When Christ Carried His Cross | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Good Friday Service)

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. 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. This is not a very familiar

passage for Good Friday but it is an important one.

Nonetheless and there are so much in these verses.

You can imagine that we can take just a portion and choose to

just meditate on that alone for the rest of the evening.

But let's consider just a few thoughts here.

Look at the first few words of verse 26, and as they led him

away and as they led him away, a short phrase that can be easily

overlooked, but it should not be overlooked because it is filled

with glorious. Implications, if you've ever

studied Christ, if you ever seen him in the gospels, then you

will know something about him. Yes, he was truly man, but he

was, in fact, God In the Flesh and God In the Flesh, being that

he was, was in complete control of Re single circumstance that

he found himself in. Consider the many times that

these crowds have gathered around him prepared to seize him

and to arrest him, or to even kill him yet.

Every single time he seems to effortlessly escape.

He seems to just walk through the crowds because we are told

that it was not yet, the time, the time that we are meditating

and reflecting on tonight. And so there was never a moment

where someone could grab him by the collar, grab him by the

arms, even those that were sent to Arrest them at a certain

point where spelled Bound by his ability, to communicate truth,

with such Authority that they came back to the Pharisees

empty-handed. He said that no one can take my

life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.

It's my own authority that enables when I and given it to

the hands of men. Or consider even how nature.

The terrifying wins in the Raging Waters that have made

professional, fisherman petrified.

And there is Christ resting undisturbed.

And with just a few words that see in those winds obeyed him

and submitted to his authority. And what about the creatures of

another world? Namely demons who took power

over minds and bodies. And yet when Christ would appear

on the scene, of those people who are possessed those demons

squealed just because of his presence, and considering all of

those things, the great Authority that Christ had that

he could have commanded by one word, a legion of angels to come

and to sweep him away. We read here in verse 26, that

he was led astray by a few Roman soldiers.

But he was at the mercy of these men.

And we look at this and we almost get a sense of a Samson

like figure do we not to the undiscerning mind.

Maybe that I Sampson at one point was supernaturally,

empowered Unstoppable. And movable.

But at one point at his lowest point, he was subject to the

humiliation and the abuse of his enemies.

He says, what's happening here with Christ, the one that we saw

operating in such ability, now now so weak.

And now, so submissive. Two evil men.

To think that crisis in voluntarily being led by these

men as a grave mistake. You and I have to understand

that in the short phrase, we see a fulfillment of a specific

prophecy that was given to us by the prophet, Isaiah hundreds of

years before Christ, even stepped foot on the Earth.

What do we read in Isaiah 53:7? You do not have to turn there

Isaiah 53:7

but here's a portion of it like a lamb that is led to the

slaughter. Like a land that is slat led to

a Slaughter. And like a sheep that before,

it's Shearer's is silent. So he opened not his mouth. when

he is being led by these men, it is not weakness.

It is meekness. This is Christ without

resistance and with an unusually calm Spirit willingly, giving

himself to the direction of those who are leading him to his

own death. Let there be no confusion about

it. When we are told that Christ was

being led away, it does not imply that the Romans were

flexing, their might nor does it say that the Pharisees finally

had their way, what you see here is Christ magnified in his

meekness. Putting aside his power and his

authority and his patiently, accepting his suffering.

On your behalf in mind. We go on as we meditate.

We are interrupted by someone that we've never been introduced

to before this moment except the Matthew.

And Mark has mentioned after we are told that he was being led

away. They seized one Simon of Cyrene.

Who was coming in from the country and then laid on him the

cross. Who is Simon of Cyrene and why

does it matter, what does this have to do with anything?

Well, Simon from Cyrene which is modern day, Libya is probably a

proselyte gentile. Or Jew is placed somewhere else

and was here in Jerusalem to observe the feast.

And what he might have thought would have been another

predictable. Pilgrimage to the holy city,

which suddenly be interrupted by an event, I would surely Mark

him for the rest of his life and perhaps we can speculate change

the lives of those that were closest to him.

What do I mean by that? Well, Mark gives us an

additional detail about Simon of Cyrene.

Mark tells us in 15 chapter 21 and they compel the passerby

Simon of Cyrene who was coming in from the country.

Now, look at this Mark says, by the spirit the father of

Alexander and Rufus to carry his cross.

Luke omits that Mark includes it.

Okay? Simon of Cyrene is one thing,

but why do we need to know that? He was the father of these.

Two men, Alexander and Rufus. Again, what's the purpose is

there a purpose? unless of course, Mark, when he

wrote this, yes, Guided by the spirit expected that his

immediate audience would have known who Alexander and Rufus

were And that is a great possibility.

Because there's only one other place where the named Rufus is

mentioned. And it's actually in the

writings of Paul when he addresses certain people in

Romans chapter 16 and many people believe that the Rufus

Romans 16 · chapter mention

Paul addresses is the same Rufus that Mark mentions.

Romans 16:13 Paul says greet Rufus.

Romans 16:13

Chosen in the Lord. Also, his mother who's been a

mother to me, as well. Consider this now has Marcus

pending this letter as he is retelling.

The story of Christ on the road to Calvary.

He says that man Simon. He's actually the father of

Alexander and Rufus and the immediate audience supposed to

know really that was your dad. That's that was Alexander.

Rufus is Father who carry the end of the cross. and if it's

the same roof is that Paul is writing to who was chosen the

Lord and whose mother was a mother to him as well then, you

know what this means when we put the pieces together, That at

some point after Simon from Libya help, carry that cross.

He understood the implications of that cross.

He came to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ himself and he

led his own family to that saving truth.

It's an amazing thought is a knot.

We may not know how Simon process this or how he even was

able to communicate it, but we have strong evidence to know

where it all began for this man. He was minding his own business

walking out of the country passing by a crowd that was

observing just probably another criminal that was receiving

their due punishment. And by God's Providence was

snatched by soldiers and was told to carry the end of a cross

to help this random man. That was probably credible in

his own mind. At first at least and as unaware

of Simon might have been in those first few moments as

unawares, he might have been as he was trying to lighten the

load of this man who is dripping blood in his flesh, was hanging

off of his back. You and I are believers.

Are we not and we understand that that this sounds very

familiar to a teaching that Christ himself gave early on in

the same gospel in the Gospel of Luke, do you not know it?

You should know it because you would have responded to it if

you're truly born again, if anyone would come after me, Let

him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Simon of Cyrene. I argue.

Tonight is illustrating. What discipleship looks like?

Simon of Cyrene. Here is showing us a very

literal example of what it means to follow Jesus. and I would

like to say that saying, yes, to the Cross is never convenient to

the flesh, just like Simon He had plans, he had a schedule, he

had relatives to meet and all for a sudden, the cross bid him

to come. Yes.

It was through the mouths of soldiers but still the picture

is there and you have to understand something about

following Jesus Christ. There is a cost.

There is a price. Christ is not waiting for you

and your own terms to accept them when you hear the call, as

you will tonight. And if you are not saved, that

is your call and it Demands a response, it demands submission.

because, as much as this was inconvenient in the moment, I'm

sure Simon later on, thank God that he was called to carry that

cross. And as much as you might hear

the price of what it means to make Jesus Christ, as Lord, as

much as Satan, would lie to you, that you have to give up so much

in this life in order to make Christ, your lord and savior

realize that there is a joy. In it, there's a joy awaiting

you that is incomparable to whatever this world has to offer

you. There's a cost and following

Christ. There's a cross with your name

on it and as costly as it might be, there is a greater cost than

saying no than accepting it and embracing it.

We always talk about the cost of following Jesus, we rarely talk

about the cost of not following Jesus.

There is a cost of not following him.

But again, it makes you wonder doesn't not what was it?

That triggered Simon. What was that?

Struck him, did he communicate with Jesus while helping him for

a few steps for that little journey.

There's no evidence of that. But perhaps, it was what Jesus

said to a group of woman, along that path.

That did something at least opened up a curiosity.

Just like when Jesus was hanging on that cross and had seven

sayings and one of the melted, the Of a thief who was being

crucified beside him. because Christ suffered, unlike anybody

else suffered there was a Majesty about it, there is a

sovereignty about it, there is a control, there was a display of

love and forgiveness that caused even a Roman soldier to be

confessional. There's something So Glorious

about it and not just him hanging there, even on his way

there, and we read it. In verse 28, but turning to

them, Jesus said, Daughters of Jerusalem.

Can you imagine the site for a moment?

Think about it. Here is Christ, exhausted.

Way down by a cross. Perhaps, blinded by Blood.

Beaten and bruised. And there he is.

Surrounded by a crowd and there is a blend of cries and

ridicules crashing over him and all for sudden.

He turns his attention to a group of wailing woman and he

addresses them. He speaks to him.

And he says something to them of this effect.

Don't weep for me. Do not weep for me, but weep for

yourselves and for your children.

What does this say of Christ? Many things consider this

thought. First you see a Christ who is

deeply concerned for man? Even in his own suffering.

All of this attention was on him.

Christ attention was on a group of women who are visibly

Disturbed and shaken. They caught his attention.

And his compassion is not recognizing the fact that he is

trying to relieve them of this grief.

That they are showing though, he has done that many times

throughout his ministry. His concern here is seen in the

fact that he is He is deeply aware of their fate.

And he wants them to be prepared for it.

He tells him do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for

your children. Why?

Because in those eyes he saw the prophetic implications of what

was occurring in that moment. They were rejecting his Messiah

and therefore, God was going to reject them as a people.

And they were be judgment in 70 AD world history.

Testifies about it by the hands of the Romans who would bring

Jerusalem to destruction and Slaughter?

Hundreds of thousands of Jews. in Christ, here is aware of that

and he tells them weep Weep for that.

When I find so amazing here is that Christ?

Although if we were in his shoes we would be consumed with the

thought of her own death, and trying to manage the pain

shooting through our own bodies. Here is not just focus on what

comes before him but is concerned of what lays ahead of

these women. And the nation as a whole.

And some would say, well, this is not really Christ compassion.

This is a rebuke. This is Christ looking at them

and pronouncing judgment on them.

Yes, it is true, but don't forget that, just a few days

before this Christ himself wept over Jerusalem for the same

reason. This is a Christ who even in his

suffering led to a Slaughter is thinking about the plight of

others. Is, is there any other greater

display of compassion? Then someone who is undergoing

such torture can still think and communicate, his concern.

For those who experience greater suffering, you see it throughout

his ministry. You see it on the road to

Calvary, you see it while he's nailed to, that piece of wood,

even down to the details of securing Mary's future.

By signing that responsibility of care to one of his disciples.

This is the humility of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Servant lover of Souls. Compassionate savior.

And so the Lord here is not asking for these women to weep

tears of sadness. But tears of repentance, be

broken for what's coming your way, realize that this is going

to affect you and this is not just about me.

Which brings us to our second Point.

Why would cry? Say Do not weep for me, but weep

for yourselves and for your children because Christ is not

interested in receiving tears of sympathy.

Christ here. Does not want the pity of these

woman, and he did not feel sorry for himself either.

What does that teach us about Christ?

You know what that teaches about the Lord Jesus Christ.

He was not weak. But he's a strong savior.

We have to be careful of how we observe this night once a year

because we can be mistaken and thinking that we come here,

dressed in dark clothes Songbird, sober because we're

realizing what Christ had to endure and we feel pity.

And then Sunday, we come with brighter clothes.

And we come rejoicing and it's lighter, and it's bright,

because ho, he made it, he made it.

He actually resurrected Christ was a Victor throughout at all.

Christ, was a conqueror through out at all.

This is not a Christ that was just LED out of his own, will

beaten and bruised, mocked and spat upon and then he pulled a

trick on everybody. And he showed up, he is in

control here. All along.

Don't weep for me, we serve a mighty king and a mighty savior,

who came into this world for this very purpose, throughout

his ministry. There have been so many attempts

to try to convince Christ to sway from the cross.

To not go to that cross. Think about Satan who offered

him the world. think about the Jews who were so impressed by

his miraculous abilities that they wanted to Crown Him King

there, think about one of his good friends, Peter he tried to

rebuke him. And persuade him to not take

that path. And every single time he

overcame. Christ was not moved by

Temptation. He was not moved by persuasion.

And he was not softened by sympathy.

He's a rock. And although Christ was walking

the walk that none of us could have walked in, he died a death

and none of us could even imagine dying.

The Holy Spirit takes the attitude of the Lord Jesus

Christ. and through the writings of the author of Hebrews

applies, that same attitude to you and I what I mean, Did he

not say looking to Jesus, the founder Perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross

despising, the shame, and is seated.

At the right hand of God. Looking to Jesus, you know what

that tells me? The Lord.

Jesus did not allow pity or self-pity.

To disturb his total, trust in God's Sovereign plan for him

while on the Earth. He didn't question God.

He didn't challenge God, he didn't allow other people's

interpretation of what was happening in his life and in

this moment to cause him to doubt.

His face was like, Flint. He was so focused.

He was so Reliant. He was so strong and the

understanding that my father is accomplishing.

His will through this. And I will not throw it away.

For Temptation, for he's or because of sympathy and you and

I are called to imitate that kind of suffering.

You and I are called to not be shaken by the seductions or the

sympathies that others might have for us.

But to be like our master, Immovable unshaken.

Undisturbed steadfast in our trust that our God is good.

He's in control. He's in control here.

So he tells them do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and

for your children and he grows on to describe the horrors of

the Judgment that will come upon them for the rejection of the

Messiah. He says here that the days are

coming when they will say, blessed are the barren and the

wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed to be

Barren. And this culture was almost seen

as a curse and he's saying it's it's a better thing to not have

children during this time and if you were nursing children for

yourself, And it goes on. To describe the tragedies that

are wait, this people, and it seems very strange does it.

Not that as Christ is on his way to absorb the wrath of God on

our behalf. He is communicating the wrath of

God. He is prophesying the Judgment

of God. What is this have to do with the

gospel? What does this have to do with

these events? It has everything to do with it.

because although this was fulfilled in 70 AD, although

Jesus in the immediate sense of speaking to the Jewish people

It's just a preview of the judgment to come.

Is just a glimpse of what's going to happen on a global

scale. In other words, What the Jews

will expect because of the rejection of Christ is what

every single person should expect.

If they choose to reject the crucified Messiah.

You see, Jesus died on the cross for the Forgiveness of our sins.

But that forgiveness is only applied to those who receive

him. We don't believe in a universal

salvation. Meaning, we don't believe that

everybody will be saved one day just because God is so loving

that whether you believe and repent or not, you're going to

go to heaven. That is a damning truth That is

a Lie from the pit of Hell itself.

If you reject Christ as Savior and Lord, the only thing

reserved for you is the wrath of God.

The wrath of Jerusalem experience in 70 AD was simply a

glimpse of the micro or the microcosm of the macrocosm of

the final judgment. That come upon the world in

Revelation 6. The the language is borrowed as

the kings of the earth and the rich and those who are powerful

Great and Small will realize the return of Christ and they

themselves will beg the mountains to fall upon them.

So even John is borrowing the same language to say.

This is going to be magnified in the final judgment.

When Christ comes to redeem the bride, but also confront, those

who sat in churches year after year.

Who come to Good Friday services, just to pay their dues

to Christ or to make Mom and Dad happy, but ultimately have not

made Christ. Lord Christ will come and he

will face those who have heard the gospel once or a thousand

times and have rejected it to say.

You had your chance. One person said it, so wisely.

What you will do with Jesus, first coming will determine what

Jesus will do with you at his second coming.

Well, you will do with Jesus concerning his first coming will

determine what Jesus will do with you at his second coming.

And the certainty in the severity of God's Divine.

Judgment is hinted at by brief Parable that Jesus gives in

verse 31 for if they do these things.

When the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?

What is he trying to say here? Christ Compares himself to a

flourishing fragrant and fruitful green wood.

And he is contrasted to the Jewish people who are recognized

as a withered dead, fruitless people, colorless.

And the reason why he's communicating this sobering

truth is to say if Christ as the sinless, Son of God, is being

treated. So cruelly, how much more Will

the Wicked unbelieving? Rebellious Jewish Nation

experienced suffering? But remember there's a broader

application here, so we're not just speaking about a people

group for all who reject the saving work of Jesus Christ,

we'll know, we'll know something of of Wrath and the great

commentator. Matthew Henry said it this way

as only he could, If God did this to the son of his love.

When he found sin, but imputed to him, what shall he do to the

generation of his wrath when he finds sin raining in them?

if God was so willing to pour out his Justice upon, The one

who was sinless, though he took sin upon him.

What is he going to do? To those who have loved and

embraced their sin within them. When they heard the call repent

and believe. Judgment Came Upon the innocent

one. Will it not come towards those

who are guilty? We have to ReDiscover the

Holiness of God. We have to ReDiscover just how

pure he is. That even the one that he had

Eternal fellowship with even the one that was at his bosom.

He looked at for a moment. And turned his face away, when

the sin of the world was placed on his shoulder.

If he was willing to do that to the son of his love.

What will you do with the children of Wrath?

It'd be a terrifying thing to end the service in this way.

Would it not? Rightfully so.

It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the Living

God. But we can evade this rat.

And we can escape it and that is the good news.

Because as much as Jesus prophesied judgment towards

Jerusalem for the rejection while he was on his way to pay

the price so that we would never no judgment.

Oh, he would pay a price that would be so great and so

satisfying and so sufficient. The Not only would he just here

on a few words on a page, tell us.

So, but the spirit of God himself will bear witness with

our spirit that we are indeed children of God and the

understanding of the love of God can be so real in your soul.

So Supernatural that you can live the rest of your days.

Never fearing God's judgment. That you can stand before God as

you will one day. And as will I with total

confidence a boldness? Almost all Readiness, actually,

with a joy, Because what Christ is about to do on this cross is

be the substitute for sinners. And he would drink that cup

filled with the wrath of God. Can you imagine it?

So, if we just look in this room already, think about the amount

of sins that accumulated, just with our own lives, our

thoughts, our Deeds private-public imagine all of

our sins in this room heaped upon Christ.

How great of judgment would be placed upon him.

And yet it is greater than this room from Adam to the last man.

Every single human being sin. Was taken into account and was

brought upon Christ and placed on his head so to speak.

And he became the target of God's Wrath and the flood.

The flood gate, that was reserved to be poured out upon

the sons of Adam for all of eternity was redirected upon

Calvary. And Christ in that moment

though, it was. But a few hours experience,

something that is a mystery. And he drank every single drop

of God's justice. In such a way that he could

confidently, take that cup and flip it.

Upside down with, not one drop left in it.

And as he drinks that cup and as he drank that cup he extends to

you the cup of Fellowship. And he invites you to come. and

to be forgiven, and to be washed And to take into your account,

his innocence and his Holiness, though you are undeserving and

unworthy, that is The Great Exchange.

And so, we do not have to weep for ourselves. when we realize

that truth, we have every reason to rejoice And so as much as

this is a sobering night, it is a joyful night and if there is

any weeping that we will do if there's any heaviness in our

hearts, it's not so that we look at Jesus say oh poor Jesus,

2,000 years ago he was such a good man and yet they treat him

that way. If there's any sorrow it's what

our sins did to him. It's it's how unimaginable it

is. That God came into this world

and walk this walk on your behalf in mine.

And went to that cross. For you and me.

That's why we're going to break bread and moment.

A visual representation of what Christ has done.

God is so wise, he instituted an ordinance that would engage our

tastes So that there would be a an experiential understanding of

the goodness of God. But this ordinance is not open

to the public. It is kept for those who have

understood what Christ has done. And I've received him and have

repented and believed So if that is you today, you will

participate. If that is not you today.

If you are a guest here, welcome, if you are one of those

Christians, that come for Easter and Christmas only.

I have a message for you. A message that is very, very

mysterious and it's a terrifying thing to preach the gospel.

Not because you have to stand before people and speak.

But because you were trying to communicate something, that is

almost unexplainable. It is so simple, a child can

understand. It is so it is so easy that

anybody can understand and believe.

But there is an, there is an element to it, that it, that is

so glorious. That the human tongue, the human

mind cannot fully grasp all happen on that day.

But I'll do my best and say to you.

That if you do not know Christ in love, I say this to you

because I may never see you again. no matter how good your

life may seem to the Natural understanding upon you is

reserved the wrath of God, you have sinned against God and you

know, your conscience Bears Witness Your conscience Bears,

witness. And that's why you're trying to

dismiss this concept of God altogether.

Because you do not want to even entertain the possibility that

you will be held accountable for your lack of morality.

Why I've never killed anybody. And I've never, I've never

robbed the bank. You are measuring goodness by

men's standards. God's holiness exceeds.

All the morality that man can conjure up.

He is so pure and Brilliant. He is so light.

He is so holy. That all it takes is a thought

of hatred to be considered as murder in his sight.

All it takes is one imagination of sexual morality and as though

you have done the act itself. You stand condemned.

You stand condemned. I know this world wants to

pamper you. I know this world wants to tell

you what you want to hear. I know this world hates you so

much that it wants to tell you that you even have the right to

skew your own reality. But I love you too much.

I will tell you the truth, even if it hurts.

You will stand before God? And you will remember this

message among many other messages.

I'm sure. When he cast you on for

eternity. But this God, who is so?

Holy is just as much love. If his Holiness blazes with so

much power, I tell you. His love is so overwhelming.

So overwhelming that God comes into the stinking, filthy world.

Leaves Glory leaves heavenly's, Praises leaves Angelic beings,

who, so Revere him that they don't even dare to show their

face in his presence. To walk among men.

Who questioned him? Who doubt him?

Who betray him? And who spat upon him and beat

him and mocked him. And he said they're silent as a

lamb being sheared, ready to be slaughtered.

All to do one. Well, you heard it.

There was a joy set before him that Joy.

Yes. Was to obey the father's will

but there was a joy beside that joy and that was the knowledge

that people would be saved. That you might be saved.

And that you would no fellowship with him.

You see it's not that God just wants to give you insurance to

escape. Hell, is that God so long for

you yearns for you desires, he wants to fellowship with you.

Want you to be with him forever and ever but it is your sin that

is separating you from him. And you would think that man,

knowing that we try to build a bridge to God.

It's impossible. And so he builds a bridge to

you. What is it required for you?

To know his friendship, his smile, eternal life, New Life,

repent and believe. Turn from your sin.

What good is it Anyway in your life?

It's only destroyed you it's only left you unsatisfied and

it's only heaping up more judgment.

And embrace not just eternal life Embrace Life.

Now, because the power of the crosses, we just sang is not

just the power that delivers you from the Wrath that is to come.

It's a power. So great that it gets into you

and transforms your heart and sets, you free it breaks, the

shackles of sin. And God so purifies you by the

blood of the Lamb, who is the person of Jesus Christ at the

holy spirit, that can now come in and take up residence within

you and animate you to New Life in which you see the world

differently. You see God differently.

You see life differently? You see sin differently?

You see Holiness differently? And then you walk in this world

as a pilgrim with a sense of connection to God and God's

people do from different tribes and tongues and cultures yet

something in common. We've been redeemed, we've been

forgiven were saved, were children of God more than

children, more than escapees of judgment.

But Christ goes on to Crown us with something even greater

ambassadors of Christ. Now you represent me in this

world and you communicate this truth to people, as you are

hearing it today, as you were hearing it today so that they

may be saved. Oh would you come to Christ?

Oh, would you hear the invitation in this world?

That is falling apart. It is falling apart because

Jesus predicted it, it is falling apart.

Because in Jesus goodness, he wants to show the world just how

broken it is so that they can look to a Transcendent Source

who is Christ himself to redeem and rescue them.

So he's calling you at this time of History to embrace to embrace

his lordship Repent and believe. As we come to the table, we're

going to do something differently.

Than what we do is you Church. We're going to take the

elements, you will return to your seat and as you return to

your seat, you will be seated. And usually we sing all together

as we reflect, but we will have the choir come up and sing over

us as we meditate upon what Christ has done, Pastor, Daniel

will lead us through communion. We will eat and we will

conclude, let's pray. Lord, we ask In This Moment.

That you would enlarge in our hearts.

To love Jesus. Savior, and Lord.

That even in this process. Oh God, as we partake.

Of the bread and the cup greater Revelation would be given to us.

For the person who does not know Christ, may they sense the

goodness of God that leads to repentance.

And Lord may you be exalted in this place.

In Jesus name, we pray. Amen, just take the time to

examine your hearts. And to ask God, if your heart is

pure and free from any known sin, if there's reconciliation

that needs to take place anything that's in our hearts,

that Christ would be grieved by should be dealt with before we

partake. But as you deal with the Lord in

that, and if you feel confident, come forward partake return to

your seat. And just sit there and meditate

upon the cross, because we, we are people who are not here to

ask God, what we need to do, we are here to reflect on what he's

done. He's done it and we're

celebrating that together. Amen.

Remembering Christ. Wee.

We are here to remember him, we have remembered him through the

songs of the worship, with the words and now is a time to

remember him through the breaking of the bread, like to

read from the gospel of Matthew. Chapter 26, beginning in verse

Matthew 26 · chapter mention

17 and we want to take our time as we remember our Lord and

savior this evening. Now on the first day of

unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus saying, where will

you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover.

And it happens to be Today where the Jews meet together to

celebrate Passover. He said go into the city to a

certain man and say to him the teacher says, my time is at

hand, I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples

and the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and they

prepared the Passover. When it was evening he reclined

at table with the twelve and as they were eating.

He said truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.

And he was a very sorrowful and began to say to him one after

another is it? I Lord.

He answered he who has dipped his hand in the dish with me

win, petrini, the son of man goes as it is written of him.

But woe to the Man by whom the son of man is betrayed it would

have been better for that man if he had not been born.

Deuces. Who would betray him answered,

is it? I rabbi.

You said to him, you have seen two now as they were eating.

They were eating the Passover meal.

Just took a bread. It was the bread of the

Passover, the bread that is called the bread of Affliction

that bread that reminded the Jews of the Affliction of Egypt

the time when they were hurrying to get out but now Christ takes

their bread. To make it symbolize something

different. That's something new.

He took that bread and after placing it broke it.

And give it to the disciples and said, take eat.

This is my body. Now, this is good to be

representative of my buddy is going to be broken for you.

And he took a cop. They were four cups with the

table. Is what the Jews do during the

Passover. In reference to Exodus chapter 6

Exodus 6 · chapter mention

beginning in verse 6. Just let me read it to you the

first cup. They called it the cup of

sanctification. Based on that verse, I am the

Lord and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the

Egyptian. The second cup, they would drink

you in the Passover is called a cup of Deliverance.

And there comes to the other part of the verse and I will

deliver You From Slavery to them.

Then comes the third cup, it is called the cup of redemption and

this is the verse. I will redeem you with an

outstretched arm and with a great acts of judgment and many

people think this is the cup that Jesus took that third cup

the cup of redemption and said after that, this is my blood.

It was the Redemption of the Jews from Egypt that is do

whatever she says. I will redeem you with an

outstretched arm and with a great Act of judgment.

Pastor Daniel today, mentioned the Judgment, the cup will

drink. Today symbolizes the blood of

Christ and our Redemption with can be also a cup of judgment.

I think Paul alludes to that. In First Corinthians 11, if we

take unworthily in, it would be judging ourselves and those who

don't receive the rejection of Christ, nothing remains to them,

but a cup of judgment. But the Christ himself on the

cross, he drank the full cup. Over judgment for me and you or

existed them on the accepted him on the cross, and his work on

the cross. And then there is the fourth

cup, and the last cup, the Jews would drink.

And that says, in verse 7, I will take you to be my people.

This is the cup of Praise. Let me continue the reading of

Matthew And he took a cup. And when he had given, thanks,

he gave it to them saying, drink of it.

All of you for, this is my blood of the Covenant, which is poured

out for many for the Forgiveness of sins.

I tell you, I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine,

until that day, when I drink it in you with you in my father's

Kingdom. And when they had sung a hymn,

halil one of the sounds that be seeing from when 13 2018 they

went out to the Mount of Olives and probably then they drank

that cup of praise 27 chapter 27 when morning came, all of the

chief priests and the Elders of the people took counsel.

Again, Jesus to put him to death, And he bound him and led

him away and delivered him over to pilate the governor verse 27.

In the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's

headquarters and together the whole Battalion before him, 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 to read. When his right hand and kneeling

before him, they mocked him saying hail King of the Jews.

And they spit on him. And took the Reed and struck him

on the head and where they had mocked him, they stripped him of

the robe and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to

crucify him. And verse 45.

Now from the sixth hour, there was Darkness over the land until

the ninth power and about the ninth hour.

Jesus cried with a loud voice saying, Eli, Eli Lama

sabachthani. That is my God.

My God. Why have you forsaken me?

And some of the bystanders hearing, it said this man is

calling Elijah. And one of them at once ran and

took a sponge, filled it with sour wine at put it on a reed.

And gave it to him to drink, but the other seed wheat that a see

whether Elijah will come to save him.

And he has a cried out again with a loud voice and yielded

up. His Spirit, it is.

Finished. It is finished.

It is Finished Christ has done it.

He poured that Judgment of God for you and me on the cross.

And now we come together to remember his work for us on the

cross. Who would remember first his

body, Jesus Took the bread and he gave thanks to this.

Give thanks for the present. Our Lord and savior.

This is the greatest love story ever told.

The story of God's love. For Sinners for God.

So loved the world that he gave his only begotten, son, that

whoever believes in him, shall not perish but have everlasting

life. This is the story of clock

Christ, loved his church. He loved her and give himself

for her. This is the story of our

salvation and our Redemption. This is the story of the wrath

of God. Falling on a righteous man.

The Lord Jesus Christ. For wicked men like us.

This is the story of the power of God and the wisdom of God.

That's it, Us free. Lord we come to thank you for

what you have done for us. We come to thank you that you

died and you drank the full cup of the wrath of God for us that

we might be set free and have eternal life with you.

But we give you the glory and the praise.

And the worship has we break the spirit and partake in it

together. In Your Name?

Lord, we give thanks. Let's drink it together.

Then Jesus Took the cup and gave.

Thanks to the give thanks with a cop Lord This cup.

Remind us of your blood. That was shit there for us on

the cross. And remind us that there is no

forgiveness without the shedding of blood.

The blood of the Lamb of God, who is without spot and blemish?

But we thank you. We thank you that you did not

say no but you went there to the Cross.

You accepted that judgment for me and for us, Because of that

grip of for us though. We thank you for the cross.

We thank you for the blood. We thank you that we have been

cleansed once and for all because of the body because of

the blood of Christ, your blood that was shed for us.

And now Lord, as we drink it together, we cannot see or God,

anything, but thank you, thank you, thank you, in your name.

Can we just show our appreciation to Lori a choir

director and a choir, dr. Brian leave for helping us I

know they, I know they won't be too happy with me by doing that,

but I know the work that they put in week after week to bless

us with their gifts and with their willingness to just exalt

Christ in the way they just did. And we look forward to

celebrating with you. If you're able to join us this

Sunday, as we turn our attention to the resurrected Christ, and

he is alive today. We so are so grateful for you

being here tonight. And we look forward to all that

the Lord will do in this place through your lines as we live.

Crucified Life for his namesake. Can we pray together?

What we thank you for the blood. We thank you that in Christ.

You seek, right perfection. and we stand forgiven at the cross

Lord, for the person in this place was wrestling with that

truth, who either can't believe it because they know the

wretchedness of their sin Or who are still in love with their

sin. Lord helped open our eyes to the

truth of it all And Lord lead us by your spirit to where we need

to be. But we pray that with these

short lives, they would be fragrant offerings unto you not

because we are repaying you, but just as a symbol of our

gratitude to what you've done for us.

Lord, we're so grateful that we can come together and sing, and

reflect, and receive and rejoice in Christ as your people, bless

our time of Fellowship. Use us for Lori and be exalted

through it. All in Jesus name we pray.

Amen and amen. Amen.

God bless you in the name of the Lord.

Jesus Christ. Hope to say hello to you and

hope to see you this Sunday, if the Lord Wills, have a good

night,