Light Over Darkness

To the ending of the ending of the ending of the ending of the ending of ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending

Thank you.

CONGREGATIONS

Let me tell a story.

Let me tell a story.

Let me tell a story.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

He's got meetings coming up where he'll be able to address people that we wouldn't normally

be able to address.

He'll be speaking in the Parliament, Scottish Parliament in just over a week's time.

So remember him in that role as well and pray for him.

We'll hear maybe a little bit more about what that role entails in the fellowship afterwards.

Thanks too to all who have supported the communion weekend in many different ways

and opening up your homes for fellowship and attending the services and supporting in the months as well

in so many different ways.

Very thankful to all who have provided in any way over the weekend.

We're also delighted to welcome into membership nine new members,

four by certificate and five by profession.

We do pray for them that they will settle into the congregation here and be a blessing to us.

We have Murdo and Maddie Morrison and Angus and Isbell MacDonald joining by certificate.

And we also have by profession Chrissy Murray, Levi Morrison, Aaron Smith, Fraser and Amy Lipock.

So please do continue to remember them in prayer.

We give thanks to God.

And I know that there are many others who would desire that as well.

And our desire for you is that you will come and put your trust in the Lord.

And we give thanks to God for his continual reminders to us that he is a gracious God,

a generous God, a faithful God.

And we look to him in these days.

So I'm going to ask Alistair now to lead us in our worship.

Again, to have our eyes fixed on Jesus and the wonder of all that he has done for us.

Again, thank you, Calamurto, for your kind welcome and introduction this evening.

We're going to cast our eyes heavenwards as we take to our lips the words of Psalm 36.

Psalm 36 on page 44.

We're going to begin our worship with the words,

Your steadfast love is great, O Lord.

It reaches heaven high.

Your faithfulness is wonderful, extending to the sky.

Singing on to the end of the verse, Mark 10.

To those who know you as their God, your steadfast love impart.

Maintain your righteousness to those of pure and upright heart.

Psalm 36 from verse 5 to the verse Mark 10, five stanzas.

And we'll stand to praise God.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

CHOIR SINGS

to those

of good

and of

right heart.

We're going to bow our heads

and we're going to join our hearts together

as we approach our Heavenly Father

in prayer.

Lord our God,

Father, Son and Holy

Spirit, we bow

before you as we seek

to offer this evening sacrifice

of worship to you,

conscious that you are God

and we are not.

We pray that it would be with

a sense of deep reverence

that we would approach

your holy throne this evening

and yet simultaneously

with a holy boldness,

recognising that you have

given to us this great

invitation to draw near to you.

And not simply have you given

to us that invitation,

you've given to us a promise

that those who draw near to you,

you will in turn

draw near to us.

And we recognise that

the fulfilment of that promise

transforms our gathering

this evening.

because it means that we're not

simply here in the presence

of family and friends,

perhaps regulars and visitors

to this congregation.

But as we seek to draw near to you

and you in turn have promised

to draw near to us,

then we are in the presence

of the living, almighty God.

We pray therefore that we would have

that stillness that comes

from recognising that you are here

watching,

that you are here listening,

that you are the one who walks

among the golden candlesticks,

you walk among the congregations

that bear your name,

you know all the different

matters that are unfolding,

all the different undercurrents

that may be present,

you know everything.

And so we pray that this evening

we would have that sense

of humility

and yet boldness,

that sense of recognition

of our unworthiness

to have this privilege

and yet simultaneously

a genuine sense of joy

that we can come before

the living and true God

and offer this sacrifice

of worship to you.

We pray, Heavenly Father,

that you would grant to us

the very real leading

of your own Holy Spirit

this evening

through all the different

component parts of our service.

As we sing your praises,

we ask that we would be kept

from merely articulating words,

but that our focus would be

on the one whose name

we are praising.

As we have thought

of your steadfast love,

your covenant commitment

to your people,

the fact that you are the God

who keeps your word,

that we can absolutely

depend upon you.

We thank you

that we can praise you

in such a way

for your steadfast love

and we pray that

as we praise this evening,

we would do so

with our eyes fixed upon you

as the one who is worthy

of our praise

and of our adoration.

We pray that your Holy Spirit

would enable us

as we pray,

as we seek to know

how to approach

the living and true God

and how we seek

to ask from you

what we do not deserve,

but yet what you are

so willing to give,

that you would do us good

this evening,

that we would know

a sense of your favour,

of your smile

resting over us

as we seek you

above all else.

We thank you

for your word

and we pray,

Father,

that as we read

and study

and submit ourselves

to the teaching

of your word

this evening,

we pray that we would

do so with an eagerness

to hear what you have

to say to us

and that we would do so

recognising that

your word

is the food

for our souls,

it is the direction

for our lives,

it is the way

in which we hear

what you have to say

to us

and we pray,

therefore,

that we would be

eagerly anticipating

what we may learn

of our Saviour

as we open

your word tonight.

We thank you

that your word

reminds us

that all of Scripture

points to our Saviour

and so we pray

that we may be

able to see

and to savour again

our precious dear Lord.

As we have thought

much of him

in these days,

we pray that that would be

what we will do

for the rest of our days,

that we will think

much of our Saviour.

Thank you for the opportunity

to be able to focus in

through word and sacrament

on that great cost

of our salvation

this morning

and we pray,

Father,

that it would be

even now

still

our souls

being fed

from the privileges

that have been ours.

Father,

we confess

before you

that

as we

see our Saviour,

we realise

that

in comparison

to him,

we are flawed

and we are

individuals

who are polluted

in every different way.

As we think

of what your word says

when Isaiah recognised

that he was a man

of unclean lips

as Peter recognised

before

the Lord himself

that he was

a sinful man

that he didn't deserve

to be there,

we realise

that that is us,

we do not deserve

your goodness

your mercy,

your grace

toward us.

We do not deserve it

because not simply

of the sins

that we committed

before we came

to a living knowledge

of Jesus Christ

but even the sins

that we have committed

since.

And Father,

we cannot help

but be grieved

by them

because we know

that it is possible

for us to grieve

your spirit

by the way

in which we live.

And so we pray,

that we would know

real,

true confession

again this evening

and we pray

that again

we would know

the delight

that you are faithful,

you are just,

you will forgive

and cleanse

from all of our

unrighteousness

when we come

confessing our sins.

Father,

thank you

that your knowledge

of each person

in here

is encyclopedic.

There is nothing

about any one of us

that you don't know.

You know those

who have been eagerly

anticipating gathering

tonight

and you know those

Father who have come

to this place

and they don't want

to be here

and yet

you have brought us

here

for this divine

appointment tonight

and we pray

that for each one

of us

it would be

to do us good

that we might

see the wonder

of who the Saviour is

and that we might

all be irresistibly

drawn to him

as we bow

before him

in humble worship

and adoration.

Please guide us,

please lead us

and please accept us

for we come

through that name

which is most precious

to you than any other

in the name of your Son

and our Saviour.

Amen.

We're going to further

praise God.

This time we're going to

sing in Psalm number 27

singing from the

sing Psalms version

Psalm 27

on page 31

Psalm 27

page 31

we're singing

from the beginning

down to the end

of the verse

marked 5

that's 6 stanzas

Psalm 27

page 31

the Lord's my Saviour

and my light

who will make me dismayed

the Lord's the stronghold

of my life

why should I

be afraid

and so on

down to the end

of the verse

marked 5

6 stanzas

and again we'll stand

to praise God.

the Lord's my Saviour

and my light

who will make me dismayed

the Lord's the stronghold of my life

why should I be afraid

of sin

You are set to be to take my life away.

My love, my son, is not my foes, will stumble in my day.

Although I'm not the end, my heart will feel no pain.

Oh, what against me is true, the lies I will lift up my hand.

What against me is true, the lies I will lift up my hand.

I'll flee before the Lord, and this I'll seek always.

As I may come within God's house, I'll dwell there all my years.

Back on the beauty of the Lord, I constantly may gaze.

I'll flee before the Lord, and this I'll flee before the Lord.

In His wings

For in His square

May He will keep me

Safe in troubled days

Within His tent

He'll shelter me

And on the Lord

Me raised

Our scripture reading this evening

is taken from the Gospel of John and chapter 12.

John chapter 12, we're going to take up a reading at verse 20.

John 12 · chapter mention

John chapter 12 at verse 20.

John 12 · chapter mention

John chapter 12, verse 20.

John 12:20

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast

were some Greeks.

So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee

and asked him,

Sir, we wish to see Jesus.

Philip went and told Andrew.

Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

And Jesus answered them,

The hour has come

for the Son of Man

to be glorified.

Truly, truly, I say to you,

unless a grain of wheat

falls into the earth and dies,

it remains alone.

But if it dies,

it bears much fruit.

Whoever loves his life

loses it.

And whoever hates his life

in this world

will keep it for eternal life.

If anyone serves me,

he must follow me.

And where I am,

there will my servant be also.

If anyone serves me,

the Father

will honour him.

Now

is my soul

troubled.

And what shall I say?

Father,

save me from this hour?

But for this purpose

I have come

to this hour.

Father,

glorify your name.

Then a voice

came from heaven.

I have glorified it

and I will glorify it

again.

The crowd that had stood there

and heard it

said that it thundered.

Others said,

An angel

has spoken to him.

Jesus answered,

This voice

has come

for your sake,

not mine.

Now is the judgment

of this world.

Now will the ruler

of this world

be cast out.

And I,

when I am lifted up

from the earth,

will draw all people

to myself.

He said this

to show

by what kind of death

he was going to die.

So the crowd

answered him,

We've heard from the law

that the Christ

remains forever.

How can you say

that the Son of Man

must be lifted up?

Who is this

Son of Man?

So Jesus said to them,

The light

is among you

for a little while longer.

Walk

while you have the light,

lest darkness

overtake you.

The one

who walks

in the darkness

does not know

what he is going.

While you have the light,

believe in the light,

so that you may become

sons

of light.

The grass withers

and the flowers fade,

but the word of our God

stands

forever.

Let's once more

bow our heads

as we approach

our Heavenly Father

in prayer.

We pray, Heavenly Father,

that your

blessing

might rest upon

this congregation

and its witness

in the months

and years

and decades

to come.

We thank you

for the witness

of this congregation

over many, many years.

We thank you

for the way

in which it has

been used

by you

to draw

many people

to the Lord Jesus Christ.

And we pray, Father,

that what has been done

in the past

would be merely

the beginning

of what will yet happen

with more and more people

coming to hear

of the Lord Jesus Christ

and being drawn

by the Holy Spirit

into a living relationship

with him.

We do thank you

for Calamurto

and all who serve

alongside him

in either official

or unofficial capacities,

all who are willing

to give

of their time

and of the gifts

that you've provided

them with.

To serve

in whatever capacity

within the congregation.

We pray, Father,

that you would encourage

all who serve

in whatever way

that might be.

We pray especially, Father,

for any who may feel

that at times

their service

is overlooked.

Father,

we pray that you would

make it very real

to them

that there is no service

for you

that is ever overlooked.

You are the one

who sees

and you are the one

who will reward.

We pray, Father,

that as the people

of God

in this congregation

mingle

mingle within

the people

of this town

and beyond,

whether that is

with their neighbours

or with their work colleagues

or in whatever other

front line they may have,

we pray

that what might be seen

from your people

is more and more

a reflection

of the Lord Jesus Christ

whom your people

here love.

We pray that that

would be what will draw

men and women,

boys and girls.

We pray that that's

what the people of God

would be known for

in this place,

known for their

similarity

and the resemblance

that they have

to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Father,

we long that that

would be the case

not simply here

but throughout

every Christian

congregation

up and down

this land

who holds

your word

to be true

and who seeks

to portray

Jesus Christ

as the crucified

yet risen

exalted

and returning

Saviour.

We pray that we

would see days

in our country

once again

whereby young and old

would be drawn

by the power of the Spirit

to the Lord Jesus Christ.

We thank you

for what we are hearing

of our renewed interest

with different age groups

and different demographics

within the country

and we pray,

that as people

seem to be stirring

to the sense

of hopelessness

that a secular

humanist outlook

actually brings,

we ask Father

that you would bring

those who are seeking

into contact

with those

who have a living

relationship with you

so that they may seek

and that they may find

and that they may bow

before the Lord Jesus

as Lord and Saviour.

Father,

we've already mentioned

the fact that you know

each one of us

in here tonight

and so that means

you know everything

that's going on

in our lives

this evening.

You know those

who've come into this place

tonight with many burdens,

perhaps burdens

that are crushing

in their weight,

perhaps burdens

that are so,

so desperately heavy

that they wonder

if they're going

to survive them.

Father,

we thank you

that you have told us

that there is

a great burden bearer

and that there is

an invitation to know

that we can have

the rest

that Jesus alone

can give.

We thank Father

of those who perhaps

have come to this place

tonight with many

different fears,

perhaps those who've come

with unanswered questions,

perhaps those who've come

with doubts and difficulties

that are causing

real problems

in their lives.

Father,

we realise that

we live in a broken world

and the brokenness

caused by sin

manifests itself

in many different ways

and yet,

Father,

we thank you

that there is a remedy

for that brokenness

and that is found

in the Lord Jesus Christ

and so,

please help me

this evening

to communicate

your truth

in the power

of your own Holy Spirit

and help us all

to receive

your word

as it is,

not the word

of any preacher

but the word

of the living God

spoken to us.

Please enable us

to be freed

from all manner

of distraction

of things

that may have happened

or are happening

or may yet happen

in the future.

Help us

for the time

that you have gathered

us together

to have our eyes

focused

on the Lord Jesus Christ,

the one in his name

we pray.

Amen.

Well,

before we study

some of these words

we're going to sing

in Psalm 43

singing from the

Scottish Psalter

Psalm 43

this is on page

number 264

Psalm 43

O send thy light

forth

and thy truth

let them be guides

to me

and bring me

to thine holy hill

even where

thy dwellings be

and so on

to the end of the psalm

Psalm 43

page 246

and verse 3

O send thy light

forth

and thy truth

O send thy light

forth

and thy truth

let them be guides

to me

and bring me

to thy holy hill

in where

thy dwelling's

be

and where

I took

a softer

road

to God

my chief

and choice

in God

in God

my God

thy name

to praise

my heart

my will

and why

why

are

the

and why

will

sing

thoughts

are

now

disquieted

in me

still

still

trust

in God

for him

to praise

good

cause

thy

yet

shall

have

he

of

my

counten

sister

held

my

God

that

doth

me

save

let me invite you to take your Bibles and to have them open at John chapter 12 this evening to words that we read earlier on John chapter 12

John 12 · chapter mention John 12 · chapter mention

and I want us to read again the words of verse 32 John chapter 12 and the words of verse 32 where Jesus amongst other things says and I when I am lifted up from the earth will draw all people to myself

John 12 · chapter mention

you may

you may not know that the scientists in China and in America are having a bit of a competition at present to try and develop the world's strongest magnet

currently China is a magnet that is 800,000 times stronger than the earth's magnetic field

so the earth's magnetic field compass always points north

it's a magnetic field that does that

China has developed a magnet that's 800,000 times stronger than the earth's magnetic field

we're assured by both the Chinese and American scientists that these developments are going to help with our understanding of chemistry and physics and materials

but human nature being what human nature is whatever good discoveries we end up having it tends to be used for things that are less than helpful

but what we find in these words of verse 32 here is actually something that's got an even stronger pulling power than this magnet that the Chinese have been able to develop

that's 800,000 times stronger than the earth's magnetic field

because what we find here in verse 32 is that we've got a drawing power that can draw from thousands of miles away

that can draw from thousands of years ago

right back to a particular location where a particular event took place

whereby outside of Jerusalem the Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory

the one present at the very beginning of time calling into existence all that we see

the giver of life is about to die

the light of the world is about to be extinguished

Jesus says that when he is when he is lifted up from the earth

that he is going to draw all people to himself

and that's what we see

we see people of all ages drawn to Jesus

we see people from all cultures drawn to Jesus

we see people from all generations drawn to Jesus

drawn so that they look to the events of this cross at Calvary

and not just merely with a casual glance at something that's happened and then they move on

but drawn in such a way that when they look and see what Jesus has done

then their lives are transformed

and so the pulling, drawing, captivating appeal of Jesus Christ

when he is declared in all of his glory

it will draw to himself all those whom the Father will call

and tonight we're going to be thinking about this drawing magnetic power

of Jesus

that transforms men, women, boys and girls

that has the power to transform you this evening

if you entered this building without a living relationship with Jesus

as we encounter the power of the gospel

it is that power that can change your life

that can change anyone of our lives

and so this evening we're going to be thinking about this drawing power of Jesus

let's put this into its context

however we need to always make sure we do so

and what we saw on Friday evening

when we looked at the first part of this section of John chapter 12

John 12 · chapter mention

we saw that there was a great request

those folks had come from far away

and they had come with a particular desire

we want to see Jesus

and when Jesus was given this message

he took their arrival as the sign that the hour that had always been in the future

throughout John's gospel as a drum beat

every so often the hour has not yet come

the hour has not yet come

the hour has not yet come

with these Greek visitors

with their request to see Jesus

he now says that the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified

glorified

the hour has come now for the plan of salvation

developed in eternity

enacted in time to move on to its next phase

and this next phase is going to mean that

the people from all the nations of the earth

are going to be

are going to be welcomed

and blessed as they look to Jesus

up until this point Jesus had only been going to the lost sheep of Israel

but now there's this wider perspective

because now the plan of salvation has moved on to a new phase

a critical phase for Jesus

and so the first thing I want us to point out from this passage this evening

is the internal impact of this next phase if you like

of the plan of salvation

and the impact that that has on Jesus

and we have that for us described in verse 27 to verse 29

where it says

now is my soul troubled

and what shall I say

Father save me from this hour

but for this purpose I've come to this hour

Father glorify your name

then a voice came from heaven

I have glorified it

and I will glorify it again

the crowd that stood there and heard it said

that it had thundered

others said

an angel has spoken to him

the eternal impact of this hour coming upon Jesus

there was a sequel last year I think it was

Gladiators 2 movie

some of you may have seen the original Gladiators film

in that film the main character played by an actor called Russell Crowe

in his, in the death scene of the main character

what stood out in that movie was that over about five minutes

you saw this main character dying

and it would go, revert images from him to images of what he's thinking about

and he's walking through fields and there's all this beautiful sunset

and it's all so calm and it's so peaceful

and bit by bit this carries on until eventually death comes

and you know the movies like to portray what death is going to be like

and not necessarily particularly accurately

but that's them

so there you have the main character

in that great, that action adventure as it were

and his death was so calm and so peaceful

and so pleasant and filled with wonderful images

and you think what a contrast to the Lord of Glory

because as the main character of all scripture

we have recorded for us in all four Gospels

that when Jesus was approaching his death

it wasn't nice, calm, relaxing images

there wasn't warm, soothing music in the background

to create just the right atmosphere

there was in the sense of our Saviour

the horror of what was about to unfold

that for our Saviour, when he says here

now is my soul troubled

he's not exaggerating

he is communicating the agitation

that he now experiences

conscious that the hour has now come

this is the same terminology that's used in different occasions

it's used as Jesus saw the impact of death

and what it's done in the household of Lazarus

he's going to use similar words

agitation, trauma as he thinks of the betrayal

in chapter 13

the words are going to be used there as well

but for Jesus, he is now deeply troubled

words that are associated in the original with trauma

why is he so troubled?

because with the hour coming

the time where he is going to become a curse for sin

and be before the holy justice of a sin hating God

well that, instead of being an event well in the future

is now an event that's right up close

and the prospect of standing before a sin hating God

carrying this sin of the world on him

is something that shook him right to his very core

this is a different perspective to what we see of Jesus, isn't it?

because we think of Jesus and the impact of his teaching

and we think of the impact of his ministry

people being made whole again

we think of the control that he's had

and yet now as he comes to a point

where this hour is arriving

for him the full weight of what's about to be unleashed upon him

is coming into focus

and it's not something he's shrugging off

it's something that's leaving him really, really troubled

because he knows he's going to be in a position

where he's never been in before

because not simply the one who had no sin

is now going to become sin as we thought about

but the one who has lived that life of intimate connection with his father

even through his ministry

reflecting the father's words and will

and telling people the father's always with him

he's going to experience

as he stands before this sin hating God

bearing your sin and bearing my sin

he's going to experience a break in that connection

a break in that communion

he's going to sense as if that's no longer there

he's going to cry out

and he's going to say

well my God why have you forsaken me?

he's not even going to have that sense

as we thought of earlier on today

of that fatherly presence

that accompanied him all the way through

so for Jesus here

he's conscious of the time

that he is going to be in a situation

that he's never been in before

and the reason he's going to be in that position

is because of the brokenness of your life

and the brokenness of my life

brokenness caused by sin

caused by our own sin

caused by other people's sin

but nonetheless the brokenness

the sinfulness of our life

he's going to be in that place

to deal with our sin once and for all

he's going to be in that place

so that he can deal with the worst of our secrets

the things that we hope people never find out about

he's going to be in that place

bearing our sin

conscious of the attitudes that we have shown

and the selfishness that's been there

and the way in which we perhaps have used others

and the way in which we perhaps have manipulated

or the way in which we've cruelly dealt with other people

and the way in which we've had excesses in different ways

and all of these things that have evidenced

how we were no longer

or how we were not living in a right relationship with God

all of that was going to be condensed

all of it was going to be concentrated

and all of it was going to be taken by our Saviour

and so the very prospect of this unfolding

was leaving him troubled

little wonder it left him troubled

and so his trouble as this hour is approaching

is a trouble that only he as this infinite being

who could offer this and pay this infinite price

was a trouble that only he could take

and he could deal with for us

and so he makes it clear that his soul is troubled

and into that context he speaks and says

well should I ask the Father to somehow save me from this hour

and of course there is the recognition that he knew

that it was for this hour

he's coming from verse 27

and then he has this prayer

Father glorify your name

and just as Jesus had at the very start of his ministry

this voice from heaven

to encourage and to

and to give to him what he needed at that moment

as he rose from the river Jordan

having been baptized

the Holy Spirit descending upon him

and this voice thundering from heaven

this is my beloved son

in whom I am well pleased

and just as Jesus in

in John 17

as he as he set his face towards Jerusalem

and all that was about to unfold

it was now coming closer

and still there is this word from heaven

and now here

as the hour has now struck

we have this third word from heaven

when the voice from heaven says

I have glorified your name

and I will glorify it again

and so what we're learning here

is that the Father is being glorified

through the ministry of the Son

and so we learned that at the birth of Jesus didn't we?

the very arrival of the Creator God into his creation

to be limited in a time and in a space

for the first time in his existence

to be helpless, to be dependent

well what was the anthem that the angels would sing?

well glory to God in the highest

so there was glory given to the Father

through the very arrival of Jesus into this broken world

and there was glory given to the Father

through the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ

as he taught, as he healed, as he showed back

as he showed by example how to live

as he protected, as he rescued

as he stood up for those who were being mistreated

all of that was bringing glory to the Heavenly Father

and yet there is a sense in which

the ultimate glory to the Father

is going to be the glory that's going to be

expressed at the cross at Calvary

because there at the cross at Calvary

the Father is going to be glorified

because there at the cross at Calvary

we're going to see something about

of the absolute holiness of God

we're going to see something of the absolute justice of God

we're going to see something of the absolute faithfulness of God

we're going to see something of the depth of the very love of God

all of these are on display at Calvary's cross

the holy God who cannot just ignore sin

the just God who has to ensure that justice is done

the God who is faithful, the God who has promised

that someday there would be somebody who would come

who would undo the damage done and brought into this world by Satan

and undo the damage caused by sin once and for all

and on display would be the very love of God

that how God can simultaneously be the one who punishes

and the one who saves at the same time

and so the cross is going to be this great glorification of God the Father

and here we have the Son being very conscious of that

and so on the cross what is unfolding?

well the eternal Son is bringing glory to the Father

and the Father is being glorified through this work

we tend to think of glory

when people are given a platform or put on some podium

or given some spotlight or whatever

and somehow they are exalted in one way or another

whereas here the glory is going to be given

as Jesus is lifted up

but lifted up in an entirely different way

as he's lifted up to die the death that we deserve

and so this hour has come

the internal impact of this hour upon Jesus

is that he's troubled by it

the external impact of this hour

is what Jesus goes on to speak about next

from verse 30 to verse 36

because Jesus speaks that a number of things

are now going to happen

because this hour has come

and a number of things are going to be learned

that now that this hour has come

first of all that judgment is coming

and Jesus sees

now is the judgment of this world

verse 31

now is the judgment of this world

because what's going to unfold at Calvary

is going to make people aware

that actually the biggest problems in humanity

they're not external

and they're not time bound

but they're actually eternal issues

that the big problems of humanity

are not going to be solved by economics

they're not going to be solved by education

it's not going to be solved by environmental improvements

all of which have their place in a particular realm

but not in this realm

because the biggest problems that humanity has

that society has

that if we take it personally

the biggest problems that we have by nature

it's not the problems that are out there

it's the problems that are in here

and this is telling us that

on the cross itself

judgment for this world is going to be there

because what's going to happen on this cross

well the only person who ever walked on this earth

the only person who perfectly loved God

with all of his heart, soul, strength and mind

the only person who perfectly loved his neighbour as himself

the only one who lived a truly perfect life

what did we do to him?

well we killed him didn't we?

what did we do to the Saviour of the world?

well we put him to death

we hung him on a cross

we nailed him to a cross

and we left him there to die

and Jesus is saying that there is no judgment

judgment is coming

and judgment is

it culminates on that work on the cross

the second thing that Jesus sees

by way of an external impact of this hour

now verse 31

will the ruler of this world be cast out?

that what's going to happen on this cross at Calvary

as the Father is glorified

is that this work will simultaneously be fatal to Satan

will be fatal to Satan

that Satan as he thinks

he finally has the eternal Son of God

what he wants him to be

upon a cross

with the weapon that he thinks

is the most suitable weapon

in his arsenal

to destroy Jesus Christ once and for all

is going to find out

that what he thinks is his greatest moment of triumph

is actually the moment of his ultimate defeat

because Jesus has told us

didn't he in John's Gospel a couple of chapters back

he said no one is going to take my life from me

I will lay it down

and I will take it back up again

so Satan thinking

this weapon of death

that is going to somehow extinguish

the light of the world

he thinks that this is his moment

that this is where he is ruling

and he doesn't seem to appreciate

that the work that's about to unfold

will mean that the ruler of this world

his power broken

never to be restored again

and so the defeat of Satan

is going to be

so clearly in view in that sense

Satan is so foolish

as he sees Jesus

as he sees him breathe his last

he's so foolish

he thinks he's now got his empire established

and yet his empire is as strong as a sandcastle

with the tide coming in

because you know what it's like

and the tide's coming in

and slowly but surely

you know that sandcastle is going to fall over

and as he sees

as he sees the Lord of Glory breathe his last

no doubt he rejoices

only to realise

three days later

that the very Lord of Glory is back

death defeated

so the external impact

of the our coming

is that there is judgement

that Satan's power

once and for all

that there is a new king in town

that there is a new king

who has dealt with the old king

Revelation tells us

in chapter 11

verse 15

the kingdom of the world

has become the kingdom

of our Lord

and of his Christ

and he shall reign

the third

external impact

is that Jesus

will draw all people

and so now we get back

to where we started

this is where Jesus

will draw all people

to himself

this is what he said here

verse 32

when I am lifted up

I will draw all people

and so we are thinking now

of outstretched arms

entreating

may see

of this Jesus

of his identity

and of his willingness

to be found

in such a position

upon a cross

to secure our freedom

that all who will

who will hear

and all who will see

will be welcomed

that they will be

that they will be

that they will be

that they will be

that they will be

something about Jesus

that will draw them

to him

it's not that they are

that they are driven

to Jesus

it's that they will be

drawn to Jesus

because as we

as we think of

what we are like

and the gap

that exists in our lives

between the people

that we want to be

that we really are

we realize that we are

not the way we should be

and that deep down

that's going to come back

to haunt us

and it's going to haunt us

when we actually stand

before our maker

and give an account

for how we have lived

and loved in this world

and so we actually need

to have somebody

who's going to stand

with us

when we are in that court setting

and there is nobody better

to stand with us

in fact there's nobody

qualified to stand with us

other than

the very Lord of glory himself

because anybody else

that we may think of

our closest friends

our most loved family

well they too

have got this gap

and they too

are going to have to stand

before almighty God

and answer for themselves

they can't advocate

on our behalf

but there is somebody

who can

there's somebody

who can

somebody who was

willing to put himself

into that place

of horror

somebody who was willing

to put himself

into that place

where beforehand

the very prospect

almost broke him

whether we think here

of his trouble

or whether we think

specifically of Gethsemane

as the sweat pores

are now tinged with blood

such was the weight

the pressure

upon him

and he's willing

to do that

he's willing to go

into that place

for us

and he's willing

to go there

and he says

listen I have paid

the penalty for you

so come to me

follow me

know my rest

and know the fulfillment

that I can give to you

and know the love

that I have for you

the love I've shown you

learn of that love

and keep learning

of that love

and whoever will hear

of that love

will be drawn

will be captivated

because the pulling power

of the crucified

yet risen saviour

is a power

that can transform

from whatever

starting position

from a starting position

of hardened atheism

from a starting position

of agnosticism

or humanism

or whatever else

it might want to be

it doesn't matter

how firm a starting position

somebody can be

when the pulling power

of the gospel

through the Holy Spirit

starts drawing people

it doesn't matter

how fixed

their position was

become more and more

obsessed

with who is this Jesus

he lived a life

I couldn't live

he cared for people

that other people

were just quite happy

to ignore

he wouldn't walk on by

he would see things

that other people

didn't see

and this Bible

tells us

that he's not changed

and so that he sees me

other people may not see me

other people may not know

what's going on in my life

but this Jesus does

he knows

and he really does care

and he's inviting me

he's inviting me

and saying

whoever you are

I'll never turn you away

you see the drawing power

of Jesus Christ

there is nothing

nothing

that can rival it

and so that's why

the message of the cross

is the message

that we need to keep

communicating

because it's

it's the message

where hope is to be found

isn't it

that all of the mess

that we've made

can be undone

that all of the guilt

that we carry

can be lifted away

and that all of the

all of the wandering

and rejection

that we've had of God

can be transformed

and we can be accepted

and it's all focused

on the cross at Calvary

the cross that is

the message

that we share

is the message

that we give

it's the message

that we don't graduate from

it's a message

we need to keep

coming back to

it is the message

that is the hope

of sinners

it is the message

that is the joy

of saints

it's the message

that is the study

of angels

it is the message

of Christ

and his willingness

to receive all

who will come

to him

who will look

to what he has done

for them

and who will welcome

all who will look

to him

to know his salvation

to know his power

because when he is

lifted up

he will draw

all people

to himself

remember the context

the Greek people

came and want to

see Jesus

and what they're

learning is that

what they're going

to see of Jesus

is not what they

necessarily expect

to see of Jesus

because what

they need to see

of Jesus

is a Jesus

who is crucified

and yet who is

risen

and who is exalted

and so therefore

with these truths

in mind

what applications

do we have

for ourselves

this evening

two or three

and then we're done

first of all

for any of you

who tonight

are troubled

deeply troubled

maybe for different

reasons

but troubled

nonetheless

let me remind you

of a saviour

who can empathise

with you being

troubled

maybe some of you

are carrying

traumas

that are very deep

and very sore

let me remind you

of a saviour

who can empathise

with your traumas

and who can come

to a people

who are troubled

and who are traumatised

and who can say

to them

as he said

to his disciples

in a couple of chapters

he said

don't let your hearts

be troubled

why?

because of who he is

because he is God

and he is the one

who understands

and he is the one

who can help us

and he is the one

who can deliver us

from our troubles

whatever they may be

he is the one

who can deliver us

from our troubles

as we look to him

and for his people

who find themselves

in troubled days

he is the one

who is going to enable us

in these troubles

to follow his pattern

his pattern

of bringing glory

to God

in these troubles

in the difficulties

perhaps with health

in the difficulties

perhaps with relationships

in the difficulties

perhaps at work

in the difficulties

perhaps in community

in congregation

whatever it might be

he is the one

who is going to enable us

to bring glory

to our God

through the troubles

that we face

you know one of the

greatest ways

that people see

the reality of faith

is when they know

somebody has a faith

and they see them

going through

really difficult times

and they see them

holding on to that faith

that gives a credibility

to the gospel

in a way that

few other things do

and so

you may be troubled

this evening

there is one

who understands

and there is one

who cares

and there is one

who helps

and there is one

who can enable you

to follow his example

of bringing glory

to God

through these troubles

as you rest

in him

that only

can happen

however

as our eyes

are fixed

on Jesus

that can only happen

as he has that place

in our perspective

that he really

ought to have

that can only happen

as we look

to the exalted Jesus

and so we do so

ourselves

to remind ourselves

if we want to know

what God is like

we look to Jesus

if we want to know

what it is

to be human

we look to Jesus

if we want to know

what genuine love is

we look to Jesus

and we keep

looking to Jesus

because looking

to the crucified

yet risen

ascended

saviour

who is returning

that is what's

going to enable us

to live the life

that we ought to

to live as his people

but for some of us

I know

it's time to actually

start looking

at this Jesus

isn't it

it's time to

to stop looking

elsewhere

and to start

looking to him

it's time to

stop delaying

any longer

because as Jesus

goes on in this passage

the people

as is frequently

the case

in John's gospel

as he studied

the people

as they hear

what Jesus says

don't quite understand it

and Jesus

brings it round

to the point of fact

that actually

there's a sense

of urgency

to listen to

what he has to say

there's a sense

of urgency

because they have light

but they're only

going to have it

a little bit longer

and then after that

it's going to be darkness

and then that's going

to be major difficulty

and so what Jesus

is saying to them

is that there's an

there's an urgency

to listen to what he says

and what he's saying

to you

is that there's an urgency

to listen

to his invitation

to live

because today

you have that invitation

you're here

however you're here

whether you're

this is your normal

whether you've been invited

whether you've never been here

in your life before

you're here

and he's brought you here

you have this light

but this light

is not guaranteed

to last any longer

because this is a light

that needs to be

responded to now

as you look to Jesus

and as you think

why was he on that cross

well he went to that cross

for me

well how can I possibly

how can I possibly

live ignoring the fact

he went to that cross

for me

but would he want

someone like me

would he want

someone like me

with all of my messed up thinking

and all of my past

with all of my present

would he want

someone like me

and again we go back

to the words of

John chapter 6

John 6 · chapter mention

that whoever comes to me

he says

I will never

turn you away

you see we started off

talking about magnets

and the strongest magnet

in the world

and how Jesus

has greater

drawing power

but the thing about

Jesus is

like

every

magnet

there are those

who are drawn

and there are those

who are repelled

and the sad reality

is that

some of you

in here tonight

might be being

repelled

by Jesus

let me warn you

as lovingly

and as solemnly

as I can

that that is

the most dangerous

place

you can possibly

be in

because this is

the saviour

the only one

you need him

and he's come

for you

and he's offering

you tonight

life

life lived

to the full

here and now

and life

forevermore

with him

as you bow

the knee

before

King Jesus

why

because Jesus

said

that when I am

lifted from the earth

I will draw

all people

to myself

the invitation

is open

right now

to come to him

let's pray

Father we thank you

for

all that our saviour

was willing to do

for all that our saviour

is currently doing

and for all that our saviour

will yet do

for us

we pray that tonight

you would draw

to yourself

those who

do not have

a living trust

in Jesus

we pray that such

a connection

would be established

and we pray this

for your glory

we pray that you

would be glorified

in the saving of sinners

we pray that there

would be rejoicing

among the angels

in heaven

even this evening

with sinners

repenting

and believing

and turning

and trusting

in the Lord Jesus Christ

bless us we pray

for we ask this all

in his name

Amen

we're going to

conclude

by singing

in Psalm

number 24

Psalm 24

on page

number 28

Psalm 24

on page 28

we're going to sing

from verse 7

down to

the end

of this

psalm

we are singing

of the king

of glory

we're singing

of our saviour

you ancient gates

lift up your heads

you doors

be opened wide

so may the king

of glory come

forever

to abide

and down to

verse 10

but who is this

exalted king

who can this

sovereign be

the Lord almighty

he is king

of glory

none but he

we're going to stand

as we praise God

you ancient gates

lift up your heads

your doors be open wide

so may the king