Please turn in your Bibles to Luke chapter 23 this morning and to words that we find in verse 34.
! Luke chapter 23 verse 34.
A few years ago there was an 18 year old young man called Brant Jean who was in the witness box at the trial of the individual who murdered his brother.
The woman was a lady called Amber Geigor. She was an ex-police woman and she found Brant's brother in what she thought was her flat and she shot him dead.
He was actually in his own flat and for whatever reason that they couldn't quite ascertain she had been so disorientated she thought that he was in her flat and she shot him dead.
It was what Brant Jean did during his time on the witness stand that means we have heard about his actions.
So in the witness books he addressed directly this young woman whose life was now forever going to be changed for what she did.
And he addressed her with regard to wanting the very best for her.
And knowing that his murdered brother would want the very best for her.
He explained to her that the very best for her would be to know Jesus Christ as her own personal saviour.
Now this was highly unusual as he explained what was taking place but he then turned to the judge and he asked the judge for permission to come out of the witness box and to go and hug the accused to show that he really had forgiven her for murdering his brother.
And the judge agreed and so Brant Jean went and he hugged this accused young woman and it was the image of him hugging her as a sign of his forgiveness toward her that was being around the US and actually around the world.
And so when we live in a culture where we have this clamour to cancel people.
Where we want people punished.
We want people sidelined.
We want people to pay the penalty for the wrongs that they've done.
Because in our generation there always has to be somebody who has to pay the price isn't there.
But in such a culture it's quite remarkable just how genuine forgiveness shines out.
Now I don't know how you react to hearing a story about that.
In one sense it's lovely to hear.
It's remarkable.
But if you try and put yourself as I try and put myself into the shoes of this young man Brant Jean.
I wonder how we would react if somebody had done something barbaric to our family.
Humanly speaking there's absolutely no chance that I would behave in the way he had behaved.
Because if it's one of my loved ones then every instinct is to somehow seek revenge.
Humanly speaking there's no chance.
But spiritually speaking there is.
Because spiritually speaking when we have a living connection with Jesus Christ.
Then the way in which our lives are transformed by that means that we have a very different relationship with wrongdoing.
And a very different relationship with forgiveness.
So when this young 18 year old man was talking about her deepest need and her need to connect with Jesus.
And how he wanted to show his forgiveness offer.
Perhaps he had in mind the words of Jesus in Luke chapter 6.
When Jesus says but love your enemies and to good to them and lend from them.
Maybe he had in mind the teaching of Jesus.
Maybe he had in mind however the example of Jesus that we find here.
Because the example of Jesus in this episode is that Jesus himself is on the receiving end of barbaric treatment.
By this stage of verse 34.
Jesus is his body is processing the impact of these large iron nails being hammered through his wrists and his feet.
Severing the nerves and all of the pain signals that are going from different parts of his body.
And flooding to his brain so that his brain realizes what's taking place.
He's in the middle of beginning to endure some of the physical torture that crucifixion involves.
Not simply is it that his nerves will have been torn to shreds through these nails that were used.
But then he's now feeling the impact of gravity.
Gravity that he himself called into existence.
As it pulls down upon his joints and muscles.
Potentially dislocating some of them as he tries to push himself up and push himself out to somehow be able to breathe.
Jesus is here.
The one who was present at the very dawn of time.
The one who's the power of whose word actually put into existence all that we can see and hear and feel and touch and smell.
He is the one on the end of this horrendous treatment.
If there was ever in one sense an injustice perpetrated in this world it was on this occasion.
And so what does Jesus do?
He asks his heavenly father to forgive those soldiers who are doing their job and the others implicated.
Because they don't appreciate what they've done.
Father forgive them.
And so this morning I want us to pause over these words.
And to hopefully have our own souls warmed as we think of the forgiveness that is available for us through Jesus Christ and all that he has done.
Those of you who enjoy novels or drama series or whatever movies will know that there is one.
There's a standard technique amongst many techniques that the scriptwriters have.
About placing characters in circumstances that really doesn't fit for them.
So it tends to go in one of two ways.
Either you have the spoiled rich kid who is put into a situation where they have to slum it with the underclass.
Or the opposite.
You've got the hardened tough nut who is now mixing it with the rich and the powerful and influential.
And at some point within the plot, usually reasonably near the start, the words,
You don't belong here, are communicated.
Now Jesus was in neither of these categories.
But there was a very real sense in which he did not belong in this scene that we have just read about here at Calvary.
The scene that was unfolding at Golgotha.
He, in that one sense, he didn't belong in that environment.
Now I see this because we have possibly sanitized what Golgotha, what Calvary was actually like.
But if we actually were on the ground in that era, then it would be the type of place that we really would have to prepare to enter.
It would be the type of place that we would have to get ready for the sights and the sounds and the smells of what was going to be evident.
Because it genuinely was grotesque.
If this had been made into a movie, the British Board of Film Control would be struggling to get a proper rating for this movie.
Because an 18 rating wouldn't be enough because some of the sights that would be seen.
The sights of the brutality of the crucifixion process.
The sights of nakedness.
The sights of shame.
But more than that, it wouldn't simply be the sights that would be placing the events that would unfold at Calvary into a category all of its own.
It would even be the sounds.
The sounds of what was taking place.
The sounds of screams.
Of sobbing.
Of groaning.
Of the abuse that would be thrown at those being crucified by passers-by.
The sights were graphic.
The sounds would be haunting.
And the smells.
Well, the smells would be just catching in your throat.
It would be the type of place that you would be holding your breath.
You'd be breathing out your mouth rather than out your nose.
Because you don't want to inhale the noxious smell.
It's a place where there's constant burning taking place.
Where the refuge of the city is being burnt.
But on top of that, you've got human remains that are being burnt within that also.
Because frequently those who had been crucified, once parts of them had been eaten by vultures, the rest is just thrown into gaps.
And then eventually it's going to be burned.
And so you think if there is ever a location that the Lord of glory ought not to be in, it is in that location.
We could turn around and say to Jesus, you really don't belong here.
And I want to contrast that image as it is portrayed for us in our minds with how very different it was at the start of the world.
I want to contrast just the grotesque brutality and awful horror of what takes place at Calvary.
With what we imagine from what the Bible teaches us, the Garden of Eden to be.
A place that would be so lush.
A place that would be so beautiful.
The variety of colour.
The aroma coming from the various different flowers and fauna, whatever else would be there.
The place where the Lord God would walk in the cool of the day with the pinnacle of his creative work.
The place that is ultimately the place that we've been longing for ever since.
But that place of beauty, that place of delight, that place of rest.
That place of being in the very near, close presence of God.
And can you contrast anything greater than the place of the skull?
The very mention.
The place of the skull.
It implies that connection, does it not, with the curse that sin has brought into this very world.
And the place of the skull is contrasted with the place of beauty that God created for humanity to inhabit.
And to enjoy.
And to enjoy him.
And so where the Lord God once walked in the cool of the day.
Here you have the Lord of glory.
And he's now barely able to walk.
Isn't that what the passage says to us in verse 29?
That they compelled Simon to help carry the cross behind Jesus.
It had been an evening whereby Jesus would have had little, if any, sleep.
It would have been an evening whereby he would have had little, if any, food.
Following the first Lord's Supper that he inaugurated, instituted with his disciples that evening.
It had been, in the intervening hours, he had been beaten.
He had been flogged.
And sometimes we read that and we forget just how brutal even that was.
Flogging used to have leather ropes.
And it used to have bits of bone.
And other sharp objects in it.
And it would go diagonally across the back of the person being flogged.
And the bits would dig into their skin.
And then it would be yanked.
So that the skin would be ripped.
And it would go over one side and then diagonally the other side.
And it would keep going.
And it's recorded in Roman history that many, many people died from being flogged alone.
So here you have the Savior.
He's had no sleep.
He's had minimal nourishment.
He has had abuse.
He has been flogged.
And now he's been asked to carry this piece of wood upon which he himself is going to be impaled.
And his strength is almost non-existent.
And so he is the Lord of Glory.
The one who would have walked in the cool of the day.
As the Lord God walked in the cool of the day with Adam and Eve.
Here you have the Lord of Glory now stumbling.
But his alertness is not in question, however.
We note that from the intervening section from verse 27 onwards.
As he turns and he addresses those almost professional mourners who had gathered.
And who were expressing their sorrow over what was unfolding.
Realizing these men were being led off to their graves.
And Jesus turns and he speaks to them and he tells them not to weep for him.
He speaks to them that if this can happen to somebody who's innocent like him, what may happen in a day for those who are not so innocent.
And so he is very aware of the people who are there.
And then even as his hands are held down and his feet are held down and as he is then manhandled and hoisted vertical.
He is alert enough to utter these words.
Father, forgive them.
For they don't know what they do.
Well, let's press in a little deeper.
And think about this prayer itself.
And I want us to notice two or three things.
I want to notice first of all to whom he prays.
The Lord Jesus says, Father.
Here at the start of his time upon the cross.
Our Savior is very much aware of that father-son relationship.
That bond.
That presence.
That has accompanied him through his ministry.
On multiple occasions he spoke about his father being with him.
And him seeking to do his father's will.
And him saying the words that the father has given him to say.
And him reminding people that he's not alone.
That the father is with him.
Here he is at the start of his time on the cross.
And he is aware that the father-son relationship.
That he has so prized and has been so precious to him.
That that is still in existence.
There's going to come a point.
In a number of hours time.
And even that itself.
As we see a number of hours.
I think there's only been once or twice in my life.
That have known you know real acute horrendous pain.
And if you've been in such a situation.
That every second.
As you wait for pain relief to kick in.
Every second.
Seems far far longer.
And here we have.
In a number of hours time.
Jesus is going to reach that place.
Where he's not going to be alert.
To the comforting presence.
Of the father who has accompanied him.
Through his ministry.
He's going to cry out.
My God.
Why have you forsaken me?
Because it's almost as if this cloud has enveloped his soul.
In a similar way to the darkness that has enveloped his body at Calvary.
Where that darkness.
Wrapped that scene.
For these three hours.
It's almost as if there is this cloud that has enveloped the Lord's soul.
Because he's calling out.
Because he doesn't sense the felt presence of his father with him.
And he cries out.
My God.
Why have you forsaken me?
The one individual who has never experienced a distance.
From his father.
Is now sensing that there is a distance.
You see.
For you and I.
Being at a distance from God.
Is almost our default natural position.
It's not something that we had to necessarily work at.
It's what we are as humans.
We're at a distance.
Through our sin.
By nature and by practice.
But not the Lord.
Not the Lord at all.
And so if there was anybody less prepared.
To be.
To sense himself at a distance from his father.
It was the Lord Jesus Christ.
And of course by the time he.
He's coming towards the end of his time on the cross.
We see that once again.
He's back.
Thinking in terms of his father.
So at the start of his.
Of the time on the cross.
And at the end of his time on the cross.
At the start.
He says father forgive.
And at the end he's saying father receive.
And so at the start.
And at the end he's conscious of his father's presence.
But as he plumbed the very depths.
He's not.
And so we remind ourselves.
That that sense of utter forsakenness.
Was not constant.
Through the time.
That our savior was on the cross.
But that there was that.
That.
That time of.
Of where this cry of dereliction.
This cry of abandonment.
Articulates that sense.
Of being.
That sense of being cut off.
And then we look at that.
And we.
We.
We realize that actually we're connected.
To what's taking place there.
And we realize that.
That I.
That we.
Caused.
That.
And so he is.
At the start.
Of.
This.
Time in the cross.
He is conscious of his father.
And.
And he's coming to the father.
With a prayer that.
That in many ways.
Would meet.
A warm reception.
In the heart of the father.
Because.
Jesus has.
Has told us.
We.
We have it recorded for us.
In John chapter 3.
That.
That God so loved the world.
And the world.
In John.
Is.
The.
Created order.
And rebellion.
And rejection of God.
God so loved this.
Rebellious.
Rejecting world.
That he.
That he gave his one and only son.
That whoever believes in him.
And will not perish.
But will have everlasting life.
And so here you have.
The son.
Reflecting the heart of the father.
Praying for those.
Rebel.
Those rebellious.
Those rejecting.
Those who are.
Actually.
Putting the Lord of glory himself.
To death.
And so the first.
The first component.
That we.
We highlight.
With regard to this prayer.
Is.
To whom.
He prays.
He prays to the father.
And then we notice.
What he prays for.
We notice what he prays for.
He doesn't pray for rescue.
He had mentioned to Peter.
When Peter thought that it was time to.
To somehow.
Resort to.
To physical violence.
To secure Jesus's release.
We learn that.
That he is.
That there were legions of angels.
That he could have called on.
To come and rescue him.
That's.
But he's not going to come.
It's not going to call for rescue.
It's not going to call for those to come to his aid.
To help him.
In his current plight.
he's also not crying out for justice
we're very quick to communicate to friends and families
when we've been unfairly treated
when things have been said about us that are not accurate
when things are done to us that are grossly unfair
we don't just sit back and absorb that
we very much plead our case
we very much try and make the injustice known
we very much try and take control of the situation
that's not what Jesus is doing
he's not praying for rescue
he is not praying for justice
he is not praying for retribution
you need to make them pay for what they're doing here
you need to intervene
this has to stop
he doesn't pray for that
instead he prays
Father forgive them
for they don't know what they're doing
now Jesus' prayer
for these soldiers to be forgiven
we need to contrast his prayer for their forgiveness
as we pray when we're seeking to forgive others
because when we are struggling with forgiveness
one of the things that gives a degree of clarity to us
is the fact that we ourselves have sinned
that we ourselves have not behaved in the way that we ought to have done
that we ourselves have said and done and thought and acted in ways
that have needed us to be forgiven by God
and so it's on the basis that we have been forgiven
that we then forgive others
and so we forgive other people's debts
as we have our own debts forgiven
as Jesus makes that clear in the prayer he taught his disciples
and so when we are seeking to forgive somebody else
we're doing so
and in fact we can probably only do so
from the basis that we ourselves have been forgiven
and been forgiven much worse
but Jesus has never been forgiven has he
he's never had to come before his heavenly father
and acknowledge a word spoken inappropriately
or an act done with the wrong motives
or anything like that
he's never had to come with any word of repentance
there's never been a single stray sinful thought
in the mind of our master
not even for a nanosecond
so when Jesus is coming and he's asking for their forgiveness
he's coming in a different way
in which we come and ask for forgiveness for others
and ask for forgiveness for ourselves
because he's never himself been forgiven
there was never a moment of rebellion
or rejection
or going off on his own timeline or timetable
because everything was lived in accordance
with the will and purposes of his heavenly father
and it's also worth noting
when we think of what Jesus is praying for here
that when he's praying for forgiveness
he's asking the father to forgive
and you may be correct in concluding
but didn't Jesus himself declare people forgiven
in other episodes within the gospel
and if you're thinking along these lines
you'd be correct
you remember when the guy's mates took him to meet Jesus
best thing you can do as a mate
is to take your mates to meet Jesus
well they carried this mate
they carried him
there's four of them carrying him
they can't get in
and so they're beginning to take the ceiling off this roof
and they're going to lower this guy down
and he's in front of Jesus
and it's you know
the commotion must have been quite something
but he's in front of Jesus
they're waiting
what's Jesus going to say
and Jesus says
son your sins are forgiven
he doesn't say father forgive his sins
he says son your sins are forgiven
and then there was another occasion
when this woman is coming
and she's wiping Jesus' feet
with her tears and with her hair
and Jesus is declaring her
that her sins are forgiven
and Jesus has said
it's recorded for us in Matthew chapter 9
that the son of man has power to forgive sins
so why is he not forgiving the soldiers
directly at this point
why is he asking the father to forgive
because by this stage
we have the saviour
he has been lifted up
from the earth
he is now the one
who is absorbing sin himself
he is the one who has been designated
as a sinner
not because of anything he has by nature
or by practice
but for everything that we have
by nature and by practice
and so here he is upon the cross
and so he is not declaring
forgiveness for these soldiers
because he as the one who has become sin
is needing the father to forgive
rather than him to forgive
so we note to whom he prays
he prays to the father
at this point
whose presence he is aware of
and we note that what he prays for
that it is not for rescue
and it's not for justice
or it's not for retribution
but it is forgiveness
and we notice that
who it is that he is praying for
forgive them
for they know not what they are doing
forgive them
well the immediate context there
is there's people who have crucified him
and who have placed him
in a particular position
at Calvary's cross
and those for whom that task
has been delegated
were these Roman soldiers
they were experts in crucifixion
you would have to be
because if someone was sentenced
to be crucified
and they didn't die
well you would die in their place
and so it's in their self-interest
to ensure that they know
exactly what they are doing
and so these soldiers
are the immediate beneficiaries
of this prayer in that sense
because these soldiers
who are going about
their day's work
these soldiers who woke up
that morning
and went on shift
not quite knowing
what was about to happen
and then they turn up
to the barracks
and they're told
well there's three guys
you're going to go and crucify
and there may be a bit more
of a crowd this time
so keep an eye out
for any unrest
that may happen
we've been given a tip off
by some of these religious guys
some of these leaders
in that temple place over there
that they may be a bit of trouble today
so all eyes on what you're doing
make sure you know
what you're up to
and these soldiers
they're doing their job aren't they
and they're holding them down
and they're putting the nails
through his hands and his feet
and they're hoisting them upwards
and no doubt
they've been splattered
a little bit by blood
and they're conscious
of quite a number of eyes
upon them
but these are people
who it's highly unlikely
have heard a word
that's come from Jesus' mouth
it's possible
they may have been on duty
in different places
when Jesus has spoken
but it's also highly unlikely
it's even more unlikely
that they've seen
any of his miracles
they may have heard
a little rumour or two
as to who exactly
this person might be
but it didn't really
didn't really compute
it didn't really connect
for them
and so largely
largely
in a position of
of ignorance
they are taking
into their hands
the Lord of Glory
and they are crucifying him
and as such
they are then
being prayed for
just as Isaiah said
would happen
Isaiah some 700 years
beforehand said
that he would make
intercession
for the transgressors
and there's multiple levels
in which we can
apply that
these words
but here we have
Jesus making intercession
he is praying
for those
who have done wrong
in that sense
and he's praying
for these soldiers
but what about others
what about others
who acted
in a way
that they didn't
quite understand
because
is it not what
we learn
in Acts chapter 3
in verse 17
when Peter
is communicating
the gospel message
he says
now brothers
I know that you
acted in ignorance
as did also
your rulers
but what God
had foretold
by the prophet
actually went
and was unfolded
exactly as was predicted
that there is
a level of ignorance
that took place here
because certainly
the Roman authorities
and even the Jewish authorities
they didn't realise
the enormity
of the sin
that they were perpetrating
at this point
they didn't realise
the enormity of it
and yet
they were directly involved
in the very crucifixion
of the Lord Jesus Christ
and we can take it
a step further
that actually
you and I
many of us in here
now realise
that there is actually
a direct relation
between what took place here
and what happens
in our lives
for long enough
we didn't recognise
that there was
a direct relationship
for long enough
this is just
this is something
that just took place
and it's not
particularly pleasant
and you know
I don't quite know
how to feel
about the whole thing
but it's nothing to do
with me
but it actually does
it does have to do
with us
because it's our sin
that was laid
upon the Saviour
and so we
were in a position
of ignorance
with our connection
to what's taking place
here
but actually
we've come to a position
where our eyes
have been opened
and our ears
have been unblocked
and we've heard
and we've seen
what our sin has caused
and we've bowed
our knee gladly
before Jesus
the Saviour
who has died
in our place
and so here
we are learning
that sins of ignorance
need to be paid for
just as well as
sins that are committed
from a position
of knowledge
sins of ignorance
need to be forgiven
just as sins
of knowledge
sinning against the light
need to be forgiven
and how wonderful
it is
that there is
a Saviour
who is very conscious
of the sin
that needs to be
paid for
the sin that is
willfully
by rejecting
and ignoring God
in the world
he's created
not being or doing
what he asks
in his law
in his word
that the actual sin
willfully
in rejection of God
as well as the sins
committed in ignorance
that there is a Saviour
who is willing
to ensure
that all sin
all sin
the
particular sin
that is an issue
for me
and the particular sin
that is an issue
for you
maybe
maybe more than one
but there tends to be one
that
that each one of us
struggles with
in particular
all
sin
sin of
willful
disobedience
as well
as sins
of
committed
in ignorance
that they have
to be
dealt with
and they are
being dealt with
on the cross
by the Saviour
who knows all
about them
and so
we take these words
to ourselves
and we remind
ourselves that
that sins of
ignorance
they are still sins
and they have to be
paid for
praise God
that there is a Saviour
who can deal with it
we remind ourselves
that actually
what's more uncomfortable
to us
is not our sins
of ignorance
but our sins
in knowledge
because there are
many things
that we know
many directives
that we're given
in scripture
that we do not
live out
many
some perhaps
even here
today
who don't have
a living relationship
with Jesus yet
you know who Jesus
is though
and you know
what Jesus has done
and you know
the invitation
that Jesus has given
to you
to follow
and so you cannot
claim ignorance
in that sense
you too
have got light
and you too
need to respond
to the light
and to the invitation
of this
most remarkable
this precious Saviour
who is willing
to go through this
for you
but for those of us
who are the people
of God
I mean how often
how often do we gossip
when we know
that gossip
is listed
very highly
among the sins
in the New Testament
how often do we
harbour resentment
towards
brothers and sisters
in Christ
when we ought not to
how often do we
let pride
take a position
and twist
the impression
that we have
of ourselves
and so often
there are sins
of ignorance
and there's also
sins that are
willfully sinning
against the light
and our sin
all of it
led to this
particular place
and so we remind
ourselves of that
and we are so thankful
we are so thankful
today
that it is here
at this place
in this person
of the eternal son
that our sin
is being dealt with
we also learn
from a passage
like this
that when we are
opposed
for being
the people of God
and living a life
seeking to please God
with folks
not understanding
and folks
mistreating us
perhaps
let's not be surprised
because if there was
blindness
in the way in which
our saviour was treated
that spiritual blindness
continues today
and let's recognise
that if Jesus
was dealt with
in the way he was
well what right
do we have
to always be understood
what right do we have
to always be treated
in the right way
we're very big
on our rights
and our generation
aren't we
but then we look
at the one
who put his rights
to one side
and then we
therefore finish off
by just asking
ourselves
where
where does
your level
of forgiveness
reach
today
if we have
been forgiven
then our level
of forgiveness
forgiveness
for the things
that have been
said and done
or not said
or not done
then our level
of forgiveness
needs to be
as high as it
possibly can be
because we
have received
forgiveness
for all that we
have done
through the saviour
on the cross
who was able to pray
at this moment
father forgive them
for they know
not
what they do
amen
let's pray
father we thank you
for these words
they are precious
and we pray
that they would
sink
deeply
into our
hearts
and souls
that our lives
would be shaped
by the
person and work
the example
the teaching
of your son
and our saviour
forgive us
for our
sins
against you
against the
truth you've
given to us
forgive us
even for the
many sins
that we've
committed in
ignorance
thank you
that there is
a full
and free
and total
forgiveness
available in
Christ
keep our eyes
fixed on him
then we pray
we ask it in
his name
amen
well we
focus on
our saviour
through the
word that's
preached but
also through
the sacrament
that we're
going to
partake of
today and
it is
helpful
it is useful
it is biblical
for us to
pause and to
ask ourselves
who is it
that ought to
be remembering
the Lord's
death by
taking bread
and wine
today
and
very simply
I want to
enlist for you
three things
that first of
all it is
for those
who love
the Lord
Jesus
Christ
those who
love the
Lord Jesus
Christ
that is
for whom
this table
has been
prepared
it's not
those who
feel that
our love
could not
be better
because we
know it
could
our hearts
as well as
our minds
are so very
divided
but we
know
even in
our most
fragile
condition
even when
we have
placed
ourselves
through our
wanderings
away from
our saviour
and we've
placed ourselves
and we've
wandered away
he's never
wandered from
us we
wander from
him
but even
when we're
in the
messiest
mess we
can be
we know
deep down
that we
love the
Lord Jesus
Christ
and we
love him
because he
first loved
us
and when
we turn
around and
we echo
Peter's words
and we say
Lord you know
all things
you know
that I love
you
in our
right
spiritual
mind
we love
the Lord
Jesus
and so if
you love
the Lord
Jesus
today
your place
is at
his table
those who
love the
Lord Jesus
also want
to live
for the
Lord Jesus
don't we
and the
Lord's
table is
for those
who are
living for
the Lord
Jesus
and we're
living for
the Lord
Jesus
knowing that
we're not
living a
perfect life
knowing that
there are
gaps
knowing that
we wish
that our
prayer life
was more
vibrant
and we
wish that
our absorption
of God's
truth was
more steady
and flowing
we wish
our witness
was brighter
we wish
these things
would be
on a
different
level
perhaps
most of
the time
but we
are seeking
to live
for the
Lord Jesus
Christ
we're no
longer
living for
ourselves
we're no
longer
living for
our reputation
we're no
longer
living for
our careers
we're no
longer
living for
other things
that can be
perfectly
legitimate
but we
are seeking
to live
for the
Lord Jesus
Christ
he could
have taken
us
home to
glory
the very
instant we
came to a
living faith
but he
hasn't
he has
left us
here
to serve
him
to live
for him
and so
this table
is for
those who
love the
Lord Jesus
Christ
and are
seeking to
live for
him
and then
thirdly
it's those
who are
longing for
him too
that we
love him
that we're
living for
him
and that
we're longing
for him
that we're
longing to
know more
of him
here
now
we're longing
to have
more of
the seasons
that we
perhaps had
perhaps recently
perhaps way
way back
when we
had that
felt sense
of his
very near
presence
with us
and it
was so
precious
and we
longed to
have that
sense
of his
presence
with us
again
and we
longed to
know his
nearness
and the
whisper of
his peace
to our
souls
and we
longed to
know more
of what
he said
and when
he said
it
and why
he said
it
and how
he said
it
and what
he did
and when
and why
and how
we longed
to know
more of
him
because we
actually long
to be
with him
and that's
not to say
that we
don't love
our families
and it's
not to say
that we're
not thankful
for all
that we
have
we do
but there
is something
about Jesus
that we
want to
know more
about
a friend
of mine
died a
number of
years ago
he was a
pastor
in Aberdeen
and latterly
he was
doing different
things
helping younger
pastors like
me
and he
helped me
hugely
and I
remember
listening
to
the last
time I
heard him
speak
was
actually
down in
Keswick
at the
convention
and he
was asked
a question
what is it
that you're
what is it
that you most
want just now
and by this
point he'd had
cancer for a
number of
years
and he said
I just
want to
see Jesus
and I want
to be with
him
because he's
the Lord's
table
it's not
the free church
table
it's not
the Storname
free church
denominations
none of that
this is
the Lord's
table
for the
Lord's
people
who love
him
who live
for him
and who
long for
him
and how
that
describes
you
and as
we sing
now
Psalm 118
then if
you haven't
already taken
your place
at his
table
then please
do so
we're going
to sing
in Psalm
118
singing
from the
sing
Psalms
verse
in Psalm
118
we're singing
from verse
15 to
verse 24
page 1
5
6
triumphant
shouts
of joy
resound
in places
where the
righteous dwell
the Lord's
right hand
is lifted
high
his mighty
hand
does all
things
well
we're going
to stand
as we
praise God
triumphant
shouts
of joy
resound
in places
where the
righteous
dwell
the Lord's
right
is lifted
high
his mighty
and does
all
things
well
I
shall
not
die
but
I
shall
live
!
the
Lord's
great
works
I
will
proclaim
the
Lord
so
dearly
chastened
me
but
rescued
me
from
death's
domain
through
wide
the
gates
of
righteousness
I
enter
and
give
thanks
to
God
this
is
the
gate
of
God
through
which
the
righteous
come
before
the
Lord
you
answered
me
I
will
give
thanks
salvation
comes
from
you
alone
the
soul
the
builder
shall
reduce
!
As
thou
become
the
Lord
himself
all
this
the
Lord
himself
has
done
this
is
this
is
the
heart
of
the
inner
sky
this
is
the
kingdom
Lord
has
made
let
us
take
way
delight
!
Let
us
take
the
light
to
us
take
the
to
us
to
us
to
us
to
us