WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.940 So, we come to what might be one of the more confusing, perhaps one of the more difficult, 00:00:05.940 --> 00:00:12.359 of the names of Jesus that we find in the Bible. Theologically, it causes some people a little 00:00:12.359 --> 00:00:17.920 ! bit of confusion. Why is this promised child being spoken of at the same time as being a 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:24.280 father? And some people have gone wrong by thinking, well, here is this proof that God the Son is 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:30.440 God the Father, so that when Jesus comes to the earth, it's just God taking a different form. 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:36.740 And that's not at all what it's saying. That's a wrong way of thinking about it, 00:00:37.100 --> 00:00:45.560 but it can seem confusing. But it can also be hard for us personally, because I imagine that 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:53.180 some of us, when we hear the word Father, it comes with particular connotations and emotions. 00:00:54.280 --> 00:01:00.660 It's interesting to see the number of, this time of year, Christmas movies where father issues of 00:01:00.660 --> 00:01:09.700 one kind or another become a dominant theme. We think of It's a Wonderful Life, and we think of 00:01:09.700 --> 00:01:18.520 George Bailey and his wrestling and his redemption. Is he content to live in the small town with his 00:01:18.519 --> 00:01:27.619 small family, to be part of the community? We think about the Santa Claus with Scott Calvin and his son 00:01:27.619 --> 00:01:37.060 Charlie. Think about Elf with Buddy the Elf and his dad. There's definitely a theme that emerges 00:01:37.060 --> 00:01:45.259 within the way people tell Christmas stories. If you've seen the John Lewis ad this year, 00:01:45.260 --> 00:01:53.219 it's been praised for the way it has tried to handle the complexities of how fathers and sons bond across 00:01:53.219 --> 00:02:00.260 the generations, the challenges that particularly as men we have in sharing emotions. And so John Lewis 00:02:00.260 --> 00:02:06.840 recognized, well, there are issues in communicating and relating to fathers, so let's try and make a story 00:02:06.840 --> 00:02:13.860 to help us towards that. And all that to say that when we come to a title like Everlasting Father, 00:02:13.860 --> 00:02:20.860 it's important for us to recognize that we'll all come with a certain amount of expectations, 00:02:21.980 --> 00:02:29.420 a certain amount of emotions. So why did Isaiah use it is a really important question for us to ask. 00:02:29.900 --> 00:02:37.860 How can we find hope in Jesus, our Everlasting Father, regardless of how the word Father can often 00:02:37.860 --> 00:02:43.920 at surface level make us feel? And that's what I want us to think about this evening, to think about 00:02:43.920 --> 00:02:50.460 the wonderful gospel hope that is in thinking about how is Jesus like an everlasting father to us? 00:02:51.900 --> 00:02:57.580 To think about the fact that Jesus is now being presented to us as the everlasting one who can 00:02:57.580 --> 00:03:04.100 perfectly meet our needs. Those basic needs that we have to be seen and known, to be loved, 00:03:04.099 --> 00:03:10.199 to have safety and security. We're being told that in this coming son, this everlasting one, 00:03:11.379 --> 00:03:14.799 he has a father's heart and he's a perfect father and so he can meet those needs. 00:03:15.819 --> 00:03:22.579 We're also being told that Jesus as everlasting father is one we can trust in when we understand 00:03:22.579 --> 00:03:30.240 his nature and his character being divine. He is good, he is faithful, he will always act for the good 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:38.980 of the children of God. And so through this Christmas season, and indeed through the changing seasons of 00:03:38.980 --> 00:03:49.439 our lives, it's important that we are able to see what Isaiah is pointing us towards, to understand why 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:57.200 this title offers great hope and comfort. And all we're going to do is think about two words together. 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:00.979 We're going to think about the word covenant and we're going to think about the word compassion, 00:04:00.979 --> 00:04:09.979 because I think everlasting father contains both. Firstly, to recognize that when we talk about Jesus 00:04:09.979 --> 00:04:19.259 as everlasting father, what we're invited to see is that Jesus is our covenant king, and he's the covenant 00:04:19.259 --> 00:04:30.219 king of his people forever. Because in Isaiah's day, father was a family word, but it was also a kingship word. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:37.560 And more than that, it was a covenant word. Because when you look at covenant treaties from the day 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:44.879 when great kings and lesser kings entered into covenant, the language will be used of the great king 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:55.899 being the father and the lesser being like the son. In 68 nations of the world today, the leader of that 00:04:55.899 --> 00:05:03.360 country or the founder of that country is known as the father of the nation. Interesting fact. 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:11.399 But what we're being told about here is that this son of Isaiah chapter 9, he is the king of kings, 00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:21.039 and he is the father. He is the founder of an eternal kingdom. And he has this covenant commitment 00:05:21.039 --> 00:05:31.159 to act in such a way to secure an everlasting relationship with his people. When we think about 00:05:31.159 --> 00:05:39.379 Jesus as everlasting father, we recognize he is committed in covenant to be for us and for our good. 00:05:39.379 --> 00:05:47.860 Now, when we think about that announcement as it came at the time of Ahaz, we recognize this coming 00:05:47.860 --> 00:05:52.279 as light in the midst of darkness. So we were thinking about Ahaz a little bit this morning. We 00:05:52.279 --> 00:05:58.219 were remembering he was a terrible king. We remember in Isaiah 7 that there was this twin threat that 00:05:58.219 --> 00:06:04.860 Ahaz was facing. There was Israel and there was Syria. And Ahaz is called to trust in his God 00:06:04.860 --> 00:06:10.300 and to ask for a sign to strengthen his faith. And he refuses to ask. And God gave the sign, 00:06:10.400 --> 00:06:17.460 the child who would be called Emmanuel, God, with us. But what happens after that? 00:06:18.780 --> 00:06:25.259 Well, if we go to 2 Kings 16, we hear how the story turns out. What Ahaz does next is he doesn't turn 00:06:25.259 --> 00:06:30.620 in repentance and faith to the one true God to say, God, you're my king. I'm going to trust you in this 00:06:30.620 --> 00:06:39.360 moment of threat. Instead, he goes to Assyria and to their king, Tiglath-Pileser. And he said to that 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:48.699 foreign king, in effect, you are now my master. I regard you as my overlord and as my father. 00:06:50.139 --> 00:06:55.639 If you will help me, O king of Assyria, I will give you authority over Judah. I will give you 00:06:55.639 --> 00:07:04.519 authority over my cell. You can see that in 2 Kings 16. Now, do we see the problem with that? 00:07:06.139 --> 00:07:15.560 God had already established covenant relationship with his people. And he invited them to trust him 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:22.879 as their God and their king. And so in this moment, because of fear and because of threat, 00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:30.360 we find Ahaz trusting the wrong king, turning to the wrong covenant father. He's giving the wrong 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:39.500 father control over his life. Now, it's very easy, I imagine, for us to point the finger 00:07:39.500 --> 00:07:46.519 and to say, well, Ahaz, you should have known better. You had the stories of how God cared for 00:07:46.519 --> 00:07:53.399 the people in the Exodus account or in the stories of previous kingships. How could you lack faith? 00:07:56.819 --> 00:08:01.419 But maybe when we take the time to look in the mirror and to think about our own lives, 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:08.659 you know, when things go wrong in our story, perhaps when our position is threatened, 00:08:08.660 --> 00:08:18.740 when our sense of security is shaken, or when those who we expected to be friends disappoint or turn on us, 00:08:20.180 --> 00:08:29.180 do we ever find ourselves doing an Ahaz, looking around for someone, maybe even looking to ourselves 00:08:29.180 --> 00:08:38.680 to provide the answer, rather than turning to and trusting in God and Jesus, our covenant king, 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:46.680 our everlasting father? Well, into Ahaz's story, and I trust into ours as well, 00:08:47.899 --> 00:08:53.080 the titles that we find, the descriptions of Jesus and Isaiah 9, they represent good news. 00:08:53.080 --> 00:09:02.480 Because here is our Emmanuel, here is God with us, who is also our everlasting king, 00:09:03.240 --> 00:09:11.240 our everlasting father with covenant commitment, and he comes to bring transformation by his grace. 00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:19.240 That's the theme of Isaiah 9. Humiliation becomes honor, darkness becomes light, fighting and fear 00:09:19.240 --> 00:09:28.159 becomes peace. Because this child king will be born, and will grow up to be the crucified king. 00:09:29.340 --> 00:09:35.960 And that in the shedding of his blood, he establishes the new covenant, and that covenant is unbreakable, 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:43.659 it is eternal, it is unshakable. And he comes to establish that covenant, that relationship, 00:09:43.659 --> 00:09:51.779 with all those for whom he came to save. And now that Jesus has gone to the cross, 00:09:52.259 --> 00:09:58.240 and he has risen from the dead, and he has ascended to heaven, and he's taken the seat of the father's 00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:06.360 right hand as the glorified king, he continues to rule over us in his love and in his faithfulness. 00:10:06.839 --> 00:10:12.539 He hasn't broken his covenant commitment to us, he continues to pray for us, he continues to send 00:10:12.539 --> 00:10:19.719 the spirit, he continues to speak through his word. He is the one who said, I am with you always, 00:10:19.719 --> 00:10:29.379 to the very end of the age. He is covenantally committed to that promise. He is the one we can 00:10:29.379 --> 00:10:40.240 trust and give control of our lives to. That Jesus is our everlasting father means Jesus is our covenant 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:49.200 king. And this calls for our faith in Jesus Christ. This is the way of salvation. It's the way of 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:59.500 trusting him as our covenant king. The covenant in the Bible, it always required faith. The people of 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:05.240 Israel heard that if they would trust their king, and if they would obey their king, they would enjoy 00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:11.820 blessing and they would enjoy life. But on the other hand, if they turned away to false gods and into 00:11:11.820 --> 00:11:21.740 disobedience, the curse would come, judgment would come upon disobedience. When we get to the New Testament, 00:11:22.060 --> 00:11:29.360 the writers of the New Testament say to us that Christ can be in our lives either the cornerstone that we 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:37.440 build our life upon or the stone that we stumble over because we are offended. The difference is either 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:45.680 we place faith in Jesus for our life and for our salvation, or we have the faith in ourselves that we can gain 00:11:45.680 --> 00:11:57.639 salvation by our own good work. And into this desperate situation in Isaiah 9, God invites Ahaz and Judah to lift 00:11:57.639 --> 00:12:04.480 their eyes to see that they are weak, but Jesus, the promised king, he will be eternally strong. 00:12:06.620 --> 00:12:11.879 And God would do the same for us as well, to lift our eyes from ourselves and our circumstances to see 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:21.059 our great king. And for this title, Jesus as everlasting father to be good news, it absolutely requires us to 00:12:21.059 --> 00:12:31.759 have personal faith, that looks and see Jesus as our king, that we trust him to save us and defend us, that we are able to 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:39.339 rest and trust, knowing that he is eternally committed in all his goodness towards us. 00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:50.500 So Jesus is our covenant king. But when we think about this title everlasting father, secondly, it means that 00:12:50.500 --> 00:13:01.220 Jesus is our compassionate king. And this is where this title becomes really personal to us also. 00:13:01.220 --> 00:13:14.740 Before we look back at our text, just to ask this question, when we think about how God views us today, if we're a 00:13:14.740 --> 00:13:22.200 Christian as his child, how would we draw the face of God towards us? 00:13:22.200 --> 00:13:33.060 We're invited in the Bible throughout the pages of Scripture to recognize how deep the Father's love for us is, 00:13:33.560 --> 00:13:39.080 to recognize that he has pity and compassion and mercy on us as his children. 00:13:40.300 --> 00:13:47.700 But often despite reading God's word and hearing the gospel, it might be the case that the face that you picture 00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:59.300 is a stern face, perhaps a frowning face. Perhaps we imagine God is the Father who's ready to pounce on our every mistake. 00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:07.840 And maybe that's because of our own upbringing, our own experiences, and our great need 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:15.640 is to let God through his word and through his gospel show us the true picture that he is the perfect Father 00:14:15.639 --> 00:14:20.039 Father, and that Jesus shows us the Father's heart. 00:14:21.419 --> 00:14:24.939 That God is the original and perfect blueprint of 00:14:24.939 --> 00:14:28.980 Fatherhood. He is the Father from whom all Fatherhood 00:14:28.980 --> 00:14:33.139 is named, and then Jesus comes into this world 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:37.580 to show us, here is what the Father's love is like 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:41.139 in flesh and blood as he walked 00:14:41.139 --> 00:14:42.179 among us. 00:14:42.179 --> 00:14:45.139 So just very briefly, 00:14:46.019 --> 00:14:49.379 to just trace something of the theme of God's compassion 00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:51.419 and how it connects 00:14:51.419 --> 00:14:53.379 to Jesus, our compassionate 00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:54.379 King. 00:14:56.479 --> 00:14:57.359 Just to, 00:14:57.919 --> 00:14:59.639 I was just thinking about it this afternoon, 00:15:00.199 --> 00:15:01.919 Dane Ortlund has a wonderful book, 00:15:02.739 --> 00:15:03.979 Gentle and Lowly, 00:15:04.579 --> 00:15:05.559 talking about 00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:07.879 the heart of God, the heart of Christ. 00:15:08.019 --> 00:15:09.959 It's a wonderful, rich 00:15:09.959 --> 00:15:11.339 book to read. 00:15:11.340 --> 00:15:17.720 And so often it talks about and captures that sense of the mercy and compassion of God 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:20.720 and goes against some of our natural instincts. 00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:23.360 So, you know, we sin, 00:15:23.820 --> 00:15:25.300 and just like Adam and Eve in the garden, 00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:28.500 our instinct is to hide away in our shame. 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:30.340 And what we need to understand, 00:15:30.420 --> 00:15:31.620 and what the Bible shows us, 00:15:31.680 --> 00:15:33.560 is that it's our sin, 00:15:33.680 --> 00:15:35.400 actually, that moves the heart of God, 00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:37.300 that moves the heart of Jesus to come 00:15:37.299 --> 00:15:39.159 in order to save us. 00:15:40.779 --> 00:15:43.639 Compassion is rooted in the gospel. 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:45.599 So it's a wonderful book to read. 00:15:46.099 --> 00:15:47.319 But just to think about 00:15:47.319 --> 00:15:49.919 compassion as we find it in God's word. 00:15:50.319 --> 00:15:52.179 Exodus chapter 34, 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:55.259 as God describes himself 00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:56.959 to Moses. 00:15:57.419 --> 00:15:58.740 Moses wants to see 00:15:58.740 --> 00:16:00.359 God's glory, 00:16:00.360 --> 00:16:02.720 and God gives him 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:03.620 a picture 00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:05.180 of himself. 00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:07.039 He says, 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:09.639 he passed in front of Moses, 00:16:09.800 --> 00:16:10.580 proclaiming, 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:12.200 the Lord, the Lord. 00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:13.720 And what's the first quality 00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:15.759 of God's character? 00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:17.480 The compassionate 00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:20.000 and gracious God. 00:16:20.680 --> 00:16:22.300 Exodus 34, verse 6. 00:16:22.300 --> 00:16:24.200 What God wants us to know 00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:24.960 about him 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:26.560 is he is compassionate 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:28.399 and he is gracious. 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:31.179 Then we sang 00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:32.839 in Psalm 103. 00:16:33.659 --> 00:16:34.500 As a father 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:35.839 has compassion 00:16:35.839 --> 00:16:37.339 on his children, 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.039 so the Lord 00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:39.239 has compassion 00:16:39.239 --> 00:16:40.599 on those 00:16:40.599 --> 00:16:41.679 who fear him. 00:16:41.939 --> 00:16:43.000 And that compassion 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:43.839 is fueled 00:16:43.839 --> 00:16:45.099 by his knowledge 00:16:45.099 --> 00:16:45.859 of us 00:16:45.859 --> 00:16:47.139 because he created us. 00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:48.039 He knows 00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:49.059 how we are formed 00:16:49.059 --> 00:16:50.939 and he remembers 00:16:50.939 --> 00:16:52.419 we are dust. 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:53.839 And he explains 00:16:53.839 --> 00:16:54.759 the extent 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:55.739 of his compassion 00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:56.840 from everlasting 00:16:56.840 --> 00:16:58.360 to everlasting. 00:16:59.039 --> 00:16:59.940 The Lord's love 00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:00.919 is with those 00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:01.840 who fear him. 00:17:02.060 --> 00:17:03.460 We can never 00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.839 exhaust the compassion 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:05.339 of God 00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:06.519 and God's compassion 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.220 will never 00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:08.740 be exhausted. 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:10.599 God wants us 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:11.319 to know that. 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.640 And then to very briefly 00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:17.120 jump to 00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:18.940 Jesus speaking 00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:19.680 about himself 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:21.460 in relation to God. 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:22.700 John chapter 10 00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:24.500 or John chapter 14. 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.240 we hear 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:26.539 Jesus say 00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:28.660 on multiple occasions, 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:30.140 I and my 00:17:30.140 --> 00:17:30.720 Father 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:32.240 are one. 00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:35.140 He encourages 00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:35.839 people to 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:36.740 believe 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:37.660 in the works 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:38.519 that they have seen 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:39.579 that you may know 00:17:39.579 --> 00:17:40.160 and understand 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:40.839 that the Father 00:17:40.839 --> 00:17:41.420 is in me 00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:41.960 and I 00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:42.859 in the Father. 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:44.500 And then 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.180 as he speaks 00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:45.960 to his disciples 00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:47.400 in John 14, 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:48.279 as he speaks 00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:49.180 to Philip, 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:50.039 he says it 00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:51.180 this way, 00:17:51.639 --> 00:17:52.480 anyone who 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:53.519 has seen me 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:54.940 has seen 00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:56.359 the Father. 00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:01.139 The amazing truth, 00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:02.119 author of Hebrews 00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:03.139 takes us here also, 00:18:03.579 --> 00:18:04.420 Jesus is 00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:05.779 the perfect image, 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:06.619 the perfect 00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:07.299 representation 00:18:07.299 --> 00:18:08.720 of God. 00:18:09.859 --> 00:18:11.139 Jesus in his time 00:18:11.139 --> 00:18:11.960 on earth 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:13.539 and now that he 00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.700 rules in heaven 00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:16.720 displays for us 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:17.799 the fatherly 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:18.600 compassion 00:18:18.600 --> 00:18:19.880 of God. 00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:23.660 Perhaps 00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:24.299 sometimes we 00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:24.860 find God 00:18:24.860 --> 00:18:25.940 a distant idea, 00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:26.440 but if we 00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:27.259 want to know 00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:28.000 the Father's 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.640 compassionate 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:29.339 character, 00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:31.759 we look at 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:32.160 the person 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:32.819 of Christ. 00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:34.539 We can look 00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:35.140 at his life, 00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:35.700 we can look 00:18:35.700 --> 00:18:36.539 in his ministry 00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:37.600 and we see it 00:18:37.600 --> 00:18:38.779 in so many ways. 00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:39.880 We see it 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:40.480 in his humble 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:41.720 birth in Bethlehem. 00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:43.160 Jesus didn't 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:43.720 come to 00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:45.240 lord it over us, 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:46.480 but to fully 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:48.519 identify with us, 00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:49.460 to sympathize, 00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:50.400 to empathize 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:51.099 as he walked 00:18:51.099 --> 00:18:51.900 in our shoes. 00:18:54.120 --> 00:18:55.019 We think about 00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:55.900 his compassion 00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:58.299 for the marginalized 00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.480 and for the weak. 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:00.680 His heart 00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:01.480 that was moved 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:03.059 for the widow 00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:03.720 that day 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:04.440 in Nain. 00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:05.880 His heart 00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:06.519 of love 00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.480 for the sinful 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.720 women despised 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.700 in society. 00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:11.500 It's there 00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:12.319 in the touch 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:13.839 of the leper. 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:14.700 It's there 00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:15.680 in the feasting 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:16.620 and the hospitality 00:19:16.620 --> 00:19:17.720 extended to 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:18.880 tax collectors. 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:22.920 God's compassion 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:23.920 comes through Christ 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:24.640 in the stories 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:25.200 he told. 00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.600 Maybe most famously 00:19:27.600 --> 00:19:28.720 the compassion 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.440 of the father 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:30.600 in the prodigal son 00:19:30.600 --> 00:19:31.140 story. 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.380 Embracing his 00:19:33.380 --> 00:19:34.519 wayward rebel son 00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:35.559 in all his filth, 00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:36.539 in all his disgrace. 00:19:36.840 --> 00:19:37.420 Welcoming him 00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:38.740 back into the home, 00:19:39.380 --> 00:19:40.120 honoring him 00:19:40.120 --> 00:19:40.740 and throwing 00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.360 a feast 00:19:41.360 --> 00:19:42.880 for him. 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:44.520 We hear the 00:19:44.520 --> 00:19:45.380 compassion of Jesus 00:19:45.380 --> 00:19:46.320 in his preaching, 00:19:47.520 --> 00:19:48.580 announcing to the world 00:19:48.580 --> 00:19:49.320 the son of man 00:19:49.320 --> 00:19:50.160 came to seek 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:50.900 and to save 00:19:50.900 --> 00:19:51.820 the lost, 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:52.660 urgently, 00:19:53.260 --> 00:19:54.340 lovingly calling 00:19:54.340 --> 00:19:55.560 people to enter 00:19:55.560 --> 00:19:56.380 his kingdom, 00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:57.800 persuading them 00:19:57.800 --> 00:19:58.480 that it wasn't 00:19:58.480 --> 00:19:59.920 by their merits, 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:01.960 but by God's grace 00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:03.280 and through Christ's 00:20:03.280 --> 00:20:03.640 merits. 00:20:03.640 --> 00:20:03.940 presence. 00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:08.120 We see the compassion 00:20:08.120 --> 00:20:11.020 of God 00:20:11.020 --> 00:20:12.600 at the cross. 00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:14.360 He is the king 00:20:14.360 --> 00:20:15.140 who comes 00:20:15.140 --> 00:20:17.000 as the humble 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:18.120 suffering servant. 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.720 He has wept 00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:22.200 over Jerusalem 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:25.480 and even as he dies, 00:20:25.600 --> 00:20:26.400 he dies praying 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:26.880 forgiveness 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:27.700 for his enemies 00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:28.740 and he dies 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.460 welcoming 00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:30.960 a thief 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:32.019 into his 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:33.019 paradise kingdom. 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.279 And the compassion 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:36.759 of Jesus 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:37.539 doesn't end 00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.220 at the cross. 00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:39.200 We see it too 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:40.519 when he comes 00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:41.319 to his troubled 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:41.880 disciples 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:43.000 after he's risen 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:43.740 from the dead. 00:20:44.100 --> 00:20:45.120 He takes the time 00:20:45.120 --> 00:20:46.120 to show them 00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:46.900 that these things 00:20:46.900 --> 00:20:48.279 had to happen. 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:50.340 He had to suffer 00:20:50.340 --> 00:20:51.160 and be rejected 00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:51.740 and die 00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:53.019 and then rise again. 00:20:54.100 --> 00:20:55.240 He showed them 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:56.299 his hands 00:20:56.299 --> 00:20:56.960 and his feet. 00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:58.059 He ate with them 00:20:58.059 --> 00:20:59.720 to persuade them 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.859 that he was 00:21:00.859 --> 00:21:01.879 the long promised 00:21:01.879 --> 00:21:02.379 Savior. 00:21:03.899 --> 00:21:05.000 And he welcomed 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:05.679 them in all their 00:21:05.679 --> 00:21:06.720 doubts and confusion 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.419 and fear. 00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:12.119 And we see 00:21:12.119 --> 00:21:12.779 the compassion 00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:13.399 of God 00:21:13.399 --> 00:21:14.559 displayed through 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:15.619 Jesus in the story 00:21:15.619 --> 00:21:16.179 and the message 00:21:16.179 --> 00:21:17.019 of the gospel. 00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:19.779 If we use 00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:20.259 the idea 00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:21.059 of fatherhood 00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:21.819 spiritually, 00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:24.299 outside of Christ 00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:24.919 we are 00:21:24.919 --> 00:21:26.339 orphans. 00:21:26.339 --> 00:21:28.519 cut off 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.159 from God, 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:30.419 cut off 00:21:30.419 --> 00:21:30.919 from life 00:21:30.919 --> 00:21:31.480 with him 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:33.000 because of 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:33.399 our sin 00:21:33.399 --> 00:21:34.199 and our rebellion. 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:37.220 But into 00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:37.839 that comes 00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:38.419 Christ, 00:21:38.859 --> 00:21:39.480 the eternal 00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:40.319 son of God, 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:41.439 the everlasting 00:21:41.439 --> 00:21:42.039 father, 00:21:42.379 --> 00:21:43.199 our compassionate 00:21:43.199 --> 00:21:43.720 savior. 00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:44.459 And what happens 00:21:44.459 --> 00:21:44.859 to him? 00:21:45.179 --> 00:21:45.859 He willingly 00:21:45.859 --> 00:21:46.639 is cut off. 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:48.519 He faces 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:49.759 that sense 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:50.119 of being 00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:50.859 forsaken 00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:51.500 by God 00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:52.199 his father 00:21:52.199 --> 00:21:54.199 so that 00:21:54.199 --> 00:21:54.819 by God's 00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:55.059 grace 00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:55.500 you and I 00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:55.819 can be 00:21:55.819 --> 00:21:56.220 forgiven, 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:57.539 we can be 00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:57.980 adopted, 00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:59.500 we can know 00:21:59.500 --> 00:22:00.359 the loving 00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:01.319 heart of God. 00:22:03.159 --> 00:22:03.500 Here's how 00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:03.940 J.H. 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:04.539 Bavinck 00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:05.200 puts it, 00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:06.559 Jesus takes 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:07.419 away our 00:22:07.419 --> 00:22:07.779 guilt 00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:09.359 and again 00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:10.220 opens the 00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:10.599 way 00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:12.139 to God's 00:22:12.139 --> 00:22:13.319 fatherly 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:13.700 heart. 00:22:15.139 --> 00:22:15.700 Sometimes 00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:16.220 even as 00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:16.579 Christians 00:22:16.579 --> 00:22:17.139 we can get 00:22:17.139 --> 00:22:17.779 stuck with 00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:18.240 that idea 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:18.759 that God 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.159 is our 00:22:19.159 --> 00:22:19.519 judge 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.039 and only 00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:20.279 our 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:20.779 judge. 00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:22.920 And what 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:23.279 Bavinck 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:23.799 is reminding 00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:24.139 us and what 00:22:24.139 --> 00:22:24.639 the gospel 00:22:24.639 --> 00:22:25.379 teaches us 00:22:25.379 --> 00:22:25.799 is that 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:26.960 by trusting 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.500 in Jesus 00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:27.899 and his 00:22:27.899 --> 00:22:28.339 completed 00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:28.859 work our 00:22:28.859 --> 00:22:29.460 relationship 00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.220 to God 00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:30.960 fundamentally 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.639 changes 00:22:31.639 --> 00:22:32.700 so that 00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:33.240 now he 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:34.920 is our 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:35.480 father in 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:35.799 heaven. 00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:39.319 Because of 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:39.799 that great 00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:40.680 transfer that 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:41.599 takes place 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:42.660 where the 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:43.079 son is 00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:43.579 willing to 00:22:43.579 --> 00:22:44.119 suffer and 00:22:44.119 --> 00:22:44.519 die in 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.000 our place 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:45.379 and bear 00:22:45.379 --> 00:22:46.019 the penalty 00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:46.399 and the 00:22:46.399 --> 00:22:46.819 wrath of 00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:47.240 God for 00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:47.799 our sin 00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:48.720 and he's 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.200 willing to 00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:49.559 give us 00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:50.159 his perfect 00:22:50.159 --> 00:22:50.759 record of 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:51.180 righteousness 00:22:51.180 --> 00:22:52.319 in exchange. 00:22:54.419 --> 00:22:55.079 Now when 00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:55.480 God the 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.139 father looks 00:22:56.139 --> 00:22:56.659 at us in 00:22:56.659 --> 00:22:57.180 Christ the 00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:57.559 son he 00:22:57.559 --> 00:22:58.059 loves us 00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:58.440 as much 00:22:58.440 --> 00:22:58.680 as he 00:22:58.680 --> 00:22:58.899 loves 00:22:58.899 --> 00:22:59.319 Jesus. 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:01.940 Jesus 00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:02.519 came to 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:02.940 show us 00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:03.099 the 00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:03.559 fatherly 00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:04.019 heart of 00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:04.519 our God. 00:23:06.399 --> 00:23:07.220 And remember 00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:07.819 Jesus is 00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:08.460 described as 00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:09.240 our everlasting 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:11.339 father and 00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:11.919 as Spurgeon 00:23:11.919 --> 00:23:12.559 once said 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:13.200 there is no 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.639 unfathering 00:23:14.639 --> 00:23:16.259 Christ and 00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:16.819 there is no 00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:18.339 unchilding 00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:18.919 us. 00:23:19.679 --> 00:23:20.639 This quality 00:23:20.639 --> 00:23:21.240 of Jesus 00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:21.839 will never 00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:23.799 change so 00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:24.139 we will 00:23:24.139 --> 00:23:25.179 always know 00:23:25.179 --> 00:23:26.519 God's love 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:27.200 in him. 00:23:27.980 --> 00:23:28.319 There will 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:29.019 never be a 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:29.480 point where 00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:30.220 that well 00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:31.399 of Jesus 00:23:31.399 --> 00:23:31.879 love and 00:23:31.879 --> 00:23:32.619 compassion for 00:23:32.619 --> 00:23:33.079 his people 00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:33.939 runs dry. 00:23:35.439 --> 00:23:35.740 That the 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:36.059 one who 00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:36.559 died to 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:36.919 make us 00:23:36.919 --> 00:23:37.339 his brothers 00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:38.039 and sisters 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:38.740 now lives 00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.139 to keep 00:23:39.139 --> 00:23:40.379 pouring God's 00:23:40.379 --> 00:23:40.799 love and 00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.579 grace out 00:23:41.579 --> 00:23:42.700 on us. 00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:46.740 he is 00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:47.240 our covenant 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:48.519 king and 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:48.860 he is our 00:23:48.860 --> 00:23:49.360 compassionate 00:23:49.360 --> 00:23:49.779 king. 00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:51.660 There is 00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:52.360 good news 00:23:52.360 --> 00:23:53.380 in this 00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:53.980 title that 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:54.960 Jesus is 00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:55.940 our everlasting 00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:56.640 father. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:23:59.759 But to hear 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:00.240 that good 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:00.620 news we 00:24:00.620 --> 00:24:01.380 must first 00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:03.740 discover for 00:24:03.740 --> 00:24:05.539 ourselves the 00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:06.860 goodness of 00:24:06.860 --> 00:24:07.600 our creator 00:24:07.600 --> 00:24:08.759 and our 00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:09.120 savior. 00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:11.079 we must 00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:11.679 trust that 00:24:11.679 --> 00:24:12.559 his commitment 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:13.259 and his 00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:14.219 care towards 00:24:14.219 --> 00:24:15.019 us will 00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:16.459 never end. 00:24:17.959 --> 00:24:18.659 Because if we 00:24:18.659 --> 00:24:19.439 carry a wrong 00:24:19.439 --> 00:24:20.639 view of God 00:24:20.639 --> 00:24:21.259 or carry a 00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:22.039 wrong view of 00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:22.599 Jesus that 00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:23.679 God is a 00:24:23.679 --> 00:24:24.119 source of 00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:25.719 terror, that 00:24:25.719 --> 00:24:26.099 he is a 00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:27.159 harsh tyrant 00:24:27.159 --> 00:24:27.839 and the idea 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:28.259 that he is 00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:28.899 everlasting 00:24:28.899 --> 00:24:29.500 father, well 00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:30.159 that might not 00:24:30.159 --> 00:24:30.759 seem like good 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:31.079 news, that 00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:31.439 might come 00:24:31.439 --> 00:24:32.199 across as bad 00:24:32.199 --> 00:24:32.579 news. 00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:39.099 And so we 00:24:39.099 --> 00:24:40.099 always need 00:24:40.099 --> 00:24:42.259 to be 00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:43.919 reminded and 00:24:43.919 --> 00:24:44.599 to uncover 00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:46.179 more of 00:24:46.179 --> 00:24:46.740 his goodness 00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.899 and his 00:24:47.899 --> 00:24:49.339 word as we 00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:50.539 worship in 00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.199 the gospel. 00:24:52.199 --> 00:24:53.199 So that we 00:24:53.199 --> 00:24:53.919 have this true 00:24:53.919 --> 00:24:55.159 picture of 00:24:55.159 --> 00:24:55.720 God our 00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:57.279 father and 00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:57.919 Jesus who 00:24:57.919 --> 00:24:59.179 shows us the 00:24:59.179 --> 00:24:59.980 father's heart. 00:25:00.679 --> 00:25:01.599 Because we 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:01.859 have this 00:25:01.859 --> 00:25:03.000 wonderful promise 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:04.859 in Christmas 00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:05.199 and the 00:25:05.199 --> 00:25:05.699 birth of 00:25:05.699 --> 00:25:06.099 Jesus. 00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:07.959 We are 00:25:07.959 --> 00:25:08.899 invited to 00:25:08.899 --> 00:25:11.199 see God 00:25:11.199 --> 00:25:12.419 is everlastingly 00:25:12.419 --> 00:25:14.019 committed to 00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:15.339 saving his 00:25:15.339 --> 00:25:17.119 people and 00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:18.459 to loving and 00:25:18.459 --> 00:25:19.240 caring for his 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:19.539 people. 00:25:21.179 --> 00:25:21.619 And the 00:25:21.619 --> 00:25:22.179 wonderful thing 00:25:22.179 --> 00:25:23.839 is that while 00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:24.799 we go back to 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:26.459 Ahaz in 00:25:26.459 --> 00:25:27.359 Isaiah 9, he 00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:28.240 trusted to 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.599 Tiglath-Pileser 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.099 and to the 00:25:30.099 --> 00:25:31.000 strength of the 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:31.439 Assyrians. 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:31.880 And that 00:25:31.880 --> 00:25:33.059 empire has 00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:33.620 long since 00:25:33.620 --> 00:25:34.539 crumbled as 00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:35.140 Isaiah has 00:25:35.140 --> 00:25:35.340 is. 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:36.100 But the 00:25:36.100 --> 00:25:36.580 kingdom of 00:25:36.580 --> 00:25:37.519 Christ never 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:37.920 will. 00:25:39.420 --> 00:25:40.059 We can 00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:40.640 trust him. 00:25:41.600 --> 00:25:42.039 And we can 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:42.640 trust in his 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:43.059 love and 00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:43.340 goodness. 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:44.980 Here is the 00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.460 king we can 00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:45.900 trust to 00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:46.539 control our 00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:47.059 lives. 00:25:49.360 --> 00:25:49.840 And so that's 00:25:49.840 --> 00:25:50.380 our invitation 00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:51.080 this Christmas. 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.700 Will we turn 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:54.120 to him? 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.799 To give our 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.660 hearts to him? 00:25:56.660 --> 00:25:59.380 To grow in 00:25:59.380 --> 00:26:00.779 appreciating his 00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:02.820 love for us. 00:26:02.820 --> 00:26:04.040 Thank you.