WEBVTT 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:04.219 Good evening everyone, it's really good to have you with us at our service this evening. 00:00:04.339 --> 00:00:10.380 As Fiona said, my name's Ian, and it's my privilege to think a little bit about the meaning of Christmas. 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:17.179 We've just sung Joy to the World, but I wonder if we look around our world today, 00:00:17.260 --> 00:00:19.300 whether that might seem a little bit hollow. 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:23.900 There's a lot of places where there's not much joy. 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:30.539 The BBC on their website today had a news story which had the headline, 00:00:30.919 --> 00:00:36.039 Bethlehem is empty of joy, no Santa, no celebration. 00:00:37.339 --> 00:00:41.459 And if you read a bit into the article, it talks about how there's no Christmas tree this year, 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:46.640 there are no carols, there is no celebration of Jesus' birth. 00:00:46.739 --> 00:00:50.079 Because Bethlehem these days is part of the West Bank, 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:57.420 which is an occupied territory in Israel and is largely a Palestinian people. 00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:02.239 And even those who are Christians find it difficult to celebrate Christmas this year 00:01:02.239 --> 00:01:05.819 because a lot of them have relatives in Gaza. 00:01:06.579 --> 00:01:08.500 Little joy in Bethlehem. 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:12.759 Little joy too, I suspect, in Jerusalem, certainly not in Gaza, 00:01:12.760 --> 00:01:17.939 or in Kiev or Kharkiv or Sudan or in Yemen 00:01:17.939 --> 00:01:21.359 or in the other places around the world where there is conflict. 00:01:21.880 --> 00:01:26.300 Perhaps some of them we hardly read about or are aware of. 00:01:27.300 --> 00:01:32.000 Come to our own country and there are a lot of people who perhaps don't have much joy. 00:01:32.820 --> 00:01:36.060 Many of us are privileged and we will enjoy Christmas tomorrow. 00:01:36.180 --> 00:01:38.640 We will enjoy the giving and receiving of presents. 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:42.079 We will enjoy good food and time together. 00:01:42.760 --> 00:01:47.079 But there are an awful lot of people in our country today for whom that's not true. 00:01:48.019 --> 00:01:50.239 We have the privilege here of having a food bank. 00:01:50.379 --> 00:01:55.620 And on Friday we were able to give out some Christmas goodies and some toys for children, 00:01:56.019 --> 00:02:00.519 for those who had children, and to give them something for Christmas. 00:02:01.140 --> 00:02:04.939 But there are an awful lot of people for whom Christmas is a really difficult time 00:02:04.939 --> 00:02:10.139 and they perhaps are more aware than ever of how little they have. 00:02:11.139 --> 00:02:14.020 Next year in this country there's going to be a general election campaign. 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:19.620 I'm fairly sure that none of the parties will be offering us joy in that. 00:02:19.719 --> 00:02:25.180 The message will be you won't be as bad under us as you would be under the other lot. 00:02:26.180 --> 00:02:30.740 Perhaps for some of us too, Christmas is going to be a difficult time. 00:02:30.740 --> 00:02:36.600 A time perhaps when you remember relatives or friends who are no longer with us. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:41.480 There are empty spaces at the table and that brings sadness. 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:45.800 So can we have joy this Christmas? 00:02:46.480 --> 00:02:49.540 And what's the secret of that joy? 00:02:50.600 --> 00:02:56.439 Well, I think clearly from the Bible the answer is yes, there is joy available. 00:02:56.439 --> 00:03:02.199 And it's a joy that can be despite whatever circumstances we are facing. 00:03:03.060 --> 00:03:07.460 It's not dependent on what we have, who we're with, 00:03:08.199 --> 00:03:13.180 and what kind of importance or status we have in our world. 00:03:13.780 --> 00:03:18.500 Rather it's dependent on our relationship with God. 00:03:19.560 --> 00:03:25.560 And we find that joy when we go back to the first Christmas and to Bethlehem. 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:30.300 Bethlehem, which then, as now, was an occupied territory. 00:03:30.900 --> 00:03:32.879 It was occupied by the Romans. 00:03:33.800 --> 00:03:38.800 And probably a place where there would have been relatively little joy. 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:44.800 The people of Israel felt really oppressed by the Roman authorities. 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:48.159 And they longed for their independence. 00:03:48.340 --> 00:03:52.199 They longed for someone who would come and free them from the Romans. 00:03:52.199 --> 00:03:56.859 But there was no sign or little sign of that at the time. 00:03:58.259 --> 00:04:01.539 And yet, as we read in both Matthew and in Luke, 00:04:02.379 --> 00:04:07.899 after the birth of the Lord Jesus, there are two references to joy. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:09.319 And it's not just any joy. 00:04:09.620 --> 00:04:12.280 There's a really strong emphasis in both of them, 00:04:12.620 --> 00:04:17.959 of the intensity of the greatness of that joy. 00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:23.899 So we see it first in the story of the shepherds around Bethlehem. 00:04:25.139 --> 00:04:27.779 The angel of the Lord appears to them. 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:32.240 The sky lights up with the glory of the Lord. 00:04:32.359 --> 00:04:33.539 They're terrified. 00:04:34.620 --> 00:04:36.479 And the angel tells them not to be afraid 00:04:36.479 --> 00:04:41.919 because he's bringing them good tidings of great joy. 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:47.939 Great joy as he comes to tell them about something really exciting 00:04:47.939 --> 00:04:52.939 that's just happened not very far from where they are. 00:04:53.020 --> 00:04:55.460 The birth of the Lord Jesus. 00:04:56.840 --> 00:04:59.800 As we read on what the angel has to say, 00:05:00.340 --> 00:05:03.420 I think there are two reasons he gives us 00:05:03.420 --> 00:05:07.520 why there should be great joy among all people, 00:05:07.639 --> 00:05:09.520 among all nations. 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:13.740 First of all, there's the joy of incarnation. 00:05:14.779 --> 00:05:16.599 A baby is born. 00:05:18.259 --> 00:05:21.439 We've been blessed in this church over the last few years 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:24.599 that we've had a lot of babies born. 00:05:25.219 --> 00:05:27.459 We've rejoiced with parents 00:05:27.459 --> 00:05:31.319 as they've had new life come into the world 00:05:31.319 --> 00:05:33.379 and into their families. 00:05:34.139 --> 00:05:36.479 It's wonderful as a church to be able to see 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:39.879 the young children and the babies who are with us 00:05:39.879 --> 00:05:45.060 and to share something of the joy of their parents. 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:49.160 How much more then should we rejoice, 00:05:49.280 --> 00:05:54.000 should we have joy over the baby that was born in Bethlehem? 00:05:54.580 --> 00:05:57.800 Because this was no ordinary baby. 00:05:57.800 --> 00:06:05.139 We've been reading this evening some of the things that happened before Jesus was born. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:12.780 700 years before, the prophet Micah prophesied that he will be born in Bethlehem. 00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:15.500 This was not something that just happened. 00:06:15.500 --> 00:06:20.279 This was something that had been foretold many years before. 00:06:21.259 --> 00:06:26.639 The angel comes to Joseph and explains the reason why Mary is pregnant 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:31.360 and that the person who is to be born, the baby who is to be born, 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:35.560 is to be the son of God with us. 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:40.819 The incarnation is one of the most remarkable things, 00:06:41.100 --> 00:06:45.379 perhaps the most remarkable thing that has happened in history. 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:51.139 We got a bit of a flavor of that from the reading in John, didn't we? 00:06:51.899 --> 00:06:53.819 No one has seen God. 00:06:54.680 --> 00:06:56.459 God is invisible. 00:06:56.680 --> 00:06:57.459 God is a spirit. 00:06:57.600 --> 00:07:00.100 We can't see God in our world. 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:02.040 We can see the work that God has done, 00:07:02.040 --> 00:07:04.840 but we can't see God. 00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:10.560 And yet God came into our world through his son in human form, 00:07:11.620 --> 00:07:15.720 living among us as a normal human, 00:07:16.579 --> 00:07:19.540 miraculously conceived but born naturally, 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:23.379 and living a life where he needed food and drink and sleep 00:07:23.379 --> 00:07:26.540 and everything else that we need. 00:07:27.259 --> 00:07:31.100 And he came to show us what God is like. 00:07:31.259 --> 00:07:34.379 He came to show us God's glory. 00:07:34.379 --> 00:07:37.000 And how marvelous it is, 00:07:37.339 --> 00:07:40.000 how much joy we should feel, 00:07:40.740 --> 00:07:44.199 that the God of heaven cared enough for us 00:07:44.199 --> 00:07:48.019 to send his son to be with us. 00:07:48.379 --> 00:07:51.500 That God took on human flesh 00:07:51.500 --> 00:07:55.399 and became like us in every way, 00:07:55.879 --> 00:07:58.759 except that he was sinless. 00:07:58.759 --> 00:08:03.839 And the joy of incarnation is one of the things 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:07.879 that should really thrill us as we think about Christmas. 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:14.120 That the baby in Bethlehem was not just an ordinary child. 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:18.319 He was, he is the son of God. 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:22.740 But the angel says more than that to the shepherds, doesn't he? 00:08:23.219 --> 00:08:26.459 He says he's born a baby in Bethlehem, 00:08:26.899 --> 00:08:29.279 and he says he is a saviour. 00:08:29.939 --> 00:08:32.480 He is Christ the Lord. 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:35.000 And the joy we can have at Christmas 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:37.220 is not just the joy of incarnation, 00:08:37.779 --> 00:08:39.819 it's the joy of salvation. 00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:42.480 A saviour has come. 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:44.600 As I said earlier, 00:08:44.940 --> 00:08:47.120 the Jews were looking for a saviour. 00:08:47.700 --> 00:08:50.200 They'd look for many years for a messiah 00:08:50.200 --> 00:08:51.860 who had been prophesied. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:54.360 But they were looking for a saviour 00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:57.159 who would free them from the Roman authorities. 00:08:58.100 --> 00:08:59.659 They were looking for someone 00:08:59.659 --> 00:09:01.500 who could liberate them, 00:09:01.899 --> 00:09:03.360 who could save them 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:07.740 from the burden that they experience 00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:11.600 through being occupied by a foreign power. 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:15.060 But that wasn't the saviour who was born. 00:09:15.720 --> 00:09:20.159 That wasn't the purpose of Jesus coming into the world. 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:24.040 The son of God took on human flesh 00:09:24.040 --> 00:09:29.840 not to be a great ruler of his people at that time. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:34.420 Not just to show us what God is like 00:09:34.420 --> 00:09:40.420 and to demonstrate the power and the wisdom of our God. 00:09:40.419 --> 00:09:44.120 The son of God came into the world 00:09:44.120 --> 00:09:47.719 to be the saviour of the world. 00:09:48.500 --> 00:09:49.959 The angel said to Joseph, 00:09:50.099 --> 00:09:51.699 we saw it in our reading earlier, 00:09:52.219 --> 00:09:54.519 that his name would be Jesus. 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:59.479 God saves because he would save his people 00:09:59.479 --> 00:10:01.839 from their sins. 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:07.160 And so we celebrate salvation at Christmas. 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:12.780 We celebrate the fact that it's not just a baby born in Bethlehem. 00:10:13.780 --> 00:10:15.720 And that part of the story, 00:10:15.899 --> 00:10:19.780 the end result of the story that begins on Christmas Day 00:10:19.779 --> 00:10:24.500 is the Lord Jesus going to the cross at Calvary 00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:26.500 and there dying for us, 00:10:26.579 --> 00:10:27.839 taking our place, 00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:30.220 dying for our sins 00:10:30.220 --> 00:10:32.759 so that we could be forgiven 00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:35.639 by a God who is just 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:37.480 and would recognize 00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:39.579 that the punishment has been taken 00:10:39.579 --> 00:10:42.839 for those who trust in the Lord Jesus. 00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:46.879 There's a remarkable verse in the book of Hebrews. 00:10:46.980 --> 00:10:48.120 Hebrews chapter 12, 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:49.580 it says this of Jesus, 00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:52.780 for the joy set before him, 00:10:53.320 --> 00:10:54.940 he endured the cross, 00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:56.780 scorning its shame, 00:10:57.580 --> 00:11:01.300 and sat down at the right hand of God. 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:05.740 For the joy that was set before him. 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:07.220 What was that joy? 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:09.139 Well, to some extent, 00:11:09.259 --> 00:11:10.840 I think the passage implies 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:13.220 that the joy was in the reward 00:11:13.220 --> 00:11:15.800 that he would receive afterwards. 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:19.180 That he would sit down at the right hand of God. 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:22.660 That he would receive the acclaim of heaven 00:11:22.660 --> 00:11:25.960 for the great sacrifice that he'd made. 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:28.800 But I think more particularly, 00:11:29.340 --> 00:11:32.019 the joy that the writer is thinking about here 00:11:32.019 --> 00:11:34.639 is that the joy that Jesus had 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:38.299 in being able to save us from our sins. 00:11:39.019 --> 00:11:40.100 In being able to do 00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:41.639 what was otherwise impossible 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:46.379 and to reconcile man and God together. 00:11:47.059 --> 00:11:49.000 To do what we couldn't do. 00:11:49.699 --> 00:11:51.659 In our sin, in our failure, 00:11:52.199 --> 00:11:54.480 we are not able to restore 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:56.439 our relationship with God. 00:11:56.519 --> 00:11:59.100 Our best isn't good enough. 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:01.919 But what Jesus did on the cross 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:04.299 as he took our place there 00:12:04.299 --> 00:12:05.759 is enough. 00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:07.899 And it can bring us back 00:12:07.899 --> 00:12:10.740 to our relationship with our God. 00:12:11.479 --> 00:12:12.779 And Jesus, I'm sure, 00:12:13.219 --> 00:12:14.079 rejoiced in that. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:15.659 That was part of the joy 00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:17.139 that was before him. 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:20.099 As he took that awful journey 00:12:20.099 --> 00:12:21.439 to the cross. 00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:24.159 As he suffered the mockery 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:26.059 and the torture 00:12:26.059 --> 00:12:28.599 before being crucified there 00:12:28.599 --> 00:12:30.599 and being separated 00:12:30.599 --> 00:12:32.199 from his God. 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:34.080 Our salvation, 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:35.120 if we know Jesus, 00:12:35.580 --> 00:12:37.740 is a course of great joy 00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:39.120 that can help us 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:42.020 through all the difficulties of life. 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:43.740 And all of us can know that joy 00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:44.900 this Christmas 00:12:44.900 --> 00:12:48.080 as we think about the Lord Jesus 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:50.879 and what he's done for us. 00:12:52.020 --> 00:12:53.379 But I said there were two passages 00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:55.680 which talk about joy. 00:12:56.180 --> 00:12:58.080 And the other one is the second story 00:12:58.080 --> 00:12:58.700 that we read about, 00:12:58.700 --> 00:12:59.600 the one in Matthew, 00:13:00.160 --> 00:13:01.480 about the wise men 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:04.720 coming to see the infant Jesus. 00:13:05.580 --> 00:13:07.520 You remember they saw his star 00:13:07.520 --> 00:13:08.720 in the east. 00:13:09.400 --> 00:13:10.379 And they made their way 00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:11.000 to Jerusalem. 00:13:12.040 --> 00:13:13.400 And when they got there, 00:13:13.740 --> 00:13:15.540 they asked at the palace 00:13:15.540 --> 00:13:16.660 because they'd come to find 00:13:16.660 --> 00:13:17.560 the king of the Jews. 00:13:17.680 --> 00:13:18.640 They asked at the palace 00:13:18.640 --> 00:13:20.560 where the king of the Jews was. 00:13:21.040 --> 00:13:22.820 Threw it into some kind of turmoil. 00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:25.060 Particularly Herod the king. 00:13:25.059 --> 00:13:26.379 And we're told 00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:28.779 because the wise people there 00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:29.399 could look back 00:13:29.399 --> 00:13:30.199 in the Old Testament 00:13:30.199 --> 00:13:31.379 as we have this evening 00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:33.479 and see that it was prophesied 00:13:33.479 --> 00:13:34.659 that the Messiah 00:13:34.659 --> 00:13:37.059 would come from Bethlehem 00:13:37.059 --> 00:13:38.759 in Judea. 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:42.699 And so they left the palace. 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:45.759 I wonder when they left the palace 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:46.899 whether they were 00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:48.479 maybe a bit down. 00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:50.979 They'd come with this great news 00:13:50.979 --> 00:13:52.419 there's a king being born 00:13:52.419 --> 00:13:53.679 in Israel. 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:55.240 And what did they get? 00:13:56.099 --> 00:13:57.599 They got a king who is there 00:13:57.599 --> 00:13:59.659 who is trying to appear 00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:00.899 enthusiastic about it 00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:02.959 but I think fairly obviously wasn't. 00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:04.919 And would very soon afterwards 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:07.959 instigate a murderous campaign 00:14:07.959 --> 00:14:09.000 against the children 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:10.599 in the Bethlehem area. 00:14:11.719 --> 00:14:13.719 And they had the scholars there 00:14:13.719 --> 00:14:16.179 who just didn't care basically. 00:14:16.939 --> 00:14:18.459 He was a problem for them. 00:14:19.219 --> 00:14:20.839 Where is the Messiah to be born? 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:21.580 They could look back 00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:22.620 and find in the Old Testament 00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:23.940 yes it's in Bethlehem 00:14:23.940 --> 00:14:25.960 but they showed no inclination 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:27.980 to go there themselves. 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:29.740 They solved a nice problem 00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:31.000 and they move on 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:32.340 to the next thing. 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:34.019 And so the wise men 00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:36.100 come out of the palace 00:14:36.100 --> 00:14:37.759 and what do they see? 00:14:37.899 --> 00:14:39.240 They see the star 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:40.780 that had been there 00:14:40.780 --> 00:14:42.019 in the east. 00:14:42.920 --> 00:14:43.780 At some point 00:14:43.780 --> 00:14:45.420 they'd lost sight of the star. 00:14:45.900 --> 00:14:47.580 Whether they had to follow 00:14:47.580 --> 00:14:49.220 on the way to Bethlehem 00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:50.420 we don't know 00:14:50.420 --> 00:14:51.220 or Jerusalem rather 00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:52.060 we don't know 00:14:52.060 --> 00:14:53.960 but certainly one way or another 00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:55.399 the star had gone. 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:57.040 And then they come out 00:14:57.040 --> 00:14:57.580 of the palace 00:14:57.580 --> 00:14:59.639 and they see the star 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:01.440 and Matthew said 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:05.139 they rejoiced with great joy. 00:15:06.540 --> 00:15:07.660 Different translations 00:15:07.660 --> 00:15:09.060 put it different ways. 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:12.000 They were overwhelmed with joy 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:13.240 is probably as good 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:15.240 a translation as any. 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:17.299 These men who had come 00:15:17.299 --> 00:15:18.440 all this distance 00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:19.740 who perhaps had thought 00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:20.860 well are we going to see 00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:22.279 this king that's been born 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:23.740 and suddenly they get 00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:25.340 the sign again from God 00:15:25.340 --> 00:15:27.580 that the king is there 00:15:27.580 --> 00:15:28.720 and there's a star 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:29.940 they can follow the stops 00:15:29.940 --> 00:15:32.740 right over where Jesus is. 00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:34.299 And there's joy there 00:15:34.299 --> 00:15:34.960 and I suggest 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:37.039 that's the joy of anticipation. 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:39.759 of recognising 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:40.879 that they are about 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:42.360 to see something 00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:44.759 that is very wonderful. 00:15:45.579 --> 00:15:46.500 It doesn't say later on 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.199 that they rejoiced 00:15:47.199 --> 00:15:48.159 when they saw the crowd 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:48.719 they worshipped 00:15:48.719 --> 00:15:49.120 and I'm sure 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:50.879 they rejoiced as well. 00:15:51.439 --> 00:15:52.620 But they rejoiced 00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:54.919 when they saw the star. 00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:57.599 A lost joy of Christmas 00:15:57.599 --> 00:15:59.459 I think is in anticipation 00:15:59.459 --> 00:16:02.059 particularly for children 00:16:02.059 --> 00:16:03.879 as they look forward 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:06.240 to getting their presents. 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:08.379 Our grandson Archie 00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:09.519 who is nine this year 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:11.340 decided quite early on 00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:12.720 he only wants one present 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:13.720 for Christmas 00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:15.559 and parents 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:16.259 and grandparents 00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:17.200 and uncles and aunts 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:18.200 have all clubbed together 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:19.340 and he's going to get 00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:21.179 a VR headset tomorrow. 00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:22.659 And he's the kind of age 00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:24.419 he doesn't express it too much 00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:25.220 but I'm sure he's really 00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:26.299 excited about that 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:27.980 and most of the day tomorrow 00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:29.059 probably he'll be 00:16:29.059 --> 00:16:30.259 in another world 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:32.720 and quite oblivious to us. 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:34.139 But a lot of children 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:35.620 are like that aren't they? 00:16:35.660 --> 00:16:36.940 Maybe we as adults too. 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:38.279 We look forward 00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:39.759 to what we're going to get 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:40.940 at Christmas. 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:42.480 We anticipate 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:44.100 the celebration 00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:45.740 the joy 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:47.320 that there's going to be 00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:48.960 and that anticipation 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:50.580 in itself 00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:52.560 brings us joy 00:16:52.560 --> 00:16:54.040 in our lives. 00:16:54.540 --> 00:16:55.600 And that's what the wise men 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:58.100 are experiencing here. 00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:00.480 The joy of anticipating 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:02.200 their visit to Jesus 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:03.920 being able to worship him 00:17:03.920 --> 00:17:05.480 being able to give him 00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:06.120 the gifts 00:17:06.120 --> 00:17:07.440 that they brought 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:08.799 being able to be 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:09.620 among the first 00:17:09.620 --> 00:17:10.220 to see 00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:11.880 this special king 00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:14.019 that's been born. 00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:15.920 And laying aside 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:17.400 what happened before Christmas 00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:19.039 Christmas also I think 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:19.920 should be a time 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:21.180 of anticipation 00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:22.720 for us. 00:17:23.380 --> 00:17:24.440 We look back 00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:25.400 to when Jesus 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:26.620 came into the world 00:17:26.620 --> 00:17:27.960 in Bethlehem 00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:29.140 as a baby. 00:17:29.140 --> 00:17:30.780 but we can also 00:17:30.780 --> 00:17:31.540 look forward 00:17:31.540 --> 00:17:33.200 and we can anticipate 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:33.940 the fact 00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:35.400 that the Lord Jesus 00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:37.100 is coming back 00:17:37.100 --> 00:17:38.060 again. 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:39.280 That one day 00:17:39.280 --> 00:17:39.920 he'll return 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:40.960 not as a baby 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:42.900 but as a king 00:17:42.900 --> 00:17:44.200 and recognized 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:45.020 as a king 00:17:45.020 --> 00:17:46.480 that every knee 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:47.520 will bow 00:17:47.520 --> 00:17:48.780 before him. 00:17:49.300 --> 00:17:50.540 That all the evil 00:17:50.540 --> 00:17:51.840 in the world 00:17:51.840 --> 00:17:52.680 will be overcome 00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:54.520 and he will rule 00:17:54.520 --> 00:17:55.660 in righteousness. 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:56.640 And those of us 00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:57.280 who know him 00:17:57.280 --> 00:17:57.820 those of us 00:17:57.820 --> 00:17:58.540 who have trusted 00:17:58.540 --> 00:17:59.460 in him 00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:00.840 we will see him 00:18:00.840 --> 00:18:02.640 we will be like him 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:04.480 we will be with him 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:05.580 forever. 00:18:06.520 --> 00:18:07.080 And that's a great 00:18:07.080 --> 00:18:07.900 source of joy 00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:08.720 I think for us 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:09.080 too 00:18:09.080 --> 00:18:10.700 at Christmas. 00:18:11.580 --> 00:18:12.420 And if our 00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:13.340 situations 00:18:13.340 --> 00:18:14.700 are difficult 00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:16.280 if there are 00:18:16.280 --> 00:18:17.460 things in our lives 00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:17.980 that we say 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:18.940 well that brings us 00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:19.700 sadness 00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:21.100 we are going 00:18:21.100 --> 00:18:22.120 through situations 00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:23.440 which are 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:24.220 really 00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:25.240 hard 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:26.720 then the anticipation 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:27.539 of Jesus 00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:28.500 coming back 00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:29.299 and of going 00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:30.279 to be with him 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:31.299 is something 00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:32.099 that can give us 00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:33.740 joy and hope 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:35.120 even in that. 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:36.740 Peter in his letter 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:38.039 says that God 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:38.660 has given us 00:18:38.660 --> 00:18:39.380 new birth 00:18:39.380 --> 00:18:41.759 into a living hope 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:43.500 into an inheritance 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.420 that can never 00:18:44.420 --> 00:18:45.059 perish 00:18:45.059 --> 00:18:45.980 spoil 00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:47.240 or fade. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:48.640 And then he says 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:49.740 in all this 00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:51.380 you greatly 00:18:51.380 --> 00:18:52.079 rejoice 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:53.420 though now 00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:54.420 for a little while 00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:55.720 you may have to 00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:56.560 suffer grief 00:18:56.560 --> 00:18:58.220 in all kinds 00:18:58.220 --> 00:18:59.580 of trials. 00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:02.440 So for many of us 00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:03.519 this Christmas 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:04.900 is a time 00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:05.960 of joy. 00:19:06.620 --> 00:19:07.600 It is a time 00:19:07.600 --> 00:19:08.640 when we can 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:09.539 look back 00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:10.620 and see 00:19:10.620 --> 00:19:12.200 the child of Bethlehem. 00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:13.640 When we can think 00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:14.980 about the salvation 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:16.440 that we have 00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:17.840 through the Lord Jesus. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:19.420 When we can look 00:19:19.420 --> 00:19:19.860 forward 00:19:19.860 --> 00:19:20.820 to the day 00:19:20.820 --> 00:19:21.759 when the Lord Jesus 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.560 will return 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.200 or when we go 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.019 to be with him 00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:25.240 through death 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:26.379 and when the 00:19:26.379 --> 00:19:27.079 sufferings 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:28.179 and trials 00:19:28.179 --> 00:19:29.519 of this life 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:31.059 are behind us. 00:19:31.859 --> 00:19:32.599 Let's make sure 00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:33.659 our trust is in him. 00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:34.299 Let's think 00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:35.059 of him 00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:36.319 over this Christmas. 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:37.940 Let's rejoice 00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:39.679 with great joy 00:19:39.679 --> 00:19:41.179 of what the Lord 00:19:41.179 --> 00:19:42.720 has done for us 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:43.720 through Jesus. 00:19:44.419 --> 00:19:45.480 Let's pray together. 00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:49.500 our Father 00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.079 we thank you 00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:51.400 that even in a world 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:52.759 of sadness 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:54.259 of trouble 00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.059 of sorrow 00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:57.019 where there is so much 00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:57.539 that would 00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:58.799 cause us grief 00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:00.779 yet there is 00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:01.759 joy available 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:02.640 for us. 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:04.039 We thank you 00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:04.740 that that joy 00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:05.960 comes through that baby 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:07.160 born in Bethlehem 00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:08.920 born as God 00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:09.420 with us 00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:10.480 God incarnate 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.940 born to be 00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:12.700 our saviour 00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:14.340 and one day 00:20:14.340 --> 00:20:15.299 returning 00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:16.880 and returning 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:17.539 to reign. 00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:18.519 We thank you 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:19.160 for the prospect 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:20.120 that many of us 00:20:20.120 --> 00:20:21.360 have of going 00:20:21.360 --> 00:20:22.200 to be with him 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:24.059 and to be with him 00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:24.819 forever. 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.640 Help all of us 00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:26.360 to have our trust 00:20:26.360 --> 00:20:26.840 in him 00:20:26.840 --> 00:20:28.240 help us to think 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:28.960 much of him 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.240 help us to rejoice 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:31.259 in him 00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:32.640 this Christmas day. 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:34.220 We give you thanks 00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:35.340 for this time together 00:20:35.340 --> 00:20:36.059 we thank you 00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:37.180 for the privilege 00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:38.460 of singing these carols 00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:39.640 of thinking 00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:40.500 of your words 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.460 and we commit 00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:42.340 ourselves to you 00:20:42.340 --> 00:20:43.100 in the name 00:20:43.100 --> 00:20:43.940 of the Lord Jesus. 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:45.299 Amen.