WEBVTT

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 Evening everyone, my name's Steve, I'm the city pastor here if I've not met you before.

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 I'm going to pray and then we're going to launch in to the next part of our Christmas story.

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 Gracious God, we thank you for your word as we have just been reminded as we celebrate Christmas of you coming into our world.

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 I pray that you'd come now by your spirit into our hearts so that we would understand with clarity,

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 build us up in hope, but also bring clarity to who you are, the world in which we live,

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 and what you've done to come and save it.

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 And we pray for your glory. Amen.

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 1961, a long time ago, the Russian Yuri Gagarin was the first person into space.

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 Nikita Khrushchev was the premier of Russia at the time.

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 And Khrushchev said that when Gagarin went into space, he discovered that God was not there.

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 You know, like he toured the world real quick, had a look out the window, couldn't see God,

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 and so came to the conclusion that therefore God does not exist.

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 In response to that comment by Khrushchev at the time, the Oxford professor C.S. Lewis wrote an article called The Seeing Eye.

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 Lewis writes in that article that if there is a God who creates us,

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 God would not relate to human beings or to his creation in the way that a person on the first floor of an apartment block

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 relates to the person on the second floor of an apartment block.

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 Both are the same beings, they're just at a different level.

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 Lewis wrote in this article that God would relate to humanity as the creator,

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 and we the creatures, he would relate to humanity the way that Shakespeare relates to Hamlet.

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 Shakespeare is the creator of Hamlet and the world that Hamlet exists in.

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 Hamlet would have no way of knowing Shakespeare existed,

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 no way of knowing his creator,

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 unless Shakespeare chose to reveal himself to Hamlet.

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 And to do that, Shakespeare would need to write himself into Hamlet, the play.

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 Lewis's point in the article is that the only way we can know God

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 is if God himself writes himself into his creation,

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 into the story of history,

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 so that the other characters within the story of history

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 would know their creator.

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 Now the claim of Christmas,

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 the claim of Christianity,

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 is that that is exactly what God has done.

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 God did not just write

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 about himself,

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 but that he wrote himself into the drama of history.

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 And so,

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 is that just too unbelievable?

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 Is it just too unbelievable?

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 That's the question I've been looking at in the last few weeks.

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 And as we've looked at the believability of Christmas,

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 James has suggested that the story of Christmas

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 isn't just a good story in our minds,

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 something that brings us a sense of joy at Christmas time,

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 once a year,

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 but it's in fact a true story.

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 It's a historical story.

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 He's looked at the evidence for Jesus being a real person in history,

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 the evidence that the New Testament accounts of his life

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 are not made up.

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 And that the miracles that are described in the New Testament

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 haven't yet been disproven by science.

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 Which leaves us with the,

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 so what question at the end of it all?

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 What does this all mean for us?

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 And the main point that I want to make tonight

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 is that if it's not true,

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 if Christianity and Christmas is not true,

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 you don't just lose the wonder of Christmas.

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 You don't just gut Christmas of all its meaning,

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 but in actual fact,

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 you lose everything.

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 Not just Christmas,

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 you lose everything.

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 We lose life.

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 We lose meaning.

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 We lose good and evil.

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 We lose you and me.

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 So, three points if you've got the St. Paul's app.

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 No news story, good news story, and which story?

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 So, no news story.

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 In his global bestseller,

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 Sapiens, A Brief History of Humankind,

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 Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari

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 tells the story of humanity from the beginning.

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 Harari rejects the claims of Christianity himself personally,

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 but what he does do is he recognises the significant influence of Christianity

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 on the history of humanity.

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 And he actually argues in his book

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 that our deepest moral beliefs,

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 our sense of good and evil that we have,

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 are not in actual fact self-evident truths,

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 which are things that our culture argues today.

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 Racism.

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 Well, it's just self-evidently true that racism is bad.

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 What he argues, Harari argues,

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 is not actually self-evident truth at all.

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 They are, in fact, biblical beliefs.

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 This is how he puts it.

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 The idea of equality, for instance,

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 as one self-evident truth,

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 is inextricably intertwined with the idea of creation.

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 If you do not believe in the Christian myths about God,

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 creation and souls,

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 what does it mean that all people are equal?

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 Most people in our society

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 have a sense that human rights are good,

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 that racism is wrong,

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 that women and men are equal,

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 that murder is evil,

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 and that rich should not oppress the poor.

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 General acceptance of those things being right or wrong.

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 But why?

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 You see, if there is no God,

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 if God does not exist,

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 as Khrushchev says,

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 or said,

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 then these things are not moral facts.

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 They are, in fact, opinions,

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 and only opinions.

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 British historian Tom Holland makes a similar point.

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 He stopped himself,

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 stopped believing in God as a child,

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 but after years of historical research,

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 he found himself being drawn back to Jesus.

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 This was mainly because

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 he found that many of the values

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 that he held dear to him

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 and that were dear to society

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 were intimately connected to Jesus

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 and the Christian faith.

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 human equality and rights,

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 equality of men and women,

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 love for foreigners,

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 care for the poor,

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 vulnerable and the marginalized

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 are specifically Christian beliefs.

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 Now, history shows us

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 that it was only as the Christian faith spread

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 in the first century

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 into the Roman Empire and beyond

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 that these beliefs

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 became generally accepted.

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 The ancient world prior to Christianity,

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 prior to Jesus,

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 laughed at the concept of equality of people,

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 laughed at the concept of good and evil,

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 of the necessity to care for the poor

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 and the marginalized.

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 The temptation of our society nowadays

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 is to assume that you can keep those values,

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 but you can get rid of the God

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 that lies behind those values.

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 And Harari makes the significant point

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 of what happens when you do.

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 As far as we can tell

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 from a purely scientific viewpoint,

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 human life has absolutely no meaning.

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 No meaning.

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 Humans are the outcome

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 of blind evolutionary processes

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 that operate without goal or purpose.

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 Our actions are not part

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 of some divine cosmic plan,

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 hence any meaning

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 that people ascribe to their lives

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 is just a delusion.

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 Now, he's saying that

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 on the assumption

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 that if you take God out of the picture,

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 that philosophically

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 is all that you're left with.

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 And this is a non-Christian saying this.

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 Now, I acknowledge

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 that there are obviously people in our world

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 who think their life

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 has no meaning at all.

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 I suspect, though,

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 deep down,

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 none of us really want

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 what Harari writes there

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 to be right.

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 None of us really wants

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 that to be right and true.

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 If there is no God,

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 then we are left

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 with the reality

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 that we live,

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 we die,

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 we decay,

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 and that is it.

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 That is,

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 it's not just a bad news story,

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 it's a no news story.

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 There's nothing to be declared there.

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 But Christianity

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 and Christmas

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 is the alternative.

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 It's the alternative story.

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 So let's look at the good news story.

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 It is, in fact,

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 Christmas is a good news story.

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 We just read out,

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 Nick just read for us

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 a portion

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 from the beginning

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 of John's Gospel

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 in the New Testament.

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 John begins

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 not with the birth of Jesus,

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 but he begins

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 with the birth

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 of the universe.

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 He mentions a key figure

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 who he calls

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 the Word.

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 I'll read the first five verses

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 again for us.

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 In the beginning,

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 that's the beginning

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 of the universe,

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 in the beginning

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 was the Word

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 and the Word

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 was with God

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 and the Word

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 was God.

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 He was with God

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 in the beginning.

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 Through him

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 all things were made,

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 without him

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 nothing was made

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 that has been made.

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 In him

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 was life

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 and that life

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 was the light

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 of all mankind.

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 The light

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 shines

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 in the darkness

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 and the darkness

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 has not overcome it.

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 Now,

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 as John

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 unfolds,

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 the Gospel of John

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 unfolds,

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 we discover

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 that the key figure

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 known as the Word

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 is, in fact,

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 Jesus Christ.

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 The Bible

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 teaches

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 that the creator

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 God,

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 the one who made

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 all things,

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 is three persons.

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 God,

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 the Father,

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 God,

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 the Son,

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 and God,

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 the Holy Spirit,

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 who have always

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 existed

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 in perfect unity

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 and love

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 together.

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 And the very

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 first Christmas

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 marks the moment

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 in history

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 when God,

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 the Son,

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 the Word,

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 the creator

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 of all things,

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 writes himself

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 into

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 his story.

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 He became

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 a human being

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 with a specific

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 purpose.

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 John tells

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 the story

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 of our lives

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 being part

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 of a God

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 and his loving

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 cosmic plan.

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 Let me pick it up

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 in verse 9

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 of John

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 chapter 1.

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 The true light

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 that gives light

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 to everyone

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 was coming

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 into the world.

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 He was in the world

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 and though the world

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 was made through him,

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 the world

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 did not recognize him.

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 He came to that

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 which is his own,

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 but his own

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 did not receive him.

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 Yet

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 to all

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 who did receive him,

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 to those

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 who believe

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 in his name,

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 he gave the right

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 to become

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 children of God.

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 Children born

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 not of natural descent

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 nor of human decision

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 or of a husband's will,

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 but born

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 of God.

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 the word

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 became flesh

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 and made his dwelling

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 amongst us.

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 We have seen

00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:05.840
 his glory,

00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:06.960
 the glory

00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:07.840
 of the one

00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:09.000
 and only son

00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:09.960
 who came

00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:10.980
 from the father

00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:11.860
 full

00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:12.960
 of grace

00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:14.200
 and truth.

00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:16.039
 And from

00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:16.659
 a little bit

00:14:16.659 --> 00:14:17.419
 further down

00:14:17.419 --> 00:14:18.659
 we read

00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:19.519
 in John's gospel

00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:20.580
 that the grace

00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:21.500
 and truth

00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:22.700
 came

00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:23.480
 from Jesus

00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:24.080
 Christ.

00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:24.200
 Christ.

00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:26.500
 So what

00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:26.980
 that text

00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:27.600
 is saying

00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:30.600
 is that

00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:31.040
 Jesus

00:14:31.040 --> 00:14:32.560
 is the

00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:33.040
 author

00:14:33.040 --> 00:14:34.300
 of the story

00:14:34.300 --> 00:14:36.120
 and

00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:36.740
 its

00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:37.200
 lead

00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:37.879
 character.

00:14:38.980 --> 00:14:39.500
 It's like

00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:40.100
 Shakespeare

00:14:40.100 --> 00:14:40.900
 has written

00:14:40.900 --> 00:14:41.340
 himself

00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:42.220
 into Hamlet

00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:43.259
 and has

00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:43.759
 become

00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.360
 the lead

00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:44.940
 character

00:14:44.940 --> 00:14:46.280
 of the

00:14:46.280 --> 00:14:46.620
 story

00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:47.160
 of Hamlet.

00:14:48.440 --> 00:14:49.259
 The God

00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:50.080
 who made

00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:52.060
 the universe

00:14:52.059 --> 00:14:53.879
 enters

00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:54.979
 into it

00:14:54.979 --> 00:14:55.779
 in order

00:14:55.779 --> 00:14:56.739
 to rescue

00:14:56.739 --> 00:14:57.139
 it.

00:14:58.479 --> 00:14:59.239
 Instead of

00:14:59.239 --> 00:14:59.899
 celebrated

00:14:59.899 --> 00:15:00.559
 we are told

00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:00.779
 there

00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:01.179
 he is

00:15:01.179 --> 00:15:01.639
 rejected.

00:15:02.079 --> 00:15:02.599
 Instead of

00:15:02.599 --> 00:15:02.939
 honoured

00:15:02.939 --> 00:15:03.379
 he is

00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:03.859
 killed.

00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:04.799
 But his

00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:05.159
 death

00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:05.739
 was written

00:15:05.739 --> 00:15:06.659
 into the

00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:07.000
 script.

00:15:08.619 --> 00:15:09.319
 It was

00:15:09.319 --> 00:15:09.639
 written

00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:10.159
 into the

00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:10.479
 script

00:15:10.479 --> 00:15:11.359
 as the

00:15:11.359 --> 00:15:11.799
 central

00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:12.619
 part of

00:15:12.619 --> 00:15:12.779
 the

00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:13.000
 script.

00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:13.359
 That is

00:15:13.359 --> 00:15:14.039
 his death

00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:14.439
 was not

00:15:14.439 --> 00:15:15.219
 an accident.

00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:19.779
 If it

00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:20.239
 is true

00:15:20.239 --> 00:15:20.599
 that there

00:15:20.599 --> 00:15:20.859
 is a

00:15:20.859 --> 00:15:21.099
 God

00:15:21.099 --> 00:15:21.619
 who made

00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:21.919
 us

00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:22.440
 and loves

00:15:22.440 --> 00:15:22.879
 us

00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:23.960
 then that

00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:24.899
 is fantastic

00:15:24.899 --> 00:15:25.560
 news.

00:15:26.539 --> 00:15:27.000
 It means

00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:27.679
 that Christmas

00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:30.060
 is fantastic

00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:30.700
 news.

00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:32.179
 It means

00:15:32.179 --> 00:15:33.360
 that because

00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:33.799
 of Christmas

00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:34.519
 our lives

00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:35.179
 have meaning.

00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:35.960
 There is

00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:36.600
 such a thing

00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:37.139
 as good

00:15:37.139 --> 00:15:37.539
 and evil.

00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:37.980
 It means

00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.919
 that justice

00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:39.700
 and love

00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:40.279
 and all

00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:40.720
 of God's

00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:41.159
 purposes

00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:42.700
 will end

00:15:42.700 --> 00:15:43.759
 up winning

00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:45.259
 in the

00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:45.659
 end.

00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:49.240
 But Christmas

00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:49.720
 is also

00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:50.580
 terrible news.

00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:52.139
 It's

00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:52.320
 also

00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:52.700
 humbling

00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:53.159
 news

00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:54.779
 because it

00:15:54.779 --> 00:15:55.220
 means that

00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:56.039
 we actually

00:15:56.039 --> 00:15:57.080
 need saving.

00:15:57.779 --> 00:15:58.360
 Humanity

00:15:58.360 --> 00:15:59.060
 needs saving

00:15:59.060 --> 00:15:59.560
 from the

00:15:59.560 --> 00:16:00.259
 judgment we

00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:01.320
 rightly deserve

00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:02.700
 for rejecting

00:16:02.700 --> 00:16:04.000
 God, for

00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:04.860
 living as if

00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:05.340
 this God

00:16:05.340 --> 00:16:05.759
 does not

00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:07.320
 exist, for

00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:07.720
 trying to

00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:08.299
 find meaning

00:16:08.299 --> 00:16:09.179
 and satisfaction

00:16:09.179 --> 00:16:10.340
 outside of

00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:10.560
 him.

00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:13.980
 Now some

00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:14.419
 of us are

00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:15.080
 deeply aware

00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:15.600
 of sin

00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:17.300
 even if

00:16:17.300 --> 00:16:17.700
 we don't

00:16:17.700 --> 00:16:18.200
 use that

00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:18.680
 word.

00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:21.120
 If there

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:21.580
 is a

00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:22.159
 God who

00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:22.540
 sees

00:16:22.540 --> 00:16:23.139
 everything,

00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:23.620
 knows

00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:24.200
 everything,

00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:25.620
 then we

00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:26.139
 ultimately

00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:27.159
 deep down

00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:27.639
 know that

00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:28.379
 that's not

00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:28.860
 good.

00:16:30.700 --> 00:16:31.560
 On one

00:16:31.560 --> 00:16:31.920
 level,

00:16:33.040 --> 00:16:33.659
 that is

00:16:33.659 --> 00:16:34.060
 good and

00:16:34.060 --> 00:16:34.420
 healthy.

00:16:36.040 --> 00:16:36.759
 The Christmas

00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:37.460
 story, the

00:16:37.460 --> 00:16:37.940
 message of

00:16:37.940 --> 00:16:38.500
 Christianity,

00:16:38.920 --> 00:16:40.720
 in the end,

00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:42.500
 is not a

00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:43.759
 self-help

00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:44.379
 message

00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:46.200
 where you

00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:46.639
 are told

00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:46.960
 that you

00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:47.560
 are mostly

00:16:47.560 --> 00:16:48.300
 good enough

00:16:48.300 --> 00:16:49.240
 but the

00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:49.759
 baby in the

00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:50.279
 manger will

00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:50.720
 just give

00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:50.960
 you that

00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:51.460
 little extra

00:16:51.460 --> 00:16:52.000
 prob that

00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:52.620
 you need

00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:53.860
 to get

00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:54.279
 over the

00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:54.779
 hurdles in

00:16:54.779 --> 00:16:55.300
 the end.

00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:58.360
 Every time

00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:58.920
 we see

00:16:58.920 --> 00:16:59.800
 Jesus helping

00:16:59.800 --> 00:17:00.360
 someone in

00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:00.879
 the gospel,

00:17:02.160 --> 00:17:03.379
 it's those

00:17:03.379 --> 00:17:03.960
 who knew

00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:04.660
 they weren't

00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:05.140
 enough.

00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:07.720
 They are

00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:08.120
 the ones

00:17:08.120 --> 00:17:08.640
 that Jesus

00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:09.400
 welcomes.

00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:11.259
 Those who

00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:11.900
 were considered

00:17:11.900 --> 00:17:12.600
 too bad

00:17:12.600 --> 00:17:12.960
 or too

00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:14.079
 broken were

00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:14.680
 in fact the

00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:15.700
 preferred company

00:17:15.700 --> 00:17:16.740
 of Jesus

00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:17.839
 in his

00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:18.420
 story.

00:17:21.860 --> 00:17:22.880
 If you're

00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:23.460
 unsure of

00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:23.960
 yourself,

00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:25.319
 let me ask

00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:25.579
 you,

00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:27.779
 how would

00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.420
 you feel

00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:29.200
 right now

00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:30.480
 if we

00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:31.200
 projected

00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:32.700
 onto these

00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:33.480
 screens

00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:35.819
 every thought

00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:36.259
 that you've

00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:36.799
 ever had,

00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:39.279
 every action

00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:39.819
 done in

00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:40.240
 secret,

00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:40.880
 if it

00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:41.460
 was projected

00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:42.039
 onto these

00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:42.640
 screens and

00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:42.980
 played,

00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:43.819
 replayed,

00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:45.960
 would you

00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:46.420
 be able to

00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:46.779
 hold your

00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:47.099
 head up

00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:47.880
 high right

00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:48.180
 now?

00:17:51.900 --> 00:17:52.519
 To be

00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:52.900
 frank with

00:17:52.900 --> 00:17:52.980
 you,

00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:53.240
 I'd be

00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:53.740
 crushed if

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:53.920
 it was

00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:54.559
 just today's

00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:54.799
 tally.

00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:56.480
 Just today's

00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:56.680
 tally.

00:17:58.200 --> 00:17:59.019
 God sees

00:17:59.019 --> 00:17:59.380
 it all.

00:18:00.620 --> 00:18:01.140
 He sees

00:18:01.140 --> 00:18:01.920
 it all and

00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:03.079
 that is,

00:18:03.579 --> 00:18:04.420
 in the end,

00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:05.579
 terrible,

00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:06.980
 terrible news

00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:07.539
 for us.

00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:08.039
 Christmas.

00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:09.180
 But it's

00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:09.519
 not the

00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.000
 end of the

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:10.379
 story.

00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:12.700
 In the

00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:13.599
 Christmas story,

00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:14.839
 we are told

00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:15.799
 Jesus is

00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:16.599
 presented with

00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:17.399
 three gifts

00:18:17.399 --> 00:18:17.879
 by the

00:18:17.879 --> 00:18:19.180
 astrologists who

00:18:19.180 --> 00:18:19.639
 come from

00:18:19.639 --> 00:18:20.180
 the east.

00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:22.500
 And one of

00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:23.139
 those gifts

00:18:23.139 --> 00:18:23.539
 would have

00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:24.440
 totally thrown

00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:24.859
 Mary,

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:26.420
 myrrh.

00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:28.180
 It was

00:18:28.180 --> 00:18:28.819
 used to

00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:29.480
 embalm the

00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:29.779
 dead.

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:30.839
 Who gives

00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:31.539
 baby toy

00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:32.720
 coffins to

00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:33.200
 kids at

00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:33.920
 Christmas time?

00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:34.440
 Under the

00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:34.839
 Christmas tree,

00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:36.059
 there's a toy

00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:36.419
 coffin.

00:18:37.619 --> 00:18:38.220
 Weird,

00:18:38.339 --> 00:18:38.859
 weird thing.

00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:41.319
 It was a

00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:41.799
 symbol of

00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.139
 death.

00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.440
 Jesus came

00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:44.899
 into this

00:18:44.899 --> 00:18:46.139
 world to

00:18:46.139 --> 00:18:46.539
 die.

00:18:46.919 --> 00:18:47.399
 That was

00:18:47.399 --> 00:18:47.980
 his purpose,

00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:48.579
 to die.

00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:50.759
 That's what

00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:51.399
 he needed to

00:18:51.399 --> 00:18:52.139
 do in order

00:18:52.139 --> 00:18:52.859
 to bring

00:18:52.859 --> 00:18:53.599
 about

00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:54.339
 reconciliation

00:18:54.339 --> 00:18:55.379
 between God

00:18:55.379 --> 00:18:56.019
 and humanity.

00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:57.159
 Jesus would

00:18:57.159 --> 00:18:58.019
 die for the

00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:59.019
 sins of

00:18:59.019 --> 00:18:59.559
 humanity.

00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:00.879
 And about

00:19:00.879 --> 00:19:01.879
 33 years

00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:02.579
 after his

00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:03.299
 birth,

00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:03.919
 he was

00:19:03.919 --> 00:19:04.940
 crucified just

00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:05.559
 outside of

00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:06.079
 Jerusalem.

00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:06.839
 But his

00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:07.679
 death was

00:19:07.679 --> 00:19:08.099
 not the

00:19:08.099 --> 00:19:08.460
 end of

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.000
 the story

00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:10.000
 because three

00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:10.720
 days later

00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:11.440
 the tomb

00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:12.200
 was empty

00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:13.079
 and Jesus

00:19:13.079 --> 00:19:13.819
 appeared to

00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:14.859
 his followers

00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:15.779
 alive.

00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:18.619
 He faced

00:19:18.619 --> 00:19:19.319
 death.

00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:20.899
 He defeated

00:19:20.899 --> 00:19:21.379
 death.

00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:22.940
 He paid

00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:23.339
 for our

00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:24.259
 sin so

00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:24.619
 that we

00:19:24.619 --> 00:19:25.099
 don't have

00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:25.500
 to pay

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.039
 for it.

00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:28.039
 He knows

00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:29.460
 every single

00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:30.159
 one of our

00:19:30.159 --> 00:19:30.980
 secret thoughts,

00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:31.579
 our deepest

00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:32.399
 failures and

00:19:32.399 --> 00:19:33.019
 our deepest

00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:33.859
 shame,

00:19:33.859 --> 00:19:34.359
 love.

00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:34.559
 But he

00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:35.159
 loves us

00:19:35.159 --> 00:19:35.539
 all the

00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:35.899
 way to

00:19:35.899 --> 00:19:36.359
 death and

00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:36.979
 back again.

00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:38.500
 And all

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:38.839
 you have

00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:39.359
 to do

00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:40.339
 is trust

00:19:40.339 --> 00:19:40.559
 him.

00:19:44.379 --> 00:19:44.979
 The

00:19:44.979 --> 00:19:45.299
 Christmas

00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:45.879
 story

00:19:45.879 --> 00:19:48.799
 is part

00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:50.059
 of God's

00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:51.359
 story of

00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:52.119
 time and

00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:52.679
 eternity.

00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.219
 So I want

00:19:56.219 --> 00:19:56.759
 to ask you

00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.319
 which story

00:19:57.319 --> 00:19:57.639
 are you

00:19:57.639 --> 00:19:58.219
 jumping in

00:19:58.219 --> 00:19:59.019
 onto at

00:19:59.019 --> 00:19:59.479
 the moment?

00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:02.779
 God's

00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:03.880
 story has

00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:05.220
 three main

00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:05.839
 parts to

00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:06.079
 it.

00:20:06.360 --> 00:20:06.539
 Sorry,

00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:07.039
 four main

00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:07.500
 parts to

00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:07.660
 it.

00:20:08.140 --> 00:20:08.620
 In chapter

00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:08.980
 one,

00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:09.799
 the God

00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:10.380
 who stands

00:20:10.380 --> 00:20:11.000
 outside of

00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.539
 creation

00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:12.539
 always existed,

00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.380
 the one who

00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:14.000
 created all

00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:14.539
 things by

00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:15.120
 speaking to

00:20:15.120 --> 00:20:15.720
 existence.

00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:17.539
 It's the

00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:18.640
 only storyline

00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:20.599
 in the

00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:21.240
 history of

00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:21.680
 the world

00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:22.279
 through every

00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:23.299
 great religion

00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:24.539
 and philosophical

00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.059
 system.

00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:25.559
 It's the

00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.980
 only storyline

00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:28.519
 that has a

00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.740
 divine being

00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:30.799
 that creates

00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:32.099
 all things

00:20:32.099 --> 00:20:33.000
 out of

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:33.519
 love.

00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:34.819
 The only

00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:35.180
 one.

00:20:37.099 --> 00:20:37.559
 In

00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:38.400
 chapter two

00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:39.039
 of the

00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:39.380
 biblical

00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:40.200
 storyline,

00:20:40.360 --> 00:20:40.759
 the Christmas

00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.299
 storyline,

00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:42.799
 people reject

00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:43.680
 the love

00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.279
 of God.

00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:45.500
 All people

00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:46.440
 live life

00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:46.860
 with no

00:20:46.860 --> 00:20:47.539
 consideration

00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:48.240
 for God

00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:49.059
 at all.

00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:49.980
 Relationship

00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:50.440
 with God

00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:50.819
 and each

00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:51.339
 other is

00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:51.759
 deeply

00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.460
 fractured.

00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:53.039
 All

00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:54.140
 brokenness

00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:55.059
 and evil

00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:56.339
 in the

00:20:56.339 --> 00:20:56.740
 world

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.059
 is

00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:57.599
 connected

00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:57.859
 to

00:20:57.859 --> 00:20:58.160
 chapter

00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:58.559
 two.

00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:00.519
 Chapter

00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:01.079
 three

00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:01.579
 is

00:21:01.579 --> 00:21:01.960
 God's

00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:02.240
 plan

00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:02.420
 to

00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:02.960
 reverse

00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:03.380
 all

00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:03.599
 the

00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:03.880
 wrong

00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:04.079
 that

00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:04.259
 we

00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:04.420
 have

00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:04.859
 created

00:21:04.859 --> 00:21:05.079
 for

00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:05.620
 ourselves.

00:21:06.620 --> 00:21:06.839
 And

00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:07.059
 this

00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:07.460
 plan

00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:07.759
 is

00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:08.160
 worked

00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:08.519
 out

00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:08.859
 through

00:21:08.859 --> 00:21:09.480
 history

00:21:09.480 --> 00:21:10.079
 and

00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:10.539
 finds

00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:10.740
 its

00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:11.900
 culmination

00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:12.400
 in

00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:12.620
 the

00:21:12.620 --> 00:21:12.980
 life

00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.299
 and

00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:13.480
 the

00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:13.759
 death

00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:14.000
 and

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.180
 the

00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:14.620
 resurrection

00:21:14.620 --> 00:21:14.900
 of

00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:15.160
 Jesus

00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:15.759
 Christ.

00:21:16.599 --> 00:21:16.880
 That

00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:17.180
 is

00:21:17.180 --> 00:21:17.819
 in

00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:18.620
 the

00:21:18.620 --> 00:21:19.880
 miracle

00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:20.279
 of the

00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:20.579
 Christmas

00:21:20.579 --> 00:21:21.120
 story

00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:21.759
 and the

00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.059
 miracle

00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:22.640
 of the

00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:22.980
 Easter

00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:23.519
 story.

00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:26.180
 Jesus

00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:26.700
 takes

00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:26.980
 the

00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:27.359
 judgment

00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:27.680
 of

00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:27.980
 God

00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:28.220
 for

00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:28.539
 our

00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:28.960
 rebellion

00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.359
 against

00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:29.660
 God

00:21:29.660 --> 00:21:29.900
 upon

00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:30.379
 himself.

00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:31.200
 He

00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:31.599
 dies

00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:31.779
 the

00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:32.019
 death

00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:32.200
 that

00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:32.460
 we

00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:32.660
 should

00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:32.819
 have

00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:33.160
 died

00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:33.440
 and

00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:33.599
 he

00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:34.180
 rose

00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:35.160
 victorious

00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:35.779
 over

00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:36.259
 sin

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:36.700
 and

00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.079
 death.

00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:38.859
 And

00:21:38.859 --> 00:21:39.379
 everyone

00:21:39.379 --> 00:21:40.019
 as we

00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:40.740
 read in

00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:41.139
 John

00:21:41.139 --> 00:21:41.779
 chapter

00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:42.200
 one

00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:42.920
 everyone

00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:43.799
 who puts

00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:44.119
 their

00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:44.759
 trust

00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:45.160
 in

00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:45.579
 Jesus

00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:46.220
 is

00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:46.500
 gathered

00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:46.980
 back

00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:47.220
 into

00:21:47.220 --> 00:21:47.839
 relationship

00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:48.160
 with

00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:48.400
 God

00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:48.779
 and to

00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:48.980
 each

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.240
 other.

00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:50.839
 chapter

00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:51.480
 four

00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:51.759
 of

00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:52.120
 God's

00:21:52.120 --> 00:21:52.440
 story

00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:52.740
 is

00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:52.880
 not

00:21:52.880 --> 00:21:53.079
 the

00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:53.420
 end

00:21:53.420 --> 00:21:53.559
 of

00:21:53.559 --> 00:21:53.720
 the

00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.079
 story

00:21:54.079 --> 00:21:54.680
 it's

00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:54.819
 the

00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:55.180
 beginning

00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:55.559
 of

00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:55.720
 the

00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:56.019
 chapter

00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:56.240
 that

00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:56.460
 has

00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:56.759
 no

00:21:56.759 --> 00:21:57.160
 end.

00:21:59.019 --> 00:21:59.259
 It's

00:21:59.259 --> 00:21:59.380
 a

00:21:59.380 --> 00:21:59.599
 chapter

00:21:59.599 --> 00:21:59.819
 where

00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:00.099
 God

00:22:00.099 --> 00:22:00.559
 reigns

00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:00.900
 forever

00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:01.140
 with

00:22:01.140 --> 00:22:01.319
 his

00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:01.620
 people

00:22:01.620 --> 00:22:01.799
 in

00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:01.920
 the

00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:02.299
 world

00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:03.579
 recreated

00:22:03.579 --> 00:22:03.859
 in

00:22:03.859 --> 00:22:04.279
 perfect

00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:04.900
 peace

00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:06.259
 and

00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:07.880
 harmony.

00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:11.039
 This

00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:11.380
 is the

00:22:11.380 --> 00:22:11.940
 good news

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.220
 of the

00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:12.500
 Christmas

00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:13.039
 story

00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:13.440
 written

00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:13.980
 of

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.339
 God

00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:14.859
 writing

00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.319
 himself

00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:15.660
 into

00:22:15.660 --> 00:22:16.140
 history.

00:22:17.120 --> 00:22:17.220
 You

00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:17.460
 see the

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:17.700
 Christmas

00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.140
 story has

00:22:18.140 --> 00:22:18.299
 got to

00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:18.400
 be

00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:18.700
 connected

00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:18.900
 with

00:22:18.900 --> 00:22:19.000
 the

00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.160
 whole

00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:20.540
 story.

00:22:21.380 --> 00:22:21.660
 It's

00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:21.800
 just

00:22:21.800 --> 00:22:22.040
 one

00:22:22.040 --> 00:22:22.320
 part

00:22:22.320 --> 00:22:22.420
 of

00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:22.540
 the

00:22:22.540 --> 00:22:22.960
 chapters.

00:22:25.600 --> 00:22:26.120
 But

00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:26.380
 we

00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:26.920
 exist

00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:27.300
 in

00:22:27.300 --> 00:22:27.519
 our

00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:27.980
 culture

00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:28.160
 at

00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:28.320
 the

00:22:28.320 --> 00:22:28.700
 moment

00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:30.100
 dominated

00:22:30.100 --> 00:22:30.560
 by

00:22:30.560 --> 00:22:31.080
 many

00:22:31.080 --> 00:22:31.920
 stories

00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:33.340
 but

00:22:33.340 --> 00:22:33.500
 there

00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:33.680
 is

00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:33.980
 one

00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.620
 particular

00:22:34.620 --> 00:22:35.120
 story

00:22:35.120 --> 00:22:35.380
 which

00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:35.860
 stands

00:22:35.860 --> 00:22:36.380
 out

00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:36.900
 and

00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:37.140
 it's

00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:37.759
 permeating

00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.720
 culture

00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:38.940
 in

00:22:38.940 --> 00:22:39.180
 every

00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:39.480
 kind

00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:39.600
 of

00:22:39.600 --> 00:22:39.880
 way.

00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:41.220
 It's

00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:41.400
 the

00:22:41.400 --> 00:22:41.780
 one

00:22:41.780 --> 00:22:42.580
 that

00:22:42.580 --> 00:22:42.800
 was

00:22:42.800 --> 00:22:43.360
 raised

00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:43.740
 by

00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:44.180
 Nikita

00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:44.920
 Khrushchev.

00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:46.120
 It

00:22:46.120 --> 00:22:46.300
 was

00:22:46.300 --> 00:22:46.840
 highlighted

00:22:46.840 --> 00:22:47.320
 there,

00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:48.519
 Harari

00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:49.099
 highlights

00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:49.259
 it

00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:49.859
 himself.

00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:51.679
 It's

00:22:51.679 --> 00:22:52.200
 a story

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:52.480
 that's

00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:52.980
 taken up

00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:53.419
 residence

00:22:53.419 --> 00:22:53.960
 in the

00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:54.379
 soul

00:22:54.379 --> 00:22:54.639
 of

00:22:54.639 --> 00:22:54.919
 Western

00:22:54.919 --> 00:22:55.599
 society

00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:56.339
 for the

00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:56.639
 past

00:22:56.639 --> 00:22:57.019
 60

00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:57.339
 years

00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:57.500
 in

00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.019
 particular.

00:22:58.779 --> 00:22:59.099
 The

00:22:59.099 --> 00:22:59.519
 technical

00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.079
 term

00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:00.700
 for this

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:01.119
 story

00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:01.460
 is

00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.000
 philosophical

00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.919
 naturalism.

00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:04.439
 It's

00:23:04.439 --> 00:23:04.899
 a fancy

00:23:04.899 --> 00:23:05.700
 name for

00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:06.659
 materialism,

00:23:06.839 --> 00:23:07.159
 secular

00:23:07.159 --> 00:23:08.000
 materialism.

00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:08.039
 person.

00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:09.500
 It's

00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:09.880
 a three

00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:10.240
 chapter

00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:10.880
 story

00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:12.000
 and it's

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.640
 a story,

00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:12.940
 it's a

00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:13.140
 three

00:23:13.140 --> 00:23:13.420
 chapter

00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:13.900
 story

00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:14.140
 that

00:23:14.140 --> 00:23:14.720
 most

00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.579
 people

00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:15.920
 in

00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:16.140
 our

00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:16.559
 world

00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:16.880
 are

00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:17.240
 living

00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:17.680
 to

00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:18.380
 day

00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:18.640
 by

00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:19.019
 day.

00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:21.440
 The

00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:21.779
 first

00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.240
 chapter

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.559
 of that

00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:24.160
 story

00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:26.240
 says that

00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:26.519
 there is

00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:26.779
 no

00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:27.460
 supernatural

00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.180
 or spiritual

00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:28.859
 power that

00:23:28.859 --> 00:23:29.519
 rules the

00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:29.900
 physical

00:23:29.900 --> 00:23:30.559
 universe.

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.279
 Everything

00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:32.920
 that can

00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:33.579
 be seen

00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:34.319
 and measured

00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:35.119
 is a

00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:35.720
 result

00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:36.619
 of an

00:23:36.619 --> 00:23:37.220
 explosion

00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:37.779
 that appeared

00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:38.160
 out of

00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:38.519
 nothing

00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:39.039
 billions

00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:39.539
 of years

00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:39.940
 ago.

00:23:42.059 --> 00:23:42.779
 Scientifically

00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:43.819
 unproven.

00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:45.980
 Can't

00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:46.640
 prove it

00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:48.000
 scientifically.

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:49.640
 Chapter

00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:50.180
 two of

00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:50.700
 this story

00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.120
 is that

00:23:51.120 --> 00:23:51.460
 against

00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:52.480
 all odds

00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:53.620
 humanity

00:23:53.620 --> 00:23:54.759
 evolved

00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:55.480
 from

00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.680
 prehistoric

00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:57.240
 soup

00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:58.160
 to be

00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:58.700
 the dominant

00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:59.279
 species

00:23:59.279 --> 00:23:59.680
 of the

00:23:59.680 --> 00:23:59.940
 earth

00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:00.700
 right now.

00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:02.059
 Despite

00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:02.680
 what people

00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:05.220
 might feel

00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:09.180
 there is

00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:10.079
 no absolute

00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:10.960
 right or

00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:11.360
 wrong.

00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:12.740
 If you

00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:13.900
 feel that

00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:14.600
 something is

00:24:14.600 --> 00:24:15.220
 right or

00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:15.720
 wrong

00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.980
 then that's

00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:17.680
 due to a

00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:18.579
 chemical reaction

00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:19.079
 in your

00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:20.579
 brain that

00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:21.140
 is again

00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:21.539
 not

00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.120
 scientifically

00:24:22.120 --> 00:24:22.740
 proven.

00:24:24.140 --> 00:24:24.860
 Everything

00:24:24.860 --> 00:24:25.660
 is an

00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:26.120
 accident

00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:27.220
 and so

00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:27.620
 therefore

00:24:27.620 --> 00:24:28.400
 life has

00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:29.039
 absolutely

00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:29.839
 no meaning

00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:30.500
 or purpose

00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:30.920
 at all.

00:24:31.860 --> 00:24:32.180
 And so

00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:32.700
 therefore

00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.539
 if that's

00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.120
 the case

00:24:34.120 --> 00:24:35.140
 make the

00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:35.680
 most of

00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:36.440
 life right

00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:36.960
 now.

00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:38.019
 Make it

00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:38.480
 as happy

00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:38.819
 as you

00:24:38.819 --> 00:24:39.240
 possibly

00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:39.700
 can.

00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:40.400
 Buy

00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:40.960
 everything

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.200
 you

00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:41.620
 possibly

00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:42.100
 can.

00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:43.019
 Consume

00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:43.480
 every

00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.080
 experience

00:24:44.080 --> 00:24:44.279
 you

00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:44.720
 possibly

00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.220
 can

00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:45.860
 because

00:24:45.860 --> 00:24:46.259
 chapter

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:46.740
 three

00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.080
 is

00:24:47.080 --> 00:24:47.400
 coming.

00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:48.539
 And

00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:48.779
 chapter

00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.080
 three

00:24:49.080 --> 00:24:49.420
 is just

00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:49.680
 simply

00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:49.900
 the

00:24:49.900 --> 00:24:50.200
 end.

00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:52.420
 The

00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:52.700
 sun

00:24:52.700 --> 00:24:52.900
 will

00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:53.140
 burn

00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:53.400
 up.

00:24:54.580 --> 00:24:55.220
 Humanity

00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:55.480
 will

00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:55.799
 become

00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.420
 extinct

00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:57.400
 and there

00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:57.759
 is no

00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:58.259
 form of

00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:58.740
 afterlife

00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.539
 or survival

00:24:59.539 --> 00:24:59.900
 of the

00:24:59.900 --> 00:25:00.259
 conscience.

00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:02.599
 the

00:25:02.599 --> 00:25:03.000
 story

00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.180
 of

00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:04.000
 materialism

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.640
 is

00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:05.500
 that

00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:05.900
 only

00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:06.200
 what

00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:06.400
 you

00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:06.599
 can

00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:07.079
 see,

00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:08.059
 taste,

00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:08.759
 touch,

00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:09.700
 feel

00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.819
 has any

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:12.559
 is the

00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:12.779
 purpose

00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.319
 of life.

00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:14.220
 That's

00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:14.420
 it.

00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:17.599
 The

00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:17.859
 Christmas

00:25:17.859 --> 00:25:18.539
 story says

00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:18.819
 that we

00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.079
 have a

00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:19.279
 loving

00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:19.839
 creator

00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:21.019
 who

00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:21.279
 has

00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:21.940
 triumphed

00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:22.259
 over

00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:22.799
 evil

00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.500
 at

00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:23.960
 great

00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:24.460
 cost

00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:24.640
 to

00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:25.220
 himself

00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:26.059
 to

00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:26.400
 love

00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:26.660
 you

00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:27.339
 dearly.

00:25:27.339 --> 00:25:30.500
 and we

00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:30.740
 look

00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:31.179
 forward

00:25:31.179 --> 00:25:31.579
 to a

00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:31.980
 day

00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:33.039
 when

00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:33.619
 everything

00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:34.139
 wrong

00:25:34.139 --> 00:25:34.639
 will be

00:25:34.639 --> 00:25:35.000
 made

00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:35.599
 right

00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:36.779
 and we

00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.019
 will

00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:37.459
 live

00:25:37.459 --> 00:25:37.740
 with

00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.139
 him

00:25:38.139 --> 00:25:39.099
 in

00:25:39.099 --> 00:25:39.899
 joy,

00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.480
 blissful

00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:41.879
 joy

00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.439
 for all

00:25:42.439 --> 00:25:42.579
 of

00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:43.159
 eternity.

00:25:45.859 --> 00:25:46.699
 Historically

00:25:46.699 --> 00:25:47.359
 plausible,

00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:49.799
 philosophically

00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:51.459
 satisfying.

00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:54.059
 Science

00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:54.480
 can't

00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:54.959
 disprove

00:25:54.959 --> 00:25:55.319
 it.

00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:58.500
 this

00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:58.879
 Christmas

00:25:58.879 --> 00:25:59.500
 story

00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:00.339
 is

00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:01.439
 unbelievably

00:26:01.439 --> 00:26:02.139
 good

00:26:02.139 --> 00:26:02.759
 news.

00:26:04.159 --> 00:26:04.480
 So

00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:04.799
 which

00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.199
 story

00:26:05.199 --> 00:26:05.699
 is your

00:26:05.699 --> 00:26:06.159
 story?

00:26:07.379 --> 00:26:07.899
 Which

00:26:07.899 --> 00:26:08.279
 story

00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:08.879
 drives

00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:09.099
 you

00:26:09.099 --> 00:26:09.359
 day

00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:09.579
 by

00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:09.980
 day?

00:26:12.099 --> 00:26:12.779
 Joining

00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.319
 Jesus

00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:13.919
 story

00:26:13.919 --> 00:26:14.459
 is the

00:26:14.459 --> 00:26:14.740
 most

00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.319
 real

00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:15.639
 and

00:26:15.639 --> 00:26:16.099
 wonderful

00:26:16.099 --> 00:26:16.500
 thing

00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:16.839
 that can

00:26:16.839 --> 00:26:17.119
 happen

00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:17.519
 to you

00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:17.759
 in your

00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.220
 life.

00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:20.240
 But

00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:20.659
 to get

00:26:20.659 --> 00:26:21.059
 to that

00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:21.519
 point,

00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:23.859
 we have

00:26:23.859 --> 00:26:24.699
 to start

00:26:24.699 --> 00:26:25.839
 with seeing

00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:26.559
 what

00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:27.079
 humanity

00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:27.700
 is,

00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:29.259
 who we

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:29.720
 are,

00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.480
 we have

00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:31.940
 to come

00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:32.500
 to the

00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:34.039
 awful,

00:26:34.179 --> 00:26:34.700
 awful

00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:35.720
 realisation

00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:38.259
 that in

00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:38.899
 God's

00:26:38.899 --> 00:26:39.500
 story,

00:26:40.579 --> 00:26:41.139
 we're the

00:26:41.139 --> 00:26:41.619
 villains.

00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:41.679
 love,

00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:42.619
 we have

00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:43.519
 to come

00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.619
 to the

00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:45.159
 world.

00:26:45.159 --> 00:26:45.799
 And

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.379
 Jesus is

00:26:46.379 --> 00:26:46.799
 the hero.

00:26:48.159 --> 00:26:48.799
 He's the

00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:49.059
 hero.

00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:50.799
 He's the

00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.479
 main character

00:26:51.479 --> 00:26:51.839
 in the

00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:52.199
 story.

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:54.599
 And so

00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:54.919
 this

00:26:54.919 --> 00:26:55.419
 Christmas,

00:26:56.419 --> 00:26:58.500
 the biggest

00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:59.079
 thing you can

00:26:59.079 --> 00:26:59.639
 do with your

00:26:59.639 --> 00:27:00.479
 life is to

00:27:00.479 --> 00:27:01.099
 get written

00:27:01.099 --> 00:27:01.839
 into Jesus'

00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:03.279
 story by

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:03.679
 in fact

00:27:03.679 --> 00:27:04.219
 giving your

00:27:04.219 --> 00:27:04.639
 life to

00:27:04.639 --> 00:27:04.919
 him.

00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:07.420
 make your

00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:08.279
 story a

00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:08.940
 good one,

00:27:09.800 --> 00:27:10.700
 one that

00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.259
 will go on

00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:12.720
 living as

00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.840
 Jesus himself

00:27:13.840 --> 00:27:15.060
 lives and

00:27:15.060 --> 00:27:16.220
 reigns right

00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:16.600
 now.

00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:18.220
 Up on the

00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:18.560
 screen, if

00:27:18.560 --> 00:27:18.759
 you're not

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.100
 sure where

00:27:19.100 --> 00:27:19.640
 you sit with

00:27:19.640 --> 00:27:20.019
 the Christian

00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:20.480
 faith, on

00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.039
 the screen

00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:21.820
 is a QR

00:27:21.820 --> 00:27:22.220
 code.

00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:22.960
 And I

00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:23.660
 would encourage

00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:24.500
 you just

00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.279
 to take that

00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:26.019
 extra step

00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:26.800
 this Christmas

00:27:26.800 --> 00:27:28.480
 to get into

00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:28.900
 Jesus'

00:27:29.120 --> 00:27:30.279
 story with

00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:30.940
 your life.

00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:32.880
 to

00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:35.640
 his

00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:39.820
 child

00:27:39.820 --> 00:27:40.259
 that

00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:40.620
'll

00:27:40.620 --> 00:27:41.259
 ...