WEBVTT 00:00:00.700 --> 00:00:07.160 Well, good morning, everyone. Can you hear me okay? And are we well? We are well. Put 00:00:07.160 --> 00:00:13.660 your hands up if you're Scottish. I was praying for your souls this morning. We've come here 00:00:13.660 --> 00:00:19.359 with heavy hearts. And the fact that you tell me that you are well encourages me no end. 00:00:19.580 --> 00:00:25.679 So let's make a pact right now. We will never speak of that again. What happened yesterday? 00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:32.140 It took me a while to get over it, but I'm there. So here we are this morning. I wonder 00:00:32.140 --> 00:00:36.299 if I could take a straw poll to begin with. Raise your hand if you're here this morning 00:00:36.299 --> 00:00:42.500 and you're wearing some kind of jewelry. Can I just be honest? Well, friends, here. Hands 00:00:42.500 --> 00:00:49.820 in the air. Keep your hand raised if that piece of jewelry is a cross. Right in the air so 00:00:49.820 --> 00:00:55.640 we can see them. So there's quite a few, isn't there? I know a lot of friends. A lot of my 00:00:55.640 --> 00:01:02.780 friends wear crosses. This symbol that we see in everyday life, don't we? We see it 00:01:02.780 --> 00:01:08.280 on church spires as we walk around the city. I remember there used to be a tattoo parlor 00:01:08.280 --> 00:01:12.719 that I walked past on the way down home at Toll Cross. Big image of a cross. You can get 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:20.040 a tattoo of the cross on your arm or wherever else you wanted to get it. We see it on our 00:01:20.040 --> 00:01:27.100 church logo. It's the centerpiece of our church logo. This image, this symbol that is the centerpiece 00:01:27.100 --> 00:01:33.200 of Christianity, the recognized symbol of our faith. But I wonder if you've ever asked why? 00:01:34.900 --> 00:01:47.500 Why the cross? Is it a lucky charm? Is it a fashion statement? Why do Christians get so hung up 00:01:47.500 --> 00:01:53.659 on remembering one man's death and a death that happened almost 2,000 odd years ago? 00:01:54.560 --> 00:02:00.780 What is the big deal about the cross? Now, can I just say straight off the bat, that is a wonderful 00:02:00.780 --> 00:02:07.500 question to ask. And that is a wonderful question to ask, especially if you're here this morning 00:02:07.500 --> 00:02:14.919 and you're skeptical or you're inquisitive about this whole Christian thing. What is the big deal 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:20.300 about the cross? Well, can I invite you, if that is you, then just to hang around for the next little 00:02:20.300 --> 00:02:26.099 while over the next few weeks as we are going to ask that question and we're going to answer that 00:02:26.099 --> 00:02:32.199 question. What is the big deal about the cross? It's a question we're going to be asking over the 00:02:32.199 --> 00:02:38.319 next few weeks as we gear up to Easter. I can't believe Easter's here, almost. Seems like Christmas 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:43.819 was just yesterday. Got home the other day and there was three Easter eggs sitting on the kitchen 00:02:43.819 --> 00:02:51.199 table. Apparently Tesco's were doing half price early on. But it's 35 days until Easter Sunday. 00:02:52.299 --> 00:02:58.060 35 days. And what we're going to do over the next five Sunday mornings as we prepare ourselves 00:02:58.060 --> 00:03:05.520 for Easter Sunday and Easter weekends is we're going to spend some time in Psalm 22. Now, if you have 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:10.120 a Bible there, then can I invite you now is the time to turn to Psalm 22. 00:03:14.860 --> 00:03:20.379 The Psalm from the pen of King David. 00:03:20.379 --> 00:03:31.000 And it's a psalm that's describing him going through the most horrific of experiences. 00:03:33.340 --> 00:03:41.840 And he's facing the deepest and darkest and ugliest and cruelest of moments. And yet, we read in this 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:47.219 Psalm, despite his suffering, he is clinging so steadfastly to the God that he knows and he loves. 00:03:47.219 --> 00:03:53.259 Now, if you've got it there, you'll see at the top of this psalm that there's music that goes along 00:03:53.259 --> 00:03:58.719 with this psalm. These words in this psalm are meant to be sung to the tune of, do you see it there, 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:04.539 the dough of the morning. But you've never looked at that part of the psalms before. This is meant to go 00:04:04.539 --> 00:04:08.599 to the tune of the dough of the morning. Now, no Google search is going to reveal that for you, what that 00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:13.560 song is. You're not going to find it on iTunes. But if I had to take a guess, 00:04:13.560 --> 00:04:20.660 I would imagine that it is a song, it's a tune that moves from the minor key to the major key. 00:04:21.939 --> 00:04:33.420 Now, why do I think that? Well, this psalm goes from absolute torment and it ends in absolute triumph. 00:04:34.620 --> 00:04:41.160 It's a psalm that starts in the minor key and it ends in the major key. But the thing about Psalm 22, 00:04:41.160 --> 00:04:47.880 this psalm of David, is that this range of emotions and the events that are described here, 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:54.300 King David, he never plumbed the depths of and he never reached the heights of where this psalm goes 00:04:54.300 --> 00:05:02.060 in his lifetime. The truth is that this psalm is not only a descriptive psalm, actually it's a prophetic psalm. 00:05:02.060 --> 00:05:10.759 And that is it points beyond itself to another king who really will taste its depths and who really 00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:18.759 will scale its heights. You see, it's a psalm that is pointing us to Jesus. And in particular, 00:05:18.840 --> 00:05:24.759 it's a psalm that is directing us, focusing us on Jesus on the cross. 00:05:24.759 --> 00:05:31.399 Now, Charles Spurgeon, famous British preacher from back in the day, he called this psalm a photograph 00:05:31.399 --> 00:05:40.279 of the cross. And it's the psalm that not only did Jesus quote on the cross, but it is in fact 00:05:40.279 --> 00:05:48.420 the psalm that Jesus lived on the cross. You see, he is the ultimate king of Psalm 22. He is the forsaken king. 00:05:48.420 --> 00:05:52.060 So what is the big deal about the cross? 00:05:54.740 --> 00:05:58.740 Well, before we get into the first five verses of this psalm, what we're going to do 00:05:58.740 --> 00:06:02.400 is we're going to stand and we're going to sing one song together. 00:06:03.580 --> 00:06:08.480 Before we get into it, hopefully it's just going to focus our minds as we come to this psalm. So 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:13.879 the band are still there, just checking. Let's stand and let's sing this great song, 00:06:13.879 --> 00:06:20.079 amazing love. How can it be? The great line in it, I'm forgiven because you were forsaken. Let's 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:27.060 stand together and sing this song. Well, please turn to Psalm 22 and let's read the first five 00:06:27.060 --> 00:06:34.959 verses of this psalm together. For the director of music, to the tune of the Doe of the Morning, 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:36.000 a psalm of David. 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:47.980 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of 00:06:47.980 --> 00:06:56.879 anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer. By night, but I find no rest. 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:04.000 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One. You are the one Israel praises. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:14.360 In you, our ancestors put their trust. They trusted and you delivered them. To you, they cried out and 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:22.379 were saved. In you, they trusted and were not put to shame. Let me quickly pray as we come to this 00:07:22.379 --> 00:07:28.620 psalm. Dear Father, we thank you for the immense privilege that it is to gather together as your 00:07:28.620 --> 00:07:34.879 people this morning. Lord, we ask that as we come to your word that you would speak to us. 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:41.319 Lord, it's our firm conviction that when your word is opened, your voice is heard because you are the 00:07:41.319 --> 00:07:51.560 living God. Lord, we pray at the outset of our series in Psalm 22 as we build up to Easter, as we think 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:58.819 about your son Jesus on the cross. Lord, would you help us by your spirit to comprehend the enormity 00:07:58.819 --> 00:08:06.240 of what he has done for us. Lord, there are big truths in this psalm this morning. Would you help 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:11.500 us hear them? And there's some wonderful truths in this psalm this morning as well, Father. Would you 00:08:11.500 --> 00:08:16.040 help us to love them? And this is our prayer in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:24.460 Amen. So here's my question for you this morning as we get into these first few verses of this psalm. 00:08:24.900 --> 00:08:27.280 How are you at coping with silence? 00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:41.019 I wonder if you're like me. One of the things that I'm not very good at coping with is when I try and 00:08:41.019 --> 00:08:47.439 phone somebody and they don't answer. I try and phone them again and they don't answer. 00:08:48.460 --> 00:08:50.819 And then I try and phone them again and they're still not there. 00:08:52.460 --> 00:08:57.980 One thing that annoys me, I must say, but the shoe is very much on the other foot sometimes. 00:08:58.120 --> 00:09:02.840 I have that horrible moment often as a husband when I reach into my phone, I pull it out and I 00:09:02.840 --> 00:09:07.179 realize that the phone that I thought was on loud was in actual fact on silent. And there are three, 00:09:07.179 --> 00:09:13.739 four, five missed calls from Alex. And I ring her back and what I say sheepishly, I say, you're right. 00:09:14.939 --> 00:09:23.239 And what does she respond? Why did you not answer? Here's the thing about these first five verses of 00:09:23.239 --> 00:09:34.419 this psalm. Somebody's calling and the person they are calling is not answering. David is calling to 00:09:34.419 --> 00:09:39.740 God in these first five verses. He's calling to God and God is not answering him. 00:09:41.719 --> 00:09:47.659 As we pick up the psalm at verse one, do you see it there? We see David. He's calling out to God. 00:09:48.319 --> 00:09:53.879 Is he calling out to God? In actual fact, I think the language here is a lot more emotive than that. 00:09:54.579 --> 00:10:01.480 He's crying out to God. Feel the pain in his words. Feel the pain in his cry. 00:10:01.480 --> 00:10:06.000 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:10:08.200 --> 00:10:13.800 See, it's the cry of bitter anguish. It's a cry of abandonment. It's a cry of separation. Feel it again. 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:19.800 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:10:22.340 --> 00:10:25.960 And ultimately, it's the cry of Jesus on the cross. 00:10:25.960 --> 00:10:34.120 In fact, these are the exact words that both Matthew and Mark recording Jesus speaking on the cross. 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:40.060 This is the exact phrase that he uses. Interestingly, both Matthew and Mark record them in the original Aramaic. 00:10:41.280 --> 00:10:44.240 Matthew 27 verses 45 and 46. 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:46.180 Matthew writes this. 00:10:46.179 --> 00:10:51.239 From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over the land. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:55.919 About three in the afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 00:10:56.139 --> 00:10:59.079 Eli, Eli, limai sabachthani, which means, 00:10:59.239 --> 00:11:02.639 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:08.179 It's the cry of our King when he was on the cross. 00:11:08.179 --> 00:11:13.339 And here's what I want to do just in the 15 or so minutes that we have left. 00:11:13.439 --> 00:11:17.659 I just want us to think about four things about his cry. 00:11:19.699 --> 00:11:20.719 Can you hang on with me? 00:11:20.819 --> 00:11:25.859 Four things we're just going to think about about his cry as we think about our forsaken King. 00:11:25.939 --> 00:11:27.659 Here's the first thing I want us to think about. 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:30.319 Think about the who of the cry. 00:11:33.199 --> 00:11:35.199 Who's crying out here? This is Jesus. 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:39.480 That might seem really obvious, but think about that. 00:11:40.680 --> 00:11:41.620 This is Jesus. 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:45.180 Think about who he is. 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:46.259 He is God in the beginning. 00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:49.580 God eternal with the Father in the beginning. 00:11:49.700 --> 00:11:51.200 The second person of the Trinity. 00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:54.680 The one who flung stars into space. 00:11:55.740 --> 00:11:59.120 The one who sustains stars and planets. 00:11:59.280 --> 00:12:00.879 The one who gives life and breath. 00:12:00.980 --> 00:12:03.000 The one who is giving us breath right now. 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:06.800 And think about what he's done in his life. 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:09.759 We've seen it in Luke's gospel, haven't we, for the last few weeks and months. 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:11.580 What has he done with his life? 00:12:11.660 --> 00:12:12.560 He's healed people. 00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:14.980 He's wept with people. 00:12:16.040 --> 00:12:17.460 He's eaten with people. 00:12:17.580 --> 00:12:18.560 He's cared for people. 00:12:18.680 --> 00:12:19.540 He's loved people. 00:12:19.900 --> 00:12:22.820 He is the one who is truly perfect. 00:12:23.100 --> 00:12:24.220 This is his cry. 00:12:24.220 --> 00:12:34.080 If there ever there was a person who shouldn't have cried out, forsaken, anguished, derelict, surely it was this man, Jesus Christ. 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:38.180 What's even more remarkable than that? 00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:39.660 Think about the way of the cry. 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:42.139 This is Jesus. 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:43.460 Where is he crying this from? 00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:45.660 He's crying it from the cross. 00:12:45.659 --> 00:12:51.799 The most brutal of execution methods reserved for the most brutal of criminals. 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:53.779 Here it is. 00:12:53.819 --> 00:12:55.279 And get your heads around this one. 00:12:55.360 --> 00:13:00.299 Here is the creator being crucified by his creatures. 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:04.339 Tis mystery all. 00:13:04.439 --> 00:13:05.939 The immortal dies. 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:10.899 Jesus, our king, wasn't killed heroically in battle. 00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:19.240 He is a king whose victory would be won by a quite humiliating death, an excruciating death, a cursed death. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:23.879 He wouldn't die heroically surrounded by his friends. 00:13:23.980 --> 00:13:24.199 No, no. 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:28.399 He would die, be crucified, surrounded by criminals in either side. 00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:31.559 This is our king, Jesus Christ. 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:33.159 Where is he crying this from? 00:13:33.220 --> 00:13:34.919 He's crying it from the cross. 00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:39.000 Thirdly, think about the what of the cry. 00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:45.079 Firstly, what is Jesus feeling on the cross as he lets out this cry? 00:13:45.179 --> 00:13:45.860 What is he feeling? 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:49.340 Well, look at the first few verses of the psalm. 00:13:51.699 --> 00:13:52.679 What does he feel? 00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:56.179 Firstly, he feels that God is distant. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:00.919 Verse 1, do you see the repetition of the word far? 00:14:03.459 --> 00:14:05.379 Not just far, but so far. 00:14:05.659 --> 00:14:07.939 Why are you so far from saving me? 00:14:07.940 --> 00:14:11.580 Why are you so far from my cry of anguish? 00:14:12.220 --> 00:14:12.960 What is he saying? 00:14:13.060 --> 00:14:18.020 God, when I need you most in my hour of trial, you are not here. 00:14:21.020 --> 00:14:22.280 Jesus feels abandoned. 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:23.580 He feels rejected. 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:25.440 Deserted. 00:14:25.560 --> 00:14:26.100 Turned upon. 00:14:26.260 --> 00:14:27.960 God seems distant. 00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:31.160 And secondly, do you see that he feels that God is silent? 00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:34.219 Verse 2, do you see it there? 00:14:34.339 --> 00:14:37.559 I cry out by day and you do not answer. 00:14:38.579 --> 00:14:41.879 I cry out by night and I find no rest. 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:44.899 God has seemingly turned his back on Jesus. 00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:50.459 And Jesus' cry is seemingly falling on deaf ears. 00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:59.320 Now, we know in our own lives, don't we, the effect that affirming and assuring words can have on how you feel. 00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:03.360 Particularly, I think, don't we know it to be true, especially those of a parent. 00:15:04.040 --> 00:15:04.780 What do they say? 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:05.460 Keep going. 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:07.480 You're doing well. 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:09.040 I love you. 00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:16.120 But do you notice how there are no affirming and assuring words here for Jesus from his Father? 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:21.539 And we've seen that, haven't we, in our series in Luke over the past while. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:26.740 The voice of his Father that had previously said about Jesus at his baptism, 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:29.980 this is my Son in whom I am well pleased. 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:35.419 And we saw it with Paul a few weeks ago as we thought about his transfiguration. 00:15:35.560 --> 00:15:38.980 The voice from heaven, his Father that said, this is my Son. 00:15:40.060 --> 00:15:41.240 Listen to him. 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:48.120 But now God's voice of comfort and assurance is nowhere to be heard. 00:15:48.460 --> 00:15:50.080 Instead, there is silence. 00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:57.379 And if that is what Jesus is feeling on the cross, we've also got to ask, what is Jesus doing on the cross? 00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:01.519 I mean, is there any point to this death? 00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:04.000 Has Jesus just got caught up in an ambush? 00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:07.519 Was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time? 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:11.840 Well, what does Matthew tell us in those verses that we read earlier? 00:16:13.319 --> 00:16:15.620 That darkness fell across the whole land. 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:19.100 And it did so for three hours. 00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:20.639 Darkness. 00:16:24.019 --> 00:16:27.679 Symbolic in the Bible for God's righteous judgment on people's sin. 00:16:27.939 --> 00:16:31.079 And that darkness is now falling squarely on Jesus. 00:16:32.079 --> 00:16:34.740 Jesus takes the curse of God on himself. 00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:38.460 The punishment that sins deserved on himself. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:44.720 The shut out of God's presence that people deserved, his people deserved. 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:46.899 He is feeling it himself. 00:16:47.820 --> 00:16:50.620 This is our forsaken king as we look to the cross. 00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:56.580 You know, John Stott would write this in his wonderful book, The Cross of Christ. 00:16:57.200 --> 00:17:04.279 In this moment, Jesus is quoting the only psalm that he can think of that describes what he is going through. 00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:07.039 This is our forsaken king. 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:13.900 And fourthly and lastly, and I guess at what point we'll slow down just a little bit, 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:17.359 is we need to think about the why of the cross. 00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:21.460 Thought about the who, thought about the what, thought about the where. 00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:22.980 Now we need to think about the why. 00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:25.259 What is going on? 00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:29.960 Well, I don't know if you were here a few weeks ago. 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:33.160 We had, Scott Hamilton was here. 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:34.240 He was here preaching. 00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:39.240 Scott works for UCCF, the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship in Edinburgh. 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:43.380 And he was telling us about his job, his day job. 00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:47.900 That means he gets to speak to students on the campuses around Edinburgh. 00:17:48.339 --> 00:17:53.279 He gets to speak to a whole lot of students from a whole lot of places about a whole lot of things, 00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:54.799 who believe a whole lot of things. 00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:57.559 Now, I don't know if you picked up on what he said, 00:17:57.599 --> 00:18:00.059 but when he was here, we were just asking him a few questions. 00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:02.720 He said something that I thought was absolutely fascinating. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:07.920 He said that he, if you remember this, he said the more that he speaks to students, 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:16.000 he is finding that the answers that an atheistic worldview is giving them are just not cutting it anymore. 00:18:16.180 --> 00:18:17.779 Did you hear that when he said that? 00:18:18.579 --> 00:18:19.019 Fascinating. 00:18:20.299 --> 00:18:24.980 This guy, right in the thick of it, is finding that an atheistic worldview, 00:18:25.100 --> 00:18:26.759 that God is not there, God does not exist, 00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:29.420 that worldview is just not cutting it anymore. 00:18:29.420 --> 00:18:35.100 Remember there was an atheist bus campaign a few years ago down in London 00:18:35.100 --> 00:18:36.880 that ran with a slogan on the side of the buses, 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:41.120 there's probably no God, now you can stop worrying and enjoy your life. 00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:44.560 So there's an atheist worldview, 00:18:45.560 --> 00:18:49.400 a worldview that says God's non-existent. 00:18:51.320 --> 00:18:53.539 Now let me ask you, does that cut it for you? 00:18:55.620 --> 00:18:57.080 As you think about your life, 00:18:57.079 --> 00:19:00.299 as you think about the world that you see out there, 00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:02.539 as you journey through life, 00:19:02.639 --> 00:19:03.960 the ups and downs, 00:19:04.139 --> 00:19:04.639 the trials, 00:19:04.859 --> 00:19:05.879 the test results, 00:19:06.639 --> 00:19:09.279 the truths that you know out there, 00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:10.980 but the truths that you know in your own heart, 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:11.859 let me ask you again, 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:13.859 does that worldview cut it for you? 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:17.960 Well, here's what I want to suggest, 00:19:18.199 --> 00:19:20.579 and here's what I found to be true in my own life, 00:19:20.579 --> 00:19:26.799 that the cross offers us a worldview that makes sense, 00:19:27.639 --> 00:19:30.699 and it offers us a worldview that is beautiful. 00:19:31.879 --> 00:19:35.879 And let me just leave you this morning with two reflections on Jesus' cry 00:19:35.879 --> 00:19:38.879 to think upon as you take them away from here. 00:19:39.619 --> 00:19:41.859 And as we move towards a close this morning, 00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:45.419 two reflections that I've thought about as I've been preparing for this this week, 00:19:45.659 --> 00:19:47.559 two reflections I want you to think about. 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.440 Here's the first one. 00:19:50.659 --> 00:19:52.019 That should have been my cry. 00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:56.179 That should have been my cry. 00:19:58.159 --> 00:20:00.299 I know the sin inside myself. 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:03.299 I know what goes on in there. 00:20:04.639 --> 00:20:06.200 You know what goes on in there. 00:20:06.899 --> 00:20:08.960 I know that I am a broken person. 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:11.799 I know that I am a sinful person. 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:15.159 Had I cried out to God and said, 00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:17.400 my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:20.660 God could quite justifiably have responded to me. 00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:22.259 I am shutting you out, Graham, 00:20:22.660 --> 00:20:23.840 because you are a rebel. 00:20:25.100 --> 00:20:27.600 Because you say no to me and yes to yourself. 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:29.440 I know the depths of your heart. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:31.779 I know that you are selfish. 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:33.759 I know you say horrible things. 00:20:34.060 --> 00:20:35.440 I know your thoughts are bad. 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:37.519 I know you fail to live my way. 00:20:37.840 --> 00:20:40.440 I know you fail to honor me as God in your heart. 00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:46.299 Now I know that's true in my own life. 00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:48.460 I know that's true in my own life. 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.960 And I know that's true in your lives. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:57.340 My real sin put a real man on a real cross. 00:20:58.920 --> 00:21:02.400 And that real man really did pay the price for my sin. 00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:06.680 And that real man really has given me real life. 00:21:06.680 --> 00:21:10.320 This is our forsaken king. 00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:12.380 Here's the second thought for you. 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:16.660 That cry should have been my cry. 00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:19.400 But he made it his cry. 00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:25.259 How often don't we think of Jesus like Macbeth? 00:21:26.100 --> 00:21:27.240 You read Macbeth at school. 00:21:27.340 --> 00:21:29.000 It's kind of part and parcel of being Scottish. 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:30.220 Did you read Macbeth at school? 00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:32.160 What is he known as? 00:21:33.120 --> 00:21:33.980 The tragic hero. 00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:36.740 The tragic hero who started so well. 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:38.579 Who lived a decent life. 00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:42.000 But ended in a tragic ending. 00:21:43.360 --> 00:21:45.440 Now that's not what's happening on the cross. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:48.299 Jesus goes to the cross. 00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:50.940 He sets his face towards the cross. 00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:55.240 Jesus voluntarily gives himself over. 00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:58.200 He goes and he suffers on the cross. 00:21:58.200 --> 00:22:02.960 And do you notice it in the psalm verses 3 to 5. 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:04.819 In the midst of his suffering. 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:08.319 In the middle of his abandonment and isolation. 00:22:08.580 --> 00:22:09.920 He clings to God. 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:12.380 He clings to his father. 00:22:12.580 --> 00:22:14.620 Do you see that verses 3 to 5 of the psalm? 00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:18.779 The language verses 1 and 2 is I. 00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:21.940 But the language of verses 3 and 5 is thou. 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:24.319 If you like your KJV Old English. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:26.799 It goes from me to you. 00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:30.159 What does Jesus say? 00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:30.819 He says. 00:22:31.679 --> 00:22:32.779 But God you are holy. 00:22:34.439 --> 00:22:36.519 God you are faithful. 00:22:37.679 --> 00:22:39.759 God you have an impeccable track record. 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:42.500 Of coming through for your people. 00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.779 When they need you. 00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:46.480 And you've proved it in the past. 00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:49.659 And I am so confident that you'll prove it again. 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:52.059 As we read the reading that Tim read earlier. 00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:54.059 Where he entrusted himself to his father. 00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:57.259 What does Jesus know? 00:22:57.359 --> 00:22:59.379 He knows that in the midst of his suffering. 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:02.599 That God is still God. 00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:06.599 And he knows that God is still good. 00:23:07.179 --> 00:23:09.079 And even in this moment. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.299 That that is still true. 00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:16.000 And on a side note. 00:23:16.119 --> 00:23:16.779 I think that is. 00:23:17.139 --> 00:23:18.379 I found that to be. 00:23:18.659 --> 00:23:20.099 As I thought about it this week. 00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:22.379 I found that to be massively comforting. 00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:25.220 Now think about it in your own life for a minute. 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:27.519 When you're faced with suffering. 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:29.799 When times get hard. 00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:33.319 Do we not find ourselves asking that question sometimes? 00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:35.940 God where are you? 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:37.399 How do I know that you're there? 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:40.840 Do you see? 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:41.480 Do you know? 00:23:41.600 --> 00:23:42.300 Do you care? 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:44.580 Well do you see that in Jesus. 00:23:45.820 --> 00:23:49.240 We have a wonderful example of what it looks like to trust God in suffering. 00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:51.519 That God does know. 00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:53.480 That God does see. 00:23:53.600 --> 00:23:54.440 That God does care. 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:56.259 That God will vindicate his people. 00:23:57.060 --> 00:24:00.100 And he has a proven track record to back up that claim. 00:24:00.540 --> 00:24:02.460 And isn't it a wonderful thought this morning. 00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:05.140 And that's why we started our service with that great song. 00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:06.860 Before the throne of God above. 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:09.200 I have a strong and perfect plea. 00:24:09.540 --> 00:24:11.259 Is it not a wonderful truth this morning? 00:24:12.360 --> 00:24:13.660 That because of our Savior. 00:24:14.580 --> 00:24:16.880 Through him we have God's ear. 00:24:17.860 --> 00:24:19.140 That he listens. 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:20.140 That he cares. 00:24:20.300 --> 00:24:21.140 That he knows. 00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:25.400 But here as Jesus hangs. 00:24:25.560 --> 00:24:26.960 The salvation plan. 00:24:27.080 --> 00:24:29.040 That has been hatched. 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:31.640 By a loving Godhead before the world began. 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:34.660 It is coming to its crescendo on the cross. 00:24:35.360 --> 00:24:36.640 This is no accident. 00:24:37.300 --> 00:24:40.759 This is the plan of the Godhead coming forth. 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:44.360 That God would make a way for sinful men and women. 00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.820 Broken men and women. 00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:47.460 To be reconciled to him. 00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:49.600 And to have life with him. 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:51.259 The way that we were created to do. 00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:54.400 Because God so loved the world. 00:24:55.800 --> 00:24:57.840 That he gave his one and only son. 00:24:57.839 --> 00:25:02.099 That whoever believes in him will not perish. 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:05.759 But will have eternal life. 00:25:08.419 --> 00:25:13.220 Writer Douglas Copeland was asked what his greatest fear in life was. 00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:15.819 On how you'd answer that question. 00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:18.079 But he answered it. 00:25:18.120 --> 00:25:20.880 He said my greatest fear in life is that God exists. 00:25:21.380 --> 00:25:23.600 But that he doesn't care very much for humans. 00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:27.839 Now surely as we look at our king on the cross. 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:31.220 We know that that can't be true. 00:25:33.419 --> 00:25:35.379 What sent Jesus to the cross? 00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:37.379 The love of God the Father. 00:25:38.919 --> 00:25:40.039 Jesus called. 00:25:41.159 --> 00:25:42.500 And God didn't answer. 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:46.480 Jesus made himself the forsaken king. 00:25:46.639 --> 00:25:48.139 Jesus tasted the darkness. 00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:50.139 The darkness that should have been mine. 00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:53.220 And because he tasted it. 00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:57.320 I can come and be welcomed into the light. 00:25:59.120 --> 00:26:00.700 Jesus was shut out. 00:26:01.340 --> 00:26:03.400 So that you and I can be welcomed in. 00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:08.759 And as we close our time in Psalm 22 this morning. 00:26:08.840 --> 00:26:11.080 Let me just tell you about some lyrics that I found this week. 00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:15.060 And they're from an old hymn by John Newton. 00:26:15.380 --> 00:26:17.080 Now I don't know if you know anything about John Newton. 00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:20.779 That he was the famous Christian hymn writer and minister. 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:24.939 Who had previously been a slave trader down in the south of England. 00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:29.519 And his testimony is that his life underwent a quite miraculous transformation. 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:35.179 And he went from being a slave trader to being an Anglican clergyman. 00:26:35.919 --> 00:26:36.819 A wonderful story. 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:41.679 He's the guy that was said to have most inspired Wilberforce in the work that he did. 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:44.039 Anyway, John Newton. 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:47.279 And probably most famous known for writing the hymn Amazing Grace. 00:26:47.379 --> 00:26:49.639 But I came across another hymn of his this week. 00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:53.220 And let me just finish by reading these lyrics to you. 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:57.759 Lyrics that I found to be so powerful this week. 00:26:58.259 --> 00:27:01.599 As I've reflected on my forsaken king. 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:04.039 As he hung on the cross for me. 00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:06.980 And just listen to these. 00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:08.139 And read them if you want as well. 00:27:08.379 --> 00:27:11.019 To these lyrics that John Newton wrote. 00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:16.379 He said this as he contemplated Christ on the cross. 00:27:16.680 --> 00:27:19.220 Thus, while his death my sin displays. 00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:22.079 In all its blackest hue. 00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:23.960 This old English for color. 00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:25.759 In all its blackest hue. 00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:28.859 Such is the mystery of grace. 00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:31.700 It seals my pardon too. 00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:34.859 With pleasing grief. 00:27:35.660 --> 00:27:37.160 And mournful joy. 00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:39.700 My spirit now is filled. 00:27:40.800 --> 00:27:43.560 That I should such a life destroy. 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:45.960 Yet live by him I killed. 00:27:49.120 --> 00:27:50.160 Pleasing grief. 00:27:51.120 --> 00:27:52.000 And mournful joy. 00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:57.180 So we should feel as we contemplate Christ on the cross. 00:27:57.300 --> 00:27:58.540 There is our forsaken king. 00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:01.540 The call this morning is to come to him. 00:28:02.120 --> 00:28:03.320 To receive life in him. 00:28:03.420 --> 00:28:04.500 Receive forgiveness in him. 00:28:04.540 --> 00:28:05.360 And to worship him. 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:07.459 Jesus Christ. 00:28:08.139 --> 00:28:08.859 On the cross. 00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:10.299 Let me pray as we finish. 00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:13.619 Oh heavenly father. 00:28:13.719 --> 00:28:15.459 We thank you so much this morning Lord. 00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:18.899 That because Jesus was shut out. 00:28:20.419 --> 00:28:22.059 That we could be welcomed in. 00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:24.599 That he was forsaken. 00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:26.819 So that we could be forgiven. 00:28:27.899 --> 00:28:29.559 That he tasted the darkness. 00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:32.279 So that we could be brought into the light. 00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:36.660 Oh Lord would you help us to love him more. 00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:39.240 Would you help us to gaze upon the cross this week. 00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:42.960 And would you help us to live loving heavenly father. 00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:46.859 Lives of worship to you this week we pray. 00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:47.639 In Jesus name. 00:28:48.359 --> 00:28:48.700 Amen. 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:50.019 Amen. 00:28:56.340 --> 00:29:10.279 Amen.