WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.820 Well, good evening. 00:00:03.280 --> 00:00:06.860 Tonight we'll take a few minutes to look at John chapter 19, 00:00:07.179 --> 00:00:09.019 the crucifixion in the Gospel of John. 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:13.259 And I want to begin by reading the story of Christ's crucifixion. 00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:18.580 If you want to follow along, you can turn your Bibles to John chapter 19, verse 1. 00:00:18.660 --> 00:00:22.940 It's a lengthy passage, otherwise you're welcome to listen as I read it. 00:00:22.940 --> 00:00:30.200 It says this, 00:00:30.980 --> 00:00:34.880 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 00:00:35.799 --> 00:00:41.900 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 00:00:43.020 --> 00:00:48.100 They came up to him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews, and struck him with their hands. 00:00:49.299 --> 00:00:51.100 Pilate went out again and said to them, 00:00:51.100 --> 00:00:56.420 See, I am bringing him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in him. 00:00:57.399 --> 00:01:01.000 So Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. 00:01:01.820 --> 00:01:03.740 Pilate said to them, Behold the man. 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:10.020 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, Crucify him, crucify him. 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:14.939 Pilate said to them, Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him. 00:01:16.439 --> 00:01:18.520 The Jews answered him, We have a law. 00:01:18.519 --> 00:01:23.939 And according to that law, he ought to die because he has made himself the son of God. 00:01:24.819 --> 00:01:27.379 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 00:01:28.019 --> 00:01:31.500 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, Where are you from? 00:01:32.280 --> 00:01:33.879 But Jesus gave him no answer. 00:01:35.019 --> 00:01:37.439 So Pilate said to him, You will not speak to me? 00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:42.719 Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you? 00:01:43.700 --> 00:01:49.379 Jesus answered him, You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. 00:01:49.939 --> 00:01:52.959 Therefore, he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin. 00:01:54.479 --> 00:01:56.459 From then on, Pilate sought to release him. 00:01:56.539 --> 00:02:00.379 But the Jews cried out, If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. 00:02:01.099 --> 00:02:03.939 Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar. 00:02:03.939 --> 00:02:11.620 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the stone pavement. 00:02:12.340 --> 00:02:14.280 And in Aramaic, Gabbatha. 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:17.780 Now it was the day of preparation of the Passover. 00:02:18.639 --> 00:02:20.060 It was about the sixth hour. 00:02:21.240 --> 00:02:23.039 He said to the Jews, Behold your king. 00:02:23.539 --> 00:02:27.020 They cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. 00:02:27.500 --> 00:02:29.860 Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your king? 00:02:29.860 --> 00:02:33.660 The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. 00:02:34.300 --> 00:02:36.800 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. 00:02:38.060 --> 00:02:45.540 So they took Jesus and he went out bearing his own cross to the place called the place of the skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 00:02:46.480 --> 00:02:51.520 There they crucified him and with him two others, one on either side and Jesus between them. 00:02:52.320 --> 00:02:55.100 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. 00:02:55.099 --> 00:02:58.539 It read, Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews. 00:02:59.519 --> 00:03:04.000 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. 00:03:04.579 --> 00:03:07.299 And it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 00:03:07.939 --> 00:03:12.459 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Do not write the king of the Jews, 00:03:12.759 --> 00:03:16.439 but rather, this man said, I am the king of the Jews. 00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:19.659 Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written. 00:03:19.659 --> 00:03:25.240 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, 00:03:25.340 --> 00:03:27.840 one part for each soldier, also his tunic. 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:32.060 But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 00:03:32.219 --> 00:03:37.099 So they said to one another, Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to see whose it shall be. 00:03:37.639 --> 00:03:39.639 This was to fulfill the scripture which says, 00:03:40.180 --> 00:03:44.060 They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:46.300 Now I am going to verse 28. 00:03:46.300 --> 00:03:53.300 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said, to fulfill the scripture, 00:03:53.719 --> 00:03:54.320 I thirst. 00:03:55.240 --> 00:04:00.160 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch 00:04:00.160 --> 00:04:01.240 and held it to his mouth. 00:04:02.180 --> 00:04:05.740 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, It is finished. 00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:09.400 And he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 00:04:09.400 --> 00:04:17.060 So this evening, it's a long passage, but I want to focus our attention on Jesus' last statement 00:04:17.060 --> 00:04:18.280 in verse 30. 00:04:18.540 --> 00:04:19.819 It is finished. 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:23.300 In the original language, that is only one word. 00:04:24.220 --> 00:04:28.079 And it's the same word that we find two verses earlier in 1928, 00:04:28.379 --> 00:04:31.340 when Jesus knew that all was now finished. 00:04:31.339 --> 00:04:38.279 The word finish in English can mean several different things. 00:04:38.279 --> 00:04:45.620 But in the original Greek, it means to complete a task or to accomplish something. 00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:48.000 It's used throughout the Gospels. 00:04:48.339 --> 00:04:51.259 Jesus finished speaking to the crowds. 00:04:51.259 --> 00:04:55.519 Jesus finished instructing his disciples. 00:04:55.819 --> 00:04:58.319 He finished speaking his parables. 00:04:58.539 --> 00:05:01.779 He completed, same word, his baptism. 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:07.680 And here in this passage, Jesus is not saying that his life is over, although it is. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:12.180 He means that he has finished his task. 00:05:13.079 --> 00:05:15.879 That he has done what he set out to do. 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:17.639 That he has completed his job. 00:05:17.639 --> 00:05:23.360 It's an incredibly important statement, and I want to look at it from three different angles tonight. 00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:26.560 First, the irony that it is finished. 00:05:26.819 --> 00:05:29.539 Second, the claim that it is finished. 00:05:29.659 --> 00:05:32.699 And third, the invitation to what is finished. 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:34.959 First of all, the irony. 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:41.800 The irony means that we say one thing or do one thing when the opposite is really true. 00:05:42.259 --> 00:05:46.240 It's used sometimes for comedy, sometimes to emphasize something, 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:52.160 sometimes an author will use it to surprise us or to make sure that we notice something, 00:05:53.420 --> 00:05:55.920 to kind of surprise us into seeing what's there. 00:05:56.900 --> 00:06:00.860 In this passage that I just read, it's full of irony. 00:06:01.240 --> 00:06:02.819 Let me just give you a couple of examples. 00:06:03.100 --> 00:06:06.400 First, they mock him and call him king. 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:13.539 In verse 3, the soldiers put a crown of thorns on his head, a painful crown of thorns, 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:15.739 and they say, Hail, king of the Jews. 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:21.879 And in verse 19, Pilate puts a sign above Jesus on the cross that reads, 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:24.259 Jesus, king of the Jews. 00:06:25.979 --> 00:06:27.120 They're mocking him. 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:32.259 But the irony is, he really is the king of the Jews. 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:39.100 He is the long-awaited Davidic messianic king promised in the Old Testament. 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:42.399 And in the book of John, it emphasizes this. 00:06:42.500 --> 00:06:44.699 In John 1.49, Nathaniel says to Jesus, 00:06:44.920 --> 00:06:46.879 You are the king of the Jews. 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:51.219 And in chapter 3, Jesus says, I am bringing in the kingdom. 00:06:52.540 --> 00:06:57.040 And in 1836, Jesus says, My kingdom is not of this world. 00:06:57.139 --> 00:06:59.620 They're mocking him by calling him the king, 00:07:00.040 --> 00:07:02.779 but ironically, they're speaking better than they know, 00:07:03.560 --> 00:07:06.120 because he really is the king of the Jews. 00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:10.240 A second irony is that the Jewish leaders went to kill him 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:12.500 because he claims to be the son of God. 00:07:13.719 --> 00:07:15.699 They say in verse 7 to Pilate, 00:07:15.699 --> 00:07:16.899 We have a law. 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:20.319 Look, we're not just dragging this guy before you because we've had a bad day. 00:07:20.500 --> 00:07:21.719 We have a law. 00:07:22.199 --> 00:07:23.680 And according to that law, 00:07:24.259 --> 00:07:27.620 he ought to die because he has made himself the son of God. 00:07:29.500 --> 00:07:30.879 They want to kill him 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:34.219 because he's claiming to be God's son. 00:07:35.419 --> 00:07:37.399 But the irony is obvious. 00:07:38.139 --> 00:07:39.699 He is God's son. 00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:44.079 It says in John 1.14, 00:07:45.699 --> 00:07:48.360 He is the only son from the Father. 00:07:49.740 --> 00:07:52.120 In 1.34, John the Baptist says, 00:07:52.500 --> 00:07:54.300 This is the son of God. 00:07:55.219 --> 00:07:57.819 And in that most famous verse in John 3.16, 00:07:58.019 --> 00:08:01.060 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son. 00:08:01.060 --> 00:08:07.500 The third irony is that the Jewish leaders claim to be model Roman citizens. 00:08:08.699 --> 00:08:10.800 The Jews hated the Roman Empire. 00:08:12.259 --> 00:08:14.759 It levied oppressive taxes on them. 00:08:15.160 --> 00:08:16.340 It murdered them. 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:17.560 It enslaved them. 00:08:17.660 --> 00:08:19.379 It restricted their worship of God. 00:08:19.779 --> 00:08:21.060 And they hated Caesar, 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:25.560 who conquered and oppressed them. 00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:28.439 But in verse 15, 00:08:29.220 --> 00:08:29.819 they say, 00:08:30.860 --> 00:08:32.120 Jesus is not our king. 00:08:32.820 --> 00:08:34.480 We have no king but Caesar. 00:08:36.860 --> 00:08:37.340 Wow. 00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:43.700 They would rather have an oppressive Roman Caesar as their king, 00:08:43.779 --> 00:08:45.740 a murderous Gentile pagan, 00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:48.259 than Jesus. 00:08:48.259 --> 00:08:52.159 And the irony is that they are rejecting God's promised salvation 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:53.620 and all that that entails 00:08:53.620 --> 00:08:57.379 by claiming allegiance to the enemy that oppresses them 00:08:57.379 --> 00:08:58.279 and whom they hate. 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:03.139 Jesus is the whole basis and goal of their faith. 00:09:04.179 --> 00:09:06.960 He alone brings God's grace and forgiveness. 00:09:07.700 --> 00:09:09.919 And they're not just rejecting Jesus as king either. 00:09:10.019 --> 00:09:10.340 They say, 00:09:10.539 --> 00:09:12.639 We have no king but Caesar. 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:13.439 In some ways, 00:09:13.980 --> 00:09:16.120 they're rejecting any messianic king. 00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:20.299 They are trading away all of God's promises 00:09:20.299 --> 00:09:21.659 and plan of salvation 00:09:21.659 --> 00:09:24.000 just to get rid of Jesus. 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:27.679 But the greatest irony comes in verse 30. 00:09:27.779 --> 00:09:29.419 That's our statement. 00:09:31.080 --> 00:09:33.879 Jesus has been mocked and beaten 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:36.500 and nailed to wood. 00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:40.200 And as his body shuts down 00:09:40.200 --> 00:09:42.840 and he breathes his last, 00:09:42.840 --> 00:09:44.040 he says, 00:09:44.280 --> 00:09:46.420 It is finished. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:48.500 It is accomplished. 00:09:50.820 --> 00:09:53.000 It looks like his ultimate defeat. 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:55.139 But the irony is 00:09:55.139 --> 00:09:57.519 that it is his ultimate victory. 00:09:58.639 --> 00:09:59.820 Think about this for a minute. 00:10:00.920 --> 00:10:02.740 Imagine a man who builds a house 00:10:02.740 --> 00:10:05.120 and it takes him three years. 00:10:06.160 --> 00:10:07.639 And over the course of that three years, 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:08.840 he lays the foundation, 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:10.600 he puts up the studs, 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:12.120 he puts in the electrical, 00:10:12.500 --> 00:10:13.320 he runs the plumbing, 00:10:13.620 --> 00:10:14.840 he puts in the HVAC, 00:10:15.920 --> 00:10:17.440 he puts on the drywall, 00:10:17.560 --> 00:10:18.120 he paints, 00:10:18.220 --> 00:10:19.200 he puts in the trim, 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:21.080 he puts in the windows and doors and the roof. 00:10:21.180 --> 00:10:23.399 He works and works and works for three years. 00:10:23.680 --> 00:10:25.000 And then he stands back 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:27.500 and he looks upon his creation 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:30.240 and he spent three years of toil building 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:31.420 and he says to his friend, 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:32.639 And just then, 00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:35.200 just then the house collapses. 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:37.519 Right in front of his eyes, 00:10:37.620 --> 00:10:39.840 it just collapses in a pile of rubble. 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:41.040 It's all been for nothing. 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:43.060 And then he turns to his friend and he says, 00:10:43.259 --> 00:10:45.000 I have completed my task. 00:10:46.560 --> 00:10:47.160 What? 00:10:48.700 --> 00:10:49.879 That's crazy. 00:10:50.280 --> 00:10:51.800 That's not finishing. 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:53.019 That's failing. 00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:55.440 And here's Jesus. 00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:58.259 He has lived a sinless life. 00:10:59.820 --> 00:11:01.740 He teaches the people all over Israel 00:11:01.740 --> 00:11:03.879 and promises them God's salvation. 00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:05.240 He does great miracles, 00:11:05.379 --> 00:11:07.120 examples what it will look like 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:09.200 when he reigns as king. 00:11:09.340 --> 00:11:10.340 He feeds people 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:11.679 and heals people. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:12.980 He gives sight to the blind 00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:14.259 and he makes the lame walk. 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:16.480 He raises people from the dead. 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:18.519 He argues with the religious leaders. 00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:20.899 He calls his disciples to follow him 00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:22.500 and promises them an everlasting inheritance 00:11:23.220 --> 00:11:24.299 in heaven. 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:26.259 He is the Christ, 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:27.159 the Messiah, 00:11:27.740 --> 00:11:28.639 the Son of God 00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:30.080 who has come to save the world. 00:11:30.179 --> 00:11:30.899 And then suddenly, 00:11:31.639 --> 00:11:32.480 he is arrested. 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:34.879 And his followers scatter. 00:11:35.920 --> 00:11:37.019 And now here he is, 00:11:37.300 --> 00:11:38.759 hanging on a wooden cross, 00:11:39.220 --> 00:11:39.519 naked. 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:42.820 His limbs are nailed to pieces of wood 00:11:42.820 --> 00:11:44.100 and all around him, 00:11:44.539 --> 00:11:46.560 instead of a crowd of worshipers, 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:47.920 there are people laughing at him. 00:11:49.180 --> 00:11:50.460 And as he dies, 00:11:51.019 --> 00:11:51.639 he says, 00:11:52.180 --> 00:11:53.879 I have completed my work. 00:11:56.879 --> 00:11:57.460 I mean, 00:11:57.519 --> 00:11:58.600 how could it look any more 00:11:58.600 --> 00:12:00.200 like a failure than that? 00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:02.640 He is being executed. 00:12:03.800 --> 00:12:05.780 His enemies have killed him. 00:12:07.040 --> 00:12:08.520 And in his last moments, 00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:10.720 he dares to say 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:11.720 that he has accomplished 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:12.780 what he set out to do. 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:14.300 But that is the irony. 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:16.940 Because he has completed his task. 00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:19.440 His kingdom does not come 00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:20.700 by political maneuvers 00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:21.780 or whether he's been able 00:12:21.780 --> 00:12:23.400 to achieve a 50% 00:12:23.400 --> 00:12:25.120 in the polling. 00:12:26.800 --> 00:12:28.480 It's not about the biggest crowd. 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:30.320 He has come to die. 00:12:31.300 --> 00:12:32.580 That was his task. 00:12:33.920 --> 00:12:35.539 It's a mission of sacrifice 00:12:35.539 --> 00:12:36.600 and humiliation 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:37.659 and weakness. 00:12:38.759 --> 00:12:40.480 And when he says from the cross, 00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:41.480 it is finished, 00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:44.180 it's not a cry of defeat. 00:12:45.139 --> 00:12:46.420 It's not an announcement 00:12:46.420 --> 00:12:47.740 that he's finally dying. 00:12:47.940 --> 00:12:49.340 He is not a victim. 00:12:49.740 --> 00:12:51.480 He is doing something here. 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:54.399 He's not only doing something purposefully, 00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:55.920 but he's accomplishing it. 00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:58.500 He has completed the job 00:12:58.500 --> 00:13:00.120 that he set out to do 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:02.240 even though it looks like the opposite. 00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:05.899 And what is that job? 00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:08.059 Well, that's the second angle 00:13:08.059 --> 00:13:08.860 that I want to look at. 00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:09.559 The claim. 00:13:10.459 --> 00:13:12.279 The claim that it is finished. 00:13:12.979 --> 00:13:14.719 All great stories have a climax. 00:13:15.539 --> 00:13:16.179 And the Bible, 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:18.059 even though it's very long 00:13:18.059 --> 00:13:18.939 and very varied, 00:13:18.940 --> 00:13:21.520 has one grand story 00:13:21.520 --> 00:13:22.880 from start to finish, 00:13:22.980 --> 00:13:24.940 from Genesis to Revelation, 00:13:25.180 --> 00:13:26.820 one grand story 00:13:26.820 --> 00:13:27.980 of God's salvation. 00:13:28.700 --> 00:13:29.960 And Jesus' work 00:13:29.960 --> 00:13:32.300 is the climax of that story. 00:13:33.580 --> 00:13:35.020 And in the whole story 00:13:35.020 --> 00:13:36.320 of Jesus' work 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:38.160 in the Gospels, 00:13:38.400 --> 00:13:39.960 his death and resurrection 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:40.900 are the climax 00:13:40.900 --> 00:13:42.140 of that story. 00:13:42.139 --> 00:13:44.199 So that means 00:13:44.199 --> 00:13:45.899 that everything in the Bible 00:13:45.899 --> 00:13:46.860 is in orbit 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:48.500 around this point 00:13:48.500 --> 00:13:49.019 right here. 00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:51.100 Everything in the Bible 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:52.860 that happened before this point 00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:54.000 is looking forward to it. 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:55.699 And everything after this 00:13:55.699 --> 00:13:57.019 is looking back. 00:13:58.100 --> 00:13:59.220 So when Jesus says, 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:00.100 I have accomplished 00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:01.340 what I set out to do, 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:02.600 that is an incredibly 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:03.539 important statement 00:14:03.539 --> 00:14:05.019 because he's not saying 00:14:05.019 --> 00:14:06.519 I finished my work today. 00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:08.460 And he's not even saying 00:14:08.460 --> 00:14:09.879 I finished my life's work. 00:14:09.980 --> 00:14:11.299 He's making a much bigger statement 00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:11.740 than that. 00:14:11.959 --> 00:14:13.240 He's saying he has finished 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.719 the work that God 00:14:14.719 --> 00:14:15.379 has been doing 00:14:15.379 --> 00:14:16.599 since the beginning of time. 00:14:19.159 --> 00:14:20.799 When God created the world, 00:14:20.939 --> 00:14:21.659 it was good. 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:23.839 There was peace. 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:25.740 And people lived 00:14:25.740 --> 00:14:26.839 in a good relationship 00:14:26.839 --> 00:14:27.439 with God 00:14:27.439 --> 00:14:29.019 and with each other. 00:14:29.099 --> 00:14:30.419 But when they disobeyed God, 00:14:31.719 --> 00:14:32.500 they sinned 00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:34.719 and rebelled against him 00:14:34.719 --> 00:14:37.479 and everything was broken. 00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:40.459 Not only for them, 00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:41.840 but for all of us. 00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:43.759 Our relationship 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.759 with God is broken. 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:45.620 We were made 00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:47.080 to be with him 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:49.840 and to have clear consciences, 00:14:50.340 --> 00:14:52.700 to enjoy his friendship 00:14:52.700 --> 00:14:53.400 and kindness, 00:14:54.400 --> 00:14:56.200 to be gently led by him. 00:14:57.400 --> 00:14:58.980 But now we hide from him. 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:02.240 We fear him. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:05.460 We sense this guilt 00:15:05.460 --> 00:15:07.440 and we try to compensate 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:09.379 for it 00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:10.500 by ignoring God 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.980 or by distracting ourselves 00:15:11.980 --> 00:15:12.620 with everything 00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:14.500 that this life has to offer. 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:16.539 But God said, 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:18.600 I can fix that. 00:15:20.180 --> 00:15:22.480 I'll fix our relationship. 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:25.539 And our relationship 00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:26.659 with each other is broken. 00:15:26.659 --> 00:15:28.299 We have hearts 00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:29.399 that are not right. 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:31.439 We're selfish 00:15:31.439 --> 00:15:32.139 and greedy 00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:35.419 and we disrespect each other 00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:38.600 and we look out for ourselves. 00:15:38.819 --> 00:15:39.899 We hate each other. 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.899 We are racist. 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:43.399 We are unjust. 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:45.959 We divorce our husbands 00:15:45.959 --> 00:15:46.719 and wives. 00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:48.399 We mistreat our children. 00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:49.740 We bully each other. 00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:51.559 We fight 00:15:51.559 --> 00:15:52.860 and we steal 00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:54.159 and we go to war 00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:55.419 and we make a wreckage 00:15:55.419 --> 00:15:56.519 of human lives. 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:00.019 We are corrupt 00:16:00.019 --> 00:16:01.480 and we are addicted 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:02.959 to all kinds of things 00:16:02.959 --> 00:16:03.740 that harm us. 00:16:05.019 --> 00:16:06.059 And we're afraid 00:16:06.059 --> 00:16:07.719 and we're weak 00:16:07.719 --> 00:16:09.039 and our lives, 00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:09.659 our inner lives 00:16:09.659 --> 00:16:10.719 are just disordered. 00:16:11.719 --> 00:16:12.500 But God said, 00:16:12.839 --> 00:16:14.259 I can fix that. 00:16:14.579 --> 00:16:15.559 I can fix that too. 00:16:15.659 --> 00:16:16.219 I'll fix it. 00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:17.279 I'll give you a new heart. 00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:18.679 I'll make you a new person 00:16:18.679 --> 00:16:19.699 and I'll give you 00:16:19.699 --> 00:16:20.600 a new community 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:21.699 of brothers and sisters. 00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:25.140 And creation is broken. 00:16:25.300 --> 00:16:26.480 Everything is broken 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.040 in the world. 00:16:27.160 --> 00:16:28.379 There are terrible diseases 00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:30.220 and terrible pain. 00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:31.700 There are natural disasters 00:16:31.700 --> 00:16:32.660 and hurricanes 00:16:32.660 --> 00:16:33.440 and earthquakes 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:34.879 and then we die. 00:16:37.060 --> 00:16:38.280 God didn't make us 00:16:38.280 --> 00:16:39.080 to die originally 00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:40.620 but we do now. 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:41.540 We grow old 00:16:41.540 --> 00:16:42.640 and parts of our bodies 00:16:42.640 --> 00:16:43.379 quit working 00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:44.820 and we die 00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:46.080 and we leave behind 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:47.400 our friends and family. 00:16:48.640 --> 00:16:49.460 And then pretty soon 00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:50.100 they die 00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:51.820 and they leave behind 00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:52.980 their friends and family 00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:53.720 and then no one 00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:54.700 remembers us at all. 00:16:57.340 --> 00:16:58.279 But God said, 00:16:58.420 --> 00:16:59.320 I can fix that too. 00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:00.639 I can fix it all. 00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:01.840 I can cure everything 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:02.519 that is wrong 00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:04.440 and make all things new 00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:05.599 and so he sent 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:06.599 his son Jesus. 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.019 And Jesus is not 00:17:09.019 --> 00:17:09.480 a savior 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:10.900 who storms in 00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:12.380 and forces his will 00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:12.900 on everyone. 00:17:13.400 --> 00:17:14.299 He is a savior 00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:15.120 who fixes 00:17:15.120 --> 00:17:15.920 what is wrong 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:16.960 by taking it 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:17.799 upon himself. 00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:18.980 Paul says 00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:20.139 in 2 Corinthians 5, 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.259 God made Jesus 00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:22.799 who had no sin 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:24.500 to be sin for us 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.879 so that in him 00:17:25.879 --> 00:17:26.619 we might become 00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:27.180 the righteousness 00:17:27.180 --> 00:17:27.859 of God. 00:17:29.419 --> 00:17:30.579 It was a task 00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:31.919 that only he could do. 00:17:32.919 --> 00:17:34.019 It was the payment 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:34.899 for the remaking 00:17:34.899 --> 00:17:35.859 of the world 00:17:35.859 --> 00:17:37.399 and the human heart. 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:39.759 And Jesus hung 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:40.399 on that cross 00:17:40.399 --> 00:17:40.980 and he said, 00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:42.500 I did it. 00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:43.779 I did that. 00:17:43.779 --> 00:17:47.539 And that brings us 00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:48.839 to the invitation. 00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:51.480 An invitation 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:53.259 to it is finished. 00:17:54.899 --> 00:17:55.940 We have a yard 00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:56.960 at my house 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:57.960 that takes a long time 00:17:57.960 --> 00:17:58.399 to cut. 00:17:58.799 --> 00:17:59.740 It takes a long time 00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.599 to cut the grass. 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:02.160 There have been 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:02.720 a few times 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:04.019 when my wife 00:18:04.019 --> 00:18:04.899 is at home 00:18:04.899 --> 00:18:05.519 during the day 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.319 and I've been at work 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:07.480 and she goes out there 00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:08.119 and she takes 00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:08.899 an hour and a half 00:18:08.899 --> 00:18:09.619 or whatever it takes 00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:10.460 to cut that grass 00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:11.680 and I come home 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:12.180 from work, 00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:12.940 I drive home 00:18:12.940 --> 00:18:14.220 and I'm stressed 00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:16.799 and I've had 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:17.360 a busy day, 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:17.980 a full day 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:18.500 and I'm thinking, 00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:18.860 oh, 00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:19.420 I've got to cut 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.000 the grass tonight 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:20.319 and it's going 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:20.660 to take me 00:18:20.660 --> 00:18:21.220 an hour and a half 00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:22.000 and I'm already tired 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:22.519 and there's so many 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:22.880 other things 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:23.480 I could be doing. 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.259 Then as I round 00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:24.700 the corner 00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.660 and I look at the lawn, 00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:26.799 it's done. 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:29.299 And relief 00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:31.400 just washes over me. 00:18:32.900 --> 00:18:33.480 I can do 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.140 other things now. 00:18:34.600 --> 00:18:35.299 I got an hour 00:18:35.299 --> 00:18:35.700 and a half 00:18:35.700 --> 00:18:37.000 of time bonus. 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:37.920 I can rest, 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:38.720 I can do other work 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:39.500 that I have to do. 00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:41.099 But imagine 00:18:41.099 --> 00:18:42.140 if I go inside 00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:42.900 and I change 00:18:42.900 --> 00:18:43.859 into my work clothes 00:18:43.859 --> 00:18:44.460 and then I go out 00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:45.079 into the garage 00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:45.839 and I start up 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:46.339 the lawn mower 00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:47.339 and I start going 00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:47.940 around the yard 00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:49.720 and my wife 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.339 comes out to me 00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:50.900 and she says, 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:52.079 what are you doing? 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:54.099 That's a pretty 00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:54.640 good question 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:56.920 because I'm not 00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:58.000 actually accomplishing 00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:58.519 anything. 00:19:00.119 --> 00:19:02.059 I can't do that work. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:02.619 There's nothing 00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:03.299 to cut 00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:05.380 because she has 00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:06.099 already done it 00:19:06.099 --> 00:19:06.960 and not only that 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:08.079 but not only can't 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:08.640 I do it 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:09.240 but I'm missing 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:10.160 out on the benefit 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:10.900 of her having 00:19:10.900 --> 00:19:11.780 done it for me. 00:19:13.580 --> 00:19:14.400 I could be doing 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:14.980 something else. 00:19:15.040 --> 00:19:15.740 I could be resting 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.440 but instead I'm 00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:17.560 wearing myself out 00:19:17.560 --> 00:19:18.640 doing a job 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:19.480 that has already 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:20.120 been finished. 00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:21.100 No one would do that. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:22.920 It's a ridiculous 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:24.820 story. 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:27.420 But so often 00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:28.000 we are tempted 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:28.920 to do exactly 00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:29.980 the same thing 00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:30.440 when it comes 00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:31.300 to our salvation. 00:19:33.100 --> 00:19:33.920 The salvation 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:34.740 that Christ 00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.340 has already 00:19:35.340 --> 00:19:36.040 finished. 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:40.159 because Christ 00:19:40.159 --> 00:19:40.839 has finished 00:19:40.839 --> 00:19:41.460 the work 00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:42.319 because he has 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:43.319 completed the job 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:43.920 I think there's 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:44.960 three things 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:45.720 that we need to do. 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:46.399 Number one 00:19:46.399 --> 00:19:47.940 we must believe 00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:49.159 that his work 00:19:49.159 --> 00:19:49.779 was effective. 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:52.339 The Bible says 00:19:52.339 --> 00:19:52.879 that if we want 00:19:52.879 --> 00:19:53.619 to be forgiven 00:19:53.619 --> 00:19:54.859 and cleansed 00:19:54.859 --> 00:19:55.740 and brought back 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.420 into relationship 00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:56.960 with God 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:58.180 then we must believe 00:19:58.180 --> 00:20:00.240 that Jesus Christ 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:02.099 Jesus Christ's 00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:03.099 death on the cross 00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:03.920 worked. 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:06.320 In the book 00:20:06.320 --> 00:20:06.779 of Acts 00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:07.940 when people ask 00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:09.320 what must I do 00:20:09.320 --> 00:20:10.220 to be saved 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:11.240 the answer is 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:11.940 believe 00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:13.180 in the Lord 00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:14.100 Jesus Christ 00:20:14.100 --> 00:20:14.700 and you will 00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:15.320 be saved. 00:20:16.600 --> 00:20:17.360 And it says 00:20:17.360 --> 00:20:18.100 in Romans 10 00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:19.100 if you confess 00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:19.860 with your mouth 00:20:19.860 --> 00:20:20.420 that Jesus 00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:21.140 is Lord 00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:22.380 and believe 00:20:22.380 --> 00:20:23.279 in your heart 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:23.740 that God 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:24.200 raised him 00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:24.779 from the dead 00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:26.200 you will be saved. 00:20:26.300 --> 00:20:26.840 And that doesn't 00:20:26.840 --> 00:20:27.660 seem like enough 00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:28.080 does it? 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:28.800 It's too big 00:20:28.800 --> 00:20:29.400 of a job. 00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:31.019 It's too big 00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:31.779 of a task 00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:33.039 for that to be 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:33.619 it. 00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:34.700 That's all I have 00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:35.159 to do 00:20:35.159 --> 00:20:36.859 to participate 00:20:36.859 --> 00:20:37.659 in this work 00:20:37.659 --> 00:20:38.119 that Christ 00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:38.779 has done for me 00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:39.720 is simply believe 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:40.200 and the answer 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:41.039 is yes. 00:20:41.659 --> 00:20:42.440 Yes that's all 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:43.319 that has to be done 00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:44.559 because he has 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:45.379 already done it. 00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:46.240 There's no more 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:47.379 work left to finish. 00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:48.659 He has finished 00:20:48.659 --> 00:20:49.220 everything. 00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:52.779 The second 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:53.420 we not only need 00:20:53.420 --> 00:20:53.920 to believe 00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:54.359 but the second 00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:55.519 we need to accept 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:56.659 that the job 00:20:56.659 --> 00:20:57.539 is already done. 00:20:59.220 --> 00:20:59.839 When there's 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.420 a big job 00:21:00.420 --> 00:21:00.740 to do 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.759 it is so tempting 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:02.880 to try and jump 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:03.259 in there 00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:03.779 and help 00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.440 in some way. 00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:06.339 Go out to the garage 00:21:06.339 --> 00:21:07.460 and fire up a lawnmower 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.099 maybe I can 00:21:08.099 --> 00:21:09.680 help. 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:11.779 When it comes 00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:12.339 to our sins 00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:13.019 and brokenness 00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:13.480 we come up 00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.259 with all kinds 00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:14.720 of ways 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:15.680 to kind of 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.640 pay that off. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.779 Fix our problems 00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:20.339 with God. 00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:20.839 We know that 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:21.380 they're deep 00:21:21.380 --> 00:21:23.200 and significant. 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:23.920 We try to do 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:24.599 the right things. 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.559 We try to live 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:27.019 pretty good lives. 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:29.339 We keep up 00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:29.879 our faithful 00:21:29.879 --> 00:21:31.000 religious rituals 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:31.819 to keep God 00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:32.319 happy. 00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:33.819 The right 00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:34.920 political views. 00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:36.799 But that is 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:37.359 exhausting. 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:40.319 It's so tiring 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.039 and exhausting. 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:42.119 It wears us out 00:21:42.119 --> 00:21:42.799 and there's so much 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:43.819 pressure on us. 00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:44.839 And not only that 00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:45.700 but it does not 00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:46.079 work. 00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:48.000 It doesn't work. 00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:52.579 Do we honestly 00:21:52.579 --> 00:21:53.200 think 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:55.140 that living 00:21:55.140 --> 00:21:55.779 a pretty good 00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:56.700 life and giving 00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:57.480 money to the 00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:58.400 red cross 00:21:58.400 --> 00:22:00.420 and voting 00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:01.319 the right way 00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:03.160 and keeping 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:03.660 up some 00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.519 religious rituals 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:05.160 do we honestly 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:06.059 think that that 00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:07.039 is going to cure 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:07.860 the darkness 00:22:07.860 --> 00:22:08.640 that we sense 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:09.160 in our own 00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:09.600 hearts? 00:22:11.620 --> 00:22:12.500 And that that's 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:13.059 going to fix 00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:14.059 the brokenness 00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:14.580 that we see 00:22:14.580 --> 00:22:15.319 all around us? 00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:18.279 It says in 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:18.940 Ephesians 2 00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:19.440 that we are 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.920 dead in our 00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:21.299 sins. 00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:22.779 We are lost. 00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:23.619 We are cut 00:22:23.619 --> 00:22:24.379 off from God. 00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:25.700 You can't bring 00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:26.920 someone back to 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:27.960 life by being 00:22:27.960 --> 00:22:28.660 pretty good. 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:29.759 It doesn't work 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.139 that way. 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:33.099 There's nothing 00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:34.220 that we can do 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:36.700 to get rid of 00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:37.559 our sin and to 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:38.220 make things right 00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:38.700 with God. 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.440 But fortunately 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:42.779 Christ hangs on 00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:43.680 that cross and 00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:44.779 he says I've 00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.299 already finished 00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:45.839 that job. 00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:47.500 I've already 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:48.700 paid for those 00:22:48.700 --> 00:22:49.259 sins and 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:49.940 completed that 00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:51.139 work of salvation 00:22:51.139 --> 00:22:51.559 and there's 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.000 really nothing 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.500 left for you 00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:52.819 to do. 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:54.119 So just take 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:54.460 it easy. 00:22:57.140 --> 00:22:57.779 And so third 00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.519 we need to 00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:59.019 rest. 00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:00.140 We need to 00:23:00.140 --> 00:23:00.480 rest. 00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:02.579 Because now 00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:03.240 that Christ 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:04.119 has said 00:23:04.119 --> 00:23:04.819 it is 00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:05.380 finished 00:23:05.380 --> 00:23:06.359 we can have 00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:06.759 peace. 00:23:08.660 --> 00:23:09.400 We can have 00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:09.700 a clear 00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:10.400 conscience. 00:23:13.400 --> 00:23:14.059 Some of the 00:23:14.059 --> 00:23:14.660 things we 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:15.119 know this 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:15.619 some of the 00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:16.039 things that we 00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:16.640 do are so 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:17.160 wrong. 00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:19.860 we do 00:23:19.860 --> 00:23:21.480 we do some 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:21.960 pretty bad 00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:22.360 things. 00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:22.980 We hurt 00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:23.400 people. 00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.519 We say 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:26.279 awful things. 00:23:26.420 --> 00:23:26.820 We think 00:23:26.820 --> 00:23:27.680 awful things. 00:23:28.340 --> 00:23:29.019 We do 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:29.519 things that 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.200 are deviant. 00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:32.680 And it's so 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:33.600 easy to torment 00:23:33.600 --> 00:23:34.460 ourselves over 00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:35.540 that and to 00:23:35.540 --> 00:23:37.220 think about how 00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:38.279 shocking it is 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:38.700 that we would 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:39.700 do that thing, 00:23:39.800 --> 00:23:40.140 that we would 00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:40.840 look at that 00:23:40.840 --> 00:23:41.580 thing, that we 00:23:41.580 --> 00:23:42.120 would think 00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:42.860 that thing. 00:23:42.859 --> 00:23:44.740 we're 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:45.319 embarrassed. 00:23:46.219 --> 00:23:47.359 We feel the 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:48.240 shame burning 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:49.019 on our faces 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:49.679 and we beat 00:23:49.679 --> 00:23:50.419 ourselves up 00:23:50.419 --> 00:23:51.719 with self-loathing 00:23:51.719 --> 00:23:52.419 and guilt. 00:23:54.579 --> 00:23:55.539 But if we 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.299 have accepted 00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:57.419 that Christ 00:23:57.419 --> 00:23:58.259 has finished 00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:58.939 the work, 00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.559 if we have 00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:01.319 let him finish 00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:01.939 the task 00:24:01.939 --> 00:24:03.079 for us, 00:24:04.159 --> 00:24:04.879 then it's 00:24:04.879 --> 00:24:05.379 taken care 00:24:05.379 --> 00:24:05.599 of. 00:24:07.699 --> 00:24:08.519 If we have 00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.179 confessed our 00:24:09.179 --> 00:24:09.699 sins and 00:24:09.699 --> 00:24:10.179 turned away 00:24:10.179 --> 00:24:10.859 from our sins 00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:11.459 then they are 00:24:11.459 --> 00:24:12.339 finished. 00:24:12.699 --> 00:24:13.139 Christ has 00:24:13.139 --> 00:24:14.139 finished them. 00:24:15.639 --> 00:24:16.059 And so we 00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:16.639 go to Christ 00:24:16.639 --> 00:24:17.279 and we say, 00:24:17.679 --> 00:24:18.439 my sin is so 00:24:18.439 --> 00:24:19.339 terrible, how 00:24:19.339 --> 00:24:19.759 can you ever 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.379 stand to look 00:24:20.379 --> 00:24:20.679 at me? 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.399 You may be 00:24:23.399 --> 00:24:24.159 surprised at 00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:24.480 what I've 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:24.740 done. 00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:27.000 And it's as 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.419 though Christ 00:24:27.419 --> 00:24:28.039 says to us, 00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:29.599 what are you 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:30.179 talking about? 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.500 What sin are 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:32.919 you talking 00:24:32.919 --> 00:24:33.240 about? 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:34.720 I took care 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:35.059 of that. 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.319 My job was 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:38.879 to take care 00:24:38.879 --> 00:24:39.559 of your sin 00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:40.240 and I finished 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:40.919 that job. 00:24:41.139 --> 00:24:41.639 It's done 00:24:41.639 --> 00:24:41.879 now. 00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:45.099 I once 00:24:45.099 --> 00:24:45.319 heard a 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:45.819 pastor tell 00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:46.399 a simple 00:24:46.399 --> 00:24:46.859 story that 00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:47.119 I love 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:47.619 so much. 00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:48.579 A man 00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:48.959 goes to 00:24:48.959 --> 00:24:49.480 his pastor 00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:49.740 and he 00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:49.939 says, 00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:50.399 Pastor, 00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:51.599 I've 00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:52.159 sinned and 00:24:52.159 --> 00:24:52.439 I feel 00:24:52.439 --> 00:24:53.000 terrible 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.539 about it 00:24:53.539 --> 00:24:54.559 and nothing 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.199 will ease 00:24:55.199 --> 00:24:55.959 my conscience. 00:24:56.139 --> 00:24:56.399 I have 00:24:56.399 --> 00:24:57.799 confessed a 00:24:57.799 --> 00:24:58.720 thousand times 00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.439 and I still 00:24:59.439 --> 00:24:59.839 don't feel 00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:00.119 better. 00:25:01.459 --> 00:25:01.679 And the 00:25:01.679 --> 00:25:02.220 pastor says 00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:02.539 to him, 00:25:02.639 --> 00:25:02.679 well, 00:25:02.879 --> 00:25:03.279 there's your 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:03.740 problem right 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:03.980 there. 00:25:04.139 --> 00:25:04.439 You should 00:25:04.439 --> 00:25:04.939 have confessed 00:25:04.939 --> 00:25:05.319 it one 00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:06.159 time and 00:25:06.159 --> 00:25:06.779 praised him 00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.199 a thousand 00:25:07.199 --> 00:25:07.679 times. 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:11.420 when Christ 00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:12.140 had received 00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:12.620 the sour 00:25:12.620 --> 00:25:13.019 wine, 00:25:13.120 --> 00:25:13.560 he said, 00:25:13.660 --> 00:25:14.140 it is 00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:14.740 finished. 00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:16.320 And then 00:25:16.320 --> 00:25:16.700 he bowed 00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:17.140 his head 00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:17.580 and gave 00:25:17.580 --> 00:25:17.960 up his 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:18.380 spirit. 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.039 We must 00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:20.860 believe that 00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:23.039 and be 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.519 saved from 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:24.100 our sins. 00:25:25.060 --> 00:25:25.799 We must 00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:26.600 accept it 00:25:26.600 --> 00:25:28.039 instead of 00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:28.820 wearing ourselves 00:25:28.820 --> 00:25:29.120 out, 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:29.860 trying to do 00:25:29.860 --> 00:25:30.539 his job 00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:31.100 over and 00:25:31.100 --> 00:25:31.620 over again 00:25:31.620 --> 00:25:32.120 ourselves. 00:25:32.119 --> 00:25:33.839 and we 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:34.619 must rest 00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:36.099 because our 00:25:36.099 --> 00:25:36.500 sins are 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:37.819 gone and 00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:38.119 we are 00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:38.899 now free. 00:25:40.659 --> 00:25:41.399 Thanks be to 00:25:41.399 --> 00:25:42.019 God for his 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:42.899 inexpressible 00:25:42.899 --> 00:25:43.259 gift. 00:25:44.719 --> 00:25:44.959 Amen. 00:25:46.179 --> 00:25:46.799 Let's pray 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.119 together. 00:25:54.199 --> 00:25:54.679 Father, 00:25:54.739 --> 00:25:55.099 what a joy 00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:55.599 it is to 00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:56.219 read this 00:25:56.219 --> 00:25:57.599 passage in 00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:58.059 this holy 00:25:58.059 --> 00:26:00.339 week and 00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:01.099 remind ourselves 00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:01.819 of what you 00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:02.439 accomplished on 00:26:02.439 --> 00:26:02.980 the cross. 00:26:05.619 --> 00:26:06.339 This is not 00:26:06.339 --> 00:26:06.779 the way that 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.259 we're geared. 00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:08.139 We're geared 00:26:08.139 --> 00:26:08.759 to do these 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.519 things ourselves, 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.299 to try and 00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:10.939 maintain our 00:26:10.939 --> 00:26:12.359 own control 00:26:12.359 --> 00:26:12.759 over the 00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.339 situation. 00:26:15.419 --> 00:26:16.119 We are not 00:26:16.119 --> 00:26:16.859 geared to let 00:26:16.859 --> 00:26:17.379 go of these 00:26:17.379 --> 00:26:18.019 things and let 00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:18.819 you handle it. 00:26:18.879 --> 00:26:19.439 But I pray 00:26:19.439 --> 00:26:19.859 that you would 00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:20.399 help us to 00:26:20.399 --> 00:26:20.960 believe in 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:21.259 what you 00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:21.659 have done, 00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:22.259 to believe in 00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:22.559 you, 00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:25.799 to accept 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.460 that that 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:26.919 work has 00:26:26.919 --> 00:26:27.539 been completed 00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:29.480 and then to 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:30.099 have the joy 00:26:30.099 --> 00:26:30.480 of our 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:31.000 salvation, 00:26:31.179 --> 00:26:31.619 of walking 00:26:31.619 --> 00:26:32.219 with you, 00:26:33.379 --> 00:26:33.899 knowing that 00:26:33.899 --> 00:26:34.399 we are in 00:26:34.399 --> 00:26:36.139 Christ and 00:26:36.139 --> 00:26:36.500 that you have 00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:37.119 brought us near 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:37.659 to yourself 00:26:37.659 --> 00:26:38.179 through him. 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:40.459 We praise you 00:26:40.459 --> 00:26:40.919 for your work 00:26:40.919 --> 00:26:41.519 on the cross. 00:26:42.739 --> 00:26:43.459 In Jesus' name, 00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:44.480 Amen. 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:44.500 Amen.