The Crowd at the Cross

We're going to begin our worship this evening by singing to God's praise in Psalm 90, the

Scottish Psalter version, Psalm 90, page 350.

And we'll sing from verse 13 down to the end of the psalm.

Psalm 90 at verse 13.

Turn yet again to us, O Lord, how long thus shall it be that it repent thee now for those

that servants are to thee?

In the words of the end of the psalm, verse 17, that we would see these words being blessed

to us over these coming days.

That the beauty of the Lord our God be as upon our handiworks, establish thou, establish them,

each one.

We'll sing from verse 13 down to the end of the psalm to God's praise.

Turn yet again to us, O Lord, how long thus shall it be?

Let it repent thee, love for those that servants are to thee.

O with thy tender mercies, Lord, us are thee satisfied.

So we rejoice shall all our days, and still be glad in thee.

According us the days of me, wherein we creep upon, and years wherein we ill have seen.

So do thou make us glad.

O let thy work and power appear, thy servant face before, and show unto their children dear,

thy glory evermore.

And let the beauty of the Lord our God be as upon.

Thy holy Lord, establish thou, establish them, each one.

Let's bow our heads together in a word of prayer.

Let us pray.

Our Father in heaven as we gather in your name this evening together, we are thankful for your banner over us.

We are thankful for the name that is over us as we come and unite our hearts in prayer,

that we come under the banner of your love, and your love shown to us in your own Son, Jesus Christ.

We thank you that in his name we are able to approach you, our holy God.

That even though the way that was so closed off, as it were, in the Old Testament,

when only the high priest could approach,

we thank you that we have a high priest in Christ Jesus,

who has gone before us, who has opened the way for us,

and that we can approach your very throne through his name.

And we thank you that that is true for every one of us here this evening.

It is true that we can at any time draw near to you in prayer,

and draw near knowing that you hear us and that you know us in all our different needs.

And we thank you, Lord, that you have blessed us with your mercies,

that you have been a God who is so faithful towards us.

And even as we acknowledge that, today as a new day,

as we come to the end of it, Lord, we thank you that you are a God who reminds us,

as we rise in the morning and as we lay down our heads in the evening,

that you are the one who is with us, watching over us and keeping us.

And we do pray that you will be with us in our time together this evening,

that you will bless us in this time of worship,

that as we turn to your word, as we sing your praise,

as we lift up our prayers to you, as we seek to hear your voice,

that we would know, Lord, your beauty with us.

We would know your presence,

that the beauty of the Lord our God would be upon us as a people,

and not just this evening, but in these days ahead as well,

that we would know your gracious blessings to us day by day just now,

preparing us in our hearts and in our minds,

as we prepare to come to the Lord's table, God willing, this coming Sunday.

And we look to you as the one in whom alone we can approach even these things.

God, we do not have any merit of ourselves.

We are unworthy in many ways.

And our hearts are sinful to the core.

But yet, O Lord, we thank you for your mercies,

your mercies that are towards us day by day,

that even in our sin, Lord, your mercy is more.

And we pray, Lord, to know a great sense of your peace and your blessing with us,

that as your word is ministered to us in these coming days,

that it will be a word that, as it often does, challenges us,

but that it will be a word too that would bless us

and remind us of what faith means and who our faith is in

and the security that that gives to all of your people,

that when we come to put our trust in a living Saviour,

in one who came and died for our sin,

but who rose again and who ascended on high

and who is seated at your right hand this evening,

we thank you that we have that sure foundation,

the one who is the author and perfecter of faith.

And when our faith is in him,

though the world will condemn us and throw so much at us,

though we will even do that to ourselves at times

when we look at our own unworthiness,

it will make us mourn in our sin.

But let us come to marvel at Jesus

and to marvel at the one who came to lay down his life for his friends

and who says,

you are my friends if you do as I command.

And so let us hear your commands anew in these days.

Let us come to be faithful to you.

Let us come to acknowledge you as our only Saviour

and our only hope.

And Lord, we do pray your blessing upon us as a people

in every home and family we represent.

We thank you for our congregation

and all who belong to us in that way.

And we thank you, Lord,

that we have seen you increasing our numbers.

And we pray that you will continue to do so,

that you will continue to bless us with new people

coming out week by week and even day by day just now,

that we would see a people returning to you,

that we would know the blessing of your reviving power,

that you will turn towards us again, Lord,

and revive us in all our needs.

And we thank you, Lord,

that you are a God whose call can never be ignored,

can never be turned away,

even though we may at times, Lord, not listen.

We thank you for your faithfulness towards us.

And we do remember too, Lord,

that as we see new ones coming in,

that we are reminded so often

of other ones who are taken from us.

There is always that sense of looking back

at this time as well,

when we think of those who were once with us,

those who once belonged to our communion role here,

and those who are now in glory with you.

And Lord,

we thank you for all who have gone before us,

all who have prayed for us,

all who have remembered us,

even maybe not seeing prayer answered,

but knowing,

oh Lord,

that you are a God who is able to answer in your time.

And so we bless you,

Lord,

for your faithful people,

and for those who even continue to pray today,

Lord,

even though unable to be with us,

those who are prayer warriors at home,

and even in hospital and in homes as well.

We thank you,

Lord,

that you surround your people,

that you encamp around them,

that you are their security as well.

And we pray,

Lord,

for your blessing over us in all of these ways.

We pray too,

Lord,

that you will bless the ministers who will come to be with us over these days.

Remember,

Reverend Kenny Ferguson,

as he comes to minister tomorrow evening.

Remember the Reverend Cal MacDonald,

and the Reverend Angus McRae too,

as they will preach to us over the weekend.

We thank you for their individual ministries.

We thank you for their congregations.

We thank you for their families.

We thank you for their faithful ministry,

each one over so many years.

And we pray that as they come to minister to us,

that we will be blessed by their ministry,

and that they would be blessed to administering your word and the sacrament.

We pray,

Lord,

that you will be their strength and their help throughout this weekend.

You bless our fellowship together,

as we meet in different ways over these coming days,

whether it's in our homes together,

or in fellowships in the congregation.

We pray for your spirit to be present,

to bless us,

and to enrich us through it all.

And so,

Lord,

as we continue to worship you this evening,

we pray your blessing over us,

and your word to us.

Remember us in all our needs,

and remember us in the world in which we live,

and the turmoil that we see around us again and again,

throughout our land and throughout the nations of the world.

We look to you,

Lord,

even as the psalmist said,

how long thus shall it be?

Lord,

let it repent thee now for those that servants are to thee,

or with thy tender mercies,

Lord,

as early satisfy.

So we rejoice shall all our days,

and still be glad in thee.

We pray that your people,

near and far,

would rejoice and be glad in you,

and that together we too here over these days,

would rejoice and be glad in you as our Lord,

and as our Saviour.

Hear our prayers,

and forgive us all our sins,

as we confess them anew this evening,

as we know,

Lord,

as we come,

to prepare ourselves,

as we examine our hearts.

We see the blackness of our sin,

and we mourn over it,

Lord,

but pray your blessing,

and your forgiveness,

and your mercy to be upon us.

So hear us now,

and continue with us,

and we ask all these things,

for the sake,

and for the glory of our Saviour,

Jesus Christ,

and him alone.

Amen.

Amen.

We'll again sing to God's praise,

in Psalm 67,

in the Scottish Psalter version.

We're going to sing the first version of this psalm,

page 300 of the psalm books.

Psalm 67,

the first version.

Again,

this is a prayer for us,

as we look to God's blessing over us.

Lord,

bless and pity us,

shine on us with thy face,

that the earth,

thy way,

and nations all,

may know thy saving grace.

Let people praise thee,

Lord,

let people all thee praise.

Let the nations be glad,

and songs their voices raise.

We'll sing the whole of this psalm,

to God's praise.

Amen.

Lord,

bless and pity us,

shine on us with thy face,

that the earth,

thy way,

and nations all,

may know and save in place.

Let people praise thee, Lord.

Let people all thee praise.

O let the nations be glad,

in songs their voices ring.

Thou justly people judge,

on earth,

foolish and small.

Let people praise thee,

Lord,

let them praise thee,

O great and small.

The earth,

our fruit shall heal,

our God shall bless in sin,

God shall us bless,

men shall them fear,

and to earth shall come.

We'll turn to read together now in God's word.

We're going to read in the Gospel of Luke,

and chapter 23.

Luke chapter 23.

Luke 23 · chapter mention

We'll take up our reading at verse 18,

and read down to verse 49.

Luke chapter 23.

Luke 23 · chapter mention

We'll take up our reading at verse 18.

But they all cried out together,

Away with this man,

and release to us Barabbas,

a man who had been thrown into prison

for an insurrection started in the city,

and for murder.

Pilate addressed them once more,

deciding to release Jesus,

but they kept shouting,

Crucify, crucify him.

A third time he said to them,

Why?

What evil has he done?

I have found in him no guilt deserving death.

I will therefore punish and release him.

But they were urgent,

demanding with loud cries

that he should be crucified,

and their voices prevailed.

So Pilate decided that their demand

should be granted.

He released the man who had been thrown into prison

for insurrection and murder,

for whom they asked,

but he delivered Jesus over

to their will.

And as they led him away,

they seized one Simon of Cyrene,

who was coming in from the country,

and laid on him the cross

to carry it behind Jesus.

And there followed him

a great multitude of the people,

and of women who were mourning

and lamenting for him.

But turning to them,

Jesus said,

Daughters of Jerusalem,

Do not weep for me,

but weep for yourselves

and for your children.

For behold,

the days are coming

when they will say,

Blessed are the barren

and the wombs that never bore

and the breasts that never nursed.

Then they will begin to say

to the mountains,

Fall on us,

and to the hills,

cover us.

For if they do these things

when the wood is green,

what will happen

when it is dry?

Two others who were criminals

were led away

to be put to death with him.

And when they came to the place

that is called the skull,

there they crucified him

and the criminals,

one on his right hand

and one on his left.

And Jesus said,

Father, forgive them,

for they know not what they do.

And they cast lots

to divide his garments.

And the people stood by,

watching.

But the rulers scoffed at him,

saying,

He saved others.

Let him save himself,

if he is the Christ of God,

his chosen one.

The soldiers also mocked him,

coming up and offering him sour wine

and saying,

If you are the king of the Jews,

save yourself.

There was also an inscription over him,

This is the king of the Jews.

One of the criminals,

who were hanged,

railed at him,

saying,

Are you not the Christ?

Save yourself and us.

But the other rebuked him,

saying,

Do you not fear God,

since you are under the same sentence

of condemnation?

And we indeed justly,

for we are receiving

the due reward of our deeds.

But this man has done nothing wrong.

And he said,

Jesus,

remember me

when you come into your kingdom.

And he said to him,

Truly I say to you,

today you will be with me in paradise.

It was now about the sixth hour,

and there was darkness

over the whole land

until the ninth hour,

while the sun's light failed,

and the curtain of the temple

was torn in two.

Then Jesus,

calling out with a loud voice,

said,

Father,

into your hands

I commit my spirit.

And having said this,

he breathed his last.

Now when the centurion

saw what had taken place,

he praised God,

saying,

Certainly this man

was innocent.

And all the crowds

that had assembled

for this spectacle,

when they saw

what had taken place,

returned home,

beating their breasts.

And all his acquaintances

and the woman

who had followed him

from Galilee

stood at a distance

watching these things.

And so on.

And may God bless

that reading from his word.

Before we turn back

to this passage,

we'll again sing

to God's praise,

this time in Psalm 116.

And we'll sing

Psalm's version,

page 154.

Psalm 116,

and we'll sing

from verse 1

down to verse 9.

I love the Lord,

because he heard my voice.

He listened when

I cried to him for aid.

I'll call on him

as long as I shall live,

because he turned

to hear me

when I prayed.

We'll sing from verse 1

to verse 9

to God's praise.

I love the Lord,

because he heard my voice.

He listened when I cry to him for aid.

I'll call on him

as long as I shall live,

because he turned

to hear me

when I prayed.

The courts of death

gripped and entangled me.

Upon me came

the anguish of the grave.

With grief and trouble

I was overcome.

Then on the name of God

I call

Lord,

Lord,

sing

The Lord,

our God,

is kind

and full

of grace,

both

righteous

and

compassionate

is he.

The Lord

protects

all those

of childlike

faith.

When I

was in

great need,

he

rescued

me.

rest,

O my soul,

God has been good to you.

For you, O Lord,

have saved my soul from death.

I keep from stumbling

and high eyes from tears,

but I may live for you

while I have breath.

you can turn back with me to the passage we read in Luke chapter 23.

Luke 23 · chapter mention

We're going to look at this section from verse 26 down to verse 49.

We're going to focus on the situation that we see here as we look to the cross.

We read in verse 26,

And as they led him away,

they seized one,

Simon of Cyrene,

who was coming in from the country,

and laid on him the cross

to carry it behind Jesus.

And there followed him

a great multitude of people

and of women

who were mourning

and lamenting

for him.

Well, as we

come to focus our attention

this evening

and on these days ahead

as we prepare

to come

to the Lord's table,

our focus is always

towards

the cross.

The cross is always

the heart

of all our

preaching,

of all that we do

in the Lord's name.

The cross is always there,

central

to it all,

central

to our faith.

It is where Jesus died

that sinners

might be saved.

But when you think

of the cross

and what it means

to people today,

how do people

view

the suffering

of Jesus

at Calvary?

How do they view

the cross?

So many people

come

to the cross

in different ways.

For some,

it means nothing

at all.

For some,

it is just

downplayed.

some people

see it as

some kind of

cruelty

and injustice

that God

would send

his son

into the world

to die

on the cross.

Was it really

necessary?

How important

is the cross?

There's lots

of views out there,

but what about

with yourself?

How do you

view

the cross?

And how do you

view Jesus

on the cross

as we think

of coming

to remember

his death

until he comes?

Well,

the word of God

reminds us

that we really

fall into

two categories

when it comes

to thinking

of the cross.

It's in 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:18

1,

verse 18,

where it says

the word of the cross

is folly

to those

who are perishing.

it's foolishness

to many,

but it says

it's folly

to those

who are

perishing.

Even without

realizing

these people

who downplay

the cross,

who mock

the cross,

there are people

who are perishing.

But,

in 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:18

1,

verse 18,

it says,

But to us

who are being

saved,

it is the power

of God.

Us who are being

saved,

we are being

saved from

our sin

as we look

in faith

to the cross

and Christ

crucified.

For there we see

the power of God

to salvation.

And so,

if you're a Christian

today,

if you long

to be a Christian

today,

we come

to the cross

and we come

there

to the feet

of Jesus,

to the foot

of the cross.

And there we want

to see

there is the power

of God

to save.

It's quite

interesting when you

go through

the Gospel of Luke

how you find

at different points

people at the feet

of Jesus.

In Luke 7

Luke 7:31

verse 31,

there we read

of someone

who came

to the feet

of Jesus,

someone who you

wouldn't expect

to find

at the feet

of Jesus.

A sinful

woman,

a woman

of the city

she is called,

a prostitute.

It says in verse 37,

Behold,

a woman of the city

who was a sinner

when she learned

that he was

reclining

at table

in the Pharisee's

house,

brought an

alabaster flask

of ointment

and standing

behind him

at his feet

weeping,

she began

to wet his feet

with her tears

and wipe them

with the hair

of her head.

It's a beautiful

image there.

She was at the feet

of Jesus

with her tears

falling onto

his feet

and wiping

his feet

with her hair.

We read of

someone else

in Luke

Luke 10:39

chapter 10

verse 39

who was at

the feet

of Jesus

and it was

Mary.

She had a sister,

that's Martha,

had a sister

called Mary

who sat

at the Lord's

feet

and listened

to his teaching.

She sat

at the Lord's

feet

and listened

to his teaching.

One more

we could just

see is

Luke

Luke 17 · chapter mention

chapter 17

and verse

16

where Jesus

had cleansed

ten lepers

but only one

came back

to Jesus.

The one,

then one of them

says in

verse 15

when he saw

that he was

healed,

turned back

praising God

with a loud

voice

and he fell

on his face

at Jesus'

feet

giving him

thanks.

You have

these three

incidents

where people

come to

the feet

of Jesus

and you see

they're all

in different

ways

but the

culmination

of them

all is

as we

see the

crowds

coming

to the

foot of

the cross

where they

see the

feet

of Jesus

pierced

as he

hangs

on the

cross

and

each

one is

there

with

their

own

different

thoughts

with

their

own

different

set

of

circumstances

with

their

own

differences

in

life

just

like

you

think

of

the

sinful

woman

or

Mary

or

the

one

who

had

leprosy

who

was

healed

all

different

backgrounds

but found

themselves

at the

feet

of

Jesus

and

it's

a

place

we

all

come

to

everyone

comes

to

the

cross

in

some

way

either

being

foolish

and

dismissing

it

and

perishing

or

seeing

it

as

the

power

of

God

and

being

saved

and

this

passage

before

us

this

evening

it

reminds

us

of

different

ways

in

which

people

came

to

the

cross

crowds

gathered

there

followed

it says

in

verse

27

a

great

multitude

of

people

they

all

followed

they

all

came

and

remember

this

was

Jerusalem

at the

time

of the

Passover

a

city

that

was

full

of

people

who

had

come

from

all

over

to

remember

the

Passover

festival

crowds

of

people

we

want

to

see

how

the

crowds

reacted

as

they

were

at

the

foot

of

the

cross

there

are

three

types

of

people

I

want

us

to

look

at

and

as

we

think

of

preparing

ourselves

to

come

to

the

Lord's

table

to

remember

his

death

we

ask

ourselves

where

do

we

find

ourselves

when

it

comes

to

the

categories

we

will

look

at

of

those

who

are

at

the

cross

there

were

three

I

want

us

to

see

three

different

groups

there

were

those

who

mocked

there

were

those

who

mourned

and

there

were

those

who

marveled

and

we're

going to

think of

each of

these

each of

these

groups

just for

a few

moments

each

and ask

ourselves

where are

we

when we

think of

coming

to remember

the Lord's

death

as we

think of

the cross

and what

it means

to

ourselves

where

are

we

well the

first group

that we

see is

those

who

mocked

and they

were not

just

a few

they were

prominent

at this

time as

you see

Jesus

being mocked

as it were

all along

the way

here

from appearing

before

Herod

before

Pilate

being

delivered

over to

the Roman

soldiers

and to

the will

of the

people

there are

those who

are mocking

him

all along

the way

and even

as he is

hanging on

the cross

there are

those

who are

still

mocking

him

from

governors

to

soldiers

to

those

who

stood

watching

to

passers

by

they were

all

doing

it

they were

all

mocking

him

in

different

ways

and

mocking

is a

cruel

thing

it's

a

cruel

thing

if

you've

ever

been

on

the

end

of

being

mocked

or

ridiculed

you know

it hurts

but imagine

how much

it hurt

Jesus

there was

the physical

side of

his

suffering

but what

about as

he saw

these

people

mocking

him

mocking

him

as

he

was

on

his

way

to

the

cross

mocking

him

as

he

hung

on

the

cross

and

realising

what

he

had

come

to

do

the

fulfilment

of

scripture

here he

was

coming

to die

for

sinners

as

the

word

of

John

says

he

came

to

his

own

but

his

own

did

not

receive

him

as

you

go

back

into

the

prophecy

of

Isaiah

53

you

see

it

fulfilled

in

those

who

mocked

him

it's

a

saying

I'm

sure

you've

heard

it

sticks

and

stones

will

break

my

bones

but

names

will

never

hurt

me

it's

not

true

name

calling

mocking

is one

of the

most

hurtful

things

that

someone

can

experience

and

if you

look at

verse

35 and

36

you see

it

there

the

people

stood

by

watching

but

the

rulers

scoffed

at

him

saying

he

saved

others

let

him

save

himself

if

he

is

the

Christ

of

God

his

chosen

one

the

soldiers

also

mocked

him

coming

up

and

offering

him

sour

wine

and

saying

if

you

are

the

king

of

the

Jews

save

yourself

you

see

the

mocking

if

the

question

there

if

if

you

are

the

Christ

of

God

if

you

are

the

chosen

one

if

you

are

the

king

of

the

Jews

they're

questioning

who

he

is

yet

he

was

all

of

these

things

he

was

and

is

the

king

of

the

Jews

he

was

and

is

the

Christ

of

God

he

was

and

is

the

chosen

one

all

of

these

things

he

was

and

is

but

they

were

mocking

him

with

the

question

if

you

are

the

chosen

one

if

you

are

the

Christ

of

God

if

you

are

the

king

of

the

Jews

and

nothing

has

changed

there

are

still

those

who

will

mock

Jesus

if

you

watch

television

today

films

and

stand

up

comedians

Jesus

and

Christians

it's

an

easy

target

it's

common

place

to be

hearing

mocking

it's

been

growing

and

growing

over

the

years

but

it

seems

to

spread

further

and

further

so

that

now

you

find

mocking

of

Christians

and

Jesus

in

the

more

serious

programs

in

news

programs

in

politics

and

documentaries

it

has

spread

because

the

Christian

faith

is

seen

as

an

easy

target

it's

in

our

own

communities

if

you

see

online

discussion

anything

that's

mentioned

about

our

own

island

and

its

Christian

faith

and

heritage

it's

mocked

it's

ridiculed

people

pour out

their

anger

towards

it

you

find

it

more

and

more

in

our

own

island

and

it's

all

based

on

ridiculing

God

and

Jesus

they

were

there

in

the

time

of

Jesus'

crucifixion

and

they're

still

there

today

but

the

word

of

God

is

folly

to

those

who

are

perishing

that

is

a

serious

side

that

they

don't

see

but

to

mock

Jesus

to

ridicule

him

is

to

perish

to

be

lost

eternally

there

are

consequences

to

all

of

these

things

and

yet

even

in

the

midst

of

the

mocking

what

we

see

here

is

a

powerful

reminder

of

the

love

of

God

of

his

love

towards

us

and

it's

the

words

of

Jesus

that

always

is

so

powerful

when

he

says

father

forgive

them

in

verse

34

for

they

know

not

what

they

do

the

mercy

that

he

shows

even

in

the

midst

of

mocking

and

for

many

of

us

perhaps

we've

known

that

mercy

for

ourselves

that

we

were

once

a

people

who

mocked

and

ridiculed

Christ

the

cross

and

the

Christian

faith

but

by

God's

grace

he

saved

us

he

brought

us

to

himself

but

there's

a

serious

side

for

it

too

that

if

we

continue

in

mocking

we

will

perish

there

was

a

man

called

Bertrand

Russell

I'm

sure

many

of

you

may

have

heard

of

him

a

famous

mathematician

he

had a

tragic

childhood

he

lost

his

parents

when

he

was

young

and

he

was

really

brought

up

by

a

grandmother

and

a

grandmother

who

sought

to

teach

him

the

Christian

faith

but

he

rejected

the

Christian

faith

his

life

went

in

a

very

different

direction

and

he

became

an

outspoken

atheist

mocking

the

Christian

faith

often

but

after

he

passed

away

I think

it was

1970

he

passed

away

his

daughter

Catherine

Tate

she

wrote

a book

about

his

life

and

she

said

in the

book

somewhere

at

the

bottom

of

his

heart

in

the

depths

of

his

soul

there

was

an

empty

space

that

had

once

been

filled

by

God

and

he

never

found

anything

else

to put

in

it

such

a

sad

statement

of

a

life

there

was

a

space

in the

bottom

of

his

heart

in the

depths

of

his

soul

an

empty

space

that

had

once

been

filled

by

God

and

he

never

found

anything

else

to put

in

it

mocking

leaves

us

empty

so

let

our

hearts

be

filled

with

Christ

let

it

be

filled

with

that

forgiveness

and

that

mercy

of