Communion Service - Behold the One They Have Pierced!

who has been with us the last couple of services and will be with us again this evening.

And we trust that he too will know God's blessing as he leads us in this worship of God.

Thank you.

Thank you very much. Thank you for your warm welcome.

What a joy it is to be with you, to be in a sense at home.

My watch has got artificial intelligence going on and it spoke to me when I left my mother's house today

and said it was three hours and 57 minutes to the Free North in Inverness.

I'm not sure if I can manage that in the little car, the VW that we have.

I don't think it'll work.

So artificial intelligence aside, we are glad to be together and in the house of God.

And wherever we are with God's people, with God's word, and with the help of God's spirit,

we are at home and we look forward to the Lord, our host,

welcoming us to his sign of the supper, to his table where he will feed us.

So let us lift up our hearts to God and worship today,

praising God in the words of Psalm 23 from Sing Psalms.

Psalm 23 in Sing Psalms, page 28.

The tune Tarwathi.

The Lord is my shepherd.

No want shall I know.

He makes me lie down where the green pastures grow.

He leads me to rest where the calm waters flow.

Let us stand and sing praise to our glorious shepherd.

Amen.

The Lord is my shepherd.

No want shall I know.

He makes me lie down where the green pastures grow.

He leads me to rest where the calm waters flow.

My wandering steps he brings back to his way.

In straight paths of righteousness making me stay.

And this he has done his great name to display.

Though I walk in death's valley where darkness is near.

Because you are with me, no evil I'll fear.

Your rod and your staff bring me comfort and cheer.

In the sight of my enemies a table you spread.

The oil of rejoicing you pour on my head.

My cup overflows and I'm graciously fed.

So surely your covenant mercy and grace

Will follow me closely in all of my ways.

I will dwell in the house of the Lord Almighty.

Jesus.

We can unite our hearts together in prayer as we come near to God.

Lord, our gracious God and our gracious and good shepherd,

we acknowledge our need of help today as we meet together for worship.

Draw near to us as you have promised in your word.

And grant to us the joy of our Savior Jesus Christ,

that shepherd of the sheep who died to unite his flock,

to cleanse them and to feed them with his own body and with his own blood.

We ask that we will not draw back in unbelief and that we will not be influenced by the tide of the times that we are living in.

To turn away from the Lord and from your word.

But help us to be open before the eye of the Lord and before the voice of the Lord,

that we might meet with God today and receive a blessing.

We bless the Lord for the gift of living bread,

the manna that has come down from heaven,

Jesus Christ,

and for the written word of God,

also living bread.

Nourish us with fellowship with yourself,

with fellowship with our Savior Jesus,

and with fellowship a shared life and love for one another and for all your people.

Be our teacher and increase our hunger and our thirst

for the one who is the way and the truth and the life.

And grant that we may delight in having the word of God broken for us,

so that we might feed on it and share it with others.

Give us a holy joy and a holy excitement,

a thrill in our hearts,

as we are reminded of truths we know already,

and as we learn, perhaps,

to see the truth afresh and anew,

and to learn new things about our great God and King.

We pray for the young,

for children,

for young adults,

for families,

and for every individual

who is part of the body of Christ in this place.

Bless this church as a light and a witness in this community,

the office bearers,

the ministers,

and their families,

and all who serve in different ministries and in different ways.

And even today,

we ask that the kingdom of God will advance.

We ask the blessing of heaven

on the Gallic section of the congregation,

meeting together,

on Mr. MacDonald as he leads their worship.

We pray blessing on every gospel church,

gathering as we do today,

across our nation,

and even in this community,

when other congregations are also remembering the Lord's death

until he come again.

We ask that the blessing we long for

will break out here

and in every place

where the Lord's people seek his face.

Show us how to help and encourage one another

and how to pray for one another

and how to pray for different fellowships and congregations

that each might thrive to the glory of God.

We remember the sick and the suffering.

We remember those with burdens and concerns today.

Comfort those who are grieving

and bring near to us

the face of the one that we love

and that we look forward to seeing

when he comes in his might and power and glory.

May we welcome him.

We recognize that many have gone before us

and that they sleep in Jesus

waiting for the day of his glorious appearing.

They already see his face

but they await the resurrection

and all the joy that that will bring.

May we share in the hope

of the church through ages past

that in Jesus Christ

death is swallowed up in victory.

May we have no fear today.

May we not be disturbed

by the work of the wicked one

but may we know that supernatural grace and peace

that flows from the one

who was wounded for us,

who was crushed for us

and who conquered death

and was raised

on the third day.

Lord, where there is darkness,

shine your light.

Lord, where there is fear,

bring your peace

and grant that today

will be a day that we will remember

for meeting

the Lord Jesus.

Bless us and keep us

and we pray through Jesus Christ

seeking peace and pardon.

Amen.

Boys and girls,

I'm not going to take long

to speak to you today.

It's just lovely to see

children and young people here.

I grew up in this church

and it was about 40 years ago

when I was 15

that I first was helped

to sit at the Lord's table

and begin to know something

of growing in the knowledge of God

through the things that were being taught.

But that didn't happen

without lots of people helping

and praying for me

as a child,

family and Sunday school

and what have you.

And I want to thank God

for all those people

who taught me

the way of Jesus.

And I am sure

there are people

teaching you

the way of Jesus

as well.

Some of you

will be Christians,

you will be believers,

maybe very young

and that's a wonderful thing.

And it's good

to tell other people

when we are praying

and when we know

that God is hearing

our prayers.

And it's good

to ask for help

but most of all

it's good

to ask the Lord himself

to show us

the next steps

and the way

that we are to

glorify him.

And that might be

even as a child

or a young person

finding out

what it means

to belong

to God's people

as a member,

as a professing

Christian

and follower

of Jesus.

That happened

for me

40 years ago

in this church.

You can do the maths

and you'll know

how old I am.

But

I am thankful

that God

has never

taken his eye

off

that boy

who became

a man.

And if you

are walking

with Jesus,

girl or boy,

whatever stage

you're at,

God will never

take his eye

off you.

You can trust him.

And we pray together

the words

that Jesus

gave us.

our Father,

which art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

on earth

as it is

in heaven.

Give us this day

our daily bread

and forgive us

our debts

as we

forgive

our debtors.

And lead us not

into temptation,

but deliver us

from evil.

for thine

is the kingdom,

the power

and the glory

forever.

Amen.

I believe

the children

are coming back

into church

at the end

of our service

and we pray

God's blessing

on all you do

and learn

together.

We are going

to sing,

we're going to

read God's word

now in John's

Gospel,

chapter 19.

John,

John 19 · chapter mention

chapter 19.

On Friday

evening,

Saturday evening,

we began

to work

our way

through

this great

chapter

that speaks

of Christ

on the cross.

We saw

him

as

the man

being presented

to Jerusalem

by Pontius Pilate.

Did they want him?

Did they want

Jesus

for their king?

Behold the man,

behold the king.

And they were

rejecting him.

We saw him

as the son,

God's son

and Mary's son,

but also

as the one

who carries

shame

to the cross.

And today,

we are going

to see him

on the cross

dying,

so behold

today,

behold the one

they have

pierced.

And that

scripture

is in John

19

from verse

28

onwards.

Then they

led Jesus

from,

I beg your

pardon,

John 19

and verse

20,

28.

After this,

Jesus,

knowing that

all was now

finished,

said,

to fulfill

the scripture,

I thirst.

A jar full

of sour

wine stood

there.

So they put

a sponge

full of the

sour wine

on a hyssop

branch

and held

it to

his mouth.

When Jesus

had received

the sour

wine,

he said,

it is

finished.

And he

bowed his

head

and gave

up

his

spirit.

Since it

was the

day

of

preparation

and so

that the

bodies

would not

remain on

the cross

on the

Sabbath,

for that

Sabbath was

a high

day,

the Jews

asked

Pilate

that their

legs might

be broken

and that

they might

be taken

away.

So the

soldiers came

and broke

the legs

of the

first and

of the

other who

had been

crucified

with him.

But when

they came

to Jesus

and saw

that he

was already

dead,

they did

not break

his legs.

But one

of the

soldiers

pierced

his side

with a

spear,

and at

once

there came

out

blood

and

water.

He who

saw it

has borne

witness.

His

testimony

is

true,

and he

knows

that he

is telling

the truth,

that you

also may

believe.

For these

things took

place,

that the

scripture

might be

fulfilled,

not

one of

his bones

will be

broken.

And again,

another

scripture

says,

they will

look

on him

whom

they

have

pierced.

This is

the word

of the

Lord,

holy and

inspired.

Thanks be

to God.

We sing

praises

from

Psalm 40

in

Sing

Psalms,

Psalm 40

in

Sing

Psalms,

and we're

taking up

the singing

at verse

13.

The tune is

Herongate,

Psalm 40,

and at

verse 13

on page

51,

be

pleased,

O Lord,

to rescue

me,

O Lord,

come quickly

to my

aid.

Shall we

stand and

sing in

Psalm 40

from verse

13?

Be

pleased,

O Lord,

to rescue

me,

O Lord,

come quickly

to my

aid.

May all

who

seek

my

love

to take

my

life

with

shame

and

turmoil

be

repaid.

May

all

who

plot

my

overthrow

turn

back

disgrace

the way

they

came

me

to

my

face

be

come

upon

not

their

own

shame

but

let

all

those

who

seek

your

face

be

joyful

in

you

all

their

days

let

those

who

love

salvation

say

exalted

be

the

Lord

always

yet

I

am

poor

and

in

great

need

need

Lord

take

on

me

I

humbly

pray

you

are

my

savior

and

my

help

come

oh

my

God

do

not

delay

do

not

delay

at this

point we're going to focus on God's word for the next little while in the gospel of John and in chapter 19 be helpful to have that portion of God's word open the story of our savior

on the cross

on the cross

on the tree behold the one

they have

they have

pierced

I don't know if you've ever worked out how many days or weeks you have been alive

it might be a strange thing to do but we know that the Lord Jesus life

was cut short at around 33 years of age

even that in the ancient world was a reasonable life span he was not old when he died but he had lived for over 30 years and that amounts to about 1700 weeks but the Bible

but the Bible

tells the story in great detail

of only one of those weeks

of only one of those weeks

he lived for over 30 years

but the Bible focuses

on his last week

and especially on his last day

and especially on his last hours

and especially on his last hours

because the central story of the scripture

is that the God who came among us the word who was made flesh died

suffered and died

tested death

that is where all four gospels head

about a third of Matthew

Mark and Luke and John

is devoted to the last week

and last day

and last hours

of the life of Jesus

the very heart

of our faith

is that our God

took our flesh

and died

for his people

we have been commanded by Jesus

in the sign of the Lord's Supper

to remember his death

we could have been given a sign

to remember his birth

and that he took flesh

but that is not what we were given

there are two gospel signs

that bind us together

as the covenant people of God

the sign of baptism

using water

a sign of washing

and using bread and wine

in the supper of the lamb

a reminder of his body

and his blood

and of his death

but both those signs

both baptism and communion

are reminders of the cross

they are reminders

that we need to be washed and cleansed

and receive new life

and we need to be joined

to be joined

to the people of God

and become members of his body

parts of his body

these two gospel signs

are both connected

to the cross

and to the work of salvation

of redemption

right through history

there are so many connections

with the exodus

with the way God

revealed himself

in the old covenant

in the old covenant

in the old testament

and with all the acts

of the Holy Spirit

in the new testament

I want us to see

three things this morning

in our message

and the first is to focus

on Jesus' last words

Jesus' last words

then we will think

about Jesus' last strength

and then we will think

Jesus' last gift

to us

so Jesus' last words

they are recorded for us

in John's gospel

and in the short reading

that we had today

we saw that Jesus was conscious

that everything was now

finished, fulfilled

and he said to fulfill scripture

to finish scripture

to finish scripture

I thirst

a few verses later

we hear the very last word

and we know from the other gospels

it wasn't a weak word

it was a strong

a loud word

a single word

in the Greek language

that the new testament

was written in

and his last word was

as a shout

it is finished

it is finished

I am thirsty

I thirst

he takes a drink

in fulfillment

of prophecy

and scripture

and having taken the drink

it is finished

and he dismisses his soul

he bows his head

he is in an instant

physically dead

and his soul

his spirit

is with his father

in the kingdom of heaven

the bitter cup

that the father

has asked him to drink

has been drunk

to the very last drop

that phrase

it is finished

is often preached on

it is a wonderful word

tetelestai

it is finished

and lots of things

have been said about it

but what I want you to notice

this morning

in these last words

of Jesus

is just the emphasis

on the thirst

and the drink

and it being finished

that word

spoken by Jesus

on the cross

it is finished

it is actually in the text

three times

twice

in kind of an identical form

a verbal form

a verbal form

it is finished

it is finished

it is there in verse 28

Jesus knowing

that all was now

finished

said

but the next little phrase

that is in brackets

in the ESV

to fulfill

the scripture

well the word for fulfilling

is really from the same root

as the word for finishing

to fill

to fulfill

to fulfill

and to finish

you can see how they are connected

even in English

you get to the fulfillment

you have finished

then the word on the cross

after the drink

it is

finished

he came to finish

the task that the father gave him

he did not stumble

the scripture

was finished

the scripture

was fulfilled

Jesus' last words

but secondly

we are going to think

about Jesus' last strength

what he did

with the last grace and strength

that God gave to him

what was he doing

what was he doing

on the cross

that took his last strength

what was he doing

as he took those last

bitter sips of bitter wine

on a sponge

soaked with wine vinegar

and held up to him

on a hyssop plant

on the branch of a hyssop

what was he doing?

well we know

he was fulfilling

scripture

deliberately

and consciously

others were fulfilling

scripture

maybe not

realizing that they were

doing it

maybe their

their own

sinful inclinations

and sinful

wills

leading them to do

things

that God

had long before

foreordained

would come to pass

for his glory

and for our

salvation

but Jesus

is using

his last strength

to fulfill

the Passover

to be the true

Lamb of God

who takes away

the sins

of the world

the one

John the Baptist

pointed to

on the first page

of this gospel

God's Lamb

the sin carrying

Lamb of God

the Passover

is looking

forward

to its

fulfillment

in Jesus

it is at

a Passover

that he

gives his

first sign

in John's

Gospel

chapter 2

the Passover

that he went up to

at Jerusalem

at the beginning of his

public ministry

and the first sign

by which he showed

his glory

and now his ministry

is ending

and the last

great sign

of John's

Gospel of signs

will be the

resurrection

of the Passover

Lamb

it is amazing

how the scripture

comes together

and at the Passover

he eats the Passover

in Jerusalem

with his disciples

in the upper room

and amazingly

the Gospel of John

doesn't focus

on the action

in the Passover

with bread

and wine

the other Gospels

will tell you

about that

John wants you

to know

about the conversation

and the worship

and the foot washing

and the praying

because John's

Passover

Passover

is really going to happen

not in the upper room

with the apostles

gathered around

a table

John's Passover

is not on Thursday night

but on Friday

at the place of the skull

at the place

where the last strength

of the Lamb

is given

is given

to die

as the Lamb

I

thirst

it

is

finished

what kept

Jesus going

was this desire

this longing

to obey

his Father

to the very end

and he was sent

to be that Lamb

part of

his mission

was to be

a perfect Lamb

not a bone

of his body

could be broken

when the soldiers

came to

hasten the deaths

of the three men

who were being crucified

because the

the Friday sunset

would begin

the Sabbath

and it was a special Sabbath

a Passover Sabbath

a high Sabbath

and there was no question

the Jews would not be happy

to have the land

under a curse

because a dead body

was hanging on a tree

cursed by God

overnight

and over a Sabbath

it couldn't be allowed

so hurry up

the execution

get rid of these men

get rid of their bodies

throw them in their graves

well there's no need

to hurry up

the death of Jesus

he has used

his last strength

to take the bitter drink

that Psalm 22

and Psalm 69

said he would take

and without a bone

of his body

being broken

he is the perfect

Paschal Lamb

Exodus 12

Exodus 12:46

verse 46

Numbers 9

Numbers 9:12

verse 12

the Lamb

must be perfect

and no bone

can be broken

not even

as its blood

is being drained

from it

or as it is being

prepared

to be roasted

and consumed

by those

who are in fellowship

with God

and in fellowship

with their Lamb

who has died

for them

so that they

so that they

do not die

so that they

go free

from Egypt

go free

from Pharaoh

go free

from the bondage

that has held them

Passover is liberation

Passover is salvation

Passover is the Lamb

dead in every house

and the blood of the Lamb

on the doorposts

of every house

and Jesus is fulfilling

that picture

he is the source of life

of life and freedom

and his last strength

is to say

I thirst

Psalm 22

my tongue sticks to my jaws

but Psalm 22 ends

with worship

and tell the nations

the Lord has done it

it's done

it's achieved

it's finished

it's finished

Psalm 69

they gave me poison

for food

and for my thirst

they gave me sour wine

to drink

surrounded by wild animals

surrounded by men

like beasts

he uses his strength

to finish

to finish

isn't it strange

that they picked up

a branch of hyssop

to give him the drink

that he asked for

to finish the mission

he was sent

to do

hyssop

the same plant

that they used

in the Passover

in the book of Exodus

to paint their door frames

with the lamb's blood

nothing

no detail

in this story

is random

or accidental

Jesus

last words

Jesus

last strength

and then thirdly

Jesus

last

gift

what did he give us

as he was dying

verse 30

when Jesus had received

the sour wine

he said

it is finished

and he bowed his head

and he gave up

his spirit

verse 34

one of the soldiers

came

to break his legs

but the one of the soldiers

instead

pierced his side

with a spear

and at once

there came out

what came out of Jesus' body

his last gift

to his people

blood

and water

that could just be an incident

being recorded

because well that's what happened

and that's what the witness saw

saw

but the verses that come after it

make a big deal of it

they are important

to the writer

of this gospel

and as we've seen a few times

in looking at this chapter

and if you're familiar with the rest of John's gospel

you will know

that often John will refer to himself

almost with a sense of embarrassment

he will find an oblique way

to refer to himself

as the disciple Jesus loved

the beloved disciple

he's the one

who's to take Mary home

from the cross

and we found out last night

in verse 27

that from that hour

John was to take Mary

and care for her

and take her to his own home

but from that hour

does not mean that

John and Mary left the cross

right then

because the hour

is the moment

this gospel has been moving towards

of the death of the Lamb of God

and I'm pretty firmly convinced

that John was there

to see how Jesus died

and how that spear

that lance was put to his side

and how

there was no heartbeat

there was no life in the body

to keep the fluids of his body together

there was blood that flowed from his side

a dead man

and there was water that had been parted from that blood

flowing from his side

and in that order

water first

and then blood

John saw it

John is the eyewitness

because he says

he who saw it has borne witness

his testimony is true

and he knows that he's telling the truth

that you also may believe

for those things took place

that the scripture might be fulfilled

not one of his bones will be broken

and again another scripture says

they will look on him whom they have pierced

his last gift to us

is that he allowed his body to be pierced

in fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament

and the proof that he was dead

was that he was violently pierced with a spear

and his blood flowed out of him

and water flowed out of him

what does that last gift mean?

in a gospel where there is often

symbolism and meaning

in all the details

what does it mean?

John Calvin believed

that the Old Testament

way of peace with God

could be

gathered together

under two headings

sacrifices

of blood

and washings

the law

the old covenant

the way to draw near to God

before Jesus came

and before his sacrifice and fulfillment

was a covenant

was a covenant

expressed in

blood sacrifice

and water

washing

I don't think Calvin is wrong

to see God working

and the Spirit working

to bring life and salvation

and cleansing

through the blood shed

that cleanses

this is

this is a one-off gift

this is a gift that

had never happened before

although the worship of the old covenant

pointed forward to it

it was partial

it was symbolic

it was provisional

it was a shadow

now

the Lamb of God

true Lamb

dies

now

the Passover Lamb

is offered

now

his blood

is offered

to mark you

safe

from God's judgment

now

water is poured out

cleansing

water

water

that stands for

the process of birth

birth from water

you must be born again

you must be made new

the Spirit often in Scripture

using the symbol of water

to describe his work

the Spirit applying the work of the Son

blood and water

in the story of the Exodus

in the story of the Passover

the Passover

the blood comes first

on the night of the Passover

the Lamb is consumed

and the Lamb's blood is over the doorposts

and the lintels

and the people go free

they are saved that night

but they immediately

journey to the sea

and they pass through

the waters of the sea

parted for them by God

and they are baptized

into Moses

in the water

in the sea

they are identified

as God's people

saved and marked as saved

at Passover

and separated from their old life

that they are leaving behind

and the pursuit of their enemies

they pass through water

blood and water

in that order

is at the cross

surely it is an echo of the Exodus

and surely it is a fulfillment

of all the sacrifices

of all the drink offerings

of all the altars that were raised up

and had water poured over them

or wine poured over them

under the old covenant

what is his gift

his last gift

his blood

makes

the sinful

clean

his blood

sets

the prisoner

free

it

is

finished

and

John

who saw it

bears witness

and his testimony

is true

and he knows

he is telling the truth

you will hear him say something very similar

in the next chapter

that you also may

believe

believe

do you believe

in this

Jesus

do you believe

that his obedience

was for your salvation

and that he has tasted

death for you

and that you will not

taste death

because of that

do you believe

that he has cleansed you

every sin

and washed you

as his bride

do you believe

that you were there

at the cross

because he loved you

and he knew your name

and he was thinking

about his father

and about you

then come

and worship him

at his table

and come

and remember him

at his table

and come

and feed on him

looking forward to the day

when you handle

his hands

you see his face

you hear his voice

and you are with him

forever

forever

Lord God

Adam slept

and you took a bride

from his side

and gave the bride

to the man

in death

our Saviour

the second

and last Adam

slept

and you have given him a bride

out of his substance

out of water

and blood

that flowed from his side

love us today

with the love

of the cross

and assure us today

that we need fear nothing

strengthen us

to love you

to serve you

and to love one another

through Jesus Christ

our Lord

Amen.

We are going to sing

to God's praise

from Sing Psalms

and Psalm 34

Sing Psalms

and Psalm 34

the opening verses

the verses marked

1 to 4

of the psalm

to the tune

Jackson

Psalm 34

Psalms 34:2

verse 2 stanzas

and then we will go down

to the end of the psalm

verse 17

the last 3 stanzas

Psalm 34

the opening 2

and the last 3 verses

of the psalm

at all times

I will bless the Lord

I'll praise him

with my voice

the tune

Jackson

at all times

I will bless the Lord

I'll praise him

with my voice

because I glory in the Lord

my glory

in the Lord

let troubled souls

rejoice

together let us praise the Lord

the Lord

exalt his name

with me

I sought the Lord

his answer came

from fears

he set me free

the righteous

cry the Lord

the Lord responds

and frees them

when distressed

the Lord draws near the broken heart

heart and rest

use the depressed

from all the troubles

of the just

the Lord will set him free

the Lord protects his every poor

and broken none will be

the wicked are condemned to death

all those who hate the just

God saves his own

they're not condemned

for in the Lord they trust

they trust

the Lord Jesus looked forward to being in the upper room with his friends

and showing them that he was their Passover

he was their lamb

he was giving his body and his blood for them

he looked forward to the climax of teaching and discipling

his friends

his friends in the upper room

but the Lord Jesus looks forward to every time

his people meet in his name

to remember his death until he comes

and just as eagerly

he looks forward to sitting in his kingdom

with you

and with all his saints

when death is no more

and sorrow is no more

and today

is a help

a reminder

an encouragement

to keep feeding

because you will be feasting

to keep near

because you will be nearer

to keep turning

and confessing your sins

because they have already been nailed to the tree

we are called by Christ

to live in communion

with him

with the triune God

and to live in trinity

fellowship and union

with all those in whom God's love resides

when we break bread together

we are expressing our unity

and our love for one another

our need of each other

our care and respect for one another

we need the older ones

we need the younger ones

we need the ones who have many problems in their lives

that need our care and support

we need the straightforward ones

we need the complicated ones

and the blood is over the doorposts

and it says stay together

as the family

stay together

under the blood

don't be jealous of one another

don't despise one another

forgive one another

maintain unity

if he is your lamb

and you love him

and these are your people

and you love them

there is one place where we need to be

and that is eating and drinking

in memory of him

celebrating our saviour's love

and victory

his Passover

his exodus

and then at the table

we are not saying look at me

we are saying look at my saviour

who gave his body and his blood

to wash

me

what is the right way to come

confessing our sins to the Lord

in confidence

that they are blotted out

at the cross

and to come expecting

more of Jesus

more of the Lord

the Lord

who has given us

his all

I just want to

pray that we might all

be right with God

and confess our sins

and if there is someone

who is not at the table

who perhaps ought to be

will you do something about that

merciful Father you have

given your son

and there is no greater gift

and he has given his body

and his blood

and the water that flowed

he has given his all

it is finished

forgive us when we

forget him

and his sacrifice

forgive us when we

blunder into sin and forget

that we are crucifying the Lord

Lord all over again

forgive us that our

love is such a poor return

for his love

enable us to come and sit at this table today

forgiven

washed

cleansed

and in fellowship with God

through Jesus Christ our Lord

Amen

we will

be seated

if we are not already seated

at the table

for sharing in communion

during the singing of

Psalm 116

from the Scottish Psalter

verses 11 to 19

from the

Tunis Cunningham

Psalm 116

from verse 11

when I was in my haste

that all men liars be

what shall I render to the Lord

for all his gifts

to me

we stand and sing

I said

I said

when I was in my haste

that all men liars be

what shall I render to the Lord

for all his gifts to me

what shall I render to the Lord

for all his gifts to me

what shall I render to the Lord

for all his gifts to me

I'll love salvation

take the cup

on God's name

will I call

I'll pay my vows now to the Lord

before his people all

dear in God's sight

is his saints death

thy servant

Lord am I

thy servant

sure

thine handmaid

son

thy

guy

the

name

x

提

call. I'll

pay my vows now

to the Lord before

his people all.

Within the

courts of God's own

house, within

the midst of

thee, O

city of

Jerusalem,

praise to

the Lord

give ye.

Brothers and sisters,

as we gather

together at the

Lord's table, it is

right that we should

remind ourselves of

the words of

institution and that

we should use these

to help us to

prepare our hearts

for where we are

and what we are

here to do.

Paul says in

1 Corinthians 11,

for I received from

the Lord what I

also delivered to

you.

The Lord Jesus on

the night which 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 this cup,

you proclaim

the Lord's death

until

he comes.

in the moment

we're going to

give our thanks

in prayer

and then

express our thanks

in sharing

this gospel

sign

with one another.

The gospel

of John

has a Passover

near the beginning

and a Passover

right at the end.

The Passover

at the beginning

is marking

the beginning

of Jesus' ministry

and after his

first sign,

what does Jesus do?

He goes into

his father's house

and he is appalled.

They're making money

and they're making

a mockery

and he wants

to cleanse the house

not because he's angry

but because poor ones,

sinful ones

are not getting

near the gospel

through all the nonsense

and the politics

and the commerce

and he makes

a whip

and he chases

away

these fakes

and frauds

who only care

about power

and money.

And the scripture

was quoted,

zeal,

zeal

for your heart

has eaten

has eaten me up.

It's right

at the beginning

of the public ministry.

He's going to

purify

a temple

by exposing

lies

and showing

the glory

of God.

He's going to

build a temple,

unite a temple

and it will not

be a temple

with stone

and lime

with gold

and wools.

It will be a temple

of his body.

Well, he did that

and his body

gathers

Lord's day

by Lord's day

to worship

and the head

of the body

is with the body

and he gave

his body

to nourish

you

his body.

So be encouraged.

Jesus

will build

and is building

his church

across the world

today.

It's a small part

of it

but his eye

is on it

and he loves it

and he will

never take his eye

off his people.

So lift up

your heart

in worship

and in

thanksgiving.

Gracious Lord,

we find

ourselves again

at a table

that we do not

deserve to be at

but our shame

and dishonor

was nailed

to the tree

and so

in Jesus' name

and for his sake

we draw near

and we ask

that today

again

the Lord

will build

his people up

and build

his house up

give us

a zeal

for Christ

and his work

may we learn

from his zeal

to pay a price

to be holy

and to pay a price

to be bold

and to be witnesses

and to pay a price

to be on the side

of truth

may we not

draw back

in unbelief

but may we go

forward

in faith

and trust

to the one

whose side

was torn

so that blood

and water

flowed

Lord

Jesus Christ

head of this

table

feed us

we receive

this bread

symbol

and emblem

and signpost

of your body

we receive

this cup

sign of your blood

grant us

faith

and peace

as we eat

and drink

may we do

all this

to your glory

on the night

that our

saviour

was betrayed

he took bread

and having given

thanks

he broke it

saying

take eat

this is my

body

which is

broken

for you

do this

in remembrance

of me

our saviour

took the

cup

saying

this cup

is the

new covenant

the new

testament

in my

blood

drink you

all of it

when you

eat this

bread

and drink

this cup

you proclaim

the lord's

death

until he

comes

the bread

of his

presence

the bread

that speaks

of his body

the cup

of his blood

his covenant

his love

eat and drink

the gifts

of God

to the glory

of God

it's lovely

to see you

and to be

with you

and to share

and worship

with you

and there is

a connection

that we have

with one

another

and with

our lord

when we are

able to

break

the bread

and share

the cup

with one

another

that is

a wonderful

signpost

of the

future

of a world

that we have

not yet

seen

of a love

and of a

peace

that we

can hardly

imagine

today

is supposed