Sermon

English Communion Service

February 19, 2023 Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Cited passages

Matthew 27 Chapter mention
Hebrews 10 Chapter mention
Hebrews 10 Chapter mention
1 Corinthians 11:23–29

Publisher transcript

Transcript

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Good morning, friends. It's a joy and a privilege to gather together here this Lord's Day-Around
Word and Sacrament, and we pray that together we'll know something of the Lord blessing
us as we join in His name. We're going to worship God then, and we're going to sing
to His praise from Psalm 34, sing Psalms 34, on page 40 of the Blue Psalm books, reading
at the beginning of the psalm.
At all times I will bless the Lord, I'll praise Him with my voice, because I glory in the Lord,
let troubled souls rejoice. Together let us praise the Lord, exalt His name with me. I
sought the Lord, whose answer came from fears, He set me free. We'll sing down to the end
of the verse Mark 10, standing to sing, I've got the tunes somewhere here, to the tune
martyrdom, and to the praise of God.
Amen.
At all times I will bless the Lord, I'll praise Him with my voice, because Thy glory is
to the Lord, let troubled souls rejoice. Together let us praise the Lord, exalt His name with me. I
the Lord, His answer came from fear, from fear He set me free. We look to Him, but I will join. We are not good to see the Lord, but I will join.
Our answer came from fear, tacos Him
sing from fear
and same.
The angel
of
the Lord
surrounds
and
hearts continually
all those
who fear
and honor
him
he sets
his people
free.
Come
taste
and see
the Lord
is good
who
trust in
him
is blessed
O
fear the
Lord
you
saints
will meet
you
will not
be
oppressed
young
lions
may
grow
weep
and
faint
and
hunger
and hunger
for
their
good
for those
who
wait
upon
the
Lord
will
hold
like any
good
let's
unite our
hearts in
prayer
let us
pray
Lord our
God we
come and we
give thanks
this day for
the promises
that we have
just joined
together and
sung one with
another
that those
who seek the
Lord shall
not
lack
any good
need
we pray
O Lord
that our
gathering here
this day
would be
born out of
that desire
in our
hearts
to seek
afresh
the Lord
that as we
come around
your word
and sacrament
this day
that we
might have
a longing
a thirst
and a hunger
after righteousness
and that in
having this
we might
be filled
filled
by your
Holy Spirit
your Holy
Spirit
who makes
plain to
us
who reveals
to us
the things
of the
Lord Jesus
Christ
and as we
think upon
these things
we cannot
but marvel
and wonder
as we
think upon
that
sacrificial
act of
love
that was
wrought
for sinners
just like
us
on Calvary's
hill
we come
and we
worship
the
just
dying
for
the
unjust
the
one
who
took
to
himself
hell
so that
we
might
have
life
and
life
everlasting
the
one
who
stooped
to
such
depths
of
darkness
and
depravity
so that
we
might
have
opened
unto
us
that
new
and
that
living
way
behold
what
manner
of
love
is
this
that
the
father
has
bestowed
upon
us
that
we
should
be
called
the
children
of
God
and
it's
as
children
we
come
humbly
today
before
our
father
our
loving
heavenly
father
the
one
who
saw
fit
to
come
into
this
world
through
the
portion
and
work
of
his
son
to
accommodate
us
by
dying
on
that
cross
and
giving
unto
us
a
hope
that
hope
of
glory
that
is
as
a
result
of
Christ
dwelling
in
us
and
so we
pray
oh
lord
for
your
blessing
this
day
we
are
so
aware
of
the
world
that
we
live
in
a
world
that
so
often
is
characterized
by
pain
and
by
suffering
even
as
we
reflect
upon
that
which
is
taking
place
in
Turkey
and
Syria
the
earthquakes
that
have
in
many
ways
turned
the
lives
of
those
there
upside
down
a
reminder
of
the
fragility
of
life
a
reminder
of
how
temporary
all
around
us
is
and
so
help
them
we
pray
help
them
in
their
temporal
needs
but
help
them
especially
in
their
spiritual
needs
even
through
this
time
of
atrocity
that
your
voice
would
speak
to
them
in
love
and
that
they
might
come
to
know
something
of
the
wonder
of
what
it
is
to
call
you
their
father
and
their
friend
oh
Lord
we
know
that
for all
of us
it
is
a
time
to
be
born
and
a
time
to
die
but
yet
we
praise
you
oh
Lord
that
you
have
conquered
the
grave
that
you
have
cried
out
it
is
finished
so
that
for
those
of
us
who
are
in
Christ
the
reality
is
today
that
the
best
is
yet
to
come
but
until
then
we
join
together
in a
manner
such
as
this
and
we
remember
we
remember
your
death
and
resurrection
until
you
come
again
we
come
in
humble
obedience
and we
reflect
upon
who
you
are
and
indeed
who
we
are
in
you
and
so
we
pray
oh
Lord
that
you
might
be
pleased
by
your
Holy
Spirit
truly
to
be
in
our
midst
this
day
that
hearts
and
minds
would
be
attuned
to
your
voice
and
that
we
might
know
in
a
very
real
way
the
presence
of
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
sitting
at
the
head
of
the
table
be
with
our
brothers
as
they
lead
us
in
the
singing
of
your
praises
those
who
will
distribute
the
elements
we
give
thanks
for
those
who
are
so
willing
to
serve
in
such
a
way
but
we
pray
oh
Lord
also
for
those
who
cannot
be
with
us
those
who
perhaps
have
a
longing
a
desire
to
be
here
with
us
as
they
have
been
perhaps
in
years
gone
by
that
you
would
be
with
them
where
they
are
we
give
thanks
oh
Lord
that
you
are
not
a
God
who
is
confined
to
a
building
but
rather
you
are
omnipresent
so
we
pray
that
your
Holy
Spirit
perhaps
would
touch
them
at
their
very
point
of
need
so
that
even
if
they
are
joining
us
online
they
might
feel
that
they
are
here
with
us
in
spirit
and
so
we
pray
now
that
you
would
be
with
us
as
we
continue
in
all
that
we
seek
to
do
that
you
would
lead
us
and
guide
us
to
do
all
decently
and
in
order
to
the
glory
of
your
name
seeking
forgiveness
for
all our
many
sins
in
Jesus
name
we
pray
Amen
it's
lovely
to
with
us
today
and
I
don't
want
you
to
think
for
one
moment
that
none
of
this
is
for
you
you
might
look
down
and
you
might
wonder
what
is
happening
here
what
is
going
on
what
are
we
about
to
do
why
are
there
these
white
cloths
there
why
is
there
bread
and
why
is
there
wine
there
a
simple
answer
to
that
question
we
are
here
today
because
we
love
Jesus
and
not
only
do
we
love
Jesus
but
we
know
Jesus
he
is
our
father
and
he
is
our
friend
but
my
question
friends
is
how
can
we
know
Jesus
you
might
have
seen
this
before
but
bear
with
me
I'm
going
to
show
you
how
we
can
know
Jesus
through
a
piece
of
paper
now
we
might
think
well
I
can
know
Jesus
if
I
come
to
something
like
this
any
idea
what
this
is
what
does
this
look
like
well
it's
meant
to
be
a
building
a
very
poor
building
your
building
is
far
nicer
here
but
it's
meant
to
be
a
building
and
we
might
say
well
I
can
come
to
know
Jesus
if
I
come
to
church
and
all
we
need
to
do
is
to
come
to
a
building
and
then
we'll
know
Jesus
by
coming
to
church
but
we
need
more
than
that
now
some
people
bear
with
me
just
a
second
some
people
think
they
can
come
to
know
Jesus
by
doing
what
do
we
think
that
we
can
go
down
to
the
airport
and
get
on
a
plane
and
that
somehow
a
plane
can
take
us
all
the
way
up
to
heaven
and
then
we'll
get
to
know
Jesus
well
of
course
not
that's
ridiculous
but
you
know
in
the
Bible
there
were
those
who
thought
they
could
come
close
to
God
by
building
a
really
really
high
tower
but
of
course
we
can't
we
need
to
get
to
know
God
that's
for
sure
let's
hope
this
works
we
need
to
get
to
know
God
why
because
we
live
in a
world
that is
so
torn
it's
so
affected
by
what's
that
word
sin
what's
the
middle
letter
of
sin
I
me
myself
and
I
it's
so
affected
by
sin
we
need
to
know
Jesus
how
do
we
know
Jesus
well
we
know
Jesus
and
that's
why
we're
here
today
by
coming
to
the
cross
nowhere
else
can
we
know
Jesus
by
coming
to
the
cross
and
looking
upon
Jesus
on
that
cross
where
he
died
for
boys
and
girls
like
you
for
mums
and
dads
for
grannies
and
grandpas
and
that's
why
we're
here
today
drinking
the
wine
which
symbolises
his
blood
and
eating
the
bread
which
symbolises
his
broken
flesh
he
died
on
that
cross
so
that
we
might
live
and
so
yes
come
to
church
but
more
than
that
come
to
the
cross
all
of
us
here
even
if
we're
not
so
young
come
to
the
cross
and
that's
where
we
will
come
to
know
Jesus
well
friends
we're
going to
read
together
and
we're
going
to
read
from
the
gospel
of
Matthew

Matthew 27 chapter mention
chapter
27
and
we're
going to
pick up
our reading
at
verse
15
15
through
to
55
let
us
hear
the
word
of
God
now
at
the
feast
of the
governor
was
now at
the
feast
the
governor
was
accustomed
to
release
for
the
crowd
any
one
prisoner
whom
they
wanted
and
they
had
then
a
notorious
prisoner
called
Barabbas
so when
they had
gathered
Pilate
said to
them
who do
you want
me to
release
for you
Barabbas
or
Jesus
who is
called
Christ
but he
knew
that it
was out
of envy
that they
had
delivered
him
up
besides
while he
was sitting
on the
judgment
seat
his wife
sent
word
to
him
have
nothing
to do
with
to do
with
that
righteous
man
for I
have
suffered
much
because
of him
today
in a
dream
now the
chief
priest
and the
elders
persuaded
the
crowd
to ask
for
Barabbas
and destroy
Jesus
the governor
again
said to
them
which of
the two
do you
want me
to release
for you
and they
said
Barabbas
Pilate
said to
them
then what
shall I
do
with
Jesus
who is
called
Christ
they all
said
let him
be
crucified
and he
said why
what evil
has he
done
but they
shouted
all the
more
let him
be
crucified
so when
Pilate
saw that
he was
gaining
nothing
but rather
that a
riot was
beginning
he took
water
and washed
his hands
before the
crowd
saying
I am
innocent
of this
man's
blood
see to
it
yourselves
and all
the people
answered
his blood
be on us
and on our
children
and he
released
for them
Barabbas
having
scourged
Jesus
delivered
him
to be
crucified
then the
soldiers of
the governor
took Jesus
into the
governor's
headquarters
and they
gathered the
whole battalion
before him
and they
stripped him
and put a
scarlet robe
on him
and twisting
together a
crown of
thorns
they put it
on his
head
and put a
reed
in his
right hand
and kneeling
before him
they mocked
him saying
hail
king of
the Jews
and they
spat on
him
and took
the reed
and struck
him on
the head
and when
they had
mocked him
they stripped
him of
the robe
and put
his own
clothes
on him
and led
him
away
to crucify
him
as they
went out
they found
a man
of Cyrene
Simon
by name
they compelled
this man
to carry
the cross
and when
they came
to a place
called
Golgotha
which means
place of
the skull
of a skull
they offered
him wine
to drink
mixed with
gall
but when
he tasted
it
he would
not
drink it
and when
they had
crucified
him
they divided
his garments
among them
by casting
lots
then he sat
down and
kept watch
over him
there
and over
his head
they put
the charge
against him
which read
this is
Jesus
the king
of the
Jews
then two
robbers
were crucified
with him
one on the
right
and one
on the
left
and those
who passed
by derided
him
wagging
their heads
and saying
you who
would destroy
the temple
and rebuild
it in
three days
save
yourself
if you
are the
son of
God
come down
from the
cross
so also
the chief
priest
through the
scribes
and elders
mocked him
saying
he saved
others
he cannot
save
himself
he is
the king
of Israel
let him
come down
now from
the cross
and we
will believe
him
he trusts
in God
let God
deliver him
now
if he
desires
him
for he
said
I am
the son
of God
and the
robbers
who were
crucified
with him
also
reviled
him
in the
same
way
now from
the sixth
hour
there was
darkness
over all
the land
until the
ninth
hour
and about
the ninth
hour
Jesus
cried out
with a
loud voice
saying
Eli
Eli
Lema
Sabachthani
that is
my God
my God
why have
you forsaken
me
and some
of the
bystanders
hearing it
said
this man
is called
Elijah
and one
of them
at once
ran
and took
a sponge
filled it
with sour
wine
and put
it on
a reed
and gave
it to
him
to drink
but others
said
wait
let us
see
whether
Elijah
will come
and save
him
and Jesus
cried out
again
with a
loud voice
and yielded
up his
spirit
and behold
the curtain
of the
temple
was torn
in two
from top
to bottom
and the earth
shook
and the rocks
were split
the tombs
also were
opened
and many
bodies
of the
saints
who had
fallen asleep
were raised
and coming
out of the
tombs
after his
resurrection
they went
into
the holy
city
and appeared
to many
when the
centurion
and those
who were
with him
when the
centurion
and those
who were
with him
keeping watch
over Jesus
saw the
earthquake
and what
had taken
place
they were
filled
with awe
and said
truly
this was
the son
of God
there were
also many
women there
looking on
from a
distance
who had
followed
Jesus
from Galilee
ministering
to him
among
whom
were
Mary
Magdalene
and Mary
the mother
of James
and Joseph
and the
mothers
of the
sons
of
Zebedee
Amen
we pray
God's
blessing
on that
reading
of his
own
holy
word
now friends
we're going
to sing
once more
to God's
praise
this time
from Psalm
103
in the
Scottish
Psalter
Psalm
103
reading at
the beginning
of the
Psalm
O thou
my soul
bless
God the
Lord
and all
that in
me is
be
stirred up
his holy
name
to magnify
and bless
bless O
my soul
the Lord
thy God
and not
forgetful
be
of all
his
gracious
benefits
he hath
bestowed
on
thee
we're going
to sing
down to
the end
of the
verse
mark
five
to the
praise
of God
standing
to sing
and to
the tune
St.
Paul
O thou
my soul
bless
God
the
Lord
and
all
that
there
he
is
he
he
set
up
his
holy
name
to
magnify
and
bless
bless
O
my soul
the
Lord
thy
God
and
not
forget
for
me
of
all
his
gracious
benefit
he
hath
his
good
on
thee
all
thy
end
in
quent
his
future
most
gracious
I
yang
le
heart
on
the
CHOIR SINGS
CHOIR SINGS
We're going to go back to the chapter that we read, but we're also going to have a second text that I'd like us to turn to.
So first of all, from Matthew 27.
And we're going to read verse 51.
And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
And then if you could turn to Hebrews chapter 10.

Hebrews 10 chapter mention
Hebrews chapter 10.

Hebrews 10 chapter mention
We're going to read together verses 19 and 20.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh.
Through the curtain, that is, through His flesh.
Well, friends, if you've not been here, we've been asking some questions over this communion weekend.
We've thought on Friday night as to why we are here.
We are here, of course, because our security is not in ourselves.
Our security is in Christ.
Last night, we thought about how this was made possible.
This was, of course, made possible through the precious blood of Christ.
So we are in Christ because of the blood of Christ.
Today, friends, we're going to ask a third question.
And we're going to seek to answer that from the text that we have before us here today.
What is it that we gain from the why and the how?
What is it, what is, if you like, the outcome of us being in Christ through the shed blood of Christ?
What have we received from this?
Well, the clue to the answer of that question is found in both of our texts this morning.
And behold, Matthew 27, 51, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
And then in Hebrews 10,
Now, again, details like this detail can, perhaps at a first glance, seem to be quite obscure to us, quite strange.
We've grown up again hearing about the curtain of the temple being rent in two, being torn in two.
It's just part of the whole narrative of Calvary.
But perhaps we haven't really thought too much about what it means.
Or perhaps we think it's just because there was an earthquake.
That's why it had been torn in two.
But it's more than that.
And we're going to ask the question today, why does this detail punctuate the Calvary narrative?
What is its significance?
Now, to unpack this just a little bit this morning, we're going to consider what we have before us under two very simple headings.
Firstly, the curtain.
And then secondly, the cross.
The curtain and the cross.
Now, an awful lot today could be said about Old Testament worship.
Studying it in any measure reveals a myriad of details,
so much so that when we look at the intricacies of expectations surrounding the worship of God in the Old Testament,
there's a distinct temptation, friends, as there not,
to conclude that much of what we have there is really not relevant to us any longer.
Obsolete?
Yes, it is.
Irrelevant?
By no means.
And our text this morning reveals this to us.
And so let's travel back 3,500 years.
Let's go back to the era of the Exodus where we find detail of the tabernacle,
the place of worship for the God of Israel.
Now, of course, we don't have time to go into all the detail of the tabernacle.
Don't worry, we're not going to do that.
That could take a whole sermon series in itself.
But what we are going to do, if you have your Bibles,
is to turn to Exodus 26, 31,
where we begin to pick up just some of the detail that's relevant to our text today,
relevant to this curtain.
Exodus 26, 31.
And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns.
And just incidentally, correct me if I'm wrong on this,
but I remember being told growing up that that's why the colors of this church building
are the blue and the scarlet,
to reflect the tabernacle here.
You shall make a veil of blue and scarlet,
purple and scarlet yarns,
and fine twined linen.
It shall be with cherubim skillfully worked into it.
And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia,
overlaid with gold,
with hooks of gold,
on four bases of silver.
And you shall hang the veil from the clasps
and bring the Ark of the Testimony,
that's the Ark of the Covenant,
in there within the veil.
And the veil shall separate you,
for you,
the holy place
from the most
holy.
the holy place
from
the most
holy.
Now you might be sitting here and thinking,
well that's all very interesting,
it's good to look into these things,
but here we are
on a communion
Lord's Day morning.
I want to hear
about the sufferings
of my Savior.
I want to go to Calvary,
I want to see
what He
has done
for me.
Well friend,
just bear with me for a moment,
because here,
in this very description,
we see something
of our Savior.
Because what the pages
of the New Testament
do is,
they shine,
as it were,
a bright light
on the pages
of the Old Testament.
If we just have the Old Testament
on its own,
without the New Testament,
it would be confusing to us.
We would struggle to
understand
what a lot
of it actually
means.
but the New Testament
shines this
bright light
and it reveals
to us
how seemingly
obscure details,
like the one
we've just read,
fit so beautifully
into that
grand plan
of redemption.
Let me explain.
What we have,
what we've just read
before us,
it describes
a curtain,
or depending
on what version
you use,
I think perhaps
in some,
the authorised version,
it might call it
a veil,
a curtain,
or a veil.
And this curtain
was found
in the tabernacle
of Moses.
This was,
of course,
a portable place
of worship
that went
with the children
of Israel
through their
wilderness wanderings.
What did it look like?
Well,
if you're in the session room
at the minute,
if you look
at the wall
just above the door
there,
or beside the door,
you'll see a picture
of the tabernacle.
It's there.
A picture of exactly
what it looked like.
It was a large,
rectangular courtyard
that surrounded it.
If you imagine
a football pitch
with a high fence
around it,
but instead of wiring,
there was curtains
filling in
each panel.
And within this
large,
rectangular courtyard,
there was
the tabernacle
or what's also known
as the tent of meeting.
Now,
this wasn't big.
It wasn't
a very big building
or structure.
It was around
14 meters long
and four and a half
meters wide.
And at the end
of this tent of meeting,
this tabernacle,
was this curtain.
About three quarters
of the way down,
we had this veil,
this curtain.
What was it for?
Why was it there?
Well,
this curtain was there
to separate
the holy place,
that was the place
of worship,
from the most
holy place,
the holy
of holies.
And it was in this
holy of holies
that you had
the Ark
of the Covenant.
covenant.
And inside
the Ark
of the Covenant,
amongst other things,
we don't have time
to go into this,
was the law
of God
that was,
of course,
written on
tablets of stone.
And within this room,
within this
holy of holies,
this was the
meeting place
of God
with his people.
He would come
in that great cloud
and this is where
he would meet
his people
above the Ark
of the Covenant.
And we might think,
well,
what a wonderful thing.
What a wonderful thing
for the Old Testament
church.
Imagine having a room
in our place
of worship
that we could just
go in and meet
with God.
Well,
it wasn't
all that wonderful
for them
because,
in reality,
this room
was completely
out of bounds.
The holy
of holies
was a no-go
area.
And there was
a very good
reason for this
because
if you were
to go into
this room,
if you would
go into
the holy
of holies,
what would
happen is
you would die.
You would die.
Last night,
we thought about
the fact that
there's a great
gulf between
us and God.
God is holy.
We are sinful.
God is of
pure eyes
and to look
upon our sin
and so we
need that
gulf bridged.
We thought
about that
last night.
It's bridged
by the blood,
of course.
But because
of this,
because God
came into
this room,
people could
not just
go in
into his
presence
and have
fellowship
and communion
there with
him.
That was
apart from
one exception,
the high
priest.
The high
priest.
priest.
Now,
we know that
we talked
about this
last night,
that God
had ordained
regular burnt
offerings and
sin offerings
when they would
place their
hand upon
the animal,
the guilt
would be
transferred,
the animal
would be
killed,
and the
blood would
be sprinkled.
That would
be a regular
occurrence.
But that
wasn't enough
because it
was the job
of the great
high priest
once a year
on the day
of atonement
to pass
through this
curtain
into the
holy of
holies
to take
with him
the blood
of a
freshly
sacrificed
animal
and then
sprinkle it
all over
the lid
of the
ark.
This was
known as
the mercy
seat.
Why did
he do
this?
Well,
the wages
of sin,
as we know,
is death.
Someone
had to
die for
the sins
of the
people.
In the
case of
the Old
Testament
believers,
symbolically
it was
the animals.
And so
there we
have in
the holy
of holies
we have
God
coming,
meeting
with his
people
in the
form of
the high
priest,
representing
the people
coming into
the holy
of holies.
Here we
have the
great high
priest coming
and putting
the blood
on the
mercy seat,
as it
were.
Why was
he doing
this?
Well,
think about
what was
under the
mercy seat,
the law.
What have
you and
I done?
We've
broken the
law.
And so
the only
thing that
could bridge
that gulf
between us
and God
was the
blood.
So why did
the priest
not die?
Well,
of course,
the Lord
accommodated
his presence
by coming
in,
but it's
said that
he had a
rope tied
around him.
I don't know
if this is
true or not,
but he had a
rope tied
around him
that was so
long so
that just in
case for any
reason he
did die in
the holy of
holies,
he could
then be
pulled
out.
And so this
was the way
of God's
people.
If you
were an
Old Testament
believer,
this would
be very
much at
the center,
the fabric
of who you
were as a
believer.
You would
be used to
all of
this ritual,
this routine.
And in
fact,
this went
on for
over
1500 years,
year after
year after
year.
And all
the while,
what was
happening?
Well,
the people
were never
really wanting
to get
close to
God.
There was
a fear
of getting
close to
God.
God was
so holy,
God is
holy,
and they
couldn't
come into
his nearer
presence.
They lived
lives that
were saturated
in perpetual
ritual.
But today,
friends,
we are not
Old Testament
believers.
we're New
Testament
believers.
And that
brings us
to our
second point,
the cross.
We have
the curtain
and all
it symbolizes
there in
the Old
Testament.
But today,
friends,
we have
the cross.
And we
know that
all that
we read
of and
just thought
of there
in the Old
Testament,
it was
wholly
inadequate.
It was a
shadow of
what was
to come.
It was
inadequate
because it
couldn't deal
with the
sins of
the people
fundamentally,
but it was
inadequate
because the
people couldn't
have that
communion
with their
Lord.
We're reminded
of this
in Hebrews
10.
We read
that,
for since
the law
was but
a shadow
of the
good things
to come
instead of
the true
form of
these
realities,
it can
never by
the same
sacrifices
that are
continually
offered
every year
make perfect
those who
draw near.
Otherwise,
they would
not have
ceased
to be
offered,
since the
worshippers
having once
been cleansed
would no
longer have
any
consciousness
of sins.
But in
these
sacrifices,
there is
a reminder
of sins
every year,
for it is
impossible,
impossible,
for the
blood of
bulls
and goats
to take
away
sins.
And so
all that
happened in
the tabernacle
was but
a shadow,
a symbol
of what
was still
to come
pointing
towards
the shedding
of the
blood of
the
sacrificial
lamb,
who would
cover the
law,
who would
fulfill the
law by
coming in
between
sinners like
you and
me and
God.
This was
then the
testimony of
the Old
Testament
believers.
By faith
laying hold
of the
reality,
how much
of it
they understood,
we don't
really know,
laying hold
of the
reality that
all that
they were
doing would
be fulfilled
one day
on that
cross,
on that
cross.
And you
know,
friends,
today we
look back,
but they
looked forward.
We look
back by
faith to
the cross,
they looked
forward by
faith to
the Messiah
coming.
And as we
today look
back,
we begin
to make
sense of
the relevance
of this
curtain.
What do
we read
in verse
50 of
that chapter
in Matthew?
Jesus
cried
again with
a loud
voice and
yielded up
his spirit
and behold
the curtain
of the
temple was
torn in
two from
top to
bottom.
And so
while Christ
was being
crucified,
this curtain
elsewhere in
the temple,
the temple of
course superseded,
the tabernacle,
the same
rituals took
place,
the curtain
in the
temple was
torn in
two.
Now Josephus,
the Jewish
historian,
writes that
this curtain
was so
thick that
supposing you
tied one
horse on
one side
and one
horse on
the other
and they
went in
opposite
directions,
you still
couldn't
tear this
curtain.
It was a
curtain that
was so
thick.
almost
indestructible.
Yet now
at the
crucifixion
it's torn.
This
curtain that
shielded the
presence of
God in
the Holy
of Holies
from the
eyes of
sinful
mankind
it is
torn
in two.
Picture the
scene,
friends,
it's 3pm.
The
priests
are
preparing
for the
evening
sacrifice
and as
they
prepare
for the
evening
sacrifice
this
curtain
to the
Holy
of Holies
it's
torn in
two.
So that
which they
should never
have been
able to
see is
laid
before
their
eyes.
And what
happens?
Do they
die?
No they
don't.
They're very
much alive
standing there
no doubt
in wonder
and in
awe
at what
has just
happened
seeing
that
which
they
had
never
seen
before.
Why
was this?
Because of
the cross.
Because
elsewhere
nearby
those words
had been
uttered
it is
finished.
This was a
curtain
friends that
preached
the sermon
of all
sermons.
A curtain
that preached
a sermon
that spoke
of greater
things.
That now
there was
no need
for any
of these
types
and shadows
rituals
or routines
animal
sacrifices.
They were
all gone
or they
should
have been
all gone.
That these
religious
activities
that were
so
ingrained
in the
Jewish
people
now
they were
redundant.
Why?
Because
the
curtain
of the
temple
was
torn.
Is that
why?
No.
That's
not why.
But because
the flesh
of Jesus
was torn.
That's
why.
You see
the curtain
symbolizes
something
far greater.
It symbolizes
the fact
that the
flesh
of our
Saviour
was torn
into
so that
we would
have
access
to that
new
and living
way.
It symbolizes
the fact
that the
communion
of God
the Son
with God
the Father
it was
torn
into.
What does
he cry out?
My God
my God
why have
you forsaken
me?
Not my
father
my father.
That
relationship
that intimacy
torn
in
two.
because
the
dignity
of a
most
holy
God
in
the
person
of
Jesus
Christ
in
taking
to
himself
the
darkness
and
depravity
of the
hell
that
should
have
been
yours
and
should
have
been
mine.
His
dignity
completely
and utterly
ripped
in half.
Torn
in two.
And it's
because of
all of
this
friends
that this
new
and living
way has
been opened
up to
you
and to
me.
This
access
direct
access
to the
holy
of
holies
that you
and I
have
through
that
torn
curtain
through
that
torn
veil
through
that
torn
Christ.
You know
friends
there's
one
thing
that
wasn't
torn
throughout
all of
this.
There's
one
thing
that
remained
completely
and
remains
today
completely
intact.
What
is it?
The
love
of
Christ
for
you.
A
love
that
tore
the
curtain
of
separation
through
the
cross
of
reconciliation.
What
are we
here for
this
weekend
friends?
We're
here to
remember
that
like
Peter
we are
safe
and
secure
in
Christ.
How
is this
made
possible
through
the
shed
blood
of
our
Savior?
And
what
do
we
gain
from
this?
The
curtain
of the
temple
being
torn
into
the
veil
of
separation
being
opened
up,
the
flesh
of
Jesus
being
prized
apart
allowing
us
to
come
what?
Come
boldly
to a
throne
of
grace.
This is
where we
get our
boldness.
Come
boldly
to a
throne
of
grace
to seek
forgiveness,
to seek
his face,
to seek
his
favor,
to be
recipients
of
live
and
living
communion
with
God
through
Christ.
It's
not
presumption
friends
to come
to the
Lord.
It is
finished
so that
we can
come not
once a
year with
fear
and
trembling
through
a
priest,
through
a
sinful
man
by
offering
the
blood
of a
bull.
Not
by that
and we
praise
God
that it's
not
by that
but
by
continually
and
constantly
through
the
great
high
priest
who
is
interceding
on
our
behalf
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
by
coming
in
and
through
him
and
no
one
and
nothing
else.
A lot
more
friends could
be said
about that,
an awful
lot more,
but in a
nutshell,
there you
have it,
the curtain
and
the cross,
or should I
say the
cross
that tore
the curtain,
the cross
that's given
to us
today,
that boldness
that we
can come
and sit
at the
table of
the king
with that
joy
in our
hearts
that now
we have
access
to the
holy
of
holies.
Let's
pray.
Lord,
we bless
and we
thank you
for that
great plan
of
redemption,
that there
is not
a detail
that is
irrelevant,
that all
is there
to point
us
to Jesus.
And so
we pray,
O Lord,
this day
that indeed
our hearts
and our
minds
might be
set
upon you
and you
alone
with that
spirit of
thanksgiving
that we
can come
boldly
and that we
can have
that union
and communion
with you
in and
through the
Lord Jesus
Christ.
Forgive us
then we pray
in his name.
Amen.
Well friends,
at this point
we might ask
that question
in light of
all that we've
just been
thinking about,
who is
the Lord's
table
for?
It's a
question
that's been
asked,
communion,
after communion,
year
after year,
who is the
Lord's table
for?
Who should
be sitting
at the
Lord's table?
Well we find
a clue
in Matthew
27,
the chapter
we read,
verse 55,
just at the
end of that
section we
read,
there were
also many
women there
looking on
from a
distance,
who had
followed
Jesus from
Galilee,
ministering to
him,
among whom
were Mary
Magdalene
and Mary,
the mother
of James
and Joseph
and the
mother of
the sons
of
Zebedee.
What do we
find here?
What we find
here,
Mary Magdalene,
Mary the
mother of
James and
others,
we find
them at
the cross.
Now picture
the scene
there at
the cross,
the Lord
Jesus Christ,
the one
whom they
have loved
so much,
the one
whom they
have given
so much
to,
there he
is being
crucified.
And what
can they
do?
Nothing.
We see
that not
only can
they do
nothing,
but they
are standing
at a
distance.
We saw
Peter walking
at a distance
from the
Lord in
different
circumstances.
Now we
have the
close followers
of Jesus
standing at
a distance
and a
new set
of
circumstances.
And I
wonder how
they felt
as they
stood there,
as they
gazed upon
the Lord
Jesus,
whom they
had
fellowshiped
with,
whom they
had meals
with,
whom they
had spent
time with,
and they
see him
there dying
on that
cross.
How did
they feel?
Well,
no doubt
they felt
useless,
helpless,
and you
know,
friend,
perhaps that's
how you
feel today
as a
Christian,
useless,
helpless.
You're
looking upon
the Lord
Jesus,
even as
we've
considered
him in
the word
today,
and you
feel like
a fraud.
There's
nothing you
can do.
Deep down
you would
like to,
but for
one reason
or another,
time and
time again,
you're not
saving him
in the way
that you
would like,
or perhaps
you're even
doing that,
but you
wish you
wouldn't
do.
That at
times,
just like
these women,
you're looking
on from
a distance.
But notice
these words.
There were
also many
women there
looking on
from a
distance who
had followed
Jesus from
Galilee.
They had
followed Jesus
from Galilee.
And it's
true at this
point.
These women,
they weren't
able to do
much for
their Lord
and their
Savior,
but still,
but still
they were
there.
There they
were.
They had
followed
Jesus from
Galilee to
the cross.
And you
know,
yes,
undoubtedly
it's true
for all of
us here
today.
We feel like
we would like
to be doing
more for
our Savior,
myself included.
And we're
despairing almost
at times at
how little we
do for the
cause of
Christ.
There's souls
around us
perishing.
We want to
help, we
want to do
something, but
we feel so
inadequate.
And of course,
we ought to
strive to
serve the
Lord as
best we
can in
his
strength.
But friend,
don't be
dismayed.
Don't be
dismayed.
Why?
Because you
are here.
And in
spite of
everything
else, where
are you?
You are at
the cross
of Jesus
Christ.
That's what
this table
is for.
It's for
those people
who say,
I can't,
Lord, but
you can.
You're here.
Maybe you're
looking from
a distance,
but you're
here.
John Newton
wrote a poem
entitled,
Tis a Point
I Long
to Know,
which dealt,
of course,
with that
issue of
doubt.
But his
friend Daniel
Herbert wrote
a response.
Forgive me if I
read this to
you before,
having preached
here, but it
illustrates this
perfectly.
Is this the
point you
long to
know?
The point
is settled
in my view.
For if you
want to love
your God,
if that's your
desire, it
proves that
he first
loved you.
I want to
know Christ
died for
me.
I want to
feel the
zeal within.
I want to
know Christ's
precious blood
was shed to
wash away
my sin.
I want to
feel more
love to
Christ.
I want more
liberty and
prayer.
But when I
looked within
my heart,
it almost
drives me
to despair.
So where I
want like this
is found, I
think it may
be bold to
say that God
has fixed
within my
heart what
hell can
never take
away.
However
small thy
grace appears,
there's plenty
in thy living
head.
These wants
you feel, my
Christian friend,
were never
found amongst
the dead.
So although
we're here
today and
we're looking
on and
we feel so
inadequate, the
very fact that
you have a
desire to
serve more
shows that
you are alive
in Christ.
Who is the
table for
perfect sinless
saints?
No, they
don't exist,
at least not
this side of
eternity.
The table
is for
sinners who
have been
saved by
grace, who
look today,
albeit from a
distance, as we
look back at
Christ on
the cross
of Calvary.
We're going
to sing now,
friends, from
Psalm 116.
Psalm 116
we're going to
read from verse
7.
rest, O my
soul, God
has been good
to you, for
you, O Lord,
have saved my
soul from
death, my
feet from
stumbling, and
my eyes from
tears, that I
may live for
you while I
have breath.
Down to verse
19, before his
people I will
keep my vows
within the
courts of
our God's
holy place
within the
city of
Jerusalem, and
to the Lord
alone be
all the
praise.
We'll sing
these verses
standing to
sing to the
tune Eventide,
rest, O my
soul, God
has been good
to you.
Amen.
Rest, O my
soul, God
sing to you
to you.
For you, O
Lord, have
saved my
soul from
death, my
feet from
stumbling, and
my eyes from
tears, that I
will live for
you while I
love
death.
I
trusted in
the Lord,
and then I
spoke.
I said in
anguish, I
am sore
he died,
and in
the
heavy depths
of my
dismay.
O
let our
liars
share
me
warm
my
cry.
I
can, I
can,
the
Lord for all
he's done,
with
gratitude,
salvation,
help I
raise.
I
call upon
his
name
and will
fulfill
my
eyes to
him
before
his
meek
of
space.
The
Lord
holds
near,
the
death
of all
the
saints.
Hear
thee, O
Lord,
I
am
your
servant
too.
I
am
your
servant
and
your
handed
son,
and
from
my
chains
I
have
been
breathed
by
you.
Thine
of
praise
I
will
sacrifice
to
you
and
call
upon
the
name
of
God
the
Lord.
When
all
his
people
in
assembly
meet,
with
joy
I
will
fulfill
my
solemn
word.
For
his
people
I
will
keep
my
vows
within
the
courts
of
our
God's
holy
place,
within
the
city
of
Jerusalem,
and
to
the
Lord
alone
be
all
the
praise.
Friends,
here we are
at the
Lord's
table.
we are
not what
we would
like to
be,
that is
true.
But it's
also true
that we are
not what
we once
were.
It's by
the grace
of God
that we
are what
we are.
But friends,
as we sit at
the table
today,
our focus
is in no
way to
be upon
ourselves.
If we
turn back
to
Hebrews
10,
reading the
next
verses
after our
text,
we read
this,
Therefore,
brothers,
since we
have confidence
to enter
the holy
places by
the blood
of Jesus,
by the
new and
living way
that is
opened for
us through
the curtain,
that is
through
His flesh.
And since
we have a
great high
priest over
the house
of God,
particularly
these words,
let us
draw near
with a
true heart
and in
full
assurance
of faith.
We are
called to
draw near
to our
Lord
today.
How do we
do that?
We do it
with a
true heart
and with
full
assurance
of faith.
How do
we do
that?
By
looking
within?
Certainly
not.
By
looking to
our
great
high
priest,
acknowledging
today in
our hearts
the complete
and utter
sufficiency
of His
sacrifice
for us,
that our
righteousness
today as
we sit
at this
table is
not found
in ourselves
but in
found in
our
Savior.
That's how
we draw
near to
Him.
We're
confident,
are we
not?
confident
in the
cross,
confident
in the
power
of
the
blood.
But make
no mistake,
because although
we are called
to draw near
to our
Lord and
Savior
today,
this
drawing near
is by
no means
one-sided.
What do we
read in
James 4,
8?
draw near
to God
and He
will draw
near
to you.
That's a
promise.
That's our
promise today.
So we might
ask,
well how does
God draw
near to us
today?
At this
table,
how do we
know He's
drawing near
to us?
Well there's
a few ways.
Firstly and
primarily
through His
Word.
His Word is
a special
revelation to
us,
it speaks
to us,
it tells
us of
that great
narrative of
redemption.
Yes we know
the bread
and the wine
they speak
in their own
way,
but the bread
and the wine
without the
Word,
they remain
silent.
We need
to have
Word and
sacrament
together,
they're silent
because they
are symbols.
So He speaks
to us
through His
Word.
And I
often marvel
at the
wonder of
the fact
that an
infinite
God,
a God
who inhabits
eternity,
who is so
vast beyond
measure,
He would
accommodate
our weakness
by revealing
Himself to
us in a
way that we
can understand
through
words.
And so
never
underestimate
His presence,
His drawing
near to us
by His
Word.
But He also
draws near to
His friend
by His
Spirit,
by His
Spirit.
He makes
that promise
where two
or three
are gathered
in His
name,
He is
there in
their
midst.
We are here,
are we not,
in His
name.
We don't
come out of
routine or
ritual,
out of
formality,
or at least
we ought not
to do that.
We come
to the table
not with
our eyes
upon ourselves,
so submerged
in how
sinful we
are.
Of course,
we're called
to examine
ourselves,
but then
eat and
drink.
We don't
keep our
eyes to
ourselves.
As we
reflect,
as we have
that passing
glance of
the darkness
of our own
hearts by
nature,
our eyes
are then
taken
where?
To
Calvary's
hill.
We come
in praise
and in
worship
with our
eyes
firmly
fixed
on the
crucified,
the
resurrected,
and the
ascended
Savior.
And when
we do
that,
if we
do that,
God
promises
to be
here
in our
midst
by His
Spirit.
What does
His Spirit
do?
It reveals
to us
the things
of Christ.
We need
the Spirit.
I've given
the illustration
many times
of Edinburgh
Castle on
a dark
night.
You would
never see
the beauty
of the
castle
if it
weren't
for the
spotlights
that
illuminated.
That's
what the
Holy Spirit
today does
for us,
for the
Lord Jesus
Christ.
And so
the Lord
draws near
to us
by His
Spirit.
Spirit.
But He's
also the
one,
and this
is relevant
to what
we've been
thinking
about today,
He's also
the one
who tabernacles
within His
people.
We've thought
about how
the Holy of
Holies could
have been a
wonderful place
to go in
and to be in
the presence
of the
Lord,
were it not
that we
would be
killed if
we would
do so.
But we
have no
need of
any of
that now.
That is
all past.
Why?
Because He
dwells in
His people.
He tabernacles
in His
people.
He lives
in you.
We are
the room.
We are
the tabernacle.
This building
isn't God's
house.
This is
God's house.
We have
no need
for the
old.
Out
with the
old and
in
with
the
new.
Christ
in us.
Christ
in us.
The hope
of glory.
And so
make no
mistake,
friends,
today we
believe by
faith that
Christ is
here at
the head
of the
table.
And He
delights to
be here.
Why does
He delight
to be here?
Well, He
delights to
be here because
once more He
is able to
witness
something.
What does
He witness?
Well, He
witnesses His
precious
redeemed
each and
every soul
gathering at
this table
today.
He witnesses
you once
again nailing
your colors
to the
mast for
everyone to
see,
identifying
as being
as one
who is
in
Christ,
as one
who is
able to
say with
all your
heart,
Jehovah
St.
Kenya,
the Lord
our
righteousness.
Today, He's
able to
see the
fruit, the
fruit of
His
sacrificial
labor on
Calvary's
Hill.
And that,
dear friend,
delights the
Lord so
that He
cannot
stay
away.
We're going
to read
our
warrant now
for what
we're doing
from the
Word of
God.
This comes
from 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 11:23–29
11,
verse 23
to 29.
But I
received from
the Lord
what I
also
believed
to you,
delivered
to you
rather,
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.
Whoever
therefore
eats the
bread or
drinks the
cup of
the Lord
in an
unworthy
manner
will be
guilty
concerning
the body
and blood
of the
Lord.
Let a
person
examine
himself
then
and so
eat of
the bread
and drink
of the
cup.
For
anyone
who eats
and drinks
without
discerning
the body
eats
and drinks
judgment
on
himself.
We're
going to
now follow
the example
of our
Lord and
our Savior
and we're
going to
give thanks.
gracious
and
ever
blessed
God
we
praise
you
this
day
that you
are food
for our
souls
that you
are the
God
who
has died
and
given
himself
to us
the
God
who
tells
us
today
come
and
eat
come
and
eat
and
be
strengthened
by
my
promises
come
and
eat
and
be
strengthened
by
one
another
and
oh
Lord
we
pray
that
indeed
this
would
be
the
case
that
your
Holy
Spirit
would
be
with
us
as
once
more
we
remember
your
death
until
you
come
again
and
how
we
praise
you
Lord
that
this
is
but
a
temporary
arrangement
that
we
have
to
look
forward
to
that
great
marriage
supper
of
the
Lamb
where
we
will
never
rise
again
in
eternal
unbroken
fellowship
with
the
King
and
with
one
another
lead us
now we
pray
and forgive
us for
Jesus
Amen
the night
when the
Lord
Jesus
was
betrayed
he took
bread
and when
he had
given
thanks
he broke
it
and he
said
this
is
my
body
which
is
for
you
do
this
in
remembrance
of
me
in the
same
way
he also
took
the cup
after
supper
saying
this
cup
is a
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
again
this
is
but a
temporary
arrangement
and so
it is
there will
be a
day when
we will
not need
to remember
the death
of the
Lord
when we
come
into the
nearest
of his
presence
we
will
never
ever
forget
but until
then we
must rise
we must
go back
out
into the
world
we must
carry on
with the
ordinary
every day
friends don't
take heart
don't lose
heart
rather
because it's
through that
is it not
that we don't
go out
on
our
own
we've
just
professed
that
he is
ours
and we
are
his
my
counsel
to
yourself
and to
me
with
you
is to
make
use
of that
profession
how do
we do
that
well again
the clues
in the
chapter
that we
read
Hebrews
10
let us
hold
fast
the
confession
of
our
hope
without
wavering
how do
we do
that
let us
hold fast
the confession
of our
hope
without
wavering
these are
the following
verses
in Hebrew
for he
who
promised
is
faithful
he's always
faithful to
his promises
no matter
what tomorrow
throws in
our path
he is
faithful
come
unto me
all you
who labor
and are
heavy laden
and I
will
not I
might
I
will
give
you
rest
that's
how we
hold fast
out
confession
without
wavering
that's
what faith
is
friends
laying
hold
of the
impossible
trusting
that it
can be
made
possible
because
God in
Christ
has made
the way
possible
that
new
and that
living
way
that he's
with us
every
single
step
but before
we leave
today let's
just remember
one thing
yes we need
the Lord
as we go
out into
the world
as it were
this is perhaps
something that
we're inclined
to forget
we also
need
each other
who are you at
the table with
today are you on
your own
no you're not
you're with your
brothers your
sisters in the
Lord you're with
your family
you have all been
bought and me
with you by the
precious blood
of Christ you
are all
one
in
Christ
so let's
make use
of one
another
the writer
of the
Hebrews
goes on
to suggest
this himself
in verse
23
let us hold
fast the
confession of
our hope
we read
without wavering
for he who
promised
is faithful
and let
us consider
how to
stir up
one another
to love
and good
works
not break
one another
not tear
one another
down
to stir up
one another
to love
and good
works
not neglecting
to meet
together
that's important
we don't come
to church
just out of
form or
ritual
we come to
church because
it's good
it's good
for us
to meet
with our
saviour
but also
with
our
family
don't neglect
to meet
together
as is the
habit of
some
but encouraging
one another
and all
the more
as you
see
the day
drawing
near
so dear
friends
our
profession
is not
purely
by sitting
with one
another
at the
Lord's
table
but by
being there
for one
another
life is
hard
the Christian
life is
especially
hard
let's look
out for
one another
between now
and the
next
communion
let's let
this not be
the only
time when
we're
together
let's
seek to
build up
one another
when the
opportunity
arises
why
because we
need each
other
we identify
with one
another
as we
walk in
this
wilderness
until
and he
will
until
he comes
again
amen
we're
going to
close
singing
to God's
praise
from
psalm
72
familiar
words
from the
Scottish
Psalter
on page
314
his name
forever
shall
endure
last
like
the
sun
it
shall
men
shall
be
blessed
in
him
and
blessed
all
nations
shall
him
call
standing
to sing
to the
end
of
psalm
and to
the
praise
of
God
his name
forever
shall
endure
thus
like
the
sun
it
shall
it
shall
be
blessed
in
the
blessed
all
nations
shine
shine
for
thy
blessed
be
the
Lord
and God
and God
of Israel
shall
for
for
he
the
Lord
the
wondrous
world
in
glory
of
their
and
blessed
and
blessed
be
his
glorious
name
to
to
all
to
all
eternity
the
whole
earth
is
glorified
and
his
glory
fill
a
man
so
let
it
be
may
may
the
grace
of
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
the
love
of
God
the
Father
and
the
communion
of
the
Holy
Spirit
rest
on
and
abide
with
you
now
and
forever
more
amen
you