to earth, 00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:40.259 right? 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:41.539 You can make up 00:16:41.539 --> 00:16:41.939 your mind 00:16:41.939 --> 00:16:43.340 just by reading 00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:45.159 the historical evidence. 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:47.259 Or maybe, 00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:48.480 feel free to take one. 00:16:48.539 --> 00:16:49.120 If you're here 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:50.019 as a visitor, 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:50.720 as a guest, 00:16:50.939 --> 00:16:52.259 someone who doesn't know, 00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:54.240 please take one. 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:55.059 They're free for you. 00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:56.519 Alternatively, 00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:57.799 maybe, 00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:58.500 how about 00:16:58.500 --> 00:17:00.000 that idea 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:00.639 that this world 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:01.179 is a mess? 00:17:01.539 --> 00:17:02.019 I don't know 00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:02.639 if that resonates 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:03.179 with you. 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:04.119 So, 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:04.839 on your seats, 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:05.779 we have this course 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:06.799 called Explore 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:08.379 that we are hosting 00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:09.340 in a few weeks. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:10.900 We're not starting 00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:11.540 in next week 00:17:11.540 --> 00:17:12.980 because Chinese New Year 00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:13.420 is coming 00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:13.960 and then everyone 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.560 goes away. 00:17:14.660 --> 00:17:14.760 So, 00:17:14.800 --> 00:17:15.240 we're starting 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:16.540 after Chinese New Year. 00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:17.480 But this course, 00:17:17.600 --> 00:17:18.000 Explore, 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:19.480 it's to explore 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:20.140 those questions 00:17:20.140 --> 00:17:20.840 about the world. 00:17:21.060 --> 00:17:21.220 You know, 00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:22.080 is there more 00:17:22.080 --> 00:17:22.960 to life than this? 00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:25.260 Where can I find peace 00:17:25.260 --> 00:17:26.800 in this restless world? 00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:28.360 Where can I find hope? 00:17:28.520 --> 00:17:29.400 How can I have 00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:30.620 relationships that work? 00:17:31.280 --> 00:17:31.440 Right? 00:17:31.620 --> 00:17:32.040 Actually, 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:33.740 it's a way 00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:34.700 to think together 00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:36.080 about life 00:17:36.080 --> 00:17:36.660 and actually, 00:17:36.820 --> 00:17:37.840 maybe life 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:38.319 isn't really 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:38.919 what it should be 00:17:38.919 --> 00:17:39.319 and maybe 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:40.699 we do need rescuing. 00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:41.639 And so, 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:43.179 please sign up for that. 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:44.019 Please take this home 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:45.639 and that'd be a great way. 00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:46.740 Although, 00:17:46.839 --> 00:17:47.819 maybe for some of you, 00:17:48.379 --> 00:17:48.779 actually, 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:50.279 you don't need all that. 00:17:50.679 --> 00:17:51.980 Maybe you're here 00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:54.519 and you wouldn't call yourself 00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:54.939 a Christian 00:17:54.939 --> 00:17:55.839 but now it clicks 00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:56.819 and you kind of know, 00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:57.159 okay, 00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:57.399 yeah, 00:17:57.459 --> 00:17:58.579 I know I need Jesus. 00:17:59.099 --> 00:17:59.279 I mean, 00:17:59.319 --> 00:18:00.439 I'd love to help you 00:18:00.439 --> 00:18:02.319 start a Christian life. 00:18:02.419 --> 00:18:03.299 Please come and talk to me 00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:04.059 after the service. 00:18:04.639 --> 00:18:05.559 Talk to the person 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:06.480 who brought you here. 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:07.819 but, 00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:08.880 yeah, 00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:10.140 this is really good news 00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:10.900 of great joy 00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:11.839 and if you want to, 00:18:12.120 --> 00:18:12.539 you know, 00:18:12.599 --> 00:18:13.480 want to accept that, 00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.400 want to come to Jesus, 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:15.579 there's nothing better 00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:16.519 in the world 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.240 this Christmas. 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:21.079 But how should we respond then? 00:18:21.380 --> 00:18:22.400 How about the rest of us? 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:23.279 Those of us who have 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:24.880 come to Jesus, 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:26.339 those who know 00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:27.539 that they needed rescuing 00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:29.599 and that Jesus has done that. 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:30.860 Well, 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.599 I think this passage 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:33.420 says very clearly 00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:34.960 how we should respond, 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:35.200 right? 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:35.940 Verse 13, 00:18:36.360 --> 00:18:37.180 suddenly there was 00:18:37.180 --> 00:18:38.059 with the angel 00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:39.200 a multitude 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:40.559 of the heavenly host 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:42.039 praising God 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:42.740 and saying 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:44.200 glory to God 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:44.860 in the highest. 00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:46.660 And that's what they did. 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:47.380 Verse 20, 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:48.480 and the shepherds returned 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:51.200 glorifying and praising God 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:52.420 for all they had heard 00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:52.900 and seen 00:18:52.900 --> 00:18:54.640 as it had been told them. 00:18:55.600 --> 00:18:55.840 I mean, 00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:56.620 it's hard to miss, 00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:56.860 right? 00:18:56.900 --> 00:18:57.759 The right response 00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:59.400 is to praise God, 00:18:59.460 --> 00:18:59.700 right? 00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:01.460 if God really 00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:02.160 in his love 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:03.080 saw our misery 00:19:03.080 --> 00:19:04.220 and came down 00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:05.100 and rescued us, 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:05.319 well, 00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:07.120 the most wonderful news, 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:07.440 yeah, 00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:08.519 it's wonderful, 00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:08.799 right? 00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:09.319 Wow, 00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:10.340 this is so great. 00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:12.000 And we praise God, 00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:12.160 right? 00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:13.180 We wouldn't praise ourselves, 00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:13.980 it's our mess, 00:19:14.080 --> 00:19:15.840 but he came to rescue us, 00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:17.519 so why don't we do that? 00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:18.160 Well, 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:19.259 it's such wonderful news 00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:19.880 this Christmas. 00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:21.539 Why don't we praise God 00:19:21.539 --> 00:19:22.360 for what he's done? 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.759 Let's give him the glory 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:25.140 and let's respond 00:19:25.140 --> 00:19:26.460 with praise 00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:27.420 and thanksgiving. 00:19:27.900 --> 00:19:28.680 I'm going to pray 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:29.940 and the music team 00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:30.720 is going to come up 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:31.619 and then, 00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:32.059 yeah, 00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:32.859 we're going to sing 00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:34.220 that song about the angels, 00:19:34.660 --> 00:19:35.200 Hark the Herald, 00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:36.980 such a wonderful song of praise. 00:19:37.579 --> 00:19:38.940 But let's pray together. 00:19:44.339 --> 00:19:45.140 Lord Jesus, 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:45.819 thank you 00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:47.000 that you came down. 00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:47.879 Thank you 00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:50.160 that you entered 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:50.940 into this mess 00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:51.799 of this world 00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:53.200 and that you did it 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:53.799 out of love 00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:55.299 to rescue us. 00:19:55.660 --> 00:19:55.740 Father, 00:19:55.840 --> 00:19:57.240 we pray 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:58.160 that we would see 00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:00.360 the glory of Jesus. 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:01.100 Father, 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:01.360 we pray 00:20:01.360 --> 00:20:02.180 that we would respond, 00:20:02.840 --> 00:20:03.460 that each of us 00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:04.039 would know 00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:05.299 that we need him 00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:06.759 and that we would come to him. 00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:07.920 Maybe some of us, 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:09.539 this is completely new, 00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:10.660 something we need 00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:11.279 to think about. 00:20:11.360 --> 00:20:12.980 Help us to take this seriously, 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:14.920 to investigate 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:16.420 what would you lead us 00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:17.160 back to yourself, 00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:18.200 that we can be rescued, 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:20.019 that we can be with you forever 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:21.400 and indeed 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:22.519 that we could praise you 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.440 and glorify you 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:24.379 for what you have done 00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:25.720 out of your love 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:27.220 for people like us. 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.920 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:29.960 Amen.