1 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:09,360 Tonight, the title of the message is the. 2 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,160 King who enters our mess? The King who? 3 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:15,360 Enters our mess last week. You remember that we. 4 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:18,320 Looked at the genealogy of Jesus Christ that Matthew starts. 5 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:22,120 His gospel with and we're unsure and so where he was going and 6 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:23,880 why he was doing what he was doing it's. 7 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:27,160 Certainly not how we would start a book if we were writing it. 8 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:31,200 But what we saw in looking at many of the names. 9 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:34,160 That were identified there is, we could say a. 10 00:00:34,160 --> 00:00:37,760 Long. Messy hallway of Jesus family 11 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:42,400 tree outlined with some of those individuals the stories that 12 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:48,240 carry deception, immorality, failure and scandal. 13 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:54,120 And yet, through that tangled, imperfect human mess, the king. 14 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,880 Arrived and right on time as Jesus is declared. 15 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:00,280 And now Matthew moves us out of the. 16 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:02,920 Hallway so to. Speak and into the very living 17 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,960 room, more intimate as we'll. See now the birth of Jesus 18 00:01:06,960 --> 00:01:09,480 Christ that Matthew records goes from. 19 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:13,560 This big picture into this. Very personal moment with Joseph 20 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:15,840 and Mary introduced as Jesus is born. 21 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:20,240 Matthew chapter one, verse 18 to 25 and we'll stop at the end of 22 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:22,600 chapter 1. Again, reading the new King 23 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:27,840 James Version says now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. 24 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:34,000 After his mother Mary was. Betrothed to Joseph before they 25 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,880 came together. She was found. 26 00:01:37,320 --> 00:01:40,240 With child of the. Holy Spirit and then. 27 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:44,120 Joseph, her husband, being a just man and not wanting. 28 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:46,280 To make her a public example. Was minded. 29 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:52,000 To put her away. Secretly, while he thought about 30 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:56,120 these things, behold an Angel. Of the Lord appeared to him in a 31 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,800 dream. Saying Joseph son of David, do 32 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:03,920 not be afraid to take till you marry your wife, for that which 33 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:09,080 is conceived in her is of the. Holy Spirit, and she will bring. 34 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,920 Forth a son. And you shall call his name. 35 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:15,480 Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins. 36 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:18,000 So all this was done that it might. 37 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,600 Be fulfilled verse 22, which was spoken by the. 38 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,880 Lord through the Prophet. Saying, Behold the Virgin. 39 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,400 Shall be with child. And bear a son, and they shall 40 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:31,400 call his name Emmanuel, which is translated God with us. 41 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:37,360 Then Joseph verse 24 being. Aroused from sleep did. 42 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:39,240 As the Angel of the Lord commanded him. 43 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:44,280 And took to him his wife. And did not know her till she 44 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:46,360 had brought forth her first born son. 45 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:50,920 He called his name Jesus. Bow our heads. 46 00:02:50,920 --> 00:02:53,400 Let's pray and ask the Lord's blessing on our time of study. 47 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:57,760 God, we thank you for your word, so wonderful, so powerful, so 48 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:01,360 relevant, so mighty for us. Help us tonight to be able to 49 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:07,720 listen, to pay attention so that you, Lord God, can teach us 50 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,560 through it. Take my words. 51 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:12,400 Remove anything that is of the flesh. 52 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:17,000 Make this a divine holy moment. Now in your presence, where your 53 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:18,320 word? Can accomplish what you. 54 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:20,960 Will in our lives. For your glory. 55 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:24,360 And our good, these things we pray and ask in Jesus name, 56 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:28,080 Amen. Now, if you've lived. 57 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,640 Long enough, you know that. Life is messy, literally. 58 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,200 Think of a baby. From the very smallest. 59 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:37,560 I mean most babies are literally all of the time messy. 60 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:41,840 At least our kids were. Especially the one that just 61 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,720 continually had reflux. He was just like a a dribbling 62 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,200 mess all of the time. And then? 63 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:50,280 They turn into children. Toddlers and kids, they're 64 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:52,720 running around and you know. Forget about having freshly 65 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,080 painted walls and your light switches are just caked in dirt 66 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:57,640 and. Mud, but it's it's a house that. 67 00:03:57,640 --> 00:03:59,880 Lived in because they. Equal mess. 68 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:04,880 And they turn into teenagers and the mess is there, literally. 69 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:07,320 But there's this. Added compounded thing of. 70 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:11,120 Emotional chaos that's now thrown into the mix. 71 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:13,560 And then? And then it grows. 72 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:19,000 And then we become adults and it's a bigger, different kind of 73 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:22,040 a mess. That is now our existence. 74 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:28,280 We have broken relationships, we have shattered expectations, we 75 00:04:28,280 --> 00:04:31,080 have quiet sins that no one else sees. 76 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,680 And there is this. Mess. 77 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,400 That is our lives. Just imagine. 78 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,600 For a moment, the following scenario that you're you're 79 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:43,680 dressed up, there's a big occasion going on. 80 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:46,840 You've got your your nice expensive best clothing on, 81 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:49,600 clean, freshly pressed. Perhaps picked up from the dry? 82 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,080 Cleaners and. Everything's clean, the house is 83 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:55,200 even tidy and and you're getting ready to leave and to exit and, 84 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:59,920 and somebody that you love it's. Been raining outside, slips and 85 00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:05,360 falls face down into the mud. In that moment, you. 86 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:11,120 Clean You've got a decision to make do you protect your 87 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:15,600 cleanliness or do you reach out and pick them up and. 88 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:19,920 Offer some assistance, some aid. Do you then open the door into 89 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:25,360 the house and let the mess? In and the tidy up begin and 90 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,080 what happens in that moment? Tells you something about your 91 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:31,880 heart, tells you about the love that you have for that other 92 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:36,680 person. Matthew chapter 1 as we've been 93 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:38,280 going. Through it and our verses that 94 00:05:38,280 --> 00:05:40,400 we're going to consider tonight I want to. 95 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:44,200 Submit to you tells. Us something about God's heart 96 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:48,640 for humanity. Because when God looked at our 97 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:57,280 world muddy, messy, broken, tangled in sin, He didn't. 98 00:05:57,280 --> 00:06:03,960 Step back and remain staying distant, he said. 99 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:05,400 I'm entering. I'm. 100 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:08,440 I'm stepping in. I'm reaching out. 101 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:12,640 I'm coming down and there is. In these verses. 102 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:13,600 A. Scandal. 103 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:16,880 That no one could explain, at least it seems. 104 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:18,600 On the outside and for the humans. 105 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,240 Involved that that Jesus now enters. 106 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:26,000 Into as the baby. As the Saviour of the world and 107 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,440 Matthew does not ease us in. In verse 18, we. 108 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:35,400 Read Mary was found. To be with child it says. 109 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:39,640 And that line would have sent. Shock waves throughout the small 110 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:42,040 community of Nazareth. The story set. 111 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:47,520 Found Mary was found How? By whom? 112 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:48,960 Who? Who has the? 113 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:50,680 Whispers, We're going through the town. 114 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:52,560 Hey, have you seen Mary's belly lately? 115 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:55,000 Where? What's going on? 116 00:06:55,000 --> 00:07:00,160 And and it was found. Out somehow it says. 117 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:01,880 Somehow. Word gets out that. 118 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:05,720 Did you hear Mary's pregnant this young? 119 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:09,960 Teenage girl we know. In this small town of Nazareth 120 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:13,400 is found to be with child and it is scandalous. 121 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,800 For all of those. Hearing it for all a part of the 122 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:18,320 community there in Nazareth. Why? 123 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:19,760 Because it says. That, Mary is. 124 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:24,640 Betrothed to Joseph, we read. They're not married. 125 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,840 Yet it tells us, it says before they came together, Speaking of 126 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:29,320 the consummation of marriage, but. 127 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:33,440 They're as legally good as married, that's what's. 128 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,040 Meant by this term betrothed, it's a bit different to our 129 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:40,040 typical process today of of meeting somebody and of and of 130 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,680 dating and if you follow the the traditional steps nowadays 131 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,840 people just do whatever they. Want but of meeting somebody and 132 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:49,560 of. And of dating, and of then 133 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:54,560 becoming engaged, and of then? Marrying well back then the 134 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:56,920 process. Of engagement was something more 135 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:59,920 akin to the parents organising and arranging. 136 00:07:59,920 --> 00:08:03,360 Hey, your son and and my daughter and and let's as they 137 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:05,680 get older. Engage. 138 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:07,200 Them to one another, Promise them to. 139 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:09,000 One another. Then they would. 140 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:12,200 Come of age and. Legally now would commence this. 141 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:16,400 Betrothed status and period and. For all of the community and for 142 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:17,960 all. Legalities they were as. 143 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:20,880 Good as married, but. Without the consummation taking 144 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:25,160 place, that would be after the marriage ceremony sometimes, 145 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:28,600 most often than not about 12 months after the betrothal. 146 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:29,800 Period. So this. 147 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:32,880 Is where we find Joseph and Mary, their betrothed. 148 00:08:34,159 --> 00:08:38,440 Joseph the Carpenter, the It's better understood as the the 149 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,200 tradie, the guy who works with stone and wood, has been. 150 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:44,360 Doing as what many? A husband would do preparing a 151 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:46,720 house. Building, setting things, 152 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:49,600 anticipating. Hopes, dreams for the. 153 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:54,720 Future of of commencing married life with Mary and then it says 154 00:08:54,720 --> 00:09:00,000 that Mary is. Found with child Joseph and her 155 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:04,200 are betrothed and. Legally already considered 156 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:04,960 husband. And wife. 157 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:07,600 And now, Joseph, What's going on? 158 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:09,160 In his mind is. An altogether different 159 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:12,280 category. Shattered dreams. 160 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,280 From his perspective, this is betrayal. 161 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:21,560 And from the town's perspective, this is scandal. 162 00:09:22,560 --> 00:09:26,160 Oh, have you heard? And the whispers and the 163 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:28,600 innuendo. And could you imagine the gossip 164 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:29,960 I. Mean it happens. 165 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:32,920 Today, doesn't it, when a teenage girl falls pregnant? 166 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:37,920 And from the law's perspective, is this serious? 167 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:42,360 And the mosaic. Law in Deuteronomy chapter 22. 168 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:46,800 It's very clear what a traditional Jewish community 169 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,160 ought to do. In such a situation where 170 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:50,680 somebody is. Found to be. 171 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:59,080 Pregnant outside of marriage, it would have led to a situation 172 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,640 certainly a public disgrace at the very least. 173 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:03,120 But if they were to. Adhere to what? 174 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:07,640 Deuteronomy 20. Two says then death was what lay 175 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:12,520 ahead. So feel the weight of this verse 176 00:10:12,560 --> 00:10:18,000 18 Mary. It's not your typical Christmas 177 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,000 story that we. Associate with her, you know, 178 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,560 glowing peacefully in the nativity scene. 179 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:28,680 She's standing in the middle. Now of potential humiliation. 180 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:33,240 A young girl. Again, probably mid teens in age 181 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,600 from Nazareth. A town with a rough. 182 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:38,280 Reputation at the time, so much so that when we're introduced. 183 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:39,760 To a. Fellow in the Gospels called 184 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,600 Nathaniel. And he finds out that Jesus 185 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:44,080 comes from Nazareth. He scoffs. 186 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:47,920 And he laughs and says what? Can any good thing come out of 187 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:53,720 Nazareth? And now Mary is carrying a story 188 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:58,760 that no one would believe. I'm pregnant, but it's by the 189 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:02,600 Holy Spirit. Could you imagine the silence? 190 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:06,560 After that statement, what did she just say? 191 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:10,720 Joseph. Joseph, verse 19. 192 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:13,880 Gives us a. Window into his soul and the 193 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:15,920 kind of individual that Joseph is. 194 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:23,000 Says Joseph being a just man, is unwilling to put her to shame. 195 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:28,720 Resolve to divorce her quietly because again, legally they're 196 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:33,680 as good as married and Joseph is is caught now between 2:00. 197 00:11:33,680 --> 00:11:38,640 Loves the love that Joseph has. For for God's Word and and God's 198 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:42,040 ways. And and God's law and what is 199 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:43,760 just and what is. Right. 200 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:46,760 And what ought to? Happen and then is love for 201 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:51,200 Mary, for the bride that you know he'd been building, 202 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:54,840 preparing a home for and had all of these dreams and aspirations. 203 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:58,080 And hopes for the future and. He can't ignore what he thinks 204 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:01,680 and what he's knowing and to all. 205 00:12:01,680 --> 00:12:05,000 Intents and purposes now. Appears to be sin. 206 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:07,640 Mary's pregnant. She's found out to be pregnant. 207 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:13,360 But he also. Can't bring. 208 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:19,400 Himself to destroy her, to pull out Deuteronomy 22 and take her 209 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:23,720 to and through the process of that passage. 210 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:29,720 And he opts for a quiet mercy. I'll just. 211 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:34,520 Quietly divorce her and we'll just, we'll move on. 212 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:38,200 And here. I want us to see that before 213 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:40,880 Jesus even arrives onto the scene, there's a. 214 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:44,480 Little something beginning to shift. 215 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:48,440 In the world at this time, because this it's kind of mercy 216 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:50,760 that we're seeing in Joseph is just a a. 217 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:53,600 Hint. A whisper. 218 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:58,720 Of grace. That will come. 219 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:02,600 In the birth of Jesus. This instinct. 220 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:06,320 Towards grace of Joseph being a just man, wanting to divorce her 221 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:10,960 quietly of what Jesus would. Do in 33 years time when he 222 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:15,040 would die and hang upon the cross and pay for the sins of 223 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:20,560 the world and OfferUp himself for the mess of humanity sin 224 00:13:20,560 --> 00:13:21,600 and. Death would be dealt. 225 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:23,920 With once and for all and he would rise again three days 226 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:27,400 later. Don't miss the bigger picture 227 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:29,320 here as as much as we might feel. 228 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:32,600 Sorry for Mary and Joseph in what we've been reading. 229 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:35,280 This. Understand is about the. 230 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:41,120 King of Glory, who enters into the world through a situation 231 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:43,920 that looks from the. Outside, like moral failure. 232 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:47,600 Mary's pregnant. It's out of wedlock. 233 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:49,600 She's betrothed to Joseph. What a betrayal. 234 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:54,720 What a scandal. And Jesus as fully God entering 235 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:57,400 into humanity, He. Now enters into 236 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:03,080 misunderstanding. Comes into damaged reputations, 237 00:14:04,680 --> 00:14:07,560 into relational tension, and he does not. 238 00:14:07,560 --> 00:14:12,480 Arrive above or outside. Or distant or around of the 239 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:14,640 mess. Of what we've been reading, he. 240 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:20,040 Arrives smack bang in the middle of it and right there is 241 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:23,720 something profound. God sends his Son. 242 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:28,960 Into a situation that. Looks like sin the king. 243 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:34,120 Does not enter into. A palace does not enter. 244 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:38,680 Into a perfect. Family a clean reputation he 245 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:43,240 enters into a. Scandal in the society? 246 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:48,320 And that matters more than we realise in this story, because 247 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:51,320 many people assume. About God, that God. 248 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:56,480 Keeps his distance. From messy situations that he 249 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:57,440 hovers. Somewhere. 250 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:02,000 Above, Bette Midler's song. From a distance. 251 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:06,680 It's true and and that. God is waiting for things to be 252 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:08,480 cleaned up somehow, You know when? 253 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:11,080 When? We've got ourselves sorted out 254 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:13,120 when we've got our act together. Then, then God. 255 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:17,920 Will arrive on the scene. This passage quietly dismantles 256 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:20,760 that idea. God is not. 257 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:24,680 Afraid of messy circumstances? And that's a. 258 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:26,360 Big obstacle. That many people. 259 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:29,520 Have when coming to God. When coming into. 260 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:32,920 Church, especially at Easter when you invite them and loved. 261 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:35,600 Ones you'll extend the. Invitation and maybe. 262 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:39,440 You've had this said, if I come to church, the walls will fall 263 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:43,360 down around me. Who am I kidding to come to God 264 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:46,360 with with the mess of my. Life and all of that that's 265 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:50,280 going on. But you know, God built his. 266 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:52,440 Saving work right? In the middle. 267 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:56,600 Of scandal, Of mess. Of. 268 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:01,920 Disaster and feel this feel, feel Joseph's heartbreak. 269 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:11,960 Feel Mary's fear, the whispers of the town, and into that 270 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:16,200 tension. God is working. 271 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:19,960 Let that be a comfort to you. Tonight, I don't know. 272 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:23,520 What mess? What tension? 273 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:27,680 What scandal? What difficulty you're dealing 274 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:30,040 with in your? Life individually or within 275 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:31,360 your. Family and you're wondering 276 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:34,680 whether or not God's going to roll up the sleeves and get 277 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:37,560 involved. Reach down and do. 278 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:39,720 His work. Let me tell you what this 279 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:45,960 passage tells us God is. Unafraid of the mess and God 280 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:47,720 steps in. To it. 281 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:51,960 Now we know in looking at the story that there's something 282 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:53,920 going on, and Matthew's pretty quick to tell us. 283 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:55,480 That Mary was found pregnant. But. 284 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:57,920 It was of the Holy Spirit. Notice how quickly we put that 285 00:16:57,920 --> 00:16:59,960 in the passage. And we know that. 286 00:16:59,960 --> 00:17:05,800 Part of the story, they don't. Mary and Joseph are oblivious to 287 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,480 that. The supernatural, the miraculous 288 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:10,520 in this. And so let's look at this now. 289 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:12,079 Secondly, a miracle that no one could. 290 00:17:12,079 --> 00:17:16,079 Produce in verses. 20 to 23. Because Joseph, he's, he's. 291 00:17:16,079 --> 00:17:19,960 Wrestling with all of. This of what he's heard and what 292 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:20,680 he's. Observed. 293 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:24,800 Now, no doubt. In Mary and something happens. 294 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:27,440 Let's see in verse. 20 but while he. 295 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:30,080 Thought about these things, behold an Angel. 296 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:31,640 Of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. 297 00:17:31,640 --> 00:17:34,440 Saying Joseph, son of David, we looked at that last week. 298 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:38,600 Do not be afraid to take to. You Mary, your wife for that 299 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,480 which is. Conceived in her is of the Holy 300 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:45,040 Spirit tells us verse 20 as he considered. 301 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:46,440 These things, as he thought about these. 302 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:48,200 Things he's thinking as. Joseph he's. 303 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:51,840 Mentally wrestling with what do I do and what's happened and 304 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:53,200 he's. Weighing up the options. 305 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:54,800 And he's and he's wondering and he's. 306 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:56,920 Turning it all over. And in that. 307 00:17:56,920 --> 00:17:58,160 Space. God speaks. 308 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:03,160 To him. So, as Matthew Henry says, God 309 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:06,920 gives guidance to the. Thoughtful, not the unthinking. 310 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:12,400 I like that. So as he's thinking, as he's 311 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:15,200 mulling this over, as he's wrestling mentally, he's. 312 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,840 Exhausted, no doubt, and. Falls asleep and then God has an 313 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:20,440 Angel appeared to him in his dream, says. 314 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:23,800 Joseph. Joseph, do not. 315 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:27,320 Fear. Take Mary. 316 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:32,320 As your wife, that which is conceived in her. 317 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:36,480 Is from the Holy Spirit. In other words, Joseph. 318 00:18:37,360 --> 00:18:40,360 Everything you think you know. About this situation, that's not 319 00:18:40,360 --> 00:18:43,680 it. What you're feeling, it's 320 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:46,080 incomplete. This is not. 321 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:48,000 Unfaithfulness on behalf of Mary. 322 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:51,480 This is divine intervention at work. 323 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,000 Matthew again, he's very deliberate here in. 324 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,880 Giving this information to us, to the readers. 325 00:18:58,320 --> 00:18:59,640 He wants us. To see that. 326 00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:02,800 This is not some. Kind of a creative explanation 327 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:04,960 for an awkward situation. Oh, Mary's pregnant. 328 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:08,760 She's been found out. This is something altogether 329 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:11,280 unique here. This is a miracle. 330 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:15,040 It's not symbolic. It's not poetic as some people 331 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:16,440 might. Try to dismiss. 332 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:18,840 It's what's called the Immaculate Conception. 333 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:22,560 It's a a core doctrine of the Christian belief. 334 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:29,680 This is an actual, real work of God and we can't understand it. 335 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:32,440 We don't know. How it's happened and there are 336 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:34,920 some options in that and I'm not? 337 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:38,600 About presenting them to you. Because this is something that 338 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:40,240 is miraculous. It's a miracle. 339 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:42,320 It's supernatural. What is the definition of a 340 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:44,840 miracle? Something that is not normal, 341 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:50,080 that blows our mind. And God has performed this 342 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:54,920 verse. 20 What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 343 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:57,440 This is where everything shifts in the story. 344 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:00,720 Now knowing this, this is no longer a. 345 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:02,800 Scandal. This is supernatural. 346 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:06,440 It's not like the. Mythology of the Greeks. 347 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:10,440 And other Pagan, you know, stories, think of the north 348 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:14,600 stories of these God like entities coming in and and 349 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:17,920 cohabiting with humans. It's nothing like this. 350 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:21,600 This is a divine miracle, something altogether unique. 351 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:25,840 The point? Isn't that it's normal? 352 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:30,920 The point? Is it's impossible unless God is 353 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:33,520 acting and God the Holy Spirit is. 354 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:38,920 We're told in the same dream. The Angel then gives to Joseph 355 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:44,600 two names for the child to be born, 2 names that together. 356 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:48,280 Explain everything you see as we looked at last week, we looked 357 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:50,840 at the genealogy and that the. Messiah. 358 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:53,640 Was to be a. Descendant of both David. 359 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:56,120 And of Abraham. But there's some. 360 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:59,880 Thousands of descendants of. David and Abraham. 361 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,600 Who could lay claim to that? There's something else, 362 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:07,160 something special that Matthew, all along through the book of 363 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:11,560 Matthew is pointing out as Jesus is Jesus of Nazareth, is the 364 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:14,600 Christ, is the Messiah, is the king of the Jews. 365 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:18,520 That's in these two names we read in verse. 21 You shall call 366 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:23,640 his name Jesus in the Greek meaning. 367 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:27,240 The Lord saves from the Hebrew Yeshua. 368 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:34,560 Yahweh saves or the Lord is salvation for it says. 369 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:38,920 He will save his people from their sins, not just save them. 370 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:42,000 From their trouble. Not just save them from 371 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:46,640 discomfort, from oppression, but from the deepest problem that 372 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:48,400 they and we. All carry. 373 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:51,200 Sin. He. 374 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:56,600 Will save his people from their sins, and that means the. 375 00:21:56,600 --> 00:22:00,640 Flow on effects of sin. He will save us from guilt. 376 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:07,120 Ever committed something? And been so overwhelmed. 377 00:22:07,120 --> 00:22:11,920 By guilt that it's made you physically I'll shaking, 378 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:14,960 sweating profusely, nauseous to the stomach. 379 00:22:17,120 --> 00:22:19,080 He will save his people from sin. 380 00:22:19,360 --> 00:22:23,080 It's grip, the control, the mastery that sin had. 381 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:25,400 Over us. He will save his people from 382 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:28,400 sin, the consequences of sin. For the Bible tells us that the 383 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:31,320 wages of sin is death. He will save us. 384 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:35,360 From sin, He will save us from the judgement that is to come 385 00:22:35,360 --> 00:22:39,640 because of sin. And then verse 22 to 23, the 386 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:42,200 second name. And so all of this was done that 387 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:44,080 it might. Be fulfilled, which was spoken 388 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:45,760 by the Lord. Through the Prophet saying. 389 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:48,200 Behold, the Virgin shall be with child. 390 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:53,600 And bear a son, and they shall. Call his name Emmanuel, which is 391 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:57,080 translated God with us from the prophet Isaiah. 392 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:00,120 They shall. Call his name Emmanuel. 393 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:05,840 Emmanuel meaning. God with us you put those two. 394 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:08,720 Names together Jesus and Emmanuel, you get the heart of 395 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:14,640 the gospel, the God who comes near Emmanuel, God with us comes 396 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:16,280 to. Save Jesus. 397 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:22,360 Jesus saves, and This is why the virgin birth matters so deeply 398 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:27,800 to Christianity, and why. It's a miracle because it tells. 399 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:31,480 Us who this child really is. He's not merely. 400 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:35,880 Another descendant of David. Not merely another descendant of 401 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:38,760 Abraham. He's not merely a. 402 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:41,600 Teacher not just a good prophet, not. 403 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:47,640 Even just an example to follow. He is God entering into 404 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:51,000 humanity. And what a mess humanity is. 405 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:55,280 You see, Jesus must be fully human to represent. 406 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:57,760 Us as the once for all sacrifice. 407 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:02,640 But Jesus must be fully divine to save us to be able to pay the 408 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:07,480 penalty in full, and he must be fully sinless as the substitute 409 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:08,760 to. Be able to do that. 410 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:14,480 Born of Mary, being fully human, conceived by the Holy Spirit, 411 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:18,400 being fully divine. And this, in theological terms, 412 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:19,880 is the duality of. Jesus. 413 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:22,640 It's called the Hypostatic Union, and I'm not sure if 414 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:25,200 you've heard that term, but there's a little bonus. 415 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:32,960 Thing for you tonight, both God and man the God man and being 416 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:36,680 that he shares our nature we read in the Gospels and we'll 417 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:41,000 come across that of him being hungry him not being exempt to 418 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:43,240 all of the things that we experience of him being. 419 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:45,680 Weary so. Fatigued that he slept through a 420 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:48,080 storm as his disciples were rowing on a. 421 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:51,480 Boat in the sea? Of Galilee, of him sorrowing the 422 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:53,560 shortest. Verse in the Bible Jesus wept. 423 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:57,600 Of him being tempted and. 40 days and. 40 nights. 424 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:01,120 In the wilderness, Satan. Himself coming to tempt Jesus, 425 00:25:01,120 --> 00:25:02,440 and yet without. Sin. 426 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:06,400 Which means that when. Jesus stepped into our world as 427 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:07,880 we're reading here. He does not. 428 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:11,080 Stand at a. Distance analysing it. 429 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:13,960 Just observing from. Afar, you know, notebook and pad 430 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:16,440 out and just go, oh, this is what humans go through. 431 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:19,800 He experiences. It all fully. 432 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:22,880 He understands it and. Knows it and. 433 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:28,880 There's a kind of comfort. Here that you cannot receive 434 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:32,480 anywhere else. Because it means that when you 435 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:36,440 struggle and I'm in really struggle, you're not when 436 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:37,880 you're. Coming to God. 437 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:40,720 In the name of. Jesus Christ as we're praying. 438 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:44,280 You're not speaking. Out to the void. 439 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:49,720 You are speaking and. Addressing someone who knows. 440 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:55,800 Full well what you are going through and who knows? 441 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:58,400 Not just in theory, because they've analysed it, because 442 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:00,040 they've read books about it, because they've. 443 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:02,960 Interviewed people because they've studied it. 444 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:05,840 No, but. Because he has experienced. 445 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:10,120 It that's why it says in Hebrews 4 verses 15 to 16 these 446 00:26:10,120 --> 00:26:14,800 wonderful words, for we do not have a high priest who cannot 447 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:18,480 sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all. 448 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:21,320 Points tempted as. We are yet without sin. 449 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:23,760 Therefore, because of that, let us come. 450 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:26,200 Boldly. To the throne of grace. 451 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:28,920 That we may. Obtain mercy and find grace to 452 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:30,920 help in time of need. Because here's what happens. 453 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:34,360 The enemy again and again and again will tell you who are you. 454 00:26:34,360 --> 00:26:36,480 Kidding. Call yourself a. 455 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:40,120 Christian, you went to church today and look what you said. 456 00:26:40,120 --> 00:26:43,160 Look what you did. And and now you want to. 457 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:45,080 Pretend and and come to. God. 458 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:48,960 And and think that he's going to listen to you or that he knows 459 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:50,800 what you're going through and just. 460 00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:53,520 Forget about it. No, it says that. 461 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:55,520 You can, it says let us. Therefore. 462 00:26:55,720 --> 00:27:00,320 Come what boldly into the. Throne room of God and obtain 463 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:02,760 grace. And help in time of need. 464 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:06,640 We have a high priest that we can go to who understands, who 465 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:08,920 knows full. Well, and yet. 466 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:13,560 Understand it's even more than just that, just this familiarity 467 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:16,040 that Oh yeah, I know what you're going. 468 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:21,280 Through he didn't come just to understand our mess. 469 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:25,280 That's what humanity's been. Dealing with these thousands of 470 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:29,280 years since I created Adam and Eve, he came to. 471 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:34,280 Deal with it. To remove it, that's. 472 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:38,640 Why it says his name is Jesus, for he will. 473 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:42,840 Save his people. From their sin God. 474 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:47,760 Saves and He is with us, Emmanuel, God with us. 475 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:54,080 And then lastly, we want us to see in verses 2425 a mercy that 476 00:27:54,080 --> 00:28:00,320 comes out of this, that no one. Could earn in Jesus verse 20. 4 477 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:02,120 Then Joseph. Being aroused from sleep. 478 00:28:02,120 --> 00:28:06,120 Did as the Angel of the Lord commanded him, and took. 479 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:11,160 To him. His wife and. 480 00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:14,480 To be clear. Did not know her till she had 481 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:16,440 brought forth her first born son. 482 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:20,280 So no consummation of the marriage until after Jesus is 483 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:23,840 born. He called his name Jesus. 484 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:27,440 Now, when Joseph wakes up from this dream, the angel's. 485 00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaking to him, giving the name of Jesus. 486 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:32,800 Don't be afraid, Joseph. Take Mary to be your wife, the 487 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:34,800 child. Conceived in her is is of the 488 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:35,960 Holy Spirit. You'll call. 489 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:37,000 His name? Jesus. 490 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:39,040 There's something beautifully simple. 491 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:41,960 Here in in. Joseph's reaction says. 492 00:28:42,520 --> 00:28:45,280 He did. As the Angel commanded. 493 00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:53,080 Him. No hesitation, no bargaining, no 494 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:54,800 even like well. Gideon did it. 495 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:55,960 Can I have a? Little bit of a. 496 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:58,000 Golden. A bit of a fleece. 497 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:01,000 Moment and test this if this dream was really. 498 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:02,600 You know God, you. Speaking to me. 499 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:04,920 No, I need to. Get a second opinion on this 500 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:06,160 I'm. Going to go see the rabbi. 501 00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:08,520 In the nearby town and. I'll see what he. 502 00:29:08,520 --> 00:29:11,120 Thinks and I'll I'll go and see what my Auntie June's. 503 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:13,400 Thinking about this and. None of that on. 504 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:16,320 Joseph's part just. Obedience. 505 00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:21,200 He did as the Angel of the Lord commanded him, but don't let the 506 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:23,400 simplicity of that act hide the cost. 507 00:29:24,160 --> 00:29:26,640 Of what it is that he is obeying and stepping out into. 508 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:32,600 Because by taking Mary as his wife publicly. 509 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:34,920 You know what? Joseph is. 510 00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:38,960 Stepping into the story and publicly. 511 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:43,400 Now from that moment. On people will assume what? 512 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:49,080 That the child is his. We all know why Mary and Joseph. 513 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:51,600 Kind of got married, right you? Hear about what happened. 514 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:55,200 There, and they'll know. That the timeline doesn't add 515 00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:57,800 up. Rumours and words. 516 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:01,000 Will abound, and that something. Improper has happened and. 517 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:03,800 You know what, Joseph? Does in obeying what the Angel. 518 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:07,200 Revealed to him. In the dream, Joseph absorbs 519 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:12,040 that. He takes. 520 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:15,280 On the misunderstanding, he shares in the Shame and. 521 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:19,480 And again, in so doing, understand that he becomes a 522 00:30:19,480 --> 00:30:26,320 quiet picture, a whisper. Of something much greater to 523 00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:29,600 come in the child that would be born because what what Joseph 524 00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:31,400 does in a a. Small. 525 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:35,680 Human way understand this about Jesus. 526 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:40,600 Jesus will do this in a far. Deeper, eternal public way. 527 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:46,240 Joseph steps into perceived disgrace. 528 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:51,080 We know that, Mary. Was not unfaithful that she did 529 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:55,760 not sleep around, that the child was conceived of the holy. 530 00:30:55,760 --> 00:31:02,520 Spirit, but Jesus steps into actual sin. 531 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:06,320 Not his own. Ours. 532 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:14,200 Yours mine, Joseph. 'S Mary's. 533 00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:22,120 Where in the story? Mary was innocent from 534 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:26,320 unfaithfulness. You and I, we are, we are not. 535 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:31,480 And this is, I want you to see the mercy that is at the centre, 536 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:35,120 at the heart of the Gospel, and it's evident. 537 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:37,160 For us in the. Very first chapter of Matthew's 538 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:40,920 Gospel. It's not that God ignores sin. 539 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:43,200 That's not what's happening. Here. 540 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:45,480 But here's what's happening. Is that God? 541 00:31:46,520 --> 00:31:47,000 He. He. 542 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:52,840 Takes sin seriously enough that he deals with it himself again 543 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:57,840 verse 21 he. Will save his people. 544 00:31:57,880 --> 00:32:04,720 From their sins, one of the things that. 545 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:08,160 Used to irritate me a lot about my previous job. 546 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:10,680 In in the role. That I was doing in the teaching 547 00:32:10,680 --> 00:32:13,520 profession in managing a department of people. 548 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:18,440 Was in in the area. Of responsibility that I had, 549 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:22,880 taking the mess that other people had in certain decisions. 550 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:25,800 Made or not made and then me being the one responsible. 551 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:28,720 For having to fix it up. It's like, man, you, you made 552 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:31,800 the mess and now you're wanting me to come in and clean up your 553 00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:33,000 mess. And it's. 554 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:34,920 Of your own doing and of of your own. 555 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:36,880 Creation and. You're expecting me from? 556 00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:39,160 The outside to come. Inside of that mess. 557 00:32:39,160 --> 00:32:40,760 And do it. And it was tiring. 558 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:43,040 It was exhausting work. And that's why we're not cut 559 00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:46,800 out. For it as human beings, but God. 560 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:49,640 It's a supernatural thing because. 561 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:51,680 It does not happen in the natural realm that we. 562 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:53,320 Want to do this regularly? Oh, we'll. 563 00:32:53,320 --> 00:32:55,360 We'll do it every now and then when we've. 564 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:56,320 Got enough? Kind of. 565 00:32:56,640 --> 00:32:58,680 You know. Desire on our part to help to 566 00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:01,560 intercede on. Behalf of others, but God did it 567 00:33:01,560 --> 00:33:04,200 out of the. Great love that he has for us, 568 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:05,720 for God. So I love the world that he 569 00:33:05,720 --> 00:33:07,640 gave. His one and only. 570 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:14,640 Son and Jesus came. He will save his people from 571 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:16,640 their sins. This is not a vague promise 572 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:20,320 here. This is a costly mission, one 573 00:33:20,320 --> 00:33:22,120 that would ultimately lead from the. 574 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:25,120 Cradle to the Cross. That's what it would. 575 00:33:25,120 --> 00:33:27,240 Cost to save his people from their sins. 576 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:28,960 And suddenly. Now the shape. 577 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:32,400 Of the story of the Gospel becomes clear from the very 578 00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:34,320 beginning again in Matthew chapter 1. 579 00:33:34,800 --> 00:33:37,280 Honour. Is wrapped in humiliation. 580 00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:42,280 And think of this. Too unlike any other child who 581 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:50,000 did not choose to be. Born Jesus did behind the 582 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:55,080 scenes, in the celestial realm, in the heavenlies, Jesus draped 583 00:33:55,080 --> 00:33:58,480 himself in humanity. And he chose this that we've 584 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:01,760 been reading and comes into. A a scandal. 585 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:04,920 And Glory walks alongside. Shame. 586 00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:09,840 And yes, Mary. Joseph bear the weight of 587 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:12,800 misunderstanding here. Joseph carries the cost. 588 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:15,560 Of the obedience, but. Jesus will carry the sin of the 589 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:27,560 world, Your sin, my sin, your mess, my mess, your scandal, my 590 00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:32,360 scandal. Jesus is his name and he will 591 00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:34,239 save his people from. Their. 592 00:34:34,239 --> 00:34:37,199 Sins. You see, Matthew's Gospel again 593 00:34:37,199 --> 00:34:38,199 is about the. King. 594 00:34:38,639 --> 00:34:40,880 Who is to come of the Jews? And he is our King. 595 00:34:41,040 --> 00:34:42,639 King Jesus is. His name and. 596 00:34:43,560 --> 00:34:46,880 The King who enters into our mess here in this story as we've 597 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:50,520 been reading of the Immaculate. Conception of the divine birth 598 00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:53,560 of Jesus. Being born into humanity is of 599 00:34:53,560 --> 00:34:55,120 the king. Who enters into our? 600 00:34:55,120 --> 00:34:58,600 Mess and he's not distant, but he is Emmanuel. 601 00:34:59,840 --> 00:35:03,000 God with us, He's not shocked by. 602 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:04,400 Brokenness. He. 603 00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:06,120 Chose, in fact, to enter into it. 604 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:08,960 He's not powerless. Against sin. 605 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:15,400 Comes to save us from it. And so tonight, as we close and 606 00:35:15,400 --> 00:35:19,440 as we prepare to pray. When you look at. 607 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:21,920 Your own life. And again, I don't know what 608 00:35:21,920 --> 00:35:24,720 you're going through, what you're experiencing, what 609 00:35:24,720 --> 00:35:27,760 perhaps heaviness sits upon your heart, or what you're like 610 00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:29,920 Joseph. Wrestling in your mind with even 611 00:35:29,920 --> 00:35:31,960 now. As we've been sitting here and 612 00:35:31,960 --> 00:35:35,160 studying God's Word, whatever is tangled, whatever. 613 00:35:35,160 --> 00:35:38,960 Is unresolved whatever is. Is messy or heavy upon you? 614 00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:42,040 Don't assume that. God is off. 615 00:35:42,040 --> 00:35:44,680 In the distance, waiting. For you to fix it yourself. 616 00:35:46,080 --> 00:35:51,360 This passage would tell you the opposite, Just as he stepped in 617 00:35:51,360 --> 00:35:53,320 back. Then he steps in. 618 00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:57,080 Now, today, and as he. Does he begins to? 619 00:35:57,080 --> 00:36:02,560 Reshape how we live. We can start to move from. 620 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:06,920 Being people where at. One point in time, we were. 621 00:36:08,920 --> 00:36:13,400 Hesitant, resistant to embrace a holy. 622 00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:17,240 Righteous God, we can now enter boldly into the very throne 623 00:36:17,240 --> 00:36:19,720 room. Of God and obtain. 624 00:36:19,720 --> 00:36:24,960 Grace and help in time of need. And then in our interactions 625 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:26,920 with others, having understood now the. 626 00:36:26,920 --> 00:36:28,920 Mercy and the grace that's been extended to. 627 00:36:28,960 --> 00:36:32,080 US. God can be at work in our lives 628 00:36:32,080 --> 00:36:34,040 just as He was at work in Joseph's life. 629 00:36:35,360 --> 00:36:37,840 And we can start. To look at people in ways where. 630 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:40,720 Naturally, ordinarily we would not. 631 00:36:40,720 --> 00:36:43,760 Now supernaturally. God's grace, God's mercy at work 632 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:46,600 in our lives will start to see us move toward people instead of 633 00:36:46,760 --> 00:36:51,840 away from them. And we can choose to obey now 634 00:36:51,960 --> 00:36:55,200 when it costs us. Something because once you've 635 00:36:55,200 --> 00:36:57,680 seen a king. Who steps into your mess? 636 00:36:57,680 --> 00:37:04,360 You can't help but now. Being an extension, the hands 637 00:37:04,360 --> 00:37:07,360 and the feet. Of Jesus and you want to just 638 00:37:07,360 --> 00:37:11,320 stand aside at a safe, safe distance from others, especially 639 00:37:11,320 --> 00:37:14,760 at this time of Easter when when the truth and the power of the 640 00:37:14,760 --> 00:37:18,360 gospel is at work. May we be now ever more ready. 641 00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:21,800 And willing to reach out and. Extend the gospel out into 642 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:25,880 people's lives. Lord, let's pray. 643 00:37:25,880 --> 00:37:27,920 Lord, thank you for your word tonight. 644 00:37:27,920 --> 00:37:30,400 Thank you for your people gathered here tonight. 645 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:34,800 Jesus, we thank you that you did not remain distant. 646 00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:39,680 But as we've read tonight, you stepped into the mess of. 647 00:37:39,680 --> 00:37:41,360 Humanity. And you've stepped. 648 00:37:41,360 --> 00:37:47,240 Into the mess of our lives, in and through that. 649 00:37:47,240 --> 00:37:49,120 And because of that, teach us to trust you. 650 00:37:49,120 --> 00:37:53,920 When we don't understand what's going on, help us to follow you. 651 00:37:55,280 --> 00:37:58,400 Help us to reflect on your mercy and its power and. 652 00:37:59,200 --> 00:38:01,160 Its. Impact in our lives and may we 653 00:38:01,160 --> 00:38:05,840 be gracious in extending that to others, Lord. 654 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:10,120 Our our hearts now. Think of those in our family and 655 00:38:10,120 --> 00:38:12,360 those that we work with our. Friends. 656 00:38:13,280 --> 00:38:14,920 That do not know. You as Lord. 657 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:18,360 And Saviour that don't know you as Jesus the Christ, the 658 00:38:18,360 --> 00:38:23,480 Messiah, the promised One, help us to be faithful in sharing the 659 00:38:23,480 --> 00:38:27,600 good news of you. May this Easter souls be saved, 660 00:38:28,640 --> 00:38:33,080 lives changed. I pray your peace now upon your 661 00:38:33,080 --> 00:38:34,920 people gathered here tonight and guide. 662 00:38:34,920 --> 00:38:37,120 Them in the week ahead, give them your wisdom. 663 00:38:38,720 --> 00:38:41,680 May they know your presence with them, Emmanuel. 664 00:38:41,680 --> 00:38:45,040 God with us, with this we pray in Jesus mighty name. 665 00:38:45,720 --> 00:38:47,000 Amen. Amen. 666 00:38:53,040 --> 00:39:06,040 Tell you I love you. Just to know you my sweetest 667 00:39:06,840 --> 00:39:12,360 friend. My friend.