WEBVTT 00:00:00.580 --> 00:00:04.860 Father, we thank you that you're so good. 00:00:05.240 --> 00:00:06.560 And Lord, as we sang this morning, 00:00:06.780 --> 00:00:10.679 that you are pleased to manifest your glory among us. 00:00:11.240 --> 00:00:12.640 And Lord, we thank you for that. 00:00:12.700 --> 00:00:15.620 We thank you that you came down from heaven 00:00:15.620 --> 00:00:17.679 in the person of your son, Jesus, 00:00:18.500 --> 00:00:21.019 to make God known to us. 00:00:22.120 --> 00:00:24.940 And Lord, I pray that as we open your word this morning, 00:00:25.019 --> 00:00:27.379 that your word would bear much fruit 00:00:27.379 --> 00:00:31.799 and that your word would cause us to worship you 00:00:31.799 --> 00:00:33.799 and to love you more and more. 00:00:34.839 --> 00:00:37.200 I ask in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:39.439 So you may be seated. 00:00:43.780 --> 00:00:45.519 Now, some of you know me pretty well, 00:00:45.799 --> 00:00:48.719 and you know that I'm a fairly timid fellow. 00:00:49.460 --> 00:00:52.960 I'm not naturally drawn to say hello to strangers 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:54.899 at the grocery store or at the coffee shop 00:00:54.899 --> 00:00:56.739 or at the gym where I go. 00:00:57.539 --> 00:00:59.700 But it's not my natural bent. 00:01:00.200 --> 00:01:01.380 But I try to make an effort 00:01:01.380 --> 00:01:03.179 because I want to be an evangelist. 00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:05.599 I want to open doors to have opportunities 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:08.219 to share the gospel with people eventually. 00:01:09.240 --> 00:01:11.420 And so one of the things that I do 00:01:11.420 --> 00:01:15.099 is I try to intentionally start the conversation with people. 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:17.460 And one of the things that you all know 00:01:17.460 --> 00:01:18.480 from meeting new people 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:20.680 is that you eventually get to the topic 00:01:20.680 --> 00:01:22.460 of what do you do for a living? 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:24.700 And as you know, 00:01:24.700 --> 00:01:26.659 I'm a pastoral intern here at the church. 00:01:26.900 --> 00:01:29.100 And so I just tell them that that's what I do. 00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:29.920 I work for a church, 00:01:30.040 --> 00:01:31.400 and I'm a pastoral intern. 00:01:32.299 --> 00:01:33.460 And usually at that point, 00:01:34.020 --> 00:01:36.620 their faces kind of get a little bit, 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:38.299 they kind of drop a bit, 00:01:38.379 --> 00:01:40.500 and the conversation goes to a halt. 00:01:40.500 --> 00:01:43.180 And if I had the technology 00:01:43.180 --> 00:01:44.840 of like a very, very small microphone, 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:45.980 I could put it next to their ear, 00:01:46.019 --> 00:01:46.939 I could hear their thoughts, 00:01:47.299 --> 00:01:48.500 and it would sound something like, 00:01:48.920 --> 00:01:52.239 don't you know that there are more worthwhile things to do, 00:01:52.599 --> 00:01:54.200 more worthwhile pursuits in this life, 00:01:54.260 --> 00:01:57.200 like science and achieving good government? 00:01:57.700 --> 00:01:58.659 Like you would do much better 00:01:58.659 --> 00:02:00.780 to contribute to the progress of our society 00:02:00.780 --> 00:02:03.460 if you spent more time on these things, 00:02:03.500 --> 00:02:04.519 if you focused on this. 00:02:04.519 --> 00:02:08.639 Now it's a good question. 00:02:08.799 --> 00:02:09.479 I mean, it's a good point. 00:02:10.180 --> 00:02:12.419 And really what the question is, 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:15.340 is that why don't you Christians as myself, 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:16.479 why don't Christians as myself 00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:20.579 devote themselves to the here and now, 00:02:21.300 --> 00:02:24.079 things that contribute to the progress of our society, 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:28.879 or at least as defined by the average Canadian. 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:30.439 So if you have your Bibles with you, 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:32.159 the text that we're looking at today 00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:34.419 will actually help us engage with that question 00:02:34.419 --> 00:02:35.659 and hopefully provide an answer. 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:38.500 So we're going to look at Matthew chapter 2, 00:02:39.539 --> 00:02:41.579 beginning at the first verse. 00:02:43.259 --> 00:02:45.740 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:47.919 in the days of Herod the king, 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:51.819 behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem. 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:54.039 Now just pausing here for a moment, 00:02:54.500 --> 00:02:55.579 this is our setting. 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:56.300 This is where the, 00:02:56.300 --> 00:02:58.579 this is the setting of the story 00:02:58.579 --> 00:03:00.539 where we're getting acquainted with the characters 00:03:00.539 --> 00:03:01.819 and the different places. 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:03.120 So we start with Jesus, 00:03:03.219 --> 00:03:04.359 who's from a small town, 00:03:04.799 --> 00:03:07.379 and he has a bit of an awkward story. 00:03:07.500 --> 00:03:07.960 If you read, 00:03:08.120 --> 00:03:09.620 if you take a minute after the service today, 00:03:09.659 --> 00:03:12.340 you read just the last part of the chapter 00:03:12.340 --> 00:03:13.780 before this chapter, 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:14.680 you get a sense that, 00:03:14.740 --> 00:03:15.259 you know, 00:03:15.340 --> 00:03:16.859 if Jesus were in a playground 00:03:16.859 --> 00:03:18.620 with the other kids in Bethlehem 00:03:18.620 --> 00:03:19.699 and they asked, 00:03:19.800 --> 00:03:20.240 where are you from? 00:03:20.359 --> 00:03:21.740 It would take a minute 00:03:21.740 --> 00:03:23.419 and then two, five minutes, 00:03:23.479 --> 00:03:24.400 he would start talking about 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:27.800 the hypostatic union of God and man, 00:03:27.800 --> 00:03:29.640 and they would just go like, 00:03:29.700 --> 00:03:30.860 what is this kid all about? 00:03:30.939 --> 00:03:31.280 And so he has, 00:03:31.400 --> 00:03:33.140 he's a bit odd in the neighborhood. 00:03:33.920 --> 00:03:35.820 And then you have King Herod, 00:03:36.300 --> 00:03:38.740 who is the king of Judea, 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:40.280 and he's part of one of the most, 00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:42.980 most advanced governments 00:03:42.980 --> 00:03:43.939 that the world, 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:45.340 in that part of the world, 00:03:45.380 --> 00:03:45.960 has ever seen. 00:03:46.020 --> 00:03:48.460 The most powerful governments 00:03:48.460 --> 00:03:50.520 and the most advanced forms of governments 00:03:50.520 --> 00:03:51.680 that the world has seen. 00:03:51.780 --> 00:03:53.040 And then you have the Magi 00:03:53.040 --> 00:03:53.760 that are from the East, 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:54.480 and the Magi, 00:03:55.520 --> 00:03:57.180 so here it says 00:03:57.180 --> 00:03:59.819 that they were called the wise men, 00:03:59.920 --> 00:04:01.599 but the Greek word is Magi, 00:04:01.620 --> 00:04:02.260 and it's a bit different. 00:04:02.700 --> 00:04:03.620 It's not that they were just 00:04:03.620 --> 00:04:05.300 more wise in the culture. 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:07.360 They practiced things like, 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:08.920 you know, 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:11.159 divination and astrology. 00:04:12.280 --> 00:04:13.280 So in other words, 00:04:13.340 --> 00:04:14.879 they were the most technologically advanced 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:15.900 in the society, 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:17.360 in the culture, 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:19.379 because they observed the stars 00:04:19.379 --> 00:04:21.160 and they could interpret the future 00:04:21.160 --> 00:04:22.520 based off of what they read. 00:04:24.060 --> 00:04:25.380 So we get a few markers 00:04:25.380 --> 00:04:26.240 in this first verse 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:27.980 that Matthew is trying to tell us a story, 00:04:28.400 --> 00:04:29.600 but he's also trying to tell us 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:30.439 a true story. 00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:33.960 And before we get into 00:04:33.960 --> 00:04:35.220 the narrative of the story, 00:04:35.860 --> 00:04:37.000 the narrative of the text, 00:04:37.500 --> 00:04:38.420 you might be wondering, 00:04:38.980 --> 00:04:41.000 okay, so if you're familiar 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:41.760 with the four Gospels, 00:04:41.840 --> 00:04:42.460 you might be wondering, 00:04:42.900 --> 00:04:44.360 like, there are the Magi 00:04:44.360 --> 00:04:45.320 in Matthew's Gospel, 00:04:45.420 --> 00:04:46.400 but not in the other Gospels. 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:48.340 Like, does that mean that, 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:50.760 you know, this is just an invention? 00:04:50.759 --> 00:04:51.800 Can I really trust 00:04:51.800 --> 00:04:53.420 that the Magi, 00:04:53.860 --> 00:04:54.779 the story of the Magi 00:04:54.779 --> 00:04:55.459 really happened? 00:04:56.060 --> 00:04:57.259 And I'll just give a little bit 00:04:57.259 --> 00:04:58.740 of an analogy before we jump in. 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:02.199 So when my parents and I moved to, 00:05:02.339 --> 00:05:02.779 and my siblings, 00:05:02.860 --> 00:05:03.800 when we moved to Orleans 00:05:03.800 --> 00:05:05.819 about almost 30 years ago, 00:05:06.379 --> 00:05:08.860 we got to meet some of our neighbors 00:05:08.860 --> 00:05:09.519 and they told us 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:10.639 that the Trudeau kids 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:11.800 used to play in the house 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:12.319 where we moved, 00:05:12.539 --> 00:05:13.259 that they used to come 00:05:13.259 --> 00:05:14.259 and they used to, you know, 00:05:14.300 --> 00:05:15.639 play in the pool and all that 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:16.420 because their nanny, 00:05:16.579 --> 00:05:17.500 that's where she lived. 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:18.279 She lived in the house 00:05:18.279 --> 00:05:19.139 where we lived. 00:05:20.179 --> 00:05:22.439 And so, like, 00:05:22.479 --> 00:05:22.979 how are we supposed 00:05:22.979 --> 00:05:24.299 to take their word for it? 00:05:24.359 --> 00:05:25.059 Well, you know, 00:05:25.059 --> 00:05:26.119 we could ask another neighbor 00:05:26.119 --> 00:05:27.119 and say, like, 00:05:27.139 --> 00:05:28.419 is it true that the Trudeau kids 00:05:28.419 --> 00:05:29.459 used to, like, 00:05:29.479 --> 00:05:30.479 come to our house and play? 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:31.019 And they would say, 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:31.579 oh, of course. 00:05:32.339 --> 00:05:33.859 Like, you should have been there. 00:05:33.939 --> 00:05:35.199 Like, two hours before they came, 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:37.099 the streets were full of black cars 00:05:37.099 --> 00:05:38.279 with tainted windows 00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:39.039 and, you know, 00:05:39.059 --> 00:05:39.699 they would just park 00:05:39.699 --> 00:05:40.479 in front of our yard 00:05:40.479 --> 00:05:41.479 and leave their engine running 00:05:41.479 --> 00:05:42.439 for about four hours 00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:43.939 before the kids were done 00:05:43.939 --> 00:05:45.559 and then they'd eventually leave. 00:05:45.560 --> 00:05:47.620 And so it was a very remarkable event. 00:05:48.100 --> 00:05:48.220 You know, 00:05:48.259 --> 00:05:49.199 they don't just send the kids 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:50.120 there on their own. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:52.280 They send security with them. 00:05:53.160 --> 00:05:55.160 And so with the Magi here, 00:05:55.459 --> 00:05:56.920 you have a story 00:05:56.920 --> 00:05:57.800 of these delegates 00:05:57.800 --> 00:05:59.879 who left Babylon 00:05:59.879 --> 00:06:01.220 and went to Jerusalem 00:06:01.220 --> 00:06:02.660 and they didn't go on their own. 00:06:02.860 --> 00:06:03.959 There weren't three of them 00:06:03.959 --> 00:06:04.980 with three camels. 00:06:05.079 --> 00:06:05.800 There were a lot more 00:06:05.800 --> 00:06:07.759 and probably a lot more camels 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:08.500 than there were people 00:06:08.500 --> 00:06:09.500 with equipment, 00:06:09.740 --> 00:06:10.860 with maybe armor 00:06:10.860 --> 00:06:12.720 and maybe some beautiful colors 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:14.440 to show that they were from a royal, 00:06:15.400 --> 00:06:17.040 that they represent the royalty 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:18.380 of where they came from 00:06:18.380 --> 00:06:20.500 and had food and drink 00:06:20.500 --> 00:06:21.440 and sandals and all that. 00:06:21.520 --> 00:06:24.020 So there was a big group of people 00:06:24.020 --> 00:06:25.480 traveling in the desert 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:27.120 and they were arriving in Jerusalem. 00:06:27.280 --> 00:06:28.720 So it's a fairly remarkable event 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:29.860 that you could ask someone 00:06:29.860 --> 00:06:31.340 in Jerusalem at that time 00:06:31.340 --> 00:06:31.840 and they would say, 00:06:31.980 --> 00:06:33.860 oh, of course I remember the Magi. 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:35.680 So with that in mind, 00:06:35.820 --> 00:06:36.960 let's look at the text again 00:06:36.960 --> 00:06:38.580 and then we'll move on 00:06:38.580 --> 00:06:40.740 to see what the story has to say. 00:06:40.740 --> 00:06:43.120 Now after Jesus was born 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:44.579 in Bethlehem of Judea 00:06:44.579 --> 00:06:46.120 in the days of Herod the king, 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:48.540 behold, wise men from the east 00:06:48.540 --> 00:06:50.139 came to Jerusalem saying, 00:06:50.860 --> 00:06:52.180 where is he who has been born 00:06:52.180 --> 00:06:53.720 king of the Jews? 00:06:54.400 --> 00:06:56.300 For we saw his star when it rose 00:06:56.300 --> 00:06:58.040 and have come to worship him. 00:06:59.939 --> 00:07:01.560 Now just pausing here 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:02.259 for another moment. 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:04.400 So you can just imagine 00:07:04.400 --> 00:07:05.720 this large caravan 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:07.300 coming into Jerusalem, 00:07:07.540 --> 00:07:08.340 going through the gates 00:07:08.339 --> 00:07:10.199 and making their way 00:07:10.199 --> 00:07:11.119 to the temple of Herod, 00:07:11.219 --> 00:07:12.039 go up the stairs, 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:13.859 they get into the room 00:07:13.859 --> 00:07:15.479 where Herod is sitting 00:07:15.479 --> 00:07:16.000 on his throne 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:17.299 and has all his advisors, 00:07:17.579 --> 00:07:18.459 the chief priests 00:07:18.459 --> 00:07:19.839 and all these different people 00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:20.519 who are around him 00:07:20.519 --> 00:07:22.079 and the Magi go 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:23.739 and they address Herod 00:07:23.739 --> 00:07:24.219 and they say, 00:07:25.419 --> 00:07:25.779 Herod, 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:28.500 we've come to make a trade 00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:30.579 from our country 00:07:30.579 --> 00:07:31.159 and we want to have 00:07:31.159 --> 00:07:31.779 a peace agreement 00:07:31.779 --> 00:07:32.959 and we give you these gifts 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:34.679 to honor you. 00:07:35.219 --> 00:07:36.259 No, that's not what happens. 00:07:36.259 --> 00:07:37.839 Let's read that again 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:38.399 in verse 2. 00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:41.079 It says, 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:43.099 where is he who has been born 00:07:43.099 --> 00:07:43.899 king of the Jews? 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:45.800 For we saw his star 00:07:45.800 --> 00:07:46.819 when it rose 00:07:46.819 --> 00:07:47.899 and have come 00:07:47.899 --> 00:07:49.139 to worship him. 00:07:50.599 --> 00:07:51.579 And you can just imagine 00:07:51.579 --> 00:07:52.399 there's a really 00:07:52.399 --> 00:07:54.219 awkward silence, 00:07:54.300 --> 00:07:55.279 a cold silence. 00:07:57.899 --> 00:07:59.000 Now you might be wondering, 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:00.439 hold on Jonathan, 00:08:00.779 --> 00:08:02.180 like isn't Herod the guy 00:08:02.180 --> 00:08:04.680 who killed his, 00:08:05.340 --> 00:08:05.519 you know, 00:08:05.560 --> 00:08:06.439 three of his sons, 00:08:06.519 --> 00:08:07.800 who killed his favorite wife. 00:08:08.900 --> 00:08:10.000 Wasn't that his reputation? 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:11.160 Couldn't he just have 00:08:11.160 --> 00:08:12.240 said a word, 00:08:12.400 --> 00:08:13.139 snapped his fingers 00:08:13.139 --> 00:08:13.840 because he didn't like 00:08:13.840 --> 00:08:14.600 what they had to say? 00:08:15.079 --> 00:08:15.280 You know, 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:16.139 the security come, 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:17.199 they take the Magi away, 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:17.939 clean the floor, 00:08:18.500 --> 00:08:19.439 nothing's ever happened, 00:08:19.639 --> 00:08:20.620 nothing ever happened here, 00:08:20.980 --> 00:08:21.860 let's move on. 00:08:22.280 --> 00:08:23.660 Couldn't he have just done that? 00:08:24.579 --> 00:08:26.019 So why did he listen to them? 00:08:26.019 --> 00:08:28.099 So I mentioned 00:08:28.099 --> 00:08:29.180 a little bit briefly earlier 00:08:29.180 --> 00:08:29.799 that the Magi 00:08:29.799 --> 00:08:30.979 were the astrologers 00:08:30.979 --> 00:08:33.360 who had an authoritative voice 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:34.079 in their culture, 00:08:34.500 --> 00:08:36.399 kind of like the scientists today, 00:08:36.620 --> 00:08:37.500 that, you know, 00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:39.360 they have an authoritative voice, 00:08:39.439 --> 00:08:40.399 they speak to politicians 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:41.939 and people listen to them, 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:42.819 we consult them. 00:08:43.500 --> 00:08:44.500 These Magi 00:08:44.500 --> 00:08:45.500 who were astrologers, 00:08:45.960 --> 00:08:47.939 they were the voice of progress 00:08:47.939 --> 00:08:48.699 in that culture. 00:08:49.159 --> 00:08:49.960 When they spoke, 00:08:50.740 --> 00:08:51.500 people listened. 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:53.259 And even though 00:08:53.259 --> 00:08:53.939 they weren't always 00:08:53.939 --> 00:08:54.639 actually right. 00:08:54.639 --> 00:08:55.659 So it's kind of like 00:08:55.659 --> 00:08:57.199 when you go to a party 00:08:57.199 --> 00:08:58.000 or you're at work 00:08:58.000 --> 00:08:59.519 and you have a conversation 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:00.019 with someone 00:09:00.019 --> 00:09:01.019 and they tell you something 00:09:01.019 --> 00:09:01.460 and you're like, 00:09:01.539 --> 00:09:02.639 where is that coming from? 00:09:02.699 --> 00:09:03.679 Like, none of that is, 00:09:03.699 --> 00:09:05.199 like, logically coherent 00:09:05.199 --> 00:09:06.860 and you're about to speak 00:09:06.860 --> 00:09:07.379 and then they say, 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:08.220 well, we know this 00:09:08.220 --> 00:09:09.199 because science says so. 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:10.220 And you're like, 00:09:10.379 --> 00:09:11.559 well, I'm not going to be the jerk now 00:09:11.559 --> 00:09:13.100 who's going to try to say, 00:09:13.439 --> 00:09:14.120 well, no, 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:15.259 because science 00:09:15.259 --> 00:09:16.960 doesn't actually work that way. 00:09:17.019 --> 00:09:18.019 Like, it has authority 00:09:18.019 --> 00:09:19.259 in our culture 00:09:19.259 --> 00:09:21.179 and that's just kind of the way 00:09:21.179 --> 00:09:21.819 that we interact 00:09:21.819 --> 00:09:22.860 with one another. 00:09:22.860 --> 00:09:25.680 And so here the Magi 00:09:25.680 --> 00:09:27.200 are the voice of progress, 00:09:27.419 --> 00:09:30.000 the voice of cultural authority 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:30.580 in that day. 00:09:31.740 --> 00:09:32.320 And they say, 00:09:32.980 --> 00:09:34.259 and they speak of their findings 00:09:34.259 --> 00:09:35.820 and Herod has their attention. 00:09:36.460 --> 00:09:37.519 So what are they saying 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:39.000 to Herod? 00:09:39.500 --> 00:09:41.200 Well, we see in the first part 00:09:41.200 --> 00:09:41.740 of what they say, 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:43.279 well, where is he who has been born 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:44.039 king of the Jews? 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:46.519 Okay, Herod is king of Judea, 00:09:46.620 --> 00:09:48.240 he's king over the Jews. 00:09:48.940 --> 00:09:50.159 What's going on here? 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:51.240 But then it says, 00:09:51.379 --> 00:09:52.500 for we saw his star 00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:53.620 when it rose 00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:55.259 and have come to worship him. 00:09:56.059 --> 00:09:57.779 And basically what they're saying is, 00:09:58.299 --> 00:09:58.600 Herod, 00:09:59.159 --> 00:10:00.059 your time's up. 00:10:00.339 --> 00:10:01.159 Where's the new king? 00:10:02.319 --> 00:10:03.100 Someone's been born. 00:10:03.219 --> 00:10:04.740 The stars have told us. 00:10:04.919 --> 00:10:06.799 The gods of the spiritual realm 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:07.360 have spoken 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:09.059 and the stars have aligned. 00:10:09.439 --> 00:10:10.379 Your time is up. 00:10:10.819 --> 00:10:11.719 Where's the other king? 00:10:13.100 --> 00:10:14.139 A new emperor 00:10:14.139 --> 00:10:15.339 is about to come 00:10:15.339 --> 00:10:16.100 and will take over. 00:10:16.100 --> 00:10:18.440 And for the first time, 00:10:18.860 --> 00:10:20.899 since worshiping his own power 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:21.980 and his own progress 00:10:21.980 --> 00:10:23.360 and his own reputation, 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:25.800 Herod comes face to face 00:10:25.800 --> 00:10:28.440 with the expiration of this quest 00:10:28.440 --> 00:10:30.300 of becoming like God. 00:10:31.060 --> 00:10:31.460 So Andrew, 00:10:31.560 --> 00:10:32.800 can we have our first point 00:10:32.800 --> 00:10:33.300 at this time? 00:10:36.100 --> 00:10:37.560 At the root of sin 00:10:37.560 --> 00:10:40.000 is a desire to be like God. 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:42.560 At the root of sin 00:10:42.560 --> 00:10:44.879 is a desire to be like God. 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:46.659 Now whether it's a desire 00:10:46.659 --> 00:10:47.879 to be powerful 00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:50.759 or a desire to manipulate events 00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:52.379 or people in our lives 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:55.100 to have a result that we want 00:10:55.100 --> 00:10:56.200 or to receive praise 00:10:56.200 --> 00:10:58.419 and recognition from others, 00:10:58.939 --> 00:10:59.919 to be accepted, 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:02.700 there's this underlying current 00:11:02.700 --> 00:11:04.659 that feeds all of these 00:11:04.659 --> 00:11:05.919 different dispositions 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:06.820 that we have 00:11:06.820 --> 00:11:08.419 that is a desire 00:11:08.419 --> 00:11:10.179 to be like God. 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:14.580 And for the first time here, 00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:16.620 Herod is realizing 00:11:16.620 --> 00:11:17.379 his frailty 00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:19.179 that he is not the God 00:11:19.179 --> 00:11:19.840 that he thought 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:20.580 that he was, 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:21.860 the God that he imagined 00:11:21.860 --> 00:11:22.980 over and over in his mind 00:11:22.980 --> 00:11:24.539 that he could become, 00:11:24.939 --> 00:11:25.939 but that he is frail 00:11:25.939 --> 00:11:28.059 and that he's toast. 00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:29.480 His last moment 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:30.879 is about to come. 00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:32.240 So what does he do? 00:11:32.439 --> 00:11:33.580 Well, let's look at verse 4. 00:11:35.379 --> 00:11:36.480 So Herod, 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:37.519 here's the news, 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:38.679 or verse 3. 00:11:38.679 --> 00:11:39.979 When Herod the king 00:11:39.979 --> 00:11:40.859 heard this, 00:11:41.179 --> 00:11:41.799 he was troubled, 00:11:42.919 --> 00:11:44.159 and all Jerusalem with him, 00:11:44.899 --> 00:11:46.519 and assembling all the chief priests 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:47.699 and scribes of the people, 00:11:48.219 --> 00:11:49.259 he inquired of them 00:11:49.259 --> 00:11:50.899 where the Christ was to be born. 00:11:51.719 --> 00:11:53.459 So Herod is consulting 00:11:53.459 --> 00:11:54.620 the Jewish leaders 00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:55.319 of that time 00:11:55.319 --> 00:11:55.799 and to see, 00:11:56.459 --> 00:11:57.299 so he believes 00:11:57.299 --> 00:11:58.179 what the Magi are saying. 00:11:58.659 --> 00:12:00.099 They spoke of the king 00:12:00.099 --> 00:12:00.519 of the Jews, 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:01.459 where is he to be born? 00:12:02.420 --> 00:12:05.060 And so here, 00:12:05.160 --> 00:12:06.460 the word Christ, 00:12:06.620 --> 00:12:07.720 which appears the first time, 00:12:07.860 --> 00:12:09.019 for some of us 00:12:09.019 --> 00:12:10.019 it might be unfamiliar. 00:12:10.980 --> 00:12:11.860 It basically says 00:12:11.860 --> 00:12:13.500 the one empowered by God 00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:14.580 to do God's will 00:12:14.580 --> 00:12:16.240 among God's people. 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:18.080 And so we get a sense 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:20.120 of divine authority, 00:12:20.580 --> 00:12:21.400 this divine ruler 00:12:21.400 --> 00:12:21.980 who's to come 00:12:21.980 --> 00:12:22.639 and is going to take 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:23.680 Herod's place. 00:12:25.540 --> 00:12:27.120 And so what do the scribes 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:29.139 and leaders tell Herod? 00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:30.300 Well, let's look at verse 5. 00:12:30.400 --> 00:12:31.019 They told him, 00:12:31.460 --> 00:12:33.139 in Bethlehem of Judea, 00:12:33.660 --> 00:12:34.400 for it is written 00:12:34.400 --> 00:12:35.139 by the prophet, 00:12:35.900 --> 00:12:37.220 and you, O Bethlehem, 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:38.080 in the land of Judah, 00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:39.139 are by no means 00:12:39.139 --> 00:12:40.560 least among the rulers 00:12:40.560 --> 00:12:41.280 of Judah, 00:12:41.740 --> 00:12:42.720 for from you 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:43.639 shall come a ruler 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:44.980 who will shepherd 00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:46.240 my people Israel. 00:12:48.540 --> 00:12:49.780 So just like that, 00:12:49.980 --> 00:12:50.700 introducing Jesus 00:12:50.700 --> 00:12:51.639 into the conversation 00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:53.740 has put a solid halt 00:12:53.740 --> 00:12:56.120 to Herod's progress 00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:56.820 in this world 00:12:56.820 --> 00:12:58.800 of becoming a god 00:12:58.800 --> 00:12:59.519 and becoming 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:00.759 this very powerful 00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:02.779 king who has 00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:03.139 his way 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:03.779 all the time. 00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:06.139 And because 00:13:06.139 --> 00:13:07.139 here we're introduced 00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:08.019 with a prophecy 00:13:08.019 --> 00:13:08.840 that God spoke 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:10.120 about 700 years 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:11.939 before this very event, 00:13:12.580 --> 00:13:13.539 about 700 years 00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:13.939 before through 00:13:13.939 --> 00:13:14.860 the prophet Micah, 00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:16.120 he speaks this word 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:17.080 that God made a promise 00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:17.819 to bring a king 00:13:17.819 --> 00:13:18.379 and a ruler 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:20.820 and here Herod is 00:13:20.820 --> 00:13:21.759 confronted with 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:22.779 the fact that 00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:23.600 God spoke 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:24.939 and God 00:13:24.939 --> 00:13:26.320 is acting 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:27.360 upon his promise. 00:13:27.939 --> 00:13:28.559 And who can 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:30.259 fight against that? 00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:32.639 And so he realized 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:33.480 that he created 00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:34.139 this illusion 00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:35.759 that he can control 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.320 his life 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:37.080 and his destiny. 00:13:37.799 --> 00:13:38.100 Andrew, 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:38.820 can we have our next 00:13:38.820 --> 00:13:39.480 point, please? 00:13:39.480 --> 00:13:43.840 So sinful pride 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:44.840 removes me 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:45.920 from the real world 00:13:45.920 --> 00:13:46.980 where the Lord 00:13:46.980 --> 00:13:47.519 is God 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:48.920 and I am not. 00:13:50.700 --> 00:13:51.560 Sinful pride 00:13:51.560 --> 00:13:52.139 removes me 00:13:52.139 --> 00:13:53.200 from the real world 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:54.200 where the Lord 00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:54.740 is God 00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:55.800 and I am not. 00:13:56.440 --> 00:13:57.480 Now I'm qualifying 00:13:57.480 --> 00:13:58.120 pride here 00:13:58.120 --> 00:13:59.639 because there are times 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:00.860 when we're proud 00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:02.820 of a kid 00:14:02.820 --> 00:14:03.360 or a neighbor 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:04.220 or whatnot 00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:05.039 and that's okay, 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:05.740 that's fine. 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:06.000 Here, 00:14:06.440 --> 00:14:07.940 pride is the idea 00:14:07.940 --> 00:14:09.680 of being rebellious 00:14:09.680 --> 00:14:10.399 against God 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:12.639 which removes us 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:13.519 from the real world 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:14.019 where God 00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:14.600 is the Lord 00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:15.519 where the Lord 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:15.940 is God 00:14:15.940 --> 00:14:16.879 and I am not. 00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:18.480 And part of the Lord 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:19.980 being God 00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:21.200 is his ability 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:21.860 to oversee 00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:22.539 the events 00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:23.360 in life. 00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:24.620 We think 00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:25.399 that we can oversee 00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:25.700 things, 00:14:25.740 --> 00:14:26.360 that we can manipulate 00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:26.779 things 00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:28.519 behind the scenes 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:30.139 but ultimately 00:14:30.139 --> 00:14:31.159 God is God. 00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:31.720 God is the one 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:32.360 who has vengeance 00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:33.779 for evil 00:14:33.779 --> 00:14:34.639 and Herod 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:36.019 as we see 00:14:36.019 --> 00:14:37.199 in the next verse 00:14:37.199 --> 00:14:38.059 is going to 00:14:38.059 --> 00:14:39.220 want to have 00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:39.980 his own vengeance. 00:14:40.199 --> 00:14:41.399 So we'll look 00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:42.220 at verse 7 here 00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:43.659 and to get a sense 00:14:43.659 --> 00:14:45.679 of his sinful pride 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:46.379 which removes him 00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:47.559 from the real world. 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:48.220 So verse 7, 00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:49.259 Then Herod summoned 00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:50.580 the wise men secretly 00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:52.419 and ascertained from them 00:14:52.419 --> 00:14:53.919 what time the star 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:54.819 had appeared 00:14:54.819 --> 00:14:56.699 and he sent them 00:14:56.699 --> 00:14:57.539 to Bethlehem saying, 00:14:58.319 --> 00:14:59.620 Go and search diligently 00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:00.360 for the child 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:01.679 and when you have found him 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:02.659 bring me word 00:15:02.659 --> 00:15:03.279 that I too 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:04.139 may come 00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:05.199 and worship him. 00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:06.460 So you can imagine 00:15:06.460 --> 00:15:08.519 Herod hears the news, 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:09.100 he's troubled, 00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:10.480 all Jerusalem with them, 00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:12.740 he takes a Snickers 00:15:12.740 --> 00:15:14.139 or pops a Tic Tac 00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:16.439 and he collects his thoughts 00:15:16.439 --> 00:15:16.980 and his emotions 00:15:16.980 --> 00:15:18.740 and then he decides, 00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:19.480 he makes a decision, 00:15:19.899 --> 00:15:20.080 okay, 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:21.399 I'm going to manipulate 00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:22.360 the events. 00:15:23.379 --> 00:15:24.340 So we see here 00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:25.679 God's word was not enough. 00:15:26.340 --> 00:15:27.139 God's word that was spoken 00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:28.460 700 years prior 00:15:28.460 --> 00:15:29.080 to the event 00:15:29.080 --> 00:15:31.139 about a promise 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:31.740 that would happen 00:15:31.740 --> 00:15:32.980 that is being fulfilled 00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:33.899 at that very moment 00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:35.200 before his very eyes 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:37.320 was not enough for him. 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:38.500 So he tries to manipulate 00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:39.360 the events. 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:42.320 He tries to go behind the scenes 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:43.940 and have his way still. 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:48.860 And what's really fascinating 00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:49.279 about this, 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:50.639 as I was reading this this week, 00:15:50.680 --> 00:15:52.159 as I was coming to grips 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:52.759 with this truth 00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:55.340 that Herod is not accepting 00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:56.039 God's word 00:15:56.039 --> 00:15:57.580 and he's going against God's word 00:15:57.580 --> 00:15:59.740 even though God's word 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:00.639 is huge. 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:02.920 It was written 700 years 00:16:02.920 --> 00:16:03.720 before the event 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:05.800 and it's so precise. 00:16:06.680 --> 00:16:08.000 And as Christians, 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:09.000 we have the benefit 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:11.440 of having God's word written. 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:14.860 And as we read this, 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:16.759 what we're reading 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:19.000 is not just like any other novel, 00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:20.680 any other story 00:16:20.680 --> 00:16:21.460 or piece of history. 00:16:21.680 --> 00:16:23.460 This is essentially 00:16:23.460 --> 00:16:25.759 the perspective of eternity 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:26.680 written down 00:16:26.680 --> 00:16:29.740 from God's interventions 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:30.720 in real life 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:31.740 and teaching us his way, 00:16:31.800 --> 00:16:32.500 God revealing us 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:33.759 his way for life. 00:16:34.420 --> 00:16:35.259 And as Christians, 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:36.340 we have the benefit of that, 00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:38.259 that we can know God truly 00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:42.420 because his son has revealed God 00:16:42.420 --> 00:16:43.740 and through his word written, 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:44.460 we can know him. 00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:46.540 And how lightly do I take 00:16:46.540 --> 00:16:48.000 his word in my daily life 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:50.220 and how lightly do I take 00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:51.860 setting apart time 00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:52.480 to read his word? 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:54.820 So that's a bit of an aside, 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:56.720 but what's really striking 00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:58.220 is also how the Magi 00:16:58.220 --> 00:16:59.180 received God's word 00:16:59.180 --> 00:17:00.159 with gladness. 00:17:01.560 --> 00:17:03.840 We see that in verse 9 and on. 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:06.539 So after Herod makes a deal 00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:08.400 with the Magi, 00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:09.500 after listening to the king, 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:11.460 the Magi went on their way 00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:12.299 and behold, 00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:14.220 the star that they had seen 00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:15.160 when it rose 00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:16.140 went before them 00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:17.819 until it came to rest 00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:18.519 over the place 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:19.720 where the child was. 00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:21.680 And when they saw the star, 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:23.279 they rejoiced exceedingly 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:24.380 with great joy. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:26.940 This, I think is, 00:17:27.060 --> 00:17:27.500 I didn't see it 00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:28.039 in the commentaries, 00:17:28.120 --> 00:17:28.960 but I think this is where 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:30.220 Happy Camper comes from, 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:32.860 where they were exceedingly, 00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:34.320 they rejoiced exceedingly 00:17:34.320 --> 00:17:35.380 with great joy. 00:17:35.600 --> 00:17:36.980 That's very, very, very happy. 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:38.840 And going into the house, 00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:39.799 they saw the child 00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:40.680 with Mary, his mother, 00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:42.320 and they fell down 00:17:42.320 --> 00:17:43.019 and worshipped him. 00:17:43.019 --> 00:17:47.019 And so what we see here 00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:49.819 is a moment of eternity. 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:51.700 We sang this earlier on 00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:52.799 in the songs 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:54.759 that in eternity, 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:56.279 people are bowed down 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:56.940 before God, 00:17:57.379 --> 00:17:58.079 worshipping God. 00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:59.879 And we see a glimpse 00:17:59.879 --> 00:18:01.099 of eternity 00:18:01.099 --> 00:18:02.119 being acted out 00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:03.799 in time and space 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:04.519 in this life 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:06.000 that we experience 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.180 when the Magi 00:18:07.180 --> 00:18:08.180 are finally arrived 00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:09.119 to Jesus 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:09.839 to worship him 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:10.440 and bow down. 00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:13.200 Now some of you 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:14.000 got really distracted 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:15.000 with the cool star 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:16.279 and want to know more. 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:17.720 And so there, 00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:19.740 just as we get into that, 00:18:19.840 --> 00:18:20.440 we'll just spend 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:21.279 a couple minutes 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:22.140 just to look at the star. 00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:24.240 There are things 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:24.700 in the Bible 00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.660 that are open-handed, 00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:26.480 things that are 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.680 not super, super clear, 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:29.120 that we should have our, 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.000 we shouldn't have 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:30.920 a tight grip on them 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:33.200 and have Christian freedom 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:34.720 to believe these things. 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:36.360 And we can, you know, 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:38.640 argue but not split 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:39.279 over these things. 00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:39.880 And there are things 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:40.680 that we hold on 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:42.060 that are close-handed, 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:42.760 that we hold on 00:18:42.760 --> 00:18:43.420 because they are 00:18:43.420 --> 00:18:44.300 absolutely true 00:18:44.300 --> 00:18:45.240 and very, very clear 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:46.040 in the Word. 00:18:46.620 --> 00:18:48.800 And this part of the star, 00:18:49.060 --> 00:18:50.200 this part of the story 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:50.680 with the star 00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:51.800 is not a place 00:18:51.800 --> 00:18:52.520 where we hold on 00:18:52.520 --> 00:18:53.220 very, very tightly 00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:55.180 because it's not very clear. 00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:57.060 Matthew, in a way, 00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:57.740 veils it 00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:58.800 in the way that he writes. 00:18:59.380 --> 00:18:59.840 So it's, 00:19:01.520 --> 00:19:02.520 so yeah, 00:19:02.580 --> 00:19:03.220 some people believe 00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:03.800 that it's a comet. 00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:04.680 Some people believe 00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:05.920 that the stars aligned 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:07.460 within a certain constellation 00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:08.140 and, you know, 00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:08.700 through science 00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:09.519 we can find out. 00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:10.740 Other people believe 00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:12.680 it's just simply a vision 00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:13.819 from God 00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:14.580 that he gave them 00:19:14.580 --> 00:19:15.279 and that God 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:16.620 worked sovereignly 00:19:16.620 --> 00:19:17.779 through this vision 00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.360 so that they could 00:19:18.360 --> 00:19:19.000 encounter him. 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:22.539 But the point here 00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:23.140 is that 00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:24.420 since Matthew 00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:25.259 is veiling it 00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:26.039 in the way 00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:26.680 that he's writing, 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:27.240 he's not putting 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:27.880 too much attention 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:28.519 towards it. 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.400 Just to give 00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:32.080 an analogy, 00:19:32.620 --> 00:19:33.779 another analogy, 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:34.200 in this, 00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:35.840 in these paintings here, 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:36.960 it would be like 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:37.880 saying in this painting 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:38.340 in the middle 00:19:38.340 --> 00:19:39.200 with Jesus, 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:40.779 it would be like 00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:41.440 saying this painting 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:42.740 is about Jerusalem 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.319 in the back. 00:19:43.900 --> 00:19:44.799 Everyone would say, 00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:45.420 no, 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:46.519 it's about Jesus. 00:19:47.059 --> 00:19:47.740 Everyone's kind of 00:19:47.740 --> 00:19:48.700 looking towards Jesus, 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:49.799 the focus is in Jesus. 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:50.279 And so, 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:51.420 in this story, 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:51.980 if we look, 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:53.600 if we focus on the star 00:19:53.600 --> 00:19:55.259 and we make it 00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:56.920 a deal breaker for us, 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.759 we're missing the point. 00:19:57.759 --> 00:20:01.059 And the point is this. 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:01.460 Andrew, 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:03.980 can I have the next slide? 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:06.500 The point is this. 00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:09.299 God draws unfit people 00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:11.579 in unlikely ways 00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:12.900 to worship him. 00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:15.839 God draws unfit people 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:17.240 in unlikely ways 00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:18.680 to worship him. 00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:19.599 Now, 00:20:19.619 --> 00:20:20.180 this isn't 00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:21.879 an absolute rule, 00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:24.400 but this happens. 00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:26.500 God will sovereignly 00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:28.359 work through events 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:30.259 in the natural world, 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:32.519 in supernatural events 00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:32.980 as well, 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:35.000 to draw people 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:35.940 who aren't fit 00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:36.900 to worship him. 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:38.559 And 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:41.099 at the heart 00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:41.960 of Christian worship, 00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:43.000 at the heart 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:44.200 of people 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:46.579 practicing the Christian faith 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.859 is an awe of God 00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:49.259 where we constantly 00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:50.200 ask the question, 00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:50.960 why me? 00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:52.559 Why me, God? 00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:52.819 Like, 00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:54.480 how is it that you 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:56.640 reveal yourself to me? 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:57.200 Like, 00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:57.839 I didn't do anything 00:20:57.839 --> 00:20:58.740 to deserve this, 00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:00.500 and yet you've shown 00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:01.339 your love to me. 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:03.099 That's how the core 00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:04.460 of Christian worship 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:05.720 is awe of God 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.759 that he would do 00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:07.299 such a thing. 00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:09.039 Now, 00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:09.559 you might be wondering, 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:11.400 what makes me unfit? 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:11.599 Like, 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:12.960 why am I not fit 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.779 to be a Christian, 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:15.240 not fit to worship God? 00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:17.299 Well, 00:21:17.360 --> 00:21:18.059 we see in this story 00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:18.559 the Magi 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:19.819 worshipped different gods. 00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:20.680 They worshipped 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:22.400 the natural world. 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:22.980 They worshipped 00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:24.259 different spirits 00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:25.819 in the invisible world, 00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:27.059 practicing divination. 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:29.500 Before I was a Christian, 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:30.559 I worshipped music. 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:32.440 That's what I worshipped. 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:33.400 And 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:35.819 I ascribed 00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:37.059 immense value 00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:37.559 and power 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:38.099 to music 00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:38.900 over my life. 00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:39.539 It had the, 00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:41.259 had such authority 00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:42.059 over who I was 00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:42.740 and how I felt 00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:43.640 and how I thought 00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.140 of the world. 00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.539 And that was my God. 00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:47.120 And I believed it. 00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:47.980 I actually uttered 00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:48.460 those words, 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:49.620 music is my God. 00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:49.920 And so, 00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:51.620 what makes me, 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.700 as someone who worshipped 00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:54.080 music, 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.319 worthy of, 00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:56.620 you know, 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:57.539 what makes me fit 00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:58.360 to worship God? 00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:58.559 Well, 00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:59.360 I'm unfit 00:21:59.360 --> 00:22:00.640 to worship God. 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:01.460 And yet, 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.380 God draws us 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:03.559 in unlikely ways 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:03.960 sometimes. 00:22:04.120 --> 00:22:05.000 And we see in the story 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:06.220 here with the Magi 00:22:06.220 --> 00:22:07.059 that he draws 00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:08.460 the Magi 00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:09.120 through a star. 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:11.140 Through a star 00:22:11.140 --> 00:22:11.799 that moved 00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.980 and found 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:13.860 Jesus. 00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:14.259 And so, 00:22:14.380 --> 00:22:15.740 they made their way 00:22:15.740 --> 00:22:16.799 to Jesus 00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:17.319 in that way. 00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:18.620 And, 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:20.539 just a bit 00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:21.240 of my story, 00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.680 God spoke to me 00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:24.099 in a musical concert 00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:25.119 at the National Arts Center 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:26.159 just a few blocks 00:22:26.159 --> 00:22:26.700 away from here, 00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:27.659 probably a year 00:22:27.659 --> 00:22:28.619 before my conversion. 00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:30.960 And if I were 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.940 to share 00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:32.859 that experience 00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:34.839 with the Jonathan 00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:35.539 of today, 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:37.740 I would probably 00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.940 be cringing 00:22:38.940 --> 00:22:39.819 at what I was saying 00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.420 because it was 00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:40.980 so unclear. 00:22:41.420 --> 00:22:42.119 But all I knew 00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:42.980 is that I experienced God. 00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:43.839 That's what I knew 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:44.279 for sure. 00:22:44.639 --> 00:22:45.720 But my experience 00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:46.639 wasn't too clear. 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:49.540 And if this is true, 00:22:49.620 --> 00:22:50.759 if God really does 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:52.640 draw people 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:53.360 who are unfit 00:22:53.360 --> 00:22:54.580 in unlikely ways, 00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:56.960 if God really does that, 00:22:57.520 --> 00:22:57.920 then that means 00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:58.380 that God 00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:59.320 is already having 00:22:59.320 --> 00:22:59.900 conversations 00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:00.700 with those people 00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:01.259 that we meet 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.020 at the Starbucks 00:23:02.020 --> 00:23:03.259 or at the gym 00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:04.380 or at work 00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:05.400 or our neighbors. 00:23:05.860 --> 00:23:06.560 That God is already 00:23:06.560 --> 00:23:08.440 having these conversations, 00:23:08.620 --> 00:23:09.460 these divine moments 00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:10.100 with these people. 00:23:10.560 --> 00:23:11.640 And whether they 00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:12.259 understand 00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:13.240 what is happening 00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:13.759 or not, 00:23:14.100 --> 00:23:14.980 these things are happening. 00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:15.740 Creation 00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:17.039 is actually a witness 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:18.680 of God 00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:20.200 to the common person. 00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:22.319 And so our job 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:23.500 as Christians 00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.200 who want to share 00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:25.200 the good news of Jesus 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.180 is actually 00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:27.819 sometimes more simple 00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:28.599 than we think. 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:29.460 Sometimes it's just 00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.059 as simple as 00:23:30.059 --> 00:23:31.380 chiming into a conversation 00:23:31.380 --> 00:23:32.660 that God is already 00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:34.220 having with people. 00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:36.200 And even before 00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:37.019 we even got there 00:23:37.019 --> 00:23:38.039 and were able to share 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:39.259 the gospel message. 00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:40.519 And so our job 00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:41.180 is to simply 00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:42.000 give a little bit 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:42.559 more detail, 00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:43.859 give the revealed 00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:45.720 specific word 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:46.180 of God 00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:47.279 which he has revealed 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:47.900 through Christ 00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:48.860 and in his church. 00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:50.960 And so here's 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:51.620 the next point. 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:52.860 Andrew, 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.440 if I could have 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:54.039 the next slide. 00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:57.460 True and good progress 00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:58.940 is only true and good 00:23:58.940 --> 00:24:00.700 when it leads to Jesus. 00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:03.579 True and good progress 00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:04.920 is only true and good 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:06.860 when it leads to Jesus. 00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.279 Now progress 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.160 isn't a bad thing. 00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:10.460 And by the way, 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:10.660 like, 00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:12.579 I totally support 00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:12.639 God's word. 00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:14.819 And I would encourage 00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:15.319 anyone, 00:24:15.419 --> 00:24:15.839 any Christian 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:16.439 who wants to be 00:24:16.439 --> 00:24:16.919 a mathematician 00:24:16.919 --> 00:24:17.740 or a scientist, 00:24:17.939 --> 00:24:18.139 I'm like, 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:19.019 I would say go 00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:19.699 into that world 00:24:19.699 --> 00:24:20.619 and be the best 00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:21.379 Christian that you can 00:24:21.379 --> 00:24:22.279 or in law 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:22.879 or in government, 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:23.619 go for it. 00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:24.779 I would say that 00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.779 this is where 00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:27.059 Jesus is calling you, 00:24:27.099 --> 00:24:27.839 you should go for it 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:28.379 and be faithful 00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:29.379 and be the best Christian 00:24:29.379 --> 00:24:29.839 that you can 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:30.480 in that environment. 00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:33.480 But it would have 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.599 really been a disaster, 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:35.099 it would have been 00:24:35.099 --> 00:24:36.199 a sad story 00:24:36.199 --> 00:24:36.740 if the Magi 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.319 would have followed 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:37.859 the star, 00:24:38.379 --> 00:24:39.460 continued in their ways, 00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:40.759 and all the way 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.440 till it stopped 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:41.980 on the house 00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:42.759 where Jesus was 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:43.779 and they would have 00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:44.660 gazed at the star 00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:45.559 and they would have 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:47.200 gone back home 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:48.319 and that they wouldn't 00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:49.340 have encountered Jesus. 00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:49.840 It would have been 00:24:49.840 --> 00:24:50.740 a tragedy 00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:52.140 if that were the case. 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.740 But we see that 00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:55.779 all their activity 00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:56.799 in this world, 00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:58.880 their search for meaning, 00:24:59.019 --> 00:25:00.140 their search for 00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:01.720 transcendence 00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:02.920 actually had 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:05.180 an end point 00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:06.360 that their progress 00:25:06.360 --> 00:25:06.920 in life, 00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:07.779 their search for 00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:08.900 greater technology 00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:09.380 and all that 00:25:09.380 --> 00:25:10.360 actually had a point 00:25:10.360 --> 00:25:10.860 of reference 00:25:10.860 --> 00:25:12.340 which was in Jesus. 00:25:13.800 --> 00:25:15.100 And Herod's story, 00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.480 on the other hand, 00:25:16.820 --> 00:25:17.620 is quite sad, 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:18.880 yet he was thought 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:19.840 as the leader of progress 00:25:19.840 --> 00:25:20.380 by the Romans. 00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:23.120 He saw his progress 00:25:23.120 --> 00:25:24.560 and he wasn't able 00:25:24.560 --> 00:25:25.140 to achieve it 00:25:25.140 --> 00:25:26.820 because he was working 00:25:26.820 --> 00:25:28.540 against the Lord's will. 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:29.620 There is an ultimate 00:25:29.620 --> 00:25:32.060 ruler and shepherd 00:25:32.060 --> 00:25:34.120 that has come 00:25:34.120 --> 00:25:34.640 into the world 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:35.260 who is Jesus. 00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:38.340 And so with all this talk 00:25:38.340 --> 00:25:38.880 about progress 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:39.480 in our culture, 00:25:40.080 --> 00:25:41.080 I would just like 00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:41.840 to invite you, 00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:42.400 if you haven't 00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:44.380 considered Jesus yet, 00:25:45.180 --> 00:25:46.360 that Jesus 00:25:46.360 --> 00:25:47.540 is the one 00:25:47.540 --> 00:25:48.780 whom all truth 00:25:48.780 --> 00:25:49.500 and goodness 00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.900 point to. 00:25:52.520 --> 00:25:53.440 Now whether it is 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:54.100 our search for 00:25:54.100 --> 00:25:55.180 meaning or 00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:56.220 transcendence 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:57.520 through science 00:25:57.520 --> 00:25:59.420 and spirituality, 00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.560 these different 00:26:00.560 --> 00:26:01.860 activities that we can 00:26:01.860 --> 00:26:02.840 try to find 00:26:02.840 --> 00:26:03.700 this higher meaning 00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:04.160 to life, 00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:05.140 this purpose of life, 00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:05.880 or whether it is 00:26:05.880 --> 00:26:06.480 finding peace 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:07.120 in our society 00:26:07.120 --> 00:26:08.620 through good government. 00:26:09.540 --> 00:26:11.400 And these things 00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:12.420 are only truly 00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:15.060 satisfied in the person 00:26:15.060 --> 00:26:15.460 of Jesus 00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:16.220 who has come 00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:18.259 to make God known. 00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:20.259 And that is why 00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:21.820 we have a cross here 00:26:21.820 --> 00:26:22.360 because Jesus, 00:26:22.520 --> 00:26:23.280 when he came to earth, 00:26:23.340 --> 00:26:25.080 was not just to live 00:26:25.080 --> 00:26:26.960 a good life, 00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:28.140 he lived a good life 00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:28.820 and he lived 00:26:28.820 --> 00:26:29.640 the perfect life. 00:26:30.100 --> 00:26:30.700 And that was 00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:31.740 part of his mission. 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.299 And the other part 00:26:32.299 --> 00:26:32.740 of his mission 00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:33.839 was to die on the cross 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:35.059 so that we could 00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:36.019 receive God's forgiveness, 00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:36.799 that we could be 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:37.740 made right with God. 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:40.599 And I'll invite you 00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:41.000 to stand 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:42.660 and we'll come 00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:43.519 to a time of conclusion 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:43.819 here. 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:44.640 If I can have my 00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:45.240 next slide, 00:26:45.380 --> 00:26:45.620 please, 00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:46.160 as well. 00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:49.940 So true and good 00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:50.960 progress begins 00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:52.620 when I live my life 00:26:52.620 --> 00:26:54.259 to honor Jesus 00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:54.900 as Lord. 00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:57.180 True and good progress 00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:58.559 begins when I live 00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:59.120 my life 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:00.399 to honor Jesus 00:27:00.399 --> 00:27:01.819 as Lord. 00:27:02.619 --> 00:27:02.799 See, 00:27:02.879 --> 00:27:03.859 our only progress, 00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:04.819 our only hope 00:27:04.819 --> 00:27:05.339 for progress 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:05.939 is when we 00:27:05.939 --> 00:27:06.899 humble ourselves 00:27:06.899 --> 00:27:07.459 before God 00:27:07.459 --> 00:27:08.239 one by one. 00:27:08.379 --> 00:27:09.239 When we put our hands 00:27:09.239 --> 00:27:10.059 in the hand of Jesus 00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:10.739 and say, 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.000 Jesus, 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:11.779 here's my life. 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:12.979 I want to live for you. 00:27:13.899 --> 00:27:15.519 And that we lay 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.079 our hopes 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:17.099 before Jesus 00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:17.699 and our fears 00:27:17.699 --> 00:27:18.339 and our joys 00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:19.179 to him 00:27:19.179 --> 00:27:20.219 so that he sends us 00:27:20.219 --> 00:27:20.979 out into the world 00:27:20.979 --> 00:27:22.459 and live in the real world 00:27:22.459 --> 00:27:23.259 where the Lord 00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:23.719 is God 00:27:23.719 --> 00:27:24.479 and that we are not. 00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:26.119 Let us pray. 00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:29.519 Lord God, 00:27:29.679 --> 00:27:30.259 we thank you 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:31.739 that you indeed 00:27:31.739 --> 00:27:32.879 came down from heaven 00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:34.559 and that you 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:35.839 became incarnate 00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.779 by the Holy Ghost 00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:38.479 in the person of Jesus 00:27:38.479 --> 00:27:39.579 and we thank you 00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:39.859 that, 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:40.619 Lord, 00:27:40.679 --> 00:27:41.319 we can know you, 00:27:41.379 --> 00:27:42.379 we can know eternal life 00:27:42.379 --> 00:27:42.979 even now 00:27:42.979 --> 00:27:43.679 and we thank you 00:27:43.679 --> 00:27:43.919 that, 00:27:44.359 --> 00:27:44.439 Lord, 00:27:44.479 --> 00:27:45.019 you've accomplished 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:46.079 everything for that, 00:27:46.459 --> 00:27:47.699 for us to have eternal life, 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.819 that we can trust you 00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:50.719 and we can trust 00:27:50.719 --> 00:27:52.319 your perfect life 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:53.979 and that you died 00:27:53.979 --> 00:27:54.459 on the cross 00:27:54.459 --> 00:27:55.259 for our sins 00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:56.899 and that is actually true 00:27:56.899 --> 00:27:58.399 and actually happened 00:27:58.400 --> 00:27:58.840 in history 00:27:58.840 --> 00:28:00.200 so that for all eternity 00:28:00.200 --> 00:28:03.060 we will be made right with you 00:28:03.060 --> 00:28:04.259 and we will dwell with you. 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:04.920 Lord, 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:05.840 I pray that these things 00:28:05.840 --> 00:28:07.620 would be made more real 00:28:07.620 --> 00:28:08.400 to us today 00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:10.540 and on this week. 00:28:11.340 --> 00:28:12.380 In Jesus' name, 00:28:13.040 --> 00:28:13.360 Amen.