WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.280 Brilliant, thanks Amy. Folks, keep those verses open in front of you at all possible if you can. 00:00:05.780 --> 00:00:15.380 Come with me to verse 50, which I think, if you like, is the hottest verse in this passage over 00:00:15.380 --> 00:00:22.339 which we can stretch out our hands and warm our souls with the life-giving message contained 00:00:22.339 --> 00:00:30.039 therein. And there at verse 50, you'll see this man called Caiaphas and he says, he says, 00:00:30.120 --> 00:00:39.100 you do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole 00:00:39.100 --> 00:00:45.960 nation perish. Now let's drill down a little bit more into what he's talking about there. Here's 00:00:45.960 --> 00:00:51.859 what I want you to do. I want you to think back to when you were a child and you started 00:00:51.859 --> 00:00:59.539 asking questions about how things came to be. Right? I remember when our kids were little 00:00:59.539 --> 00:01:07.200 one night, we had roast chicken for dinner. And as we're talking in, the kids turn to us 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:16.239 and ask us kind of out of the blue, where did chicken come from? Now what's the first place 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:20.780 parents in that moment do you do? You try and do a kind of matrix duck the bullet, don't 00:01:20.780 --> 00:01:24.500 you? When it comes at you. And we said to them in that moment, we tried the whole, we 00:01:24.500 --> 00:01:30.040 got it from Tesco thing. The kids are having none of it. We're in for round two. They say, 00:01:30.099 --> 00:01:35.379 where did the chicken come from? And we said, or I said rather, you know, the farmer looked 00:01:35.379 --> 00:01:39.319 after the chicken on the farm. He fed it. He sent it off to Tesco. We bought it. We took 00:01:39.319 --> 00:01:45.260 it home and we cooked it. And even I wasn't buying that one. So we're in for round three. 00:01:45.260 --> 00:01:51.980 And they say, yeah, but where did the chicken come from? And so we start explaining to them 00:01:51.980 --> 00:01:58.359 that what was true for the carrot on the plate was true for the green bean on the plate, was 00:01:58.359 --> 00:02:03.420 true for the potato on the plate, was true for the chicken on the plate, that something 00:02:03.420 --> 00:02:13.300 had to die so that we would eat. And if we didn't eat, we wouldn't live. Right? Something 00:02:13.300 --> 00:02:21.939 had to die in order that we would live. And with that in your mind, come back to Caiaphas, who says, 00:02:23.100 --> 00:02:33.100 it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish. Now, 00:02:33.300 --> 00:02:40.160 we finished last week with Jesus bringing Lazarus back from the dead. Can I just say I was like a kid 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:45.680 on Christmas morning, hearing the responses that people were telling me about how they were so moved 00:02:45.680 --> 00:02:52.780 by what we saw last week? Jesus in all his beauty, in all his glory. Can I just say that's why we do 00:02:52.780 --> 00:02:59.800 this every single Sunday? It's not just because this is what happens when you go to church. Right? This is 00:02:59.800 --> 00:03:06.479 not some kind of religious TED talk that people give up here. No, no, no. We fundamentally believe that 00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:15.039 when we open this book, the living God speaks to us. Or more powerfully, perhaps, more pointedly, 00:03:15.299 --> 00:03:24.079 when we open this book, Jesus Christ himself preaches to us. And when he speaks, this is what we thought 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:32.120 about last week. When he speaks, things begin to happen. And so we left last week. Our souls were 00:03:32.120 --> 00:03:40.380 strengthened by the fact that this Jesus can give us life. But remember, life in John's gospel is 00:03:40.380 --> 00:03:51.439 eternal life. Life now that lasts all the way beyond this life into forever. And the only way that Jesus 00:03:51.439 --> 00:04:00.479 can give us that life is through his death. And that's why John's put this little section right 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:09.560 after Lazarus to help us see it. So if Lazarus, the beginning of John chapter 11, if you like, was the 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:16.740 warm-up act for Jesus' own resurrection, which is coming at the end of the gospel, then this today is the 00:04:16.740 --> 00:04:26.360 heads up. And more than that, it's the explanation of the cross to which Jesus is about to journey to 00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:34.639 and die on. Now, this whole concept of something needs to die in order for us to have life is woven 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:45.160 through the entire Bible story. Particularly, it is woven into Israel's DNA as a nation. In the sacrificial 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:52.240 system that God gives them, God's showing them that in order for them to be made right with him, 00:04:52.980 --> 00:05:04.700 sacrifice must be made. Because this God, he is good. He is the three times holy God. He is our creator. 00:05:05.300 --> 00:05:13.440 He is the God who cannot tolerate evil and sin. And let's never lose sight of who this God is. 00:05:15.160 --> 00:05:23.860 Some of us will remember that film, vintage 90s, classic Disney, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Do you 00:05:23.860 --> 00:05:31.220 remember that? For the dad, he creates this machine and he accidentally shrinks his kids and the 00:05:31.220 --> 00:05:39.940 neighbor's kids down to the size of ants. And it's so often what we do with God. We aim the gun at him, 00:05:39.939 --> 00:05:47.620 we shrink him right down to something that we can understand, we can box and control. And quickly, 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:54.420 this God who we conjure up in our mind, that he works like we think he should work, all of a sudden, 00:05:54.500 --> 00:06:02.000 he becomes really small and he becomes just like us. And in all honesty, and I remember this before I 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:07.980 became a Christian thinking that God should be happy that I bothered showing up today for his team. 00:06:09.720 --> 00:06:14.720 And we need to do whatever we can as the people of God to help us remember that this God 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:21.459 is simply in another league. You know, I spent some time this week with my friend Colin. 00:06:22.180 --> 00:06:28.699 Colin runs Origin Ministries here in Scotland and in South Africa. And I loved hearing this week, 00:06:28.699 --> 00:06:37.019 just some Costa over a coffee, his heart for that ministry. It's a music ministry. And he was 00:06:37.019 --> 00:06:44.120 telling me about how they made the decision recently to move to having Glasgow, their event in the 00:06:44.120 --> 00:06:50.379 cathedral and moving in Edinburgh to having their event, their symphonic praise event at St. Giles. 00:06:50.740 --> 00:06:56.699 And it cost them a pretty penny to have it at St. Giles, you understand. And I said, Colin, 00:06:56.699 --> 00:07:02.420 why did you do it? And he said this, he says, we wanted to recapture something of the majesty of God. 00:07:04.500 --> 00:07:13.180 His splendor, his beauty. Now, yes, these are just stone brick buildings, but there's something about 00:07:13.180 --> 00:07:21.899 those places, those historic places that were built from the ground up to display and for people to revel 00:07:21.899 --> 00:07:27.120 in the glory and the glory and the majesty and the beauty of the God who is so far above us and the 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:32.979 things of this earth and who has loved us in Christ. There's something about those buildings 00:07:32.979 --> 00:07:40.560 that helps recapture something of the glory of God. And I think he's on to something. 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:49.179 Is he small in your mind today? Is he big in your mind today? This God is holy. And the whole 00:07:49.180 --> 00:07:55.939 sacrificial system which he gives Israel right there is designed to ingrain that into his people, 00:07:55.939 --> 00:08:04.980 that for them to live with him, sacrifice needs to be made. And every single animal that is offered, 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:10.879 we have to understand this, it's really simple. It's the bull for you. 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:21.879 It's the animal for you. And the result of that is this wonderfully refreshing word, forgiveness. 00:08:24.379 --> 00:08:32.159 And the effect of it is that the thing becomes a pleasing aroma in the sight of the Lord. And the 00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:40.039 heart of this God is that he longs to live with a people who he's called out to be his very own. He 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:48.099 longs to instill in the lives and the hearts of his people that desire that wants to wholeheartedly 00:08:48.099 --> 00:08:53.659 revel in who he is, that there is something incomparable about this God. 00:08:55.459 --> 00:09:02.500 But despite its scale and its intricate detail, the sacrificial system is not the main event. All of 00:09:02.500 --> 00:09:08.699 that is like Hansel and Gretel breadcrumbs that's meant to lead us as we read the Bible story all the way 00:09:08.700 --> 00:09:18.800 to Jesus. That all the building blocks, all the pieces of the puzzle would be there in their minds 00:09:18.800 --> 00:09:28.620 for them to understand Jesus and his work. And so this is where we intersect with John chapter 11. 00:09:29.020 --> 00:09:31.700 And this is what we're going to see in this passage today. 00:09:31.700 --> 00:09:40.200 That this is all about what God has done for us. Now this has got two great ironies at the heart of it. 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:44.960 And I want to turn both of these Irish ironies into reasons for us to praise him. 00:09:45.800 --> 00:09:50.940 And here's the first one. Praise God that he was thinking about a better takeaway. 00:09:52.259 --> 00:09:56.140 Right. And before you get your minds on Deliveroo, let me show you what I mean by that. 00:09:56.139 --> 00:10:04.679 Come with me to verse 45. Right. The people respond to the news about Lazarus. And John records this. Do you see? 00:10:04.779 --> 00:10:15.039 Some people believe. Some people, other people run to the Pharisees and they tell them exactly what's happened in Bethany. 00:10:15.220 --> 00:10:20.360 What they do is they gather together the council. So this would have been the Sanhedrin. 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:28.460 So this group of 70 or so men who oversee Jewish, not just religious life, but all of life. 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:32.899 And they gather together and they say, do you see it in the text? What are we going to do? 00:10:35.539 --> 00:10:40.580 What are we going to do? And here's the takeaway that they are primarily thinking about verse 48. 00:10:40.580 --> 00:10:44.940 They say, if we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him. 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:51.740 And then the Romans will come away, will come and take away both our temple and our nation. 00:10:52.280 --> 00:10:57.860 So on the one hand, they are thinking that if this man Jesus continues to cause a stir, 00:10:58.500 --> 00:11:02.379 setting himself up as a king on Caesar's turf, 00:11:03.040 --> 00:11:08.800 then that is like a red rag to a bull when the, as far as the Romans are concerned. 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:15.019 If they get a whiff of another king trying to make his claim, then we're done for. 00:11:17.219 --> 00:11:20.219 But the other thing that's going on here is when they talk about the temple, 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:23.959 it's the whole way of life. 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:32.199 They're standing, their position, which gives them their power and their sense of comfort 00:11:32.199 --> 00:11:36.979 because they're at the top of it that Jesus is jeopardizing. 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:42.599 Now, it's what we instinctively do as human beings with God's truth. 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:45.599 We suppress it, the Bible says. 00:11:46.659 --> 00:11:48.079 It's just like being on holiday. 00:11:48.199 --> 00:11:49.000 Have you ever had that feeling? 00:11:49.779 --> 00:11:52.779 And you jump into the pool and somebody flings you a beach ball. 00:11:52.859 --> 00:11:54.659 What do you instinctively do with a beach ball? 00:11:54.719 --> 00:11:56.199 I don't know why we do this, but we do it. 00:11:57.240 --> 00:11:59.259 We lie in it and we push it under, don't we? 00:12:00.719 --> 00:12:01.039 Yeah? 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:01.079 Yeah? 00:12:01.839 --> 00:12:03.019 That's what the Bible means. 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:05.299 We suppress the truth. 00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:14.839 We hold it under the water because we don't like the thought of having to deal with the truth 00:12:14.839 --> 00:12:21.740 that we might have to change in response to the truth about God and his claims on our lives. 00:12:21.740 --> 00:12:24.659 It's words spoken all those years ago by Mark Twain. 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:27.700 He said, and here is accent in this, 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:31.299 it ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me. 00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:34.060 It's the parts that I do understand. 00:12:36.259 --> 00:12:37.299 But here's the thing. 00:12:37.299 --> 00:12:45.319 Jesus says it's precisely by denying ourselves and waking up to his diagnosis of us 00:12:45.319 --> 00:12:52.059 and starting to turn and walk in his way of life and according to his truth that we find life. 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:56.979 And whatever the cost to you today as you respond to that, 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:59.079 here's what I want us to know. 00:12:59.699 --> 00:13:03.159 As we think about the claims that Jesus makes on our lives, 00:13:04.079 --> 00:13:06.079 as we face up to the reality of it, 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:07.759 here's what I want us to know. 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:10.000 And let's get really good as a people, as a church, 00:13:10.060 --> 00:13:13.259 at rehearsing this theme in our souls. 00:13:14.180 --> 00:13:15.980 That whatever the comparison, 00:13:17.280 --> 00:13:18.700 that whatever the competition, 00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:23.960 that whatever in you and my life that we're putting up against him, 00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:27.840 Jesus is better. 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:35.800 And what he has done for us is better. 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:39.879 And if you're not sold on that quite yet, 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:43.620 see the sweet comparison here between the Pharisees 00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:47.840 and religious leaders who are using their lowly position 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:51.460 to try and grasp at and maintain power. 00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:55.840 Because that's what we do with power, isn't it, in our world? 00:13:55.940 --> 00:13:56.700 We crave it. 00:13:56.800 --> 00:14:01.200 We protect it, which so often means that we abuse it. 00:14:01.320 --> 00:14:06.040 And that's why, rightly, we get so upset when we hear reports about people who've abused their power. 00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:09.800 Russell Brand was in the news over the last couple of weeks, wasn't he, 00:14:09.800 --> 00:14:11.200 doing that exact thing. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:14.720 But Jesus, contrast this with Jesus. 00:14:14.940 --> 00:14:17.960 Jesus, on the other hand, he shows us a completely different way. 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:22.720 And he flips the idea of power and leadership on its head. 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:27.860 He uses his power, and we've just seen that he's got plenty of it. 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:29.680 He's not lacking. 00:14:30.680 --> 00:14:33.460 There's no imposter syndrome as far as Jesus is concerned. 00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:44.320 He uses his power to serve and to love and to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:14:44.420 --> 00:14:50.780 Is that not just the sweetest comparison of the proper use of power that you've ever seen? 00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:55.300 He is fame shy. 00:14:56.340 --> 00:14:58.379 He is not after the limelight. 00:14:58.379 --> 00:15:08.000 No, he is after his father's will, which is to rescue his people from hell. 00:15:08.939 --> 00:15:12.799 He uses his power to serve and to save. 00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:20.759 But as far as these religious leaders are concerned, Jesus is an inconvenient truth. 00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:25.120 Whereas God is thinking about an entirely different takeaway. 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:31.460 And that's what Caiaphas, and you can understand him as the high, well, he's the high priest at the time, 00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:35.419 who in that role you can understand is the man who kind of speaks for God. 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:40.879 He says, and although he means it in a totally different way, 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:47.740 he says it's better that he dies than the people do. 00:15:48.679 --> 00:15:53.039 And if we take him out, the people will be safe. 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:56.639 Do you see, he means that in a completely different way. 00:15:57.819 --> 00:15:59.860 But although he hasn't a clue what he's doing, 00:16:00.339 --> 00:16:05.759 John perceives that no truer, no prophetic words could ever have been spoken. 00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:10.279 Jesus is going to die for the people. 00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:13.919 And it's all caught up in that word for. 00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:18.459 Because it tells us why Jesus is about to die. 00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:22.639 This is not just a classic wrong place, wrong time. 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:26.100 This is not your classic tragic hero. 00:16:26.620 --> 00:16:30.040 No, his death is a substitutionary one. 00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:32.860 We are off. 00:16:33.340 --> 00:16:34.379 He is on. 00:16:35.540 --> 00:16:38.379 The death that you and I deserve to die, 00:16:38.900 --> 00:16:42.860 Jesus goes in to step in as our great substitute. 00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:52.779 He goes to bear the wrath of God as a word that just means God settled and right anger against all that is wrong. 00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:57.639 Jesus goes and like a sponge in water, 00:16:57.800 --> 00:17:03.620 he's about to soak up all the wrath of God that we deserve to have on us. 00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:06.839 And he took it all, dear friends. 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:10.279 There are no dregs at the bottom of that cup. 00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:13.500 Jesus drank it dry for us. 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:16.779 All of our sins have been paid for by him. 00:17:19.900 --> 00:17:22.579 And in so doing this, God says, 00:17:23.619 --> 00:17:25.740 there is no barrier anymore. 00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:30.259 There is no need to fear anymore. 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:36.700 The God who made us has sent his son to die for us. 00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:43.839 He loves us and he longs that we would know life with him. 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:45.980 Here's a question I asked myself this week. 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:50.460 Does forgiveness still amaze us? 00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:54.660 Or to put it in the terms of the hymn, 00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:55.579 does grace, 00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:58.920 is grace still amazing to us? 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:01.860 You know, I remember my friend Paul Rees, 00:18:01.960 --> 00:18:05.360 he's a pastor down at Charlotte Chapel in the West End area. 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:08.539 He was telling me a story about an older man in his congregation who died. 00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:11.039 And he went to see the family 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:15.140 and the family presented him as they cleaned out the room. 00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:18.360 They presented Paul with this old man's Bible. 00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:21.899 And Paul got home and he just happened to be flicking through it 00:18:21.899 --> 00:18:23.339 in the days running up to the funeral. 00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:25.779 And it was, I think it was pretty clean 00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:28.699 until he came to Psalm 130. 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:34.000 And there's a big circle and a big star around Psalm 130. 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:36.039 And if you can look this up in your own time, 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:39.339 it is this Psalm that marvels at the forgiveness 00:18:39.339 --> 00:18:41.259 that God offers us. 00:18:41.439 --> 00:18:43.979 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:46.679 Lord, who could stand? 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:49.299 But with you, 00:18:50.060 --> 00:18:51.900 there is forgiveness 00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:54.080 so that we can with reverence 00:18:54.080 --> 00:18:56.400 serve you. 00:18:58.080 --> 00:18:59.000 Let me ask you, 00:18:59.060 --> 00:19:00.700 have you taken time today 00:19:00.700 --> 00:19:01.620 to consider 00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:06.060 how much this Father loves you? 00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:12.720 You know, one of the biggest things I've tried to change 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:13.639 and my friend Marcus, 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:14.819 who was here a few weeks ago, 00:19:14.899 --> 00:19:16.599 was the one that inspired me to do this, 00:19:17.399 --> 00:19:19.779 is to stop thinking about my quiet time 00:19:19.779 --> 00:19:23.899 and to start thinking about my worship time. 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:27.299 He asked us when he was here a few weeks ago 00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:29.559 as leaders, as elders, as trustees, 00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:32.919 what's thrilling your heart right now about Jesus? 00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:35.900 Let me ask you, 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:36.620 is it this? 00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:40.060 That he is no reluctant saviour? 00:19:41.140 --> 00:19:44.259 That he is no arm's length Christ? 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:49.779 That he is a fully committed lover of our souls? 00:19:51.380 --> 00:19:52.580 Praise him that God 00:19:52.580 --> 00:19:56.120 is thinking here about a better takeaway. 00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:58.079 And real quick, 00:19:58.279 --> 00:20:00.599 praise him that God's rolling out a greater plan. 00:20:00.699 --> 00:20:01.859 This is verse 53. 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:04.779 You see, from that day on, 00:20:04.879 --> 00:20:06.500 they plotted or they planned 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:09.639 to take Jesus' life. 00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:11.899 He is public enemy number one. 00:20:12.399 --> 00:20:14.239 And the sooner they take him out, 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:15.879 the better in their eyes. 00:20:15.959 --> 00:20:16.819 They're looking for him, 00:20:16.879 --> 00:20:17.939 verse 56. 00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:20.460 But we've got to understand 00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:22.039 that playing out here 00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:24.960 is God's bigger plan 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:27.580 to bring blessing to the nations. 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:30.900 And that's why I think Jesus retreats 00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:33.660 to a place that's far enough away from the action, 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:36.820 but close enough that he can make the journey back 00:20:36.820 --> 00:20:39.620 for Passover in the not so distant future. 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:41.860 It's John's way of telling us 00:20:41.860 --> 00:20:43.480 that this is going to happen, 00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:44.860 not in their timing. 00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:47.559 This is going to happen according to 00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:49.799 Jesus' perfect timing. 00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:52.859 Because what he is about to do 00:20:52.859 --> 00:20:54.579 is going to be the thing 00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:56.379 that brings blessing 00:20:56.379 --> 00:20:58.319 and times of healing 00:20:58.319 --> 00:21:00.759 and refreshment to the nations 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:02.619 and the peoples of the world. 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:05.259 What Jesus is going to accomplish 00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:06.839 through his death on the cross 00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:08.279 is nothing less than 00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:09.979 the bringing together 00:21:09.979 --> 00:21:11.879 of the children of God. 00:21:11.959 --> 00:21:12.759 Do you see that description? 00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:15.019 And is it not just that 00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:16.220 and we say this so often 00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.759 and I don't think we should ever get tired 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.420 of saying it. 00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:20.920 You think about how many different 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:23.140 tribes, tongues, nations, countries 00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:24.640 are represented here today. 00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:27.599 And this is the living proof 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:28.799 of what Jesus has done. 00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:30.920 We need to understand 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:32.960 that the cross is the very thing 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:34.680 that brings us together today 00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:36.200 as one people. 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:39.099 And the reason it's the one thing 00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:41.339 is because there is only one way 00:21:41.339 --> 00:21:43.259 to come to be right with this God. 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:45.839 And it's the exact same thing 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:47.740 for every single one of us today. 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:50.379 It's not by being better people. 00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:52.079 It's not by being born 00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:53.259 in a certain place. 00:21:53.419 --> 00:21:55.279 What brings us together today, 00:21:55.439 --> 00:21:56.459 what Jesus has done 00:21:56.459 --> 00:21:57.619 through the cross 00:21:57.619 --> 00:21:58.879 and through his resurrection, 00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:01.619 is that we would put our faith in him. 00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:03.399 And wherever you are today, 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:04.899 whatever is going on, 00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:06.019 wherever you've come from, 00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:07.219 that is the way 00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:08.600 that we are right with this God. 00:22:09.860 --> 00:22:12.240 Through the saviour 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:17.079 who became sin for us. 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:19.160 The saviour who said yes 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:20.660 to the better takeaway. 00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:23.259 And that's where I'd love 00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:24.319 to leave it this morning. 00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:26.799 As we think about that thought. 00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:28.799 That this is how we're right 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.440 with this God. 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:30.839 This is the only way 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:31.940 that we're right with this God. 00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:34.059 Did you know there's 00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:35.220 an old Christian tradition 00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:38.480 when it comes to church buildings 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.819 that the front doors 00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:41.259 are always painted red? 00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.180 Did you know this? 00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:44.420 Have you ever noticed it in town 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:45.180 as you walk past? 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:45.940 At the front doors, 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.779 you'll notice it now. 00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:48.559 So many traditionally 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:49.579 are painted red. 00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:52.440 And it was to remind 00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:53.940 every single person, 00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:54.980 and just picture our doors 00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:55.880 being red this morning, 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:57.259 every single person 00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:58.740 who came in those doors, 00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:01.860 no matter their social standing, 00:23:01.859 --> 00:23:04.339 no matter their country of birth, 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:07.139 no matter their chosen profession, 00:23:07.959 --> 00:23:10.219 no matter their marital status, 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:12.519 no matter their past mistakes, 00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:15.119 no matter their present failures 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:16.059 and worries, 00:23:16.459 --> 00:23:18.899 that we all come in the same door 00:23:18.899 --> 00:23:20.079 as we come in here 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:22.159 every single Sunday. 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:24.719 We all come in the same door 00:23:24.719 --> 00:23:26.019 that's marked red. 00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:27.459 Why is it marked red? 00:23:28.179 --> 00:23:29.199 It's marked red 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:30.340 because it represents 00:23:30.340 --> 00:23:31.940 and it reminds us 00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:36.140 of Christ's shed blood for us. 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:38.000 And we all come in 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:39.279 that same door this morning. 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.920 All of us. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.680 Do you know what they call a Scotsman 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:47.620 who's at the front door of his house 00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:50.340 and he's got one foot in 00:23:50.340 --> 00:23:52.720 and he's got one foot out? 00:23:53.840 --> 00:23:54.720 Do you know what they call him? 00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:57.299 Hame-ish. 00:23:57.299 --> 00:24:01.859 Now here's the theological truth 00:24:01.859 --> 00:24:03.599 that I very much makes up 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:04.779 for that terrible joke. 00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:07.519 Seriously, 00:24:07.779 --> 00:24:09.299 when it comes to those red doors, 00:24:09.399 --> 00:24:10.759 let me plead with you this morning. 00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:13.759 Don't be half in. 00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:16.700 Don't be one foot in 00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:17.779 and one foot out. 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:20.619 Come in those two doors. 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:22.119 Don't be half in with Jesus 00:24:22.119 --> 00:24:23.480 and half in, 00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.279 one foot out, 00:24:24.419 --> 00:24:25.819 clinging to any merit 00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:27.019 of your own. 00:24:27.639 --> 00:24:29.319 Don't be half in with Jesus 00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:30.559 and one foot out 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:32.720 that's stuck in the quicksand 00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:34.299 of your shame and guilt. 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:34.899 No, 00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:36.619 come in those two doors 00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:38.139 fully this morning. 00:24:38.859 --> 00:24:40.319 Come into God's presence. 00:24:40.579 --> 00:24:42.180 Revel in what he's done for you. 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:43.940 Don't be 00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:45.440 him-ish. 00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:47.000 Come in those two doors 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:48.700 that are marked red. 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:49.779 Here's the truth 00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:50.639 that we end on. 00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:53.300 before it's about us 00:24:53.300 --> 00:24:54.840 performing for God. 00:24:55.560 --> 00:24:57.660 It's more about his purpose 00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:58.759 for us. 00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:00.160 God chose you 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:01.600 before you chose him. 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:03.500 His love for you 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:05.500 created your love for him. 00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:07.500 Your future is defined 00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:08.860 by his purpose, 00:25:09.120 --> 00:25:10.640 not by your performance. 00:25:11.020 --> 00:25:12.480 The most noteworthy thing 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:13.780 about you and I today 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:15.279 is that someone 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.839 has died 00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:18.660 so that we 00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.420 might 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.259 have 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.420 life. 00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:23.559 And this is how 00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:24.339 Sam Albury, 00:25:24.619 --> 00:25:24.980 who's 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:26.440 a guy I'm reading a lot 00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:27.240 of just now, 00:25:27.339 --> 00:25:28.399 he says this 00:25:28.399 --> 00:25:29.180 and this is where 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:29.799 we end. 00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:31.759 And I read it this week 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:32.099 and I thought 00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:32.920 this is incredible. 00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:33.420 He said, 00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:34.360 the finished work 00:25:34.360 --> 00:25:34.860 of Christ 00:25:34.860 --> 00:25:35.640 on the cross 00:25:35.640 --> 00:25:37.720 is not God's way 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.759 of saying to us 00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:39.300 you're free 00:25:39.300 --> 00:25:40.160 to go now, 00:25:41.060 --> 00:25:42.180 but rather 00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:43.900 you're free 00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:45.019 to come now. 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:46.539 He's not 00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:47.580 sending us off. 00:25:49.560 --> 00:25:51.060 He's inviting us in. 00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.539 Praise God 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:57.440 that it was better 00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:58.300 for one man 00:25:58.300 --> 00:25:58.860 to die 00:25:58.860 --> 00:26:01.180 than for the nation 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:01.860 to perish. 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:03.120 Let's pray 00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:04.500 and then 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:04.759 we're going 00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:06.000 to move 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:08.559 into a time 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:09.039 of communion 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.500 together 00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:10.119 which seems 00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:11.000 such a fitting 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:11.919 response to what 00:26:11.919 --> 00:26:12.500 we thought about 00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:12.919 today. 00:26:13.439 --> 00:26:14.119 Heavenly Father, 00:26:14.199 --> 00:26:14.899 we thank you 00:26:14.899 --> 00:26:15.459 for your love 00:26:15.459 --> 00:26:15.939 for us. 00:26:18.179 --> 00:26:18.619 Lord, 00:26:18.699 --> 00:26:19.739 we praise you 00:26:19.739 --> 00:26:22.439 for the gospel. 00:26:22.879 --> 00:26:23.359 Thank you 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:24.119 for the promise 00:26:24.119 --> 00:26:25.119 even in the kids talk 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:25.939 there being reminded 00:26:25.939 --> 00:26:26.479 that you made 00:26:26.479 --> 00:26:27.279 to Abraham 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:28.899 about how you 00:26:28.899 --> 00:26:29.679 were going to act 00:26:29.679 --> 00:26:30.619 to bring about 00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:32.099 blessing for the nations. 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:33.819 And thank you 00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:34.419 so much 00:26:34.419 --> 00:26:35.500 that that blessing 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:36.679 comes to us 00:26:36.679 --> 00:26:37.919 in the person 00:26:37.919 --> 00:26:38.479 of Jesus. 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.839 Thank you, 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:41.199 Father, 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:42.419 that he died. 00:26:42.659 --> 00:26:43.579 He took the wrath 00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:44.419 that we deserved 00:26:44.419 --> 00:26:45.219 on himself 00:26:45.219 --> 00:26:46.599 that we might live 00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:48.099 and go free 00:26:48.099 --> 00:26:49.459 and live 00:26:49.459 --> 00:26:50.459 to worship you. 00:26:51.579 --> 00:26:51.839 And Father, 00:26:51.899 --> 00:26:52.559 I pray particularly 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:53.379 for those of us 00:26:53.379 --> 00:26:53.839 this morning 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:54.959 who are struggling 00:26:54.959 --> 00:26:56.719 perhaps to take this in. 00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:58.099 Father, 00:26:58.179 --> 00:26:59.299 in the spiritual battle 00:26:59.299 --> 00:27:00.379 that we find ourselves 00:27:00.379 --> 00:27:01.239 caught up in, 00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:02.920 the whisper of the devil 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:03.599 that would say 00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:04.599 that is not true 00:27:04.599 --> 00:27:05.180 for you. 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:06.680 Oh, 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:06.920 Father, 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.620 may your spirit 00:27:07.620 --> 00:27:08.920 come in all 00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:09.799 his fullness 00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:11.779 and may he just 00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:13.339 dash away that life 00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:14.200 from the evil one. 00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:15.660 Thank you, 00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:15.980 Father, 00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:17.099 that Jesus died. 00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:18.400 He took our place 00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:19.680 for our sin 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:22.440 because he loved us 00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:23.019 that much 00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:24.720 and to accomplish 00:27:24.720 --> 00:27:25.299 your will. 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:26.740 Father, 00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:27.960 massage that truth 00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:28.859 home to our hearts 00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:29.859 now as we sing 00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:30.599 and as we take 00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:31.419 communion together. 00:27:31.919 --> 00:27:32.740 In Jesus' name 00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:33.199 we pray. 00:27:33.699 --> 00:27:34.079 Amen.