WEBVTT

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 I'm getting applause for reading it.

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 Surely you get an applause for preaching it as well at the end.

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 So at the end, maybe.

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 We'll see.

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 Let me just start by kicking off that I'm just so grateful

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 for all of those who contributed to decking the halls here at St Paul's.

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 It looks fantastic, the building, to walk in here

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 and to lift the spirits after a difficult year,

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 but also to walk around.

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 I'm particularly grateful because I live here,

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 and so I get to see all this stuff lit up each night.

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 So if you want to come up and really enjoy it,

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 just wander around the place at nighttime.

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 It just really lifts the spirits.

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 So well done to everyone who's contributed to that

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 and to the working bee as well.

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 It is a time of celebration.

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 I think the lights and everything sort of puts that into it.

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 And so I want to dive into, I think, the most exciting of Christmas texts,

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 and that's what you have in front of us in the genealogy

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 at the beginning of Matthew's Gospel.

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 So if you'd like to get your Bibles open to Matthew chapter 1,

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 and we're going to dive into this.

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 There are three things that I want to see this morning

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 from this list of names.

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 And this is on your St. Paul's app.

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 If you've got the St. Paul's app for a bit of an outline,

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 we'll take some notes.

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 Number one, Christmas is good news, not good advice.

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 Secondly, Christmas turns our values upside down in this world.

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 And thirdly, Christmas is the promise of ultimate rest.

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 And so really, the title for today's talk is

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 Shining Light on Christmas Rest.

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 Shining Light on Christmas Rest.

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 So firstly, Christmas is good news, not good advice.

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 Now, what we notice at the beginning of Matthew 1

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 is that it doesn't begin with once upon a time.

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 You see, that's how fairy tales,

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 that's how legends, myths all begin, once upon a time.

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 Once upon a time sends the signal

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 that what we are currently engaging with

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 probably didn't happen.

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 Matthew begins very simply,

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 this is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah,

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 the son of David, the son of Abraham.

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 So what Matthew does right at the very beginning

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 of his Gospels, he grounds who Jesus is

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 and what he does in history,

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 in extensive history.

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 Jesus is not a metaphor, he is real.

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 The biblical accounts of Christmas

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 are what actually happened in history.

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 The birth of the son of God into the world

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 is a gospel, it's a good news,

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 it's an announcement for all of the world.

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 The birth accounts of Jesus are not telling us

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 what we should do,

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 but what God has done in history for us.

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 Jesus is the Messiah, the son of Abraham.

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 You see, central to Abraham,

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 God made a promise to Abraham

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 that all the people of the world

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 would be blessed through him.

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 through a descendant of Abraham,

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 God would reverse the devastating impact

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 of sin and rejection of God

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 for all time and eternity for all people.

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 And Matthew declares that in Jesus,

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 this time has come.

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 He's also declared here to be the son of David.

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 God promised, extended that promise to Abraham

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 and said to David in 2 Samuel 7,

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 that one of your descendants, David,

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 will sit on my throne

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 and rule all the universe forever.

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 And so what we have here

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 is these threads through the Old Testament

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 connecting promise to the covenant promise of David

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 right through until we see here,

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 this is it.

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 The moment has arrived.

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 After 400 years of not hearing

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 a sound of revelation from God,

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 Jesus bursts on the scene and God speaks.

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 The time has come.

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 The silence is over.

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 That's what makes this good news.

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 Jesus is the Messiah.

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 Jesus is the fulfillment

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 of God's thousands and thousands of years

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 of plan of salvation.

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 And the heart of the Christian gospel

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 is that you do not save yourself.

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 God came to save us in the person of Jesus

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 on that very first Christmas night.

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 You see, Christmas tells us

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 that Christianity is unique.

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 All other religions and philosophies of life

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 give advice.

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 The founder of the great religions

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 come along and say something like,

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 do this, do that.

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 I'm here to show you the way

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 to spiritual reality,

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 to enlightenment,

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 to salvation.

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 Do all these things

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 and you will follow the path to salvation.

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 That's advice.

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 And some of the advice is quite useful.

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 Christianity is not primarily

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 about self-improvement.

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 We begin with Jesus

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 not by adopting an ethic,

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 not by turning over a new leaf,

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 not even by joining a community.

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 We begin by believing the report

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 about what God has done in history

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 in the person of his son Jesus.

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 Did God really become a human being?

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 Did Jesus really live and suffer and die

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 as a sacrifice for all of humanity?

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 Did he really rise triumphantly from death

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 to live forever and rule forever?

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 You see, Christmas shows us

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 that Christianity is not good advice.

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 It's good news.

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 It's a pronouncement.

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 It's a proclamation.

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 Secondly, we see here

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 that Christmas turns all of our values upside down.

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 We live in an individualistic culture

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 where we commend ourselves

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 through performance

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 and through accomplishments.

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 I had this awkward interaction

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 with someone recently,

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 a gentleman recently

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 who has done fairly well in life,

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 but I never asked him

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 what he's done in life.

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 And he was so self-absorbed,

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 he didn't know what to ask me

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 what I did in life.

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 And so all we had

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 was this surface conversation

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 because I refused to jump into the conversation

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 about what do you do?

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 Who are you?

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 And so the conversation went nowhere.

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 Absolutely nowhere.

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 If I'd opened the door,

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 I knew him well enough

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 to know we could spend an hour

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 just talking about him

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 and what he's accomplished in life.

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 That's what we do

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 in individualistic culture.

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 That's not how it worked

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 in the first century in the Middle East

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 where these events were taking place.

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 A family tree

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 operated like a resume

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 in the first century.

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 That is,

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 your heritage,

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 your clan,

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 your family,

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 your pedigree

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 constituted your resume.

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 And as they do now,

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 as we do now,

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 people adjust their resume

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 to leave out

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 the parts

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 that might be

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 embarrassing

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 or a little less impressive.

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 Most of us

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 in our 40s or 50s

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 do not put

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 our first job

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 on our resume.

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 Turning burgers

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 at Maccas,

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 cutting weeds

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 in a cotton field.

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 And what we know

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 is in the first century,

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 Herod the Great

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 eliminated

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 many names

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 from his public genealogy

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 because he did not want

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 anyone to know

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 that those embarrassing people

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 were associated with him.

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 It's like the story

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 I heard

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 once upon a time

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 where the children

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 of a prominent family

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 were assembling

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 a book

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 of the family's history

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 as a birthday present

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 for the family patriarch.

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 They commissioned

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 a professional biographer

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 and were careful

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 to warn

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 this professional biographer

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 of the black sheep

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 of the family

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 and they needed to do

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 something about

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 the black sheep.

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 Black sheep problem

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 was a guy named

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 Uncle George.

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 Uncle George

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 was a convicted criminal.

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 He'd been executed

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 in the electric chair

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 for murder.

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 And the biographer

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 assured

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 the children

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 of the family

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 that he could

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 handle the situation

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 so that there would be

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 no embarrassment

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 brought to the family.

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 And so this is what he wrote

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 about Uncle George.

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 Uncle George

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 occupied a chair

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 of applied electronics

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 at an important

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 government institution.

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 He was attached

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 to his position

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 by the strongest of ties

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 and his death

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 came as a real shock

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 to everyone.

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 We tend to do that

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 in our lives,

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 don't we?

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 We cover over

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 the skeletons

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 in our closet

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 if you like.

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 We do it because

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 we suspect

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 that people

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 will value us

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 less

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 if they knew

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 the true us.

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 Warts and all

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 as we say.

00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:17.939
 And so it's quite surprising

00:10:17.939 --> 00:10:19.159
 that in a culture

00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:20.620
 where you just

00:10:20.620 --> 00:10:22.259
 did not do this,

00:10:22.259 --> 00:10:23.939
 Matthew

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 does the exact

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 opposite with Jesus.

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 Doesn't cover over

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 the skeletons

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 in the closet

00:10:30.059 --> 00:10:30.700
 at all.

00:10:31.539 --> 00:10:32.480
 And it helps us

00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:33.159
 to see that

00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:34.439
 God's value system

00:10:34.439 --> 00:10:35.460
 is radically

00:10:35.460 --> 00:10:36.559
 different than ours.

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 First of all,

00:10:39.960 --> 00:10:40.879
 I want you to notice

00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:41.340
 that there are

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 five women

00:10:42.200 --> 00:10:43.100
 listed in this

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 list of this

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 genealogy.

00:10:45.100 --> 00:10:46.940
 In ancient

00:10:46.940 --> 00:10:48.420
 patriarchal societies,

00:10:48.980 --> 00:10:49.560
 a woman

00:10:49.560 --> 00:10:50.580
 was virtually

00:10:50.580 --> 00:10:52.080
 never named

00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:53.060
 in a list

00:10:53.060 --> 00:10:53.920
 like this

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 unless

00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:55.659
 they were

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 quite literally

00:10:56.259 --> 00:10:56.879
 a queen.

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 Let alone

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 to have

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 five of them.

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 Women

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 were gender

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 outsiders

00:11:05.779 --> 00:11:06.980
 in those cultures.

00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:08.159
 They had no

00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:08.879
 legal rights.

00:11:09.160 --> 00:11:09.620
 They couldn't

00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:10.360
 inherit property.

00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:10.800
 They couldn't

00:11:10.800 --> 00:11:11.360
 give testimony

00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:11.940
 in court.

00:11:11.940 --> 00:11:13.060
 And yet

00:11:13.060 --> 00:11:13.680
 they are here

00:11:13.680 --> 00:11:14.360
 named in

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 Jesus'

00:11:14.900 --> 00:11:15.520
 genealogy.

00:11:16.560 --> 00:11:16.940
 And what's

00:11:16.940 --> 00:11:17.360
 more,

00:11:17.800 --> 00:11:18.740
 three of

00:11:18.740 --> 00:11:19.540
 the five

00:11:19.540 --> 00:11:21.020
 are Gentiles.

00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:21.700
 Tamar,

00:11:22.220 --> 00:11:22.660
 Rahab,

00:11:22.780 --> 00:11:23.440
 and Ruth.

00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:25.440
 To the

00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:26.420
 ancient Jew,

00:11:27.800 --> 00:11:28.680
 these women

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 are regarded

00:11:29.400 --> 00:11:30.740
 as unclean

00:11:30.740 --> 00:11:31.620
 Gentiles.

00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:33.860
 They were

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 not just

00:11:34.860 --> 00:11:35.640
 gender

00:11:35.640 --> 00:11:36.260
 outsiders,

00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:36.760
 but these

00:11:36.760 --> 00:11:37.500
 are racial

00:11:37.500 --> 00:11:38.280
 and religious

00:11:38.280 --> 00:11:39.020
 outsiders.

00:11:40.460 --> 00:11:40.860
 And yet

00:11:40.860 --> 00:11:41.420
 Matthew

00:11:41.419 --> 00:11:42.240
 deliberately

00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:43.219
 includes

00:11:43.219 --> 00:11:43.559
 them

00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:44.360
 in the

00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:44.819
 family

00:11:44.819 --> 00:11:45.319
 tree

00:11:45.319 --> 00:11:45.860
 of the

00:11:45.860 --> 00:11:46.240
 long

00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:46.959
 awaited

00:11:46.959 --> 00:11:47.459
 Messiah

00:11:47.459 --> 00:11:47.839
 of the

00:11:47.839 --> 00:11:48.299
 world,

00:11:48.919 --> 00:11:49.799
 the Jewish

00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:50.279
 Messiah.

00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:55.439
 And by

00:11:55.439 --> 00:11:56.079
 including

00:11:56.079 --> 00:11:56.519
 them,

00:11:57.360 --> 00:11:57.639
 Matthew

00:11:57.639 --> 00:11:58.360
 recalls

00:11:58.360 --> 00:11:58.579
 some of

00:11:58.579 --> 00:11:59.019
 the most

00:11:59.019 --> 00:12:00.240
 sordid,

00:12:01.319 --> 00:12:01.959
 nasty,

00:12:02.819 --> 00:12:03.399
 immoral

00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:04.039
 occasions

00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:04.559
 in the

00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:04.879
 Bible.

00:12:05.939 --> 00:12:06.779
 It says

00:12:06.779 --> 00:12:07.099
 in verse

00:12:07.099 --> 00:12:07.500
 three that

00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:08.000
 Judah was

00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:08.360
 the father

00:12:08.360 --> 00:12:08.839
 of Perez

00:12:08.839 --> 00:12:09.679
 and Zerah

00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:10.979
 and the

00:12:10.979 --> 00:12:11.539
 mother was

00:12:11.539 --> 00:12:12.099
 Tamar.

00:12:13.859 --> 00:12:14.579
 Tamar

00:12:14.579 --> 00:12:15.500
 was

00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:16.199
 Judah's

00:12:16.199 --> 00:12:17.059
 daughter-in-law

00:12:17.059 --> 00:12:18.419
 and she

00:12:18.419 --> 00:12:19.279
 tricked him

00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:19.939
 into sleeping

00:12:19.939 --> 00:12:20.479
 with her.

00:12:21.479 --> 00:12:22.139
 It was an

00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:22.779
 act that was

00:12:22.779 --> 00:12:23.419
 against the

00:12:23.419 --> 00:12:24.179
 law of God.

00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:25.779
 And even

00:12:25.779 --> 00:12:26.439
 though Jesus

00:12:26.439 --> 00:12:26.919
 was a

00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:27.620
 descendant of

00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:28.279
 Perez and

00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:28.979
 not Zerah,

00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:30.439
 Matthew

00:12:30.439 --> 00:12:31.239
 includes them

00:12:31.239 --> 00:12:31.939
 both.

00:12:31.940 --> 00:12:35.280
 and both

00:12:35.280 --> 00:12:36.060
 Judah and

00:12:36.060 --> 00:12:36.620
 Tamar

00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:38.520
 so that

00:12:38.520 --> 00:12:39.240
 we remember

00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:40.800
 that whole

00:12:40.800 --> 00:12:41.600
 sordid

00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:42.140
 story.

00:12:43.380 --> 00:12:43.700
 The

00:12:43.700 --> 00:12:44.280
 saviour of

00:12:44.280 --> 00:12:44.860
 the world

00:12:44.860 --> 00:12:46.300
 came into

00:12:46.300 --> 00:12:47.100
 the world

00:12:47.100 --> 00:12:49.020
 into a

00:12:49.020 --> 00:12:49.840
 dysfunctional

00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:50.360
 family

00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:52.960
 just like

00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:53.420
 yours

00:12:53.420 --> 00:12:55.520
 and mine.

00:12:57.960 --> 00:12:59.000
 And remember

00:12:59.000 --> 00:12:59.540
 Rahab?

00:12:59.540 --> 00:12:59.600
 Rahab?

00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:03.460
 Mentioned

00:13:03.460 --> 00:13:03.820
 in verse

00:13:03.820 --> 00:13:04.340
 five,

00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:05.460
 just a

00:13:05.460 --> 00:13:05.899
 Gentile,

00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:06.159
 she was

00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:06.920
 a prostitute.

00:13:09.460 --> 00:13:10.139
 But the

00:13:10.139 --> 00:13:10.340
 most

00:13:10.340 --> 00:13:10.860
 interesting

00:13:10.860 --> 00:13:11.560
 story is

00:13:11.560 --> 00:13:11.879
 in verse

00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:12.200
 six,

00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:12.899
 it mentions

00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:13.240
 King

00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:13.700
 David,

00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:15.120
 royalty in

00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:15.460
 the family

00:13:15.460 --> 00:13:16.060
 tree and

00:13:16.060 --> 00:13:16.360
 you go,

00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:16.659
 woo,

00:13:16.920 --> 00:13:17.200
 that's

00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:17.460
 fine,

00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:17.860
 good

00:13:17.860 --> 00:13:18.360
 stuff.

00:13:19.639 --> 00:13:20.080
 Except

00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:22.600
 in one

00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:22.820
 of the

00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:23.159
 most,

00:13:23.899 --> 00:13:24.379
 I think

00:13:24.379 --> 00:13:24.620
 one of

00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:25.259
 the great

00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:26.460
 and ironic

00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:27.700
 understatements

00:13:27.700 --> 00:13:28.160
 of the

00:13:28.160 --> 00:13:28.500
 Bible,

00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:29.820
 Matthew

00:13:29.820 --> 00:13:30.420
 adds

00:13:30.420 --> 00:13:30.700
 here,

00:13:30.700 --> 00:13:31.540
 it was

00:13:31.540 --> 00:13:32.120
 the father

00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:32.540
 of

00:13:32.540 --> 00:13:33.120
 Solomon

00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:35.600
 and

00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:36.160
 whose

00:13:36.160 --> 00:13:36.680
 mother

00:13:36.680 --> 00:13:37.800
 had been

00:13:37.800 --> 00:13:38.879
 Uriah's

00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:39.600
 wife.

00:13:40.759 --> 00:13:41.420
 Her name

00:13:41.420 --> 00:13:41.860
 was

00:13:41.860 --> 00:13:43.060
 Bathsheba.

00:13:44.400 --> 00:13:45.320
 And by

00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:46.160
 not naming

00:13:46.160 --> 00:13:47.440
 her and

00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:47.940
 mentioning

00:13:47.940 --> 00:13:48.800
 instead her

00:13:48.800 --> 00:13:49.620
 first husband

00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:50.340
 Uriah,

00:13:50.920 --> 00:13:51.460
 Matthew is

00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:52.540
 again calling

00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:53.000
 us to

00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:55.019
 recall a

00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:56.480
 terrible and

00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:57.399
 a tragic

00:13:57.399 --> 00:13:58.899
 and assorted

00:13:58.899 --> 00:13:59.679
 chapter in

00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:00.199
 Israel's

00:14:00.199 --> 00:14:00.659
 history.

00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:02.079
 King,

00:14:02.539 --> 00:14:03.620
 the greatest

00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:04.919
 blot on

00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:05.719
 great King

00:14:05.719 --> 00:14:06.360
 David's

00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:06.799
 name.

00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:09.399
 Before he

00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:10.019
 was king,

00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:12.099
 David was a

00:14:12.099 --> 00:14:12.959
 fugitive running

00:14:12.959 --> 00:14:13.860
 for his life

00:14:13.860 --> 00:14:14.919
 from King

00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:15.439
 Saul.

00:14:15.959 --> 00:14:16.480
 And a

00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:17.279
 group of

00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:18.299
 37,

00:14:18.439 --> 00:14:19.379
 just 37

00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:21.099
 loyal men

00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:22.100
 went on

00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:22.460
 the run

00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:22.920
 with King

00:14:22.920 --> 00:14:23.320
 David

00:14:23.320 --> 00:14:24.620
 against

00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:25.340
 Saul and

00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:25.639
 all the

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.279
 might of

00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:26.740
 the kingdom.

00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:27.980
 And they

00:14:27.980 --> 00:14:28.480
 put their

00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:29.259
 lives on

00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:29.700
 the line

00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:30.420
 to protect

00:14:30.420 --> 00:14:30.920
 David.

00:14:31.920 --> 00:14:32.560
 They would

00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:33.159
 do anything

00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:33.759
 for David.

00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:36.600
 And

00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:37.200
 Uriah was

00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:37.560
 one of

00:14:37.560 --> 00:14:37.759
 them,

00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:38.960
 2 Samuel

00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:39.540
 23.

00:14:41.300 --> 00:14:42.019
 And when

00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:42.620
 David was

00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:43.460
 finally made

00:14:43.460 --> 00:14:45.100
 king from

00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:45.759
 his palace

00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:46.320
 roof, he

00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:47.220
 saw Uriah's

00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:47.820
 wife and he

00:14:47.820 --> 00:14:48.399
 wanted her and

00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:48.920
 he took her.

00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:51.079
 she got

00:14:51.079 --> 00:14:52.539
 pregnant and

00:14:52.539 --> 00:14:52.860
 then he

00:14:52.860 --> 00:14:53.699
 arranged to

00:14:53.699 --> 00:14:54.719
 have Uriah

00:14:54.719 --> 00:14:57.259
 killed so

00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:57.779
 that he could

00:14:57.779 --> 00:14:58.740
 marry her and

00:14:58.740 --> 00:14:59.519
 cover up the

00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:00.240
 whole sordid

00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:00.519
 thing.

00:15:02.599 --> 00:15:03.479
 And it was

00:15:03.479 --> 00:15:04.059
 out of this

00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:04.899
 dysfunctional

00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:06.579
 family and

00:15:06.579 --> 00:15:07.459
 this deeply

00:15:07.459 --> 00:15:08.779
 flawed man

00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:09.699
 that the

00:15:09.699 --> 00:15:10.199
 saviour of

00:15:10.199 --> 00:15:10.559
 the world

00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:11.039
 came.

00:15:12.219 --> 00:15:12.819
 So this

00:15:12.819 --> 00:15:13.399
 list of

00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:14.019
 names here

00:15:14.019 --> 00:15:15.039
 includes moral

00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:16.120
 outsiders and

00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:17.099
 cultural outsiders

00:15:17.099 --> 00:15:17.899
 and racial

00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:18.899
 outsiders and

00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:19.980
 gender outsiders

00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:20.939
 rather than

00:15:20.939 --> 00:15:21.799
 being excluded

00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:22.740
 or covered

00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:23.279
 up or

00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:23.919
 covered over.

00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:24.299
 They are

00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:24.779
 publicly

00:15:24.779 --> 00:15:26.100
 acknowledged as

00:15:26.100 --> 00:15:28.500
 ancestors of

00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.220
 the perfect

00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:30.220
 Jesus Christ.

00:15:32.199 --> 00:15:33.179
 It's such an

00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:33.720
 unusual

00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:34.720
 genealogy.

00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:35.759
 Why did

00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:36.439
 Matthew

00:15:36.439 --> 00:15:37.439
 include it?

00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.340
 He didn't

00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:38.759
 have to

00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:39.220
 include all

00:15:39.220 --> 00:15:39.759
 these details,

00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:40.519
 so why did

00:15:40.519 --> 00:15:41.319
 he deliberately

00:15:41.319 --> 00:15:42.679
 include it?

00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:45.659
 There's a

00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:46.240
 verse in the

00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:46.679
 Bible that

00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:47.240
 gives us a

00:15:47.240 --> 00:15:47.519
 clue.

00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:49.480
 It's 2

00:15:49.480 --> 00:15:50.419
 Corinthians 5

00:15:50.419 --> 00:15:51.579
 verse 21.

00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:53.639
 God made

00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:55.539
 him who

00:15:55.539 --> 00:15:56.139
 had no

00:15:56.139 --> 00:15:57.539
 sin to

00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:58.000
 be sin

00:15:58.000 --> 00:15:58.759
 for us

00:15:58.759 --> 00:16:00.019
 so that

00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:00.679
 in him,

00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:01.240
 talking about

00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:01.659
 Jesus,

00:16:02.419 --> 00:16:03.059
 we might

00:16:03.059 --> 00:16:03.740
 become the

00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:04.159
 righteousness

00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:04.840
 of God.

00:16:05.699 --> 00:16:06.559
 The saviour

00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:07.319
 of the world

00:16:07.319 --> 00:16:08.460
 jumped right

00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:09.019
 into the

00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:09.799
 middle of

00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:11.899
 evil,

00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:12.799
 unjust

00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:13.519
 affairs of

00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:14.340
 human existence

00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:15.340
 sin.

00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:16.879
 He

00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:21.560
 jumps into

00:16:21.560 --> 00:16:21.980
 the quick

00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:23.800
 sand in

00:16:23.800 --> 00:16:24.240
 order to

00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:24.620
 pull us

00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:24.980
 from it.

00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:26.560
 He

00:16:26.560 --> 00:16:27.379
 identifies with

00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:27.860
 our weakness

00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:28.180
 and our

00:16:28.180 --> 00:16:28.860
 brokenness

00:16:28.860 --> 00:16:30.300
 to rescue

00:16:30.300 --> 00:16:30.920
 us out of

00:16:30.920 --> 00:16:31.060
 it.

00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:31.860
 The Christian

00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:33.060
 message is

00:16:33.060 --> 00:16:33.980
 that if you

00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:34.800
 repent and

00:16:34.800 --> 00:16:35.519
 you believe

00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:36.240
 in Jesus

00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:37.019
 Christ,

00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:37.620
 he

00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:40.920
 unites you

00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:41.579
 with him

00:16:41.579 --> 00:16:42.199
 and all

00:16:42.199 --> 00:16:42.500
 of his

00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:43.240
 saving work

00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:44.159
 and all

00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:44.439
 of its

00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:44.899
 benefits

00:16:44.899 --> 00:16:45.139
 for

00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:46.139
 eternity.

00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:47.919
 There is

00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:48.559
 not a

00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:49.179
 single

00:16:49.179 --> 00:16:50.460
 great

00:16:50.460 --> 00:16:51.259
 individual

00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:52.139
 who

00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:52.580
 doesn't

00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:52.919
 need

00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:53.199
 his

00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:53.699
 grace

00:16:53.699 --> 00:16:54.199
 and

00:16:54.199 --> 00:16:54.340
 there

00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:54.480
 is

00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:54.919
 not a

00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:55.559
 single

00:16:55.559 --> 00:16:56.460
 rotten

00:16:56.460 --> 00:16:57.159
 individual

00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:57.860
 who

00:16:57.860 --> 00:16:58.159
 can

00:16:58.159 --> 00:16:58.580
 fail

00:16:58.580 --> 00:16:58.819
 to

00:16:58.819 --> 00:16:59.600
 receive

00:16:59.600 --> 00:16:59.980
 his

00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:00.500
 grace.

00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:05.440
 Every

00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:06.000
 gift that

00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:06.639
 we give

00:17:06.639 --> 00:17:07.059
 and we

00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:07.680
 receive

00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.319
 at Christmas

00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:09.299
 are symbol

00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:10.299
 of the

00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:10.720
 greatest

00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:11.379
 gift of

00:17:11.379 --> 00:17:11.740
 all,

00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:12.740
 God's

00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:13.259
 grace to

00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:13.839
 us in

00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:14.160
 Jesus

00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:14.720
 Christ.

00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:17.680
 Now as

00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:18.060
 James

00:17:18.060 --> 00:17:18.500
 mentioned

00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:19.360
 last week

00:17:19.360 --> 00:17:21.880
 and you've

00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:22.120
 got to

00:17:22.120 --> 00:17:22.620
 repeat it

00:17:22.620 --> 00:17:22.920
 because it's

00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:23.320
 just so

00:17:23.320 --> 00:17:23.640
 good.

00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:24.920
 Some

00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:25.600
 gifts by

00:17:25.600 --> 00:17:26.200
 their very

00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:26.800
 nature

00:17:26.800 --> 00:17:29.460
 just cause

00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:29.860
 you to

00:17:29.860 --> 00:17:30.259
 swallow

00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:31.100
 your pride

00:17:31.100 --> 00:17:33.060
 and hopefully

00:17:33.060 --> 00:17:33.860
 you won't

00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:34.320
 necessarily

00:17:34.320 --> 00:17:35.060
 receive one

00:17:35.060 --> 00:17:35.440
 of these

00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:36.080
 this Christmas

00:17:36.080 --> 00:17:37.160
 but you

00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:37.400
 know a

00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:37.920
 book titled

00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:38.420
 Ten Easy

00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:39.080
 Steps to

00:17:39.080 --> 00:17:39.280
 Lose

00:17:39.280 --> 00:17:39.800
 Weight for

00:17:39.800 --> 00:17:40.720
 instance or

00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:42.000
 another book

00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:43.040
 titled Overcoming

00:17:43.040 --> 00:17:43.860
 Selfishness

00:17:43.860 --> 00:17:44.940
 you receive those

00:17:44.940 --> 00:17:45.660
 kind of things

00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.019
 that just

00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:46.560
 can't help

00:17:46.560 --> 00:17:47.620
 but you

00:17:47.620 --> 00:17:49.140
 know highlight

00:17:49.140 --> 00:17:50.140
 your flaws

00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:51.440
 or cause

00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:52.460
 you to admit

00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:53.220
 your weaknesses

00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:53.900
 or that you

00:17:53.900 --> 00:17:54.540
 need help in

00:17:54.540 --> 00:17:55.040
 some kind

00:17:55.040 --> 00:17:55.380
 of way

00:17:55.380 --> 00:17:56.019
 and the

00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.500
 message of

00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:57.040
 Christmas is

00:17:57.040 --> 00:17:57.420
 such a

00:17:57.420 --> 00:17:57.660
 gift.

00:17:58.720 --> 00:17:59.160
 The message

00:17:59.160 --> 00:17:59.800
 of Christianity

00:17:59.800 --> 00:18:00.800
 is that there

00:18:00.800 --> 00:18:01.460
 has never been

00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:02.340
 a gift offered

00:18:02.340 --> 00:18:03.320
 that makes

00:18:03.320 --> 00:18:04.080
 you swallow

00:18:04.080 --> 00:18:05.480
 your pride

00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:06.400
 to the

00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.040
 depths

00:18:07.040 --> 00:18:09.100
 of the

00:18:09.100 --> 00:18:09.540
 gift

00:18:09.540 --> 00:18:11.060
 of Jesus

00:18:11.060 --> 00:18:11.580
 Christ

00:18:11.580 --> 00:18:12.420
 requires us

00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:12.660
 to.

00:18:12.660 --> 00:18:14.880
 Christmas

00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:15.620
 means that

00:18:15.620 --> 00:18:16.040
 we are

00:18:16.040 --> 00:18:17.860
 so lost

00:18:17.860 --> 00:18:18.980
 we are

00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:20.380
 so unable

00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:21.380
 to save

00:18:21.380 --> 00:18:22.300
 ourselves

00:18:22.300 --> 00:18:23.779
 that nothing

00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:24.480
 less than

00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:25.140
 the death

00:18:25.140 --> 00:18:25.500
 of the

00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:25.860
 Son of

00:18:25.860 --> 00:18:26.100
 God

00:18:26.100 --> 00:18:26.440
 himself

00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:26.960
 could not

00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:27.600
 save us.

00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:32.140
 To accept

00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:33.180
 the Christmas

00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:33.660
 gift

00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:34.880
 we must

00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:35.340
 admit that

00:18:35.340 --> 00:18:35.660
 we are

00:18:35.660 --> 00:18:35.980
 sinners

00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:37.259
 we are

00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:38.000
 unworthy

00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:38.540
 of the

00:18:38.540 --> 00:18:38.860
 gift

00:18:38.860 --> 00:18:39.580
 and in

00:18:39.580 --> 00:18:40.019
 need of

00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:40.320
 saving

00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:40.819
 by his

00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:41.259
 grace

00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:43.119
 and that

00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:43.419
 is a

00:18:43.419 --> 00:18:43.939
 descent

00:18:43.939 --> 00:18:45.579
 too

00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:46.559
 low

00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:47.539
 for many

00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:47.899
 of us

00:18:47.899 --> 00:18:48.179
 to want

00:18:48.179 --> 00:18:48.700
 to actually

00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.339
 go into.

00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:52.220
 You see

00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:52.619
 Christmas

00:18:52.619 --> 00:18:53.220
 totally

00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:53.679
 humbles

00:18:53.679 --> 00:18:54.200
 us

00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:55.679
 because it

00:18:55.679 --> 00:18:56.220
 proclaims

00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:56.599
 that nothing

00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:57.439
 less than

00:18:57.439 --> 00:18:58.379
 the death

00:18:58.379 --> 00:18:58.759
 of the

00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.099
 Son of

00:18:59.099 --> 00:18:59.419
 God

00:18:59.419 --> 00:19:00.039
 can rescue

00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:00.519
 us.

00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:01.939
 It also

00:19:01.939 --> 00:19:02.579
 affirms

00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:03.000
 us

00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:04.259
 because he

00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.019
 was actually

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:05.740
 willing to

00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:06.259
 do that

00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:07.019
 for us.

00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:10.000
 the greatness

00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:10.639
 of Jesus

00:19:10.639 --> 00:19:12.160
 is seen

00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:12.700
 in how

00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:13.779
 far down

00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:14.539
 he came

00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.420
 to love

00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:16.220
 us and

00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:16.680
 to lift

00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:17.319
 us up

00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:18.639
 as we

00:19:18.639 --> 00:19:19.259
 have already

00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:20.660
 said in

00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:21.180
 our service

00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:21.680
 this morning

00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:22.639
 in chapter

00:19:22.639 --> 00:19:23.019
 two.

00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:24.400
 Christmas

00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:25.259
 turns all

00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:25.539
 of our

00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:26.420
 values on

00:19:26.420 --> 00:19:27.000
 their head.

00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:28.359
 God

00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:28.879
 isn't

00:19:28.879 --> 00:19:29.420
 attracted

00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:29.960
 to us

00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:30.960
 by impressive

00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.440
 resumes

00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.559
 and performances

00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:33.759
 even religious

00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:34.379
 performance.

00:19:34.380 --> 00:19:35.640
 the only

00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:36.520
 way to

00:19:36.520 --> 00:19:37.200
 get God's

00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:37.620
 approval

00:19:37.620 --> 00:19:38.440
 is by

00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:39.000
 acknowledging

00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.360
 our

00:19:39.360 --> 00:19:40.060
 brokenness

00:19:40.060 --> 00:19:40.500
 our

00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.160
 sinfulness

00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:41.840
 our

00:19:41.840 --> 00:19:42.400
 frailty

00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:43.120
 our

00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:43.860
 flaws

00:19:43.860 --> 00:19:44.180
 our

00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:44.800
 failures

00:19:44.800 --> 00:19:45.320
 and our

00:19:45.320 --> 00:19:46.060
 desperate

00:19:46.060 --> 00:19:46.560
 desperate

00:19:46.560 --> 00:19:47.040
 need for

00:19:47.040 --> 00:19:47.240
 his

00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:47.620
 mercy.

00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:51.660
 So

00:19:51.660 --> 00:19:52.160
 thirdly

00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:54.500
 if we

00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:55.240
 accept it

00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:57.180
 God's

00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:57.640
 grace

00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.800
 gives us

00:19:58.800 --> 00:19:59.640
 an ultimate

00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:00.220
 rest

00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:00.900
 that we

00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:01.660
 experience

00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:02.480
 even now

00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:03.780
 at Christmas

00:20:03.780 --> 00:20:04.100
 time.

00:20:04.380 --> 00:20:07.260
 at the

00:20:07.260 --> 00:20:07.580
 end of

00:20:07.580 --> 00:20:08.020
 this list

00:20:08.020 --> 00:20:08.640
 of names

00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:09.640
 there's

00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:10.380
 an obscure

00:20:10.380 --> 00:20:10.980
 verse

00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:12.200
 in verse

00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:12.800
 17.

00:20:14.060 --> 00:20:14.580
 It says

00:20:14.580 --> 00:20:15.080
 there were

00:20:15.080 --> 00:20:15.500
 14

00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.120
 generations

00:20:16.120 --> 00:20:16.820
 in all

00:20:16.820 --> 00:20:17.460
 from

00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:17.920
 Abraham

00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:18.260
 to

00:20:18.260 --> 00:20:18.620
 David

00:20:18.620 --> 00:20:19.680
 14

00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.080
 from

00:20:20.080 --> 00:20:20.440
 David

00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:20.720
 to

00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:20.900
 the

00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:21.320
 exile

00:20:21.320 --> 00:20:21.580
 in

00:20:21.580 --> 00:20:21.900
 Babylon

00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:22.800
 and

00:20:22.800 --> 00:20:23.300
 14

00:20:23.300 --> 00:20:24.160
 from

00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:24.420
 the

00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:25.040
 exile

00:20:25.040 --> 00:20:25.820
 to

00:20:25.820 --> 00:20:26.240
 the

00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:26.660
 Messiah.

00:20:29.100 --> 00:20:29.740
 For

00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:30.080
 many

00:20:30.080 --> 00:20:30.700
 years

00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:31.280
 I just

00:20:31.280 --> 00:20:31.560
 skipped

00:20:31.560 --> 00:20:31.900
 across

00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:32.160
 that

00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:32.600
 verse

00:20:32.600 --> 00:20:33.320
 and went

00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:34.939
 technical

00:20:34.939 --> 00:20:35.419
 detail.

00:20:36.859 --> 00:20:37.599
 And yet

00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:38.059
 nothing's

00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:38.740
 ever lost

00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:39.059
 in the

00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:39.399
 scriptures.

00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:40.299
 There's

00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:40.559
 something

00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:41.179
 very

00:20:41.179 --> 00:20:41.819
 profound

00:20:41.819 --> 00:20:42.980
 even

00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:43.200
 though

00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:43.379
 that

00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:43.619
 does

00:20:43.619 --> 00:20:43.819
 not

00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:44.000
 mean

00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.279
 a lot

00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:44.460
 for

00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:44.679
 us

00:20:44.679 --> 00:20:44.960
 right

00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.200
 here

00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:45.519
 right

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:45.899
 now

00:20:45.899 --> 00:20:47.099
 in

00:20:47.099 --> 00:20:47.299
 terms

00:20:47.299 --> 00:20:47.419
 of

00:20:47.419 --> 00:20:47.639
 reading

00:20:47.639 --> 00:20:47.939
 it

00:20:47.939 --> 00:20:48.740
 but

00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.679
 that

00:20:49.679 --> 00:20:49.939
 was

00:20:49.939 --> 00:20:50.619
 massive

00:20:50.619 --> 00:20:51.259
 news

00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:51.599
 what

00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:51.899
 was

00:20:51.899 --> 00:20:52.079
 just

00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:52.359
 written

00:20:52.359 --> 00:20:52.579
 there

00:20:52.579 --> 00:20:52.720
 is

00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:53.559
 news

00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:53.720
 for

00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:53.839
 the

00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:54.059
 first

00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:54.659
 recipients

00:20:54.659 --> 00:20:55.419
 of

00:20:55.419 --> 00:20:55.879
 Matthew's

00:20:55.879 --> 00:20:56.259
 gospel.

00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:58.019
 Let

00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:58.140
 me

00:20:58.140 --> 00:20:59.420
 explain

00:20:59.420 --> 00:20:59.759
 it

00:20:59.759 --> 00:20:59.920
 to

00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:00.160
 you.

00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:01.200
 In

00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:01.379
 the

00:21:01.379 --> 00:21:01.720
 Bible

00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.240
 the

00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:02.519
 number

00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:03.039
 seven

00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:03.740
 is

00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.099
 very

00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:04.700
 significant.

00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:05.940
 Right

00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:06.299
 at the

00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:06.579
 beginning

00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:06.940
 of the

00:21:06.940 --> 00:21:07.240
 Bible

00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:07.799
 it's

00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:07.920
 the

00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:08.299
 number

00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:08.519
 for

00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:09.319
 completeness

00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:10.200
 it's

00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:10.339
 the

00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:10.799
 number

00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:11.259
 for

00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:11.900
 the

00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:12.279
 goal

00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:12.599
 of

00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:12.900
 all

00:21:12.900 --> 00:21:13.480
 things.

00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:15.879
 Right

00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:16.019
 at the

00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:16.180
 beginning

00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:16.400
 of the

00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:16.619
 Bible

00:21:16.619 --> 00:21:17.019
 God

00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:17.240
 did

00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:17.440
 the

00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:17.740
 work

00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:17.920
 of

00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:18.319
 creating

00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:18.539
 the

00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:18.759
 world

00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:18.960
 in

00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:19.220
 six

00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:19.599
 days

00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:19.779
 and

00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:19.960
 it

00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:20.500
 says

00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.019
 on

00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:21.259
 the

00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:21.640
 seventh

00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:22.160
 day

00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:23.000
 he

00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:23.960
 rested.

00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:28.480
 God

00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:28.880
 wasn't

00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:29.680
 tired

00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:32.100
 rest

00:21:32.100 --> 00:21:33.180
 means

00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:33.480
 the

00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:34.259
 enjoyment

00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:35.200
 of

00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:35.360
 the

00:21:35.360 --> 00:21:35.720
 created

00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:36.019
 order

00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:36.279
 in

00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:36.819
 fact

00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:37.819
 rest

00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:38.259
 was

00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:38.539
 the

00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:38.940
 goal

00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:39.240
 of

00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:39.799
 creation

00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.880
 that's

00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:41.120
 why

00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:41.340
 you

00:21:41.340 --> 00:21:41.640
 don't

00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:41.840
 have

00:21:41.840 --> 00:21:41.960
 in

00:21:41.960 --> 00:21:42.079
 the

00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:42.319
 Bible

00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:42.759
 and

00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:42.960
 then

00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:43.059
 it

00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:43.180
 was

00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:43.420
 Monday

00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:43.779
 morning

00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:43.960
 and

00:21:43.960 --> 00:21:44.100
 God

00:21:44.100 --> 00:21:44.259
 went

00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:44.400
 back

00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:44.539
 to

00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:44.799
 work

00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:46.220
 it

00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:46.460
 was

00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:46.680
 the

00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:47.079
 seventh

00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:47.500
 day

00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:47.980
 that's

00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:48.120
 the

00:21:48.120 --> 00:21:48.480
 goal

00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:48.680
 the

00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:49.299
 enjoyment

00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:49.620
 of

00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:49.799
 all

00:21:49.799 --> 00:21:49.920
 of

00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:50.440
 creation

00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:51.299
 everything

00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:51.559
 at

00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:51.880
 peace

00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:52.039
 and

00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:52.460
 harmony

00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.319
 everything

00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:53.680
 was

00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.400
 perfect

00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:57.920
 until

00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:58.259
 sin

00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:58.500
 entered

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:58.680
 the

00:21:58.680 --> 00:21:59.000
 picture

00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:02.100
 the

00:22:02.100 --> 00:22:02.420
 first

00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:02.740
 people

00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:03.220
 decided

00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:03.460
 to

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:03.820
 reject

00:22:03.820 --> 00:22:04.320
 God's

00:22:04.320 --> 00:22:04.600
 loving

00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:04.980
 rule

00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:05.340
 over

00:22:05.340 --> 00:22:05.560
 their

00:22:05.560 --> 00:22:05.980
 life

00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.539
 and

00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:06.680
 they

00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:07.320
 chose

00:22:07.320 --> 00:22:07.680
 for

00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:08.779
 themselves

00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.759
 how

00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.519
 they

00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:10.900
 think

00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:11.259
 life

00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:11.480
 should

00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:11.860
 work

00:22:11.860 --> 00:22:13.160
 and

00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:13.380
 that

00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:14.060
 state

00:22:14.060 --> 00:22:14.299
 of

00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:14.779
 perfection

00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:15.100
 and

00:22:15.100 --> 00:22:15.580
 harmony

00:22:15.580 --> 00:22:16.200
 that

00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:16.480
 state

00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:16.660
 of

00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:17.259
 rest

00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:19.420
 was

00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:19.940
 fractured

00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:20.720
 destroyed

00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:23.360
 there

00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:23.659
 wasn't

00:22:23.659 --> 00:22:23.919
 any

00:22:23.919 --> 00:22:24.259
 harmony

00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:24.479
 or

00:22:24.479 --> 00:22:24.779
 peace

00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:25.179
 anymore

00:22:25.179 --> 00:22:25.819
 life

00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:26.359
 was

00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:26.579
 now

00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:27.139
 characterized

00:22:27.139 --> 00:22:27.619
 by

00:22:27.619 --> 00:22:28.199
 hardships

00:22:28.199 --> 00:22:28.519
 and

00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.139
 pandemics

00:22:29.139 --> 00:22:29.359
 and

00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:30.059
 lockdowns

00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:30.179
 and

00:22:30.179 --> 00:22:31.079
 work

00:22:31.079 --> 00:22:31.279
 was

00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:31.439
 going

00:22:31.439 --> 00:22:31.500
 to

00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:31.619
 be

00:22:31.619 --> 00:22:31.859
 done

00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:31.979
 at

00:22:31.979 --> 00:22:32.099
 the

00:22:32.099 --> 00:22:32.319
 sweat

00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:32.419
 of

00:22:32.419 --> 00:22:32.559
 your

00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:32.979
 brow

00:22:32.979 --> 00:22:33.740
 raising

00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:34.399
 children

00:22:34.399 --> 00:22:34.619
 was

00:22:34.619 --> 00:22:34.740
 going

00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:34.779
 to

00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:34.899
 be

00:22:34.899 --> 00:22:35.579
 painful

00:22:35.579 --> 00:22:36.539
 weeds

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:36.799
 and

00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:37.139
 pests

00:22:37.139 --> 00:22:37.439
 you'll

00:22:37.439 --> 00:22:37.740
 never

00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.459
 ever

00:22:38.459 --> 00:22:38.859
 conquer

00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:39.199
 those

00:22:39.199 --> 00:22:39.479
 things

00:22:39.479 --> 00:22:39.879
 for goodness

00:22:39.879 --> 00:22:40.299
 sake

00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:41.339
 never

00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:41.740
 conquer

00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:42.000
 them

00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.819
 always

00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:43.299
 growing

00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:43.500
 in

00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:43.619
 your

00:22:43.619 --> 00:22:44.000
 lawn

00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:47.799
 but

00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:48.160
 God

00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:48.640
 still

00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:49.440
 graciously

00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.019
 provided

00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.240
 for

00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:50.460
 his

00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:50.799
 people

00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:52.519
 he

00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:53.259
 instituted

00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:53.579
 a

00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:54.160
 seventh

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:54.839
 day

00:22:54.839 --> 00:22:55.460
 of

00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:55.920
 rest

00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:56.279
 as

00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:56.660
 part

00:22:56.660 --> 00:22:56.799
 of

00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:56.960
 their

00:22:56.960 --> 00:22:57.460
 normal

00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:57.980
 cycle

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.180
 in

00:22:58.180 --> 00:22:58.319
 the

00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:58.599
 week

00:22:58.599 --> 00:23:00.099
 but

00:23:00.099 --> 00:23:00.240
 he

00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:00.640
 also

00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:01.680
 instituted

00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:02.339
 an

00:23:02.339 --> 00:23:03.059
 ultimate

00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:03.460
 day

00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:03.660
 of

00:23:03.660 --> 00:23:04.099
 rest

00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:05.740
 an

00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:06.000
 ultimate

00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:06.440
 year

00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:06.619
 of

00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:06.880
 rest

00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:07.079
 in

00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:07.460
 fact

00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:08.039
 it

00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:08.180
 was

00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:08.460
 called

00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:08.619
 the

00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:08.819
 year

00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:08.980
 of

00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:09.460
 jubilee

00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:10.940
 and

00:23:10.940 --> 00:23:11.099
 at

00:23:11.099 --> 00:23:11.299
 the

00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:11.759
 end

00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:12.140
 of

00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:12.359
 the

00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:12.940
 last

00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:13.579
 year

00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.159
 of

00:23:14.159 --> 00:23:14.379
 the

00:23:14.379 --> 00:23:14.879
 seventh

00:23:14.879 --> 00:23:15.419
 period

00:23:15.419 --> 00:23:15.639
 of

00:23:15.639 --> 00:23:16.019
 seven

00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.619
 years

00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:17.079
 that

00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:17.299
 is

00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:17.519
 the

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.439
 49th

00:23:18.439 --> 00:23:18.879
 year

00:23:18.879 --> 00:23:20.480
 that

00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:20.699
 was

00:23:20.699 --> 00:23:20.919
 the

00:23:20.919 --> 00:23:21.199
 year

00:23:21.199 --> 00:23:21.419
 of

00:23:21.419 --> 00:23:22.039
 jubilee

00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:23.480
 it

00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:23.779
 was

00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:23.960
 the

00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.539
 year

00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.079
 of

00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:26.240
 rest

00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:27.359
 no

00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:27.819
 work

00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:28.039
 was

00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:28.199
 to

00:23:28.199 --> 00:23:28.319
 be

00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:28.699
 done

00:23:28.699 --> 00:23:29.159
 imagine

00:23:29.159 --> 00:23:29.439
 that

00:23:29.439 --> 00:23:29.819
 a year

00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.240
 of rest

00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:30.539
 no

00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:30.879
 work

00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:31.019
 at

00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:31.240
 all

00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:31.740
 no

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.299
 plough

00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:32.679
 no

00:23:32.679 --> 00:23:33.199
 fields

00:23:33.199 --> 00:23:33.399
 were

00:23:33.399 --> 00:23:33.980
 ploughed

00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:35.199
 it

00:23:35.199 --> 00:23:35.359
 was

00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:35.539
 a

00:23:35.539 --> 00:23:35.939
 year

00:23:35.939 --> 00:23:36.139
 that

00:23:36.139 --> 00:23:36.839
 began

00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:37.159
 on

00:23:37.159 --> 00:23:37.319
 the

00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:37.599
 day

00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:37.779
 of

00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:38.019
 fresh

00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:38.480
 beginnings

00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:38.720
 when

00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:38.879
 the

00:23:38.879 --> 00:23:39.119
 whole

00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:39.659
 nation

00:23:39.659 --> 00:23:40.099
 just

00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:40.559
 received

00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:41.039
 forgiveness

00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:41.299
 for

00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:41.559
 their

00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:41.960
 sin

00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:43.340
 the

00:23:43.340 --> 00:23:43.860
 jubilee

00:23:43.860 --> 00:23:44.259
 year

00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:44.480
 was

00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:45.000
 characterized

00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:45.380
 by

00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:45.840
 freedom

00:23:45.840 --> 00:23:46.019
 and

00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:46.579
 return

00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:47.860
 freedom

00:23:47.860 --> 00:23:48.120
 from

00:23:48.120 --> 00:23:48.620
 burdens

00:23:48.620 --> 00:23:49.519
 labor

00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:49.900
 and

00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:50.259
 debt

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:50.680
 were to

00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:50.960
 go

00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:51.299
 hand

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:51.480
 in

00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:51.720
 hand

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:51.940
 with

00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:52.500
 restoring

00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:52.759
 of

00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.079
 broken

00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:53.559
 family

00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:54.059
 ties

00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:54.559
 and

00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:55.380
 repossession

00:23:55.380 --> 00:23:55.680
 of

00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:55.940
 lost

00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:56.420
 property

00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:57.160
 all

00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:57.519
 debts

00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:57.740
 were

00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:58.240
 canceled

00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:58.840
 on

00:23:58.840 --> 00:23:58.960
 the

00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.160
 year

00:23:59.160 --> 00:23:59.300
 of

00:23:59.300 --> 00:23:59.779
 jubilee

00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.480
 everything

00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:01.620
 restart

00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:02.080
 after

00:24:02.080 --> 00:24:02.519
 49

00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:03.279
 years

00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:03.840
 a

00:24:03.840 --> 00:24:04.259
 year

00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:04.560
 of

00:24:04.560 --> 00:24:05.100
 rest

00:24:05.100 --> 00:24:05.300
 and

00:24:05.300 --> 00:24:05.680
 celebration

00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:09.160
 the

00:24:09.160 --> 00:24:09.600
 year

00:24:09.600 --> 00:24:09.860
 of

00:24:09.860 --> 00:24:10.460
 jubilee

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.920
 the

00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:12.500
 year

00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:12.900
 that

00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:13.480
 the

00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:13.980
 nation

00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:14.160
 of

00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:14.480
 Israel

00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:14.960
 looked

00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.380
 forward

00:24:15.380 --> 00:24:15.660
 to

00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:16.160
 year

00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:16.500
 after

00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:16.940
 year

00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:17.240
 after

00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:17.640
 year

00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:17.940
 just

00:24:17.940 --> 00:24:18.640
 waiting

00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:18.940
 for

00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:19.300
 jubilee

00:24:19.300 --> 00:24:19.519
 to

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.019
 come

00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:25.500
 verse

00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:26.140
 17

00:24:26.140 --> 00:24:27.360
 in

00:24:27.360 --> 00:24:27.620
 Matthew

00:24:27.620 --> 00:24:28.020
 1

00:24:28.020 --> 00:24:28.520
 tells

00:24:28.520 --> 00:24:28.960
 us

00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:29.620
 that

00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:29.780
 there

00:24:29.780 --> 00:24:29.960
 were

00:24:29.960 --> 00:24:30.259
 three

00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:30.580
 lots

00:24:30.580 --> 00:24:30.740
 of

00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:31.120
 14

00:24:31.120 --> 00:24:31.840
 generations

00:24:31.840 --> 00:24:33.280
 or

00:24:33.280 --> 00:24:34.300
 there

00:24:34.300 --> 00:24:34.460
 were

00:24:34.460 --> 00:24:34.720
 six

00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:34.980
 lots

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.140
 of

00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:35.420
 seven

00:24:35.420 --> 00:24:36.040
 generations

00:24:36.040 --> 00:24:36.500
 with

00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:36.920
 Jesus

00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.460
 beginning

00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:37.740
 the

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.120
 seventh

00:24:38.120 --> 00:24:38.520
 seven

00:24:38.520 --> 00:24:40.720
 verse

00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.180
 17

00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:41.460
 is

00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:42.000
 saying

00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.900
 that

00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:43.180
 what

00:24:43.180 --> 00:24:43.480
 the

00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:43.860
 hope

00:24:43.860 --> 00:24:44.120
 of

00:24:44.120 --> 00:24:44.360
 the

00:24:44.360 --> 00:24:44.920
 jubilee

00:24:44.920 --> 00:24:45.380
 year

00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:46.520
 foreshadowed

00:24:46.520 --> 00:24:47.300
 the

00:24:47.300 --> 00:24:48.580
 reestablishment

00:24:48.580 --> 00:24:48.860
 of

00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:49.420
 ultimate

00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:50.120
 rest

00:24:50.120 --> 00:24:51.440
 comes

00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:51.900
 right

00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:52.460
 now

00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:52.780
 in

00:24:52.780 --> 00:24:52.920
 the

00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:53.360
 person

00:24:53.360 --> 00:24:53.740
 of

00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:54.060
 Jesus

00:24:54.060 --> 00:24:54.600
 Christ

00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:57.179
 no

00:24:57.179 --> 00:24:57.500
 more

00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:57.939
 counting

00:24:57.939 --> 00:24:58.219
 of

00:24:58.219 --> 00:24:58.839
 generations

00:24:58.839 --> 00:24:59.639
 actually

00:24:59.639 --> 00:25:00.319
 continued

00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:00.759
 after

00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:01.299
 Jesus

00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:04.179
 in

00:25:04.179 --> 00:25:04.539
 him

00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:04.919
 is

00:25:04.919 --> 00:25:05.219
 where

00:25:05.219 --> 00:25:05.839
 rest

00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:07.079
 harmony

00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:07.699
 peace

00:25:07.699 --> 00:25:08.259
 hope

00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:09.019
 security

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:09.459
 can be

00:25:09.459 --> 00:25:09.819
 found

00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:10.480
 if you

00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:11.059
 grasp

00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:11.519
 that

00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:12.000
 Christmas

00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:12.899
 is not

00:25:12.899 --> 00:25:14.019
 upon a

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.379
 time

00:25:14.379 --> 00:25:15.139
 story

00:25:15.139 --> 00:25:15.939
 but that

00:25:15.939 --> 00:25:16.319
 Jesus

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.079
 really

00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:18.000
 actually

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.459
 broke

00:25:18.459 --> 00:25:18.879
 God

00:25:18.879 --> 00:25:19.259
 himself

00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:19.619
 broke

00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:20.039
 into

00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:20.519
 time

00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:20.859
 and

00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:21.480
 space

00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:22.099
 and

00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:22.299
 that

00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:22.559
 he

00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:22.860
 has

00:25:22.860 --> 00:25:23.620
 accomplished

00:25:23.620 --> 00:25:24.299
 our

00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:25.019
 salvation

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.839
 so that

00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:26.059
 the

00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:26.740
 prostitute

00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.360
 and the

00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:27.759
 king

00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.920
 are equaling

00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:29.380
 him

00:25:29.380 --> 00:25:30.000
 it's

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.500
 possible

00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:30.860
 for you

00:25:30.860 --> 00:25:31.220
 to have

00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:31.680
 rest

00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:32.460
 right now

00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:34.779
 rest

00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.579
 from all

00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:35.819
 your

00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:36.599
 striving

00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:38.579
 all

00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:38.880
 of your

00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:39.339
 attempt

00:25:39.339 --> 00:25:39.960
 to build

00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:40.140
 your

00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:40.720
 identity

00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:44.539
 total

00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:45.500
 enduring

00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.759
 final

00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.720
 rest

00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:48.319
 is what

00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:49.059
 every

00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:50.099
 single

00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:50.960
 human

00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:51.539
 being

00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:52.399
 needs

00:25:52.399 --> 00:25:54.599
 the

00:25:54.599 --> 00:25:54.859
 rest

00:25:54.859 --> 00:25:55.059
 that

00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:55.460
 Jesus

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.059
 secures

00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:56.619
 for us

00:25:56.619 --> 00:25:56.939
 is a

00:25:56.939 --> 00:25:57.159
 rest

00:25:57.159 --> 00:25:57.439
 that we

00:25:57.439 --> 00:25:57.939
 get to

00:25:57.939 --> 00:25:58.259
 get

00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:58.879
 both

00:25:58.879 --> 00:25:59.599
 now

00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:00.619
 and

00:26:00.619 --> 00:26:01.240
 forever

00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:01.559
 with

00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:01.859
 him

00:26:01.859 --> 00:26:05.839
 Jesus

00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.379
 gives us

00:26:06.379 --> 00:26:06.599
 rest

00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:06.960
 for our

00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.439
 souls

00:26:07.439 --> 00:26:08.139
 right

00:26:08.139 --> 00:26:08.519
 now

00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.899
 the

00:26:09.899 --> 00:26:10.200
 inner

00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:10.579
 core

00:26:10.579 --> 00:26:10.899
 of our

00:26:10.899 --> 00:26:11.480
 being

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:12.439
 that's

00:26:12.439 --> 00:26:12.960
 always

00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:13.799
 unrestless

00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:14.240
 always

00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:14.740
 restless

00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.559
 always

00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:16.159
 pursuing

00:26:16.159 --> 00:26:16.720
 the

00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.099
 latest

00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:17.899
 acquisition

00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:19.220
 the

00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:19.580
 latest

00:26:19.580 --> 00:26:20.519
 affirmation

00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:22.180
 and

00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:22.480
 Jesus

00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:22.860
 says

00:26:22.860 --> 00:26:23.060
 in

00:26:23.060 --> 00:26:23.320
 Matthew

00:26:23.320 --> 00:26:23.860
 11

00:26:23.860 --> 00:26:24.160
 verse

00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:24.720
 28

00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.980
 come

00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:26.380
 to me

00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:26.680
 all

00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:26.840
 who

00:26:26.840 --> 00:26:27.000
 are

00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:27.300
 weary

00:26:27.300 --> 00:26:27.540
 and

00:26:27.540 --> 00:26:29.060
 burdened

00:26:29.060 --> 00:26:29.480
 and

00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:30.000
 I

00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.100
 I

00:26:31.100 --> 00:26:31.320
 will

00:26:31.320 --> 00:26:31.540
 give

00:26:31.540 --> 00:26:31.680
 you

00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:32.180
 rest

00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:33.900
 take

00:26:33.900 --> 00:26:34.140
 my

00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:34.400
 yoke

00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:34.720
 upon

00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:34.940
 you

00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:35.180
 and

00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:35.500
 learn

00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:35.720
 from

00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:35.920
 me

00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:36.080
 for

00:26:36.080 --> 00:26:36.280
 I

00:26:36.280 --> 00:26:36.420
 am

00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:36.900
 gentle

00:26:36.900 --> 00:26:37.180
 and

00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:37.440
 humble

00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:37.620
 in

00:26:37.620 --> 00:26:37.900
 heart

00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:38.360
 and

00:26:38.360 --> 00:26:38.620
 you

00:26:38.620 --> 00:26:38.820
 will

00:26:38.820 --> 00:26:39.040
 find

00:26:39.040 --> 00:26:39.400
 rest

00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:39.560
 for

00:26:39.560 --> 00:26:39.720
 your

00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:40.160
 souls

00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:41.980
 many

00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:42.800
 many

00:26:42.800 --> 00:26:43.320
 philosophers

00:26:43.320 --> 00:26:43.840
 today

00:26:43.840 --> 00:26:44.500
 speak

00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:45.019
 about

00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:45.240
 the

00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:45.580
 deep

00:26:45.580 --> 00:26:46.080
 hunger

00:26:46.080 --> 00:26:46.420
 that is

00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:46.660
 in the

00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:46.940
 human

00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:47.420
 heart

00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:48.519
 constantly

00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.060
 restless

00:26:49.060 --> 00:26:49.680
 people

00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:50.220
 are hungry

00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:50.840
 for love

00:26:50.840 --> 00:26:51.380
 they are

00:26:51.380 --> 00:26:51.700
 hungry

00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.380
 for security

00:26:52.380 --> 00:26:52.620
 they're

00:26:52.620 --> 00:26:52.840
 hungry

00:26:52.840 --> 00:26:53.560
 for significance

00:26:53.560 --> 00:26:54.140
 and meaning

00:26:54.140 --> 00:26:54.860
 and Jesus

00:26:54.860 --> 00:26:55.160
 says

00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:56.060
 I

00:26:56.060 --> 00:26:56.660
 am the

00:26:56.660 --> 00:26:57.019
 bread of

00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:57.400
 life

00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:58.200
 feed on

00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:58.480
 me

00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:58.960
 and you

00:26:58.960 --> 00:26:59.480
 will never

00:26:59.480 --> 00:26:59.880
 hunger

00:26:59.880 --> 00:27:00.380
 again

00:27:00.380 --> 00:27:01.120
 many

00:27:01.120 --> 00:27:01.500
 today

00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.160
 are walking

00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:02.960
 in darkness

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:04.060
 and disillusionment

00:27:04.060 --> 00:27:04.759
 and despair

00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:05.620
 and Jesus

00:27:05.620 --> 00:27:05.880
 says

00:27:05.880 --> 00:27:06.460
 I

00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:06.880
 am the

00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:07.160
 light

00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:07.420
 of the

00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:07.920
 world

00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:10.980
 if you

00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:11.640
 follow me

00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:12.039
 you will

00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:12.779
 never walk

00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.500
 in darkness

00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.460
 instead

00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:14.920
 you will

00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:15.240
 have the

00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:15.460
 light

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.060
 of life

00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:17.919
 others

00:27:17.919 --> 00:27:19.059
 in the

00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:19.639
 last couple

00:27:19.639 --> 00:27:20.039
 of years

00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:20.599
 especially

00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:21.139
 are just

00:27:21.139 --> 00:27:21.799
 fearful

00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:22.679
 of death

00:27:22.679 --> 00:27:24.839
 fearful

00:27:24.839 --> 00:27:25.440
 of death

00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:25.940
 and Jesus

00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:26.179
 says

00:27:26.179 --> 00:27:26.599
 I

00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:27.379
 am the

00:27:27.379 --> 00:27:27.879
 resurrection

00:27:27.879 --> 00:27:28.960
 the life

00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.799
 he who

00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.399
 believes in

00:27:30.399 --> 00:27:30.740
 me will

00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:31.200
 live

00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:31.799
 even though

00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:32.359
 he dies

00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:32.679
 and whoever

00:27:32.679 --> 00:27:33.299
 lives and

00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:33.779
 believes in

00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.019
 me

00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:35.139
 will never

00:27:35.139 --> 00:27:35.619
 die

00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:39.220
 you see

00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:39.639
 Christmas

00:27:39.639 --> 00:27:40.299
 declares

00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:40.940
 that you can

00:27:40.940 --> 00:27:41.619
 have rest

00:27:41.619 --> 00:27:42.779
 right now

00:27:42.779 --> 00:27:44.379
 rest in

00:27:44.379 --> 00:27:44.940
 our souls

00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:45.740
 right now

00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.099
 if we

00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:46.500
 come to

00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:46.879
 Jesus

00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:47.700
 the rest

00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.000
 of an

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.740
 unspilled

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.160
 love

00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:49.539
 between

00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:49.980
 you

00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:50.399
 and your

00:27:50.399 --> 00:27:50.759
 created

00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.220
 God

00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:52.599
 what a

00:27:52.599 --> 00:27:53.059
 gift

00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:54.440
 what a

00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:54.819
 gift

00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:57.259
 Christmas

00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:58.000
 is not

00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.700
 a once

00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.200
 upon a

00:27:59.200 --> 00:27:59.359
 time

00:27:59.359 --> 00:27:59.980
 story

00:27:59.980 --> 00:28:00.700
 that

00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:01.539
 shows us

00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:02.000
 how we

00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:02.200
 should

00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:02.440
 live

00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:02.720
 better

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.139
 lives

00:28:03.139 --> 00:28:03.420
 and be

00:28:03.420 --> 00:28:03.740
 generous

00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.180
 to people

00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:04.539
 and give

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:04.700
 them

00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:05.059
 gifts

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:05.359
 and

00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:08.039
 Christmas

00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:08.920
 is news

00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:10.300
 it's

00:28:10.300 --> 00:28:10.960
 news

00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:12.420
 and I

00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:13.120
 love it

00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:13.700
 you walk

00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:14.160
 down into

00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:14.640
 Westfield

00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:15.160
 or Chatswood

00:28:15.160 --> 00:28:15.539
 Chase

00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:16.500
 and it's

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.480
 being blasted

00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:17.820
 through the

00:28:17.820 --> 00:28:18.460
 speakers

00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:20.039
 news

00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:23.800
 as people

00:28:23.800 --> 00:28:24.220
 fill their

00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:24.680
 lives with

00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:24.980
 everything

00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:25.380
 else

00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:29.960
 news

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.560
 calls us

00:28:30.560 --> 00:28:31.160
 to acknowledge

00:28:31.160 --> 00:28:31.460
 it

00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:32.700
 something

00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.519
 has already

00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:34.019
 happened

00:28:34.019 --> 00:28:34.480
 and we

00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:34.880
 need to

00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:35.220
 respond

00:28:35.220 --> 00:28:35.720
 to it

00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:36.620
 the

00:28:36.620 --> 00:28:37.620
 world

00:28:37.620 --> 00:28:37.960
 has

00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:38.279
 broken

00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:38.539
 into

00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:38.860
 time

00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:39.339
 and space

00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:39.819
 to save

00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:40.179
 us

00:28:40.179 --> 00:28:42.079
 this

00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:42.399
 event

00:28:42.399 --> 00:28:42.819
 is not

00:28:42.819 --> 00:28:43.299
 so much

00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:44.179
 a birth

00:28:44.179 --> 00:28:46.139
 as it

00:28:46.139 --> 00:28:46.399
 is a

00:28:46.399 --> 00:28:46.740
 coming

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:48.119
 the

00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:48.479
 coming

00:28:48.479 --> 00:28:49.219
 of God

00:28:49.219 --> 00:28:49.779
 into the

00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.219
 world

00:28:50.219 --> 00:28:52.399
 and so

00:28:52.399 --> 00:28:52.659
 Christmas

00:28:52.659 --> 00:28:53.119
 is good

00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:53.419
 news

00:28:53.419 --> 00:28:54.119
 not good

00:28:54.119 --> 00:28:54.619
 advice

00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:56.779
 it turns

00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.419
 all of our

00:28:57.419 --> 00:28:58.139
 values on

00:28:58.139 --> 00:28:58.559
 its head

00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:59.779
 and it's

00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:00.319
 the promise

00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:01.219
 of ultimate

00:29:01.219 --> 00:29:01.799
 rest

00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:03.419
 he calls

00:29:03.419 --> 00:29:03.759
 us to

00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.119
 look to

00:29:04.119 --> 00:29:04.379
 him

00:29:04.379 --> 00:29:05.539
 to come

00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:05.859
 to him

00:29:05.859 --> 00:29:06.419
 to trust

00:29:06.419 --> 00:29:06.639
 him

00:29:06.639 --> 00:29:07.099
 to believe

00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:07.240
 him

00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:07.559
 to follow

00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:07.839
 him

00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:08.740
 and to

00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.000
 find

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.599
 rest

00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:11.179
 the rest

00:29:11.179 --> 00:29:11.459
 that we

00:29:11.459 --> 00:29:12.199
 so desperately

00:29:12.199 --> 00:29:12.919
 long for

00:29:12.919 --> 00:29:13.799
 even now

00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:14.519
 this Christmas

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.679
 in him

00:29:15.679 --> 00:29:17.059
 amen

00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:23.500
 what

00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:25.399
 to be

00:29:25.399 --> 00:29:26.639
 to

00:29:26.639 --> 00:29:28.059
 is

00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:30.139
 to

00:29:30.139 --> 00:29:30.700
 save