Sermon
Communion Sermon
Publisher transcript
Transcript
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Please turn with me in your Bibles back to Mark's Gospel, Mark 15.
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! We'll read again at verse 33.
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When the sixth hour had come, that's about midday, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
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And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice,
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Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani, which means,
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My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
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Well, let's bow in prayer.
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Heavenly Father, we are conscious this morning, Lord, that we do come to one of the most solemn and indeed weighty verses of Scripture.
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It is, Lord, a mystery to us, the depths of which Christ experienced the forsakenness of God at the cross.
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And so we pray, Father, that you would help us today to tread carefully in these verses.
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That you would give us something today of an understanding of the love and the obedience that took the Messiah to this place.
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And that we would be able to find comfort there.
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To know that our sin has been dealt with decisively, conclusively, forever.
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And we ask this in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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The story of the gospel that Mark sets out to tell, you can read it at the beginning of Mark's gospel.
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He begins with these words, the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
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It is a story about this person, God the Son, Jesus, who is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity who is enfleshed and dwelt among us.
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And at the core of it, there is one of, I think, perhaps possibly the most perplexing moment in the whole of human history.
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That Jesus, who Mark has been at great pains to point out to us and to establish, is indeed the Son of God, utterly sinless.
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That he utters these remarkable words.
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That he takes on his lips the opening verse of Psalm 22.
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Words that he would have known since he was probably a child.
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And that he cries out at this moment, acknowledging that there is more going on in the darkness of the cross than does immediately meet the eye.
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You know, at the heart of this, there is the work of the atonement.
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The work of God setting us at peace with himself.
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And we therefore need to be sure of what is taking place here and what lies behind us.
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There's two simple points that I want to think about today.
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The first of these is simply to recognize the facts.
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We have to just establish in our minds the facts of what is taking place at this moment.
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And then alongside that, we also need to think about the reasons for this.
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And what is actually going on here?
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Why does Jesus suffer and cry out like this?
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The first of these things is to consider the facts.
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The first fact is to recognize just who this is.
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This is Jesus Christ.
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And as Marcus told us at the beginning of his gospel, this is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
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And there's a lot of things that we can kind of derive from that, that we can take from that and understand with some certainty.
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The one who says this is the sinless one.
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And that's quite a remarkable statement for us to think about because nobody else in the whole of human history has been sinless.
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But the context here is really clear.
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Mark makes it very abundantly clear, in fact, that part of what's going on here is Pilate recognizes the guiltlessness of Jesus.
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The whole context is one of false accusation.
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The chief priests and the scribes and the Jewish rulers have concocted charges against Jesus.
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Charges of blasphemy.
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Charges of insurrection and rebellion against the legal authority of the Roman emperor.
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Charges that are mounted up and that they bring in false witnesses to testify to.
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They bring out a whole series of allegations against him.
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And yet Pilate is the one who has said, there's no truth in any of this.
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They're words that are echoed, in fact, by the centurion.
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Truly, this was the Son of God.
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It's recognizing the special character and the uniqueness of Jesus.
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And that uniqueness principally extends into his sinlessness.
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And so we can therefore be sure that the Bible's assertion that he was entirely without guilt,
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that he is entirely free under the law, that he has complied with the requirements of the law,
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is surely true.
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Because nobody could isolate and identify an allegation of sin that would stick.
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Were one of us in that position, we can all put our hands up and say,
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truly, that would not be the case with me.
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Were I to be tried before any form of authority and my life to be examined,
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people wouldn't have to concoct false charges against me.
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There are plenty things that are true and which condemn me.
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And I'm sure that today every one of us can say the same thing.
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So Christ, the one who cries out,
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my God, my God, why have you forsaken me,
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is sinless.
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Which deepens the perplexity of what we're seeing.
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Then there's also the fact that he is the Son of God.
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Again, the identity of Jesus as the Son of God has been the point of Mark's Gospel.
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Mark wants us to understand that this person who is the focus of this proclamation of good news
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is none other than God the Son.
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And Mark is interested in the way he goes about this.
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If you read through Mark's Gospel,
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you can find numerous places where Mark is establishing the identity of Jesus.
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And he builds up to the same conclusion that John presents much more clearly in his introduction.
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That the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
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That the Word was the one who was with God from all eternity
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and who came and dwelt among us.
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And for Mark, the way he establishes that is showing the authority of Jesus as a preacher.
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He does it in showing the miracles of Jesus and how that underscores that authority.
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How Jesus, on one occasion,
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says, in fact, what is easier to say to somebody,
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your sins are forgiven or take up your bed and walk.
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And the people around him are astonished by this.
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Who can forgive sins but God?
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And Jesus has said to the man,
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your sins are forgiven.
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And then to show that he has the authority,
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he then says to the man,
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now you crippled man who cannot walk,
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take up your bed and go your way.
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And the crowds are astonished.
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You've got a situation another time
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where the disciples are with Jesus in the boat going across the Sea of Galilee.
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And a ferocious storm has swept up.
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And the disciples are panicked.
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They're fearing for their lives.
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They can't bail the water out of the boat fast enough.
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And so they waken Jesus in a panic and say,
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Lord, don't you care that we're perishing here?
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And Jesus, with just one softly spoken gentle word,
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commands the wind and the waves to cease.
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And instantly there is calm.
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And the disciples are left with the question,
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who else can do this but God?
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Jesus is, in fact, divine.
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He has that authority.
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He has that demeanor about him.
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And then you come to the cross.
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And you see that this figure who has spoken of God
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directly as his father,
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and that's one of the things that the scribes
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and the Pharisees found so offensive,
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was that he would claim this particular relationship with God
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to call him father,
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a relationship that he shares now with his disciples and followers like us.
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We can enter into that.
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But for them it's such a blasphemous thought
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that this, the Son of God,
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is now at the cross.
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And here at the cross,
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God the Son
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somehow becomes an outcast
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from his father.
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So much so that, in fact,
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the fatherhood of God
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is no longer visible to him.
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Where instead of father,
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he says for the first time,
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my God, my God,
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why have you forsaken me?
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In the darkness of the cross,
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the experience of Jesus
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is one where that relationship with the Father
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seems to have disappeared,
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vanished into the darkness,
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and we are left with something else.
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Which leads us, in fact,
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to another conclusion about what's actually going on here,
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the facts of this.
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And this is not merely
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a moment of great injustice.
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I think plenty of people,
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when they think about the story of Jesus,
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they would recognize the great injustice of it.
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There are plenty of people would recognize and say,
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well, Jesus was wrongly condemned.
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It was a sham of a trial.
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Clearly, as Pilate recognizes,
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there's envy and bitterness
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that leads the Jewish authorities
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to this place where they would say,
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crucify him, do away with him,
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we don't want him.
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But there is more going on.
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As the disciples note,
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particularly Peter, for example,
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on the day of Pentecost notes,
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although human hands are instrumental
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in driving the nails into his body,
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although human voices have called
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for his rejection
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and for the crucifixion to come,
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although he is rejected
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by both the civil magistrates
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and the religious authorities,
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although he's rejected
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by Jew and Gentile,
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rejected by the whole of humanity, really,
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yet still,
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behind all of this,
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the Father
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is in direct control.
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And we see that
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because of the way Jesus cries.
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There is a certainty
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that the Father is involved in this.
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The forsakenness
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that Jesus is experiencing
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is not merely the forsakenness
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of human comfort.
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He experiences,
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for the first time,
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in the totality of his existence
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as the eternal Son of God.
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He experiences forsakenness.
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He experiences an abandonment
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that is alien to his experience.
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And so the facts,
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in a way,
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speak for themselves.
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Not the mere facts
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of the form of his death
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and the brutality of it
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and the shame of that place.
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And it was all of these things.
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We'll come to that tonight.
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But the fact of what is going on here,
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the central cross of Golgotha
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is occupied
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by the sinless one.
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the sinless Son of God
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who is here
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because this is the culmination
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of his self-emptying
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to the point where the Father
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pours out upon him
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the wrath that sin deserves.
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the settled,
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established judgment
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of your sin
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and mine.
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And that's because we have to see
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the reasons for all
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that is taking place
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in this.
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The first of that is to recognize
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that this is
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the outworking
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of the covenant
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of redemption.
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The covenant
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of redemption.
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And by that,
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I would say that the Trinity
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is therefore at work
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in this moment.
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The Father
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is here.
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And as Calvin points out,
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I think it's a wonderful
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reminder to us,
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we should not insinuate
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hostility
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in these events.
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It's a useful reminder to us
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because the Father here
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does not stop
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loving the Son.
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The Father's love
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does not stop.
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but rather
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in the Father's eyes,
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this moment
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is in fact
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the pinnacle
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of the love
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of a triune God.
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We know that
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because much earlier on
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in the Gospels,
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Jesus aligns himself
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with this destiny.
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It's at the baptism
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of Jesus
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where John
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even recognized,
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John the Baptist
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recognizes and says,
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you don't need
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to be baptized.
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You have no sin
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that needs to be dealt with.
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You have no sin
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that needs to be recognized
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and washed away.
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You have no need
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of cleansing.
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In fact,
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I need cleansing from you.
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And John
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is
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obliged
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to baptize Jesus
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at his command.
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And so Jesus
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at that moment
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aligns himself
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with his people.
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He's putting himself
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in the position
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where he is saying
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the fate of my people
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and the punishment
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that they deserve
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for sin,
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their need of cleansing,
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I will take upon myself.
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And as he comes
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out of the water,
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you have that wonderful image
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of the Trinity
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being present.
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Here is the Son
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coming out of the water,
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the Spirit of God
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descending on him
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like a dove,
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and the voice of the Father
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saying,
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this is my beloved Son.
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It leads us
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to that conclusion,
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in fact,
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that what Jesus
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is doing at the cross
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is that moment
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where in the Father's purposes,
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his love for his Son
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is never going
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to be greater.
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Because here,
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the Son is obedient
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to something
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that was transacted
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long before
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this world
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was created.
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That before
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the foundation
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of the world,
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the Father and the Son
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have entered
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into a covenant together
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where they have agreed
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that the Son
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will come
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and bear
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the sins
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of his people,
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that the love of God
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for his people
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will be revealed
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and worked out
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and manifested
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in its fullness
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because the Son
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will take upon himself
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their guilt,
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their sin,
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that which has kept them
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apart from God,
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that which has led us
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away from God
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and left us
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alienated from God,
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that the Son comes
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and takes all of that
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alienation upon himself
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and carries
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our guilt.
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and you see that,
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the way that the Son
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comes to this moment.
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You see it in the
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Garden of Gethsemane.
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You see it as Jesus
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wrestles with the reality
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of the cup
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that is now before him
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as he begins
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to see more clearly
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perhaps than at any point
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previously in his life
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what is going to be
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involved here
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and he concedes
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and says,
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Father,
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not my will
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but yours be done.
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That recognition
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of the Father's will
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being enacted
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is Jesus
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keeping his side
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of the bargain.
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That God the Son
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agrees to complete
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what was agreed
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actually many,
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many, many years
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and millennia
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and aeons before.
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That he would come
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and bear the sin
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of his people.
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And in this,
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the Father
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then delivers
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this verdict
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on the Son
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condemns him.
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And somehow
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the Spirit
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is also at work
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because in the experience
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of Jesus
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despair does not
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set in.
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We should remember
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that,
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that Jesus
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as he goes
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to the cross
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he is not
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left
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in a position
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where his faith
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fails.
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this is not
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a cry
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of
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offense
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against God.
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This is not
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the cry
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even of an atheist
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who has come
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and curses
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God's existence.
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This is the words
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of David
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from Psalm 22
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that are words
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that are filled
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with faith
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because Psalm 22
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is a psalm
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that is full
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of the expectation
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of some future
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deliverance
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that are taken
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on the lips
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of Jesus.
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And so when he
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says,
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my God,
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my God,
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why have you
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forsaken me?
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He's not abandoned
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his confidence
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in the purposes
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of God.
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He hasn't abandoned
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his confidence
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in the reality
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of God's
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faithful outworking
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of his
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sovereign covenant
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towards his people.
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And so the faith
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of Jesus
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is very clearly
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on display.
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But the experience
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is different.
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And that's where
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we learn as Christians,
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in fact,
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in our experience,
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when we go through
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times of suffering,
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we are learning,
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in fact,
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not merely something
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that will deepen
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our own faith
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and our dependence
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on God,
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but we are learning
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something of the
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experience of our
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Savior.
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That that's actually
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where our faith
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really is deepened
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and strengthened.
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That when we go
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through times
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of suffering
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and where we are
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perplexed and where
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we are confused
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by these experiences,
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we come to a place
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of settled confidence
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in our Father.
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And we remember
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just why that is so.
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Because although
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there may be nothing
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in Jesus' experience
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here that suggests
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the Father's love,
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all of the comforts
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are stripped away,
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the disciples are gone,
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they've abandoned him,
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the women are far off,
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when he needed God
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the most,
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there was no answer
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for him.
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In fact,
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there's this very clear
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sense that Jesus
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comes perhaps even
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to this place
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of utter realization
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of what it is
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to become sin
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and be abandoned
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by God.
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yet there is nothing
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to suggest
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that Jesus
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forgot his role.
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There is nothing
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here to suggest
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that Jesus
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forgot his people.
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There is nothing
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here to suggest
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that Jesus
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forgot us.
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That in the darkness
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we can say
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that the words
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that were cried out
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are not words
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of interrogation
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of God.
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They are words
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rather of astonishment
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at what God's hand
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is doing
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upon him.
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And so today
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we come to the Lord's table
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and we're coming
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with this eternal security
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now worked out
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for us.
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And it's an eternal security
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that found its beginning
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in the ages
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before the foundation
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of the world.
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That the Father
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and the Son
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have already agreed
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to do this
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and the Son
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now has completed
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the task
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that was agreed
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before the foundation
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of the world
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and so therefore now
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we can have
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this absolute certainty
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about, for example,
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the Lamb's book of life.
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That that today
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is where our assurance
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is rooted.
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That our assurance
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today is now resolved
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in the obedience
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of Jesus
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at the cross.
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And today
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we might be sitting here
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coming to the Lord's table
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and thinking
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I am so unworthy.
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There may even be
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some of you
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sitting upstairs today
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who are not going to come down
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because you are a believer
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but you feel unworthy.
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Well stop.
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Because Jesus
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has done it all.
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Jesus is
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the worthy one.
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And that's the whole point
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of our faith.
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It's not for us
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ever to get to a point
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where we can say
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well now I'm worthy
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enough to come.
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Now I'm worthy enough
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to take the step
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in obedience of Jesus.
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No, the whole point
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is to recognize
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Jesus has done
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what he said
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with the Father
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before the foundation
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of the world
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that he would do.
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He has come
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and he's borne
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our sin.
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He's experienced
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the forsakenness
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that sin deserves.
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He's experienced
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the horror
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of hell.
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And that's how
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the Apostles' Creed
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puts it.
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That it wasn't
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at his death
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that he descended
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into hell
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but that at the cross
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he experienced
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the hellishness
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of sin's curse
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poured out
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in its fullness
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upon him.
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And today
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therefore
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we have no business
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saying to ourselves
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that we're not
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yet good enough
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to come to the Lord's table.
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The Lord's table
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is for those
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who recognize
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Jesus
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is the one
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who was.
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Jesus is the one
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who has satisfied
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God's
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requirements
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that sin
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be punished.
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And he is
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therefore worthy.
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It leads us
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into a daily security
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in knowing that.
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It leads us
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into that place
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of daily
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having that comfort
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of knowing
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Christ has done
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it for me
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and therefore
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I am safe
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now.
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There's another
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reason as well
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though.
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There is in fact
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in this
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fully
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not only
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the eternal
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consequences
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of the eternal
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covenant
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between the Father
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and the Son
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but there is now
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also the consequences
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of the covenant
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with Abraham.
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This two-fold
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outworking
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of the purposes
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of God.
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So there's this
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eternal perspective
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to it that the
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Father and the Son
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have entered into
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before the foundation
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of the world
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and then after the
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world is created
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and after Adam
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has sinned
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we begin to see
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the outworking
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of God's purposes
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and that is
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worked out
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in the promise
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given to Adam
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that there would
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be a redeemer
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the seed of the woman
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who would bruise
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the head of the serpent
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it's clear in the promises
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given to Abraham
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that he would have
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an offspring
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a seed
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the promises given
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to David
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that one day
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one of his descendants
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would sit forever
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upon his throne
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the fullness
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of that covenant
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is now also
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being worked
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out
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in full
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and so Jesus
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goes to the cross
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as a sacrifice
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for sin.
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The Father here
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is offering up
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his Son
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as a sacrifice
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for sin.
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I mentioned last night
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that where Abraham
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when he was tested
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by God
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was called out
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upon to stop
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to halt
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the sacrifice
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of Isaac
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now
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no such halt
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is announced.
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God the Father
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offers
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his
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Son.
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And what's actually
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going on here
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is that
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sin
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is now being
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covered.
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Part of the whole
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framework of the
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dealing with sin
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in the Old Testament
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was that sin
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needed a covering.
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You find it
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in a very interesting
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way in the Garden
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of Eden
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as Adam and Eve
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are cast out
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of the Garden
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and God has told
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them that the seed
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of the woman
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will one day
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bruise the head
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of the serpent.
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And then God
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does something
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very strange.
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God covers
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Adam and Eve
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with new garments
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that are made
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of animal skins.
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Animals there
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have been sacrificed.
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Blood has been shed.
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Bodies have been broken
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so that sin
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would be covered.
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And that narrative
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in fact
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continues
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right the way
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through the Old
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Testament
-
through the entire
-
sacrificial system
-
that where sin
-
needs to be
-
covered over
-
where sin
-
needs to be
-
dealt with
-
there has to be
-
brokenness of a body
-
the shedding of blood.
-
And so the
-
animal sacrifices
-
of the Old Testament
-
are all there
-
teaching the children
-
of Israel
-
confirming
-
rather to them
-
that this is how
-
sin needs to be
-
dealt with.
-
And now Christ
-
is made
-
sin
-
in the darkness
-
of the cross
-
leading up to this
-
cry of dereliction
-
and the cry
-
of forsakenness.
-
What's leading up
-
to that
-
is the reality
-
of Christ
-
finally and fully
-
being made
-
sin
-
for his people.
-
The debt
-
of
-
the debt
-
of sin
-
is cast
-
against him
-
and he carries
-
it.
-
And in that
-
moment
-
as the sacrifice
-
he satisfies
-
divine justice
-
experiencing
-
the grief
-
and the sorrow
-
of hell itself.
-
Experiencing
-
the forsakenness
-
the abandonment
-
of God
-
and the lostness
-
of hell
-
all to cancel
-
our debt
-
of sin.
-
We should be
-
clear that
-
what's not
-
happening here
-
is that
-
Christ is
-
wrestling us
-
away from
-
an angry
-
God.
-
He's not
-
getting in the
-
way of a
-
God who
-
hates people.
-
What he's
-
doing is
-
he is acting
-
out the love
-
of God
-
for sinners
-
by dealing
-
with the
-
reality
-
of divine
-
wrath.
-
The fullness
-
of God's
-
hatred
-
of sin
-
becomes
-
his
-
experience.
-
And just
-
as with
-
a hyssop
-
rod
-
or a hyssop
-
brush
-
the high
-
priest
-
on the
-
day of
-
atonement
-
would have
-
gone into
-
the holy
-
of holies
-
in the
-
temple
-
or the
-
tabernacle
-
and there
-
sprinkled
-
the blood
-
of the
-
sacrifice
-
over the
-
mercy seat,
-
there is
-
a barrier
-
emerges.
-
The Ark
-
of the
-
Covenant
-
is the
-
box that
-
contains
-
the law
-
and the
-
covenant.
-
It contains
-
the box
-
of manna
-
that was
-
recorded from
-
the time
-
in the
-
wilderness.
-
It contains
-
Aaron's
-
rod that
-
had budded.
-
Symbols of
-
God's
-
people
-
provided for
-
by God.
-
God's
-
and over
-
this
-
there is
-
the
-
mercy
-
seat
-
where
-
God
-
sits
-
enthroned.
-
It's
-
interesting
-
that where
-
the blood
-
lands is
-
between the
-
presence of
-
God seated
-
above the
-
mercy seat
-
and the
-
people of
-
God
-
represented
-
within the
-
Ark of
-
the
-
Covenant
-
underneath.
-
the
-
shelter of
-
the
-
blood
-
over the
-
mercy
-
seat
-
shields
-
the
-
people
-
under
-
it
-
from
-
God's
-
wrath.
-
And that
-
is what
-
Jesus is
-
enacting
-
at the
-
cross.
-
He is
-
paying that
-
final
-
sacrifice
-
to satisfy
-
the
-
just
-
and
-
righteous
-
requirements
-
of God's
-
anger
-
towards sin.
-
And why
-
is he
-
doing it?
-
Because
-
God
-
loved
-
us.
-
He already
-
loved us.
-
But his
-
sin needs
-
still to be
-
dealt with.
-
Our sin
-
rather still
-
needs to be
-
dealt with.
-
And so
-
for us as
-
Christians
-
today we
-
have this
-
comfort
-
that we
-
are justified
-
because
-
God
-
has kept
-
the
-
requirements
-
of the
-
covenant.
-
He's
-
kept the
-
requirements.
-
So God's
-
punishment for
-
sin has
-
now been
-
meted out.
-
I mean the
-
covenant has
-
consequences.
-
A covenant
-
is a legal
-
framework that
-
has consequences
-
for breaking
-
it.
-
God's
-
and the
-
reality is
-
we're not
-
able to
-
be true
-
worshippers
-
of God
-
in our
-
own
-
strength.
-
We could
-
never keep
-
the terms
-
of this
-
covenant.
-
But what
-
God has
-
done in
-
Christ is
-
he has
-
found a
-
way for
-
that to
-
take place.
-
The
-
stipulations
-
of the
-
covenant are
-
now fully
-
met.
-
The price
-
is fully
-
paid.
-
And we
-
as the
-
beneficiaries
-
of Christ's
-
covenant
-
keeping for
-
us are
-
now welcomed
-
into the
-
fullness of
-
the experience
-
of the
-
love of
-
God.
-
We're
-
welcome
-
into
-
heaven
-
because of
-
this.
-
Because of
-
what he
-
has done.
-
There is
-
one last
-
point I
-
want to
-
make as
-
well.
-
One last
-
reason for
-
this.
-
And it
-
is to
-
explain the
-
totality
-
of this.
-
The
-
simple
-
truth I
-
suppose is
-
this.
-
That not
-
everyone agrees
-
with what I've
-
said today.
-
Some
-
people think
-
that the
-
death of
-
Jesus is
-
solidarity
-
with us.
-
That the
-
death of
-
Jesus is
-
not
-
substitutionary.
-
It is
-
one where
-
he stands
-
alongside
-
us and
-
enters
-
into
-
our
-
experience.
-
But that
-
somehow
-
something on
-
our part
-
is still
-
needed.
-
do you
-
that for most Christians, purgatory awaits.
-
There's some extra work that you have to do to make up
-
for the sins that you have committed
-
that needs to be cleansed and washed away.
-
And we need to remember that there is actually another cry
-
after Eloi, Eloi, Labah, Samachdani.
-
And the second cry is the one that comes
-
after Jesus has drunk the sour wine that was offered to him.
-
It's a moment at the cross where he's liberated,
-
he's free to cry out.
-
And he wants his disciples to have no doubt
-
about what's in the loud cry that Mark mentions
-
and which is spelled out for us more fully
-
in the other Gospels.
-
The loud cry that comes after Eloi, Eloi, Labah, Samachdani
-
is not a cry that says, well, now you go on
-
and you have to finish this off yourselves.
-
It is a statement that says, no, it is finished.
-
So the last point that we need to recognize
-
is that there is a finality to the death of Jesus.
-
There is a finality here that says, no,
-
the full price has been paid in its totality.
-
There is nothing more to pay.
-
There is nothing more left for your justification.
-
There is nothing more left for your sanctification.
-
He has done it.
-
It's finished.
-
And it's all because of his experience of forsakenness.
-
It's because he was forsaken,
-
we can say we will never, ever, ever, ever, ever
-
taste of any of that at all.
-
There will be no experience, therefore,
-
of real forsakenness in the life of the Christian.
-
God will not abandon us
-
even to a temporary hellish experience.
-
He will be faithful
-
and he will be true
-
and he will complete
-
in us
-
the fullness of our salvation.
-
And when we die,
-
we will go to be with him.
-
And I think that's part of why
-
the experience of the Lord's table
-
is one that belongs on the Sabbath day.
-
You can't separate out
-
the death of Jesus on the one hand
-
from the resurrection of Jesus on another.
-
The death of Jesus
-
fully unlocks for believers
-
the hope of the resurrection.
-
And so today,
-
that's how we will rise
-
from the Lord's table
-
reflecting on the fullness
-
of the resurrection of Jesus
-
and the hope of that life
-
that is given to us.
-
Because he has experienced
-
the fullness
-
of the forsakenness of God
-
for you and for me.
-
and we rest
-
in that
-
finished
-
work.
-
Let's pray.
-
Heavenly Father,
-
we bow before you today
-
and we thank you for
-
the cross.
-
we thank you for the one
-
who went to the cross
-
in our place.
-
And we thank you
-
that he went there
-
with all of this
-
incredible purpose.
-
Something, Lord,
-
from before the foundation
-
of the world,
-
something from the depths
-
of that mysterious time
-
where the Trinity exists
-
and agrees
-
a purpose
-
and a plan
-
to be worked out
-
in the fullness of time.
-
We thank you for
-
what Christ has done
-
for that temporal
-
expression of the covenant
-
that the covenant
-
made with Abraham
-
has been worked out
-
in its fullness.
-
The stipulations
-
of that covenant
-
are met
-
and we are now secure.
-
And we thank you
-
for what that means
-
for the endless
-
ages of eternity
-
before us.
-
That you have a people
-
who will be
-
forever yours
-
and you will be
-
forever
-
our God.
-
And so give us, Lord,
-
that perspective
-
on what Christ
-
has done today
-
that we may know him
-
and be blessed in him.
-
And we ask this
-
for his namesake.
-
Amen.
-
We are going to come
-
in just a moment
-
to sit at the Lord's table.
-
I know in our tradition
-
it's normal
-
that most people
-
are already literally
-
seated in the right places.
-
But figuratively
-
we would still come.
-
As I was saying last night
-
there is an obedience
-
of our whole bodies
-
in coming to the Lord's table.
-
We use
-
not only our lips
-
to praise God
-
but sometimes we use our feet
-
and we do that
-
by coming to the Lord's table.
-
So some of you
-
might still be sitting upstairs
-
maybe want to come down
-
and take your place
-
at the Lord's table as well.
-
And so in just a moment
-
we'll sing Psalm 118
-
as we do that.
-
But
-
the question then
-
ought to always be asked
-
who and how should we come?
-
And the answer to that
-
is found in
-
in this passage
-
that we call our warrant
-
in how we take
-
the Lord's supper
-
that
-
we read in
-
1 Corinthians 11
-
For I received
-
from the Lord
-
what I also deliver to you
-
that the Lord Jesus
-
on the night
-
when he was betrayed
-
took bread
-
and when he had given thanks
-
he broke it
-
and said
-
this is my body
-
which is for you
-
do this in remembrance
-
of me.
-
In the same way also
-
he took the cup
-
after supper
-
saying this cup
-
is the new covenant
-
in my blood.
-
Do this
-
as often as you drink it
-
in remembrance of me
-
for as often as you eat
-
this bread
-
and drink the cup
-
you proclaim
-
the Lord's death
-
until he comes.
-
And so this is really
-
telling us
-
who the Lord's supper
-
is for
-
and how we should come.
-
It is for those
-
who would remember
-
the sufficiency
-
of Jesus.
-
At no point there
-
is the Lord's table
-
presented as for those
-
who are righteous.
-
There is a concern
-
that you would come
-
having not acknowledged
-
your sin
-
but the problem
-
with not acknowledging
-
your sin
-
is that you're saying
-
I don't need Jesus
-
to cover this.
-
I don't need the covering
-
of Christ
-
for my sin.
-
And that is a terrible
-
way to come
-
to the Lord's table.
-
It's a blasphemous way
-
in fact to come
-
because you're denying
-
the need for Jesus.
-
The Lord's table
-
is rather
-
for those who need
-
Christ.
-
And those who come
-
to sit at the Lord's table
-
are those who come
-
saying we need
-
the sacrifice
-
of Jesus.
-
Perhaps even saying
-
more than that
-
saying I need
-
the obedience
-
of Jesus
-
to the Father's
-
eternal covenant.
-
What you're really saying
-
is I can't position
-
myself before God
-
and say now I'm ready
-
to be saved.
-
I cast myself
-
upon the sufficiency
-
of what the Father
-
and the Son
-
have agreed
-
about my salvation
-
from before the
-
foundation of the world.
-
It's a bold assertion.
-
It's an assertion
-
of faith and obedience
-
that we would come
-
because we trust
-
in Christ
-
and we lean
-
wholly and fully
-
upon him.
-
and so let's
-
rise to the Lord's table
-
singing these words
-
from Psalm 118.
-
from verse 15.
-
In dwellings
-
of the righteous
-
is heard
-
the melody
-
of joy and health
-
the Lord's right hand
-
doth ever valiantly.
-
The right hand
-
of the mighty Lord
-
exalted
-
is on high
-
the right hand
-
of the mighty Lord
-
doth ever valiantly.
-
I shall not die
-
but live
-
and shall the works
-
of God discover.
-
the Lord has made
-
chastised sore
-
but not to death
-
given over.
-
That certainty
-
of being not given
-
over to death
-
arises
-
out of
-
the person of Jesus
-
who was given
-
over to death
-
for us
-
but who rose to life.
-
So let's
-
sing to God's praise
-
in these verses.
-
Amen.
-
Amen.
-
Play for things
-
of the righteous
-
Play for things
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Lord's Son of God
-
The Son of Son
-
Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play Play
-
Which do those victims do,
-
This do those do, do those do,
-
Thank you.