100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:02,000I200:00:03,320 –> 00:00:05,320Could have welcomed him I300:00:05,960 –> 00:00:11,420Could have believed in him. I could have worshiped him I could have been with him400:00:13,340 –> 00:00:18,240It’s like all your life he’s reaching out to you500:00:19,660 –> 00:00:23,719But then when you pass beyond death he becomes beyond your reach600:00:24,620 –> 00:00:27,180Welcome to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith700:00:27,180 –> 00:00:33,380I’m Davey pick and Colin today rather an unlikely character in the Christian story as we hear from King Herod800:00:33,380 –> 00:00:38,480Yeah, that’s right. And not everyone welcomed the Lord Jesus Christ and Herod certainly did not900:00:38,520 –> 00:00:41,020He was someone who did not receive the Lord1000:00:41,040 –> 00:00:47,459Jesus Christ I’ve been moved by thinking about what that’s like for him now as someone who was so clearly1100:00:47,900 –> 00:00:48,840apart from1200:00:48,840 –> 00:00:53,340Jesus and opposed to Jesus my prayer for today is that we’re going to get a fresh perspective1300:00:53,540 –> 00:00:59,660On the Christmas story that is going to give us every reason to open our lives to receive Jesus Christ today1400:00:59,660 –> 00:01:04,639So join us today if you can in Matthew chapter 2 as we begin Herod’s story1500:01:04,720 –> 00:01:09,660Here’s Colin I to tell you I think that I am the most under1600:01:10,199 –> 00:01:15,440Appreciated leader in history. I always felt that and I guess I always will1700:01:15,980 –> 00:01:20,739So I’m glad to have the opportunity to tell my story1800:01:21,660 –> 00:01:25,639Actually, I often wish there were more people I could share this with1900:01:26,739 –> 00:01:31,980But the truth is it’s actually very lonely where I am these days2000:01:33,540 –> 00:01:36,820People are all bound up with themselves2100:01:37,000 –> 00:01:40,599nobody has time or interest for anybody else, so2200:01:41,180 –> 00:01:43,180So thank you for the opportunity2300:01:44,180 –> 00:01:51,260Most people don’t even know the great achievements of my life, and I have to tell you I find that extraordinary2400:01:51,699 –> 00:01:58,500How can it be that so much of what I did accounts for so little today?2500:01:59,680 –> 00:02:01,680Let me tell you about myself2600:02:02,500 –> 00:02:08,820Herod was a common enough name and my time. I like the name Smith is today, I suppose2700:02:08,820 –> 00:02:15,779Actually, there are three Herod’s in your New Testament. There’s herod agrippa2800:02:15,779 –> 00:02:21,380That was the one that Paul almost persuaded to become a Christian. He was my grabs on2900:02:22,580 –> 00:02:30,139Then there was herod antipas Luke called him Herod the Tetra that’s my son by a different wife3000:02:30,300 –> 00:02:37,940Of course, he was the one who beheaded John the Baptist and he also once had a meeting with Jesus3100:02:39,179 –> 00:02:43,919But I’m the one who was known as Herod the Great and3200:02:44,580 –> 00:02:45,399quite frankly3300:02:45,399 –> 00:02:51,039I see it as a title fully deserved and to cut a long story short3400:02:51,639 –> 00:02:56,520The Romans Senate gave me the title king of the Jews3500:02:56,520 –> 00:03:00,179I was the first to be given that title by Rome3600:03:00,179 –> 00:03:05,059I was put in charge then of the whole area of judea and beyond in fact3700:03:06,220 –> 00:03:08,740You would have to go back a thousand years3800:03:08,979 –> 00:03:12,360Before my time all the way back to the time of King Solomon3900:03:12,500 –> 00:03:17,539to find the last Jewish king who ruled over such large territory, and4000:03:18,460 –> 00:03:21,500I ruled for 33 years and4100:03:22,460 –> 00:03:26,160Throughout that time there was peace and there was stability4200:03:27,779 –> 00:03:30,339Of course it took a while to establish order4300:03:31,059 –> 00:03:34,160The first thing that I had to sort out was the religious leaders4400:03:34,160 –> 00:03:37,179I noticed by the way just in my visit from your papers4500:03:37,199 –> 00:03:39,740You still have problems with religious extremists4600:03:40,699 –> 00:03:45,100Well, I found that a lot of trouble originated in the temple, so I dealt with it firmly4700:03:46,119 –> 00:03:48,119Here’s what I did4800:03:48,179 –> 00:03:53,419there were 72 priests in our ruling group called the Sanhedrin I4900:03:54,940 –> 00:03:59,339Eliminated 45 of them that focused the minds of the rest5000:04:00,779 –> 00:04:03,940Then I established a new inner circle5100:04:04,600 –> 00:04:09,460Called the chief priests now you’ll have read about them in your New Testament5200:04:10,600 –> 00:04:17,619Did you know that that’s one of my contributions to history? Well, there were no chief priests in the Old Testament. This was my idea I5300:04:18,720 –> 00:04:24,600Established the chief priests a tight inner group of past and potentially future high priests5400:04:24,600 –> 00:04:28,619Who would be an inner circle firmly under my control in fact?5500:04:28,920 –> 00:04:30,920Actually kept their robes5600:04:31,440 –> 00:04:37,959Under lock and key and I did that for a reason you see I wanted religion5700:04:38,399 –> 00:04:41,739to be the servant of the state I5800:04:43,119 –> 00:04:48,140Have to tell you that the city of Jerusalem was transformed under my leadership. I5900:04:49,359 –> 00:04:56,679Love architecture and I love building on a grand scale so in my time in Jerusalem. I put up theaters I6000:04:57,480 –> 00:05:02,739Built a vast hippodrome where we were able to race horses and chariots6100:05:04,079 –> 00:05:07,959we held athletics meetings in the stadium in fact I6200:05:08,579 –> 00:05:15,480Instituted games in Jerusalem being held every five years I was an athlete myself. Did you know that I was a wrestler and6300:05:17,200 –> 00:05:20,940All this building of course meant that there was full employment and full employment6400:05:21,019 –> 00:05:25,140along with peace and stability meant it was great for the economy and6500:05:25,779 –> 00:05:33,000You would think that after all these achievements I would be the most admired King in history. Huh some hope I6600:05:34,019 –> 00:05:37,040Have never received the credit I deserve I6700:05:38,100 –> 00:05:40,739Was feared I was respected6800:05:41,619 –> 00:05:43,619But never loved6900:05:44,640 –> 00:05:50,619But late in my reign I came up with an idea that I thought had the potential to change all of that7000:05:51,359 –> 00:05:56,679You say all of my new building projects made the temple look7100:05:56,980 –> 00:06:04,579really rather shabby and you have to understand that for the Jewish people the temple was the single most important building in their city the7200:06:05,140 –> 00:06:10,160Original one was magnificent built by Solomon. That was the pride of the city7300:06:11,100 –> 00:06:15,739But of course after the city was destroyed and they came back from 70 years in exile7400:06:16,239 –> 00:06:20,440Funds were tight and so they were only able to put up something about half the size7500:06:21,940 –> 00:06:24,440Now with all of my building redevelopment7600:06:24,600 –> 00:06:31,279Going on around the temple was beginning to look rather down in the hill and that’s when I had my idea7700:06:31,279 –> 00:06:33,320I decided that my legacy7800:06:34,440 –> 00:06:39,959Would be a new temple on a grand scale even bigger7900:06:40,720 –> 00:06:43,959Than the one built by Solomon it would be known as8000:06:44,720 –> 00:06:46,720Herod’s temple8100:06:46,920 –> 00:06:51,600It would of course win the hearts and the minds of the people and it would stand out as one of the8200:06:52,000 –> 00:06:54,260lasting wonders of the world8300:06:55,880 –> 00:07:02,959But my greatest achievement of course was to keep the peace as long as I was in Jerusalem there was very little trouble8400:07:04,040 –> 00:07:06,040the Romans were happy and8500:07:06,679 –> 00:07:08,679So there were no soldiers8600:07:09,279 –> 00:07:11,279No, taxes8700:07:11,600 –> 00:07:14,339No foreign administrators not in my day8800:07:14,720 –> 00:07:17,739I was the face of the Pax Romana8900:07:18,980 –> 00:07:21,260the Roman peace I9000:07:22,459 –> 00:07:24,459maintained order9100:07:25,119 –> 00:07:27,119But you know as soon as I died9200:07:27,940 –> 00:07:29,940It all fell apart9300:07:30,179 –> 00:07:32,600My sons were hopeless9400:07:33,820 –> 00:07:36,519Didn’t have the first clue about running a kingdom9500:07:37,739 –> 00:07:42,899so it wasn’t long after I died before the Romans had to send in the army and9600:07:43,619 –> 00:07:48,619And with the army came the taxes and then the whole wretched system of tax collectors9700:07:49,380 –> 00:07:55,359Extorting from the Jewish people you’ve read about all of that in your New Testament of course all of that happened after my time9800:07:56,820 –> 00:07:58,820And then they sent in another man9900:07:59,660 –> 00:08:02,820Pontius pilot what a weakling he was10000:08:03,660 –> 00:08:08,440Why they chose him? I haven’t the faintest idea he couldn’t make a decision to save himself10100:08:09,059 –> 00:08:10,260And10200:08:10,260 –> 00:08:13,339I know that the story you want to hear from me is10300:08:13,880 –> 00:08:16,359What happened when Jesus was born?10400:08:17,079 –> 00:08:19,600And isn’t that the strangest thing?10500:08:20,739 –> 00:08:27,799That the one thing I am remembered for after all my achievements in life is my response to Jesus10600:08:28,399 –> 00:08:34,080You’re listening to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and Herod’s story one of our Christmas stories10700:08:34,840 –> 00:08:39,599Don’t forget if you ever miss one of the series you can always catch up or go back and listen again online10800:08:39,979 –> 00:08:43,640Come to our website open the Bible org. UK10900:08:43,940 –> 00:08:50,059you can also find us as a podcast and those are on all the main podcast sites search for open the Bible UK and11000:08:50,400 –> 00:08:54,679Subscribe if you want to receive regular updates back to Herod’s story now11100:08:54,700 –> 00:09:02,219Here’s Colin the one thing. I am remembered for after all my achievements in life is my response to Jesus11200:09:04,099 –> 00:09:08,719As if that were more important than anything else I accomplished in all of my life11300:09:11,119 –> 00:09:14,440Anyway it all started for me when I heard rumors11400:09:15,599 –> 00:09:18,020That some foreigners had arrived in Jerusalem11500:09:18,880 –> 00:09:22,719It’s a big city, but I had my means of keeping my fingers on the pulse11600:09:23,479 –> 00:09:26,460Information is power and I always had plenty of it11700:09:27,280 –> 00:09:32,200The foreigners were peddling some story about someone who was born King of the Jews11800:09:32,359 –> 00:09:37,080Well that was the title that the Romans had given to me, so I was not too well-pleased to hear that11900:09:38,280 –> 00:09:46,039The truth is that nobody in Jerusalem was pleased to hear that these people had endured years of one leader after another12000:09:46,619 –> 00:09:51,479Claiming to have leadership and claiming to have authority, seizing power and the right to rule12100:09:51,859 –> 00:09:55,280Nobody wanted to go back to the instability of that12200:09:56,280 –> 00:10:02,359So I knew that we had a problem brewing, and I was determined that I would deal with it decisively12300:10:02,640 –> 00:10:05,260There are always elements in society12400:10:06,059 –> 00:10:11,460dissidents looking for some cause to champion and upset the status quo and12500:10:11,859 –> 00:10:15,900Besides, I was suspicious about all of these foreigners12600:10:16,799 –> 00:10:18,840I mean, why would12700:10:19,080 –> 00:10:24,460with Royal Blood be so interested in coming to meet with a child?12800:10:25,080 –> 00:10:27,559supposedly claiming to be a future king12900:10:28,080 –> 00:10:30,200Was all very suspicious to me13000:10:31,880 –> 00:10:39,219So my first move was to call together my inner circle of the chief priests together with the teachers of the law13100:10:40,340 –> 00:10:45,400The central point in our religion. You will know this well is that God had promised a deliverer13200:10:46,119 –> 00:10:51,359The Old Testament is full of these promises about one who was known as the Messiah13300:10:52,219 –> 00:10:55,940This was the central hope of all people13400:10:56,500 –> 00:11:02,200So I called in the scholars and I asked them where is Messiah to be born13500:11:03,520 –> 00:11:05,520They see that’s who I think13600:11:06,159 –> 00:11:13,260Why study the Bible for yourself if you have professionals to do it for you? That’s what I see13700:11:13,380 –> 00:11:15,099Yet13800:11:15,099 –> 00:11:17,099They didn’t hesitate for a moment13900:11:18,260 –> 00:11:22,080Bethlehem in Judea they said and then they gave me chapter and verse14000:11:23,299 –> 00:11:27,940Apparently a prophet by the name of Micah had talked about this 800 years before14100:11:28,400 –> 00:11:34,299But you Bethlehem in the land of Judea you will by no means be the least but out of you will come one who will14200:11:34,299 –> 00:11:36,460Shepherd my people Israel, so that was clear14300:11:37,080 –> 00:11:39,080We had a location14400:11:40,080 –> 00:11:44,200The next question was to get a fix on the time14500:11:45,840 –> 00:11:49,619So for that I invited the foreigners over to the palace14600:11:49,640 –> 00:11:56,580I told them that I had heard these stories about a royal child and that I wanted to take them into my confidence in this14700:11:56,580 –> 00:11:58,520matter14800:11:58,520 –> 00:12:01,580Obviously I said if the Messiah has been born he will have enemies14900:12:02,219 –> 00:12:06,640He will need to be protected and I am in a position to give this protection15000:12:07,239 –> 00:12:12,559So I said I also need to find him. And of course if Messiah has come I will want to worship him, too. I15100:12:13,359 –> 00:12:16,760Gave them strict instructions to continue their search after all15200:12:16,760 –> 00:12:19,340Why should I bother to do it when they were already so enthusiastic?15300:12:19,520 –> 00:12:23,799and I told them to report to me as soon as they found him I15400:12:24,979 –> 00:12:26,619emphasized the need for15500:12:26,619 –> 00:12:31,940confidentiality and I sent them on their way and then just as they were leaving I said, oh by the way15600:12:32,340 –> 00:12:33,979The15700:12:33,979 –> 00:12:39,140Star that you mentioned when did you first see it? Oh, they said it was about two years ago. And15800:12:40,000 –> 00:12:42,299That gave me the bit of information that I really15900:12:42,960 –> 00:12:44,799wanted from them16000:12:44,799 –> 00:12:46,799two years16100:12:47,179 –> 00:12:53,780See now I had a time as well as a place. We were looking for a male child in Bethlehem16200:12:54,859 –> 00:12:57,859under the age of two, I16300:12:58,039 –> 00:13:00,039I16400:13:00,239 –> 00:13:07,340Had our people watch for the foreigners when they came back on their journey home through Jerusalem the time passed and they were never seen16500:13:09,619 –> 00:13:14,880Eventually, I realized that I had been double-crossed and that made me mad I16600:13:16,900 –> 00:13:21,900Asked for an estimate as to how many children there would be under the age of two in Bethlehem16700:13:22,520 –> 00:13:27,820It was just a small town and I was told probably a dozen maybe 20 30 at the most16800:13:29,159 –> 00:13:31,260So I called in the security people. I16900:13:32,299 –> 00:13:35,419Told them there was a threat to national security17000:13:36,020 –> 00:13:39,260Through a child under the age of two in Bethlehem17100:13:39,260 –> 00:13:44,280I told them to deal with the problem which they did with their usual17200:13:44,580 –> 00:13:46,580efficiency17300:13:47,159 –> 00:13:51,039And shortly after that I died17400:13:53,099 –> 00:13:55,099That was two thousand years ago17500:13:56,599 –> 00:13:58,599So I’ve had a lot of time to think17600:14:00,119 –> 00:14:06,099And I see now that I missed some things that should have been obvious I17700:14:07,840 –> 00:14:13,500Mean this business about the star if it was true then, God’s hand was in it17800:14:14,500 –> 00:14:18,739So in trying to rid the world of Jesus, I was actually fighting God17900:14:20,500 –> 00:14:22,500The truth is I still am18000:14:24,059 –> 00:14:28,340Not because I want to but because I cannot stop18100:14:30,520 –> 00:14:31,820And18200:14:31,820 –> 00:14:34,619Then if Jesus was really the Messiah18300:14:35,580 –> 00:14:39,299Promised in the Scriptures. Why was I trying to destroy him anyway?18400:14:40,299 –> 00:14:47,299Messiah is the light of all people the hope of the world. Why was I fighting the one who could bring hope?18500:14:50,080 –> 00:14:54,159Because my information on what happened since then is rather sketchy18600:14:55,739 –> 00:14:59,239So you probably know more about this than I do18700:15:01,140 –> 00:15:03,539But I have been told that he survived18800:15:03,640 –> 00:15:05,640Because his family survived18900:15:05,760 –> 00:15:09,719that he was taken by his parents out of Bethlehem and19000:15:10,140 –> 00:15:17,179Hidden safely in Egypt. How they knew to take him out of Bethlehem at that time is quite beyond. Me. I19100:15:19,179 –> 00:15:22,500Have heard that thirty years later he began a public ministry19200:15:23,919 –> 00:15:26,799That he spoke as nobody else has ever spoken19300:15:27,659 –> 00:15:29,659That he performed miracles19400:15:29,880 –> 00:15:33,960Demonstrating the power of God touching this sorry world directly19500:15:35,940 –> 00:15:37,940Of course our people19600:15:38,419 –> 00:15:40,419the Herodians19700:15:40,960 –> 00:15:42,960They worked together19800:15:43,239 –> 00:15:47,760with the Pharisees to do what I had tried before and19900:15:48,880 –> 00:15:50,880in the end20000:15:50,960 –> 00:15:52,960He was crucified20100:15:52,960 –> 00:15:54,960but20200:15:55,200 –> 00:15:57,200Then here’s the astonishing thing20300:15:58,539 –> 00:16:00,539He rose from the dead20400:16:02,659 –> 00:16:06,580Rumor down there has it that his name is being proclaimed all over the earth and20500:16:08,119 –> 00:16:12,719That those who believe in him are finding forgiveness and hope and peace and joy20600:16:14,799 –> 00:16:16,799You know the strangest thing20700:16:17,320 –> 00:16:23,020In 2000 years down there. I have not yet met a single person who believes in him20800:16:25,179 –> 00:16:27,179There’s a rumor20900:16:27,820 –> 00:16:32,239The one day, we will all see him and be brought to an account21000:16:33,840 –> 00:16:36,280Though no one down there believes it yet. I21100:16:38,239 –> 00:16:44,200Also heard that before he was born an angel appeared to his mother and21200:16:44,419 –> 00:16:48,400And said he will be great21300:16:50,080 –> 00:16:54,780That always sticks with me of course because that was my name Herod the Great21400:16:57,219 –> 00:17:03,539The frustrating thing, you know, is that what I accomplished doesn’t seem that great now21500:17:05,619 –> 00:17:08,280You know, I died before the temple was even finished21600:17:09,260 –> 00:17:15,239Actually way before it was finished because the work seemed to slow down after I died, you know, it took them another21700:17:15,819 –> 00:17:17,359Sixty years21800:17:17,359 –> 00:17:20,119To complete the temple after I died. I21900:17:20,959 –> 00:17:23,439Mean you think you have problems with slow working?22000:17:26,079 –> 00:17:33,280When it was finished it stood in all its splendor for just eight years22100:17:33,540 –> 00:17:35,540Years22200:17:36,640 –> 00:17:42,839And then the Romans raised it to the ground they did not leave one stone on top of another22300:17:44,979 –> 00:17:48,219So much for my legacy to the world22400:17:51,219 –> 00:17:54,660So sometimes I really wonder what came of my life22500:17:56,979 –> 00:17:59,579There is no greatness in Herod22600:17:59,780 –> 00:18:03,219But there is in Jesus22700:18:05,199 –> 00:18:07,660I find myself thinking sometimes about22800:18:08,439 –> 00:18:11,520Something that as I other prophets said about him22900:18:12,040 –> 00:18:18,300He will see of the fruit of the travail of his soul Isaiah said about Jesus, and he will be23000:18:18,880 –> 00:18:20,800Satisfied I23100:18:20,800 –> 00:18:24,079Wish with all my heart I could say that23200:18:24,280 –> 00:18:26,280And23300:18:27,140 –> 00:18:29,439Then I think about his name23400:18:30,839 –> 00:18:32,839Jesus23500:18:32,880 –> 00:18:35,119It means savior you know that23600:18:37,060 –> 00:18:45,500Apparently an angel told Joseph you shall give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins I23700:18:46,900 –> 00:18:51,439Don’t tell you I never thought very much throughout my entire life about sins23800:18:52,400 –> 00:18:54,400Never gave it a thought23900:18:56,500 –> 00:19:00,699But now I live with my sins I24000:19:02,719 –> 00:19:05,459Live in a world of anger and24100:19:06,319 –> 00:19:12,900Frustration and regret and I cannot get out of it, and I cannot get it out of me. I24200:19:13,800 –> 00:19:17,540Can find no release these things consume me24300:19:18,000 –> 00:19:20,000See24400:19:20,060 –> 00:19:22,380See that’s what happens when you die24500:19:24,540 –> 00:19:30,660Whatever is at the heart of you becomes the whole of you24600:19:33,780 –> 00:19:35,780Thing is24700:19:36,079 –> 00:19:38,579It could all have been so different24800:19:40,180 –> 00:19:46,079It’s clear to me now that Jesus mission was not to take over my throne his kingdom is not of this world24900:19:47,959 –> 00:19:51,099What he could have done is made me a better king25000:19:52,560 –> 00:19:55,839He could have given me a different eternity25100:19:57,520 –> 00:20:05,160It seems from what I’m hearing that he has done that for millions of others already and he’s still doing it25200:20:07,500 –> 00:20:13,000You know, there is one verse in your Bible that really haunts me25300:20:13,880 –> 00:20:15,880You probably know it. Well25400:20:15,939 –> 00:20:17,939It’s the one that says25500:20:18,219 –> 00:20:20,219He came to his own25600:20:22,140 –> 00:20:27,479But his own received him not see that’s my story I25700:20:29,119 –> 00:20:31,119Was one of his own and25800:20:32,420 –> 00:20:34,699I did not receive him25900:20:37,020 –> 00:20:43,739Now I find myself like someone standing in the rain outside a large house filled with light and music26000:20:44,020 –> 00:20:46,699where people are enjoying the party I26100:20:46,939 –> 00:20:53,819Hear the music of sins forgiven, but I am outside and I cannot get in26200:20:56,479 –> 00:21:00,400He came to his own and his own received him not26300:21:03,040 –> 00:21:05,040But26400:21:05,520 –> 00:21:12,260To as many as receive him he gives the right to become children of God26500:21:14,479 –> 00:21:18,380Some of you of course already know far more about this than I ever will26600:21:20,040 –> 00:21:25,719But even I can see now that God was reaching out to every person in Jesus and26700:21:25,719 –> 00:21:32,280That those who welcome him enter into a new relationship with him that begins now and will continue26800:21:32,339 –> 00:21:34,380into all eternity26900:21:34,380 –> 00:21:40,479It will change the nature of death. It will change the destiny that lies beyond for you27000:21:40,819 –> 00:21:44,459znajduert sich in diesem neuen Leben27100:21:44,459 –> 00:21:46,459I could’ve welcomed him27200:21:48,260 –> 00:21:51,579I could have believed in him. I could have worshipped him I27300:21:51,660 –> 00:21:54,119Could have been with him now27400:21:56,680 –> 00:22:01,560It’s like all your life he’s reaching out to you27500:22:02,699 –> 00:22:06,760But then when you pass beyond death he becomes beyond your reach27600:22:07,359 –> 00:22:12,699So I wish with all my heart that I could be where you are right now27700:22:14,280 –> 00:22:18,420And if I could be where you are right now, this is what I would do27800:22:18,420 –> 00:22:20,760I would say to him in simple faith27900:22:21,300 –> 00:22:24,619Whatever this life is, take it28000:22:25,459 –> 00:22:28,079Make it what you want it to be28100:22:28,819 –> 00:22:35,040Make me one of your children and lead me into your everlasting life28200:22:37,760 –> 00:22:39,439By the way28300:22:39,439 –> 00:22:40,939I’ve been told28400:22:42,180 –> 00:22:49,380that every one of those children whose lives were taken in Bethlehem are with him28500:22:51,020 –> 00:22:56,680And even now the full potential of every life is being fulfilled28600:22:58,079 –> 00:23:04,939I’ve been told that there are already there more people than anyone could number and that many many more are coming28700:23:04,959 –> 00:23:06,180I28800:23:06,219 –> 00:23:09,400Hope you will be among them28900:23:11,439 –> 00:23:13,439It’s too late for me29000:23:15,020 –> 00:23:17,020It is not too late for29100:23:18,060 –> 00:23:20,060you29200:23:20,459 –> 00:23:24,859Well, this is pastor Colin and it’s not too late for you29300:23:25,439 –> 00:23:29,359Whoever you are and whatever you may have done in your life29400:23:29,359 –> 00:23:33,300It is not too late for you to come to Jesus Christ today29500:23:33,920 –> 00:23:35,400the Savior29600:23:35,400 –> 00:23:39,619Has his arms open to receive all who will come to him?29700:23:39,640 –> 00:23:42,800Here’s his promise and you must take this personally29800:23:42,900 –> 00:23:47,660He says whoever comes to me. I will never drive them away29900:23:47,699 –> 00:23:53,079You come to Jesus today and he will receive you come to him in repentance30000:23:53,359 –> 00:23:55,359Come to him in faith30100:23:55,500 –> 00:23:59,599You know, the Bible says today if you hear his voice30200:24:00,479 –> 00:24:01,739Do not30300:24:01,800 –> 00:24:03,719Harden your heart30400:24:03,719 –> 00:24:07,640And that was Herod’s tragic story. He hardened his heart30500:24:08,000 –> 00:24:10,400don’t make that mistake today as30600:24:10,859 –> 00:24:17,359Your eyes are open towards the Lord. Jesus Christ. Don’t harden your heart you come to Him30700:24:17,359 –> 00:24:22,380It’s not too late. The Lord Jesus Christ is ready to receive you today30800:24:23,680 –> 00:24:27,239Thank You Colin. Maybe as you’ve been listening to the message today30900:24:27,300 –> 00:24:31,459You’ve heard God calling you into a relationship with Jesus Christ31000:24:31,479 –> 00:24:37,239You’d like to know more about how to enter into that relationship by the saving grace of God31100:24:37,239 –> 00:24:44,219And if so, I hope you’ll seek out a trusted Christian friend or family member or maybe go along to a Christian church fellowship31200:24:44,699 –> 00:24:49,219Take time to speak with the folk there, the pastor or simply members of that fellowship31300:24:49,500 –> 00:24:57,020Tell them about your journey to discover faith yourself you’ll find they’ll be ready to pray with you to help you make that step31400:24:57,900 –> 00:25:02,260or if you’re not yet ready to make that step and still have questions, and we all have questions31500:25:02,859 –> 00:25:08,339There may well be a Bible study course or a home group or an alpha program that you can join31600:25:08,640 –> 00:25:13,800For Open the Bible and pastor Colin Smith, I’m David pic, and I hope you’ll join us again next time31700:25:19,319 –> 00:25:20,619Sometimes people say31800:25:20,619 –> 00:25:22,920If only an angel would appear to me31900:25:23,040 –> 00:25:24,339Then I’d believe32000:25:24,339 –> 00:25:28,500Find out if that would really make a difference. Next time on Open the Bible