The Wise Guys (Matthew 2:1-12)

Road Trip

Have you ever been on a road trip? Do you know what a road trip is?

A bunch of guys crammed into a car and just driving off into the unknown.

Every once in a while that's what we'll do. J, D, WM, P - we just have this instinctive drive to head off into the sunset. We don't know where we're going, but we know we need to get there fast!

Girls - they don't get this. For them, a trip is all about the destination, accommodation - a checklist of things to do, sights to see. Planning every detail so that everything stays on schedule, on budget.

But for guys, we just head out. No idea where we're going - Just Go! Go! Go! And maybe an hour later someone says, Go where? Where are we headed dude? No idea!

No map - 'cos we don't need them. We never get lost - we 're just in-between destinations.

Now today's passage is really for the guys. I'll try to explain as best as I can to the girls, slowly so that you can understand. But what we have here are a bunch of guys who have headed off into the wilderness on a Road trip. Woohooo!

They're called the Magi. The English Standard Version calls them wise men. But I like to call them, the "Wise Guys".

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod,
Magi (or Wise Guys) from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,

"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?

We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

3 things we need to note about the Magi. They were:

1. Outsiders
2. Outcasts
3. Out of their minds

Outsiders

Number 1: They were Outsiders. Meaning: they were from out of town. Now I know it says in the bible "they came from the East" - but sadly, this does not mean they were Chinese. (Where is the der wan born the King of Juice!). No, they were not Chinese.

Many scholars think they were from Persia, Babylon or Arabia, countries that were east of Jerusalem. Whichever it was, the point is, this was not a day trip. The Wise Guys didn't just hop on their camels for a weekend away in Milton Keynes. This was a journey that took at least a month. Weeks of travelling through mountains and deserts, following a star - a GPS (God's Providential Star) that only worked at night.

And when they arrived in Jerusalem, they would have looked strange to everyone else. Strange clothes, strange accent (Where is the wan borrn the KInG of the Jews), in a strange language. They didn't speak in Hebrew - we know this because of in verse 2 they ask for "King of the Jews".

In Jewish it is always "King of Israel" or Messiah or Christ. Only the outsiders, those who didn't know anything about the bible, only Gentiles referred to Jesus as "King of the Jews".

So that's the first point, the Wise Guys were strangers, foreigners, outsiders.

Outcasts

But more importantly - number 2: they were Outcasts. The Magi were not friends of the Jews.

Rather, the bible is full of examples of Magi being enemies of the people of God.

The exact same word, "Magi" is found in the Old Testament. And there, they are always the villains, the bad guys. Now you won't find the word Magi if you tried flipping through your bible. That is because, in books like Daniel and Exodus, the word "magician" is used.

You see, the Magi, or magicians were outcasts to the people of God because they practised sorcery and magic that was offensive to God. They were experts in sorcery, fortune-telling and astrology. Notice how they used astrology, the stars to determine the birth of the King.

Revelation 21:8 says that God reserves judgement on the cowardly, unbelieving, vile, murderers, sexually immoral (and) those who practice magic arts. This is a timely reminder a week away from Halloween.

The Magi were outcasts in Israel, abominations to the God of Israel. So, we need to ask ourselves, what are these guys doing here?

Out of their minds

The answer is: Out of their minds!

"Hey! Look at that cool star!"

"Awesome!"

"Where do you think it's going?"

"Dunno! but it's Awesome"

"Let's follow it"

"Awesome!! Road trip!"

So off they go, following this star by night until it leads them all the way to Jerusalem. Then suddenly, no more star. GPS gets switched off.

Now Wise Guys have to do the most humiliating, the most degrading thing a man can ever do on a road trip.

They have to stop and they have to ask .... for directions!

What is even more amazing is this, and I love this about the Wise Guys, is who they ask the directions from:

They ask the present king where they can find his replacement.

Let's say tomorrow morning, you are at your desk at work, starting the week, booting up your computer to check your emails

and a bunch of strange smelly dudes turn up saying, "Hi, I heard you're gonna fired soon, so sorry about that, but could you tell me how we can find the guy who is going to take your job. We want to throw him a big surprise party" And you see that they've brought pizza, 6 packs of coke, and one of those huge balloon's which say "AWESOME".

Verse 3: When King Herod heard this he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him.

Meaning: he was not happy!

Now who is this King Herod? We find out 3 things:

• He was concerned
• He was clever
• and he was crafty (meaning really sneaky)

In history, this was Herod the Great - Famous for huge construction projects. I mean, this guy rebuilt the temple of Jerusalem. Some even called it Herod's Temple.

But Herod the Great was also Herod the Greatly Feared! Nobody messed around with this guy. If he didn't get along with you, you were dead! He killed his brother-in-law, Aristobulus III at 18 years old because he thought he might be made king, he killed his wife Mariamne thinking she was cheating on him, he even killed his own sons.

Clever

But King Herod wasn't impulsive. He was concerned about this news yes, but he was also a clever guy. These Magi might have called him the King of the Jews, but Herod knows they are really talking about the Christ. This was the prophecy about the chosen King of Israel. God's chosen King.

Verse 4:

... He called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law,

he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

In short, Herod organised a conference. That's what he did - New Word Alive, SEEC. He got together all his wise men. Not just the priests - but the chief priests. Not just lawyers - but the teachers of the law.

Everyone with a degree, masters and PhD - Herod assembled them in one place to answer one question. Where is the Christ supposed to be born. None of that hocus-pocus, magic-trickery. This was a meeting of the minds.

This was a search through the Scriptures. And verse 5 tells us, they found the answer they were looking for:

"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied.

But wait there's more. You ever meet the kind of guy who's not happy proving he is the smartest person in the room - he's also keen to show why he is the smartest guy in the room?

That's verse 6:

"For this is what the prophet has written:
But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah
Are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel."

They end the conference with a bang! Stuart Townend is singing "In Bethlehem alone", "Oh to see the Bethlehem" - everyone is saying how this is the best conference ever. Thank you everyone for making it such a success.

There's a passage in John chapter 5 when Jesus tells the crowd,

You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life.
These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Here are the intellectuals, the Cambridge students of the day, rejoicing in their ability to read God's word, to teach God's word. We are the real Wise Guys!

Jesus says, they are fools! They are dead in their sin. They think they have life.

But really they are too proud to come to him, the source of eternal life.

Is it possible that we can be so familiar with the bible, so familiar with church, with Christianity,
that we can point others to Jesus, but we ourselves are lost.

The bible says "Of course!"

This isn't a warning just for those intellectual types - PhDs and Profs. Not us, we're just ordinary folk.

Notice, how Matthew calls them "the people's chief priests, and the people's teachers of the law". Or verse 3 - Herod responded in fear. All Jerusalem responded in fear.

This is the pride of the whole city. We have got the true king. We have got the right kind of bibles, the right kind of church, the right kind of teaching. It is pride by association.

Crafty!

Verse 7:
7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

Now, Herod takes control. I'm the King here. I give the orders.

He calls them into his palace and he sends them to do his work.

Find out exactly where this child is.

And when you do, your first priority is to report back to me.

(And here's the bit that's really sneaky!) So that I too may go and worship him.

That's Herod for you. The guy knows how to talk the talk.

Concerned, Clever and very Crafty.

The unimpressive guys

But as for our Wise Guys, I think they would have been very confused. What's going on?

We came here to look for the King. This is the city of Kings, Jerusalem. It looks like the right place but everything feels wrong.

And I wonder how many of us set off on our own journeys looking for God only to be sidetracked. We start out with sincere motives, but it's not long before we get taken in by the impressive and the spectacular. You see it every year in Cambridge. Surrounded by great ambition, great achievement. Yet underneath it hides great pride and great insecurity. Always needing to prove you're number one. Having to justify your existence, To give the right answer. Here in Cambridge, everyone can be King. Everyone wants to be great.

Like the Magi, maybe some of us have to put greatness behind us before we start to get a glimpse of God.

9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

The Magi are just stepping out of Jerusalem, they just left the palace, it's all behind them...and boom! Right in front of them. It's the star! They are back on track. GPS working again.

When they saw it,(verse 10) they were overjoyed! The ESV says this, "they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy!" There are high fives and giving each other chest bumps. One of them is doing the victory dance. They were overjoyed.

Immediately, I mean the very second they got over their excitement and the awesomeness of the event, they must have got right on their camels and chased that star. They're thinking, I'm not letting that star out of sight. No way, we're going to lose it this time. We have come this far, we are going to get there!

And the star goes on and on before them, leading them to Bethlehem, then into the city, through the streets until it comes right on top, right there like a spotlight, shining down... to where Jesus is. And nothing could have prepared them for what they saw next.

It wasn't a palace. No servants. Here they were in a small town. In front of a small house. And they see a kid, two year old at the most with his mommy. You have reached your destination. This is the King.

And they worshipped him. They fell faced down to the ground and honoured the True King of Israel.

This is madness! What are they doing?

I read this and I try to imagine what it must have looked like to Mary, Jesus' mother. Joseph's away, it's just me and Jesus tonight. Maybe I'll turn in early get a good night's sleep. Out of nowhere this entourage of foreigners come riding in on their camels stop right in front of our door.

And next thing I know, they're worshipping our baby. They open this huge chest and start presenting him with gold, incense and myrrh. This is just insane.

To so many people this just looks insane. Crazy. But what I'm hoping is some of you will look at this today and see this is AWESOME. This is wonderful. You look at this and say, I want to do this.

I want to be able to run to Jesus. I want the excitement of knowing he's there waiting for me. And when I see him, I want to fall on my knees saying Lord, take everything that I have and all that I am. I want to be that guy.

Jesus says in Matthew 8:11 onwards

I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus is saying Heaven is going to be full of the wrong kinds of people. Outsiders, outcasts. Out-of-their minds - but because of their humility and faith - honoured - they will be honoured. You see this all throughout Jesus' ministry, he is constantly surrounded by the wrong kind of people. Sinners and tax-collectors.

You look at the Magi, these Wise Guys and so many things about them are just wrong.

• They have the wrong background
• They use the wrong terminology

And yet, they teach us so much that is right:

• They don't know a whole lot about God, but they seek him anyway
• They are not afraid to ask, to find out more, to admit they don't have all the answers
• They rejoice in God's greatness and not their own

We prefer to follow the King's of these world. They lead us to greatness.

But maybe we should consider following the Wise Guys, because they lead us to Christ.

Meeting God

Most of all, the Magi teach us what it means to truly meet God.

How do you know you have met God? That you have truly encountered the living God?

Today's passage says:

• You meet him in weakness
• You meet him in the joy of worship

Verse 6: " 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

Do you hear that? God says, the Christ will have humble beginnings. He will be born in Bethlehem.

That's like saying, "Anglia Ruskin, you are by no means least in the land of Cambridge and Oxford".

That's like saying the next Prime Minister is a graduate from Cambridge... Regional College.

It's Bethlehem. Not Jerusalem where you will find the Christ. In a house not a palace.

A 2-year old kid having his nappy changed by his mommy. Not King Herod the Great surrounded by the professors and priests.

For Christians, we meet God in the weakness of the cross. Dying not living. Insulted and not exalted. Humble and not proud. You see Jesus hanging on the cross, gasping for his last breath. And you say there is my King.

You meet God in weakness. You meet him at the cross.

But secondly, you meet God in worship.

You know what worshipping God means? It's giving to God all that he is worth. And the question you have to answer at the end of the day is, what is God worth to you?

The Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus says, is like a guy who finds a treasure in field, and then in his joy goes away and sells all he has! He doesn't go erm, I like this, or maybe this, or maybe this. He says, takes it all, please I just need to sell everything I have, so that I can have this true treasure.

Is God your true treasure. Is he worthy of your worship, your gold, your offering, your very lives.

Preparing for Judgement, Assured by Salvation (2 Peter 2)

2 Peter 2 is a hard passage. We studied the chapter this week at bible study and it is was hard. Not because we couldn't understand it, but precisely because we were confronted with words that were clearly serious, urgent and relevant.

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

(2 Peter 2:1-3)

Peter warns the church - here, the bible is warning us as Christians - there will be false teachers who will attempt to lead believers away from the gospel of Christ. It has always been so. Just as the Old Testament people of God were surrounded by false prophets, so the New Testament church will have its share of false teachers. Note the shift in role from prophet to teacher. The prophet was one who stood between man and God, speaking to man words from God. The teachers derived their authority from the written Word of God; the scriptures. But therein lies the greater temptation and danger, for the teacher would interpret the meaning and fulfilment of the words in scripture. It would be harder to discern wisdom from word, rhetoric from revelation, interpretation from illumination.

Also, we are not to think that the teacher has less significance than the prophet. In his first letter, Peter opens by reminding Christians of the more complete revelation we have in the gospel, compared even to the prophets of God. Indeed, he says they were not serving themselves, but us (1 Peter 1:12). And in his second letter, he now compares his own authority as a witness to Jesus to that of the prophets. Peter himself heard the voice of God on the mountain affirming the Sonship and approval of Jesus (2 Peter 1:17-18). Yet Peter's aim in writing the letter is to remind Christians of what has already been revealed in Christ as the fulfilment of scripture. In other words, he is teaching them. In verse 12, he writes, "So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have."

The contrast between Peter and the false teachers is that of content. Peter goes to great pains to assure Christians of the truth of the gospel they have already been established in (1:12), writing mainly to refresh and remind them of this truth (1:13), making this his sole purpose in life and ministry - that the gospel be firmly rooted in the hearts and minds of believers long after his passing. On the other hand, the false teachers introduce false teaching that contradict the gospel (verse 1), exploiting their hearers with stories they have made up (verse 3).

What follows is one whole chapter describing the attributes and condemning the actions of these false teachers - an entire chapter. But why go to such lengths? Judgement, fire, condemnation, hell - we get it, Peter - you are serious about dealing with these problematic teachers. But you say you write to the church to remind us of the gospel, the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, where is it? How do we see the gospel in these words?

Many who preach from this passage (rightly) say that Peter is concerned that we are able to identify these false teachers. He describes them for us: they are boastful, driven by their sinful and sensual desires and despise authority (verse 10). They speak out of ignorance (verse 12). They are motivated by greed and lust (verse 14). Ultimately, their actions will result in judgement. Therefore, Peter's repeated reference to instances of judgement in the Old Testament serve as a warning that we do not follow in the footsteps of these false teachers.

Yet is Peter's main concern to warn believers of these false teachers and their impending judgement?

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.

(2 Peter 2:4-9)

These verses are difficult not because they speak of judgement. They are difficult because Peter is reminding believers of their salvation in the midst of judgement.

He builds the momentum of his argument with a series of "if" clauses.

• If God did not spare angels
• If God did not spare the world in its wickedness by sending the flood (Genesis 6-8); but protected Noah
• If God condemned Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19)
• If God rescued Lot

However looking back at 1 Peter 3 which links the imprisoned spirits/angels with the "days of Noah" (1 Peter 3:20), we find that Peter is laying out two strands from biblical history, like this:

• IF God did not spare angels nor the ancient world
  BUT protected Noah
• IF God condemned Sodom and Gomorrah
  BUT rescued Lot

THEN...verse 9 tells us Peter's conclusion - the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and hold the unrighteous for judgement.

What is Peter's main concern in Chapter 2? It's not them but us. Not just their condemnation - the judgement awaiting the false prophets and false teachers; but the salvation that God is more than able to bring upon us as his people. The Lord knows how to rescue godly men. He rescues them - verse 9 says - from trials.

The temptation and persecution that results from the actions of these false teachers are part of the trials that God's people have always face, and Christians continue to face today. In the midst of our distress, in the face of temptation, perhaps even death - Peter's main concern is that we continue to trust in the God who saves, who has always saved, and who will save us on the last day. In short, we will face trials, and in these trials, we can depend in a God who is utterly dependable.

It is striking that Peter minces no words when speaking of judgement, condemnation nor hell; all the while emphasizing rescue, deliverance and salvation. Salvation has little meaning if we are not aware of what we are saved from. The gospel of the great announcement of Jesus bearing the just wrath of God towards sinful men upon himself on the cross, and through his violent death purchasing a people for himself - now no longer slaves to sin nor facing condemnation; but recipients of Christ's righteousness, regenerated by the indwelling of his Spirit, sanctified for his purposes and glory.

Christ makes the promise of salvation in the gospel certain. At the same time, the cross also makes the final judgement all the more just. Both are part of the same gospel. Trusting in the cross is our only way of rescue. Rejecting the Saviour is the only assured way to destruction (verses 20-22).

To those far from Christ, even the good news and certainty of the promises of God will smell of death. But to those in Christ, even trials and temptations in this world will remind us of the God who is ever able to work all things for his glory and for our good. Paul puts it like this:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 8:38-39)

Let nothing shake you from the knowledge that you are always, always, always in the love of your Saviour and God - Jesus knows how to save those who are his!

Facing forgiveness (Genesis 32)

Jacob is the man with a plan. He is on a journey home to meet Esau, the elder brother he hasn't seen for decades; the one he cheated of his birthright - twice; who threatened to kill him as soon as their father Isaac was dead - that Esau; who now has set out to meet Jacob with 400 men (verse 6).

It is not cunning nor bravery that drives Jacob's schemes this time round - but fear. Verse 7: he was "...in great fear and distress". "Save (or rather, spare) me," Jacob prays to God, "from the hand of my brother Esau".

Jacob is "facing" up to his past - Genesis 32 plays on the word "face" as it records each step Jacob takes in confronting his brother.

• Earlier on in verse 2: Jacob sends messengers ahead of him (literally: in front of his face) to Esau
• Now Jacob sends wave after wave of gifts, servants, herds and flocks ahead of himself (in front of his face) - verse 21
• He instructs each and every servant - should Esau inquire of them the source of these animals before them (before their faces) - verse 17
• They are to give the same reply - "They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us." (verse 18)

Jacob sends all this before him, but as for himself, he will right behind. Everything and anything except for him to "face" up to Esau.

• Verse 20: His intention is to "pacify" Esau with lavish offerings ahead of him.
• The expression in the original text has Jacob thinking to himself - "Perhaps I can cover his face with these gifts before my face, and when I see his face, he will lift my face."
• Covering one's face is a Hebrew idiom for appeasement; some translations have "propitiate". The picture is that of placating someone's anger, covering over a source of offence or wiping away guilt.

It is not just that Jacob is fearful of the prospect of death. His actions and thoughts reveal an unwillingness to meet with Esau "face to face". Each convoy serves as a buffer and Jacob is evading the inevitable. As each servant's has been instructed to reply - he is always one step behind, never coming forward.

Yet the tension that Genesis is building up to is not an encounter between two estranged family members, but the meeting of a man and his God. The chapter ends with Jacob wrestling with God at Peniel (which means "face of God"), where Jacob would declare "I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."

God himself declares to Moses that "no one may see me and live" (Exodus 33:20) but the point here is not that Jacob realises how lucky he is not to have perished in meeting God. Remembering his petition in verse 12, he recognises that God has answered his prayer. "Spare me from Esau" was his request; and in verse 30 he exclaims "my life was spared!".

When he finally meets Esau in the next chapter, we see the evidence of the change in verse 3 - "He himself went on ahead (of his wives and children) and ... approached his brother." No longer afraid, Jacob is now assured. It is an assurance that comes not simply from facing our fears but in facing the God who offers forgiveness and reconciliation.

For Christians it is the promise bound up in the hope of the glorious return of Christ - "No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads." - Rev 22:3-4. Jesus has removed our condemnation through his blood, covering our guilt with his righteousness, and thereby opens the way for us to come into the very presence and unshielded glory of God.

The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it;

for he founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the waters.

Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?

Who may stand in his holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not lift up his soul to an idol

or swear by what is false.

He will receive blessing from the LORD

and vindication from God his Savior.

Such is the generation of those who seek him,

who seek your face, O God of Jacob.

Selah

(Psalm 24:1-6)

What Child Is This?

Recorded after service at the Chinese Church on Sunday 13 December 2009.

Text taken from Matthew 1:18-23

Coming Home (Christmas Promo)

Had some fun recording my journey back from work today. The words are taken from John Chapter 1. Looking forward to working with the gang to produce the full videos this coming weekend.

Christmas Impossible (Luke 1:26-38)

For many the Christmas story is simply impossible. How can you believe in something as nonsensical as a virgin birth?

This isn’t just a problem today. It was a problem two thousand years ago. Look with me to verse 34.

“How will this be… since I am a virgin?”

And who is it who says this? It is Mary. The virgin herself knows it is impossible to get pregnant if she has not had any physical relations with a man.

Her doubt; her sceptical response is here recorded for us to read in the bible.

That is, the bible does not leave out the difficult bits. When people in the bible came into contact with the fantastic, even miraculous claims of God, they often reacted with fear, confusion and doubt.

In fact, when you read the gospels which record the life of Jesus, doubt is a major theme. It was often the ones closest to Jesus who were confused by what he did and who he was.

The question we need to answer today is: How does the bible deal with these problems?

This passage offers us three steps:

o The bible opens our eyes to the bigger picture

o To see a bigger problem

o So that we can have a better perspective

The bigger problem

You see, the problem isn’t just that Mary, a virgin, would give birth to a son. She would give birth to the Son – the Son of God.

In our day and age, it is no big deal for a woman to get pregnant without a father. Science has given us IVF – In Vitro Fertilisation.

But how do you give birth to the Son of God? Mary would give birth, in effect, to God.

And what does the angel tell us about this Son of God? In verse 31 he says he will have the name Jesus.

Jesus is a Greek name – a Greek translation of what was probably the Hebrew name, Joshua. But both of them – Jesus and Joshua – mean the same thing: God will save.

God will save his people through this man, Jesus.

All through this Son would come the Kingdom of God. He will be a King. Or using another bible word – the Christ.

This Son of God is Jesus Christ. Christ is not his last name. Not like Jackie Chan – whose initials are also J.C.). Christ means King.

This will be Jesus Christ – the Son of God who will save and the one who will rule as King.

We are stuck at the problem of the virgin birth. But the bible says there is a bigger purpose, a bigger picture and an even bigger promise beyond that. The virgin will give birth to Jesus Christ who will save us and who will rule as King.

Nothing is impossible with God

So what is the angel’s answer to this bigger problem? He gives Mary a bigger perspective.

Verse 37: “…Nothing is impossible with God.”

You and I: when we encounter a claim in the bible, our first instinct is to ask “How can this be?” “How is this possible?”

But questions like these reveal more about who we are than who God is. Here the bible challenges us to consider who we are dealing with.

We are man – finite creatures with limited abilities and hence, limited possibilities. But this is God our creator who has no limitations and unlimited possibilities. Otherwise he would not be God.

Now I know some of us are thinking, “What a cop-out answer! Nothing is impossible with God? That is just a statement – it does not give a satisfactory answer at all!”

But consider for a moment what is purpose of this answer? Is God saying, “I am God! You are not! Please stop asking me silly questions!”

Or is he rather saying, “I am God – know who I am – so that you can trust me.”

Do you notice what God through his angel has been doing all this while for Mary? He has been reassuring her.

“Greeting! You who are highly favoured. The Lord is with you.” (Verse 28)

Again in verse 30: “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God.”

This isn’t an announcement; a declaration of God’s power. This is an assurance of God’s faithfulness – that he will do what he has promised. So you, Mary, can trust him.

What about us?

Well, what does this passage have to say to us today?

Two applications for two different groups here this evening.

The first group: you look at the world in terms of possibilities and impossibilities. You are searching for truth. You want evidence that supports that truth – evidence that will point you in the direction of truth.

The bible says: keep looking and keep investigating!

The bible is encouraging you to keep asking questions and keep using your mind to evaluate the evidence. Especially, the evidence in the bible.

But don’t just stop at the impossibility of the virgin birth. Consider the bigger claims, the even more impossible statements the bible makes.

It is impossible for a man to be born again; it is impossible to enter the Kingdom of God. Yet Jesus has come precisely to make this happen.

The bible says no man can forgive sin – only God can. Yet Jesus dares to say he has the authority to do this.

Or consider the biggest impossible claim of all. Isn’t it impossible for a man to rise from the dead?

That is what a man named Thomas thought.

He said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

Jesus appeared to him. “Put you finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

To which Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God.”

Not – “Now I know there is a God, that Jesus is Lord.”

But that Jesus is his God, Jesus is his Lord and Saviour.

A second group

But there is also a second group here today who are perhaps all too familiar with the Christmas story.

For you the Christian faith – Christianity – is all about Christmas.

Christmas is an end in itself. After all, it is the end of term and the end of the year.

The bible says to you: there is much, much more! Christmas is only the beginning.

In the comedy Talladega Nights, Will Ferrel plays race car driver Ricky Bobby. In it, Ricky Bobby constantly prays to Baby Jesus. Specifically he prays to 8 pounds 6 ounces Baby Jesus – wearing a golden fleece with chubby little fingers. He even prays that he will use his Baby Jesus powers to heal him of sickness and to help him win that next race.

Like Ricky Bobby, we would rather have Baby Jesus in the manger.

But the bible points to Christ on the cross.

Jesus didn’t become a baby to save us. He became a baby in order to become a man – so that he could die a man’s death – and be raised fully man and fully God.

It is very possible to be so familiar with the biblical account of Jesus’ birth that we think – “This is not for me. I know this, already. It’s for someone else - for those who are new to the Christmas story.”

Today we read of the angel of God approaching Mary and saying “You…”

These are wonderful words, friends. “You are highly favoured! The Lord is with you!”

You know, for Mary she had to wait for the promises to come true. The angel says, “He will be great…. He will reign.”

But for Christians who know the bigger picture of Jesus Christ on the cross, we can say, “He does reign, He does rule! For he has died for my sins on the cross.”

What is the true meaning of Christmas?

I would put it this way:
that God, for whom nothing is impossible,
makes it possible for us
to trust fully in his Son Jesus
as our Saviour and as our King.

Temptation of the Son of God - Matthew 4:1-11

Yesterday we looked at Jesus' temptation in the desert by the devil in Matthew 4. Here are some of the concluding thoughts I wanted us to reflect on as we considered how the experience of Christ connects with us in our struggles with temptations:

1. Jesus' temptation is a picture of Satan's temptation over humanity

Remembering the first temptation of man in the garden, the serpent seduces Adam with the offer he seemingly could not resist: Take and eat of the of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil - and man will be like God.

The only power of the devil is in his lies yet we empower him as we believe in his lies. He appeals to Adam's desire, ambition and identity to lead him into rebellion against his creator and God. Adam is taken in by empty words, yet dangerous words - and his sin results in the expulsion of the man and the woman from the garden and the introduction of death intro the created order.

Here Jesus is portrayed as the Second Adam who resists the temptation of the evil one, spurning his words and denying the opportunity to fill his own needs, instead relying solely on the promises of the word of God. Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

Christ thereby reverses the curse of death bringing about life that is full and everlasting.

2. Jesus' testing in the desert is representative of the trials of the people of God

As the nation of Israel spends 40 years wandering in the wilderness, so Jesus experiences hunger and thirst during his 40 days of testing in the desert.

Israel, addressed by the LORD as his first-born son, fails in their obedience to God - complaining bitterly against the One who delivers them from slavery in Egypt. The 40 years is a result of God's judgement over a generation of God's people who reject his inheritance of the Promised Land, and question his goodness displayed daily in the LORD's protection and provision in the wilderness. A whole generation is wiped out, never gaining entry into the land prepared for them by God himself.

But Jesus the true Son, continually submits to the will of his Heavenly Father. He learns obedience through his suffering and temptation, thereby displaying his status not simply as the Son who receives all authority and power promised him by God in fulfilment of Psalm 2, but also his willingness to be the Servant King and Suffering Christ.

Jesus is the true Israel who stands at the entry point into the true land of promise, heaven itself. And he opens the way for us so that together with him we might have access into the very presence of God.

3. And yet Jesus' experience is the historical record of the unique temptation of the true Son of God

That is, this passage is not primarily there to teach us how to face temptation. The moral of the story is not how we can deal with the devil (Step 1: Bring lots of snacks; Step 2: Wear a parachute; Step 3: Watch the Prince of Egypt on DVD).

The Bible is not a "How-To" book. How to face temptation. Much less, how we can save ourselves. We would be foolish to think that we can take on the devil on our own - for we are weak-willed creatures, easily seduced through our passions and worldly desires.

Rather, the account of the experiences of Christ in the wilderness is there to tell us how Jesus faced temptation on our behalf. The gospel tells of how Christ took our sins upon himself.

What we have here is not a three-stage attack by the devil. Satan has but one purpose in tempting Christ - to turn Jesus away from the cross.

And we are not to think that this is the only encounter between Jesus and Satan. The conflict stretches all through Jesus' days on earth, right up to the cross. For Luke's gospel tells us the devil left Jesus "until an opportune time". That is, Jesus was in battle with the Tempter every step of his journey to his death.

The constant pressure to prove his authority by performing yet another miracle. The egging by his own family to "go public", motivated not by love, but as John tells us in chapter 7, by their disbelief. The bold confession of Peter that Jesus is indeed the Christ - You are the Son of the Living God! - only to be followed immediately by Peter scolding Jesus for explaining how the Christ must suffer and die in Jerusalem.

Jesus' reply? Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.

Jesus detects the words of the Tempter. The Devil's scheme to lead him away from the cross. The words of Satan himself found on the lips of his family, his followers. Even his closest friends.

4. He was tempted like us. Yet without sin

But what good does it do us if Christ was tempted on our behalf? It makes sense to say that Jesus took my sins on the cross. He removes God's righteous judgement over my rebellion and I receive his righteousness. But how does his temptation help mine?

Christ enters the world as God the eternal to be declared eternally as the obedient and faithful Son of God. At the cross, he breaks the power of the evil one over this world. In his conflict with the devil he triumphs over the temptations of Satan by trusting in his Father's will and rejecting the lies of the Tempter. He removes the blindness on our minds, opening our hearts to the light of the glory of the gospel displayed on the cross; displayed through his shameful death. The Son of Man must die in order for us to live.

Yet rather than just show you how, I want to end by telling you why. Why you and I should go to him in our weakness. Turn with me to Hebrews 4:

14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

You see friends, Jesus has been tempted in every way like we are. We can go to him in our weakness, because he understands. With our temptations that we struggle with, even those we are too ashamed to talk about - we can go to him. Like us, he has been tempted. In every way.

And yet unlike us, in that he did not sin. And because he did not sin, he could take our sin on himself. Because he did not sin, he can be our High Priest, the one at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us, even now.

It means that we can come to God and be totally and confidently accepted. It means he not only understands our need, he can help us in our need. It means God looks at us and he sees Jesus, perfect in his obedience and love.

It means God looks at us and he calls us "sons". Sons of God.

Sundays at the Chinese Church

Gathering as God's People

around God's Word

Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 13:44-52)

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked.

"Yes," they replied.

He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."

The Kingdom of Heaven is near

Jesus has one thing on his mind. In this chapter of Matthew's gospel, Jesus is speaking about the same thing, again and again. Whether it is to a huge crowd in verse 1, or to just to his followers in verse 36 onwards, Jesus hammers home to all of them the same subject. He is speaking about the Kingdom of Heaven.

"Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!" These are the words of John the Baptist in chapter 3. These are the exact same words of Jesus in Chapter 4. And in chapter 10, Jesus sends out his 12 disciples. He gives them authority to heal the sick, to perform miracles but also gives specific instructions to preach these words - The Kingdom of Heaven is near.

Meaning: as you read through this book, you should get a sense that the Heaven is coming closer and closer to you. That God's presence has come down to be closer with us.

This is very different from how we commonly perceive Heaven. For us, Heaven is up there. It is a goal to be attained; a height to be achieved. Within religious circles, heaven becomes a standard of holiness and perfection we need to be worthy of.

But what is interesting to consider is how heaven is to go outside of religion to see how heaven is portrayed.

• You can buy a chocolate bar named Heaven.
• For some years now, if you typed in the word "heaven" into Google, the first result you get is link to series of nightclubs and discos in London

It all has to do with satisfaction, fulfilment and happiness. Go to any magazine store, say Borders bookshop right at the end on the ground floor where you will find a huge magazine section. I put it to you, that what you have there is a selection of different Heavens. Rows and rows of Heavens. Each a different version. Each promising aspects of a better life, a more exciting experience of life, a higher quality of life.

• fitness heaven
• food heaven
• Fashion heaven
• computer gaming heaven
• even a pet heaven

Very little to do with God or the bible. That's because we want a heaven we can

• buy with our money,
• get to through dieting and exercise
• Work towards in our careers
• A heaven we get on a plane and escape to

We went heaven to be a place of fulfilment, happiness that everyone can afford and everyone can access.

And the amazing thing is, Jesus seems to agree. It seems like Jesus is using the same words, the same categories to point to heaven. He talks about a man full of joy. Who uses his money to buy something that will give him extreme satisfaction. There is talk of risk but also of great reward. Jesus even talks about wealth and treasure.

On the surface Jesus seems to be talking about the same heaven as the magazines, movies and pop culture.

Notice that there is no religious language. No mention of a temples or priests. Instead, he talks about farming and fishing. And I guess that makes a lot of sense because the people around him are farmers and fishermen.

Here is an accessible heaven, an understandable heaven. Not up there, but near you. Not far away, but right here right now. It is almost as if Jesus is not so much denying our pursuits of heaven - reflected through our ambitions, our holiday plans, our desire for a lasting and meaningful relationship - but he almost seems to be saying, all these desires are reflections of our true innermost desire for heaven itself.

And yet what we are going to see today is that Jesus is saying much more. He is saying something radically different from both the advertisers and the religions of today.

He doesn't just use earthly examples to point upwards to heaven. Jesus is using heaven to point to himself. This is the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the Kingdom of God. God's rule, God's kingdom, God's presence has now come near to dwell with man.

Jesus has come to reveal himself as the true King of Heaven and the true source of our identity, satisfaction and happiness.

We will see this in 4 points that Jesus makes in his 4 parables about the Kingdom of Heaven:

1. The Kingdom is treasured in joyful response
2. The Kingdom is valued through willing sacrifice
3. The Kingdom points forward to redemption and judgement
4. The Kingdom is revealed in word and witness

1. The Kingdom is treasured in joyful response

So firstly, the Kingdom is treasured in joyful response.

And the big point to get across is simply this: It is obvious!

• You can tell without a doubt when someone gets it.
• You see it in his face - his excitement.
• You see it in his actions and reactions - he immediately goes out and something about it.
• You see it in his joy - verse 44 - in his joy (he) went and sold all he had and bought that field.

And what has given him so much joy and excitement? Jesus tells us. It is treasure. It is extreme wealth. But it is hidden wealth. No one knows that it is there.

But he does. He stumbled upon it. The passage says he found it. This is an ancient equivalent of someone today winning the lottery! I checked it up this morning - it's 2.4 million pounds. Can you imagine winning 2.4 million pounds! Wow!

This guy has stumbled upon a huge source of blessing and wealth that no one else sees or knows about.

But what we can see clearly is this man's action and reaction. He sells everything he has. He house, his car, his TV, his sofa. All his clothes, all the stuff he has lying around the house. Every CD he owns, his DVD collection. Everything goes up for sale. If it were today he would put it up on eBay he needs the money quick and fast. He needs every penny to make sure he gets that land.

Now people who do such things are normally fellas who have gotten themselves into trouble! They need to pay off a huge debt. You sometimes see this on eBay; some guy just wants to get rid of this bunch of stuff. There might be a description about a recent tragedy in his life, some trouble he is facing that he needs the money to resolve. And you would expect someone in this situation to be really depressed and desperate.

But this man is the exact opposite! He is joyful. He can't wait to get rid of all his stuff. Because he knows, the moment he buys that field, when the land is rightfully his, there is a treasure just waiting for him.

People might be laughing at him now. Taking advantage of the fire sale. Buying all his stuff on the cheap.

But he's the one who has the winning lottery number. All they see is his sacrifice. What he sees and knows is the location of the treasure.

And Jesus points to this man and says that's what Heaven is like. It is a treasure that is supremely valuable, yes, but it is a treasure that is hidden from sight. You don't see the treasure - the parable doesn't even tell us what the treasure is - is it money, gold, jewels? What we see is a man. A man who is exceedingly joyful!

It is a joy that comes not after he buys the land. Not after he gets rich. It is a joy that comes the moment he knows he will be rich. It is the knowledge of the treasure. That certainty.

A joy that is willing to sacrifice everything else to obtain that treasure.

He will be rich, we will own the land, he will have that treasure in the end. But that's not what Jesus focuses on. Not his wealth. But his joy.

The Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus says, is treasured in joyful response.

That's my first point.

2. The Kingdom is valued through willing sacrifice

Next, The Kingdom is valued through willing sacrifice

Now on the surface, this second parable seems like a repeat. Let me read it for you, verse 45:

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Same story! A guy who finds a treasure, this time it is an expensive pearl; he sells everything just to obtain this treasure. It's just a sequel and if we're honest, it looks like a bad sequel - Like Spiderman 3 - What a disappointment.

There's nothing new, we've seen it all before and on top of that, the hero is a RICH GUY. It's like Star Wars with Jar Jar Binks. Jesus should have just stopped while he was ahead.

You don't make the hero of the story your boss! He's a merchant, a rich businessman. He's already rich!

OK, OK - if you really want to get theological and deep about it, where is this man's joy?

Ah, but that's the question Jesus wants us to ask! Where is this man's joy? What is his treasure?

He starts out looking for many pearls. Fine pearls. But pearls are really small things. If he was searching for gold, jewels, art, sportscars, houses, land - we can understand that. We can even understand if he was looking for an investment, something that will increase his wealth.

But when you are talking about one single pearl, you are talking about refinement not quantity.

Beauty and elegance not majestic opulence. Something that is precious. That's what the Greek word actually means when it says "When he found one of great value" - it literally says, he found a "precious one".

Think Lord of the Rings. Think Gollum and the one Ring. What does he say? My Precious!

And if you are familiar with the movie or the book, you know that the whole story revolves around the one ring. Whole kingdoms are lost, battles are fought, lives are sacrificed - just to obtain this one precious ring.

That is, Jesus is talking about more than just wealth. It's not just about making a quick profit. Getting a big return for your effort. Here is something that speaks to our inner desires, our passions, our obsessions. In a word, it is love. It's love.

If you have ever been in love, you know what I mean. No one else can see your love, your emotions, your rationality. But to the one in love, it makes perfect sense. To be in love is to be consumed by love. That's because love is costly. There is a high price for love. And those in love willing pay that price.

That's the point of the merchant. You see, you look at first guy and he starts out poor but ends up wealthy. But this guy here starts out wealthy but ends up with nothing but his pearl. He has more to sacrifice. And he willing sells it all, every single bit, to obtain this one single treasure. The fact that the bible describes the pearl as precious might even indicate that it really is only truly valuable in his own eyes. Were he to sell the pearl he might not get back all that he put in. Beauty in the eye of the beholder.

It is parable about priorities. What is number one. If you are in love, of course you'll say: he is, or she is - number one in my heart. But how do you know? How can you tell? Let me just ask the girls - How do you know that in his eyes, you are his precious, his true love, his ultimate priority.

Most of the time guy's will express their love through their promises. I will do this. I promise to be like this. I will do everything in my power to make this happen just for you, because I love you, because that is how much you mean to me.

Let me tell you a secret. You can tell what a person's priorities are not by what they do. Even less by what they promise to do. That's because the answer is always the same - I'll do everything for you! Guys will promise the world if they could.

No, you tell a person's priorities not by what they say they will do, but simply by looking at what they are choosing not to do. You looking at what they willingly put aside and sacrifice.

Because that thing they have put aside is what you are being measured against. Watching TV. Playing football. Food. What is the thing he is willing to do without, what is he sacrificing even now just so that he can be with you.

And conversely, what is he sacrificing you for? Maybe that's an easier question to answer.

Honey, I can't come home today I'm busy at the office. It's just so expensive to go out for dates - why don't you just get something from Tesco - from the expiring section. That shows his priorities too.

Be careful of the kind of guy who wants it all! Because he is the kind of guy who doesn't know what he wants at all. He isn't clear whether its a marriage, a house, an xbox, a lifestyle, an image - it's rarely ever children. And it's just a matter of time before something goes.

True value is seen in sacrifice. What does it cost?

The merchant sells all he has so that at the end of the day, he has nothing. Absolutely nothing. Except the one thing that means everything to him. It's a very unrealistic story, I know. What is he going to live on? He'll have to sell it eventually - to buy food, to survive.

But at some level, don't you envy him? Here is a guy who knows what he wants and he finds it! Many of us go through life, shifting from desire to desire. From one priority to another. From this place to that place. This job to that job. This relationship to another.

And we don't dare do what this guy did. We don't dare risk it all, because we don't even know what it is. It's like going to a restaurant, a really fancy one, where you can't really decide what you want because you can really only afford one thing. So you walk out hungry. You still have your money. But you have nothing you can really spend it on.

Jesus says, the Kingdom of Heaven is like knowing that one thing. Knowing your true desire of desires. And when you find it, you too will say, My precious!

The Kingdom is valued through willing sacrifice.

3. The Kingdom points forward to redemption and judgement

Next, The Kingdom points forward to redemption and judgement.

So far, we have been looking at things that we can see: the joy of the kingdom, the priorities of the kingdom, the sacrifice of the kingdom. But in this next parable, Jesus will show us something we do not see, we will not see, and many of us refuse to see. He reveals what will happen at the end of the age.

Verse 47:

"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Here's the bad news. I know some of us are surprised. But yes, there is bad news in the bible. That's just how the gospel works. The bad news is what makes the good news good. The bad news is what makes the good news urgent.

We have learned that heaven is joyful. Heaven is worthwhile. But if there is a heaven to be gained, the reality is there is also a hell to be shunned.

There are two points I want to make. The first is very very bad. But the second is very very good.

The first point is this: No one escapes judgement. No one escapes God's judgement.

A huge net is let down and it catches all kinds of fish. Both the good fish and the bad fish, all are caught in the net. The fishermen wait until the net is full. Both the righteous and the wicked will be gathered by God's angels. No one escapes.

This will happen. God's judgement is certain and it is final. If we reject the joy of the Kingdom we face the justice of God.

Hell is separation from God's presence, his life and his blessing. In the parable, we see it symbolised as rejection symbolising judgement. It is the fiery furnace symbolising God's anger. It is weeping and gnashing of teeth which is a dual picture of extreme sorrow, and yet continual rejection of God, continual unrepentance before God.

Here Jesus is explaining a parable with a parable. When it comes to hell, no words can describe how awful it will be. This is how it will be, Jesus says.

But point two: we are God's treasure. That's the good news. We are God's treasure.

It is very tempting to just stick to the first two "nice" parables. But you know, for some people even the parables about the treasure and the pearl may not sound all that good. In fact, I wonder if we hear stories about extreme joy and supreme sacrifice, and it just sounds so unreal. It seems so burdensome!

Just another list of things we need to do in order to get into heaven:

• Be joyful - don't be sad
• Rejoice and don't complain.
• Give everything, don't expect anything

What if I'm finding it really hard right now to be joyful. What if there is nothing I can think of that I can call my treasure. What if there is no one in my life who treasures me?

And now you come and tell me this horrible story? About hell? You don't have to describe it to me? My life is hell!

People rarely say these things out loud. But you can hear it in their responses. You need to hear the way they live their lives. It's in the way they walk. Even now, it's in the way some of you are looking at me thinking - So what is it? What are you trying to sell me this week? I've heard it all.

How do you speak to someone like that? You tell them the gospel.

Look again at the parable. Who is doing the gathering? Who is doing the work? It is the angels of God - God is the subject of the parable.

It is God who judges. And it is God who treasures. If you are in the kingdom, it means that you are his treasure. God treasures you!

Verse 48: (The fishermen) sat down and collected the good fish. That word "good" is the same word Matthew uses in the previous parable to describe the "fine" pearls. It means valuable. It means treasured.

Do you see? All this while we have been reading these words of Jesus from our perspective. How we see heaven. How we experience Heaven.

But here is Jesus clarifying to us, that it's the other way around. This is how God sees you. You are his treasure. And if you realise this, then the parables of the kingdom take on a whole new meaning.

The parable of the hidden treasure means that you, YOU are God's joy. Heaven rejoices over you!

The parable of the pearl means that God is the one who has sacrificed everything to make you his treasure. He has held absolutely nothing back. He sees you the way no one else does. Beautiful. He holds you in his arms and calls YOU, his precious. His beloved.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. That's one of the most famous verses in all the bible - John 3:16.

But if I were to ask you - Which word is the most important in that verse? What would be your answer?

God. loved. the world. one and only Son. Eternal life?

For those who truly understand the parables of the Kingdom of Heaven, the most important word there is "so" - For God so loved the world. How much does God love us. So much.

At the cross, he gave his Son. At the cross we see how much God hates sin. He pours out his judgement and condemnation.

At the cross we see how much God loves us. He pours his judgement on him. He gave all that he could give: Jesus offered his life, his dignity, his rights so that we could be in his eyes precious. He did this willingly, sacrificially, joyfully.

The Kingdom points forward to redemption and judgement.

4. The Kingdom is revealed in word and witness

But finally, the Kingdom is revealed in word and witness. Jesus asks a question in verse 51:

"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked.

"Yes," they replied.

He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."

Many get confused by this last statement of Jesus. He refers to "every teacher of the law" - "every teacher" - The word there "scribe". Scribes who were the intellectuals of the day. These were the PhDs, scholars, the Cambridge professors who were educated, intelligent and articulate.

But as far as we can tell, the people around him were not intellectuals. These were the crowds, the disciples. Most of them were blue-collar workers: labourers, slaves, fishermen and farmers. They weren't educated. Most couldn't read or write. So who is he talking about? The Pharisees? They aren't even mentioned.

Jesus is talking about you. If you are a follower, a disciple of Jesus, he looks right at you and says you are the scribes. You are the new teachers of the law. Because you have been instructed of the Kingdom of Heaven. You have received the treasure of the gospel.

But there's a big difference between you and the religious teachers. It is not just because you have what they don't but you give what they won't.

You have received the treasures of the Kingdom. So now, you have to bring it out. Don't hoard it. Don't put it away. You have to share this treasure with others.

The owner of the house brings out everything, not just the old stuff, the new stuff. The good and the bad. Everything. He holds nothing back. He keeps nothing to himself.

And here is Jesus looking for a response: A response of faith,(Do you understand this? "yes" they say) but more so a response of faithfulness. It's not just trusting in the treasure I will receive but being entrusted with a treasure I will be faithful with.

Have you understood these things? Have you?

Is Jesus your ultimate joy and priority? Your true treasure. Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus "who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame". If we look to the cross, there God gives his all - not withholding his only Son; and there Jesus willingly, joyfully endures the cross to make us his treasure.

We close with a song of response:

You are my strength when I am weak

You are the treasure that I seek

You are my all in all

Seeking You as a precious jewel

Lord, to give up I'd be a fool

You are my all in all

Jesus, Lamb of God

Worthy is Your name

Jesus, Lamb of God

Worthy is Your name

Taking my sin, my cross, my shame

Rising up again I bless Your name

You are my all in all

When I fall down You pick me up

When I am dry You fill my cup

You are my all in all

Jesus, Lamb of God

Worthy is Your name

Jesus, Lamb of God

Worthy is Your name