WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.379 Well, let's make a start. Let me give you a warm welcome to our Good Friday service. It's good to have you with us here this morning. My name is Steve. If you've not met me, I'm the pastor of the church here. It's great to have you with us this morning. Let me just give you a rough plan for our time together this morning. This isn't a sort of normal service. As you can understand, the chairs aren't even set out like we would normally have them. We are coming together around the Lord's table, share communion together. That's the plan for our meeting. 00:00:29.379 --> 00:00:47.039 There will be a couple of testimonies from church leaders, church member, talking about the place of the cross in their lives and how they reflect on that. There's going to be readings from the Old Testament and from the New Testament. I'm going to give a very short reflection on Mark 15 for us. 00:00:47.039 --> 00:01:01.899 But we've come together, haven't we, to remember Christ's death on the cross. But I think one of the things that you need to say to church and remind church of on Good Friday morning is this is not a funeral, right? Nor is this the repetition of a funeral. 00:01:01.899 --> 00:01:18.039 Christ's death on the cross. Christ's death on the cross is his enthronement as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The cross is Christ's victory, not his defeat. We come together to celebrate and not to commiserate. 00:01:18.040 --> 00:01:27.680 This is where Christ's death on the cross. This is where Christ is given the name above all names. And that changes everything, doesn't it? Because our service together this morning, it will be serious. 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:38.140 There will be opportunity for quiet reflection. But it is not meant to be sad. Because we come together to remember the cross. 00:01:38.520 --> 00:01:46.180 Not for the sake of Christ who died, but for our sake. We need to remember the cross for our sake. 00:01:46.180 --> 00:02:00.480 That in our world of attractive, shiny things, whatever they might be, careers or buildings or families or wealth, there is one thing that shines more brightly in our world than all of those things. 00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:10.980 And that is the cross of Jesus Christ. There is nothing more precious than the death of the Lord Jesus Christ for us. 00:02:10.979 --> 00:02:18.060 I'm going to read for us a Puritan prayer, which is written about 400 years ago. 00:02:18.379 --> 00:02:26.060 And he uses the word lustre for shining. It means kind of just radiant and glowing. 00:02:26.239 --> 00:02:37.439 And his point, and I'm going to change that word out because it would mean nothing to you, but his point is that the cross radiates, shines out the love of God in our world. 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:45.400 Where do you want to go to know that God loves us? Where will you see God's love in action? 00:02:45.500 --> 00:02:52.159 You will see it at the cross. So let me open our time together with this prayer. So let's pray together. 00:02:54.280 --> 00:03:03.240 Our Father, enlarge our heart. Warm our affections. Open our lips. 00:03:03.240 --> 00:03:09.480 Supply words that proclaim love shines at Calvary. 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:16.740 There grace removes my burdens and heaps them on your son. 00:03:17.740 --> 00:03:21.680 Made a transgressor, a curse and sin for me. 00:03:23.140 --> 00:03:28.300 There the sword of your justice struck the man, your fellow. 00:03:28.300 --> 00:03:35.080 There your infinite attributes were magnified and infinite atonement was made. 00:03:36.180 --> 00:03:41.360 There infinite punishment was due and infinite punishment was endured. 00:03:42.820 --> 00:03:47.600 Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy. 00:03:48.920 --> 00:03:51.860 Cast off that I might be brought in. 00:03:51.860 --> 00:03:54.340 Trodden down as an enemy. 00:03:55.140 --> 00:03:57.160 That I might be welcomed as a friend. 00:03:58.320 --> 00:04:00.140 Surrendered to hell's worst. 00:04:00.860 --> 00:04:03.380 That I might attain heaven's best. 00:04:04.780 --> 00:04:05.460 Stripped. 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:07.500 That I might be clothed. 00:04:08.300 --> 00:04:08.700 Wounded. 00:04:09.460 --> 00:04:10.500 That I might be healed. 00:04:11.900 --> 00:04:12.420 Thirsty. 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:14.420 So that I might drink. 00:04:15.540 --> 00:04:16.100 Tormented. 00:04:16.360 --> 00:04:17.740 So I might be comforted. 00:04:18.400 --> 00:04:20.699 Made ashamed that I might inherit glory. 00:04:20.699 --> 00:04:22.459 Entered into darkness. 00:04:22.459 --> 00:04:24.240 That I might have eternal light. 00:04:25.779 --> 00:04:27.039 My saviour. 00:04:27.719 --> 00:04:31.019 Wept that all tears might be wiped away from my eyes. 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:33.079 He groaned. 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:35.120 That I might have an endless song. 00:04:36.099 --> 00:04:37.539 He endured all pain. 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:40.279 That I might have unfading health. 00:04:41.339 --> 00:04:43.980 He bore a thorny crown. 00:04:44.699 --> 00:04:46.680 That I might have a golden diadem. 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:48.860 He bowed his head. 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:50.759 That I might uplift mine. 00:04:51.860 --> 00:04:53.519 He experienced reproach. 00:04:53.900 --> 00:04:55.420 That I might receive a welcome. 00:04:56.280 --> 00:04:57.879 He closed his eyes in death. 00:04:57.980 --> 00:05:00.620 That I might gaze on his unclouded brightness. 00:05:01.400 --> 00:05:02.379 He expired. 00:05:02.600 --> 00:05:04.340 That I might forever live. 00:05:04.339 --> 00:05:06.619 Oh father. 00:05:06.619 --> 00:05:06.659 Oh father. 00:05:07.459 --> 00:05:09.560 Who spared not your own son. 00:05:10.339 --> 00:05:12.279 That you might spare me. 00:05:13.560 --> 00:05:14.619 All this transfer. 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:17.319 Your love designed and accomplished. 00:05:18.179 --> 00:05:19.759 Help me to adore you. 00:05:20.239 --> 00:05:21.139 By my lips. 00:05:21.459 --> 00:05:22.359 And by my life. 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:25.899 Oh that my every breath. 00:05:26.299 --> 00:05:27.399 Might be praise. 00:05:28.159 --> 00:05:29.259 My every step. 00:05:29.539 --> 00:05:30.639 Buoyant with delight. 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:32.759 As I see my enemies crushed. 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:34.000 Satan. 00:05:34.259 --> 00:05:34.719 Baffled. 00:05:34.919 --> 00:05:35.399 Defeated. 00:05:35.599 --> 00:05:36.339 Destroyed. 00:05:37.039 --> 00:05:37.339 Sin. 00:05:37.539 --> 00:05:40.139 Buried in the ocean of reconciling blood. 00:05:40.599 --> 00:05:42.060 Hell's gates closed. 00:05:42.180 --> 00:05:43.699 And heaven's portal open. 00:05:44.759 --> 00:05:45.719 Go forth. 00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:46.979 Oh conquering God. 00:05:47.099 --> 00:05:48.719 And show me the cross. 00:05:49.479 --> 00:05:50.939 Mighty to subdue. 00:05:51.539 --> 00:05:52.099 Comfort. 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:53.839 And save. 00:05:55.139 --> 00:05:55.779 Amen. 00:05:56.279 --> 00:05:56.639 Amen. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:06:01.979 One of the astounding things about the cross. 00:06:02.180 --> 00:06:05.439 Is that the sort of words used on the cross. 00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:07.399 Were inspired by the Lord. 00:06:08.159 --> 00:06:09.339 Generations before. 00:06:10.060 --> 00:06:12.839 And so David in Psalm 22. 00:06:13.180 --> 00:06:14.439 Writes beyond himself. 00:06:14.519 --> 00:06:14.899 Doesn't he? 00:06:14.939 --> 00:06:16.919 As he writes the psalm. 00:06:17.099 --> 00:06:19.259 Which then gets picked up by Christ on the cross. 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:20.560 You might want to turn to it. 00:06:20.599 --> 00:06:21.419 Psalm 22. 00:06:21.620 --> 00:06:23.839 It's on page 554. 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:26.560 And before we stand and sing together. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:28.899 I am going to read this psalm to us. 00:06:29.060 --> 00:06:30.939 And you might not be familiar with it. 00:06:31.579 --> 00:06:34.859 But I'm sure that you will recognize some of the statements here. 00:06:34.859 --> 00:06:39.120 As you recognize them being picked up by Christ on the cross. 00:06:39.679 --> 00:06:40.639 So Psalm 22. 00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:43.519 For the director of music. 00:06:43.699 --> 00:06:45.859 To the tune of the dough of the morning. 00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:47.120 A psalm of David. 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:49.540 My God. 00:06:49.620 --> 00:06:50.060 My God. 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:51.699 Why have you forsaken me? 00:06:52.399 --> 00:06:54.680 Why are you so far from saving me? 00:06:54.759 --> 00:06:56.680 So far from my cries of anguish? 00:06:57.439 --> 00:06:57.879 My God. 00:06:57.980 --> 00:06:59.340 I cry out by day. 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:00.519 But you do not answer. 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:01.319 By night. 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:03.360 But I find no rest. 00:07:04.699 --> 00:07:06.620 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One. 00:07:07.340 --> 00:07:09.019 You are the one Israel praises. 00:07:09.939 --> 00:07:12.060 In you our ancestors put their trust. 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:13.740 They trusted and you delivered them. 00:07:14.259 --> 00:07:16.079 To you they cried out and were saved. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:18.319 In you they trusted and were not put to shame. 00:07:19.399 --> 00:07:20.300 But I'm a worm. 00:07:20.500 --> 00:07:21.279 Not a man. 00:07:22.099 --> 00:07:23.240 Scorned by everyone. 00:07:24.019 --> 00:07:25.199 Despised by the people. 00:07:25.919 --> 00:07:27.800 All who see me mock me. 00:07:28.339 --> 00:07:30.579 They hurl insults shaking their heads. 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:32.579 He trusts in the Lord they say. 00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:34.120 Let the Lord rescue him. 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:36.939 Let him deliver him since he delights in him. 00:07:38.599 --> 00:07:40.339 Yet you brought me out of the womb. 00:07:41.259 --> 00:07:42.639 You made me trust in you. 00:07:42.719 --> 00:07:44.000 Even at my mother's breast. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:46.379 From birth I was cast on you. 00:07:46.779 --> 00:07:49.120 From my mother's womb you have been my God. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:51.620 Do not be far from me. 00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:53.060 For trouble is near. 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:54.879 And there is no one to help. 00:07:55.560 --> 00:07:57.019 Many bulls surround me. 00:07:57.120 --> 00:07:59.139 Strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:01.680 Roaring lions that tear their prey. 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:03.860 Open their mouths wide against me. 00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:06.279 I'm poured out like water. 00:08:06.420 --> 00:08:08.220 And all my bones are out of joint. 00:08:08.660 --> 00:08:10.220 My heart has turned to wax. 00:08:10.220 --> 00:08:11.480 It is melted within me. 00:08:11.840 --> 00:08:14.060 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd. 00:08:14.180 --> 00:08:16.600 And my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:19.960 You lay me in the dust of death. 00:08:21.200 --> 00:08:22.220 Dogs surround me. 00:08:22.780 --> 00:08:24.500 A pack of villains encircles me. 00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:27.700 They pierce my hands and my feet. 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:30.060 All my bones are on display. 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:32.879 People stare and gloat over me. 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:37.100 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garments. 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:41.100 But you, Lord, do not be far from me. 00:08:41.860 --> 00:08:42.879 You are my strength. 00:08:42.980 --> 00:08:44.220 Come quickly to help me. 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:46.360 Deliver me from the sword. 00:08:46.759 --> 00:08:48.980 My precious life from the power of the dogs. 00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:51.019 Rescue me from the mouth of the lion. 00:08:51.240 --> 00:08:53.379 Save me from the horns of the wild oxen. 00:08:53.980 --> 00:08:56.879 I will declare your name to my people. 00:08:57.100 --> 00:08:59.039 In the assembly I will praise you. 00:08:59.799 --> 00:09:01.940 You who fear the Lord, praise him. 00:09:01.940 --> 00:09:04.920 All you descendants of Jacob, honor him. 00:09:05.540 --> 00:09:07.820 Revere him, all you descendants of Israel. 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:12.340 For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one. 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:16.760 He has not hidden his face from him, but has listened to his cry for help. 00:09:17.540 --> 00:09:21.320 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly. 00:09:21.880 --> 00:09:24.880 Before those who fear you, I will fulfill my vows. 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:27.580 The poor will eat and be satisfied. 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:30.340 Those who seek the Lord will praise him. 00:09:30.340 --> 00:09:32.420 May your hearts live forever. 00:09:33.320 --> 00:09:36.440 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord. 00:09:36.500 --> 00:09:39.220 And all the families of the nations will bow down before him. 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:42.680 For dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations. 00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:46.420 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship. 00:09:46.940 --> 00:09:49.680 All who go down to the dust will kneel before him. 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:51.720 Those who cannot keep themselves alive. 00:09:52.560 --> 00:09:53.800 Austerity will serve him. 00:09:53.799 --> 00:09:56.839 Future generations will be told about the Lord. 00:09:56.840 --> 00:09:59.320 They will proclaim his righteousness. 00:09:59.320 --> 00:10:02.640 Jesus, declaring it to a people yet unborn. 00:10:03.300 --> 00:10:05.660 He has done it. 00:10:05.659 --> 00:10:10.459 And Andrew's going to come and just give us a word of testimony. 00:10:10.719 --> 00:10:10.959 Andrew. 00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:14.779 Good morning, everybody. 00:10:15.219 --> 00:10:16.259 My name is Andrew. 00:10:16.360 --> 00:10:19.860 I'm one of the leaders here at West Kilburn Baptist Church. 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:26.879 If anybody would like to follow, what I'm going to share is a quick reflection on my testimony of what Easter means to me. 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:31.159 The page you can find that verse will be 1087. 00:10:32.259 --> 00:10:34.779 So that's in the Gospel of John, chapter 18. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:39.320 I'm going to share a quick brief reflection of verse 37. 00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:42.759 Give you a couple of seconds to find that. 00:10:47.939 --> 00:10:48.419 Okay. 00:10:52.419 --> 00:10:52.860 Okay. 00:10:53.299 --> 00:10:54.960 So this is some of my reflections. 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:58.019 Steve just asked me to share a testimony or reflection. 00:10:58.400 --> 00:11:04.780 And throughout my devotion throughout this week, I've been looking at the Gospel of John as well as some other verses. 00:11:05.160 --> 00:11:09.200 And coming across this text, it really has spoken to me. 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:16.280 We can see Jesus, you know, he's been falsely accused by the high priest and other leaders. 00:11:16.680 --> 00:11:19.280 And Pilate, you know, speaks to him. 00:11:19.400 --> 00:11:20.940 He finds no offense in him. 00:11:21.340 --> 00:11:21.980 He's ready. 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:27.320 He wants to give him back, says he finds no offense, gives it to them for they can judge him according to their law. 00:11:27.659 --> 00:11:29.940 But they say that's something they cannot do. 00:11:30.860 --> 00:11:35.259 Then we see in this verse, Pilate says to him, 00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:56.080 That just spoke to me. 00:11:56.080 --> 00:12:01.160 In terms of once upon a time, the truth is subjective. 00:12:01.160 --> 00:12:06.740 Many people in their own mind, in their own thoughts, they consider what they believe to be truth. 00:12:07.139 --> 00:12:08.320 And that was also me. 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:16.460 But today, this Easter time, as we gather together to reflect and remember what Jesus done and where we are right now, 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:24.320 because we see within the text of the Bible that the law and the prophets already proclaimed what would be. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:27.300 Jesus came and fulfilled the law and the prophets. 00:12:28.140 --> 00:12:29.140 And that is truth. 00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:29.960 That is evidence. 00:12:29.960 --> 00:12:37.080 That's the reason why I personally stand today and everybody else sits and stand here today because they believe in this truth. 00:12:37.560 --> 00:12:40.220 That truth is that Jesus really is a king. 00:12:40.620 --> 00:12:43.080 Pilate said it, but did he really believe it? 00:12:43.460 --> 00:12:44.560 I don't think so. 00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:48.700 It would have probably threatened his role and his empire and so forth. 00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:51.080 But Jesus is king. 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:52.140 He is my king. 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:54.440 And that has revolutionized my life. 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:59.060 It has revolutionized my life with not just my personal testimony, 00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:05.240 but it has moved me to know that as I read scripture, I find ultimate truth, 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:07.940 which is the same for every single one of us. 00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:09.460 And that moves me. 00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:14.500 If I believe in this truth, there's an act in the way I have to conduct myself. 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:20.620 And that leads me to try and seek to live a lifestyle just like Jesus. 00:13:21.059 --> 00:13:25.139 Again, it says that he came for this. 00:13:25.299 --> 00:13:25.320 Sorry. 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:27.879 This is the very reason that I was born. 00:13:28.059 --> 00:13:31.539 I came into the world to testify to the truth. 00:13:32.019 --> 00:13:34.919 Jesus came to reveal the father. 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:39.200 He came to reveal who we are, which we're fallen. 00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:41.120 We're sinful by nature. 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:46.360 But the remedy for that is to acknowledge that there has to be a price for our sin, 00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:47.120 which is death. 00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:49.360 Jesus took that sin upon himself. 00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:53.179 And I stand here today knowing that I'm sustained. 00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:55.799 Everything is sustained by the word of God's power. 00:13:55.960 --> 00:13:58.960 That's Hebrews chapter 1, verse 6 or so, I believe. 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:02.200 Everyone in here is sustained by the words of God's power. 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:07.259 And that is something to really, really stop and comprehend. 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:09.259 How does that affect our life? 00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:17.259 For me personally, that means everything I do, I have to strive to be that living sacrifice. 00:14:17.819 --> 00:14:24.319 Again, Romans chapter 14, verse 9, I believe it tells us whether we live or whether we die, 00:14:25.179 --> 00:14:26.819 we live or die unto the Lord. 00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:33.180 So we have the privilege right now, as we do live, as we are standing here, as we worship the Lord together, 00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:35.780 to know that we can proclaim him as Lord. 00:14:36.260 --> 00:14:42.180 And even those who draw their last breath, unfortunately, if they do not proclaim him as Lord right now, 00:14:42.660 --> 00:14:47.680 they will see that he is even the Lord of the dead, meaning that he will call them to an account 00:14:47.680 --> 00:14:48.980 and they will have to give an account. 00:14:48.980 --> 00:14:55.060 So with that, with this testimony, this is a day for me where I feel obliged, 00:14:55.460 --> 00:15:01.759 where I will want to go out into the community and I will want to meet people who do not know this truth. 00:15:02.340 --> 00:15:06.620 They live in their subjective truth, which is whatever they've been taught, 00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:11.200 whatever they've been used to and whatever they're experiencing. 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:18.040 So I want to encourage us today that, you know, Jesus is Lord and it is a time of celebration. 00:15:18.680 --> 00:15:24.300 It's, you know, as we do sit here, we sit here quietly, but it is a time that we can raise our fifth and say, 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:26.280 Hallelujah, he is king. 00:15:26.640 --> 00:15:29.660 And I know that's her personal testimony, right? 00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:33.340 You know, this truth helps us to know, right? 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:41.420 With all of our thoughts, all of our brokenness, all of those efforts that we try to achieve, 00:15:41.500 --> 00:15:44.960 all those things we try to achieve that we don't do it in the way that we'd love to do it. 00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:46.580 The Lord still loves us. 00:15:47.180 --> 00:15:48.399 He loves us dearly. 00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:49.500 He loves us so. 00:15:50.160 --> 00:15:50.920 I'm imperfect. 00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:54.540 There's a lot of flaws with me, but I know the Lord's love for me. 00:15:54.860 --> 00:15:57.280 That's something I'm totally confident in. 00:15:57.680 --> 00:16:02.320 That's what moves me to follow him and trust in him because I know he accepts me. 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:08.980 And I know if my God accepts me, he accepts each and every body you trust in him and believes in him. 00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:14.720 And that's the outworking of us demonstrating our faith to our Lord and our King. 00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:17.980 So, again, it's not a preach. 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:19.640 It's just a testimony. 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:25.840 It's an encouragement that I want to encourage us with today to know when we leave here today, 00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:29.420 whether we go back to our family, our friends, wherever we go. 00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:37.360 Let us all seek the Lord and ask him to help us to share this truth with people that do not know this truth. 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:44.479 Every single one of us in here will probably rub shoulders and come by somebody who does not know this truth. 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:47.039 We have this wonderful treasure. 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:53.839 We have the ultimate truth, the best news in the world that people need to know and hear about. 00:16:54.959 --> 00:17:03.599 And I pray that the Lord would help us, that we can open our mouth and trust in him to communicate this truth, 00:17:03.939 --> 00:17:09.039 that hopefully they will come to know this truth and that truth will set them through as it's done for me. 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:11.200 And it's done for many of us in this room. 00:17:11.819 --> 00:17:13.579 So, praise be to God. 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:15.279 Praise be to Jesus. 00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:16.000 He is Lord. 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:17.200 He is King of Kings. 00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:17.819 All right. 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:19.539 And he died for our sin. 00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:27.559 The worst things that I've done, he took that upon himself and died for my sins, for your sins. 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:36.500 And he continues to forgive us of our past sins, our present sin and our sins that we commit today without acknowledging it all. 00:17:36.919 --> 00:17:39.200 So, that's what I really want to encourage everybody with. 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:47.099 And I hope the Lord just bless us all to be faithful witnesses and share this truth with people who do not know this truth in the world. 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:47.879 Thank you, Steve. 00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:50.440 Thanks, Angie. 00:17:50.780 --> 00:17:54.040 I know everyone's sat there quietly, but they're all saying amen in their hearts, aren't they? 00:17:54.540 --> 00:17:55.640 Or at least they should be. 00:17:56.140 --> 00:17:56.420 Hallelujah. 00:17:56.660 --> 00:17:58.080 Praise God for what he's done for us. 00:17:58.900 --> 00:18:01.400 And Jen's going to come and read and speak for us. 00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:01.700 Thank you. 00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:07.260 All right. 00:18:07.360 --> 00:18:07.920 Good morning. 00:18:08.380 --> 00:18:13.720 We're reading from Isaiah chapter 53, and we're starting at verse 4. 00:18:14.040 --> 00:18:16.520 So, that's page 741. 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:18.859 If you've got the church Bibles. 00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:25.460 Verse 4. 00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:29.980 Surely he took up my pain and bore our suffering. 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:35.259 Yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him and afflicted. 00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:38.559 But he was pierced for our transgressions. 00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:41.059 He was crushed for our iniquities. 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:44.500 The punishment that brought us peace was on him. 00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:46.920 And by his wounds we are healed. 00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:50.039 We all, like sheep, have gone astray. 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:52.960 Each of us have turned to our own way. 00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:56.279 And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 00:18:57.339 --> 00:18:59.259 He was oppressed and afflicted. 00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:01.500 Yet he did not open his mouth. 00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:06.059 He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. 00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:08.940 And as a sheep before its shears is silent. 00:19:09.159 --> 00:19:11.000 So he did not open his mouth. 00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:14.799 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. 00:19:15.679 --> 00:19:18.480 Yet who of his generation protested? 00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:21.159 For he was cut off from the land of the living. 00:19:21.679 --> 00:19:24.799 For the transgressions of my people he was punished. 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:29.740 He was assigned a grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death. 00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:34.419 Though he had done no violence nor was any deceit in his mouth. 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:39.759 Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer. 00:19:40.419 --> 00:19:43.599 And though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, 00:19:44.159 --> 00:19:46.779 he will see his offspring and prolong his days. 00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:50.079 And the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:56.059 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied. 00:19:56.919 --> 00:20:00.500 By his knowledge, my righteous servant would justify many. 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:03.199 And he will bear their iniquities. 00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:07.019 Therefore, I will give him a portion among the great. 00:20:07.379 --> 00:20:09.879 And he will divide the spoils with the strong. 00:20:10.439 --> 00:20:13.059 Because he poured out his life unto death. 00:20:13.679 --> 00:20:16.000 And he was numbered with the transgressors. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:21.299 For he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgression. 00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:28.720 Steve asks me as well to just give a testimony of what the cross means to me. 00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:31.920 And I've been coming to this church since I was a toddler. 00:20:32.339 --> 00:20:35.460 So I've heard about the cross many, many times. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:43.839 And it was only when I was a teenager that the cross actually started to mean something special to me. 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:47.079 So have a look at verse 5. 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:51.059 To be honest, all of this chapter has got something special in it. 00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:52.559 But I've picked up two verses. 00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:54.639 Verse 5, it says, 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:59.319 For he was pierced for our transgression, and he was crushed for our iniquities. 00:21:00.159 --> 00:21:02.899 And the punishment that brought us peace was on him. 00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:05.500 And by his wounds we are healed. 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:09.919 And just looking at that, it makes me think of my sin. 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:19.640 Not just the things that I say that I do wrong, but the deliberate things that I do wrong, knowing that is against what God wants. 00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:24.220 And I thought, because of that, that is why Jesus was on the cross. 00:21:24.620 --> 00:21:25.920 That's why he died. 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:30.240 And I love the fact that it says, by his wounds I'm healed. 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:35.140 And because of the punishment that God put on him, I have peace with God. 00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:40.080 And that does give great joy when I hear that and when I read that. 00:21:40.300 --> 00:21:42.880 I think, this is what God has done for me. 00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:44.900 Because I can't quite understand it. 00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:49.759 And then verse 10, this is what blows my mind in a way. 00:21:50.080 --> 00:21:50.860 Because it says, 00:21:50.859 --> 00:21:55.399 Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer. 00:21:56.079 --> 00:22:04.740 I cannot understand how a father would willingly send his son to die, to take the punishment that others deserve. 00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:07.079 And it does blow my mind. 00:22:07.679 --> 00:22:11.139 And yet, even as I look at that, that does help me as well. 00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:13.019 But this is what God did. 00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:16.619 And what I find even more amazing, it wasn't just that. 00:22:16.619 --> 00:22:18.979 It was God's father's will to crush him. 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:22.559 But God, the son, Jesus, was in on this plan. 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:26.099 And he willingly suffered for me. 00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:30.399 And I get excited about that, that that's what he does. 00:22:30.399 --> 00:22:35.799 So when I think of the cross, my emotions are from, I am sad. 00:22:36.579 --> 00:22:38.539 I'm grieved by my sin. 00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:41.919 But I'm also grateful for what God has done. 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:44.560 And I then move on from there. 00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:52.180 Because when I think that it was the father's will and Jesus's will, I then think, wow, I've got security. 00:22:52.860 --> 00:22:54.180 I do not need to worry. 00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:59.259 I do not need to fret that I will not see God or my sins are not forgiven. 00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:03.519 I have all that security because of what God has done. 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:14.720 And then, still looking in verse 10, I love the fact that it says, his life was an offering for sin. 00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:29.319 To make it make sense to me, for me, having my sins forgiven, it's not that I then go and say to God, oh, I will do this and this and this and this because I want my sins forgiven. 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:33.000 All I have to do is say, Jesus has done it. 00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:34.939 So that's what I think about. 00:23:35.159 --> 00:23:38.019 I think about Jesus is my sin offering. 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:43.299 So as I'm looking for my emotions, feeling sad for what has happened. 00:23:43.939 --> 00:23:48.740 But when I know that I have assurance with God, there's joy. 00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:50.619 There's great joy coming in. 00:23:50.619 --> 00:24:00.479 And then when I look to the future and I have that assurance of eternal rest with God, if you know me, you know I like to dance. 00:24:00.939 --> 00:24:03.059 And this is where I would want to dance. 00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:07.239 I'm not a person that might be holding up my hand or anything like that. 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:13.119 But if you're with me and having my quiet time, then I do get up and be dancing around my bedroom. 00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:19.159 But the reason why I have all of that is because Jesus has paid the punishment for me. 00:24:19.659 --> 00:24:24.599 But my main thought when I look at the cross is gratitude. 00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:28.679 Gratitude because the Lord has done all this for me. 00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:31.199 So all I can say, thank you, God. 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.239 Thank you, Jesus. 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:40.200 Thank you, Jen. 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:45.539 Now, what I want us to do now is turn to Mark chapter 15. 00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:46.819 Mark chapter 15. 00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:50.099 And we're going to read through the narrative of the cross. 00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:52.660 So in Mark chapter 15. 00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:55.700 Let me tell you a page number when I get there myself. 00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:57.640 It's page 1022. 00:24:58.559 --> 00:25:00.180 Page 1022. 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:02.200 Mark chapter 15. 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:11.279 One of the things I think that's come through so helpfully in Andrew's testimony and Jen's testimony 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:15.259 is that there is a delight in the finished work of Jesus. 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:19.960 We are reading what has been accomplished for us. 00:25:20.059 --> 00:25:21.519 So let me read this chapter to us. 00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:25.359 I'm going to give you a couple of reflections and then we'll share the Lord's Supper together. 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:31.059 Very early in the morning, the chief priests with the elders, the teachers of the law, 00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:34.179 and the whole Sanhedrin made their plans. 00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:39.500 So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:41.799 Are you king of the Jews? 00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:42.599 Asked Pilate. 00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:45.460 You have said so, Jesus replied. 00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:48.859 The chief priests accused him of many things. 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:51.660 So again, Pilate asked him, aren't you going to answer? 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:54.299 See how many things they're accusing you of. 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:57.599 But still, Jesus made no reply. 00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.380 Pilate was amazed. 00:25:59.380 --> 00:26:04.980 Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 00:26:05.820 --> 00:26:10.420 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder in the uprising. 00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:14.520 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. 00:26:15.360 --> 00:26:18.020 Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews? 00:26:18.300 --> 00:26:18.920 Asked Pilate. 00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:23.440 Knowing it was out of self-interest, the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:28.940 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to get Pilate to release Barabbas instead. 00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:32.620 What shall I do then with the one you call the king of the Jews? 00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.440 Pilate asked them. 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:36.400 Crucify him, they shouted. 00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:37.700 Why? 00:26:38.080 --> 00:26:39.340 What crime has he committed? 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.000 Asked Pilate. 00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:42.279 But they shouted all the louder. 00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.940 Crucify him. 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:49.080 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. 00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:53.039 He had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified. 00:26:54.440 --> 00:27:00.480 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace, that is the praetorium, and called together the whole company of soldiers. 00:27:01.080 --> 00:27:06.100 They put a purple robe on him and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:10.240 And they began to call out to him, Hail, king of the Jews. 00:27:10.860 --> 00:27:14.200 Again, they struck him on the head with a staff and spat on him. 00:27:15.160 --> 00:27:17.120 Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:22.779 When they'd mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:25.220 Then they led him out to crucify him. 00:27:26.599 --> 00:27:35.519 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country and they forced him to carry the cross. 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:42.339 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means the place of the skull. 00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:46.839 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:48.879 And they crucified him. 00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:52.900 Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. 00:27:53.840 --> 00:28:00.840 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him and the written notice of the charge against him read, the king of the Jews. 00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:06.120 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. 00:28:06.119 --> 00:28:11.099 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, 00:28:11.459 --> 00:28:16.419 So, you who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself. 00:28:17.399 --> 00:28:21.439 In the same way, the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:25.339 He saved others, they said, but he can't save himself. 00:28:26.379 --> 00:28:31.879 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe. 00:28:31.880 --> 00:28:36.320 Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him. 00:28:37.600 --> 00:28:42.580 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:47.960 And at three in the afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:52.280 Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani, which means, 00:28:53.040 --> 00:28:56.940 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:28:57.780 --> 00:29:00.560 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, 00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:02.599 Listen, he's calling Elijah. 00:29:03.639 --> 00:29:08.599 Some ran, filled a sponge with wine, being going to put on a staff and offered it to Jesus to drink. 00:29:08.839 --> 00:29:12.399 Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down, he said. 00:29:13.619 --> 00:29:17.579 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:21.299 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 00:29:22.099 --> 00:29:26.279 And when the centurion who stood there in front of Jesus saw how he died, he said, 00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:29.119 Surely this man was the son of God. 00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:32.159 Some women were watching from a distance. 00:29:32.339 --> 00:29:37.239 Among them were Mary Madeline, Mary, the mother of James, the younger, and Joseph and Salome. 00:29:37.959 --> 00:29:40.739 In Galilee, these women had followed him and cared for his needs. 00:29:41.459 --> 00:29:46.479 Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:51.680 Well, that is the narrative of the cross of Jesus Christ. 00:29:52.200 --> 00:29:56.860 Let me just give you a couple of very simple reflections from that passage. 00:29:57.579 --> 00:30:01.880 If you've been with us for the last couple of Sundays, we have been considering together the message of the cross. 00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:04.460 What is it that Jesus was doing on the cross? 00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:10.019 I think for us, the physical horror of what's going on in these verses jumps out to us, doesn't it? 00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:15.900 But when the Bible deals with the cross, actually, it has rather little to say about the physical suffering of Christ 00:30:15.900 --> 00:30:21.019 and lots to say about what he's achieving and why he's there and what's going on. 00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:26.859 And the message of the Bible, both as it anticipates the cross in advance, as it looks forward to it, 00:30:26.900 --> 00:30:32.539 as we were seeing in Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22, and as it looks back at the cross, 00:30:32.619 --> 00:30:41.460 is to repeat this idea that Jesus dies in our place, facing the punishment that we deserve from a holy God. 00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:50.579 You might remember we were talking about it on Sunday, saying that this is the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement. 00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:58.680 The idea that it is facing the penalty that we deserve in our place to make us one with the Father, 00:30:59.220 --> 00:31:00.880 to bring us into relationship with him. 00:31:01.360 --> 00:31:03.460 And that is all the way through Mark 15. 00:31:04.360 --> 00:31:07.240 So notice the substitution as it's drawn out by Mark. 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:13.640 Mark 15, the innocent Jesus substitutes in for the guilty Barabbas. 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:15.359 You notice that in verses 6 to 15? 00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:25.059 Barabbas gets demonstrated to him what is being achieved on the cross as innocent Jesus stands in for guilty Barabbas. 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:29.640 He's then numbered among the sinners, isn't he, as he's crucified with two rebels, 00:31:29.740 --> 00:31:32.120 one on his left and one on his right in verse 27. 00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:38.179 And then he's mocked in verse 31 for not saving himself when he saved others. 00:31:39.179 --> 00:31:42.359 And of course, why is Jesus not saving himself? 00:31:42.879 --> 00:31:45.359 It is so that he can save others, right? 00:31:45.819 --> 00:31:52.419 They thought that the absence of him coming down from the cross and saving himself was an indication that he was powerless. 00:31:52.420 --> 00:31:59.160 But actually, it is his great power and his great love, which means he stays on the cross so that he might save you and me. 00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:01.019 He is there not for himself. 00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:03.000 He is there for us. 00:32:04.100 --> 00:32:06.740 He is substituting himself in for us. 00:32:07.380 --> 00:32:09.240 And then you see the wrath of God, don't you? 00:32:09.340 --> 00:32:13.860 You see that in the physicality of the cross, but even greater than that. 00:32:13.859 --> 00:32:17.240 You see it in the details here, which are really surprising. 00:32:17.979 --> 00:32:21.899 Look at what Jesus cries out in the darkness of verse 33. 00:32:22.059 --> 00:32:25.279 The darkness, I think, in verse 33 is a symbolic darkness. 00:32:25.379 --> 00:32:28.259 It's real darkness, but it's symbolic of the wrath and judgment of God. 00:32:28.919 --> 00:32:34.359 It's the father turning his face away as we sing in How Deep the Father's Love for Us. 00:32:34.359 --> 00:32:42.199 And Jesus cries out in a loud voice, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:32:43.219 --> 00:32:52.000 The darkness and judgment for our sin, the abandonment of God that we deserve is taken by Jesus on the cross. 00:32:53.399 --> 00:32:54.879 He is there in our place. 00:32:55.399 --> 00:32:57.839 He is there facing our punishment. 00:32:59.059 --> 00:33:01.439 And it's penal, it's facing the penalty. 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:03.620 It's substitutionary. 00:33:04.080 --> 00:33:05.660 But it's atonement as well, isn't it? 00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:07.539 There is at-one-ment, isn't there, here? 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:12.460 Notice in verse 38 that the curtain of the temple is torn in two from top to bottom. 00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:19.480 So this is the curtain in the temple which separates people from the presence of God so that they can't get in. 00:33:19.799 --> 00:33:21.920 And now it's torn from the top to the bottom. 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:23.340 This is an action of God, isn't it? 00:33:23.340 --> 00:33:26.480 It's not, you know, if you and I go to tear a curtain, we start at the bottom and we tear up. 00:33:26.820 --> 00:33:28.539 God is tearing it down, isn't it? 00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:31.340 He, from the top, is opening it up. 00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:39.340 And I think we're used to saying something like, oh, well, so he's opened that curtain in the temple so that people can get into the presence of God. 00:33:39.779 --> 00:33:47.100 But of course we know, theologically, don't we, that we have no inclination to go through that curtain in the temple to get into the presence of God. 00:33:47.099 --> 00:33:53.259 Really, the temple curtain is ripped so that God can come out and save his own. 00:33:53.259 --> 00:34:05.619 On the cross, Jesus faces the penalty that our sins deserve so that God can call us to him, come to us, reach out to us, make himself one with us. 00:34:05.619 --> 00:34:14.460 That we might know God, not as a far off distant God, but as our loving heavenly father who calls us his children and loves us. 00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:19.500 As he bursts out of the Holy of Holies to come and rescue you and me. 00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:21.299 What a great thing. 00:34:22.659 --> 00:34:28.819 Lord Jesus dies in our place, facing our penalty that we might be at one with God. 00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:58.800 Lord Jesus dies in our place.