He Knows - All Will Be Well

Wonderful. I heard multiple people as I walked say, I use GPS all the time. I think I feel the same. I use it, like Sadie had said, even times when I'm like, I for sure know how to get here, but there's just some reassurance that maybe traffic, you know, traffic's going to be. I had an experience this week. I got to go to a church planning conference with a group of folks from here down to Milwaukee, which was great. And I actually grew up around there, went to college there, so I felt like, oh, I'm going to kind of know the area, didn't remember where anything it was. But we didn't experience a GPS. As we got into the city and trying to find our Airbnb, that we took a wrong exit. Our driver may have been just distracted with chatting about things. And so we took a wrong exit, so we're like, we'll just take the next one, and GPS will reroute us, as GPS does. And it did the rerouting and it said okay now it was about the same amount of time so we're like okay it wasn't a big deal and we took that and then we turned on a wrong road the road before we were supposed to turn it thankfully rerouted us again and then as we finally got close to the place we were a little bit later than we thought, and thankfully google maps kept telling us where to go the all the technology that happens to make that happen we got there and it said like we've arrived at our destination, uh, but we weren't there. Like, we're like, this isn't the house we're supposed to be at. And, uh, the house we ran, it was interesting. It was actually a house that's in a, now, I think originally it wasn't an alley, but now the entrance to the house is in an alley. It's actually like behind a house on a street. So it, that threw up Google maps, but we got there and we went, Google maps, you didn't get us there. So it rerouted us. We made some mistakes. We still got there, but the, uh, but we weren't there. And this, I think, happens way less than it used to happen when we first had maps. But it's a feeling of like, you told me you'd get me there. You told me as things got off track, you'd still get me to my destination. And then when I get there, I'm not really there. I mean, we're only half a block from our destination, thankfully. We figure it out. But I had all this trust that you could get me there. We are in the book of Mark, and today we're reminded in the book of Mark that this is not how our God works. It's really good news today. It's something I needed to hear this week. As we look in the book of Mark, as we see that we're seeing the end of the book of Mark here in Jesus in Jerusalem, and we're going to see Jesus remind us and the gospel remind us that we don't have a God who keeps going, oh no, you took the wrong exit. I'll see if I can figure it out. And then you took another one and I hope you figured it out. Oh, I didn't realize there was construction. But we don't have a God like that. We definitely don't have a God who says, I think I'll get you close to the destination. Or you tell me where the destination is. But instead we have one who very much knows what's going on. Very much is in the middle of it. Very much has not changed direction because there was road work. But continued in the path and the plan he has always had. And has brought me great, great comfort this week. If you're feeling at all, ever, like, what is going on? Can this be redeemed? Am I ever going to make it? Does God even know that we're off? Did I lose him? Am I on a road somewhere and God's trying to calculate where we are because the satellites aren't arranged? Today, hopefully, will encourage us and remind us that we have a God who knows. I think it's such at the heart of where we feel often. So today, we're there. We're in the book of Mark. I encourage you to crack your Bibles open to Mark. We're in chapter 14. And a very quick summary of last week so we can get right into it. We are in the last part of Mark, and so chapters 14 through 16 are, sometimes people call it the passion of Christ. It's the Gospels where we see Jesus move into Jerusalem, and this is where he's now walking his way towards death on a cross, eventually resurrection. So last week we saw a story, a moment, where a woman is in a house in Bethany. It's a city outside Jerusalem. They're there because it's Passover, this huge celebration. There's people everywhere. Jesus and his disciples are in this house staying, we believe, with Mary and her family. And she anoints them with this really expensive perfume. In the same story, we get a moment where we also see a picture of Judas. Judas, a man who decides instead of seeing Jesus as the greatest value in his life, the greatest value of all time, Instead, he decides to take money to turn Jesus over to the authorities. So we get a picture of these two people who decide what really is the valuable thing. Where is our value really? And in the moment of this, we also get a moment to start this walk of Jesus towards the cross. She anoints him as you would anoint a king who's going to be buried. She gives essentially a burial ceremony to him with this really expensive anointing. And so Jesus here, it starts at Mark. In writing, Mark helps us go, okay, you're about to move towards a burial. Let's see that happen. And we do see that happen. So here are our handy map of Jerusalem during the Passover. We were way over there. Where the band is is like where Bethany would be. And they were there. And now today we're moving into the city of Jerusalem. And so there's some moments here on the map of moments we're going to see in the next weeks as we finish the book of Mark. Today, we're going to actually be able to enter into this upper room, this place that we're also going to see Jesus after he's risen from the dead, we believe. But today, we're going to see a moment of them moving into the city as the Passover happens to have a really important meal together. But in the midst of that, I want us to be encouraged that our God knows what's going on. That in the midst of all these things, a plot now to kill him. In fact, they've already got all the players in place when his disciples are going to betray him, is paid off so he can indicate to them in the dark in the garden who he is. The leaders are ready. They've talked about being sly and stealthy and how they're going to get him and kill him. There's a plot going on, and Jesus in the midst of that knows exactly what's going on. And right away, he tells us that. so we're we're going to jump in uh to mark 14 verse 12 um i'll read each part of it and then we'll just take a moment to look at it and be reminded of these truths first we're going to be reminded here, in the beginning here from mark 14 12 through 16 that he knows where, and there's a room that is ready. On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat Passover? So they're together here for the Passover. Now here's a key moment in the celebration of that week, is they meet to celebrate this meal together, the Passover meal, where they remember the time God rescued them from their slavery and oppression in Egypt, the time they eat different things to remind them of all the moments that happened as God, had them slay a lamb, put the blood on their door. Death passed over them and they were rescued and freed, eventually making it to the promised land. And so they celebrate. It's a key part of the identity of a Jewish person. So they come every year to celebrate. In a sense, the same feeling like at Christmas we get together to celebrate the birth of the person who came to rescue all of us. And so they're gathering to remember when they were the story of their rescue. And so they ask him, so where should we go and prepare this? Jesus, where should we have the Passover meal? We have to have the meal. And he sent two of his disciples and he says this to them. Go into the city. Go into Jerusalem through the gate in the city. And a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. And wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, the teacher says where is my guest room and where I where I may eat the Passover with my disciples and he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready where people, there prepare for us and the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them and they prepared the Passover so real big summary right disciples say where should we have it he goes I want you to walk in the city, and you're going to see a man carrying a water jug follow him to his house when you get to the house, say that the teacher or the rabbi. Wants his room. And they'll walk you up to a room that's ready for you. This looks a lot like, if you remember, in Mark 11, as they entered the city before, he said, hey, there's going to be like a donkey, and I need you to go find this person and tell them the master needs his donkey, the teacher needs his donkey, and they'll say, okay, and they give you a donkey, and I'll ride in on that donkey, like a king entering a city for battle or from battle. In the same moment, they get a moment where Jesus goes, I don't want you to forget that I am still God. There's a person, you don't even know who this is. There's a man which would have been unusual even carrying a jug of water. Typically women would be carrying water in the city. And I want you to just go find him. They actually found the guy in all the commotion. They're actually able to follow him. They're actually able to find a house. And when they get there, they don't say, Hey, there's Jesus. Let me explain who he is, the situation. Maybe this house were people who were already followers or kind of in his network. But they just knew. So the teacher says, where is my guest room? He has a room here already. Jesus is telling you, I have a place. It's ready for us. Just go find it. And then you can prepare the meal there. All that is incredible. It's a thing that we could pass over. No pun intended. If we miss this, you go, oh, that's cool. Of course it's Jesus. He knows where stuff is. What an opportunity for him to say, I know exactly where the water is, where the guy is, where the room is, what to eat. I have plans in the city. You just heard that, we just heard in the book of Mark that there was a plot going on to kill Jesus and it's going to happen soon and you might go, when's that going to happen? Keep reading and we read Jesus knows exactly what's going on. And he has before. And he still will. And what does it say, this great phrase here at the end? They found it just as he has told them. Our God tells us how things work. He tells us who he is and who we are. He promises us many things, mostly entrance into his family, life with him, what life looks like with God. And it always comes true. That's not something we want to just say, well, of course. It's at the root of what we deal with each day. They then went and got the stuff, right? They probably got lamb and wine and spices and bread and the things they needed for this meal. They're preparing for this. It's like a host who's getting everything ready for the meal, right? They're getting all the things ready, get the house just ready, get some music on, get the candle going so it smells nice, whatever it is, right? All the parts to get your home ready, in a way Jesus is going, I am getting that ready, it's already ready. My plan is still happening. I still know what's going on. It's a moment we can remember that God has things all in his hands, knows what's going on. Doesn't need to get redirected. He doesn't go, oh, okay, I didn't realize someone was going to plot to kill. Maybe we should do a different plan. Maybe I should go hide. Maybe we should move to a different city for a while. Maybe lay low for a while. He's going to keep going. When I have a moment where things feel very unknowable, where worry is the loudest thing, where I go, I hope this can happen, all I can think about is if this is going to happen, if it will arrive. Where things just feel out of control. Just this little moment, this little moment in the story of the disciples that is actually a moment sort of in between two stories we might know already, reminds us that God says, it'll be all right. I got this. I still got it. And things are chaotic and evil and just bad. And death seems to be near. He goes, I got it. I got it, and it's just how I said it, and it's true. When things feel random, you feel powerless. We're reminded that God is not surprised and is in control. He knows where, exactly where we're going, and how to get there. And he's going to bring us there. So they actually do arrive at the house. The whole crew ends up coming so they can gather in this upper room. And we hear in verse 17, And when it was evening, he came with the twelve, and they were reclining at a table and eating. Remember, that's how they would have sat at a lower table. They would have kind of laid on their side, or sat on their side, and they would have eaten this meal together, this important meal. And at the meal, typically there's a host or someone. A lot of times it would have been the father of the house. They would have led the meal and reminded everyone what all the parts of the meal meant. When you eat this thing, it reminds us of how we were enslaved and how hard that was and bitter that was. And this is to remind us of the blood that was shed. This is to remind us of the lamb and this is to remind us of our freedom that God brought to us. They would sort of walk you through and. Narrate the whole meal. And Jesus takes that place. Jesus says, truly I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me. He drops a giant bomb on the dinner. He's not like, hey guys, give me your highs and lows. He's like, one of you is going to turn me over to be killed. Thank you very much. They began to be sorrowful, understandably, and to say to him one after another, is it I? Or it could be translated, can't be me. It's less of like a question, more of like a statement of, I can't, who would do that? It's not me, is it? Maybe even an actual questioning, like, I'm aware Jesus knows my heart more than I do. Is it? Please don't tell me I'm the one. Jesus knows who it is. We know who it is. Mark has already clued us in. He said to them, It is the one of the twelve who is dipping bread into the dish with me. The Son of Man goes as is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would have been better for that man if he had not been born. We get a very short Last Supper in the book of Mark. In other Gospels, we get kind of a longer, more stuff that happens at that meal. So Mark just wants us to know these things. He wants us to know that they gathered, that Jesus led that meal, that Jesus is going to explain to them the parts of the meal in a new way. But he also wants them to know Jesus is well aware of the betrayal. The stealthy, sneaky, we got Judas, we paid him, he's going to turn Jesus over, isn't a surprise to the Lord. He's with his friends. He's having this very familial meal, this important meal. And he is not surprised one bit, in fact, announces to them, one of you is going to betray me. And the timing of it even, quite dramatic, the one who right now is dipping bread in a dish with me is the one. It's like a crazy movie twist. I can't imagine them. I don't know if they had any sense that maybe Judas was already feeling that or maybe they had talked about it. We don't get those conversations. But it seems like that would be a crazy twist at dinner. You may have had a family dinner where someone accuses someone of something like this. You saw it coming, right? You're like, yeah, we know they have some beef. This is like unbelievable he announces to them the person i'm having fellowship with, the person i've invited to salvation to rescue has said no they in fact instead want me dead, the person who is the resurrection who names himself the resurrection is being turned away from by one of you. It's a moment that they would have been shocked by, understandably. They would have said, it's not, I wouldn't do this. And then he indicates who it is. He doesn't just say, we'll figure it out. He says, it's this one right here. And he hands over. The phrase in here actually, isn't just that he turns him in. It's actually he hands him over. It feels very personal, very intimate. And Jesus says, this is such a hard, terrible thing. it would have been better if this person was not even born. Instead of taking life from me, we even hear the words being reborn with Jesus. Giving new life with Jesus, this person now by turning from me will actually have been better if they weren't alive. It's pretty crazy. It's like a real shocker in the moment. I had a moment years ago. I saw a movie in the theater called The Sixth Sense. If any of you have seen this, I'm going to spoil it. And if you haven't seen it, you should have already. In the movie, In the Sixth Sense, it's like a great twist where you find out that the kid sees dead people. Very early in the movie, I didn't actually figure this out. I was just being a silly high school kid and I thought it was funny and I yelled to my friend down the aisle, I bet the kid sees dead people. Just at a moment that I thought, it's weird how he looks at the guy in the movie. I wonder if they're all ghosts. and I thought I'll just be silly and try to get attention and I yelled down to my friend and he was like hey be quiet dude and then as the movie went on, people yelled at me they were like thanks for ruining it because as the movie goes on they're all thinking, oh maybe the kid does see dead people which kind of it does it ruins the whole twist so then you get to the part of the movie where you realize that everyone goes like yeah the idiot in the front already told us that this happen, ruined the whole thing. Saw it coming. This is a moment, a twist, where Jesus doesn't wait and then we find out later, how did he get caught? He goes, I. It's going to happen, and I know it's going to happen. And he still welcomes him. And the moment he dips that in, he doesn't say, Judas, you tried to throw this off, but I'm going to reroute, and I'm still going to find a way to rescue these people. He doesn't say to the disciples, hey, this man's betrayed me, and I did not see that coming. We've got to figure out what to do next. Let's maybe group up and see if we can still make this happen. He announces it's happening and it's still all part of his plan to rescue his people and he still welcomes his people in in a way they're all going to betray him, they're all going to deny him they're going to run from him they're going to hide they're going to be asked publicly do you know Jesus they're going to say no multiple times, in a way they all are going to become this person, and he still says still dips it in and says I still welcome you to salvation. It's pretty incredible. But even in the midst of that, we hear these stories over and over in the Gospels of like the prodigal son, of a father or a God who says, I'm still, even though you're willing to take this choice, I'm still offering you a home. You can still turn back to me. There's still grace available for you. It's like he's inviting the friend over for Thanksgiving that you're like, Man, that guy did not treat you well. You know, it's still important that he's here. It's still important that his family member is in the house. There's still grace for them. It's a reminder to us, I think, in our deepest fear that we can be found out. I think there's an is it I in our life often as we encounter God and even others. There's a fear that like I'm not cleaned up enough. I'm not doing enough. They're going to know what I did. And that means I'm out. I can't let people know. I can't let God know. Or God does know what I've done. And I can't even come to the table. I don't even get in the room. When I knock on the door, no one's even answering the door. and Jesus here sits with them knowing this and still welcomes them. He announces their betrayal, the sin. There's still a welcoming here, I think, Jesus that we see even later for him. There's an opportunity as all the disciples turn from him and deny him that they still are welcomed back and there's still grace for them. But the evil is very real. That suffering is very real. The sin is very real. But the betrayal isn't proof that God's out of control or anything's out of control. It's that Jesus is continuing in the midst of our betrayal, still welcoming us in. It's helpful for me. At times I think maybe God's a little naive. He doesn't know all these things going on and very clearly he knows what's going on. He keeps moving forward in a plan to rescue his people. And so we move forward in this story. Actually, the meal continues and he actually shares not what we typically would see at a Passover meal. Here's the story of the Passover, but now Jesus redefines the things. And he shares that not only does he know where things happen and where we're going and that the plan hasn't changed, he shares not only that he understands the betrayal and the turning away from him that people have, that will and have done, but he also understands the cost that's going to cost him to be able to welcome everyone back in. So the meal continues. And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it, he broke it, and he gave it to them, and he said, Take this, my body. They took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank, and he said, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. And they all sang a hymn, probably multiple hymns from the Psalms, and they went to the Mount of Olives. This moment they moved in this city, had this meal in this place that Jesus had prepared for them. And he did some really important things. He indicates some things to them. He teaches them some things. Now, it's not normal Passover. It's not, let's remember what God did at the Passover, at the Exodus story. But instead, I'm going to actually remind you of the new Exodus story. The new Passover. He doesn't actually hold up a piece of lamb and say, this reminds us of a lamb who was slain. Instead, he's actually indicating there is a lamb here. It's me. And there's blood that will be shed, and it's my blood, and the body will be broken, and it's my body. He's teaching them like the Passover does. The Passover is something in the past, and he's telling them it's something that's about to happen that's going to be a greater exodus. He's welcoming them into the cost that it's going to cost him for us to be welcomed at the table again. He knows the cross is coming he didn't adjust he didn't reroute because this is happening he didn't flee so he wasn't killed it all was part of God's plan to go I need to rescue my people from sin which, death is owed to you with sin, and who would have thought our God himself would come and pay that price for us but right now he shares the cost that it will be and that he's willing to pay it. It's pretty incredible. It's what we do each week here. It's why we have communion each week. It's because we want to remember this moment. We reenact this moment. This exact moment in history that happened a long, long time ago is that we take our cracker and we go, Jesus, your blood. It's like we have a Passover meal each week. We gather to celebrate, not once a year in Jerusalem, but everywhere in all churches. We gather to go, I'm going to remember this little meal where Jesus' body was broken, his blood was shed so I could be rescued. Because it's real important to understand that he knows the cost and he was willing to take the cost and he does take the cost so that we could be rescued, so that we could be welcomed back in. It's not surprising to him. In fact, he even indicates here, he shares with us that he knows there's going to be a story after this. He doesn't just say, I know you all are owed death and so I'll take it for you. I love you. Remember me always. Have a meal so you can remember who I am. But he actually says this is going to happen and I will actually be drinking the wine again. There will be a kingdom. But I will rule. I'll be back. Even in the midst of this, he indicates his resurrection that will come, but also the cost that comes with it. We're told that Jesus is now the Passover lamb. This is no longer every year having to come and sacrifice the hope that you can do the right things and live the right life, that you can have the right religious leaders do the right things or live the right life, or at least you could pay the right people to do the right things so that God would be satisfied, but instead now God himself has come to satisfy this. In 1 Corinthians 5 we hear, For Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed and we have new life. His blood would be shed. It's like if you've ever been out to dinner with people, and you're waiting for the bill. I've had this happen with lots of friends who are awesome and generous. You're waiting for the bill and you're like, hey, we're still waiting for the bill. And they're like, no, no, no, it was already paid for. We had this many years ago. Kelly and I were sitting at an Applebee's after a long weekend. We helped with a retreat. And a couple who had been at this retreat, or their kids or grandkids or someone, saw us at Applebee's we were so exhausted that we're sitting at the Applebee's, just wiped out trying to enjoy whatever it was Fiesta Lime Chicken I don't remember what it was Applebee's food and just like well that was a long weekend but it was good but it was really hard and then, these people came by and thanked us and then left and then the waiter came by and he said hey just so you know those people paid for your meal it's like the, amazing gift we had zero dollars then and we were so tired in the midst of just weariness and tired. And we were discussing who got to drive home so the other person could sleep in the car. We were so wiped out. It was like this boost of energy and encouragement to be, you know, someone else paid the price for our Fiesta Lime chicken and wings, right? What an enormously bigger thing. Jesus says, I'm going to pay the price so that you could be rescued again. So you could be freed again from the Pharaoh and have life and make it to the promised land. We're still getting there. We're not rerouting. We're getting there. And I just have a plan to get there. What a moment to be reminded how important that we know he knows the cost. He knows where we're going. He still welcomes us in. He's paid the price so that we could be welcomed in. So when I feel like I'm definitely not enough, I'm not lovable enough. It's not true. Because we have a God who said, I'm willing to do this. Stick to the plan and rescue my people. When I feel like I need to run after something else to be comforted, to see like I'm in control. He actually knows. He's on track. He's done what He needs to do so that we could be welcomed in and find the ultimate comfort. And know that He's in control. It's an opportunity to remember this meal. Each week, this is why we do it. That He is the good portion, as He told Mary, He's the good meal. And that we can gather around that gracious meal, that free meal that He's already paid for and enjoy it and be welcomed even though we are those who have portrayed and turned from Him. That's the end of our... They go back to the Mount of Olives and this story continues as Jesus moves towards the cross. I can't imagine the conversations as they walk to the Mount of Olives, as they hang out that night as Jesus goes to bed and they stay up thinking, what in the world? That was not a normal Passover meal. Judas is going to betray him and then he's going to die or his blood is going to be shed? We thought he maybe would come and take over or conquer or help the Jewish people get power again. This doesn't make sense. As he rests, they have to be unsure. The story does continue. Jesus does. He's arrested. Judas thinks his plan works. The religious leaders at least think their plan works. He's put on trial. He's hung on a cross. He does die. He's put in the grave and he resurrects from the dead. He does actually have another drink of wine after he resurrects and he has freed us. Not just conquered death but freed us all. And then we see this picture. He sees all the people. He sends to heaven. We get the book of Acts where the church starts. Churches start for many, many years. For thousands of years, more people know Jesus. They gather to tell this story and have this meal. And week after week, we gather and hear this story. And it's happening right now. And one day, we're told in the book of Revelation, we will once again have a feast with the Lamb. Like another Passover. The coolest Passover of all time. And this is how they describe it. We reached the destination in Revelation 7. After this, I looked and behold a great multitude that no one could number. From every nation and from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. My desire to see all people know Him in all places, in all languages, what a dream to see that happen. And Revelation tells us we're getting there. We're still on our way. And the Lamb who was slain and rose from the dead will be on His throne, and we're worshiping Him saying, you made a way to not get off track, and you know how this thing ends, and you've invited us all to the party. He knows. He knows where he's going. He's not confused. He's not going to drop us off a few blocks away and hope we find it. He knows right where we're going and when we get there one day, we're going to get to say, you've got us here. We get to sing, salvation belongs to the God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. We get to have another Passover meal with the Lamb and all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God saying, Amen. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power might be to our God forever and ever. Amen. Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, Who are these clothed in white robes from where have they come? And I said, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They've washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Isn't that a wild thing? We've washed ourselves in the blood of the Lamb. It shouldn't make us clean, but in fact it cleans us. And so we get a moment where there's a party around the Lamb. This time the Lamb is not broken, not bleeding, but instead our King. I don't know if that's actually how, I don't know how much is like figurative or not, if there's actually going to be a big Lamb in heaven or how that works exactly. But we know Revelation is a vision given to John to tell us what it's going to be like, what our destination is and we know that Jesus gets us there. That's so important every day because every day I make so many choices to try to get myself essentially to heaven, to get myself to salvation, to work myself into a hope, to a place where I'm finally satisfied. I feel loved. I feel cared for. Things feel in control. And this week we were reminded that Jesus knows exactly where he's going. He knows exactly the people, even real messed up people like us that are there. And he knows the cost to get us here. And he welcomes us all in. Come. Come to the meal. Break the bread. Drink the wine. Remember who it is that knows and gets us there. It's beautiful. Beautiful God that we have that does it. I'm going to invite our worship team up to share something with us here. A couple questions as we move to a time to respond. Just always, do you know the Lamb of God who has rescued us. It's Him who does it. The disciples don't figure out a plan. Judas doesn't mess up the plan. God has a plan to rescue His people and He does. Maybe what keeps you from trusting that Jesus knows? It's a good question each day. Do I believe He actually knows? And can I trust Him? And who needs to know that Jesus knows? We're going to actually do something a little different than we normally do. I'll introduce these parts of our service and explain it to you. First, there's ways to respond, as always. You can give. There's people who would love to pray for you in the back of the room. Please take them up on that. They love to do that, and it's really a great way to just be blessed and cared for. They'll have a yellow lanyard on. We'll be singing, and also we can take communion. Just as he did with the disciples, we can take communion each week and be reminded that his body was broken, his blood was shed. So the Lamb could go and rescue us. We get to partake in our own new Passover meal, getting ready for the day when there's the ultimate, better, great Passover meal. So I encourage you to do that by yourself or with others. Both of those are out in the hallway. There's gluten-free options, and please partake in that. Before that, though, we're going to take an opportunity just to reflect on this. There's a song that's been really encouraging me, and I asked just a few days ago, asked our team to play it, and they are awesome. We have these very talented people who are like, yes. So this is a song that I want you to take a moment to just sit and listen to, maybe think about the words, maybe pray, maybe just reflect on this knowing that God knows that he's made a plan and he does it. It's a song called All Will Be Well, and it reminds me of that. Many days I think this is not going to go well. And I have to be reminded that because it's not in my hands, ultimately all will go well. And so this song has been really dear to me, and thanks for that they're willing to play it. So we're going to have them play it. Just take an opportunity to reflect, pray, as you listen to the words of this, enjoy this, and then we'll sing a few songs as we end our time. Let me pray for us as we move to that time. Lord, thank you for your kindness, and that you would come and stay on task. And you would rescue us, even in our betrayal, even at the cost. Lord, we look forward to a day where we can celebrate and heal.

Mark 14:12