00:00:00 --> 00:00:07 good morning everyone how about if we pray as we launch into this text this morning
00:00:07 --> 00:00:13 gracious god we thank you for your word we thank you for this time this season
00:00:13 --> 00:00:23 we recall the great event of not just the birth of a baby but the of the great god into this world
00:00:23 --> 00:00:29 entered into our world and we ask lord now that you would enter into our hearts we ask it for
00:00:29 --> 00:00:38 your sake amen it's the height of ambition for many five-year-olds at christmas time they're now
00:00:38 --> 00:00:45 too old to play the baby jesus in the nativity play and the very next thing that you want to do
00:00:45 --> 00:00:54 is you want to be mary mary's the other key player here however each one person one girl
00:00:54 --> 00:01:05 to be selected for such dizzying heights of drama to play mary there on the central roles of the
00:01:05 --> 00:01:16 nativity play go in descending order there's the magi there's the angels the shepherds king herod
00:01:16 --> 00:01:22 the sheep the donkeys the cows and somewhere at the back is joseph
00:01:22 --> 00:01:31 he often gets a very passive part in most nativity plays he only plays this often though he says a
00:01:31 --> 00:01:37 very few lines and in fact when i often see nativity set up joseph's the guy right at the back there
00:01:37 --> 00:01:42 somewhere he's the guy looking after the sheep that's his job that's all he does
00:01:42 --> 00:01:48 uh as you know so many husbands at the time of birth um
00:01:48 --> 00:01:56 in most nativity's joseph says virtually none
00:01:56 --> 00:02:01 he has a very small part to play
00:02:01 --> 00:02:08 and the scripts often forget that the angel came to joseph too
00:02:08 --> 00:02:14 and in fact there is something that the angel said to joseph
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 didn't say to anyone else
00:02:17 --> 00:02:23 in the other appearances in nativity's he never said it to anyone else
00:02:23 --> 00:02:33 the angel tells joseph in a dream that the baby born is a fulfillment of a prophecy from hundreds of years earlier
00:02:33 --> 00:02:39 prophecy promises to dwell with his people
00:02:39 --> 00:02:43 and in this interaction between joseph and the angel
00:02:43 --> 00:02:49 we have the invaluable treasure of a name
00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 emmanuel
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 and that's our focus this
00:02:55 --> 00:03:01 there are three main things we learn just simply learn from the name emmanuel
00:03:01 --> 00:03:05 firstly that jesus is god
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 that he's human
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 and that he is with us
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 so let's go
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 jesus is god
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 there are several ways that matthew drives home the core
00:03:16 --> 00:03:20 christmas message that jesus is not simply
00:03:20 --> 00:03:21 a great teacher
00:03:21 --> 00:03:25 or even angelic being but in fact
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 that jesus is divine
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 in verse 20 the angels tell joseph that the human
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 life that's growing inside of the
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 Mary has not come from any
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 human being but from
00:03:38 --> 00:03:39 the heavenly father
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 and that is jesus has
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 two fathers if you like
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 and joseph will be
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 jesus father only
00:03:47 --> 00:03:48 in a secondary sense
00:03:48 --> 00:03:52 is it my microphone's going on and off
00:03:52 --> 00:03:53 it is isn't it
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 so maybe
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 do you want me to get another one for me
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 i'm not sure what the
00:03:59 --> 00:03:59 microphone is
00:03:59 --> 00:04:04 just dwell on that point for a moment
00:04:04 --> 00:04:08 there we go
00:04:08 --> 00:04:09 how about that
00:04:09 --> 00:04:10 is that working
00:04:10 --> 00:04:17 okay there we go
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 all right fantastic thank you john
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 and thank you sound team
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 um
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 Mary is is pregnant
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 by the holy spirit
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 god is the real father
00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 however
00:04:30 --> 00:04:34 the most direct statement of jesus identity
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 is in verse 23
00:04:35 --> 00:04:39 matthew quotes from isaiah chapter 7
00:04:39 --> 00:04:40 verse 14
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 hundreds of years before
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 the prophet says
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 the virgin will conceive give birth to a son
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 and you will call him emmanuel
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 which means god
00:04:51 --> 00:04:52 with
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 us
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 now for centuries
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 jewish religious leaders and scholars
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 had known about that prophecy
00:05:02 --> 00:05:06 but they had not thought to ever take it
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 literally
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 that god would be with us
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 literally
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 matthew is saying this promise is greater
00:05:14 --> 00:05:17 than anyone imagined
00:05:17 --> 00:05:21 jesus christ is god
00:05:21 --> 00:05:22 with us
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 because the human life
00:05:25 --> 00:05:26 growing in the womb
00:05:26 --> 00:05:27 in of mary
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 was a miracle
00:05:29 --> 00:05:30 that was performed
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31 by god himself
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 this child is literally god
00:05:34 --> 00:05:34 the
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 divine
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 in the fullest sense
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 now
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 what makes this
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 so remarkable
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 is that matthew
00:05:45 --> 00:05:46 who's writing this
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 was a jew
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 that's what's remarkable here
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 the jews
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 distinctive view
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 of god
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 made them
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 the people
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 on earth
00:06:00 --> 00:06:01 least
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02 open
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 to the idea
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 that a human being
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 could be god
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 least open
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 to that idea
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 you see the eastern religions
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 at the time
00:06:12 --> 00:06:12 believed that god
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 was an impersonal force
00:06:14 --> 00:06:14 that
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 permeated all things
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 and so in their
00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 sense
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 god could be everywhere
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 god could be everywhere
00:06:24 --> 00:06:24 with us
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 it wasn't unusual
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 for them to say
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 that there might be
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 a human being
00:06:30 --> 00:06:30 that
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 particularly had
00:06:32 --> 00:06:32 great
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 manifestations
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 of the divine
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 in the way that they
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 lived their life
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 western religions
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 at the time
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 believed that gods
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 would disguise themselves
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 as human beings
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 for their own purposes
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 jews
00:06:48 --> 00:06:48 jews however
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 believed
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 distinctly
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 among all
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 other nations
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 and people
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 groups in the world
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 they believed
00:06:55 --> 00:06:56 in a god
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 who was both
00:06:57 --> 00:06:57 personal
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 and
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 infinite
00:06:59 --> 00:07:04 god was not
00:07:04 --> 00:07:04 a being
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 within the universe
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 but was instead
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 the ground
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 of the universe
00:07:09 --> 00:07:09 existence
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 and infinitely
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 transcendent
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 above the universe
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16 everything in the
00:07:16 --> 00:07:16 human world
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 view was against
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 the idea
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 that god would
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 be close
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 personal
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 and certainly
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 not human
00:07:24 --> 00:07:28 he was far
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 too transcendent
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 in fact jews
00:07:31 --> 00:07:31 would not even
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 pronounce the covenant
00:07:33 --> 00:07:34 name of their god
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 yahweh
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 they would not
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 even spell it
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 because it was
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 too familiar
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 too familiar
00:07:43 --> 00:07:46 and yet
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 jesus christ
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 by his life
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 by his claims
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 by his resurrection
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 convinced
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 his
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 closest
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 circle
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 of jewish
00:07:58 --> 00:07:58 followers
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 that he was
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 not just a prophet
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 telling them
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 how to find god
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 but that he was
00:08:06 --> 00:08:06 in fact
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 god
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 himself
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 come
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 to find
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 us
00:08:11 --> 00:08:14 now
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 matthew's not
00:08:15 --> 00:08:15 the only
00:08:15 --> 00:08:15 biblical
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 author
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 to teach
00:08:17 --> 00:08:17 this
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 john
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 the apostle
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 paul
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 a jew
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 and a pharisee
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 the apostle
00:08:24 --> 00:08:24 peter
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 another jewish
00:08:25 --> 00:08:25 man
00:08:25 --> 00:08:25 they all
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 declared it
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 the opinion
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 of these
00:08:28 --> 00:08:28 authors
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 would not
00:08:30 --> 00:08:30 mean much
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 however
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 if jesus
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 himself
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 hadn't declared
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 that he was
00:08:35 --> 00:08:35 in fact
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 divine
00:08:36 --> 00:08:39 all through
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 his
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 biographical
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 accounts
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 jesus is
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 constantly
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 forgiving sin
00:08:46 --> 00:08:46 which they
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 identified
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 that's only
00:08:48 --> 00:08:48 what god
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 can do
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 he also
00:08:51 --> 00:08:51 claims
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 i am going
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 to come
00:08:53 --> 00:08:53 back to
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 judge the
00:08:54 --> 00:08:54 world
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 they knew
00:08:56 --> 00:08:56 that that
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 was god's
00:08:57 --> 00:08:57 job
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 to do
00:08:58 --> 00:08:58 that
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 at many
00:09:00 --> 00:09:00 times
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 and in a
00:09:01 --> 00:09:01 whole heap
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 of various
00:09:02 --> 00:09:02 ways
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 jesus christ
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 a jewish
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 man
00:09:05 --> 00:09:05 said
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 i am
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 god
00:09:07 --> 00:09:11 the only
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 one
00:09:12 --> 00:09:12 in fact
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 of world
00:09:13 --> 00:09:13 religious
00:09:13 --> 00:09:13 leaders
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 that have
00:09:14 --> 00:09:14 actually
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 declared
00:09:15 --> 00:09:15 i am
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 god
00:09:16 --> 00:09:20 and
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 thousands
00:09:21 --> 00:09:21 upon
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 thousands
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 believed
00:09:23 --> 00:09:23 him
00:09:23 --> 00:09:23 and came
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 to worship
00:09:24 --> 00:09:24 him
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 and now
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 across the
00:09:27 --> 00:09:27 globe
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 millions
00:09:28 --> 00:09:28 upon
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 millions
00:09:29 --> 00:09:34 christmas
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 many
00:09:35 --> 00:09:35 know
00:09:35 --> 00:09:35 this
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 claim
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 and give
00:09:38 --> 00:09:38 the claim
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 lip
00:09:39 --> 00:09:39 service
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 at christmas
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 without
00:09:42 --> 00:09:42 actually
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 thinking
00:09:43 --> 00:09:43 about
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 the
00:09:44 --> 00:09:44 implications
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 of what
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 it is
00:09:46 --> 00:09:46 that we
00:09:46 --> 00:09:46 sing
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 in the
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 christmas
00:09:48 --> 00:09:48 carols
00:09:48 --> 00:09:52 if jesus
00:09:52 --> 00:09:52 really
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 is
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 god
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 what does
00:09:55 --> 00:09:55 it mean
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 for us
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 practically
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 well first
00:09:58 --> 00:09:58 of all
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 it means
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 an intellectual
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 turning point
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 for us
00:10:03 --> 00:10:03 this is a
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 massive
00:10:04 --> 00:10:04 intellectual
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 shift
00:10:05 --> 00:10:05 that has
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 to take
00:10:06 --> 00:10:06 place
00:10:06 --> 00:10:09 some
00:10:09 --> 00:10:09 have argued
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 that the
00:10:10 --> 00:10:10 supreme
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 miracle
00:10:11 --> 00:10:11 of
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 christianity
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 is not
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 the resurrection
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 of christ
00:10:15 --> 00:10:15 from the
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 dead
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 but the
00:10:17 --> 00:10:17 coming
00:10:17 --> 00:10:17 of god
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 into the
00:10:18 --> 00:10:18 world
00:10:18 --> 00:10:18 as a
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 human
00:10:19 --> 00:10:19 being
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 that's
00:10:20 --> 00:10:20 the
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 supreme
00:10:21 --> 00:10:21 miracle
00:10:21 --> 00:10:21 of
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 christianity
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 what we
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 celebrate
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 at christmas
00:10:24 --> 00:10:24 time
00:10:24 --> 00:10:27 of all
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 the things
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 that christianity
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 proclaims
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 this one
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 is the
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 most
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 staggering
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 the late
00:10:35 --> 00:10:35 canadian
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 theologian
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 jr packard
00:10:37 --> 00:10:37 puts it
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 like this
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 god
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 became
00:10:40 --> 00:10:40 man
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 the
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 divine
00:10:42 --> 00:10:42 son
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 became
00:10:43 --> 00:10:43 a jew
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 the almighty
00:10:45 --> 00:10:45 appeared
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 on earth
00:10:46 --> 00:10:46 as a
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 helpless
00:10:47 --> 00:10:47 human
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 baby
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 unable
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 to do
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 more
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 than
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 lie
00:10:51 --> 00:10:51 there
00:10:51 --> 00:10:51 and
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 stare
00:10:52 --> 00:10:52 and wriggle
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 and make
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 noises
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 needing to
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 be fed
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 and changed
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 and taught
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 to talk
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 like any
00:10:59 --> 00:10:59 other
00:10:59 --> 00:10:59 child
00:10:59 --> 00:11:02 it's
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 staggering
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 when you
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 think about
00:11:04 --> 00:11:04 it
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 how an
00:11:05 --> 00:11:05 infinite
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 god
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 created
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 all things
00:11:08 --> 00:11:08 stands
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 outside of
00:11:09 --> 00:11:09 his
00:11:09 --> 00:11:09 created
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 order
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 became
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 so
00:11:12 --> 00:11:12 dependent
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 upon
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 the people
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 who he
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 gives
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 his
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 very
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 breath
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 of
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 life
00:11:16 --> 00:11:16 too
00:11:16 --> 00:11:22 nothing
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 in
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 fiction
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 is as
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 staggering
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 as that
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 as
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 as
00:11:28 --> 00:11:28 fantastic
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 as that
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 the claim
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 that jesus
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 is god
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 is an
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 intellectual
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 turning
00:11:35 --> 00:11:35 point
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 but
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 it also
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 causes
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 a
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 personal
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 crisis
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 a
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 crisis
00:11:44 --> 00:11:44 is a
00:11:44 --> 00:11:44 fork
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 in
00:11:45 --> 00:11:45 the
00:11:45 --> 00:11:45 road
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 the
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 assertion
00:11:48 --> 00:11:48 that
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 jesus
00:11:49 --> 00:11:49 christ
00:11:49 --> 00:11:49 is
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 god
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 is
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 exactly
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 that
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 fork
00:11:52 --> 00:11:52 in
00:11:52 --> 00:11:52 a
00:11:52 --> 00:11:52 road
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 whenever
00:11:54 --> 00:11:54 you
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 see
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 jesus
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 acting
00:11:56 --> 00:11:56 in
00:11:56 --> 00:11:56 the
00:11:56 --> 00:11:56 gospels
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 you
00:11:57 --> 00:11:57 see
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 him
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 consistently
00:11:59 --> 00:11:59 putting
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 people
00:12:00 --> 00:12:00 into
00:12:00 --> 00:12:00 motion
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 that's
00:12:02 --> 00:12:02 what
00:12:02 --> 00:12:02 he
00:12:02 --> 00:12:02 does
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 like
00:12:03 --> 00:12:03 a
00:12:03 --> 00:12:03 bowling
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 ball
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 to
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 to
00:12:05 --> 00:12:05 to the
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 pins
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 providing
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 you
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 get
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 it
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 to
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 the
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 pins
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 at
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 the
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 bowling
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 alley
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 it
00:12:10 --> 00:12:10 sets
00:12:10 --> 00:12:10 them
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 in
00:12:11 --> 00:12:11 motion
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 makes
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 them
00:12:13 --> 00:12:13 move
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 and
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 he's
00:12:15 --> 00:12:15 like
00:12:15 --> 00:12:15 this
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 giant
00:12:16 --> 00:12:16 bowling
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 ball
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 wherever
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 he
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 goes
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 he
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 breaks
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 up
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 old
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 patterns
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 he
00:12:21 --> 00:12:21 sends
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 people
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 off
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 in
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 new
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 directions
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 jesus
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 evokes
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 extreme
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 responses
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 from
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 people
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 some
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 are
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 so
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 furious
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 with
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 him
00:12:33 --> 00:12:37 that
00:12:37 --> 00:12:37 they
00:12:37 --> 00:12:37 try
00:12:37 --> 00:12:37 to
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 grab
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 him
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 and
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 throw
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 him
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 off
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 a
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 cliff
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 to
00:12:40 --> 00:12:40 kill
00:12:40 --> 00:12:40 him
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 others
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 are
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 so
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 terrified
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 by
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 him
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 they
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 fall
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 to
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 the
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 ground
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 and
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 they
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 say
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 depart
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 from
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 me
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 get
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 away
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 from
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 me
00:12:49 --> 00:12:52 others
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 fall
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 down
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 and
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 worship
00:12:53 --> 00:12:56 why
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 the
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 extreme
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 reactions
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 it's
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 because
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 of who
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 he
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 claims
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 to
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 be
00:13:01 --> 00:13:01 that's
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 why
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 if
00:13:04 --> 00:13:04 he
00:13:04 --> 00:13:04 is
00:13:04 --> 00:13:04 who
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 he
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 says
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 he
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 is
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 then
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 it
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 is
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 essential
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 that
00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 you
00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 center
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 your
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 life
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 on
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 him
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 all
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 of
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 your
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 life
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 on
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 him
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 he
00:13:15 --> 00:13:15 claims
00:13:15 --> 00:13:15 to
00:13:15 --> 00:13:15 be
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 the
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 God
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 who
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 creates
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 all
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 things
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 the
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 source
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 of
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 all
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 life
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 and
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 the
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 one
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 who
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 defines
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 all
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 reality
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 for
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 all
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 of
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 humanity
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 and
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 so
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 if
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 he
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 is
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 not
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 who
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 he
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 says
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 he
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 is
00:13:27 --> 00:13:27 then
00:13:27 --> 00:13:27 he
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 is
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 someone
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 to
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 be
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 hated
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 he
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 is
00:13:30 --> 00:13:30 someone
00:13:30 --> 00:13:30 to run
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 from
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 because
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 he
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 is
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 the
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 greatest
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 fraud
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 in
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 history
00:13:34 --> 00:13:38 no
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 other
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 response
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 makes sense
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 to
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 Jesus
00:13:41 --> 00:13:45 paying
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 some
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 kind of
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 benign
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 reference
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 to him
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 at
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 Christmas
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 time
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 makes
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 no
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 sense
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 at
00:13:54 --> 00:13:54 all
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 intellectual
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 historical
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 sense
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 to the
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 person
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 of
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 Jesus
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 at
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 all
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 you
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 either
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 have
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 to
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 despise
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 and
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 reject
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 him
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 or
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 you
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 have
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 to
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 surrender
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 to
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 him
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 there's
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 no
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 middle
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 ground
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 there's
00:14:08 --> 00:14:08 no
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 niceness
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 about
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 Christmas
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 carols
00:14:12 --> 00:14:16 either
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 he
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 is
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 God
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 or
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 he
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 isn't
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 he's
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 absolutely
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 crazy
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 and
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 dangerous
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 or
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 he's
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 infinitely
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 wonderful
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26 there's
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 no
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 middle
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 ground
00:14:27 --> 00:14:37 but
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 thirdly
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 the
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 claim
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 that
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 Jesus
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 is
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 God
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 also
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 gives
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 us
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 the
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 greatest
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 possible
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 hope
00:14:40 --> 00:14:43 the
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 one
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 who
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 creates
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 determines
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 defines
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 all
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 things
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 all
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 reality
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 says
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 that
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 our
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 world
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 is
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 not
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 all
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 that
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 there
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 is
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 he
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 says
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 that
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 there
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 is
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 in
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 fact
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 life
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 and
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 love
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 and
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 hope
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 and
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 joy
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 after
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 death
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 and
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 that
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 the
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 evil
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 and
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 suffering
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 that
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 we
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 experience
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 in
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 this
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 world
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 will
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 one
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 day
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 end
00:15:04 --> 00:15:07 and
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 that's
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 not
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 just
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 hope
00:15:08 --> 00:15:11 for
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 this
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 world
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 despite
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 all
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 its
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 unending
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 problems
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 but
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 it's
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 hope
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 for
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 you
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 and
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 me
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 despite
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 all
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 our
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 unending
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 failings
00:15:20 --> 00:15:23 a
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 God
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 who
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 was
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 only
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 a
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 God
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 who
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 was
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 only
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 perfectly
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 good
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 for
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 instance
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 would
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 not
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 have
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 come
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 down
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 in
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 the
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 person
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 of
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 Jesus
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 Christ
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 a
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 God
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 who
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 was
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 just
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 good
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 kind
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 kind
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 of
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 God
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 if
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 that's
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 he
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 would
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 not
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 have
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 come
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 down
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 in
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 the
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 person
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 of
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 Jesus
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 Christ
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 he
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 would
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 have
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 just
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 simply
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 demanded
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 that
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 we
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 pull
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 ourselves
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 socks
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 up
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 that
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 we
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 be
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 moral
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 that
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 we
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 be
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 good
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 and
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 that
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 we
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 would
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 earn
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 enough
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 merit
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 in
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 order
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 to
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 have
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 his
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 favour
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 dwell
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 on
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 us
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 if
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 he
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 was
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 just
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 good
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 on
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 the
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 other
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 hand
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 a
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 God
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 who
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 was
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 just
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 all
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 accepting
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 God
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 of
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 love
00:16:04 --> 00:16:04 and
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 you
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 know
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 let
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 bygones
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 be
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 guy
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 gone
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 kind
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 of
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 a
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 God
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 just
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 let's
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 cruise
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 go
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 easy
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 he
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 would
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 also
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 not
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 have
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 come
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 down
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 of
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 the
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 modern
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 imagination
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 a
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 God
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 whose
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 job
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 is
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 purely
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 to
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 overlook
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 me
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 ignoring
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 him
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 in
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 life
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 that's
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 what
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 he
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 does
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 he's
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 just
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 this
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 great
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 moral
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 jellyfish
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 he's
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 like
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 a
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 big
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 marshmallow
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 that
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 you
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 cuddle
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 occasionally
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 at
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 Christmas
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 time
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 and
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 Easter
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 time
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 the
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 modern
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 imagination
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 that
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 God
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 just
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 overlooks
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 sin
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 just
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 overlooks
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 evil
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 he
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 just
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 embraces
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 us
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 for
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 who
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 we
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 are
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 and
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 just
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 leaves
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 us
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 to
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 get
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 on
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 with
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 life
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 our
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 way
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 and
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 in
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 the
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 end
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 he
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 will
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 just
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 say
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 well
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 you
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 did
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 your
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 best
00:16:48 --> 00:16:52 neither
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 of
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 those
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 gods
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 would
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 have
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 bothered
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 with
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 Christmas
00:16:54 --> 00:16:58 the
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 biblical
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 God
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 however
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 is
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 infinitely
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 good
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 and
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 perfect
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 and
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 so
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 our
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 sin
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 cannot
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 be
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 shrugged
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 off
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 our
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 rejection
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 of
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 him
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 cannot
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 be
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 ignored
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 it
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 must
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 be
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 dealt
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 with
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 but
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 he's
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 also
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 infinitely
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 loving
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 he
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 knows
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 we
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 can
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 never
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 climb
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 up
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 to
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 him
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 he
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 knows
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 that
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 our
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 socks
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 can
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 never
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 be
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 pulled
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 up
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 far
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 enough
00:17:20 --> 00:17:22 and
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 so
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 he
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 comes
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 to
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 us
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 he
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 has
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 come
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 God
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 himself
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 has
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 come
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 to
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 us
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 to
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 do
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 what
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 we
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 couldn't
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 do
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 and
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 that
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 means
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 Christmas
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 is
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 hope
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 it's
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 a
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 light
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 shining
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 in
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 darkness
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 man
00:17:39 --> 00:17:42 he
00:17:42 --> 00:17:44 is
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 human
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 the
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 interaction
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 between
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 Joseph
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 and
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 the
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 angel
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 reveals
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 that
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 Jesus
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 is
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 God
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 but
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 also
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 that
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 Jesus
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 is
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 one
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 of
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 us
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 he
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 is
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 human
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 Christmas
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 tells
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 us
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 that
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 Jesus
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 was
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 truly
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 and
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 fully
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 God
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 and
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 truly
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 and
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 fully
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 human
00:18:04 --> 00:18:07 but
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 what
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 difference
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 does
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 that
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 make
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 to
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 the
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 way
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 that
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 we
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 actually
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 live
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 that
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 God
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 has
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 become
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 fully
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 human
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 well
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 I
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 would
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 suggest
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 the
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 New
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 Testament
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 would
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 suggest
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 the
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 difference
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 it
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 makes
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 to
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 us
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 now
00:18:20 --> 00:18:22 is
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 it
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 results
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 in a
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 life
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 of
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 service
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 as
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 we
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 have
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 been
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 served
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 by
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 him
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 it
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 results
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 in a
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 life
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 of
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 service
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 the
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 humanity
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 of
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 Jesus
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 results
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 in a
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 life
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 of
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 service
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 Philippians
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 2
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 5
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 to
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 11
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 in
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 the
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 New
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 Testament
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 we
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 read
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 it
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 out
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 last
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 week
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 teaches
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 us
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 that
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 when
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 the
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 Son
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 of
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 God
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 became
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 human
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 he
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 did
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 not
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 lay
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 aside
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 his
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 deity
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 he
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 was
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 still
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 God
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 but
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 he
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 emptied
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 himself
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 of
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 his
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 glory
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 of
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 his
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 divine
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 rights
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54 he
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 became
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 vulnerable
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 and
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 ordinary
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 in
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 order
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 to
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 serve
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 us
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 quoting
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 J.R.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 Packer
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 again
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 for
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 the
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 Son
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 of
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 God
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 to
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 empty
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 himself
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 become
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 poor
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 meant
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 a
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 laying
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 aside
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 of
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 glory
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 a
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 voluntary
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 restraint
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 of
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 power
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 an
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 acceptance
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 of
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 hardship
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 isolation
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 ill
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 treatment
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 malice
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 and
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 misunderstanding
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 and
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 finally
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 a
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 death
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 that
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 involves
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 such
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 agony
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 spiritual
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 even more
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 than
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 physical
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 all
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 that
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 his
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 mind
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 nearly
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 broke
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 under
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 the
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 prospect
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 of
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 it
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 it
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 meant
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 love
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 to
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 the
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 utmost
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 for
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 unlovely
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 people
00:19:36 --> 00:19:38 and
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 here
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 he
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 goes
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 on
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 about
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 Christmas
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 I love
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 this
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 the
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 Christmas
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 spirit
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 does
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 not
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 shine
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 out
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 in
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 the
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 Christian
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 snob
00:19:48 --> 00:19:52 for
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 the
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 Christmas
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 spirit
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 is
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 the
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 spirit
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 of
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 those
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 who
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 like
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 their
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 master
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 live
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 their
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 whole
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 lives
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 on
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 the
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 principle
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 of
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 making
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 themselves
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 poor
00:20:02 --> 00:20:04 spending
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 and
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 being
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 spent
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 to
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 enrich
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 their
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 fellow
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 human
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 beings
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 giving
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 time
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 trouble
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 care
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 and
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 concern
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 to
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 do
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 good
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 to
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 others
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 and
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 not
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 just
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 their
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 own
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 friends
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 in
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 whatever
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 way
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 there
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 seems
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 to be
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 a
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 need
00:20:22 --> 00:20:27 what a
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 rebuke
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 at a
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 time
00:20:28 --> 00:20:30 where
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 we
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 take
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 Christmas
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 as a
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 moment
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 of
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 self
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 indulgence
00:20:33 --> 00:20:36 the
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 fact
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 that
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 God
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 became
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 human
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 and
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 emptied
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 himself
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 of
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 his
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 glory
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 means
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 that
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 you
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 should
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 not
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 want
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 to
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 hang
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 out
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 only
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 with
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 people
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 who
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 are
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 people
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 of
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 power
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 and
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 glitz
00:20:46 --> 00:20:48 who
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 are
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 networked
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 who
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 can
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 open
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 doors
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 for
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 you
00:20:51 --> 00:20:53 you
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 need
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 to be
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 willing
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 to go
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 to the
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 people
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 without
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 power
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 without
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 the
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 beauty
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 without
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 the
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 money
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 without
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 the
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 networks
00:20:58 --> 00:21:00 that's
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 the
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 Christmas
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 spirit
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 because
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 God
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 became
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 one
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 of
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 us
00:21:04 --> 00:21:06 God
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 becoming
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 one
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 of
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 us
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 also
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 means
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 infinite
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 comfort
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 in
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 our
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 suffering
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 as
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 we
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 surrender
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 our
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 rights
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 for the
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 sake
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 of
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 others
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 as
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 we
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 serve
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 others
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 Hebrews
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 2
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 17
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 says
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 that
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 Jesus
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 was
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 made
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 like
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 us
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 fully
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 human
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 in
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 every
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 way
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 and
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 the
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 very
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 next
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 verse
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 tells
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 us
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 what
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 this
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 actually
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 means
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 because
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 he
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 himself
00:21:26 --> 00:21:28 suffered
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 when
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 he
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 was
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 tried
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 and
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 tested
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 he
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 is
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 able
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 to
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 help
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 those
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 who
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 are
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 being
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 tried
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 and
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 tested
00:21:34 --> 00:21:37 when
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 something
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 bad
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 happens
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 and
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 real
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 suffering
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 comes
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 to
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 you
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 it
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 feels
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 so
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 lonely
00:21:41 --> 00:21:43 people
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 around
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 you
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 may
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 express
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 sympathy
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 but
00:21:45 --> 00:21:47 sometimes
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 the
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 sympathy
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 doesn't
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 help
00:21:49 --> 00:21:53 sometimes
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 it just
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 doesn't
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 help
00:21:55 --> 00:21:57 and
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 then
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 you
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 meet
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 someone
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 who's
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 been
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 through
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 what
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 you
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 have
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 been
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 through
00:22:04 --> 00:22:08 they
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 know
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 what
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 it's
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 like
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 you
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 pour
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 out
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 your
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 heart
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 to
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 them
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 there's
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 an
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 empathy
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 there
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 you
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 listen
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 to
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 them
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 and
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 their
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 opinions
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 because
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 they've
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 been
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 through
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 what
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 you've
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 been
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 through
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 and
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 when
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 they
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 comfort
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 you
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 when
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 they
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 give
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 you
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 perspective
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 you
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 have
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 comfort
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 and
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 you
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 have
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 perspective
00:22:23 --> 00:22:26 the
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 coming
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 of
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 God
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 into
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 this
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 world
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 on
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 the
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 first
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 Christmas
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 ultimately
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 means
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 that
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 God
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 suffered
00:22:30 --> 00:22:32 and
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 that
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 Jesus
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 triumphed
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 through
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 the
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 suffering
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 and
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 Jesus
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 therefore
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 now
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 has
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 infinite
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 power
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 to
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 comfort
00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 in
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 the
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 suffering
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 your
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 suffering
00:22:46 --> 00:22:48 Christmas
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 shows
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 you
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 a
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 God
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 unlike
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 the
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 God
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 of
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 any
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 other
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 faith
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 in
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 this
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 world
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 have
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 you
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 been
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 betrayed
00:22:55 --> 00:22:57 are
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 you
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 lonely
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 have
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 you
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 been
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 destitute
00:23:00 --> 00:23:02 have
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 you
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 faced
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 death
00:23:03 --> 00:23:05 so
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 has
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 he
00:23:05 --> 00:23:08 so
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 has
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 he
00:23:08 --> 00:23:11 Christianity
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 says
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 God
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 has
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 been
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 all
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 the
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 places
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 that
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 you
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 have
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 been
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 or
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 are
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 right
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 now
00:23:18 --> 00:23:20 he
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 has
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 been
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 in
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 the
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 darkness
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 you
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 are
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 right
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 now
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 and
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 more
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 more
00:23:27 --> 00:23:29 you
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 can
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 trust
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 him
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 you
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 can
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 rely
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 on
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 him
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 he
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 knows
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 suffering
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 and
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 has
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 the
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 power
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 to
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 comfort
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 strengthen
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 and
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 bring
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 you
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 through
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 it
00:23:37 --> 00:23:40 that's
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 because
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 lastly
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 he
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 is
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 with
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 us
00:23:43 --> 00:23:46 it
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 would
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 have
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 been
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 astonishing
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 enough
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 if
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 the
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 son
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 of
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 God
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 had
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 become
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 human
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 and
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 simply
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 lived
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 temporarily
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 amongst
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 us
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 and
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 left
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 leaving
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 a
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 set
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 of
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 teachings
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 for
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 us
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 to
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 abide
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 by
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 that
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 would
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 have
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 been
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 impressive
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 his
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 plan
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 however
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 was
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 infinitely
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 greater
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 than
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 that
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 his
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 plan
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 was
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 always
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 to
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 be
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 with
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 us
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 Jesus
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 chose
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 12
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 apostles
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 and
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 appointed
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 them
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 so
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 that
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 they
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 would
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 be
00:24:13 --> 00:24:15 with
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 him
00:24:16 --> 00:24:18 ever
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 notice
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 that
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 you
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 would
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 be
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 with
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 me
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 when
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 he
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 calls
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 his
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 12
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 apostles
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 what
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 does
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 that
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 mean
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 with
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 him
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 it
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 means
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 being
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 in
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 his
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 presence
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 conversing
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 with
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 him
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 learning
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 from
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 him
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 having
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 his
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 comfort
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 and
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 his
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 presence
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 day
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 by
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 day
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 the
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 purpose
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 of
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 God
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 coming
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 into
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 this
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 world
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 is
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 that
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 we
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 would
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 have
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 a
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 relation
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 with
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 him
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 we
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 would
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 walk
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 with
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 him
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 commune
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 with
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 him
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 in
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 Jesus
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 the
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 unapproachable
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 God
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 becomes a
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 human
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 being
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 who can
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 be known
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 and loved
00:24:48 --> 00:24:50 related to
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 spoken to
00:24:50 --> 00:24:52 with
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 and through
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 faith we can
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 know that
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 love right
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 now every
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 single day
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 this does
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 not
00:24:58 --> 00:25:00 let me just
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 pause between
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 that
00:25:00 --> 00:25:02 that should
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 stun us
00:25:02 --> 00:25:05 it should
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 stun
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 our
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 existence
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 you should
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 have
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 something
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 in your
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 gut
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 that gets
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 churned
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 when I
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 say that
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 the infinite
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 God of
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 the universe
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 is with
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 us
00:25:15 --> 00:25:19 in the
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 Old
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 Testament
00:25:20 --> 00:25:22 anytime
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 anyone
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 drew near
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 to God
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 it was
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 completely
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 terrifying
00:25:28 --> 00:25:30 God
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 appears to
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 Abraham
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 as a
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 smoking
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 furnace
00:25:35 --> 00:25:37 to
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 Israel
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 as a
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 pillar
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 of
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 fire
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 to
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 Job
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 as a
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 hurricane
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 and a
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 tornado
00:25:42 --> 00:25:44 and when
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 Moses
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 asked to
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 see God
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 face to
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 face
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 he was
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 told
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 it would
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 kill you
00:25:52 --> 00:25:55 so great
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 so high
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 and so
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 unapproachable
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 of this
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 God
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 and yet
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 the
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 message
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 of
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 Christmas
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 means
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 that
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 through
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 Jesus
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 Christ
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 you
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 come
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 face
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 to
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 face
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 with
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 God
00:26:04 --> 00:26:08 you
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 can
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 know
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 him
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 personally
00:26:09 --> 00:26:11 without
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 terror
00:26:12 --> 00:26:15 when
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 this
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 God
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 showed
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 up
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 in
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 the
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 person
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 of
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 Jesus
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 he
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 was
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 not
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 a
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 pillar
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 of
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 fire
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 he
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 wasn't
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 a
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 tornado
00:26:21 --> 00:26:23 he
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 was
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 a
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 baby
00:26:24 --> 00:26:26 a
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 baby
00:26:26 --> 00:26:30 why
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 would
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 God
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 come
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 this
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 time
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 in
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 the
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 form
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 of
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 a
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 baby
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 rather
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 than
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 as
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 a
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 fire
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 storm
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 or
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 a
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 tornado
00:26:37 --> 00:26:40 this
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 time
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 he
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 has
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 come
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 not
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 to
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 bring
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 judgment
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 but
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 to
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 bear
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 it
00:26:43 --> 00:26:45 to
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 pay
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 the
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 penalty
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 for
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 our
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 sin
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 of
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 rejecting
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 God
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 to
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 take
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 away
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 the
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 barrier
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 between
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 humanity
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 and
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 God
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 so
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 that
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 we
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 can
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 be
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 together
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 the
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 purpose
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 of
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 his
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 creation
00:26:59 --> 00:27:02 Jesus
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 is
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 with
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 us
00:27:04 --> 00:27:07 every
00:27:07 --> 00:27:07 Christmas
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 millions
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 upon
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 millions
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 of
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 people
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 sing
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 if
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 they
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 don't
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 sing
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 it
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 they
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 certainly
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 hear
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 it
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 heard
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 it
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 yesterday
00:27:15 --> 00:27:17 in
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 the
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 shopping
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 centres
00:27:17 --> 00:27:19 Jesus
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 our
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 Emmanuel
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 world
00:27:20 --> 00:27:26 and
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 yet
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 I'm
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 thinking
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 as
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 I
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 walk
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 through
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 the
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 shops
00:27:28 --> 00:27:31 are
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 you
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 really
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 with
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 him
00:27:32 --> 00:27:34 are
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 you
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 really
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 with
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 him
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 do
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 you
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 know
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 him
00:27:37 --> 00:27:41 Jesus
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 literally
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 moved
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 heaven
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 and
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 earth
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 to
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 get
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 near
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 us
00:27:45 --> 00:27:47 what
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 should
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 we
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 be
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 doing
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 now
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 to
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 truly
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 be
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 with
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 him
00:27:49 --> 00:27:53 there's
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 one
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 crucial
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 trait
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 that's
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 necessary
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 for
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 having
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 such
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 a
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 relationship
00:27:59 --> 00:28:01 with
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 Jesus
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 and
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 it is
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 more
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 and I
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 think
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 that it's
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 one
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 step
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 it's
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 one of
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 these
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 traits
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 I
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 think
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 that
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 Christians
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 in
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 Western
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 society
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 especially
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 are
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 most
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 likely
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 to
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 overlook
00:28:15 --> 00:28:17 an
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 intimate
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 relationship
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 with
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 Jesus
00:28:19 --> 00:28:21 always
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 requires
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 courage
00:28:23 --> 00:28:25 always
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 requires
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 courage
00:28:26 --> 00:28:30 and
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 that's
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 hard for
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 us
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 particularly
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 in the
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 West
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 because
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 mostly
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 we are
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 fearful
00:28:35 --> 00:28:37 we're not
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 courageous
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 we're
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 scared
00:28:39 --> 00:28:43 we're
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 cautious
00:28:43 --> 00:28:45 rather than
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 courageous
00:28:45 --> 00:28:49 and it's
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 wonderful to
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 look out
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 and see a
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 room full
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 of people
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 with face
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 masks on
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 because it
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 just proves
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 the point
00:28:53 --> 00:28:57 we can't
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 know Jesus
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 personally
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 that's not a
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 criticism
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 I had mine
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 on a moment
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 ago
00:29:01 --> 00:29:03 we can't
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 know Jesus
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 personally
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 unless we
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 have the
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 courage
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 to admit
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 that we
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 are in
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 fact
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 a sinner
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 we are
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 flawed
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 we are
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 failed
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 we are
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 deserving
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 of God's
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 judgment
00:29:16 --> 00:29:18 admit that
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 we choose
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 day by day
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 to reject
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 our creator
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 and to
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 live life
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 our way
00:29:24 --> 00:29:27 Jesus
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 entire
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 mission
00:29:28 --> 00:29:30 is summed
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 up in
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 verse 21
00:29:31 --> 00:29:33 he will
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 save his
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 people from
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 their sins
00:29:36 --> 00:29:38 so first
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 and foremost
00:29:38 --> 00:29:40 Jesus came
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 into this
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 world
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 to forgive
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 us
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 every other
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 blessing that
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 we have
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 from him
00:29:45 --> 00:29:47 flows from
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 that forgiveness
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 of sin
00:29:48 --> 00:29:50 and so
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 are you
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 willing to
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 say
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 this Christmas
00:29:53 --> 00:29:56 and can I
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 say this
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 especially
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 for those
00:29:57 --> 00:29:59 of you
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 who
00:29:59 --> 00:30:02 have
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 gathered
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 many many
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 times at
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 Christmas
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 times
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 maybe
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 even
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 time
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 and you've
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 heard this
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 again and
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 again and
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 again and
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 you sing
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 Emmanuel
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 God with
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 us
00:30:11 --> 00:30:13 are you
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 willing to
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 say
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 to have
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 the courage
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 maybe for
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 the first
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 time ever
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 this Christmas
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 I am a
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 moral failure
00:30:21 --> 00:30:23 look at
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 the carnage
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 around my
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 life
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 look at
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 the broken
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 relationships
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 everywhere
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 I'm a
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 moral failure
00:30:30 --> 00:30:32 I don't
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 love God
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 with all of
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 my heart
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 with all of
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 my soul
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 with all of
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 my strength
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 with all of
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 my mind
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 I don't
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 love my
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 neighbour
00:30:37 --> 00:30:39 as myself
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 and therefore
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 I'm guilty
00:30:41 --> 00:30:43 I need
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 forgiveness
00:30:43 --> 00:30:46 and I need
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 pardon from
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 God before
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 I need
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 anything else
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 this Christmas
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 that's the
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 gift I
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 need
00:30:51 --> 00:30:54 it takes
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 enormous
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 courage
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 to admit
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 these things
00:30:57 --> 00:30:59 and in fact
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 I would say
00:30:59 --> 00:31:01 for you
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 who are
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 Christian
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 gathering
00:31:02 --> 00:31:04 the whole
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 Christian
00:31:05 --> 00:31:05 journey
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 is a life
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 of realising
00:31:07 --> 00:31:09 how much
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 of a failure
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 you are
00:31:10 --> 00:31:16 it means
00:31:16 --> 00:31:18 it's courage
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 because it
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 means throwing
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 your old
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 self image
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 that you
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 built up
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 over all
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 of these
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 years
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 out
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 and getting
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 a brand
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 new one
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 from Jesus
00:31:25 --> 00:31:25 Christ
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 and yet
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 that is
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 the foundation
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 for all
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 other things
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 that Jesus
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 wants to
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 bring to
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 your life
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 all the
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 comfort
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 all the
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 hope
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 all the
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 joyful
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 humility
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 and everything
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 else
00:31:38 --> 00:31:42 so how do
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 you get
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 the strength
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 to be
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 courageous
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 like that
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 there's only
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 one way
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 and that's
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 by looking
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 to Jesus
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 at Christmas
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 time
00:31:48 --> 00:31:50 looking to
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 him
00:31:50 --> 00:31:53 because if
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 you think
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 it takes
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 courage to
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 be with
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 Jesus
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 consider
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 the
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 infinite
00:31:57 --> 00:31:59 infinite
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 courage
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 it took
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 him
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 in order
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 to be
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 with us
00:32:02 --> 00:32:04 only
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 Christianity
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 says
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 one of the
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 attributes
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 of God
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 is courage
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 Christianity
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 is the
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 only faith
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 in the
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 whole
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 world
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 that says
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 one of the
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 attributes
00:32:15 --> 00:32:15 of God
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 is courage
00:32:16 --> 00:32:19 no other
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 religion
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 who has
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 a God
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 a deity
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 that needs
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 courage
00:32:24 --> 00:32:30 Jesus
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 could only
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 save us
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 by facing
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 an agonising
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 death
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 that has
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 him wrestling
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 with tears
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 of sweat
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 and blood
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 in the
00:32:38 --> 00:32:38 garden of
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 Gethsemane
00:32:39 --> 00:32:41 he became
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 mortal and
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 vulnerable
00:32:42 --> 00:32:44 so that he
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 could suffer
00:32:44 --> 00:32:46 be betrayed
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 be killed
00:32:47 --> 00:32:49 he faced
00:32:49 --> 00:32:49 all these
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 things
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 for you
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 and for me
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 and he
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 thought it
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 was worth
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 it
00:32:54 --> 00:32:58 just look
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 at him
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 facing your
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 darkness
00:32:59 --> 00:33:01 so that you
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 can have
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 light
00:33:02 --> 00:33:04 and that
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 will enable
00:33:05 --> 00:33:05 you to
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 face any
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 darkness
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 in life
00:33:08 --> 00:33:10 and still
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 have the
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 light of
00:33:11 --> 00:33:11 hope
00:33:11 --> 00:33:15 you've
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 heard the
00:33:16 --> 00:33:16 phrase
00:33:16 --> 00:33:19 sung
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 every
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 Christmas
00:33:20 --> 00:33:20 potentially
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 hark the
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 herald angels
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 sing
00:33:23 --> 00:33:25 and then it
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 goes on to
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 say
00:33:25 --> 00:33:27 mild
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 he lays
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 his glory
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 by
00:33:30 --> 00:33:32 what on
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 earth does
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 that mean
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 mild
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 he lays
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 his glory
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 by
00:33:37 --> 00:33:40 what it
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 means is
00:33:41 --> 00:33:43 he did
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 it
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 voluntarily
00:33:43 --> 00:33:45 he laid
00:33:45 --> 00:33:45 his glory
00:33:45 --> 00:33:47 voluntarily
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 lovingly
00:33:48 --> 00:33:48 willingly
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 no one
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 forced him
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 to do it
00:33:50 --> 00:33:52 it wasn't a
00:33:52 --> 00:33:52 duty that he
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 had to do
00:33:53 --> 00:33:55 he faced
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 unimaginable
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 pain and
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 death and
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 darkness
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 happiness
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 and he
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 chose to
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 do it
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 voluntary
00:34:03 --> 00:34:05 out of
00:34:05 --> 00:34:05 love for
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 you and
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 for me
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 and for
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 all of
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 humanity
00:34:07 --> 00:34:09 why did
00:34:09 --> 00:34:09 Jesus
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 have the
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 courage to
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 do what
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 he did
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 love
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 how do
00:34:13 --> 00:34:13 we get
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 the courage
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 to admit
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 that we're
00:34:15 --> 00:34:15 a sinner
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 and need
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 his forgiveness
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 and his
00:34:18 --> 00:34:18 relationship
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 with him
00:34:19 --> 00:34:19 the exact
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 same way
00:34:20 --> 00:34:23 we see
00:34:23 --> 00:34:23 him doing
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 everything that
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 he's done
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 for us
00:34:26 --> 00:34:28 out of love
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 for us
00:34:28 --> 00:34:30 and it will
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 draw out
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 our love
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 for him
00:34:32 --> 00:34:34 and then we
00:34:34 --> 00:34:34 will have the
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 courage to put
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 him in the
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 centre of our
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 life and
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 then we
00:34:38 --> 00:34:38 will be
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 he will be
00:34:39 --> 00:34:41 with you
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 and you
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 with him
00:34:43 --> 00:34:46 Emmanuel
00:34:46 --> 00:34:50 Jesus is
00:34:50 --> 00:34:50 God
00:34:50 --> 00:34:53 he's human
00:34:53 --> 00:34:55 and he's
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 with us
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 now