WEBVTT 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:09.740 I was talking this week with a guy from Brazil and he said to me, everything's changed now in Brazil. 00:00:10.220 --> 00:00:13.800 He said, Brazil's been a mess for many, many years. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:21.179 We've got all the resources to be the richest country in the world, but it's the politicians who've just messed it up. 00:00:22.240 --> 00:00:27.820 But then he said, we have a new president who's just coming in and everything's going to be different. 00:00:27.820 --> 00:00:29.839 He's going to fix the country. 00:00:30.039 --> 00:00:31.539 He's going to get rid of corruption. 00:00:32.020 --> 00:00:36.100 We are again going to be the most prosperous nation in the world. 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:39.640 He had a lot of hope in his president. 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:44.079 My mom has a missionary friend in Ethiopia. 00:00:44.820 --> 00:00:48.039 And I don't know if you've actually followed the news of what has happened in Ethiopia. 00:00:48.480 --> 00:00:50.079 Probably most of you haven't. 00:00:50.079 --> 00:01:04.000 But actually, this year, in a country which has been devastated by war, impoverished, fighting with its neighbor Eritrea for over 20 years, this year they elected a practicing Christian president. 00:01:04.739 --> 00:01:07.400 And in six months, he has ended the war. 00:01:07.739 --> 00:01:09.319 He has brought peace to the country. 00:01:09.439 --> 00:01:10.459 He's released prisoners. 00:01:10.819 --> 00:01:12.239 He's ended state censorship. 00:01:12.599 --> 00:01:14.700 And everywhere, hope is rising. 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:17.099 The whole culture of the nation is changing. 00:01:17.099 --> 00:01:21.919 And people are saying it's miraculous, extraordinary what's happening. 00:01:22.819 --> 00:01:29.079 But at the same time, many in the military are furious that their power is being undermined. 00:01:30.539 --> 00:01:36.539 And nobody really knows exactly how long all of this is going to last there. 00:01:36.540 --> 00:01:49.200 But whether we're thinking about Brexit, American politics, Hong Kong politics, wherever it is, we're all looking for a leader who's going to come and who's going to fix the issues. 00:01:49.620 --> 00:01:50.520 Bring security. 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:55.300 End kind of problems with immigration and healthcare and economy. 00:01:55.560 --> 00:01:59.660 We're all looking for a messiah who's going to bring in the freedom we're looking for. 00:02:00.460 --> 00:02:01.540 That's what we all want. 00:02:01.540 --> 00:02:07.800 Maybe even in your company, you want a boss who's going to bring about peace and harmony and prosperity for your company. 00:02:10.700 --> 00:02:18.780 And you see, throughout the whole of the Old Testament all the way through to the New Testament that we're looking at today, 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:29.860 the hope for the Jewish people was also that a leader would come who would end the divisions, end the violence, end the discrimination, the hatred, and bring prosperity again. 00:02:29.860 --> 00:02:37.780 And the gospel of Matthew has been showing us that that Messiah everyone had been looking for has come. 00:02:38.920 --> 00:02:46.060 And he's been saying that from right back in the beginning when God had a plan for Abraham to bless every nation, 00:02:46.860 --> 00:02:51.860 through him, through one of his descendants, the whole world, from his family, 00:02:51.860 --> 00:02:54.680 then the nation of Israel had grown out. 00:02:55.400 --> 00:03:01.860 And from them, God had raised up a king from a tiny backwater place called Bethlehem, 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:08.360 a king whose name was David, who was the greatest king of Israel. 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:10.660 He defeated his enemies. 00:03:10.820 --> 00:03:11.600 He brought peace. 00:03:11.700 --> 00:03:13.680 He brought prosperity and security. 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:20.060 And then he went and messed it all up with adultery, with murder, with terrible fatherhood. 00:03:21.180 --> 00:03:23.040 But God gave him a promise. 00:03:23.760 --> 00:03:27.659 And he gave him a promise that there would be another king who would come in his family line. 00:03:27.960 --> 00:03:35.379 Another David would come who wouldn't mess things up, who wouldn't have just a temporary reign and then die, 00:03:36.060 --> 00:03:37.719 but one who would reign forever. 00:03:37.719 --> 00:03:43.340 That's the promise that we've been looking at so far in the gospel of Matthew. 00:03:44.219 --> 00:03:47.460 And Matthew is telling us the leader has come. 00:03:47.960 --> 00:03:55.719 The king has arrived in Jesus, born in the same town as David, in a supernatural way through a virgin. 00:03:56.520 --> 00:04:04.579 And the question for each one of us now is how will we respond to him, whether you're Christian or not a Christian? 00:04:04.579 --> 00:04:06.900 How will you respond to him today? 00:04:07.960 --> 00:04:13.280 Because if I say there's a new president in Ethiopia or a new president in Brazil, 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:17.519 you may be interested in politics, but I don't think you're saying, 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:21.899 I need to respond with deep change in my life because you told me that, Chris. 00:04:22.300 --> 00:04:24.480 Is anyone kind of feeling convicted about that? 00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:25.819 I don't think so. 00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:32.019 Because unless you're from that country, he's not your president. 00:04:32.019 --> 00:04:42.139 But if there is a God who created the universe, who created you and me and gave you breath right this very morning, 00:04:42.219 --> 00:04:45.699 the reason that you are breathing is because he has allowed you to breathe, 00:04:45.919 --> 00:04:50.819 who has marked on his calendar your birthday and your death day. 00:04:50.819 --> 00:04:58.500 If that God who created everything has said, I have sent my king to come, I have come to reign and rule, 00:04:58.699 --> 00:05:03.879 then you and I have to respond to that because he is your president. 00:05:04.439 --> 00:05:05.600 He is your ruler. 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:12.540 And either we will respond in submitting to him in worship or we will respond with rejecting his rule. 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:16.960 But none of us can stand here and say, oh, well, that's nice for you, but it's not for me. 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:20.399 Because he has a claim on our lives. 00:05:21.659 --> 00:05:30.799 And so Matthew is trying to say to us, this is not just some kind of made up story. 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:39.120 Because he starts his passage here telling us that all of these things about Jesus happened in the time of Herod the king. 00:05:39.299 --> 00:05:41.159 He's talking about real history. 00:05:41.879 --> 00:05:44.439 We know Herod died in 4 BC. 00:05:44.439 --> 00:05:48.899 So Jesus was born somewhere between 7 BC and 4 BC. 00:05:49.379 --> 00:05:52.519 They got the calendar wrong when they actually made the dates. 00:05:53.060 --> 00:05:54.240 So he's actually around then. 00:05:54.500 --> 00:06:03.100 And so what he's going to show us in this passage is three different responses to the arrival of God's king, Jesus. 00:06:04.680 --> 00:06:06.120 And so we're going to look at the wise men. 00:06:06.300 --> 00:06:07.240 We're going to look at Herod. 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:09.360 And we're going to look at the religious leaders. 00:06:10.120 --> 00:06:10.459 Okay. 00:06:10.740 --> 00:06:11.220 Are you ready? 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:12.839 Okay. 00:06:12.839 --> 00:06:13.300 Good. 00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:13.899 Kevin is. 00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:17.279 So, wise men seek him. 00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:17.680 Okay. 00:06:17.719 --> 00:06:21.319 If you've got the passage in front of you, we'll just kind of go through a little bit of this. 00:06:22.019 --> 00:06:28.720 It says, behold, wise men came from the east, came to Jerusalem. 00:06:29.879 --> 00:06:32.839 And so this is a little while after Jesus has been born. 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:34.000 Maybe a year or so. 00:06:34.060 --> 00:06:35.019 Because they've now moved. 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:36.920 They've now moved into a house. 00:06:36.920 --> 00:06:41.900 And it says, literally, magi from the east. 00:06:41.960 --> 00:06:43.280 That's what the word wise men mean. 00:06:43.340 --> 00:06:45.540 And that's where we get the word magician from. 00:06:45.540 --> 00:06:49.660 And they come to the political capital, Jerusalem. 00:06:49.660 --> 00:06:52.140 And we don't know a lot about them. 00:06:52.200 --> 00:07:04.540 But we do know that magi were an elite class of influential astrologers, priests, in probably what's called Persia or what is now called modern day Iran. 00:07:04.540 --> 00:07:07.540 And so they're foreigners. 00:07:07.540 --> 00:07:08.939 They are pagans. 00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:11.460 They don't worship Israel's God. 00:07:11.459 --> 00:07:16.399 And we know there are three gifts that they bring. 00:07:16.479 --> 00:07:18.939 But they almost certainly are not just three wise men. 00:07:19.239 --> 00:07:23.839 Because they probably have brought with them their servants, their wives, their children. 00:07:23.899 --> 00:07:25.579 There's probably a whole crew of them turn up. 00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:30.219 So if you see on your Christmas cards just three of them, just kind of draw in a few extra people. 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:31.879 Because that's probably what it was like. 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:36.199 But the thing was Jews didn't hang out with magi. 00:07:36.199 --> 00:07:43.560 I don't know if you know, but actually there's a writings called the Talmud, which are a collection of Jewish writings. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:51.659 And in them it says, he who learns a single thing from a Magian is worthy of death. 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:55.719 They weren't on great terms, the Jews and the Magi. 00:07:56.759 --> 00:08:02.319 I mean, just imagine a group of fundamentalist Muslims coming into church this morning saying, 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:06.939 Hey, we've come all the way from Pakistan because we had a dream about Jesus. 00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:11.019 Now that kind of thing is happening in the Middle East right now. 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:13.759 But that's the kind of thing that they're talking about here. 00:08:14.019 --> 00:08:15.480 Everyone's going, wow, what's going on? 00:08:17.060 --> 00:08:21.019 And these foreigners are consumed with one question. 00:08:22.459 --> 00:08:24.379 Where is he? 00:08:25.100 --> 00:08:27.779 They've walked or ridden for over a thousand miles. 00:08:28.039 --> 00:08:29.439 Months they've been on the road. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:31.939 With one question consuming them. 00:08:31.939 --> 00:08:33.220 Where is he? 00:08:33.779 --> 00:08:37.200 Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? 00:08:37.879 --> 00:08:39.440 We've got to find him. 00:08:41.399 --> 00:08:44.259 You know, in Hong Kong, many people are seeking things. 00:08:45.320 --> 00:08:45.879 Democracy. 00:08:46.259 --> 00:08:46.860 Where is it? 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:49.320 Greater housing supply. 00:08:49.480 --> 00:08:50.059 Where is it? 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:52.179 A loving relationship. 00:08:52.419 --> 00:08:53.100 Where is it? 00:08:53.700 --> 00:08:55.159 Tips to get rich. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:56.720 Where can I get them from? 00:08:57.919 --> 00:08:59.919 But these wise men, they had power. 00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:00.539 They had money. 00:09:00.679 --> 00:09:01.440 They had status. 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:04.060 But the thing, the question they're asking themselves. 00:09:04.300 --> 00:09:05.720 None of those things mattered. 00:09:05.820 --> 00:09:07.000 They're saying, where is he? 00:09:07.820 --> 00:09:11.400 The one who has been born the King of the Jews. 00:09:12.820 --> 00:09:15.000 And they've been looking on their horoscopes. 00:09:15.460 --> 00:09:16.800 Looking at the stars. 00:09:16.860 --> 00:09:18.740 Just as they did every day. 00:09:18.920 --> 00:09:21.780 And they'd seen something extraordinary in the sky. 00:09:22.040 --> 00:09:25.340 Something that astrology didn't normally happen like this. 00:09:25.340 --> 00:09:29.340 Something that had propelled them to leave their homes. 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:35.980 Because they're on a quest into the unknown to discover this king. 00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:43.659 And you know, they may have known about a prophecy from another pagan astrology in the Old Testament called Balaam. 00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:48.159 Who in Numbers 24 says, a star shall come out of Jacob. 00:09:48.500 --> 00:09:51.080 And a scepter shall rise out of Israel. 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:52.940 And they're going, we need to find him. 00:09:52.940 --> 00:09:58.400 You know, many people have a lot of theories about what the star was. 00:09:58.460 --> 00:09:59.000 It was a comet. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:01.580 It was Jupiter and Saturn kind of getting together. 00:10:02.040 --> 00:10:06.440 But actually, the problem with all the theories about what was going on with the star is, 00:10:06.640 --> 00:10:13.680 you don't normally use a star to travel five miles from Bethlehem to Jerusalem to find one little place. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:16.679 God's doing something supernatural. 00:10:17.500 --> 00:10:18.699 John Piper says this. 00:10:19.659 --> 00:10:20.579 The lesson is plain. 00:10:21.479 --> 00:10:24.679 God is guiding foreigners to Christ to worship him. 00:10:25.139 --> 00:10:31.959 And he's doing it by exerting global, probably even universal influence and power to get it done. 00:10:32.859 --> 00:10:36.059 Luke shows God influencing the entire Roman Empire. 00:10:36.059 --> 00:10:42.339 So the census comes at exact time to get a virgin to Bethlehem to fill prophecy with her delivery. 00:10:42.340 --> 00:10:51.120 Matthew shows God influencing the stars in the sky to get foreign magi to Bethlehem so that they can worship him. 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:53.259 Do you see what he's saying? 00:10:53.700 --> 00:10:57.759 God's going to move heaven and earth to draw people to Jesus. 00:10:59.300 --> 00:11:03.780 And the question for you and I is, how far away from Jesus are you this morning? 00:11:04.379 --> 00:11:07.759 Whether you're a believer or a Buddhist or an atheist, 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:19.000 how much are you hungry and seeking the answers to where meaning, purpose, hope, salvation, a Messiah are found? 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:24.139 Because if there is a personal God, as Christianity claims, 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:28.819 then God has a claim on every other worldview, every religion. 00:11:28.820 --> 00:11:34.640 You can't say Christianity is a Western religion because God is a global God, not a Western God. 00:11:36.700 --> 00:11:43.140 And God says he's calling people from the East and he's calling people from the West all to come united, 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:48.580 breaking down the divisions between the nations, united in worshiping his king. 00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:54.100 And some people say, well, all religions are the same anyway. 00:11:55.580 --> 00:12:01.000 But God, if that was true, God would not go to such lengths to draw pagans out of their nation, 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:04.420 to come all the way to worship his king. 00:12:06.300 --> 00:12:09.440 Because God knows religion is not enough to save you. 00:12:10.460 --> 00:12:12.520 Religion is not enough to save you. 00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:19.120 And Matthew is referencing here a passage in the book of Isaiah, 700 years before, 00:12:19.399 --> 00:12:23.559 which says, behold, darkness covers the earth, thick darkness the peoples, 00:12:23.939 --> 00:12:25.740 but the Lord will rise upon you. 00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:27.840 His glory will be seen upon you. 00:12:28.079 --> 00:12:32.480 And nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising. 00:12:34.279 --> 00:12:39.819 You see, as we heard earlier, all of us are in darkness because of our sin. 00:12:39.820 --> 00:12:41.620 And we need light. 00:12:42.460 --> 00:12:45.280 And you've got to say, where's your light coming from this Christmas? 00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:50.920 You know, I spoke to an elderly lady, local lady, just earlier in this week. 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:56.040 And she said, I went to a Christian school, but my parents were Buddhist. 00:12:57.280 --> 00:12:59.420 And so kind of I became a Buddhist. 00:12:59.419 --> 00:13:07.120 But she said, since then, I've always been troubled by the question of what happens after I die. 00:13:07.959 --> 00:13:09.659 And I get scared about it. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:12.579 So what I try and do is I just avoid thinking about it. 00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:15.699 I just avoid thinking about it. 00:13:20.339 --> 00:13:22.419 That's like the emperor's new clothes. 00:13:23.699 --> 00:13:24.099 Right? 00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:26.879 Where you just want to avoid saying, I'm not really naked. 00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:35.600 But actually, she needs to see the light so she can face the reality of the darkness of death 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:39.180 with a hope which is greater than what she has. 00:13:39.480 --> 00:13:40.899 Because she needs God's king. 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:44.659 She needs to see that Jesus who has died our death 00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:47.860 and has risen from death and has overcome it. 00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:52.100 That those who trust in him need never fear death. 00:13:53.460 --> 00:13:54.940 Because he is the light. 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:58.620 And he's trying to draw you wherever you've come from, 00:13:58.700 --> 00:14:01.279 whether you're Buddhist, atheist, I'm not sure what I am-ist. 00:14:01.539 --> 00:14:06.279 Wherever you are, he's trying to draw you to himself 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:09.639 because he wants to bring you light in his life. 00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:11.500 Are we seeking him? 00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:13.200 Are we seeking him? 00:14:13.680 --> 00:14:15.019 Wise men seek him. 00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:21.279 Secondly, usurpers reject him or tyrants reject him. 00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:24.220 Herod the Great. 00:14:25.240 --> 00:14:27.039 You know, he was called great for many reasons, 00:14:27.199 --> 00:14:29.980 but the Romans called him the king of the Jews. 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:31.100 I don't know if you know that. 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:34.720 He was a man who was always looking to prove himself. 00:14:36.179 --> 00:14:38.860 We know from non-biblical sources, 00:14:39.199 --> 00:14:40.819 it's great, you find out about this guy, he's amazing. 00:14:41.980 --> 00:14:43.059 Josephus tells us, 00:14:43.059 --> 00:14:46.000 he was never fully accepted by the Jews as their leader 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:47.519 because his mother was an Arab, 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:50.500 his father was an Edomite, 00:14:50.619 --> 00:14:53.159 which is kind of like a half-Jew, a descendant of Esau. 00:14:54.419 --> 00:14:56.679 But he was a smart guy. 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:59.299 He was brilliant in military tactics. 00:15:00.599 --> 00:15:02.939 And so he plotted and schemed his way 00:15:02.939 --> 00:15:04.519 into the Roman Emperor's good books. 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:07.500 He even built a city called Caesarea, 00:15:08.299 --> 00:15:11.000 which is named after Caesar in Rome 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:12.479 because he wanted to suck up to him. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:14.200 And then for the Jews, 00:15:14.420 --> 00:15:15.080 what he did, 00:15:15.300 --> 00:15:17.519 he rebuilt the temple 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:20.680 and made it the most incredible architectural wonder 00:15:20.680 --> 00:15:22.800 because he wanted everybody to like him 00:15:22.800 --> 00:15:25.060 to prove that he was a great king. 00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:27.560 But you know, 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:30.399 he was always fearful of getting overthrown. 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:32.159 He was so fearful 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:35.539 that he got to a stage of paranoia 00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:37.820 where he murdered his favorite wife 00:15:37.820 --> 00:15:39.259 and his two sons. 00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:40.740 So actually, 00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:42.939 the Roman Emperor at the time said, 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:46.500 it's better to be Herod's pigs than his sons 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:49.220 because at least Jewish people didn't eat pork. 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:52.379 This is Herod. 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:54.240 And finally, 00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:55.120 if you want to, 00:15:55.179 --> 00:15:56.240 I'm just giving you the picture. 00:15:57.299 --> 00:15:57.779 Finally, 00:15:58.299 --> 00:15:59.700 just before his death, 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:00.879 when he knew he was going to die, 00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:01.460 he got arrested, 00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:03.759 hundreds of officials, 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:06.500 and he asked for them to be executed 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.720 the moment he died 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:09.319 because he wanted somebody 00:16:09.319 --> 00:16:11.379 to be crying when he died 00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:13.439 because he knew that nobody else would. 00:16:13.939 --> 00:16:15.840 He didn't want them to hold a festival instead. 00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:18.679 What a sad guy. 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:21.220 And all of this 00:16:21.220 --> 00:16:24.100 tallies perfectly with Matthew's description 00:16:24.100 --> 00:16:25.419 of Herod 00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:27.939 because when he hears 00:16:27.939 --> 00:16:29.740 about the new king on the block, 00:16:30.079 --> 00:16:31.439 what's his response? 00:16:31.959 --> 00:16:32.659 He says, 00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:35.000 when Herod heard this, 00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:36.839 he was troubled. 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:39.559 Troubled. 00:16:40.339 --> 00:16:42.199 What is his response? 00:16:42.699 --> 00:16:43.579 That word troubled 00:16:43.579 --> 00:16:44.639 is the same word 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:46.639 as when you kind of stir up water. 00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:48.360 He's like churned up inside. 00:16:48.579 --> 00:16:49.480 He's afraid. 00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:51.039 He's fearful 00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:52.980 because he's under threat 00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:54.379 from this king. 00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:56.000 And it says, 00:16:56.299 --> 00:16:57.599 all Jerusalem with him, 00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:58.399 which I think refers 00:16:58.399 --> 00:16:59.799 to all those in his court 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:00.879 because all those 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:02.319 who had positions of power 00:17:02.319 --> 00:17:03.839 depended on Herod 00:17:03.839 --> 00:17:05.819 and they were fearful 00:17:05.819 --> 00:17:07.079 that their kingdom 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:08.299 might crumble 00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:09.799 with a new rival. 00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:11.779 You know, 00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:13.379 it's like when a new person 00:17:13.379 --> 00:17:14.460 comes into your office 00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:15.759 that the boss has hired 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:16.740 and he's thinking 00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:18.359 of replacing you with them. 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:19.899 Like, 00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:21.019 how friendly are you 00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:21.740 towards them? 00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:23.619 Because your little kingdom 00:17:23.619 --> 00:17:24.460 is under threat 00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:25.180 at that moment. 00:17:26.879 --> 00:17:28.059 And what Herod does, 00:17:28.119 --> 00:17:29.259 he gathers information 00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:30.319 for a spying mission 00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:31.700 and he asks 00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:33.180 the same question 00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:34.180 as the wise men. 00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:34.579 He goes, 00:17:34.660 --> 00:17:35.500 where is this king 00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:36.099 to be born? 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:39.019 But his intention 00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:40.400 is completely different. 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:42.379 The wise men 00:17:42.379 --> 00:17:43.700 wanted to find Jesus. 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:46.019 Herod wants to get rid of him. 00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:48.599 And so they tell him 00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:49.619 in Bethlehem, 00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:50.420 David's town, 00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:52.220 and so Herod then goes, 00:17:52.300 --> 00:17:52.400 says, 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:53.519 go find this king 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:55.700 so that I may worship him. 00:17:56.700 --> 00:17:58.660 This guy is manipulative. 00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:00.300 He's what you might call 00:18:00.300 --> 00:18:01.200 in Hong Kong, 00:18:01.420 --> 00:18:01.920 hǔ guǎ, 00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:02.820 hǔ, 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:04.019 hǔ, 00:18:04.019 --> 00:18:04.080 hǔ, 00:18:04.080 --> 00:18:04.380 hǔ, 00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:04.680 hǔ, 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:05.019 hǔ, 00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:05.080 hǔ, 00:18:05.080 --> 00:18:05.800 hǔ, 00:18:05.800 --> 00:18:06.019 hǔ, 00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:06.519 hǔ, 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:07.019 hǔ, 00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:07.140 hǔ, 00:18:07.140 --> 00:18:07.519 hǔ, 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:07.740 hǔ, 00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:08.019 hǔ, 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:08.060 hǔ, 00:18:08.060 --> 00:18:08.140 hǔ, 00:18:08.140 --> 00:18:08.460 hǔ, 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:08.519 hǔ, 00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:08.620 hǔ, 00:18:08.620 --> 00:18:09.019 hǔ, 00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:09.100 hǔ, 00:18:09.100 --> 00:18:09.180 hǔ, 00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:09.220 hǔ, 00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:09.259 hǔ, 00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:09.860 hǔ, 00:18:09.860 --> 00:18:10.460 hǔ, 00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:11.380 hǔ, 00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.480 hǔ, 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:12.680 hǔ, 00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:13.680 hǔ, 00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:13.940 hǐ, 00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:14.680 hǔ, 00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:14.920 hǔ, 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:14.960 hǔ, 00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:16.799 hǔ, 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:17.900 hǔ, 00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:17.940 hǔ, 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:18.900 hǔ, 00:18:18.900 --> 00:18:19.660 hǔ, 00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:20.880 hǔ, 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:22.079 hǔ, 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:22.779 hǔ, 00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:23.240 hǔ, 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:23.860 hǔ, 00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:24.000 hǔ, 00:18:24.360 --> 00:18:24.600 hǔ, 00:18:24.600 --> 00:18:25.319 hǐ, 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:25.819 hǔ, 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:25.980 hǔ, 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:27.039 hǔ, 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:27.819 hǔ, 00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:29.779 hǔ, 00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:30.680 hǔ, 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:32.019 hǔ, 00:18:32.019 --> 00:18:33.039 hǔ, 00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:34.579 hǔ, 00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:35.720 hǔ, 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:37.299 hǔ, 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:37.400 hǔ, 00:18:37.400 --> 00:18:38.600 hǔ, 00:18:38.600 --> 00:18:39.039 hǔ, 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:39.860 hǔ surprise, 00:18:39.859 --> 00:18:44.859 we will resort to all kinds of different things to get our way. 00:18:45.939 --> 00:18:48.319 You know, I don't know the last time you got angry. 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:52.819 A couple of weeks ago, we went to Ikea. 00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:57.079 I hate Ikea. 00:18:59.419 --> 00:19:00.939 We wanted a cabinet. 00:19:02.459 --> 00:19:04.879 Four hours it took us to get a cabinet. 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:07.079 Just one cabinet. 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:11.199 Everything we asked for, we said, hey, can we have it a little bit taller? 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:11.859 I said, no. 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.699 A little bit wider? 00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:13.199 No. 00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:14.240 Can we have shelves in there? 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:14.679 No. 00:19:15.899 --> 00:19:19.359 Finally, we managed to get a date for it to be delivered to our flat. 00:19:19.659 --> 00:19:20.759 I took a day off. 00:19:21.419 --> 00:19:22.279 Fiona and I were there. 00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:22.859 We were all ready. 00:19:22.919 --> 00:19:23.859 We had all our stuff. 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:25.039 We were going to pack away. 00:19:25.139 --> 00:19:27.099 We spent ages just trying to clear stuff up. 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:30.159 And the guys come, and they put the thing up. 00:19:30.199 --> 00:19:32.980 They put it on the wall, and they refuse to put the shelves in. 00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:37.200 And I'm going, but we've paid for this. 00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:39.200 And they go, it's not our job. 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:40.319 And they left. 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:46.539 And I'm going, that wasn't in the plan, but okay, no big deal. 00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:50.180 And then I look around to find the pins that you can attach the shelf on. 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:52.620 I couldn't find them anywhere. 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:57.799 This was the one day that I'd taken off to do everything on this one day. 00:19:57.799 --> 00:20:02.680 So I ring up customer service. 00:20:06.399 --> 00:20:08.099 And they say they should be on the shelf. 00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.259 I checked. 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:10.720 They weren't. 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:13.460 And they said, we've got no deliveries coming today. 00:20:14.659 --> 00:20:16.480 And I said, that can't be possible. 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:18.259 You're only 30 minutes away. 00:20:18.859 --> 00:20:19.779 And they said, no. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:21.159 And I got off the phone. 00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:26.919 And all my kingdom plans for this one day that I had done were collapsing. 00:20:28.619 --> 00:20:32.240 So we rang them up again, this time a little bit more angry. 00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:37.559 And you know when you start to, you've got to get your way. 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:39.960 So you begin to manipulate a little bit the truth. 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:42.799 Just to make sure they feel the weight of your anger. 00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:43.759 Right? 00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:48.980 And as I was getting more and more mad, I'm trying to hold my tongue. 00:20:49.879 --> 00:20:52.379 Getting a little harsher with my words. 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:53.639 The tone of your voice. 00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:56.399 I'm getting churned up inside. 00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:57.759 Troubled. 00:20:58.759 --> 00:21:05.159 And I was imagining the slow, painful death in my mind of every IKEA staff member. 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:12.879 Finally, we got a helpful customer service person. 00:21:13.379 --> 00:21:15.319 They said, hey, we can be over there in 30 minutes. 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:17.039 We got, I mean, a miracle. 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.879 And then they got over. 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:19.899 The guy comes. 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:21.379 He brings the pins to fix it. 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:23.039 He turns over the shelf. 00:21:25.919 --> 00:21:26.319 And. 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:30.819 And there were the pins. 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:33.039 I looked at Fiona. 00:21:33.159 --> 00:21:34.720 Fiona looked at me and we went, oh. 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.960 Why do I say that? 00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:39.779 I'm not normally an angry kind of person. 00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:43.259 But I can be a tyrant. 00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:47.940 When my plans are not going my way. 00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:50.319 Anyone like me? 00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:52.279 Three people. 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:58.200 You see, I'm pleasant and lovely when you're doing exactly what I want. 00:21:58.639 --> 00:22:01.399 But when you start breaking the rules of my kingdom. 00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:03.099 Or whether it's your spouse. 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:03.920 Whether it's your colleagues. 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:04.960 Whether it's your parents. 00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:06.119 Whoever it is. 00:22:06.119 --> 00:22:09.259 You know, we can end up twisting things. 00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:10.219 Manipulating things. 00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:10.939 Getting angry. 00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:12.519 Getting churned up inside. 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:13.579 Because. 00:22:16.179 --> 00:22:17.599 Things are not going my way. 00:22:17.679 --> 00:22:18.359 Because why? 00:22:18.459 --> 00:22:20.019 I can be a little Hitler. 00:22:20.159 --> 00:22:21.039 A little Pol Pot. 00:22:21.179 --> 00:22:22.239 When I'm not in control. 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:29.559 You see, that's because you and I are like Herod. 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:31.799 Sometimes we respond with silence. 00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:33.259 Sometimes it's our body language. 00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:35.420 But inside, we're angry. 00:22:35.640 --> 00:22:38.839 Because I don't want in that moment for Jesus to be my king. 00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:39.819 I want to be king. 00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:42.899 I want to be on the throne of my life. 00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:46.980 And maybe some of you are saying, hey, I'm not like that. 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:48.019 But you overwork. 00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:49.740 You can't say no to others. 00:22:49.859 --> 00:22:53.279 Or to prove to everyone else that you're a nice, successful person. 00:22:53.399 --> 00:22:55.779 Who should stay on the throne of my life. 00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:59.519 But God is not into power sharing agreements. 00:22:59.679 --> 00:23:00.159 Do you know that? 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:04.579 He wants to dethrone you from your throne. 00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:07.039 Because he's brought in another king. 00:23:07.159 --> 00:23:09.339 Who is far better than you and me as a king. 00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:14.299 And we will always bow to someone or something. 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:18.939 And if it's not Jesus, then you'll always have a tyrant on the throne of your life. 00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:21.519 Who will actually end up hurting other people around. 00:23:23.139 --> 00:23:24.579 Wise men seek Jesus. 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:27.159 Tyrants reject Jesus. 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:30.899 Thirdly, religious leaders. 00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:34.339 He says, assembling all the chief priests. 00:23:34.439 --> 00:23:35.059 This is verse 4. 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.960 And scribes of the people. 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:38.920 Herod inquired of them. 00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:41.180 Where the Christ was to be born. 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:46.140 You see, what Herod does when he hears about the new king. 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:47.900 He brings in all the religious people. 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.519 For answers. 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:51.380 And these people. 00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:53.880 They know all about the Bible. 00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:54.860 Do you know? 00:23:54.920 --> 00:23:56.579 They have spent every single day. 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:58.680 Copying and memorizing. 00:23:58.680 --> 00:23:59.579 The scriptures. 00:23:59.579 --> 00:24:02.259 If you were to have a Bible quiz with them. 00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:04.460 You would lose every time. 00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:08.039 But the incredible thing here is. 00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:08.680 The priest. 00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:10.180 He asks them this question. 00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:11.640 Herod asks them a question. 00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:13.920 And they instantly give him the response. 00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:14.720 Because they know. 00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:16.700 Micah 5 verse 2. 00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:17.860 Where is he going to be born? 00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:19.799 He's going to be born in Bethlehem. 00:24:19.840 --> 00:24:20.720 In David's town. 00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:23.059 Because from Bethlehem will come a ruler. 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:25.019 Who will shepherd my people Israel. 00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:27.360 He's going to be a different kind of ruler. 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.960 He'll be a shepherd. 00:24:29.120 --> 00:24:30.200 He's not going to be like Herod. 00:24:30.360 --> 00:24:31.440 He's going to provide. 00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:32.460 He's going to care. 00:24:32.660 --> 00:24:33.360 He's going to protect. 00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.580 He's going to love. 00:24:34.620 --> 00:24:36.160 Like other rulers didn't love. 00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:37.360 He's not a tyrant. 00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:38.559 They know the answer. 00:24:38.840 --> 00:24:40.140 Like some of us in church. 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:41.580 We know the answer is always Jesus. 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:41.960 Right? 00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:43.620 At Christmas. 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.000 We know. 00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:44.220 Hey. 00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:45.340 We sing these kind of songs. 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:46.799 We do these kind of things. 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:48.220 We know it's all about Jesus. 00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:52.039 But the interesting thing is. 00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:55.799 After this situation. 00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:56.559 What happens? 00:24:56.640 --> 00:24:57.559 The wise men. 00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:59.700 They're going to go straight to Bethlehem. 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.380 To find Jesus. 00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:01.420 What do the religious people do? 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:01.660 What do they do? 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.559 They disappear. 00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:07.019 We don't even know what happens to them. 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:10.380 They're kind of probably so busy copying the Bible down. 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:12.220 That they don't have time to go and visit Jesus. 00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:15.240 And the crazy thing is. 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:16.600 You can be religious. 00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:19.720 And think you're really close to God. 00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:22.000 They're only five miles away from Jesus. 00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:24.720 The wise men were thousands of miles away. 00:25:25.299 --> 00:25:28.700 But who is the only one who comes to actually visit and see Jesus? 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.900 It's the wise men. 00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:32.799 It's not the religious people. 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:35.779 And you know. 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:37.500 I think for many of us. 00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:38.299 We've grown up. 00:25:38.379 --> 00:25:39.700 Some of us in Christian families. 00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:40.980 Some of us. 00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:42.359 We've done Bible studies. 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.460 We've served in church. 00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:44.680 We do all these different things. 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:44.960 And we go. 00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:45.119 Yeah. 00:25:45.139 --> 00:25:45.960 I know Jesus is king. 00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:46.500 That's great. 00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:49.440 But I'm actually more excited about my skiing holiday in Japan. 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:51.320 than really about Jesus. 00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:53.259 If we're honest. 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:53.779 Right? 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:58.400 And the scary thing in this passage. 00:25:59.120 --> 00:26:02.779 Is Matthew mentions the chief priests and the scribes of the people. 00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:04.360 Being gathered by Herod. 00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:06.059 And at the end of his book. 00:26:06.140 --> 00:26:08.000 In chapter 26 verse 3. 00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:10.100 He also mentions the chief priests. 00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:12.660 And the elders of the people being gathered together. 00:26:12.860 --> 00:26:15.340 And it's the same word Matthew uses here. 00:26:15.600 --> 00:26:18.240 And when they're gathering together at the end of the book. 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:19.019 Do you know what they're doing? 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:22.860 They're plotting to kill Jesus. 00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:25.779 Just like Herod had done before. 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:29.539 Because what Matthew is trying to show you. 00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:31.660 Is religion cannot save you. 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:33.200 In fact religion is dangerous. 00:26:35.340 --> 00:26:38.660 You can use religion as a place to hide from God. 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.840 Not to run to God. 00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:41.100 Did you know that? 00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:43.620 You know I spoke to one guy. 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.640 He grew up in a church. 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.840 Family was very devoted. 00:26:45.840 --> 00:26:46.539 And he said to me. 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:48.840 Church for me has always been like a school. 00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:50.619 As long as you kept the rules. 00:26:50.919 --> 00:26:51.500 Read your Bible. 00:26:51.659 --> 00:26:51.879 Pray. 00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:52.519 Share your faith. 00:26:52.599 --> 00:26:53.240 Don't look at porn. 00:26:53.419 --> 00:26:54.459 Don't say bad words. 00:26:54.679 --> 00:26:55.459 You're okay. 00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:57.859 But if you break them. 00:26:57.939 --> 00:26:59.159 Then maybe you'll get kicked out. 00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:02.039 So you've got to try and work really hard to keep them all. 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:04.319 So you can stay in. 00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:06.980 That is not Christianity. 00:27:08.399 --> 00:27:10.059 The gospel says. 00:27:10.659 --> 00:27:14.279 God is not interested in a tick list from you. 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:18.180 He's interested in the worship of your heart. 00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:20.360 So let me ask you. 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:25.140 How utterly surrendered to Jesus as king have you been in this last week? 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:30.220 How valuable and precious is Jesus to you? 00:27:31.060 --> 00:27:33.060 How much do you love him? 00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:40.940 And the honest answer for all of us is not surrendered enough. 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:44.139 I've not loved him enough. 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:48.500 I've not wanted to worship him as he is precious enough. 00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:52.099 And so your tick list is not enough. 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:56.519 And whether you're a Christian or not. 00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:59.019 What God is looking for you today. 00:27:59.180 --> 00:28:00.740 Is to come to him. 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:04.420 With open hands and to say. 00:28:05.099 --> 00:28:07.160 Father I have sinned against you. 00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:10.779 I come in confession to Jesus saying. 00:28:11.140 --> 00:28:13.039 I've tried to be on the throne of my life. 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:17.559 But I want you to be king of my life. 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:18.339 Change me. 00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:20.139 Forgive me. 00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:22.279 Make my heart anew. 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:24.859 So I want to love you with all of my heart. 00:28:24.920 --> 00:28:27.099 I want to seek you like those wise men. 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:32.460 Burn in me that hunger for you. 00:28:34.159 --> 00:28:36.859 That is a daily process of repentance. 00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:38.220 Whether you have started. 00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:39.779 Whether you're like the wise men. 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:41.259 And you're miles away from God. 00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:43.839 Or whether you have been in church all your life. 00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:46.039 That is what God is asking you today. 00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:50.359 But here's the challenging thing. 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:53.619 If time after time you refuse him. 00:28:53.859 --> 00:28:55.460 You go like the religious people. 00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:57.259 I'm too busy right now to pursue Jesus. 00:28:58.019 --> 00:29:00.379 I'll get serious about Jesus when Christmas is over. 00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:02.980 What happens is step by step. 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:07.879 Your heart begins to get cold as ice towards Jesus. 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:12.840 So that eventually what he asks of you will sound like a threat to you. 00:29:14.340 --> 00:29:15.440 Forgive those people. 00:29:15.520 --> 00:29:16.420 You go, no way. 00:29:17.600 --> 00:29:20.560 Come and serve and love the people around you and your family. 00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:22.420 You go, have you known what they've done to me? 00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:26.660 And actually as you do that, you're getting hostile to Jesus. 00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:31.019 Because you don't want him to rule in your life. 00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:35.700 At the beginning of Jesus' life, Herod was plotting to kill Jesus. 00:29:35.820 --> 00:29:39.640 At the end of his life, it was the religious people. 00:29:41.300 --> 00:29:43.880 And you know, the incredible thing is this. 00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:48.620 At the end of Jesus' life, there was another ruler. 00:29:50.700 --> 00:29:56.200 Who, just like Herod, agreed to sacrifice Jesus because he wanted to stay in power. 00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:58.300 Even though he knew that Jesus was innocent. 00:30:00.040 --> 00:30:03.000 Because that's what we all do as humans when we're on the throne. 00:30:04.820 --> 00:30:06.820 But Jesus is a different kind of leader. 00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:11.619 While everyone else was clinging on to their own power and throne. 00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:14.079 He said, I am the good shepherd. 00:30:15.139 --> 00:30:18.259 And I come to lay down my life for the sheep. 00:30:19.139 --> 00:30:21.419 He did not cling on to power. 00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:23.179 He gave up power. 00:30:23.439 --> 00:30:26.119 So he became a servant of us. 00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:28.799 For you and for me. 00:30:30.119 --> 00:30:31.919 Because he's a different kind of king. 00:30:33.679 --> 00:30:35.480 He knows we don't love him enough. 00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:38.120 He knows we are often tyrants in our lives. 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:41.039 And yet, in spite of knowing that, he came. 00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:43.920 And he came to die for you. 00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:46.680 He said, I've come to save you. 00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:49.740 To bring freedom and forgiveness for you. 00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:51.559 In spite of you. 00:30:53.980 --> 00:30:56.799 And do you know, where was Jesus crowned king? 00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.680 On the cross. 00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:03.259 What was the sign behind him? 00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:05.940 It said, the king of the Jews. 00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:09.859 And with a crown of thorns around his head. 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:13.500 Because you see, God's king is different from every other king. 00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:17.119 And he's the only one. 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:19.879 For those of us who want to be king of our lives. 00:31:20.119 --> 00:31:23.779 He's the only one who's actually worthy to be crowned king in your life. 00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:26.740 Because the only one who truly rules. 00:31:26.900 --> 00:31:27.619 Not as a tyrant. 00:31:27.859 --> 00:31:29.460 But as a God of love and grace. 00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:30.819 And compassion and forgiveness. 00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:33.140 And. 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:35.299 He died to save you from your rule. 00:31:36.940 --> 00:31:38.859 So no matter how great. 00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:40.400 You think you are. 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:42.440 No matter how messed up you think you are. 00:31:42.579 --> 00:31:44.200 He wants to draw you to himself. 00:31:44.200 --> 00:31:51.759 Just got one last thing I want to say. 00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:55.180 How do we respond to Jesus today? 00:31:56.380 --> 00:31:57.440 How do you respond? 00:31:58.180 --> 00:32:00.240 You can be like Herod and reject him. 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:04.620 You can be constantly troubled in your life. 00:32:05.580 --> 00:32:09.259 You can be like the religious leaders and just try and ignore him. 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:12.059 Or you can be like the wise men. 00:32:12.059 --> 00:32:12.079 You can be like the wise men. 00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:14.379 Who come and worship him. 00:32:15.180 --> 00:32:17.180 Because it says going into their house. 00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:19.320 They saw the child with Mary his mother. 00:32:19.320 --> 00:32:21.900 And they fell down and worshipped him. 00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:23.940 Then opening their treasures. 00:32:24.140 --> 00:32:25.279 They offered him gifts. 00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:28.340 Gold and frankincense and myrrh. 00:32:28.339 --> 00:32:31.339 These were great people. 00:32:32.119 --> 00:32:33.379 They were the scientists. 00:32:33.559 --> 00:32:34.639 The intellectuals. 00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:36.359 They were wealthy in their time. 00:32:36.699 --> 00:32:38.159 And yet they come down. 00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:39.619 And they see Jesus. 00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:41.019 A little tiny baby. 00:32:42.459 --> 00:32:44.859 And they're willing to humble themselves. 00:32:44.859 --> 00:32:47.059 And fall on their knees. 00:32:47.059 --> 00:32:49.079 In worship before him. 00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:53.500 Let me ask you. 00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:58.719 Everyone is a worshipper. 00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:00.019 Do you know that? 00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.740 You're a worshipper. 00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:06.579 What you worship is what you subscribe ultimate value to. 00:33:07.439 --> 00:33:08.979 If you want to worship. 00:33:10.139 --> 00:33:12.899 Your career is going to eat up your life. 00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:14.339 Destroy your relationship. 00:33:14.339 --> 00:33:15.179 Leave you lonely. 00:33:15.899 --> 00:33:17.359 If you worship your body. 00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:20.399 Every time you see someone more attractive than you. 00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:22.819 Every wrinkle you see is going to devastate you. 00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:24.720 If you worship. 00:33:25.419 --> 00:33:26.459 Your family. 00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:29.819 When they don't respond to you the way you want them to. 00:33:30.639 --> 00:33:31.699 It's going to break you. 00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.779 And it's going to hurt you. 00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:35.939 But when you worship Jesus. 00:33:36.579 --> 00:33:38.559 He's offering you joy. 00:33:40.199 --> 00:33:41.359 Because he says. 00:33:42.919 --> 00:33:44.319 When they saw the stars. 00:33:44.339 --> 00:33:46.799 They rejoiced. 00:33:48.379 --> 00:33:48.859 Exceedingly. 00:33:49.359 --> 00:33:50.699 With great joy. 00:33:52.220 --> 00:33:54.179 That is a redundant sentence. 00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:56.759 He could just say they rejoiced. 00:33:57.359 --> 00:33:57.919 Period. 00:33:58.119 --> 00:33:59.039 You get the message. 00:33:59.039 --> 00:34:01.539 But what he's saying is. 00:34:02.059 --> 00:34:03.059 This Christmas. 00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.259 Jesus. 00:34:04.599 --> 00:34:06.119 Is not offering you. 00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:07.879 The same happiness that I get. 00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:09.860 Because Liverpool are top of the league at the moment. 00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:11.739 He's not offering you. 00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:12.980 The same happiness. 00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:15.219 That you get. 00:34:15.320 --> 00:34:16.860 When you take the turkey out of the oven. 00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:18.019 And it's cooked perfectly. 00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:20.480 He's offering you. 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:21.780 An abundant. 00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:23.759 Overflowing joy. 00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:27.960 That is not dependent upon your performance. 00:34:27.960 --> 00:34:31.179 That is outside of your circumstances. 00:34:31.179 --> 00:34:34.400 That is only found when you get off your throne. 00:34:34.400 --> 00:34:35.960 And you worship. 00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:37.400 God's king. 00:34:37.539 --> 00:34:38.480 Jesus Christ. 00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:38.639 Christ. 00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:40.500 The one who's worthy. 00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:41.980 Of your worship. 00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:44.420 And humbly bowing before him this morning. 00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:44.460 God's king.