WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.560 Good morning, and this morning we are reading from Hebrews chapter 2, and starting in verse 5 we read, 00:00:09.960 --> 00:00:17.000 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 00:00:18.199 --> 00:00:20.539 It has been testified somewhere. 00:00:20.539 --> 00:00:28.960 What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you care for him? 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.539 You made him for a little while lower than the angels. 00:00:35.619 --> 00:00:44.100 You have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet. 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:52.280 Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. 00:00:53.659 --> 00:00:59.240 At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:14.219 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, 00:01:14.219 --> 00:01:21.760 so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:32.939 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, 00:01:33.800 --> 00:01:38.520 should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:47.079 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. 00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:53.959 That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, 00:01:53.959 --> 00:02:00.780 I will tell of your name to my brothers in the midst of the congregation. 00:02:00.780 --> 00:02:03.119 I will sing your praise. 00:02:04.199 --> 00:02:08.199 And again, I will put my trust in him. 00:02:09.340 --> 00:02:16.219 And again, behold, I and the children God has given me. 00:02:16.219 --> 00:02:26.280 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, 00:02:26.860 --> 00:02:33.979 that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil. 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:42.000 And deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:50.719 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:58.599 Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, 00:02:58.979 --> 00:03:06.620 so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:10.379 to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 00:03:10.379 --> 00:03:15.299 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:19.379 he is also able to help those who are being tempted. 00:03:21.060 --> 00:03:22.680 This is the word of God. 00:03:25.859 --> 00:03:27.460 Great. Thanks so much, Florence. 00:03:28.819 --> 00:03:30.960 Yeah, we're not doing a series on Hebrews. 00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:33.859 We're looking at a few famous carols. 00:03:34.620 --> 00:03:37.379 But why don't we pray first before we start? 00:03:37.379 --> 00:03:37.939 Let's start. 00:03:40.379 --> 00:03:42.340 Father, thank you so much for Christmas. 00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:45.960 Thank you for the miracle of your son coming down, 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:49.560 becoming, taking on a human nature for us. 00:03:49.639 --> 00:03:53.159 We pray that as we think about that today, you would fill our hearts with joy. 00:03:53.900 --> 00:03:55.659 Please, whatever week we've had, 00:03:56.460 --> 00:03:59.019 yeah, do that work by your spirit deep inside us. 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:00.199 In Jesus' name. 00:04:00.620 --> 00:04:01.000 Amen. 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:02.000 Great. 00:04:03.620 --> 00:04:03.919 Yeah. 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:05.039 Carols. 00:04:06.659 --> 00:04:09.280 And I'm great that I can preach on some of my favorites. 00:04:10.060 --> 00:04:12.419 I mean, carols are such a great thing. 00:04:12.539 --> 00:04:14.039 Now, I don't know about you, 00:04:14.180 --> 00:04:16.060 Christmas is really here in Hong Kong, right? 00:04:16.120 --> 00:04:17.600 Everywhere you see Christmas trees, 00:04:17.720 --> 00:04:18.740 maybe you have them at home, 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:20.480 and you go on the streets, 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:21.920 and there's kind of tinsel, 00:04:22.220 --> 00:04:23.560 and you go to Nong Ping, 00:04:23.639 --> 00:04:24.639 and there's fake snow, 00:04:24.740 --> 00:04:25.600 and those kind of things. 00:04:26.040 --> 00:04:28.080 And you hear songs everywhere, right? 00:04:28.100 --> 00:04:29.360 You go to the shopping center, 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:31.439 and there's all this music. 00:04:31.740 --> 00:04:33.180 And, of course, there's jingle bells, 00:04:33.500 --> 00:04:35.080 and there's Last Christmas, 00:04:35.320 --> 00:04:37.260 but actually lots of carols as well. 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:39.720 Even last Friday, I was kind of, 00:04:40.100 --> 00:04:41.240 I was in a shopping center, 00:04:41.580 --> 00:04:42.920 I was queuing in the toilet, 00:04:43.200 --> 00:04:45.500 and they played Hark the Herald Angels Sing. 00:04:46.340 --> 00:04:47.240 Now, I don't know, 00:04:47.740 --> 00:04:49.879 but the thing is, right, 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:51.320 we just think it's Christmas music. 00:04:51.580 --> 00:04:53.740 It just makes you feel festive and warm. 00:04:53.740 --> 00:04:57.800 But actually, these are rich hymns 00:04:57.800 --> 00:05:00.199 of worship to Jesus, right? 00:05:00.280 --> 00:05:01.540 And they're playing it in the toilet. 00:05:01.699 --> 00:05:04.060 That's the kind of weird thing about it, right? 00:05:04.439 --> 00:05:07.780 We just often don't think about the words. 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:09.019 It's just Christmas music. 00:05:09.699 --> 00:05:11.120 I mean, and that's for Christians. 00:05:11.379 --> 00:05:13.199 How about everyone around us? 00:05:13.780 --> 00:05:15.439 Many of them don't even think about it. 00:05:15.500 --> 00:05:17.460 This came home to me one time very strongly. 00:05:17.980 --> 00:05:19.660 When I had just become a Christian, 00:05:20.400 --> 00:05:22.300 my first Christmas as a Christian, 00:05:22.300 --> 00:05:23.900 I went home to see my parents. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:25.639 Now, my parents aren't Christians, 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:29.379 but, you know, what we did in my hometown, 00:05:29.939 --> 00:05:31.259 every Christmas Eve, 00:05:31.379 --> 00:05:33.460 people would go carol singing on the town square. 00:05:33.579 --> 00:05:35.160 So thousands of people gathered, 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:37.939 and no saying that maybe it's traditional, 00:05:38.100 --> 00:05:40.240 they would sing carols together, right? 00:05:40.699 --> 00:05:42.319 And my parents used to go there, 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:43.620 and I thought, well, I love carols. 00:05:43.699 --> 00:05:45.699 I'll go there as well and enjoy that. 00:05:45.699 --> 00:05:49.579 But actually, I really hated it when I was there. 00:05:51.159 --> 00:05:51.519 Why? 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:53.039 Well, there were all these people here, 00:05:53.099 --> 00:05:55.599 but most of them were drunk from the parties they went to. 00:05:56.300 --> 00:05:57.399 There was fighting. 00:05:57.740 --> 00:05:58.980 There was cursing. 00:06:00.459 --> 00:06:01.860 It just wasn't worship, right? 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:06.399 These people, they just sang these beautiful hymns about Jesus for fun. 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:09.159 And for me, it was so dishonoring, 00:06:09.299 --> 00:06:12.000 and so after two songs, I just couldn't stand it. 00:06:12.039 --> 00:06:12.879 I went back to the car 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:15.739 and just waited there for my mom. 00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:17.679 Right? 00:06:18.039 --> 00:06:19.139 And it's interesting. 00:06:19.319 --> 00:06:20.239 When she came, 00:06:20.659 --> 00:06:22.259 I mean, it was a bit of a sensitive time 00:06:22.259 --> 00:06:23.479 because I'd just become a Christian, 00:06:23.639 --> 00:06:24.599 and they didn't like it. 00:06:25.739 --> 00:06:28.439 But, yeah, so why didn't you stay? 00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:30.719 And, well, look at these songs. 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:34.099 And actually, she just never looked at it, right? 00:06:34.100 --> 00:06:35.460 And so she read these words like, 00:06:35.879 --> 00:06:37.240 Glory to the newborn king. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:39.060 Come, let us adore him. 00:06:39.180 --> 00:06:41.520 And, no, Jesus, he was just a human. 00:06:41.720 --> 00:06:42.260 He's dead. 00:06:42.900 --> 00:06:44.360 I'm not going to adore him. 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:46.600 And she hasn't been back since. 00:06:47.100 --> 00:06:48.340 She just never thought, 00:06:48.760 --> 00:06:49.920 What are we actually singing? 00:06:50.500 --> 00:06:50.660 Right? 00:06:51.480 --> 00:06:54.840 And so, yeah, I want that to change. 00:06:54.920 --> 00:06:56.020 Certainly for us, right? 00:06:56.020 --> 00:06:57.180 When we hear Hark the Herald, 00:06:57.340 --> 00:06:59.540 we don't just have a warm, fuzzy feeling 00:06:59.540 --> 00:07:01.439 with Christmas trees and stuff. 00:07:02.040 --> 00:07:05.540 Actually, I want us to feel these carols, 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:06.860 feel these songs, 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:08.699 so that they're worship for us. 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:10.860 And they do something for our soul, 00:07:10.980 --> 00:07:11.620 for our hearts. 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:14.439 I mean, so, yeah, 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:16.040 so I think this is a great series. 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:19.339 Partly we need to understand them 00:07:19.339 --> 00:07:21.159 because they were written so long ago, right? 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:24.019 Hark the Herald, 18th century. 00:07:24.659 --> 00:07:27.699 Many things we just don't actually know what they mean. 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:28.759 Like, Hark. 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:30.079 What does that word mean? 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:30.879 When I was young, 00:07:30.939 --> 00:07:33.099 I thought it's the sound that angels make, 00:07:33.180 --> 00:07:33.699 like a bird. 00:07:33.919 --> 00:07:34.219 Hark! 00:07:34.419 --> 00:07:34.699 Hark! 00:07:35.060 --> 00:07:35.659 I don't know. 00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:38.399 Right? 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:39.579 They've got wings, right? 00:07:39.620 --> 00:07:39.879 Don't they? 00:07:41.259 --> 00:07:42.060 No, seriously. 00:07:42.339 --> 00:07:42.500 Right? 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:43.639 It's just Old English. 00:07:43.740 --> 00:07:44.199 Does anyone know? 00:07:44.259 --> 00:07:45.219 What does Hark mean? 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:50.279 Yeah, hear. 00:07:50.539 --> 00:07:50.899 Listen. 00:07:51.639 --> 00:07:52.039 Listen. 00:07:53.039 --> 00:07:53.819 So, listen. 00:07:53.959 --> 00:07:55.019 The angels are singing, right? 00:07:55.099 --> 00:07:55.399 Listen. 00:07:55.519 --> 00:07:56.539 The Herald angels sing. 00:07:56.639 --> 00:07:57.779 That is what it means. 00:07:57.899 --> 00:07:58.240 Hark. 00:07:58.240 --> 00:07:59.379 Yeah, listen. 00:07:59.500 --> 00:08:00.180 The angels sing. 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:01.220 That's, you know, 00:08:01.259 --> 00:08:02.379 that's the word they used back then. 00:08:02.420 --> 00:08:03.259 We don't use it anymore. 00:08:03.400 --> 00:08:04.060 But, yeah. 00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:04.879 Listen. 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:06.079 The angels are singing, right? 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:07.720 So, the first verse, yeah, 00:08:07.800 --> 00:08:10.980 it's really, well, you know the scene, right? 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:13.079 It's the singing angels. 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:13.620 Hark! 00:08:13.660 --> 00:08:14.480 The Herald angels sing. 00:08:14.579 --> 00:08:17.240 So, Luke, Luke chapter 2, right? 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:22.759 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, right? 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:24.180 Hear them sing. 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:26.060 And what are they saying? 00:08:26.500 --> 00:08:31.379 Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:32.779 Those three things, right? 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:37.659 Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth for people whom he is pleased with. 00:08:38.180 --> 00:08:39.279 That's what we sing, right? 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:41.120 What did the angels sing? 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:47.940 Glory to the newborn king, peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled, right? 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:54.120 It's just the writer, he's imagining this kind of scene with the shepherds and the angels appearing. 00:08:55.019 --> 00:08:57.740 And not just those lines, the next lines as well, right? 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:01.200 Because before the choir of angels, there was this first one. 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:10.120 And the angel said to the shepherds, fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 00:09:10.840 --> 00:09:16.000 And for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:18.980 That is, yeah, well, what the angel said. 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:21.580 And of course, yeah, great joy for all the people. 00:09:21.780 --> 00:09:26.120 So, joyful, all you nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies. 00:09:27.520 --> 00:09:29.660 Proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem. 00:09:29.659 --> 00:09:31.360 So, yeah. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:35.000 So, it's basically Luke chapter 2, right? 00:09:35.419 --> 00:09:38.819 The shepherds and the angels that we're kind of imagining here. 00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:43.860 But why I love this carol, though, it's actually, it's not the first verse. 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:48.059 What I love about Hark the Herald is the second and third. 00:09:48.179 --> 00:09:53.079 Because actually, the second and third, we leave Christmas behind in a way. 00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:57.500 No angels, no donkeys, no shepherds, no manger. 00:09:57.500 --> 00:09:59.500 It's just pure theology. 00:10:00.259 --> 00:10:01.700 Actually, what really happened? 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:03.039 What really happened at Christmas? 00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:04.899 Who really is Jesus? 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:05.820 Why did he come? 00:10:06.340 --> 00:10:08.460 And that's, yeah, such wonderful truths. 00:10:08.539 --> 00:10:10.500 And it's, we shouldn't just sing it at Christmas. 00:10:10.580 --> 00:10:13.220 It's such a wonderful gospel hymn. 00:10:13.899 --> 00:10:16.240 Well, what do we sing then? 00:10:16.299 --> 00:10:20.659 Well, the second verse is all about this miracle that God took on flesh. 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:22.519 God took on flesh. 00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:24.079 That's the big thing, right? 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:27.620 It starts, yeah, with who Jesus really is. 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:30.519 This guy is really God, right? 00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:33.399 Christ by highest heavens adored. 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:36.659 Christ the everlasting Lord, right? 00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:37.699 That's who he is. 00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:42.500 The eternal God, the eternal creator. 00:10:42.700 --> 00:10:46.360 But late in time, not that he was late, but recently. 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:50.920 Late in time, behold him come, offspring of the virgin's womb. 00:10:51.040 --> 00:10:53.160 He was God, but he came here. 00:10:53.280 --> 00:10:53.900 He came down. 00:10:54.420 --> 00:10:57.379 And he became, yeah, a human. 00:10:57.560 --> 00:10:58.960 That's the weird thing, right? 00:10:59.040 --> 00:11:00.280 Veiled in flesh. 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:02.100 The Godhead see. 00:11:02.540 --> 00:11:03.759 Hail the incarnate deity. 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:07.840 Here is God, but he is veiled in flesh. 00:11:07.899 --> 00:11:08.399 It's weird, right? 00:11:08.419 --> 00:11:10.659 You can see God, but you can't see him. 00:11:11.139 --> 00:11:16.139 You see him because Jesus is walking around, but yet you can't see him because he's kind of veiled, right? 00:11:16.179 --> 00:11:17.939 His glory is hidden. 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:19.960 That's the amazing thing. 00:11:20.139 --> 00:11:24.679 The eternal God coming here down to earth. 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:34.039 We had this Bible passage read from Hebrews because I think it's such a good, yeah, it's such a Christmassy passage. 00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:37.939 Again, no shepherds, no manger, but, you know, the incarnation. 00:11:38.379 --> 00:11:40.279 You know, gee, God taking on flesh. 00:11:40.379 --> 00:11:41.739 What an amazing thing that is. 00:11:41.779 --> 00:11:43.799 What an amazing step. 00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:49.519 So, as we turn to Hebrews, yeah, this thing was an incredible thing. 00:11:49.599 --> 00:11:52.399 I mean, of course, this passage is about the incarnation. 00:11:52.699 --> 00:11:57.359 It doesn't tell you who Jesus is, was before that. 00:11:57.740 --> 00:11:59.399 For that, we need to look at chapter 1. 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:03.319 But, you know, this is what, yeah, who Jesus was. 00:12:03.419 --> 00:12:04.879 It really was not just a man. 00:12:05.259 --> 00:12:07.339 Chapter 1, verse 2. 00:12:07.340 --> 00:12:30.440 It's just crazy, right? 00:12:30.440 --> 00:12:32.960 That this baby made the universe. 00:12:33.140 --> 00:12:38.040 And even as he was lying there, held the whole universe together so that it wouldn't fall apart. 00:12:38.800 --> 00:12:40.500 That's who we're talking about. 00:12:40.500 --> 00:12:42.900 That's, you know, that's God. 00:12:43.260 --> 00:12:46.100 But he became a human. 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:52.100 So, in chapter 2, well, we, yeah, we go to this Psalm 8. 00:12:52.200 --> 00:12:55.920 And Psalm 8 is all about humanity, what we're like. 00:12:56.220 --> 00:12:58.740 And actually, what a privilege it is to be human. 00:12:58.740 --> 00:13:04.779 Let me read those verses from chapter 2, 6 to 8, from Psalm 8. 00:13:05.299 --> 00:13:10.320 What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you care for him? 00:13:11.019 --> 00:13:14.100 You made him for a little while lower than the angels. 00:13:14.980 --> 00:13:20.200 You have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet. 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:24.639 That talks about us being in the image of God as people, right? 00:13:24.659 --> 00:13:26.980 We are a little lower than the angels. 00:13:26.980 --> 00:13:29.500 Animals, which actually is a very positive thing, right? 00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:33.360 You know, we live in a world where humans are just animals, right? 00:13:33.420 --> 00:13:34.539 Animals with bigger brains. 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:36.879 You know, we're just cells that have evolved. 00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:38.759 No, we're very special. 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:39.820 We are in the image of God. 00:13:39.920 --> 00:13:41.720 We're a little lower than the angels. 00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:46.960 But, for us, that's like, wow, positive. 00:13:48.160 --> 00:13:50.019 Think about it from Jesus' perspective. 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:54.040 Jesus became a little lower than the angels. 00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:57.960 Now, maybe, I don't know how that sounds to you, a little lower than the angels. 00:13:57.960 --> 00:14:05.440 It reminded me of this quote from a guy called A.W. Tozer, a writer from the 20th century. 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:07.139 He said this. 00:14:07.639 --> 00:14:08.759 It's often how we often think. 00:14:09.300 --> 00:14:22.820 We must not think of God as highest in an ascending order of beings, starting with the single cell and going on up from the fish to the bird to the animal to man to angel to cherub to God. 00:14:23.540 --> 00:14:23.700 Right? 00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:24.879 That's how we often think, right? 00:14:24.900 --> 00:14:27.440 You have these beings, and God is kind of at the top. 00:14:28.400 --> 00:14:28.820 Well, no. 00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:33.160 Forever God stands apart in light unapproachable. 00:14:33.640 --> 00:14:38.400 He is as high above an archangel as above a caterpillar. 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:48.500 For the gulf that separates the archangel from the caterpillar is but finite, while the gulf between God and the archangel is infinite. 00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:49.660 Right? 00:14:49.920 --> 00:14:51.160 This is God. 00:14:51.159 --> 00:14:57.419 God is so high above an archangel, you know, because the archangel is just a creature. 00:14:58.059 --> 00:14:58.579 He was made. 00:14:58.679 --> 00:14:59.439 He had a beginning. 00:15:00.439 --> 00:15:00.579 Right? 00:15:01.059 --> 00:15:07.459 This is what, if Jesus would become the super archangel, everyone would think, what a humility. 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:08.059 Wow. 00:15:08.699 --> 00:15:08.959 Right? 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:10.360 For God to become an archangel. 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:14.019 But that is who Jesus was. 00:15:14.100 --> 00:15:14.200 Right? 00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:15.220 Such a step down. 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:18.139 But the thing is, Jesus didn't become an archangel. 00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:18.800 Right? 00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:21.200 The passage constantly says, well, it wasn't about angels. 00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:21.940 You know? 00:15:22.180 --> 00:15:23.500 He doesn't help angels. 00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:23.879 No. 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:26.039 He became even lower. 00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:27.180 A human. 00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:28.899 Right? 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:30.960 It all talks about, yeah, how he joined. 00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:32.320 He became a family. 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:33.180 It's what we sing, right? 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:35.740 Pleased as man with man to dwell. 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:37.360 Jesus our Emmanuel. 00:15:37.700 --> 00:15:40.600 Just to say, this is before the kind of inclusive language. 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:42.139 As man with man. 00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:43.879 It's about as human with human. 00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:44.120 Right? 00:15:44.139 --> 00:15:45.320 It's not that he doesn't like women. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:47.580 It's as human with human to dwell. 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:51.159 But he became human. 00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:54.220 And we read that constantly in chapter 2. 00:15:54.299 --> 00:15:54.480 Right? 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:54.539 Right? 00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:56.620 Verse 14. 00:15:57.399 --> 00:16:04.080 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things. 00:16:04.560 --> 00:16:05.539 He took on flesh and blood. 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:06.500 Verse 17. 00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:11.919 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect. 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:14.039 Verse 11. 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:18.779 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. 00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:19.799 They are one. 00:16:20.860 --> 00:16:22.360 The NIV says one family. 00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:23.120 Right? 00:16:23.139 --> 00:16:24.519 The language of brothers and sisters. 00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:25.539 He became our brother. 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:26.699 He became our family. 00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:30.419 And that's not just a kind of an order of being. 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:32.179 I mean, think about the human race. 00:16:32.319 --> 00:16:33.039 Look at the news. 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:34.519 Look at ourselves. 00:16:34.659 --> 00:16:37.000 Aren't we the most dysfunctional family in history? 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:40.759 And yet Jesus joins our family. 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:43.960 He decided to become one of us. 00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:49.220 Isn't that amazing for him to be willing to step down to join our family? 00:16:50.079 --> 00:16:51.740 What a love and grace. 00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:53.699 And it's not just temporary. 00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:57.519 That his commitment to us, his coming to us. 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:02.460 And so sometimes I compare, you know, who talks about their one. 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:04.220 I think about marriage, right? 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:10.660 We talk about marriage that it's, you know, marriage is permanent union between husband and wife. 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:11.579 Right? 00:17:11.660 --> 00:17:13.339 That it's for the rest of you. 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:14.579 It's forever. 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:16.099 Actually, marriage is not forever. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:16.660 Right? 00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:19.599 Marriage is only till death do us part. 00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:24.460 The world record for marriage is 86 years. 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:25.279 Okay? 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:27.579 There was this couple in the 1920s. 00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:29.839 And they were married for 86 years. 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:32.359 But that's the maximum, right? 00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:35.579 Your marriage, you may think it's forever. 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:35.920 It's not. 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:38.059 It's only maximum 80 years. 00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:42.279 I once was talking about that at a Bible camp. 00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:45.139 I was, we're talking about church relationship versus marriage. 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:48.000 And, you know, church is forever, but marriage isn't. 00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:51.440 You know, I said, you know, your marriage will last at most 80 years. 00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:55.019 And it was this woman in the front row who said, oh, thank God. 00:17:55.019 --> 00:18:00.359 I don't know what her husband thought. 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:02.400 But it's true, right? 00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:04.240 Your marriage is at most 80 years. 00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:06.039 I mean, 80 years is a long time. 00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:09.099 You know, be very careful who you marry. 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:11.259 Make sure you marry the right person. 00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:15.220 But even if it turns out to be the wrong person, hey, it's only 80 years. 00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:15.420 Right? 00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:19.960 Only 80 years of suffering, and then you're free for all eternity. 00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:20.519 It's okay. 00:18:24.019 --> 00:18:27.000 But Jesus didn't come for just 80 years. 00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:30.960 Jesus didn't become a human for just 33 years. 00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:34.660 He became a human permanently. 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:40.039 It's not that the father said to the son that, okay, we want to save these humans. 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:43.120 But you have to become, you have to take on the human nature. 00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:45.419 Oh, man, that's only for 33 years. 00:18:45.479 --> 00:18:45.839 Don't worry. 00:18:46.679 --> 00:18:47.599 It's not like that. 00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:50.859 It's now 2,000 years since Christmas. 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:53.519 Jesus is still human. 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:57.479 10 billion years from now, Jesus is still human. 00:18:58.279 --> 00:19:01.599 When he joined our family, that was permanent. 00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:07.239 You know, doesn't that show his, and given who we are, doesn't that show his grace, 00:19:07.679 --> 00:19:12.039 his commitment, his love for us, that he became one of us forever? 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:17.119 And he's still fully God, but now fully man, forever. 00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:20.419 I think that's so amazing, right? 00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.259 Christmas. 00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:25.779 But, of course, it's not just that Jesus was born. 00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:28.119 That's already amazing. 00:19:28.239 --> 00:19:30.239 But the thing is, why did Jesus do that? 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:33.099 Why did Jesus actually took on a human nature? 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:35.939 Well, for that, in a moment, we'll go to the third verse. 00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:42.640 But I want us to first, if you have the bulletin, can you please turn it over so you're looking at Hebrews? 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:43.420 Okay? 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.400 Don't look at the caribou. 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:45.420 Please look at Hebrews. 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:46.840 Okay? 00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:47.680 If you have it. 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:50.820 Because I want to do a little quiz. 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:54.380 Because the third verse, it starts with, 00:19:54.380 --> 00:19:57.080 Hail the heaven-born prince of peace. 00:19:58.060 --> 00:19:59.480 Hail the son of righteousness. 00:19:59.860 --> 00:20:02.040 Now, people are often confused. 00:20:02.120 --> 00:20:03.160 What does it actually say? 00:20:03.620 --> 00:20:07.120 Does it talk about the son of righteousness, S-U-N? 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:10.560 Or the son of righteousness, S-O-N? 00:20:11.800 --> 00:20:12.080 Okay? 00:20:12.120 --> 00:20:12.800 A little quiz. 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:13.640 Okay. 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:16.160 Who thinks it's S-U-N, son of righteousness? 00:20:19.540 --> 00:20:20.060 Okay? 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:21.680 I see two hands. 00:20:21.860 --> 00:20:23.360 Who thinks it's son of righteousness? 00:20:23.580 --> 00:20:24.180 S-O-N. 00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:25.780 Okay? 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:28.200 That's, yeah, that's more hands. 00:20:28.280 --> 00:20:29.280 About 15 hands. 00:20:29.580 --> 00:20:30.640 And the rest have no idea. 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:31.960 Wow. 00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.200 Okay. 00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:35.160 Well, this surprises a lot of people. 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:38.720 Actually, Jesus is talking about the son of righteousness. 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:39.660 S-U-N. 00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:42.100 Jesus is the son of righteousness. 00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:43.940 All right? 00:20:44.300 --> 00:20:45.960 Hail the son of righteousness. 00:20:46.540 --> 00:20:48.320 Light and life to all he brings. 00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:50.060 Risen with healings in its wings. 00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:53.160 Now, you may wonder where that comes from. 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:55.660 It's actually another Old Testament prophecy. 00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:57.540 Sorry, it's a bit late. 00:20:57.640 --> 00:21:01.200 But it's from Malachi chapter 4. 00:21:01.280 --> 00:21:03.300 This was the last book written before Christmas. 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.660 The last book of the Old Testament. 00:21:06.520 --> 00:21:07.340 Oh, yeah, there it is. 00:21:07.520 --> 00:21:07.800 Sorry. 00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:09.160 I made it too low. 00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:11.500 But, you know, the people were suffering. 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:12.500 They were in exile. 00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:15.299 But God kept promising, I'm going to be there. 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:17.059 Jesus will come. 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:24.960 And so he said, but for you who fear my name, the son of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. 00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:28.240 And you shall go out as calves leaping from the stall. 00:21:28.700 --> 00:21:32.039 The son of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. 00:21:32.140 --> 00:21:34.359 Now, wings, there's just a King James version. 00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:36.720 It's just a literal translation of the Hebrew. 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:38.720 It means healing in its wings. 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.460 But anyway. 00:21:40.120 --> 00:21:43.779 But the thing is, what is the point of the sun? 00:21:43.860 --> 00:21:46.039 The sun is, of course, bright and glorious. 00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:48.640 But the sun does something, right? 00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:51.600 The sun, it brings warmth. 00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:53.880 It brings light and life. 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.299 That's the point, right? 00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:59.680 Jesus came to bring something, right? 00:22:00.159 --> 00:22:01.339 I mean, the sun. 00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:07.240 The thing is, when we think about the light of Christmas, we think of this kind of picture. 00:22:07.379 --> 00:22:12.759 We think of, you know, everything is dark, but there's the manger with a bit of light. 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:15.659 And then there's light and light has come into the world. 00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:16.899 Light in the darkness. 00:22:17.099 --> 00:22:19.519 And that's a beautiful picture of Christmas. 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:19.639 Christmas. 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:22.859 The only thing is, it's only the beginning. 00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:25.019 What is the end? 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:27.559 Well, the sun will rise, right? 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:31.039 And the sun will bring light and life everywhere. 00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:33.000 I mean, this is Hong Kong, right? 00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:34.619 Yeah. 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.279 Next picture. 00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:36.599 Yeah. 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:39.379 The sun brings, I mean, this is Hong Kong, right? 00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:40.059 In the summer. 00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:41.559 And the sun shines. 00:22:41.639 --> 00:22:44.079 And it is just so hot everywhere, right? 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:46.980 And it's so bright that you can't go outside. 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:49.279 You know, it's just inescapable. 00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:52.460 Well, that is what Jesus came to do. 00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:56.400 He came, his life and his love are just inescapable. 00:22:56.619 --> 00:22:58.579 There's just no place for the darkness. 00:22:58.759 --> 00:22:59.779 No place for the cold. 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:00.839 No place. 00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:05.339 It's all gone because the sun of righteousness has risen, right? 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.500 That's the picture. 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.559 It's wonderful. 00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:09.900 But what is that life? 00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:14.879 Well, Jesus came, I think, to save us from death. 00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:16.379 To save us from death. 00:23:16.380 --> 00:23:17.600 Those last few lines. 00:23:18.100 --> 00:23:20.120 Mild he lays his glory by. 00:23:20.600 --> 00:23:20.780 Right? 00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:21.540 Why? 00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:24.380 Well, born that man no more may die. 00:23:25.580 --> 00:23:27.700 Born to raise the sons of earth. 00:23:28.120 --> 00:23:29.560 Born to give us second birth. 00:23:29.800 --> 00:23:31.060 It's all about death, right? 00:23:31.140 --> 00:23:32.620 Born that we no more may die. 00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:36.080 But also born to raise the sons of earth, right? 00:23:36.120 --> 00:23:37.100 To raise us from the dead. 00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:40.000 Born to give them second birth. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:41.839 I mean, what's the opposite of birth? 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:43.339 Death, right? 00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:46.900 So it's all about how he came to save us from death. 00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:50.099 Life is the opposite of death, right? 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:52.019 That's what he came to do. 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:53.140 And it's the same in Hebrews. 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:56.440 So in Hebrews 2, verse 14. 00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:58.119 Let me read it again. 00:23:58.220 --> 00:23:59.380 Why did he take on flesh? 00:23:59.380 --> 00:24:11.480 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death. 00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:17.980 That is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:22.480 I mean, flesh and blood, suffering, temptation. 00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:27.779 But ultimately, the problem in this passage is that we will die. 00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:33.420 And it describes humans and just, you know, slavery to the fear of death. 00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:36.380 But it's true, right? 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:38.559 I mean, yes, we live comfortable lives. 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:42.240 Because, actually, death is just hanging over us everywhere. 00:24:43.179 --> 00:24:44.980 I mean, it starts when you're a baby, right? 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:49.379 If you're a parent and you have young children, well, what do you do? 00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:52.000 Well, you try to stop them not dying. 00:24:52.339 --> 00:24:53.319 That's parenting, right? 00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:54.559 Don't eat that. 00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:56.240 Don't put your hands there. 00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.440 Don't cross the road. 00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:58.940 Basically, that's parenting, right? 00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:00.220 Getting your child not to die. 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:02.179 I don't know. 00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:05.279 It feels like that, right? 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.839 So much can go wrong. 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:08.839 So you're just constantly looking after your child. 00:25:08.939 --> 00:25:12.720 And even when your children grow up, you know, taking care of your children. 00:25:12.859 --> 00:25:13.639 That's what you do. 00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:14.919 Getting your child not to die. 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:16.959 So, Henrique, parenting advice. 00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:18.179 That's what you need to do. 00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:23.539 And then, yeah, basically, right? 00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:25.139 There's so many ways that kids can die. 00:25:25.459 --> 00:25:27.179 And as a parent, you take care of them. 00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:28.699 And then later, you get older, of course. 00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:30.879 Now, I need to watch my cholesterol. 00:25:31.179 --> 00:25:34.619 And I need to watch my heart rate so that I don't get a heart attack, right? 00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:35.399 Those kind of things. 00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:36.339 We get older. 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:39.299 But, yeah, we're afraid of death, right? 00:25:39.719 --> 00:25:41.759 So much of life is just trying not to die. 00:25:43.879 --> 00:25:44.959 Other little things. 00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:46.939 So I used to live in Wukaisa. 00:25:47.439 --> 00:25:48.799 Very remote area. 00:25:49.399 --> 00:25:51.739 Well, not that remote, but compared to here. 00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:57.379 Anyway, one late evening, I was walking home from the station in a subway. 00:25:57.380 --> 00:26:00.720 And then behind me, I suddenly heard this woman scream. 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:01.300 Ah! 00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:01.680 Ah! 00:26:02.820 --> 00:26:03.620 What was it? 00:26:05.300 --> 00:26:07.500 Well, no, not a cockroach. 00:26:07.760 --> 00:26:08.700 Actually, I have a picture. 00:26:09.820 --> 00:26:10.380 A snake. 00:26:11.320 --> 00:26:12.420 Bamboo pit viper. 00:26:12.940 --> 00:26:15.140 Very common venomous snake in Hong Kong. 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:18.920 But, yeah, she saw this snake on the ground and she just freaked out. 00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:20.460 But that is true, right? 00:26:20.520 --> 00:26:23.480 If the snake bites you and you're the wrong person, it may kill you. 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:24.400 You know? 00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:25.700 Hong Kong is not safe. 00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:31.799 I mean, I make a bit of fun of it. 00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:32.920 But actually, it's true, right? 00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:34.240 I mean, these are the little things. 00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:35.340 How about COVID? 00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:37.480 I mean, right now, we know Omicron. 00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:42.500 Unless you're really old and unvaccinated, it doesn't do very much. 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:44.500 But I remember a few years ago, right? 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:46.759 The empty shopping centers. 00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:52.180 We went ice skating in Kowloon Tong, a festival walk. 00:26:52.180 --> 00:26:54.559 And we were the only family on the ice rink. 00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:59.399 Because everyone else was just afraid and didn't come out because of COVID, right? 00:27:00.159 --> 00:27:03.399 So many people still, they're doing the lift with the... 00:27:03.399 --> 00:27:03.539 Right? 00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:04.500 So many... 00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.379 Fear of death. 00:27:06.659 --> 00:27:06.839 Right? 00:27:08.919 --> 00:27:10.899 Well, it doesn't work. 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.799 That's the problem, right? 00:27:12.839 --> 00:27:15.579 Yeah, we might be able to live for 80 years. 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:20.859 Maybe a bit longer, but actually, all the people who first heard this carol are dead. 00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:23.679 And a hundred years from now, all of us will be dead, right? 00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:27.279 Ultimately, we don't have the power over death. 00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:29.740 I mean, who has the power here? 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:32.439 It's the devil, right? 00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.379 2 verse 14. 00:27:33.380 --> 00:27:35.820 The one who has the power of death. 00:27:35.900 --> 00:27:37.440 That is, the devil. 00:27:38.140 --> 00:27:40.260 And now, of course, the devil doesn't have any real power. 00:27:40.380 --> 00:27:41.080 God has the power. 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:43.860 Why does the devil here have the power? 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:46.160 Well, because we joined his side. 00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:48.280 Adam and Eve sinned. 00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:49.360 You know, they... 00:27:49.360 --> 00:27:51.580 The serpent tempted them, and they listened to him. 00:27:51.660 --> 00:27:52.540 They chose his side. 00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:55.580 And yeah, of course, when you sin, you will die. 00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:58.879 And that's the way it works in God's world. 00:27:59.460 --> 00:28:04.559 And so, in a way, because Satan gets us to sin, that's how he has the power of death. 00:28:06.139 --> 00:28:07.099 And it's funny. 00:28:07.199 --> 00:28:09.079 We always think we live our own way. 00:28:09.159 --> 00:28:10.899 Actually, we live Satan's way when we sin. 00:28:13.159 --> 00:28:17.079 But the thing is, Jesus came to save us from death. 00:28:17.619 --> 00:28:22.240 Yes, we are in this world, right, under the power of Satan, the power of death. 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:24.939 But Jesus came to save us from death. 00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:29.340 It's like he entered this world as the founder of their salvation. 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:34.799 Other translations, the captain, like the hero who came to deal with this tyrant. 00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:39.080 He came to deal with the one with the power of death and destroy him. 00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:41.360 That's the idea here. 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:46.660 Jesus came as our champion to liberate us, to get rid of the bad guy. 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:50.460 Although the amazing thing is, how did he do that? 00:28:50.620 --> 00:28:52.779 How did Jesus beat the bad guy? 00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:54.740 Well, through death. 00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:55.920 It says in verse 14. 00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:56.680 Or verse 9. 00:28:57.820 --> 00:28:58.019 Right? 00:28:59.039 --> 00:29:03.160 That because he was crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death. 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:07.039 So that by the grace of God, he might taste death for everyone. 00:29:08.160 --> 00:29:10.860 He saved us by dying on the cross. 00:29:11.820 --> 00:29:13.160 Because we had to die. 00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:16.220 We just as had to be served. 00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:18.259 But he took that for us. 00:29:18.320 --> 00:29:19.259 He took our punishment. 00:29:19.820 --> 00:29:20.800 He took our death. 00:29:21.300 --> 00:29:22.600 So we can be free. 00:29:22.840 --> 00:29:23.220 We can... 00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:25.120 We're now free. 00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:25.519 Right? 00:29:25.600 --> 00:29:26.220 No more... 00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:28.400 I mean, you can still die. 00:29:28.560 --> 00:29:30.120 Don't cross the road without looking. 00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:33.300 But actually, the fear of death is gone. 00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:33.500 Right? 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:35.160 Even if you die. 00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:38.059 Even if you get COVID badly. 00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:38.859 You know? 00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:39.900 What will happen? 00:29:40.359 --> 00:29:40.599 You know? 00:29:40.819 --> 00:29:42.440 Born to raise us from the earth. 00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:42.759 Right? 00:29:43.220 --> 00:29:44.480 You'll be raised from the dead. 00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:45.759 And the next thing you'll see is Jesus. 00:29:46.819 --> 00:29:47.400 It's okay. 00:29:47.579 --> 00:29:47.759 Right? 00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:50.079 No more fear of death. 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:51.240 What a good news. 00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:51.480 Right? 00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:55.579 And not just life to a little bit. 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:55.819 Right? 00:29:56.079 --> 00:29:56.880 Real life. 00:29:56.960 --> 00:29:59.299 But when the sun of righteousness will shine. 00:29:59.799 --> 00:30:00.000 Right? 00:30:00.039 --> 00:30:00.940 That's when you'll wake up. 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:02.740 When there's light and life everywhere. 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:04.240 One day when Jesus will come. 00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:09.819 I don't know if you've ever had a staycation in a really good hotel with really good blackout curtains. 00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:11.099 And it's like 10 a.m. 00:30:11.099 --> 00:30:12.480 It's still pitch dark in your room. 00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:14.019 And then you open the curtains. 00:30:14.360 --> 00:30:14.480 And... 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:15.259 Right? 00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:17.059 That is what Jesus will do. 00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:21.460 One day, in a blink of an eye, death will be completely gone. 00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:24.599 Death will happen. 00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:27.279 But to do that, he had to die. 00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:31.839 And if you're the transcendent creator, you can't take a human place. 00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:32.779 So he had to become human. 00:30:33.900 --> 00:30:36.000 And if you're immortal, you can't die. 00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:37.960 So he took on flesh. 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:40.299 So he could die in our place. 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:44.259 And that's what this carol celebrates. 00:30:44.440 --> 00:30:46.460 And isn't that such wonderful news? 00:30:46.860 --> 00:30:48.660 Ultimately, it's not about Jesus' birth. 00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:51.180 His birth was just so he could die. 00:30:51.819 --> 00:30:53.259 To save us from death. 00:30:53.880 --> 00:30:54.079 Right? 00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:56.400 And, you know, the sentence is gone. 00:30:56.900 --> 00:31:00.180 And isn't it so wonderful that some fear is taken away? 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:02.660 I mean, Hong Kong is a place of fear, right? 00:31:03.420 --> 00:31:05.599 Fear in school that you don't study hard enough. 00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:09.620 And fear in the workplace that you don't work hard enough and might lose your job. 00:31:09.619 --> 00:31:11.479 And then there's political fears. 00:31:11.479 --> 00:31:14.479 And, you know, at the moment, economic fears. 00:31:15.399 --> 00:31:17.559 And, you know, for some people, climate fears. 00:31:17.659 --> 00:31:18.259 What will happen? 00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:18.939 Right? 00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:21.479 Kids are just brought up with fear. 00:31:22.139 --> 00:31:23.239 They need to fear everything. 00:31:24.239 --> 00:31:25.500 Well, here is the biggest thing. 00:31:25.939 --> 00:31:26.219 Death. 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:27.220 Death. 00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:27.819 And we don't need to fear it anymore. 00:31:28.380 --> 00:31:30.680 That's what Jesus came to do. 00:31:31.240 --> 00:31:32.180 Isn't that wonderful? 00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:33.860 Doesn't it bring you joy? 00:31:34.059 --> 00:31:34.200 Right? 00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:37.420 If you just sing these lines. 00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:37.660 Right? 00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:39.880 Born that I no more may die. 00:31:40.380 --> 00:31:41.920 Born to raise me from the earth. 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:42.559 Isn't that wonderful? 00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:46.819 You know, next time you're in a toilet standing there and you hear that song, don't you want to sing? 00:31:47.220 --> 00:31:47.419 Right? 00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:48.759 Isn't this such wonderful? 00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:50.220 Maybe not out loud. 00:31:50.379 --> 00:31:53.119 But, you know, but seriously, right? 00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:55.599 Isn't singing really good for your soul? 00:31:56.819 --> 00:32:02.019 You know, all these songs we sing on Sunday, if you just sing them on the way to work, just hum. 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.500 Remember the lyrics. 00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:06.200 About one and a half years ago, I started doing that. 00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:10.899 You know, all the great songs I used to sing when I was in my first church. 00:32:10.900 --> 00:32:13.480 And it always gives me joy. 00:32:14.140 --> 00:32:17.620 And isn't this such a great one to know and sing? 00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:19.900 You know, people may even ask you about it. 00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:20.840 Why do you always sing? 00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:23.220 Well, why is Christmas so special? 00:32:23.360 --> 00:32:26.400 Well, because Jesus was born that I no more may die. 00:32:26.940 --> 00:32:27.100 Right? 00:32:27.420 --> 00:32:28.259 Well, who is Jesus? 00:32:28.360 --> 00:32:29.580 Wasn't he just a good teacher? 00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:30.880 No, no, no, no. 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:32.720 Failed in flesh to God, has he. 00:32:33.140 --> 00:32:34.640 You know, he's the incarnate deity. 00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:37.759 You can use this song to just explain the gospel to people, right? 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:39.960 Because it makes it so clear. 00:32:40.900 --> 00:32:42.100 Yeah, wouldn't it be wonderful? 00:32:43.300 --> 00:32:47.500 Now, it's great to do evangelism. 00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:52.160 But actually, if I think about Christmas, if I think how I feel, how many of us feel, 00:32:53.080 --> 00:32:55.000 yes, we can sing this for others. 00:32:55.100 --> 00:32:59.060 But shall we sing this for our own soul, for our own hearts? 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:04.019 Because, you know, Christmas should bring such joy. 00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:06.160 Now, I know last week I talked about lamenting. 00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:07.559 And true, right? 00:33:07.619 --> 00:33:11.319 Jesus isn't here that we, you know, there's a longing awaiting. 00:33:11.639 --> 00:33:15.579 But at the same time, because Jesus has come, we should be full of joy. 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:17.920 And, you know, one day, what will it be like? 00:33:17.980 --> 00:33:19.539 Well, we heard it in Malachi, right? 00:33:19.879 --> 00:33:24.960 When the sun of righteousness will shine, you'll be leaping like calves from the stall. 00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:28.299 And the thing is, the Old Testament was written to farmers. 00:33:28.860 --> 00:33:30.900 And we're not farmers, so maybe we have no idea. 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:33.019 So I thought, let's have a little video. 00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:35.819 This is a, where it is? 00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:37.600 This is a calf straight from the stall. 00:33:37.680 --> 00:33:39.100 It has been locked up all winter. 00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:42.920 And now they're kind of hopping around like a puppy, right? 00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:50.180 Seriously, have you ever thought about that? 00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:52.039 That, you know, these are cows. 00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:54.019 But they're just jumping around for joy. 00:33:54.160 --> 00:33:58.120 Like kids going to the Disneyland for the first time after lockdown. 00:33:58.380 --> 00:34:01.200 You know, it's kind of all this joy. 00:34:02.120 --> 00:34:03.980 But in a way, that's what Christians should be, right? 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:09.860 If you just think that Jesus came down to die for us and, you know, save us from death. 00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:11.260 In a way, it should give us joy. 00:34:11.260 --> 00:34:13.960 But the only thing is that that's not what we're like, right? 00:34:14.660 --> 00:34:15.640 What are we like? 00:34:15.720 --> 00:34:16.840 Well, this is Hong Kong, right? 00:34:16.900 --> 00:34:20.320 So it's just pressure and deadlines. 00:34:20.640 --> 00:34:24.220 And December is the busiest time because the end of the year is coming up. 00:34:24.280 --> 00:34:30.580 And we have pressure this and financial this and the parties at work even. 00:34:31.260 --> 00:34:32.860 You know, we're just too busy, right? 00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:35.180 We just don't think about Christmas enough. 00:34:35.260 --> 00:34:37.480 It's just, yeah, yeah, yeah, Jesus raising me. 00:34:37.560 --> 00:34:38.380 That's too distant. 00:34:38.500 --> 00:34:40.140 I don't have time to think about it now. 00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:42.179 I've got so much to worry about here for my work. 00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.940 Isn't that so sad? 00:34:45.379 --> 00:34:47.019 Or even Christmas itself. 00:34:47.179 --> 00:34:48.579 I don't know how you feel about Christmas. 00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:52.239 I was praying with a friend of mine who was a pastor. 00:34:52.819 --> 00:34:56.719 He says he really hates Christmas because it's just so busy. 00:34:56.839 --> 00:35:04.359 There's all the stuff with the kids and presents and the tree and decoration and stuff at church and inviting and preparing and hosting. 00:35:04.360 --> 00:35:08.240 And Christmas, you know, that's the thing, right? 00:35:08.240 --> 00:35:10.740 Christmas, it becomes all about what we have to do. 00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:12.920 And it tires us out. 00:35:13.720 --> 00:35:17.800 Actually, Christmas is about what Jesus has already done for us. 00:35:17.800 --> 00:35:19.880 And we just lose sight of it. 00:35:20.580 --> 00:35:22.820 And it takes away our joy. 00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:25.000 And we just go through December. 00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:28.580 And we're looking more forward to Boxing Day than to Christmas Day. 00:35:29.039 --> 00:35:30.300 And that's just sad, right? 00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:36.100 So, this Christmas, let's work on our joy. 00:35:36.600 --> 00:35:37.940 Do the Advent devotions. 00:35:38.080 --> 00:35:39.760 But let's sing these carols. 00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:42.100 I've been singing this one all week. 00:35:42.580 --> 00:35:44.100 O Come Emmanuel the week before. 00:35:44.660 --> 00:35:46.140 It's been great for my soul. 00:35:47.080 --> 00:35:48.760 Let's sing. 00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:49.740 Let's get that joy. 00:35:49.860 --> 00:35:52.720 Yes, let's invite for the carols by Candlelight. 00:35:52.820 --> 00:35:53.539 Let's prepare. 00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:55.620 Let's do missional justice. 00:35:55.739 --> 00:35:56.940 They're all great things to do. 00:35:57.299 --> 00:35:59.159 And hopefully serving will give us joy. 00:35:59.339 --> 00:36:01.920 But ultimately, right, let's remember the gospel. 00:36:02.219 --> 00:36:04.039 Let's, yeah, work on our hearts. 00:36:04.940 --> 00:36:06.679 So, let me just give a moment of quiet. 00:36:07.339 --> 00:36:08.339 And then I'll pray. 00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:11.859 And then the music team will lead us to sing. 00:36:12.359 --> 00:36:13.880 Let's take a moment of quiet now. 00:36:25.619 --> 00:36:55.599 Let's pray. 00:36:56.119 --> 00:36:56.920 Let's pray. 00:36:57.859 --> 00:37:00.359 Lord Jesus, thank you just so much for Christmas. 00:37:00.679 --> 00:37:05.299 It's such an incredible truth that we see here that we'll sing about in a moment. 00:37:06.239 --> 00:37:09.420 How you loved us so much that you came down. 00:37:09.839 --> 00:37:13.279 That you took on a human nature for us to be our family. 00:37:13.819 --> 00:37:15.079 And then to die in our place. 00:37:15.960 --> 00:37:17.239 To save us from death. 00:37:17.319 --> 00:37:18.839 It's such wonderful truth. 00:37:19.019 --> 00:37:20.639 And forgive us when we forget it. 00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:23.219 When we seek our joy in other things. 00:37:23.219 --> 00:37:24.439 When we're just too busy. 00:37:24.799 --> 00:37:25.899 When we don't have any joy. 00:37:26.439 --> 00:37:29.079 While we have all this in you. 00:37:31.079 --> 00:37:33.779 Please, Holy Spirit, be at work in our hearts. 00:37:34.519 --> 00:37:37.339 As we sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. 00:37:37.459 --> 00:37:39.539 Would we make melody in our hearts. 00:37:39.799 --> 00:37:40.699 To our Father. 00:37:41.279 --> 00:37:43.179 Please, would it be a Christmas of joy. 00:37:43.959 --> 00:37:46.299 Would it not be just activity. 00:37:46.599 --> 00:37:48.419 Would it not just be us doing things. 00:37:48.420 --> 00:37:52.460 Would it not just be ruined by life in Hong Kong. 00:37:52.940 --> 00:37:55.039 But rather, would we find joy in the midst of this. 00:37:55.139 --> 00:37:56.340 Please do that work in us. 00:37:56.960 --> 00:37:57.360 Today. 00:37:57.820 --> 00:37:59.240 And the rest of this Christmas time. 00:37:59.320 --> 00:38:01.000 And indeed, all of next year. 00:38:01.480 --> 00:38:02.480 In Jesus' name. 00:38:03.039 --> 00:38:03.400 Amen.