WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:15.280 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:22.620 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:35.620 The first reading today is an Old Testament lesson from the prophet Isaiah, chapter 53, verses 4 through 6. 00:00:35.980 --> 00:00:39.040 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering. 00:00:39.960 --> 00:00:44.980 Yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 00:00:45.859 --> 00:00:48.620 But he was pierced for our transgressions. 00:00:48.980 --> 00:00:51.260 He was crushed for our iniquities. 00:00:51.259 --> 00:00:57.079 The punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 00:00:58.119 --> 00:01:00.719 We all, like sheep, have gone astray. 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:06.780 Each of us has turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 00:01:07.759 --> 00:01:10.979 The grass withers and the flowers fall. 00:01:11.819 --> 00:01:14.159 The word of our God stands forever. 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:24.200 And the New Testament lesson is a reading from the first letter of Peter, chapter 1, verses 18 through 22, and chapter 3, verse 18. 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:36.060 For you know that it was not with perishable things, such as silver or gold, that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 00:01:36.659 --> 00:01:41.480 but with the precious blood of Christ, the lamb without blemish or defect. 00:01:41.480 --> 00:01:50.659 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:55.500 He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. 00:01:56.420 --> 00:02:00.060 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate. 00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:03.040 When he suffered, he made no threats. 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:09.520 Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 00:02:10.480 --> 00:02:18.540 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. 00:02:19.719 --> 00:02:21.920 By his wounds you have been healed. 00:02:22.759 --> 00:02:29.879 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls. 00:02:29.879 --> 00:02:39.840 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. 00:02:40.419 --> 00:02:44.500 He was put to death in the body, but made alive in the spirit. 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:46.699 This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:47.219 --> 00:02:48.300 Thanks be to God. 00:02:48.979 --> 00:02:50.340 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:02:50.740 --> 00:02:55.300 It's kind of crazy that we're one month into summertime here. 00:02:55.359 --> 00:02:56.139 It's hard to believe. 00:02:56.139 --> 00:03:00.939 I know some of you are brand new, not only to Christ Church, but to this area. 00:03:01.159 --> 00:03:05.000 We want you to know that we're very glad that you're here. 00:03:05.079 --> 00:03:06.039 We warmly welcome you. 00:03:06.619 --> 00:03:09.599 You should know that I'm about to go on vacation tomorrow morning. 00:03:09.799 --> 00:03:12.279 So I look forward to getting to know you, but later. 00:03:12.839 --> 00:03:13.279 Later. 00:03:14.119 --> 00:03:18.119 And some of you, I know, are moving away, which breaks our hearts always. 00:03:18.120 --> 00:03:23.680 But to good things, new school opportunities, new job opportunities. 00:03:24.360 --> 00:03:30.560 And I would love a chance to say a proper goodbye if that's you after our service today. 00:03:31.259 --> 00:03:39.860 I'm really just on a personal note happy to report that this is the best I've felt going into summer vacation in the last five years. 00:03:39.860 --> 00:03:44.040 And so I want to thank God for that. 00:03:44.660 --> 00:03:45.700 We've endured a lot. 00:03:46.060 --> 00:03:49.220 And I thank you for praying for me and for Christ Church. 00:03:49.920 --> 00:03:51.920 And it's just so good to be in this place. 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:59.060 These past two months, we've been looking at this letter from one of Jesus' apostles. 00:03:59.060 --> 00:04:04.500 He was the leader, really, of Jesus' band of 12 disciples. 00:04:04.620 --> 00:04:05.640 His name was Simon Peter. 00:04:06.640 --> 00:04:16.540 And Jesus took this ordinary fisherman and he transformed him into an extraordinary witness of the gospel, the good news. 00:04:16.740 --> 00:04:23.680 And in our text today, Jesus gives us several nutshell summary statements about what the gospel is all about. 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:27.319 And so I want to talk about that under three headings today. 00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:35.000 I want to talk about the centrality of the cross and the meaning of the cross and the result of the cross. 00:04:35.099 --> 00:04:39.459 The centrality, the meaning, and the result of the cross. 00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:43.040 First of all, let's think together about the centrality of the cross. 00:04:43.800 --> 00:04:47.459 If you were to open your pew Bible, and you're welcome to do that, 00:04:47.719 --> 00:04:52.659 and you look at the first sentence of this letter that the apostle Peter writes, 00:04:52.660 --> 00:04:59.140 he says that he's writing to people who have been, quote, unquote, sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:01.180 It's a striking statement. 00:05:02.520 --> 00:05:05.640 And then he goes on, as we read in chapter one, he says, 00:05:05.720 --> 00:05:08.600 you've been redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus. 00:05:10.440 --> 00:05:14.840 In chapter two, as we read, it says that he bore our sins in his body on the tree. 00:05:14.839 --> 00:05:19.719 And then in chapter three, Christ suffered for sins to bring us to God. 00:05:19.779 --> 00:05:28.120 So it's pretty clear that the cross is central in Peter's mind to the message that he has to give to these people. 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:33.699 And if you know the story of Peter, the centrality of the cross here in his letter is quite astounding. 00:05:34.679 --> 00:05:41.120 Because when Jesus predicted his sufferings and his death, Peter protested. 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:48.540 Jesus said to his disciples, he said, I must go to Jerusalem, and I must suffer and be killed, 00:05:48.660 --> 00:05:51.060 and on the third day, be raised. 00:05:51.480 --> 00:05:55.819 And Peter was brash enough to take Jesus aside, 00:05:56.620 --> 00:06:01.660 and to immediately and vehemently contradict Jesus and rebuke Jesus. 00:06:01.780 --> 00:06:06.720 And he said this, he said, far be it from you, Lord, this shall never happen to you. 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:10.000 Never, Peter said. 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:12.819 So how did Jesus respond to Peter? 00:06:12.920 --> 00:06:16.620 Well, you can read this episode in Matthew, the Gospel of Matthew chapter 16, 00:06:16.819 --> 00:06:21.439 but Jesus rebuked Peter, and he said, get behind me, Satan. 00:06:21.720 --> 00:06:28.180 Now, if Jesus ever says that to you, that's just not a good thing to hear from Jesus. 00:06:28.459 --> 00:06:30.180 Okay, get behind me, Satan. 00:06:31.180 --> 00:06:36.259 You are not setting your mind on God and the concerns of God, 00:06:36.259 --> 00:06:38.959 but merely on human concerns. 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:44.620 And so Jesus tells Peter that if he will not embrace the cross, 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:47.019 then he's just not aligned with God, 00:06:47.180 --> 00:06:49.879 and he's not aligned with the concerns of God. 00:06:50.920 --> 00:06:56.039 And so what sort of impact, what kind of effect did this have on Peter? 00:06:57.039 --> 00:07:03.379 Well, Peter came to understand that the cross of Christ is the center of the Christian faith. 00:07:03.379 --> 00:07:04.199 And how did that happen? 00:07:04.300 --> 00:07:08.600 Well, Peter encountered the resurrected Jesus on Easter Sunday. 00:07:09.659 --> 00:07:13.920 He saw the nail marks in Jesus' glorified body, 00:07:14.199 --> 00:07:16.500 and over those next 40 days, 00:07:16.740 --> 00:07:21.899 he heard the risen and living Lord giving this giant review session 00:07:21.899 --> 00:07:26.699 and going back over all the teaching that he had given over the past three years. 00:07:26.699 --> 00:07:30.339 And somewhere in there, I think it all finally clicked for Peter. 00:07:31.479 --> 00:07:38.060 For example, think about this sign and this symbol of the Lord's Supper that we have put in front of us. 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:45.959 You can think about all the means that Jesus could have given to us to remember him and to experience him. 00:07:46.860 --> 00:07:47.959 And Jesus could have said, you know, 00:07:48.019 --> 00:07:50.759 when my disciple community, when my church gathers together, 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:55.439 make sure that you pull out a replica of my manger 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:58.680 so that you remember my birth and the incarnation. 00:07:59.800 --> 00:08:01.079 Or he could have said, you know, 00:08:01.139 --> 00:08:05.879 make sure you pull out a hammer and a chisel to remember that I was a builder 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:09.139 and to remember the value and dignity of human labor. 00:08:10.459 --> 00:08:13.480 Jesus could have said, well, bring out a little model of a boat 00:08:13.480 --> 00:08:18.640 because that will signify when I got into the boat and taught all the people on the land. 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:19.920 It will signify my teachings. 00:08:21.060 --> 00:08:22.860 Or he could have said, everybody pull out a towel. 00:08:23.379 --> 00:08:26.819 Pull out a towel and remember that moment where I washed the feet of my disciples. 00:08:27.939 --> 00:08:31.800 Or we could have doves in here as a symbol of the Holy Spirit 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:33.440 that was operative in the life of Jesus. 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:38.360 Jesus had many, many symbols available to him 00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:42.500 as the means for which his disciple community was to remember him 00:08:42.500 --> 00:08:44.440 and to experience him. 00:08:44.519 --> 00:08:45.840 But what did Jesus choose? 00:08:47.019 --> 00:08:48.519 He chose the bread and the wine. 00:08:49.460 --> 00:08:52.360 And he chose the bread and the wine so that Peter would know 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:55.179 and so that we would know that the Christian faith 00:08:55.179 --> 00:08:58.740 is primarily the faith of Christ crucified. 00:08:59.940 --> 00:09:00.139 Right? 00:09:00.139 --> 00:09:03.580 The bread and the wine, they don't signify the birth of Jesus 00:09:03.580 --> 00:09:07.100 or the life of Jesus or the words of Jesus or the works of Jesus 00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:10.679 or the resurrection of Jesus or even the coming again of Jesus. 00:09:10.679 --> 00:09:16.620 The bread and the wine signify to us Jesus' body broken 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:18.939 and his blood poured out on the cross. 00:09:20.259 --> 00:09:24.459 Jesus made it super clear to Peter and all the apostles before he died 00:09:24.459 --> 00:09:26.799 and after he was raised from the dead 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:31.239 that the reason he stepped out of eternity and into time 00:09:31.239 --> 00:09:33.579 was to die on the cross. 00:09:34.659 --> 00:09:36.799 And Peter came to see that without the cross, 00:09:36.799 --> 00:09:39.319 there is no salvation for human beings. 00:09:39.500 --> 00:09:43.039 There's no hope in this world without the cross. 00:09:44.019 --> 00:09:45.959 So if you're exploring Christianity, 00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:47.099 you may be wondering, 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:50.259 gosh, there's so much about the Christian faith. 00:09:50.339 --> 00:09:52.259 Where do I focus my attention? 00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:55.319 And I want you to know that, you know, 00:09:55.359 --> 00:09:56.859 without the resurrection of Jesus, 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:58.159 his cross would be meaningless. 00:09:58.159 --> 00:10:02.059 So you have to deal with the substantial evidence that we have 00:10:02.059 --> 00:10:03.319 for the resurrection of Jesus. 00:10:03.480 --> 00:10:05.299 But I would also say at the same time, 00:10:06.199 --> 00:10:10.240 you've got to deal with the way that Jesus' followers spoke about his cross. 00:10:11.459 --> 00:10:13.179 Take, for example, Saul of Tarsus. 00:10:13.299 --> 00:10:15.240 Saul was this zealous Jew. 00:10:15.419 --> 00:10:18.159 He was adamantly opposed to Jesus Christ 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:22.740 until he had this encounter with Jesus, 00:10:22.860 --> 00:10:26.379 this life-transforming encounter with the risen and living Lord. 00:10:26.379 --> 00:10:30.000 And then Paul began to speak in this way. 00:10:30.820 --> 00:10:33.039 This is what he says in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2. 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:34.320 He says to this church, 00:10:35.139 --> 00:10:36.919 we preach Christ crucified. 00:10:38.379 --> 00:10:41.919 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:44.960 except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:49.399 Now that does not mean that Paul devoted himself to ignorance 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:51.019 about other important matters. 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:52.480 Paul was educated. 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:53.340 Paul was brilliant. 00:10:53.340 --> 00:10:57.200 But it means that all Paul does 00:10:57.200 --> 00:11:00.580 and all that Paul teaches is tied to the cross. 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:05.720 And it means that we can understand nothing about Christian doctrine, 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:09.519 Christian ethics, Christian worship, Christian fellowship, 00:11:09.740 --> 00:11:10.740 or Christian mission 00:11:10.740 --> 00:11:14.600 unless the cross is at the center of all of those concerns. 00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:17.820 So as you explore the Christian faith, 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:20.580 if that's you today and you're reading a Christian book 00:11:20.580 --> 00:11:23.639 or you are hearing a Christian message, 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:25.440 you're engaging with a Christian group, 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:31.720 and it's not fairly obvious within a reasonable amount of time 00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:35.920 that the cross is central to that message 00:11:35.920 --> 00:11:38.600 or that group's vision of who God is 00:11:38.600 --> 00:11:41.040 and of what God has done. 00:11:42.040 --> 00:11:45.040 And if something else has been substituted in the center 00:11:45.040 --> 00:11:46.340 other than the cross, 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:50.379 then you know that you're probably not dealing, 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:52.139 you're probably not engaging with 00:11:52.139 --> 00:11:55.019 genuine historic Christian faith, 00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:59.120 but rather some sort of counterfeit version instead. 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:01.940 So if you're exploring Christianity, 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:03.279 that's my encouragement to you 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:06.120 is to think about the centrality of the cross 00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:09.879 for Peter, for Paul, for Jesus himself 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:13.360 who gave us this symbol to remember his cross. 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:16.080 Let's think for a minute too, 00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:18.399 not only about the centrality of the cross, 00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:20.259 but also the meaning of the cross. 00:12:21.299 --> 00:12:22.539 The meaning of the cross. 00:12:23.460 --> 00:12:24.480 Look at verse 24 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:27.720 where Peter says these words. 00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:29.899 He says he himself, Jesus himself, 00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:33.740 bore our sins in his body. 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:36.700 He bore our sins in his body. 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:39.500 And what Peter's talking about there 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:42.300 is that the eternal God became flesh. 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:45.940 The eternal God took a human body 00:12:45.940 --> 00:12:48.379 and he assumed our human nature. 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:49.360 Why did he do that? 00:12:49.460 --> 00:12:51.560 Well, Peter says it's because of, quote unquote, 00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:52.519 our sins. 00:12:53.860 --> 00:12:57.560 What is this archaic, nasty little three-letter word 00:12:57.559 --> 00:12:59.879 sin mean? 00:13:01.079 --> 00:13:02.319 Well, in the Greek, 00:13:02.419 --> 00:13:03.539 it's actually a seven-letter word. 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:04.500 It's hamartia. 00:13:05.479 --> 00:13:06.879 And when you read Homer 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:09.939 and you read the Iliad or the Odyssey, 00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:12.899 Homer uses this word hamartia 00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:15.059 to talk about throwing a spear 00:13:15.059 --> 00:13:16.199 but missing the mark. 00:13:16.200 --> 00:13:18.480 or shooting an arrow 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:20.700 but failing to hit the bullseye, 00:13:20.940 --> 00:13:23.140 falling short of your target. 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:25.680 And then if you keep reading on, 00:13:25.740 --> 00:13:28.040 and Aristotle and the Greek dramatists, 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:29.480 they use this word hamartia 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:32.600 to talk about a character's tragic error, 00:13:33.020 --> 00:13:33.960 a fatal flaw, 00:13:34.060 --> 00:13:35.220 some sort of blind spot 00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:36.980 that leads to their downfall. 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:41.080 And that's basically what Peter's talking about as well, 00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:42.960 that we were made 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:44.900 to hit the bullseye 00:13:44.900 --> 00:13:46.360 of loving God 00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:47.360 with all that we are. 00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:50.200 We were made to love God 00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:51.660 from the center of our being, 00:13:51.740 --> 00:13:53.400 to find our deepest identity 00:13:53.940 --> 00:13:55.500 and our deepest value 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:57.040 in our relationship with God, 00:13:57.120 --> 00:13:58.920 in our service to God. 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:01.360 And what Peter's saying 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:02.980 is that we've missed that mark. 00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:05.400 We've failed to hit that target. 00:14:06.020 --> 00:14:07.720 We've fallen short of the bullseye 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:08.779 of God's design 00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:11.060 and His intention for us. 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:13.040 And what Peter's suggesting 00:14:13.040 --> 00:14:14.440 is that sin is seeking 00:14:14.440 --> 00:14:15.600 to become yourself. 00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:18.500 Sin is seeking to get your identity 00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:20.580 apart from God 00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:23.139 in something other than God. 00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:25.700 And that's why the ancient theologians 00:14:25.700 --> 00:14:27.220 talked about the human condition 00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:29.120 as we are, all of us, 00:14:29.460 --> 00:14:31.620 homo incurvatus in se, 00:14:32.420 --> 00:14:34.240 which means that we are human beings 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:36.639 curved in upon ourselves. 00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:40.100 That self-centeredness 00:14:40.100 --> 00:14:41.139 and self-absorption 00:14:41.139 --> 00:14:42.180 and self-interest 00:14:42.180 --> 00:14:45.420 has somehow poisoned all of us. 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:48.480 And that is why, Peter says, 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:51.480 the eternal God took a human body. 00:14:52.540 --> 00:14:54.420 And that's why Jesus voluntarily 00:14:54.420 --> 00:14:57.680 offered Himself up to God the Father. 00:14:58.620 --> 00:15:01.779 He says Jesus came to bear our sins 00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:04.340 in His body. 00:15:04.340 --> 00:15:08.000 And where exactly did Jesus do this? 00:15:08.040 --> 00:15:09.420 Now, I have a little quibble 00:15:09.420 --> 00:15:10.980 with the translation 00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:12.440 that we just read this morning 00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:14.920 because the Greek word is 00:15:14.920 --> 00:15:17.100 He did this on the zulon. 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:19.399 He did this on the wood. 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:21.300 He did it on the tree. 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:24.399 It doesn't say He did it on the staros, 00:15:24.540 --> 00:15:25.440 the cross. 00:15:25.940 --> 00:15:26.600 And I don't know why 00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:28.519 the translation committee did that. 00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:29.900 So we need to write them a letter. 00:15:29.899 --> 00:15:32.659 But I'm pointing this out 00:15:32.659 --> 00:15:35.019 because it's a really important difference. 00:15:35.439 --> 00:15:37.019 Why does Peter actually say 00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:39.179 He bore our sins in His body 00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:40.159 on the tree? 00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:43.179 In the Acts of the Apostles, 00:15:43.299 --> 00:15:45.539 we get multiple sermons from Peter. 00:15:45.959 --> 00:15:47.860 And in two different sermons, 00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:50.139 Peter says that Jesus was put to death 00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:52.919 by people hanging Him on a tree. 00:15:53.179 --> 00:15:55.179 He was hung on a tree. 00:15:55.179 --> 00:15:58.379 And then here He uses the same language. 00:15:58.519 --> 00:16:00.039 He bore our sins in His body 00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:01.339 on the tree. 00:16:01.439 --> 00:16:03.539 That's a very odd way of speaking. 00:16:03.839 --> 00:16:04.719 Why in the world 00:16:04.719 --> 00:16:06.279 does He put it this way? 00:16:06.319 --> 00:16:07.799 Why would you go out of your way 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:10.399 to emphasize the tree? 00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:14.179 Well, Peter's referencing Moses 00:16:14.179 --> 00:16:17.579 in Deuteronomy chapter 21, verse 23. 00:16:17.739 --> 00:16:18.519 And Moses says this. 00:16:18.599 --> 00:16:18.879 He says, 00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:21.740 Anyone who is hung on a tree 00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:24.279 is under God's curse. 00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:27.379 Anyone who's hung on a tree 00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:29.299 is under God's curse. 00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:31.539 So that word tree 00:16:31.539 --> 00:16:33.219 is deliberate shorthand 00:16:33.219 --> 00:16:34.899 that means that Jesus died 00:16:34.899 --> 00:16:37.179 under the divine curse. 00:16:38.419 --> 00:16:38.939 And of course, 00:16:39.019 --> 00:16:39.759 Peter does not think 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:41.120 that Jesus deserved 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:42.419 to be accursed by God. 00:16:42.479 --> 00:16:43.459 He says in verse 22 00:16:43.459 --> 00:16:45.539 that He committed no sin. 00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:49.500 No, it was the divine curse 00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:50.519 that was on us. 00:16:51.479 --> 00:16:52.620 The divine curse 00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:54.439 that was hanging over me. 00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.339 And hanging over you 00:16:56.339 --> 00:16:58.719 that Jesus came to bear. 00:16:59.739 --> 00:17:00.620 And now notice 00:17:00.620 --> 00:17:01.959 how Peter refers 00:17:01.959 --> 00:17:02.919 not only to Moses 00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:04.579 but then to the prophets. 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:06.539 He refers to the prophet Isaiah 00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:09.440 and he quotes Isaiah 53, verse 5. 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:10.119 And he says this. 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.339 By his wounds, 00:17:11.879 --> 00:17:13.399 you have been healed. 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:16.079 And that's a deliberate reference 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:18.220 to the whole of that passage, 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:19.700 which I want to read to you 00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:20.419 one more time. 00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:22.279 You can look at Isaiah 53, 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:23.440 starting at verse 4. 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:28.460 This is talking about God's servant 00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:29.620 that He's going to send. 00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:31.560 And it says that, 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:36.039 surely He took up our pain 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:38.159 and bore our suffering. 00:17:39.159 --> 00:17:41.919 Yet we considered Him punished by God, 00:17:42.679 --> 00:17:44.039 stricken by Him and afflicted. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:46.319 But He was pierced 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:48.419 for our transgressions. 00:17:48.899 --> 00:17:50.359 And He was crushed 00:17:50.359 --> 00:17:52.379 for our iniquities. 00:17:52.380 --> 00:17:53.840 And the punishment 00:17:53.840 --> 00:17:55.200 that brought us peace 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:57.580 was on Him. 00:17:58.660 --> 00:17:59.820 And by His wounds, 00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:01.360 we are healed. 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:02.160 And do you see all that 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:02.900 back and forth 00:18:02.900 --> 00:18:04.360 that Isaiah is doing there? 00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:05.380 What he's talking about 00:18:05.380 --> 00:18:07.060 is some sort of substitution, 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:08.540 some sort of exchange, 00:18:08.760 --> 00:18:10.160 some sort of transfer 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:11.540 that this servant of God 00:18:11.540 --> 00:18:12.340 is going to come 00:18:12.340 --> 00:18:13.000 and He's going to take 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:14.440 the place of sinners. 00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:16.300 He's going to bear their sin 00:18:16.300 --> 00:18:17.620 instead of them 00:18:17.620 --> 00:18:18.960 and on behalf of them 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:20.920 and in the place of them. 00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:23.580 And so why is Peter 00:18:23.580 --> 00:18:26.100 marshalling Moses and Isaiah 00:18:26.100 --> 00:18:27.940 and the whole of the Old Testament? 00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:29.240 What in the world 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:30.700 is His point for us? 00:18:31.120 --> 00:18:32.200 It's just this. 00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:34.779 That the Creator of the universe 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.860 stooped down 00:18:35.860 --> 00:18:38.680 and that He humbled Himself 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:41.420 and that He took our human nature 00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:43.019 to Himself in His birth 00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:45.380 and then He took our guilt 00:18:45.380 --> 00:18:46.700 and our shame to Himself 00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.560 in His death. 00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:50.180 Sinless Himself, 00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:52.279 Jesus came and He bore our sins. 00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:54.620 Innocent Himself, 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:56.820 Jesus assumed our guilt. 00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:59.140 And immortal Himself, 00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:01.740 Jesus died our death. 00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:04.180 And why did He do it? 00:19:04.820 --> 00:19:06.100 Well, He did it out of sheer 00:19:06.100 --> 00:19:07.440 selfless love 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:10.039 that we can barely even begin 00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:11.259 to understand 00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:14.080 that Jesus wanted to bring us 00:19:14.080 --> 00:19:15.180 out of that cursedness 00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.759 that we were living in. 00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:18.500 He wanted to bring us 00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:19.599 out of the cursedness 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:20.599 of sin and death 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:21.940 and He wanted to bring us 00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:23.420 into that healing 00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:24.480 and that forgiveness 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.680 that can only happen 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:27.599 through His wounds. 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:31.299 He says in 1 Peter 3.18, 00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:32.680 He suffered for sins 00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:34.759 that He might bring us to God, 00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:37.539 that He might reconcile us 00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:39.140 with our Creator God 00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:41.039 against whom we had rebelled, 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:42.220 that He might bring us back 00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:44.140 into fellowship with God 00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:46.580 as our Abba Father. 00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:50.180 So when we look upon the cross 00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:51.820 and we look upon 00:19:51.820 --> 00:19:54.040 that most dramatic experience 00:19:54.040 --> 00:19:55.300 of unjust suffering 00:19:55.300 --> 00:19:56.360 in human history, 00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:59.400 what should cause us to tremble 00:19:59.400 --> 00:20:01.340 is not so much 00:20:01.340 --> 00:20:02.640 His physical suffering 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:04.020 when He was reviled 00:20:04.020 --> 00:20:04.700 and tortured 00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:05.980 and executed 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:07.120 at the hands of His enemies. 00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.400 And what should cause us 00:20:09.400 --> 00:20:09.820 to tremble 00:20:09.820 --> 00:20:10.480 is not so much 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.140 His mental suffering 00:20:11.140 --> 00:20:13.180 when He was betrayed 00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:13.900 and denied 00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:14.500 and abandoned 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:15.840 at the hands of His friends. 00:20:16.860 --> 00:20:17.980 But what should really 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:19.420 cause us to tremble 00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:23.100 is Jesus' spiritual suffering 00:20:23.100 --> 00:20:25.500 when He, the sinless one, 00:20:25.620 --> 00:20:26.500 bore our sin 00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:28.540 and He bore our curse 00:20:28.540 --> 00:20:30.120 and He bore our condemnation 00:20:30.120 --> 00:20:32.060 and our eternal death penalty 00:20:32.060 --> 00:20:33.180 not at the hands 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:33.740 of His enemies, 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:34.640 not at the hands 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:35.120 of His friends, 00:20:35.120 --> 00:20:36.300 but at the hands 00:20:36.300 --> 00:20:37.660 of God Himself. 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:40.860 That's the real meaning 00:20:40.860 --> 00:20:41.420 of the cross, 00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:42.220 the real meaning 00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:43.220 of what Christ did 00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:44.120 on that cross 00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:46.779 is that the suffering 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.480 and the agony 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:48.860 that Jesus bore 00:20:48.860 --> 00:20:52.500 was the endless suffering 00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:53.779 and endless agony 00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:56.200 of being cut off from God 00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:58.460 and being separated from God. 00:20:59.820 --> 00:21:00.680 And Jesus, of course, 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.759 didn't deserve that. 00:21:02.860 --> 00:21:03.900 Jesus deserved nothing 00:21:03.900 --> 00:21:06.400 but adoration and reward 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:07.780 for the life that He lived. 00:21:08.860 --> 00:21:09.920 But the one person 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:11.200 who did not have to die 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:13.740 volunteered to take our place 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:15.440 and to become 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.980 our sin-bearing substitute. 00:21:18.280 --> 00:21:19.080 And on that great 00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:20.180 central day of history, 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:21.420 for one time only, 00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:23.060 God treated the only 00:21:23.060 --> 00:21:23.900 righteous person 00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:26.700 as if He were unrighteous. 00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:29.200 And Jesus cried out, 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:30.860 My God, my God, 00:21:30.859 --> 00:21:33.240 why have you forsaken me? 00:21:33.719 --> 00:21:34.899 And the reason He said that 00:21:34.899 --> 00:21:36.259 is so that none of us 00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:38.139 would ever have to utter 00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:39.319 that awful sentence 00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:40.619 for ourselves. 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.019 That we would never 00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:43.240 be forsaken by God. 00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:45.379 Jesus cried out 00:21:45.379 --> 00:21:46.059 from that cross, 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:47.839 It is finished 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:49.699 so that you and I 00:21:49.699 --> 00:21:50.000 could know 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:51.179 that all of our sin 00:21:51.179 --> 00:21:52.139 and our unrighteousness 00:21:52.139 --> 00:21:53.799 was transferred onto Him. 00:21:54.659 --> 00:21:55.740 And all of His sin 00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:56.359 and His righteousness 00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:59.079 was transferred onto us. 00:21:59.079 --> 00:22:01.419 and that all of our 00:22:01.419 --> 00:22:02.659 self-centered 00:22:02.659 --> 00:22:04.399 homo incurvatus 00:22:04.399 --> 00:22:05.000 in se, 00:22:05.159 --> 00:22:06.159 curved inness 00:22:06.159 --> 00:22:07.379 upon ourselves, 00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:08.879 past and present 00:22:08.879 --> 00:22:09.419 and future, 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.460 all of our self-centered 00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:12.199 attitudes and actions, 00:22:13.199 --> 00:22:14.359 past, present, and future, 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:16.659 were born by Jesus 00:22:16.659 --> 00:22:17.799 for us. 00:22:19.199 --> 00:22:20.179 In a lot of churches, 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:20.859 people would say, 00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:21.460 mm-hmm, 00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:23.480 or like, amen, 00:22:23.879 --> 00:22:25.240 or that's right. 00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:29.140 There's nothing more 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:30.039 that you can do 00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:30.960 to make you more 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:32.319 acceptable to God. 00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:34.920 And there's nothing more 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:36.039 that we could add 00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:36.859 to Christ's work 00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:38.420 on that cursed tree. 00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:40.720 And so if you're here 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.460 and you're exploring 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.099 Christianity, 00:22:42.620 --> 00:22:43.480 I want you to know, 00:22:43.620 --> 00:22:43.759 again, 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:45.599 that becoming a Christian 00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:48.000 is about allowing 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:49.740 this meaning of the cross 00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.539 that I've just explained 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:50.839 to you, 00:22:50.900 --> 00:22:51.839 allowing the meaning 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:52.480 of the cross 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.819 to become the meaning 00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:55.159 of your life, 00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:57.259 to become the very 00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:58.480 foundation of the heart 00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:00.240 of your identity. 00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:02.460 And that's how 00:23:02.460 --> 00:23:03.939 Jesus' followers talked, 00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:04.460 right? 00:23:04.679 --> 00:23:05.579 The Apostle Paul 00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:07.419 closes his great letter 00:23:07.419 --> 00:23:08.059 to the Galatians 00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:08.439 like this. 00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:08.759 He says, 00:23:08.879 --> 00:23:10.179 may I never boast 00:23:10.179 --> 00:23:12.279 except in the cross 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:13.579 of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.619 through which the world 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:15.980 has been crucified to me 00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:17.899 and I to the world. 00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.460 You following with me? 00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:22.799 The centrality of the cross 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:24.619 and the meaning 00:23:24.619 --> 00:23:25.339 of the cross 00:23:25.339 --> 00:23:26.980 but I also want you 00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:27.819 to see the result 00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:28.419 of the cross 00:23:28.419 --> 00:23:29.359 because Peter doesn't 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:30.200 just leave it there. 00:23:30.339 --> 00:23:31.379 He keeps going 00:23:31.379 --> 00:23:33.599 and kind of begs 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.319 this question of like 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:36.480 what was God's desired 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:37.139 outcome 00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:39.180 of Jesus' sin 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:40.099 bearing death? 00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:41.500 It wasn't just 00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.399 that we might be forgiven. 00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:43.039 It was that 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:44.039 but it's more than that. 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:46.119 Peter says in verse 24 00:23:46.119 --> 00:23:47.740 that we might die 00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:48.279 to sin 00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:49.779 and live to righteousness. 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:52.759 that we might die 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.259 to sin 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:53.879 and live 00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:55.099 to righteousness. 00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:57.660 Jesus bore 00:23:57.660 --> 00:23:58.480 our sins 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.399 that we might be given 00:23:59.399 --> 00:24:00.279 a new birth 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:02.359 into a new life 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:03.940 with a new power 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:05.480 and new habits 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:07.700 so that we increasingly 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:08.559 more and more 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:10.299 come to look like Jesus 00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:12.500 and sound like Jesus 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.839 and feel like Jesus 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:15.740 and act like Jesus 00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:17.599 and talk like Jesus. 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:19.759 So the cross 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.559 not only brings us 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:20.980 forgiveness 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:22.139 but it commits us 00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:23.639 to the holiness 00:24:23.639 --> 00:24:24.259 of Jesus. 00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:26.819 Our new life 00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:27.480 in Jesus Christ 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.679 is so radically new 00:24:28.679 --> 00:24:29.399 that it can only be 00:24:29.399 --> 00:24:30.399 described by Peter 00:24:30.399 --> 00:24:31.899 as a death 00:24:31.899 --> 00:24:32.639 and a resurrection. 00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:33.539 He's saying to us 00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.819 you died 00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:35.639 with Jesus 00:24:35.639 --> 00:24:36.179 to sin 00:24:36.179 --> 00:24:38.579 and you were raised 00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:39.240 with Jesus 00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:40.659 to a new life 00:24:40.659 --> 00:24:42.039 of righteousness 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:43.459 in line with God's will. 00:24:44.919 --> 00:24:45.759 And so what does that mean 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:47.000 for us in practical terms? 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:48.240 Well it means simply this 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:50.119 that I can no longer 00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:51.619 do things my way. 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:54.680 That if you embrace 00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:55.880 the meaning of the cross 00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:56.339 for you 00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:57.059 you can no longer 00:24:57.059 --> 00:24:58.619 do things your way. 00:24:58.839 --> 00:24:59.680 And here's where I get that 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:00.599 in verse 25 00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:01.839 Peter says 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:05.319 for you were like 00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:06.500 sheep going astray 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:08.339 but now you have returned 00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:08.980 to the shepherd 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:09.900 and overseer 00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:11.160 of your souls. 00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:13.500 See Peter was there 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:15.039 when Jesus said 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:15.579 to the disciples 00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:16.519 in John chapter 10 00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:17.440 I'm the good shepherd 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:18.059 who lays down 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:19.059 his life for the sheep. 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:20.039 And so Peter knows 00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:21.019 that Jesus 00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:22.519 is our seeking shepherd. 00:25:22.639 --> 00:25:24.019 He passionately pursues 00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:26.599 his straying sheep. 00:25:27.059 --> 00:25:27.980 And when he says that 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:29.279 he's quoting again 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:30.539 Isaiah 53 6 00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:31.059 which says 00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:32.579 we all like sheep 00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:33.440 have gone astray 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:34.720 and each of us 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:35.400 has turned to 00:25:35.400 --> 00:25:36.460 our own way. 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:39.119 And that's what sin is. 00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:40.680 Sin is my way. 00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:43.019 Sin is saying to God 00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:43.839 not your way 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:44.899 my way. 00:25:45.899 --> 00:25:46.699 And if you know 00:25:46.699 --> 00:25:47.519 the story of Peter 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:48.240 you know he had 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.480 some my way moments 00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:49.959 didn't he? 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.599 Peter had some 00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:53.659 some big kind of like 00:25:53.659 --> 00:25:55.459 my way failures 00:25:55.459 --> 00:25:56.699 like big time. 00:25:57.859 --> 00:25:59.240 And so what a relief 00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:00.199 Peter must have felt. 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:01.000 What a joy 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:02.319 Peter must have felt 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:03.939 and must have filled 00:26:03.939 --> 00:26:04.319 his heart 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:05.079 when he met 00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:06.339 the resurrected Jesus 00:26:06.339 --> 00:26:08.559 and he received 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:09.639 the forgiveness of sins 00:26:09.639 --> 00:26:10.619 from his good shepherd. 00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:13.659 And I'm imagining 00:26:13.659 --> 00:26:16.500 from that point on 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:18.219 Peter was thinking 00:26:18.219 --> 00:26:18.779 to himself 00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.239 gosh 00:26:19.239 --> 00:26:22.339 if my good shepherd 00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:24.579 laid down his life 00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:26.079 for me 00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:26.939 and my failures 00:26:26.939 --> 00:26:29.179 and if the overseer 00:26:29.179 --> 00:26:29.719 of my soul 00:26:29.719 --> 00:26:30.199 bore 00:26:30.199 --> 00:26:31.759 my sins 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.899 and my way 00:26:32.899 --> 00:26:34.219 for me 00:26:34.219 --> 00:26:36.399 then it's inconceivable 00:26:36.399 --> 00:26:37.219 that I should 00:26:37.219 --> 00:26:38.579 insist on 00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:39.319 my way 00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:39.939 anymore. 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.919 The result of the cross 00:26:42.919 --> 00:26:44.099 is that I should 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:45.439 no longer go 00:26:45.439 --> 00:26:45.959 in my way 00:26:45.959 --> 00:26:46.539 but that I should 00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:47.099 go in my good 00:26:47.099 --> 00:26:47.819 shepherd's way. 00:26:48.979 --> 00:26:50.099 And if he's leading 00:26:50.099 --> 00:26:50.739 me in paths 00:26:50.739 --> 00:26:51.159 of righteousness 00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:52.519 who am I to resist him? 00:26:53.159 --> 00:26:54.000 He's the shepherd 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.639 and overseer 00:26:54.639 --> 00:26:55.519 of my soul. 00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:58.319 And so Peter says 00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:59.599 I'm done with that 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:00.079 old life 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:00.879 of my way 00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:02.959 and now I want 00:27:02.959 --> 00:27:03.859 to live this new life 00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:05.119 of Jesus' way. 00:27:06.659 --> 00:27:07.299 And the way 00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:08.039 he describes that 00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:08.439 is he says 00:27:08.439 --> 00:27:09.199 it's living 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:10.600 for righteousness. 00:27:11.840 --> 00:27:12.819 Living for righteousness. 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:13.559 What in the world 00:27:13.559 --> 00:27:14.440 does that mean? 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:16.120 Well look again 00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:17.080 at verse 21 00:27:17.080 --> 00:27:18.880 of chapter 2. 00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:20.059 He says 00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:20.840 because Christ 00:27:20.840 --> 00:27:21.700 suffered for you 00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:22.720 leaving you 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.259 an example 00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:24.059 that you should 00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:24.600 follow 00:27:24.600 --> 00:27:25.940 in his steps. 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:28.039 He left us 00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:28.460 an example 00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.059 that we should 00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:30.500 follow in his steps. 00:27:30.580 --> 00:27:31.120 And that word 00:27:31.120 --> 00:27:31.740 example 00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:33.940 it refers to 00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:34.620 the pattern 00:27:34.620 --> 00:27:35.460 of letters 00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:36.100 in the alphabet. 00:27:36.099 --> 00:27:37.919 and children 00:27:37.919 --> 00:27:38.740 in the ancient world 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:40.119 they would learn 00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:41.379 to write their ABCs 00:27:41.379 --> 00:27:42.019 by taking 00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:42.980 an example 00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:43.859 of the letters 00:27:43.859 --> 00:27:44.439 and then they would 00:27:44.439 --> 00:27:45.379 trace over that 00:27:45.379 --> 00:27:46.139 example. 00:27:47.919 --> 00:27:48.699 And so Peter's 00:27:48.699 --> 00:27:49.079 telling us 00:27:49.079 --> 00:27:49.519 that living 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:50.159 for righteousness 00:27:50.159 --> 00:27:52.159 means tracing 00:27:52.159 --> 00:27:52.819 the pattern 00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.919 of Jesus' life 00:27:53.919 --> 00:27:54.919 onto our life. 00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:57.179 It's like laying 00:27:57.179 --> 00:27:57.779 that paper 00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:58.819 over the pattern 00:27:58.819 --> 00:27:59.439 right? 00:28:00.459 --> 00:28:01.740 And looking 00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:03.740 through it 00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.980 and seeing 00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:05.480 the example 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:06.059 the pattern 00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:06.480 of Jesus 00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:07.660 cross-shaped 00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:09.420 sacrificial 00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:10.380 self-giving love 00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:11.579 and then tracing 00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:12.140 that out 00:28:12.140 --> 00:28:13.039 on our life 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:13.980 replicating that 00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:15.539 out in our life. 00:28:23.880 --> 00:28:24.839 Peter says 00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:25.559 we're to follow 00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:27.460 in Jesus' steps. 00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:29.380 And that 00:28:29.380 --> 00:28:30.079 simply means 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:30.640 that we cannot 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:31.380 step into the 00:28:31.380 --> 00:28:32.240 footsteps of Jesus 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:33.960 and then go 00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:34.519 head off 00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.900 in our own 00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:36.400 direction 00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:37.779 that's different 00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:38.279 than the direction 00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:38.720 that Jesus 00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:39.299 is taking. 00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:41.819 Jesus' 00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:42.779 footsteps 00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:43.420 led him 00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:44.160 to follow 00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:44.799 a particular 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.380 pathway. 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:47.980 And the path 00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:48.740 that Jesus took 00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.420 was the path 00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:49.940 of meek 00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:50.880 submission 00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:51.799 to the Father's 00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:52.039 will. 00:28:53.160 --> 00:28:53.920 The path 00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:54.559 that Jesus took 00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:55.140 was radical 00:28:55.140 --> 00:28:55.700 obedience 00:28:55.700 --> 00:28:56.500 to the Father's 00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:56.819 word. 00:28:57.900 --> 00:28:58.620 The path 00:28:58.620 --> 00:28:59.299 that Jesus took 00:28:59.299 --> 00:28:59.940 was suffering 00:28:59.940 --> 00:29:00.980 love and relationship 00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.599 with others. 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:02.219 The path 00:29:02.219 --> 00:29:03.279 of Jesus 00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:05.159 was surrendering 00:29:05.159 --> 00:29:05.899 his needs 00:29:05.899 --> 00:29:06.819 and his desires 00:29:06.819 --> 00:29:07.699 his rights 00:29:07.699 --> 00:29:08.699 and his privileges 00:29:08.699 --> 00:29:10.119 and his comforts 00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:10.859 for the sake 00:29:10.859 --> 00:29:11.959 of loving others. 00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:12.839 Can you imagine 00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:14.319 tracing those 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:15.639 ABC's of Jesus 00:29:15.639 --> 00:29:17.199 onto your life? 00:29:19.359 --> 00:29:20.099 And I'll go 00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:20.740 one further 00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:22.179 in verse 23. 00:29:22.379 --> 00:29:22.579 It says 00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:23.539 when they hurled 00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:24.219 their insults 00:29:24.219 --> 00:29:24.679 at Jesus 00:29:24.679 --> 00:29:26.359 he did not 00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:27.099 retaliate 00:29:27.099 --> 00:29:28.480 and when 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:29.000 he suffered 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.419 he made 00:29:29.419 --> 00:29:30.000 no threats 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:30.339 instead 00:29:30.339 --> 00:29:31.019 he entrusted 00:29:31.019 --> 00:29:31.379 himself 00:29:31.379 --> 00:29:31.839 to him 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:32.500 who judges 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.439 justly. 00:29:34.819 --> 00:29:35.139 And what 00:29:35.139 --> 00:29:35.699 Peter's telling 00:29:35.699 --> 00:29:36.179 us is that 00:29:36.179 --> 00:29:36.659 living for 00:29:36.659 --> 00:29:37.099 righteousness 00:29:37.099 --> 00:29:38.179 means following 00:29:38.179 --> 00:29:38.799 in Jesus' 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:39.439 footsteps 00:29:39.439 --> 00:29:41.279 of non-retaliation. 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:43.299 And you may 00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:44.019 find this useful 00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:44.719 in your workplace 00:29:44.719 --> 00:29:45.139 tomorrow 00:29:45.139 --> 00:29:46.899 or in your 00:29:46.899 --> 00:29:47.699 family gatherings 00:29:47.699 --> 00:29:48.639 this July 4th 00:29:48.639 --> 00:29:49.039 weekend. 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:50.679 Right? 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.139 That just as 00:29:51.139 --> 00:29:51.959 people hurled 00:29:51.959 --> 00:29:53.059 ugly words 00:29:53.059 --> 00:29:53.519 at Jesus 00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:53.919 and he 00:29:53.919 --> 00:29:54.319 did not 00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:55.039 retaliate. 00:29:56.119 --> 00:29:56.799 So when 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.419 people say 00:29:57.419 --> 00:29:58.299 something to 00:29:58.299 --> 00:29:58.859 you that's 00:29:58.859 --> 00:29:59.240 not worth 00:29:59.240 --> 00:29:59.619 saying. 00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.200 Right? 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:01.599 When people 00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:03.240 are insensitive 00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:03.659 to you 00:30:03.659 --> 00:30:04.079 or mean 00:30:04.079 --> 00:30:04.539 to you. 00:30:05.299 --> 00:30:05.980 When people 00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:07.440 criticize you 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:08.119 to your face 00:30:08.119 --> 00:30:08.759 or they slander 00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.319 you behind 00:30:09.319 --> 00:30:09.879 your back. 00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.079 And whether 00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:11.619 they do that 00:30:11.619 --> 00:30:12.179 in person 00:30:12.179 --> 00:30:13.579 or over text 00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:14.639 or online. 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:16.359 As someone 00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:16.980 who's living 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:17.740 for righteousness 00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:18.519 someone who's 00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:19.519 following in 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:19.819 Jesus' 00:30:20.059 --> 00:30:20.319 steps 00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:21.440 you will not 00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:22.440 reply in kind. 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:24.440 You will 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:24.980 as Jesus 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:25.879 he did not 00:30:25.879 --> 00:30:27.159 retaliate. 00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:29.200 And that's 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:29.639 to state it 00:30:29.639 --> 00:30:30.059 negatively 00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:30.539 but let me 00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:31.119 just end 00:30:31.119 --> 00:30:31.559 by putting 00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:32.279 it positively 00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:33.619 using Jesus' 00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:34.220 own words 00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:34.460 from the 00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.220 Gospel of Luke 00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:36.279 chapter 6. 00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:38.799 And I think 00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:39.399 if the church 00:30:39.399 --> 00:30:39.960 did this 00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:40.500 it would probably 00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:41.200 change the world 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:41.779 because here's 00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:42.119 what Jesus 00:30:42.119 --> 00:30:42.539 says. 00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:44.440 Love your 00:30:44.440 --> 00:30:44.899 enemies. 00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:47.440 Do good 00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:48.799 to those 00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.519 who hate you. 00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:51.379 Bless 00:30:51.379 --> 00:30:51.960 those 00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:53.000 who curse 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:53.259 you. 00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.259 Pray for 00:30:55.259 --> 00:30:55.660 those 00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:56.519 who 00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:56.940 mistreat 00:30:56.940 --> 00:30:57.200 you. 00:30:58.420 --> 00:30:58.920 If someone 00:30:58.920 --> 00:30:59.539 slaps you 00:30:59.539 --> 00:30:59.960 on one 00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:00.519 cheek 00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:02.100 turn to 00:31:02.100 --> 00:31:02.360 them the 00:31:02.360 --> 00:31:02.880 other also. 00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:04.640 If someone 00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:05.140 takes your 00:31:05.140 --> 00:31:05.460 coat 00:31:05.460 --> 00:31:06.740 do not 00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:06.980 withhold 00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.400 your shirt 00:31:07.400 --> 00:31:07.840 from them. 00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:09.579 Love your 00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:10.019 enemies. 00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:11.779 Do good 00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:12.220 to them. 00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:13.920 Lend to 00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:14.319 them without 00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:14.819 expecting 00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:15.500 anything 00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:16.360 in return. 00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:18.160 Then your 00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:18.779 reward will 00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:19.259 be great 00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:20.359 and you 00:31:20.359 --> 00:31:20.599 will be 00:31:20.599 --> 00:31:21.119 children of 00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:21.220 the 00:31:21.220 --> 00:31:21.740 Most High 00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:22.379 because he 00:31:22.379 --> 00:31:23.259 is kind 00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:24.160 to the 00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:24.700 ungrateful 00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:25.220 and the 00:31:25.220 --> 00:31:25.420 wicked. 00:31:26.599 --> 00:31:27.039 So be 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:27.460 merciful 00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:29.059 as your 00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:29.420 Father 00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:30.200 is 00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:30.599 merciful. 00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:33.980 To follow 00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:34.279 in the 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:34.940 footsteps of 00:31:34.940 --> 00:31:35.200 Jesus' 00:31:35.379 --> 00:31:35.720 righteousness 00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:36.599 means that 00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:38.059 when we're 00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:38.420 hated 00:31:38.420 --> 00:31:40.039 we do 00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:40.339 good. 00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:42.079 And when 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:42.259 we're 00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:42.660 cursed 00:31:42.660 --> 00:31:44.599 we bless. 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:46.200 And when 00:31:46.200 --> 00:31:46.400 we're 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:47.119 mistreated 00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:48.759 we pray. 00:31:49.919 --> 00:31:50.579 And when 00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:51.479 we encounter 00:31:51.479 --> 00:31:52.079 someone who's 00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:52.699 ungrateful 00:31:52.699 --> 00:31:54.219 we're kind. 00:31:55.319 --> 00:31:55.779 And when we 00:31:55.779 --> 00:31:56.659 encounter someone 00:31:56.659 --> 00:31:57.319 and deal with 00:31:57.319 --> 00:31:57.839 someone who's 00:31:57.839 --> 00:31:58.119 wicked 00:31:58.119 --> 00:31:58.619 we're 00:31:58.619 --> 00:31:59.079 merciful. 00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.000 Friends this 00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:01.479 is the way 00:32:01.479 --> 00:32:01.939 of Jesus. 00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:04.079 And this is 00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:04.539 the intended 00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:06.000 result of 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:06.619 his cross. 00:32:07.899 --> 00:32:08.599 So may we 00:32:08.599 --> 00:32:09.119 follow in 00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:09.319 Jesus' 00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:11.219 steps and 00:32:11.219 --> 00:32:11.879 may when 00:32:11.879 --> 00:32:12.579 people look 00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:13.059 at us may 00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:14.119 they see the 00:32:14.119 --> 00:32:14.559 example, 00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:15.379 the pattern, 00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:16.879 the ABC, 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:17.619 of Jesus' 00:32:17.819 --> 00:32:18.479 righteous life 00:32:18.479 --> 00:32:19.079 writ large 00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:19.959 in our 00:32:19.959 --> 00:32:20.339 lives. 00:32:21.259 --> 00:32:21.639 In the name 00:32:21.639 --> 00:32:21.839 of the 00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:22.039 Father, 00:32:22.179 --> 00:32:22.319 Son, 00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:22.639 and Holy 00:32:22.639 --> 00:32:22.979 Spirit. 00:32:23.679 --> 00:32:23.939 Amen. 00:32:23.939 --> 00:32:24.079 Amen.