WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.859 Well if you've come in since the beginning let me say again thank you so much for coming and joining us. It's a real thrill to see you all here and to join with you together. 00:00:09.859 --> 00:00:20.400 I just want to talk to you for a few moments from that passage that we just have read to us from Matthew chapter 2 so you might find it helpful to keep that open in front of you. 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:36.859 Does the festive season enchant you or enrage you? Christmas it brings out the best of us doesn't it and also the worst in us. 00:00:36.859 --> 00:00:50.060 The founder of a new pop-up shop in London has decided to cash in on this in a unique way with a different way to relieve the tension and stress of Christmas. 00:00:50.399 --> 00:01:06.099 The advertisement reads, feeling stressed about Christmas shopping, already fed up with Christmas music, let out your Christmas angst, and I'm not making this up, in Rudolph's rage room. 00:01:06.099 --> 00:01:22.099 How does it work? We invite you to take part in our Christmas rage room by donning red jumpsuits, hard hats, arming yourselves with a baseball bat, and letting your rage out on Christmas paraphernalia. 00:01:22.099 --> 00:01:30.640 Christmas trees, Christmas trees, baubles, dancing santas, whatever you like, all to the Christmas soundtrack of your choice. 00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:34.159 It's £18 for four minutes by the way if you're interested. 00:01:34.939 --> 00:01:43.459 While it's full of joy and cheer and light, there is a dark side to Christmas, isn't there? 00:01:43.459 --> 00:01:56.839 We wonder why Matthew, if he's trying to commend Jesus to us in his account of the birth of Jesus, why does he tell us about the dark side of Christmas? 00:01:58.299 --> 00:02:09.680 He includes details here, doesn't he, about the ultimate Scrooge, the ultimate hater of Christmas, the enraged King Herod. 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:18.879 He is very, very stressed out, isn't he, that first Christmas, but in a much more serious way than perhaps we are. 00:02:20.200 --> 00:02:24.300 Well, he tells us about him because this is history, first of all. 00:02:24.379 --> 00:02:29.159 There was really a king called Herod, who lived at the time when Jesus was born. 00:02:29.319 --> 00:02:35.960 Matthew places this in history, it's not a myth that we're hearing about this afternoon, but more than that, 00:02:35.960 --> 00:02:43.780 to show us that, joking aside, when the light of Christmas appears, there is a dark side. 00:02:45.040 --> 00:02:51.000 There is a dark side in Herod, and there is a dark side in all of us. 00:02:52.700 --> 00:02:59.819 Matthew talks us through Herod's response to this baby, to warn us about our response. 00:02:59.819 --> 00:03:09.120 So I've got three headings for you, just in a short time now, three R words to show you Herod's response. 00:03:09.259 --> 00:03:12.500 First of all, Herod meets his new rival. 00:03:13.419 --> 00:03:15.359 Herod meets his new rival. 00:03:16.859 --> 00:03:19.060 Just imagine the scene in Jerusalem. 00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:22.060 It's the royal city, isn't it? 00:03:22.099 --> 00:03:25.299 It's the centre of Herod's royal power. 00:03:25.300 --> 00:03:30.120 However, history tells us that Herod has worked his way to the top. 00:03:30.200 --> 00:03:37.760 He's got a few skeletons in his closet, probably literally, because he's bumped off a few of his family members 00:03:37.760 --> 00:03:40.960 to keep his grip on power as king. 00:03:42.100 --> 00:03:44.740 And he is the king you don't mess with. 00:03:45.880 --> 00:03:49.000 There are no contenders to my throne, he says. 00:03:49.180 --> 00:03:50.720 I'm the king and I'm the ruler. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:55.599 But what's the first thing that Herod hears at Christmas? 00:03:56.520 --> 00:03:59.280 Some wise men turn up in Jerusalem, don't they? 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:02.479 And they ask this question in verse 2 there. 00:04:03.579 --> 00:04:06.919 Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? 00:04:08.099 --> 00:04:09.599 What a question to ask. 00:04:10.079 --> 00:04:11.400 Yeah, we know there is Herod. 00:04:11.939 --> 00:04:13.960 But where is the king? 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:17.819 Where is the new king who's been born? 00:04:17.819 --> 00:04:22.480 The first thing Herod hears that first Christmas? 00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:25.259 I've got a rival. 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:27.740 There is a new king. 00:04:29.099 --> 00:04:31.019 The light appears, doesn't it? 00:04:31.459 --> 00:04:34.120 But in Herod we see a dark side. 00:04:35.279 --> 00:04:37.259 Herod is bothered by the light. 00:04:37.480 --> 00:04:40.639 Herod is bothered by this new rival. 00:04:40.779 --> 00:04:44.240 We're told in verse 3 down there, he is troubled. 00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:46.480 It's a loaded word. 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:47.640 He's agitated. 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:49.319 He's stressed out. 00:04:49.400 --> 00:04:50.400 He's stirred up. 00:04:50.540 --> 00:04:52.580 The veins in his neck kind of bulge. 00:04:52.660 --> 00:04:53.840 And his face goes red. 00:04:54.439 --> 00:04:56.020 And he gets cold sweats. 00:04:58.640 --> 00:05:00.600 Apparently in the ancient world, 00:05:01.160 --> 00:05:03.620 with the appearance of a new star, 00:05:04.400 --> 00:05:07.020 it symbolised the death of an old king 00:05:07.020 --> 00:05:09.180 and the birth of a new one. 00:05:09.180 --> 00:05:12.079 When Jesus appears, 00:05:12.420 --> 00:05:15.840 it's as if Herod is reading his own obituary. 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:20.540 It's as if Herod sees his power slipping away. 00:05:22.019 --> 00:05:24.120 The stress of Christmas for Herod 00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:26.740 is a realisation that as Jesus is born, 00:05:27.160 --> 00:05:28.120 he has a rival. 00:05:29.280 --> 00:05:32.060 He is losing the right to be in charge. 00:05:32.060 --> 00:05:35.480 He's faced with the uncomfortable question, 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:37.720 where is the real king? 00:05:39.420 --> 00:05:41.879 But this is the dark side in him, isn't it? 00:05:42.259 --> 00:05:44.139 He doesn't want there to be a rival. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:46.480 He doesn't want to be ruled. 00:05:47.180 --> 00:05:48.480 He wants to rule. 00:05:50.660 --> 00:05:52.279 We read the story, don't we? 00:05:52.300 --> 00:05:54.220 And we kind of boo and hiss at Herod. 00:05:54.319 --> 00:05:57.860 He's kind of ultimate pantomime character, isn't he? 00:05:57.860 --> 00:05:58.780 The ultimate villain. 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:02.720 But there is a sense that we need to learn 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:04.240 from Herod's response. 00:06:04.980 --> 00:06:08.080 That actually we need to think more like Herod. 00:06:09.280 --> 00:06:12.600 Because Herod realises the truth of Christmas. 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:15.900 He realises that because Jesus has come, 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:19.840 he has lost the right to rule his own life. 00:06:20.960 --> 00:06:23.920 He no longer has the right to be in charge. 00:06:25.220 --> 00:06:26.939 And if we understand Christmas, 00:06:26.939 --> 00:06:28.819 if we understand who Jesus is, 00:06:28.920 --> 00:06:32.899 there is a sense that Jesus should trouble us too. 00:06:34.779 --> 00:06:36.680 He comes to rule. 00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:39.240 To rule this world. 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:42.079 To rule me and to rule you. 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:46.439 And once the light of Jesus has dawned on you, 00:06:47.100 --> 00:06:48.899 a new king comes to rule. 00:06:49.139 --> 00:06:50.879 And we don't like that, do we? 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:53.480 We don't like rivals. 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:58.840 And like Herod, there is a dark side in us at Christmas. 00:07:00.140 --> 00:07:01.680 Herod has a new rival. 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:03.160 Second thing though, 00:07:03.879 --> 00:07:05.700 Herod deals with his rival 00:07:05.700 --> 00:07:07.740 with a ruse. 00:07:08.439 --> 00:07:09.580 Herod's ruse. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:14.060 Herod has two choices with Jesus, doesn't he? 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:17.080 He can either attack Jesus' rule 00:07:17.079 --> 00:07:19.439 or he can surrender to his rule. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:21.139 Attack or surrender. 00:07:22.259 --> 00:07:25.300 And we know in the story which one he goes for, don't we? 00:07:25.620 --> 00:07:28.219 But he thinks he can do it in a clever way. 00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:30.240 Did you notice in the story, 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:33.120 Herod's way of dealing with Jesus 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:37.680 is to lie and mislead with a ruse. 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:40.780 We're told in verse 8, 00:07:40.840 --> 00:07:42.879 he gets the wise men in private 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:44.500 and he says, 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:46.819 go and search diligently for the child 00:07:46.819 --> 00:07:47.860 and when you've found him, 00:07:47.959 --> 00:07:48.660 bring me word 00:07:48.660 --> 00:07:51.040 so that I can go and worship him too. 00:07:52.019 --> 00:07:52.980 And we're thinking, 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:54.439 nice try, Herod. 00:07:55.340 --> 00:07:57.500 We know that's not his real intention, 00:07:57.660 --> 00:07:58.100 don't we? 00:07:59.139 --> 00:08:00.740 He wears a mask. 00:08:01.980 --> 00:08:04.139 He acts as if he is one thing 00:08:04.139 --> 00:08:05.480 when he's another. 00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:07.560 He says, 00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:10.100 let's pretend with Jesus. 00:08:11.520 --> 00:08:14.480 His way of defending himself 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:17.800 against the perceived threat of Jesus' rule 00:08:17.800 --> 00:08:20.000 is to twist the truth. 00:08:21.660 --> 00:08:24.240 He pretends he's out to worship Jesus 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:26.580 when actually he wants to destroy Jesus. 00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:30.680 And the ruse is his coping mechanism 00:08:30.680 --> 00:08:35.200 to divert the reality of the situation. 00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:38.800 to turn the truth into a lie, 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:39.620 to pretend. 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:44.019 We know the truth under Herod's mask, 00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:44.620 don't we? 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:46.139 Under his mask, 00:08:46.220 --> 00:08:48.320 there is a man who is deeply insecure, 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:51.060 who is troubled by Jesus. 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:54.920 And the only way to cope with Jesus 00:08:54.920 --> 00:08:57.220 is to bend the truth for him. 00:08:57.220 --> 00:09:00.019 It's what we do, 00:09:00.019 --> 00:09:00.500 isn't it? 00:09:01.700 --> 00:09:03.259 Attack or surrender? 00:09:04.540 --> 00:09:06.660 And we think that we can pretend 00:09:06.660 --> 00:09:07.860 things are false 00:09:07.860 --> 00:09:09.100 when they're just not. 00:09:10.180 --> 00:09:11.080 We play, 00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:12.860 let's pretend with Jesus. 00:09:14.060 --> 00:09:16.019 We pretend not to believe 00:09:16.580 --> 00:09:17.620 when deep down 00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:19.300 we know these things are true. 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:21.740 We live in God's world, 00:09:21.860 --> 00:09:23.480 we're surrounded by his creation, 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:25.860 we depend on him for life, 00:09:25.980 --> 00:09:26.800 we are creatures. 00:09:28.060 --> 00:09:31.200 We pretend we can bluff King Jesus. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:33.820 We might even pretend 00:09:33.820 --> 00:09:35.159 that we worship him 00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:37.580 when actually we want to get rid of him. 00:09:38.620 --> 00:09:39.940 We mask the truth. 00:09:41.980 --> 00:09:43.279 Now, when we look at Herod, 00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:45.340 he's a total megalomaniac, isn't he? 00:09:45.379 --> 00:09:46.860 I mean, he's way off the scale. 00:09:48.340 --> 00:09:50.200 We see in him a very tragic, 00:09:50.820 --> 00:09:51.620 sad man. 00:09:51.620 --> 00:09:53.340 Do you notice when he was troubled, 00:09:53.460 --> 00:09:55.480 Matthew gives us that little detail 00:09:55.480 --> 00:09:56.620 in verse 3, doesn't he? 00:09:56.960 --> 00:09:57.860 When he was troubled, 00:09:58.019 --> 00:10:00.240 all Jerusalem was troubled with him. 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:03.720 He's a king who has used other people, 00:10:03.960 --> 00:10:05.879 used his own people, 00:10:06.340 --> 00:10:08.279 to kind of bolster his own choices. 00:10:09.560 --> 00:10:11.019 And they've become conditioned 00:10:11.019 --> 00:10:13.379 into being on tender huts 00:10:13.379 --> 00:10:14.960 every time he's unhappy, 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:15.620 haven't they? 00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:19.060 He needs them to be their yes, 00:10:19.340 --> 00:10:20.279 his yes men. 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:23.299 So his rude with Jesus 00:10:23.299 --> 00:10:26.279 feeds off being surrounded with people 00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:28.480 whose reaction corresponds 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:29.659 with how he feels. 00:10:30.500 --> 00:10:31.819 They were troubled as well. 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:34.799 As he attacks Jesus, 00:10:35.459 --> 00:10:36.720 everyone else around him 00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:37.919 has to fall in line. 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:41.779 In our insecurities, 00:10:42.459 --> 00:10:45.339 when Jesus comes and claims rule 00:10:45.339 --> 00:10:46.360 in our lives, 00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:47.659 as we play, 00:10:47.799 --> 00:10:49.360 let's pretend with him, 00:10:49.659 --> 00:10:51.439 it is much easier to do that, 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:51.879 isn't it, 00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:53.839 when everyone else is doing it too. 00:10:55.439 --> 00:10:57.120 We're troubled by Jesus, 00:10:58.179 --> 00:10:58.839 and we say, 00:10:58.939 --> 00:11:00.059 I'm going to get rid of him, 00:11:00.599 --> 00:11:01.919 but that's okay, 00:11:02.019 --> 00:11:03.839 because everyone's doing it. 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:06.860 We corporately feed 00:11:06.860 --> 00:11:08.060 each other's deception. 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:11.680 Herod's met his rival, 00:11:12.800 --> 00:11:14.019 he tries a ruse, 00:11:14.580 --> 00:11:15.780 but he can't hide, 00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:16.259 can he? 00:11:16.340 --> 00:11:18.139 Because we see in the end, 00:11:18.940 --> 00:11:20.100 Herod's rage. 00:11:20.980 --> 00:11:22.360 We see Herod's rage, 00:11:22.420 --> 00:11:24.000 that's the third R. 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:25.700 The light of Jesus 00:11:25.700 --> 00:11:27.259 comes into Herod's life, 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:29.139 but it doesn't bring him 00:11:29.139 --> 00:11:30.259 a warm feeling, 00:11:30.379 --> 00:11:30.620 does it? 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:31.480 It doesn't make him feel 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:32.799 nice and sentimental. 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:34.460 Instead of playing 00:11:34.460 --> 00:11:36.659 Bing Crosby on his CD player, 00:11:36.740 --> 00:11:38.820 he plays Rage Against the Machine, 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:39.279 doesn't he? 00:11:40.580 --> 00:11:42.559 Once the ruse fails, 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:45.919 we see what's under the mask. 00:11:47.100 --> 00:11:48.500 Jesus brings him out 00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:49.500 in a rage. 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:53.000 And at the end of Herod's story, 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:55.019 we get this really grisly, 00:11:55.580 --> 00:11:57.100 last-ditch attempt 00:11:57.100 --> 00:11:58.480 to attack Jesus, 00:11:58.620 --> 00:11:59.039 don't we? 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:01.059 It's there in verse 16, 00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:02.320 and it's kind of the verse 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:03.200 that we kind of go, 00:12:03.340 --> 00:12:03.639 ugh, 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:04.639 when we read it, 00:12:04.700 --> 00:12:05.120 isn't it? 00:12:06.100 --> 00:12:07.320 When Herod realised 00:12:07.320 --> 00:12:08.279 that he'd been outwitted 00:12:08.279 --> 00:12:09.080 by the Magi, 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:10.120 he was furious, 00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:11.779 and he gave orders 00:12:11.779 --> 00:12:13.080 to kill all the boys 00:12:13.080 --> 00:12:13.919 in Bethlehem 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:15.259 and its vicinity 00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:17.080 who were two years old 00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:18.120 and under. 00:12:19.539 --> 00:12:20.519 From our knowledge 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:21.059 of history 00:12:21.059 --> 00:12:22.739 and village sizes 00:12:22.739 --> 00:12:23.679 around that time, 00:12:23.839 --> 00:12:24.939 Herod executed 00:12:24.939 --> 00:12:26.759 about 12 to 13 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:27.679 little toddlers 00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:28.319 that night. 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:31.539 The mask slips. 00:12:32.959 --> 00:12:34.500 We see his rage 00:12:34.500 --> 00:12:36.239 at this new king, 00:12:37.199 --> 00:12:38.219 an unhinged, 00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:39.019 desperate, 00:12:39.539 --> 00:12:41.039 tragic rage. 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:45.219 The atheist philosopher 00:12:45.219 --> 00:12:46.339 Thomas Nagel 00:12:46.339 --> 00:12:47.839 speaks candidly 00:12:47.839 --> 00:12:48.719 and honestly 00:12:48.719 --> 00:12:49.819 about his feelings. 00:12:51.099 --> 00:12:52.079 He admits that 00:12:52.079 --> 00:12:52.860 at the heart 00:12:52.860 --> 00:12:54.259 of his atheism 00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:55.219 is not that 00:12:55.219 --> 00:12:55.879 he thinks 00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:56.959 Jesus' rule 00:12:56.959 --> 00:12:57.819 is irrational 00:12:57.819 --> 00:13:00.139 or undeserved, 00:13:00.659 --> 00:13:02.120 but simply 00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:03.019 that he doesn't 00:13:03.019 --> 00:13:03.779 want it. 00:13:05.079 --> 00:13:05.659 He says, 00:13:05.659 --> 00:13:06.620 I'm speaking 00:13:06.620 --> 00:13:07.819 from experience, 00:13:08.339 --> 00:13:09.199 being strongly 00:13:09.199 --> 00:13:10.219 subject to this 00:13:10.219 --> 00:13:10.679 feeling. 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:12.500 It isn't just 00:13:12.500 --> 00:13:13.219 that I don't 00:13:13.219 --> 00:13:14.240 believe in God, 00:13:14.939 --> 00:13:16.079 it's that I hope 00:13:16.079 --> 00:13:17.259 there is no God. 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:19.439 I don't want 00:13:19.439 --> 00:13:20.319 there to be a God, 00:13:20.419 --> 00:13:20.919 he says. 00:13:21.740 --> 00:13:22.679 And my guess 00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:23.259 is that this 00:13:23.259 --> 00:13:24.980 cosmic authority 00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:26.839 problem is not rare. 00:13:27.439 --> 00:13:28.219 It's really honest, 00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:28.740 isn't it? 00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:30.600 And he's hit the nail 00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:31.120 on the head 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:31.779 for Herod. 00:13:31.779 --> 00:13:34.079 In his rage, 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:35.199 he just doesn't 00:13:35.199 --> 00:13:35.959 want Jesus 00:13:35.959 --> 00:13:36.919 to rule him. 00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:39.500 Herod the king 00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:42.299 commits treason 00:13:42.299 --> 00:13:44.759 against the real king. 00:13:46.220 --> 00:13:47.139 It's attack 00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:48.439 or surrender. 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:51.079 And the incarnation, 00:13:51.500 --> 00:13:52.419 what we think about 00:13:52.419 --> 00:13:53.419 every Christmas, 00:13:53.579 --> 00:13:54.459 proves to us 00:13:54.459 --> 00:13:55.000 that actually 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:55.899 we're not so 00:13:55.899 --> 00:13:56.819 unlike Herod 00:13:56.819 --> 00:13:57.579 after all. 00:13:58.339 --> 00:13:59.279 Because when God 00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:00.480 comes into the world, 00:14:00.579 --> 00:14:01.199 when the light 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:02.320 of Jesus shines, 00:14:02.420 --> 00:14:03.440 how do we respond? 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:06.100 We don't relish 00:14:06.100 --> 00:14:07.600 his rule in our lives. 00:14:08.580 --> 00:14:09.820 We rage at him. 00:14:11.100 --> 00:14:12.640 Our cosmic authority 00:14:12.640 --> 00:14:13.300 problem, 00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:14.980 as Nagel puts it, 00:14:15.040 --> 00:14:16.440 becomes manifestly 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:17.560 obvious to all 00:14:17.560 --> 00:14:19.020 when we try 00:14:19.020 --> 00:14:20.080 and snuff out 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:20.720 the light, 00:14:21.820 --> 00:14:22.980 nail him to a cross 00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:23.860 and kill him. 00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:26.660 The mask slips 00:14:26.660 --> 00:14:28.640 and our rage 00:14:28.640 --> 00:14:29.360 against him 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:30.120 comes out. 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:32.960 You've got to feel 00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:33.640 a bit of pity 00:14:33.640 --> 00:14:34.259 for Herod, 00:14:34.340 --> 00:14:34.820 haven't you? 00:14:35.920 --> 00:14:36.500 Attack 00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:37.780 or surrender? 00:14:39.040 --> 00:14:39.700 And he makes 00:14:39.700 --> 00:14:40.640 the wrong choice. 00:14:41.520 --> 00:14:42.540 And his story 00:14:42.540 --> 00:14:43.520 ends here. 00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:44.259 As Jesus' 00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:45.620 parents take him 00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:46.680 to safety, 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:48.340 we see in verse 15 00:14:48.340 --> 00:14:49.800 he's in safety 00:14:49.800 --> 00:14:50.940 until Herod 00:14:50.940 --> 00:14:51.980 dies. 00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:52.900 It's there 00:14:52.900 --> 00:14:54.360 in the Gospels. 00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:56.879 As if it could have 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:58.139 been any other way. 00:15:00.100 --> 00:15:01.340 Where is the real 00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:02.120 king here? 00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:04.000 I would have thought 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:04.759 the answer to that 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:05.860 question is obvious, 00:15:06.019 --> 00:15:06.460 isn't it? 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:08.980 And Herod couldn't 00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:09.680 fool him 00:15:09.680 --> 00:15:10.840 or rage against him 00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:11.879 and neither can you. 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:14.639 King of the Jews 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:15.460 was the title 00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:16.580 that almost got 00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:17.480 Jesus killed 00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:18.879 when he was a baby. 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:21.019 But it was 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:21.980 impossible to 00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:22.759 defeat him. 00:15:23.439 --> 00:15:23.899 His rule 00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:25.019 couldn't be stopped. 00:15:26.899 --> 00:15:27.580 But Jesus 00:15:27.580 --> 00:15:28.700 would embody 00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:29.580 that title 00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:30.659 once more. 00:15:31.460 --> 00:15:32.939 Not at his birth 00:15:32.939 --> 00:15:35.019 but at his death. 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:37.120 If you read 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:38.019 Matthew's Gospel 00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:39.059 he tells us later 00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:40.100 that that title 00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:41.100 comes back 00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:42.720 and it's written 00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:43.980 above his head 00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:45.120 as he dies 00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:45.940 on a cross. 00:15:46.800 --> 00:15:47.420 He's nailed 00:15:47.420 --> 00:15:48.659 and killed there. 00:15:48.820 --> 00:15:49.360 Reading 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:51.659 King of the Jews. 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:53.759 In the end 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:54.639 that title 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:55.779 does cost 00:15:55.779 --> 00:15:56.379 Jesus 00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:57.680 his life 00:15:57.680 --> 00:15:58.519 and he is 00:15:58.519 --> 00:15:58.960 defeated. 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:01.560 Our rage 00:16:01.560 --> 00:16:03.019 finally snaps 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:03.720 out the light. 00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:06.340 But 00:16:06.340 --> 00:16:07.340 in an ironic 00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:08.080 twist 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:09.519 his weak death 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:10.300 was actually 00:16:10.299 --> 00:16:11.120 his greatest 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.519 moment of power. 00:16:13.579 --> 00:16:14.419 His greatest 00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:15.699 act of kindness 00:16:15.699 --> 00:16:16.959 towards us 00:16:16.959 --> 00:16:18.399 as king. 00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:20.899 For in his death 00:16:20.899 --> 00:16:22.679 he voluntarily 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:23.679 receives 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:25.019 what is deserved 00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:25.959 by his enemies. 00:16:27.319 --> 00:16:28.099 By those 00:16:28.099 --> 00:16:28.859 who rage 00:16:28.859 --> 00:16:29.639 against him. 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:31.699 He lovingly 00:16:31.699 --> 00:16:32.459 absorbs 00:16:32.459 --> 00:16:33.679 what is due 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:34.639 to us 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:36.439 in our rage. 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:38.479 In Jesus 00:16:38.479 --> 00:16:39.740 in a mysterious 00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:40.399 way 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:42.259 God himself 00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:43.159 receives 00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:43.799 the penalty 00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:44.700 for treason 00:16:44.700 --> 00:16:46.440 in God's 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:47.220 own kingdom. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:49.440 The death 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:50.560 penalty is given 00:16:50.560 --> 00:16:51.480 and the sword 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:52.899 falls in judgment 00:16:52.899 --> 00:16:53.659 on him 00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:55.100 and Jesus 00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:55.960 receives 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:57.440 what we deserve 00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:58.840 in our stead. 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:01.720 Like Herod 00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:03.139 you can't remove 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:04.140 Jesus' rule. 00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.400 You just can't 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:05.960 do that. 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:08.059 but with a 00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:09.140 king as good 00:17:09.140 --> 00:17:10.360 and as kind 00:17:10.360 --> 00:17:11.000 as that 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:12.319 who would 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:13.000 want to? 00:17:14.600 --> 00:17:15.100 He is a 00:17:15.100 --> 00:17:15.539 king who 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:16.180 loves his 00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:16.779 people with 00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:17.440 an incredible 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:18.079 love. 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:19.579 Taking on 00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:20.140 their own 00:17:20.140 --> 00:17:20.680 rebellion 00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:21.700 onto himself. 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:22.980 He is a 00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:23.660 king who is 00:17:23.660 --> 00:17:25.240 literally dying 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:26.039 to love 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:26.799 his people. 00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:29.480 Such a 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:29.940 contrast 00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:30.299 isn't it 00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:30.940 to see how 00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:31.500 the wise 00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.340 men respond 00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:33.379 to the 00:17:33.379 --> 00:17:33.879 star. 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:34.919 They go 00:17:34.919 --> 00:17:35.279 in and 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:35.599 worship 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:36.059 Jesus 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:36.399 and it's 00:17:36.399 --> 00:17:36.659 a little 00:17:36.659 --> 00:17:37.220 picture of 00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:37.779 how things 00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:38.240 go. 00:17:38.939 --> 00:17:39.699 Attack or 00:17:39.699 --> 00:17:40.199 surrender. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.319 Herod will 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:43.139 continue in 00:17:43.139 --> 00:17:44.179 paranoia and 00:17:44.179 --> 00:17:45.339 insecurity and 00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:46.279 anxiety and 00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:46.799 stress. 00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:47.959 Vainly holding 00:17:47.959 --> 00:17:48.500 on to his 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:48.899 power. 00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:49.679 Going to the 00:17:49.679 --> 00:17:50.319 grave in 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:51.019 desperation. 00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:52.779 And the 00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:53.959 wise men enjoy 00:17:53.959 --> 00:17:54.879 Jesus' presence. 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:55.799 They surrender 00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:56.599 to him and 00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:56.939 worship. 00:17:56.940 --> 00:18:00.000 Just as we 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:00.700 close, let me 00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:02.140 say, I'm not a 00:18:02.140 --> 00:18:03.000 mind reader this 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:03.580 afternoon, I'm 00:18:03.580 --> 00:18:04.960 not going to do 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:05.640 any tricks or 00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:07.340 anything, but as 00:18:07.340 --> 00:18:08.440 arrogant as it may 00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:09.200 sound, I know 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:09.759 what's going to 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:10.740 happen next. 00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:13.220 I will shut up 00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:13.640 finally. 00:18:14.820 --> 00:18:15.880 And you will do 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:17.100 one of two things 00:18:17.100 --> 00:18:17.880 this afternoon. 00:18:19.059 --> 00:18:19.920 You will leave 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:21.240 this building and 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.000 another year will 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:23.980 roll around and 00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:24.700 you will either 00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:26.700 attack or 00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:27.259 surrender. 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:29.420 You will attack 00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:31.200 him or surrender 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:32.160 to his rule. 00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:34.100 Because the 00:18:34.100 --> 00:18:35.200 dark side in 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:36.880 Herod is the 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:37.680 dark side of 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:38.440 every Christmas. 00:18:39.840 --> 00:18:40.480 Because it 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:41.319 asks us the 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:42.279 question, where 00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:43.059 is the real 00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:43.500 king? 00:18:44.519 --> 00:18:45.420 A king who 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:46.960 rivals our 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:48.000 right to be in 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:48.640 charge of our 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:49.640 own lives, but 00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:50.720 he is a king who 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:52.039 dies and rises 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:53.600 from the dead to 00:18:53.600 --> 00:18:54.400 rescue us from 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:55.660 the very serious 00:18:55.660 --> 00:18:56.620 consequences of 00:18:56.619 --> 00:18:57.739 how we behaved 00:18:57.739 --> 00:18:59.000 in his kingdom. 00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:02.279 Perhaps Matthew 00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:03.019 has prodded 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:03.899 something in you 00:19:03.899 --> 00:19:05.119 as you come here 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:05.699 to this carol 00:19:05.699 --> 00:19:06.239 service. 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:07.839 But maybe you're 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:08.179 a kind of 00:19:08.179 --> 00:19:09.439 sceptical person 00:19:09.439 --> 00:19:10.299 and you doubt 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:10.859 some of what 00:19:10.859 --> 00:19:11.299 you've heard. 00:19:11.379 --> 00:19:12.399 Can I ask you to 00:19:12.399 --> 00:19:13.439 be consistent in 00:19:13.439 --> 00:19:15.179 your scepticism and 00:19:15.179 --> 00:19:16.399 doubt your doubts? 00:19:17.139 --> 00:19:18.000 Come and talk to 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:18.359 us. 00:19:19.239 --> 00:19:20.259 Come and learn 00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.739 more about this 00:19:21.739 --> 00:19:22.339 great king. 00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:23.619 We run a talk 00:19:23.619 --> 00:19:24.079 here every 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:24.819 Tuesday, the 00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:25.559 Ealing Lunchtime 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:25.899 Talk. 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.439 There are some 00:19:26.439 --> 00:19:27.659 flyers at the 00:19:27.659 --> 00:19:28.019 back. 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:29.559 Why not take 00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:30.199 home the 00:19:30.199 --> 00:19:31.220 Matthew's Gospel 00:19:31.220 --> 00:19:32.359 that was on your 00:19:32.359 --> 00:19:33.220 chairs and read 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:34.179 that over Christmas 00:19:34.179 --> 00:19:35.359 and learn more 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.839 about Jesus the 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:37.139 King? 00:19:38.740 --> 00:19:39.759 Let me plead with 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:40.539 you not to make 00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:41.699 the same mistakes 00:19:41.699 --> 00:19:42.839 that Herod made. 00:19:42.939 --> 00:19:43.639 Don't think you 00:19:43.639 --> 00:19:45.459 can fight him or 00:19:45.459 --> 00:19:46.319 fool him or 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:47.199 finish him off. 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:50.620 It is attack or 00:19:50.620 --> 00:19:51.920 surrender. 00:19:53.340 --> 00:19:54.580 So come out of 00:19:54.580 --> 00:19:55.400 the dark and 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:56.559 surrender to the 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:57.559 King who loves 00:19:57.559 --> 00:19:58.600 his people this 00:19:58.600 --> 00:19:59.039 much. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:01.160 Come and worship 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:02.759 him, King 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.120 Jesus. 00:20:03.120 --> 00:20:03.559 Amen.