to nations then let's begin our worship this evening and we're going to sing first of all
from psalm 65 psalm 65 using the traditional scottish psalter version page 299 the tune is
harris field we're singing verses 1 to 5 all lands to god and joyful sounds aloft your voices raise
sing forth the honor of his name and glorious make his praise say unto god how terrible in
all thy works art thou through thy great power thy foes to thee shall be constrained to bow so through
to verse 5 come and the works that god has done with admiration see in his working to the sons of men
most terrible is he and of course terrible in these verses is used in the old sense of awesome
the awesomeness of god as he declares himself and shows himself through his work so these verses
all lands to god
six
uh it's psalm 65
so it's verses 1 to 5 of psalm 65 thank you to the presenter who's alert more than i am
um so praise waits for thee in zion lord to thee vows paid shall be without that here at art of prayer
all flesh shall come to thee so it's page 297 and it's psalm 65 praise waits for thee in zion lord
in zion lord to thee vows paid shall be with which for thee in zion lord to thee vows paid shall be
o love that here at art of prayer all flesh shall come to thee
jiffel
In the Christ Jesus I must confess,
Reveal against me too,
But us for our transgressions
Then perch away shall flow.
He blessed the man whom love us choose,
And is supposed to be,
That he within thy courts, O Lord,
May still and forever be.
We surely shall be satisfied
With thy abundant grace,
And with the goodness of thy heart,
In all thy holy grace.
God of our salvation,
Thou live in thy righteousness,
Thy fearful words unto our faith,
Thy answer does justice.
For the ends of all the earth,
And those that are not free,
Upon the sea their consequences,
O Lord will bless them thee.
Now let's once more call upon the Lord in prayer.
Let's join together in prayer.
Our gracious and blessed God,
As we give thanks for these great words we have sung,
We give thanks for the many truths contained in them,
And for the way that they bear upon the experience
Of your believing people.
And we thank you, Lord,
That our salvation is in your hand.
We thank you for the way that it contains so much
That we ourselves appreciate and benefit from,
From day to day.
We thank you especially for the emphasis in these words
Of your forgiveness of sin,
And for the way that you hear those who come
With their cry in repentance,
Seeking that you would forgive their sin
And cover their sin from your sight.
And we, Lord, confess as a congregation
That this is an important element
In our congregational worship too,
As well as in our own private confession of sin.
And so, Lord,
Tonight we pray that you would forgive and pardon our iniquity.
For we bring our transgressions to you,
Confessing, O Lord,
That they exceed our ability to number them or describe them.
But we give thanks that they are all known to thee.
And we give thanks that they are all known to the God
Who has made such provision for them,
Against them,
In the Lord Jesus Christ.
And so we give thanks, Lord,
Tonight that we can come to you,
That we can draw near to you,
That we are not in a position where our sin
Is marked against us
For our everlasting condemnation.
We give thanks that as we come,
We are confident
That you will receive us in the Lord Jesus Christ
And for his sake.
We thank you for all that
We experienced already today
On this Lord's day.
And especially we give thanks
For seeing a baptism
And partaking of the Lord's Supper
And being witnesses of it.
And we pray that that will be blessed to us
As we continue to dwell our mind
Upon the great realities
That are set out therein.
Our being washed from our sin.
Our communion with Christ.
Our partaking of the benefits
Of his atoning death.
O Lord, our God,
Make us thankful increasingly
That we have such privileges given to us.
Make us thankful that you did not leave us
In the darkness of our own minds.
That you gave us to be
Recipients of such grace
And of such benefits.
We pray tonight again, Lord,
For your Holy Spirit to work among us.
And we give thanks, O Lord,
For the evidences we have
From time to time
That you are actively working
In people's hearts.
That you are bringing them
To know yourself.
And bringing them to confess this
Before their fellow human beings.
We give thanks that you are active
In adding to the number
Of your confessing church.
And we pray, Lord,
That as we have witnessed that
Already in these past few days.
So we give thanks
And give thanks for the encouragement
That this gives us.
That your word
Does not return to you empty.
But that as you send it forth
With the power of your spirit.
And so you come
To change people inwardly.
And you come
To draw them to yourself.
And you come
To constrain them
And to persuade them.
To make it known
To others as well
That they are your people.
That you are their God.
We pray, Lord,
For those
Who were first-time
Recipients
Of the Lord's Supper
Today.
We ask, O Lord,
Your blessing
For each and all of them.
We pray for Catherine
And Yendon
And Myrdo
We thank you
For the encouragement
It gives us
To see them
Taking this step.
We pray that you
Would keep them
That you would guide them
That they may know
Your protective care.
And when the evil one
Comes at times
To attack them
To seek to draw them
Aside and away
From being obedient
To you
And following you.
Lord, grant them
The strength
To resist and overcome.
And help them
To continue
To depend
Upon the Lord
Who is faithful
To all his people.
And we thank you
That as they have
Shown their faith
And their hope
In action,
Lord, so that you
Would continue
To watch over them
And graciously bless
Them from day to day.
Bless all others,
O Lord,
Who also sat
At your table today.
We ask that you
Would continue
To bless us
Through these means
Of grace
In word and sacrament.
We ask, O God,
That it may prove
To be for our
Furtherance
As a congregation
That you would
Grant your blessing
To us as a people
In whatever ways,
O Lord,
You have gifted us
And we thank you
For the many gifts
That are found
Within this congregation
And for the way
That you persuade
So many people
To use them
To the furtherance
Of your great name
And cause.
And we pray
That you bless
All the work
That is done
From week to week
And throughout each week
Along with the worship
Services of the congregation.
And Lord,
Bless them,
We pray,
And continue
To bless those
Who give of their time
So freely
And do so
So selflessly
In particular
In regard to the teaching
Of our young people
And their care
And their welfare
To those who arrange
Other meetings
Throughout each week
From time to time
We pray,
O Lord,
That all of these
May prove to be
A further blessing
To us as a people.
We pray too,
Lord,
For those others
Tonight
Who meet as we do
Throughout this town
Throughout our islands
Throughout our nation
And we pray
That your people
May be encouraged
And that we may see
Movements of your Holy Spirit
Bringing many others
To know you
And to follow you
And to testify for you
And we pray
For those today
In places of influence
And importance
In our land
And Lord,
When we face another
General election
To elect a government
Over us
We pray
That you would guide us
We pray
That we may have
The light
Of your truth
As we come to choose
The government
And we pray
That you would
Direct us,
Lord,
As to who to choose
And where to cast
Our votes
We thank you
For the liberty
We have in doing this
Help us,
Lord,
Whatever temptations
We may have
To withdraw
From that process
Even if we find
That those who
May not be
To our liking
Are brought before us
As candidates
Nevertheless,
Lord,
Help us,
We pray,
To exercise
Our great privilege
And freedom
In coming to
Elect those
Who would be
In government
Over us
We pray
That you would
Grant your blessing
To us
As we seek
Your guidance
As your people
During this time
We pray your blessing
Tonight for
All who can't be
With us
Especially those
Who are ill
Be near to them
Lord,
We pray
And those who
Mourn
The passing
Of loved ones
We commend them
To you
Asking your comfort
Lord,
To be their portion
Asking that you
Would draw near
To them
And that you
Would give them
That stillness
Of mind
That would reflect
Upon matters
And bring them
To yourself
Remember,
We pray
All today
Throughout the world
Who have
Such different
Circumstances to ours
Oh Lord
We think of the
Many places
In the world
Where war
Continues to
Blight the experience
Of people
Where many people
Continue to
Lose their lives
And homes
And other goods
As well
We pray
For the situation
Ongoing in Ukraine
And for the dangers
That exist there
And for the further
Encroachment
Of oppression
Upon the Ukrainian people
Oh Lord
We pray
That you would
Grant your own
Intervention
Grant that you would
Stay the hands
Of the aggressor
We pray such as well
In other parts
Of the world
Where violence
Whether in the
Middle East
Or in other places
Where violence
Blights the lives
Of so many people
Lord send forth
Your light
And your truth
Bring people
To peace
With one another
And especially
Bring them
The peace
Of the gospel
And we ask
That that may be so
To the furtherance
Of your own kingdom
Be with us then
Now we pray
As we wait upon you
Be with us later
In the fellowship
To grant us there
The sense of your presence
And the blessing
Of your spirit
Hear us
We pray now
In Jesus name
And for his sake
Amen
Well we'll sing again
To God's praise
This time we're singing
From Psalm 9
Psalm number 9
9a
That's on page
Number 9
And we'll sing
Verses 7 to 12
And we're singing
To a tune
Martyrs
The Lord forever reigns
On high
His throne
For judgment
Stands
He'll judge
The world
In righteousness
With justice
Rule the lands
The Lord will be
A hiding place
For those
Who are oppressed
And he will be
A strong defense
For those
Who are distressed
All those
Who know your name
O Lord
In you
Their trust
Will place
For you do not
Abandon those
Who seek
Your gracious face
So on to verse 12
From verse 7
The Lord forever
Reigns on high
His throne
For justice
He'll judge
The world
In righteousness
Let justice
Rule the lands
Of course
The Lord
Will be
A hiding place
For those
Who are oppressed
And he will be
For those
Who are oppressed
For those
Who are oppressed
For those
Who are oppressed
Procure what he has done
In avenger Roman's blood
Remember haste evermore
I cry, O Thee Ungrated One, Thee never will be more.
Now we turn to read God's Word in the Gospel of John.
The Gospel according to John, reading chapter 19, and beginning at verse 17.
So we'll read from 17 right through down to verse 42.
So John 19 at verse 17.
So they took Jesus and he went out bearing his own cross to the place called the place of a skull,
which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.
There they crucified him and with him two others, one on either side and Jesus between them.
Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross.
It read, Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews.
Many of the Jews read this inscription for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city
and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin and in Greek.
So the chief priest of the Jews said to Pilate, do not write the king of the Jews,
but rather this man said, I am king of the Jews.
Pilate answered, what I have written, I have written.
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts,
one part for each soldier, also his tunic.
But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
So they said to one another, let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.
This was to fulfill the scripture which says, they divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister,
Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby,
he said to his mother, woman, behold your son.
Then he said to the disciple, behold your mother.
And from that hour, the disciple took her into his own home.
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said, to fulfill the scripture, I thirst.
A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, it is finished.
And he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Since it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath,
for the Sabbath was a high day,
the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken,
and that they might be taken away.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,
they did not break his legs.
But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear,
and at once there came out blood and water.
He who saw it has borne witness.
His testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth.
That you also may believe.
For these things took place, that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Not one of his bones will be broken.
And again another scripture says,
They will look on him whom they have pierced.
After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus,
but secretly for fear of the Jews,
asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus,
and Pilate gave him permission.
So he came and took away his body.
Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night,
came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes,
about 75 pounds in weight.
So they took the body of Jesus,
and bound it in linen cloths with the spices,
as is the burial custom of the Jews.
Now in the place where he was crucified,
there was a garden,
and in the garden a new tomb,
in which no one had yet been laid.
So because of the Jewish day of preparation,
since the tomb was close at hand,
they laid Jesus there.
Amen again.
May God bless to us reading that portion of his word.
Let's now sing from Psalm 25.
That's on page 29.
Psalm 25 and verses 8 to 15.
Let's sing into a tune this time as Finart.
Psalm 25 and verse 8.
And so on down to verse 15.
Because the Lord is just and good.
He shows his heart to all his game.
He guides the weak in what is right,
and teaches them this holy way.
And so to keep his calm and loss,
he shows his love consistently.
For he is so and good.
Oh, Lord, my God,
forgive my gate in equity.
Then not those to fear the Lord,
he'll teach to them the choice.
Thank you.
This morning we looked at those who sat down in the vicinity of the cross and kept watch,
and we considered some of the things that they would have seen, some of the things that
they would have heard as they passed the time there while Jesus was being crucified up
to the time that he died.
And tonight we're going to look at love in relation to the cross.
Because what you find happening here in the care that's taken over the body of Jesus by
Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea is indicative of the love that they had for him.
And love indeed that showed itself in going to Pilate, asking that he would release the
body of Jesus now that they knew that Jesus was dead.
And so they carefully took the body from the cross.
They carefully treated it in the manner of the Jews for burial.
And they dealt with it in a way that showed great love and affection for these remains
of Jesus, humanly speaking.
And so that love in relation to the cross is another important aspect of how that cross
bears upon our own experience, how the death of Jesus relates to our love for him, and how
that is something which we also seek to commend to others from time to time.
And we need to consider something of the background to these verses, something of the background indeed
to these two people as they came here to take the body of Jesus and treat it with respect
and with love.
And we call that love becoming public.
Love becoming public.
Because both of these men were disciples of Jesus, but up to now they were that secretly.
They hadn't made it known that they were actually believers in Christ.
That they were trusting in Christ.
That they were actually disciples of Jesus.
You can see the reason secretly for fear of the Jews.
That's why they had kept it previously hidden.
Nobody knew apart from themselves that they were, as far as we can see, that they were actually
disciples of Jesus.
And you can understand that because the persecution they would face from the members of the Sanhedrin
that they belonged to would have been intense.
And that had been made known even to other people as time went on, as they followed Jesus,
that anybody who came to confess them would be thrown out of the synagogue.
And so you see that the way in which they kept that hidden is, in fact, very understandable.
Very understandable because of the situation that they were in.
And because of the relative danger as well that would come from making known that they
were disciples of this Jesus that the scribes and Pharisees wanted to be rid of.
And as far as they were concerned was an imposter who blasphemed and took to himself the title
of the Son of God, which they did not see he was entitled to.
And although you understand where they were coming from and understand the reference that
they were doing this secretly for fear of the Jews, there's nothing at all in any of the
passages dealing with this that suggest for a moment that this really actually was quite
a commendable thing.
It's understandable, but it's not actually commendable.
Because nowhere in the Bible do you find anything to suggest that when we come to know the Lord,
we really should just keep that to ourselves and go about our own business and not make it
public and not actually have to face whatever we need to face in coming out publicly to say
that he's our savior, that we are his people.
And so here is love that previously was real, but didn't come into public light because they
were afraid of the Jews, afraid of the ruling authorities.
Both of these men were in the ruling council of the temple, members of the Sanhedrin.
And so they were afraid of their fellow council members that this would really make trouble
for them if it became known that they were disciples of Jesus.
But nowhere do you find that that's actually something commendable.
God doesn't praise that, although it's understandable why they were like that.
And so tonight, you may be a secret disciple of Jesus.
You may be a true believer in Christ.
But for whatever reason, you've not yet made it known, such as those today who came and sat
at the table, some for the first time have made it known, this is my Lord, this is my savior.
I want to serve him.
I want to make it clear that I am his, that he is mine.
So if you are here tonight and your trust is in Jesus, but you haven't yet made that known,
think about what that means to him.
Think about all that he's done for you so as to save you from your sins.
Think of the love that has gone towards the death that he died as we saw this morning.
Think of his commitment as we saw it to his death, despite everything that was tempting him
to draw aside from that, to turn back from that.
And as you think of the commitment of Jesus, the love of Jesus,
the way that Jesus saw it through right to the end,
even refusing what might indeed have dulled his pain.
Think tonight if you're here and you're not yet openly following Christ.
Think of how he sees that.
Why should you keep it hidden when he did all this for you?
Why should you not make it known?
Why should you not be at the next communion, God willing,
and sitting with the Lord's people at his table?
Love needs to be made known.
Love indeed will at some point make itself known.
And for whatever good reason they had to keep it hidden,
there's nothing there that would say this is actually a good thing.
And so for all of you today who are here and have not yet come to take communion
or taken the step of making known that you are Christ's,
please consider what that means.
And if you're here tonight and you've not yet accepted Jesus,
if you know the gospel as you do,
and I've heard many times of Jesus actually being offered to us in the gospel,
offering himself to us in the gospel,
why should you be amongst those who have not accepted him?
Why should you be left out of salvation through Jesus and in Jesus?
Why should you go on to live and go on living without him
when you know that God in his word commends him
as one to love, one to serve, one to trust in,
one to look forward to meeting in heaven?
This is love previously hidden and love actually now revealed.
And when you go to Mark's gospel, Mark chapter 15 and verse 43,
you read there that they took courage.
He actually went and took courage to demand or to request really of Pontius Pilate,
the governor, that he would release the body of Jesus.
Joseph himself, a respected member of the council,
who was himself looking for the kingdom of God, as Mark puts it,
he took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
Now, there's one thing that's going to give you courage,
is to actually contemplate the death of Jesus, the cross of Jesus,
and to contemplate for yourself what that means to you,
what he's done for you.
And that really surely brings courage to the fore
so that you come out as well,
even if you would not say of yourself,
well, this is a very courageous thing to do.
It's the right thing to do.
And certainly in that context, it was a courageous thing to do
because it was difficult for them knowing what might result in consequence.
And there are many people tonight in the world
who have far more difficult circumstances than any of us have,
or most of us at least have.
Places in the world where coming out on the side of Christ
will almost inevitably lead to your death,
especially where there are authorities that have either
an antipathy to the gospel one way or the other,
or follow other different religions that are in antipathy
and indeed at times a hatred of the gospel and a hatred of Jesus.
These people actually have to come as they believe in Christ
and come to make it known that they are Christ's people
and make it known that they follow him,
that they are indeed disciples of Christ.
We have the privilege of the freedoms that we have
and our difficulties are relatively small
compared to the difficulties of other disciples in the world
who have come out and said,
no, this is where we stand.
We love him.
We want to serve him.
He is our Lord.
And we want to make it plain
that we are a believing people
who follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith takes courage from the death of Christ,
from contemplating what that death has meant
to the person who is a disciple.
You can go to chapter 12 here, for example,
and find another example of that,
a real difficulty outwardly.
And for this woman, in chapter 12,
Mary, who anointed Jesus at Bethany.
This is how the chapter begins,
six days before the Passover.
He came to Bethany where Lazarus was,
whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
And they gave a dinner for him there.
Martha served.
Lazarus was one of those reclining at a table with him.
Now just think of the context.
Very, very public thing.
Here was Lazarus, who'd been raised from the dead,
gathering, grabbing the notice, if you like,
of so many people around
who knew that he had been buried,
that he had in fact died.
And yet here he was,
sharing a table with the Lord, with Jesus.
Mary, therefore,
took a pound of expensive ointment
made from pure nard
and anointed the feet of Jesus
and wiped his feet with her hair.
And she's saying about him,
I can't let this opportunity go
without showing my love for him,
without showing what he means to me,
without showing that he is just so special,
that although this is a very costly ointment,
I have to use it
and I have to spend it
and I have to pour it out for him.
And of course, Judas Iscariot said,
why was this ointment not sold for 300 denarii
and given to the poor?
He said this not because he cared about the poor,
but because he was a thief
and having charge of the money bag.
He used to help himself to what was put in it.
And Jesus said,
leave her alone
so that she may keep it
or she has kept it
for the day of my burial.
You see, she saw in Jesus
the one who was going to die for her sins.
And here she is showing her affection
for the cross,
for the death of Jesus,
for the Jesus who is about to die.
And this is what she does.
It's not too costly for her
to spend this on him,
to pour this out on him.
You know, sometimes we think about
the cost of following Jesus.
And in a sense, of course,
there is a cost to following Jesus.
You attract attention.
There's difficulties and challenges
facing you in confessing your faith in Christ
in a world that largely doesn't want to know him.
But what is cost
compared to the cost for him?
What is the cost of this very expensive ointment
compared to the Jesus
on whose body this was poured out?
You see, for Mary,
it's not costly at all.
It's the least she can do.
For Judas Iscariot,
hypocrite as he was,
this is far too much to spend on Jesus.
And you'll find so many people in the world
that will say to you tonight,
you surely don't want to give your life to him.
You surely don't want to spend that much of time with him
or energy for him.
Surely that's just a bit of a waste, really.
Think of all else you could do with your life
instead of coming openly to be one of Jesus' disciples.
Well, it's not too much
when you consider what he has done for his people.
And we've come from the Lord's table today.
And now here at the cross,
we find Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus
coming into the open,
showing their love for Jesus
and love for his body now,
hanging on the cross.
Surely you're saying,
I have to do that as well.
I can't let this moment pass
and just let the world go on
thinking that I don't belong to him.
I will do what they did.
I'll come out
and I'll show
that I love him
and I love what he's done for me.
So there's love becoming public.
But secondly, let's look at
love's action
towards this Jesus.
And the first thing you notice here
is that Joseph
had a tomb,
which actually was his own tomb.
It was taken
and created for himself
a garden,
in the garden,
a new tomb
in which no one had yet been laid.
And from Matthew's Gospel,
chapter 27
and verse 60,
you find this was actually
for Joseph himself.
He had prepared this tomb
for himself
long before this
or sometime
before this,
before he ever came
to carry the body of Jesus
and place it there.
And so,
that was for himself
to begin with.
But here he is saying,
no,
actually I'm going to give this
to Christ.
I'm going to give this
for his body.
This is not going to be
for me after all.
It'll be for him.
It'll be for him
who did
this for me
to die the death
that he died on the cross.
And it was a new tomb.
It was significant
that nobody had ever been
an occupant
of that chamber.
Nobody had ever been
in that tomb.
It was for Joseph himself.
And that's significant too
because it's set apart
exclusively
for Jesus himself.
Now,
when you think of that
and go to
the Old Testament,
let me just
turn your minds
to Psalm 45.
Psalm 45
is a royal psalm.
A psalm
that anticipates Jesus.
A psalm
that's prophetic
of Jesus.
And all the way
through that wonderful psalm,
you'll find the psalmist
expressing his love.
My heart overflows
with a pleasing thing.
My address,
my verses
to the king.
You are the most handsome
of the sons of men.
Grace is poured
upon your lips.
And then he appeals
to him
to ride out
victoriously
to conquer
his enemies.
And then he comes
to verse 6.
Your throne,
O God,
is forever and ever.
The scepter
of your kingdom
is a scepter
of righteousness.
The kingliness
of Jesus.
Remember this tomb
that Joseph had,
which was for himself
originally,
is now coming
to be provided
for Jesus,
who is,
as we saw this morning,
the king,
despite the fact
that he was mocked
for claiming
to be such.
Therefore,
God,
your God,
has anointed you.
You have loved
righteousness
and hated wickedness.
Your robes
are all fragrant
with myrrh
and aloes.
Who would have thought
that these items
would have been seen
in the anointing
of Jesus' dead body
prior to his burial?
How wonderful
the scripture is,
just as we find
in Psalm 22,
such a reference
minutely to
the way that his body
was pierced
and his hands
and his feet.
So here you find
a reference
to the kingliness
of Jesus.
And all the way
through,
you follow it
through,
and you can see
that it says
that all glorious
is the princess
in her chamber.
You can take that
as an emblem
or a picture
of God's people
as the church
that are married
to Jesus.
What does he say?
With joy
and gladness
they are led along
as they enter
the palace
of the king
and so on.
But what I'm saying
is that here
is an example
of Jesus,
the royal king,
that he is.
And you go to
John's gospel there
and you'll find
that this tomb
that's given
specially for him
is really amounting
to a royal burial.
It amounts to
the burial
of a king.
It's the least
he deserves
to have a tomb
in which no one
was ever yet laid.
And there
they laid
Jesus.
Now notice that.
Since the tomb
was at hand
because of the
Jewish day of preparation,
since the tomb
was close at hand,
they laid
Jesus there.
Now you go to
the other gospels
that speak mostly
about his body.
That's not absent
obviously from this passage.
But why does it say
here in the final words
they laid
Jesus there?
It doesn't say
they laid his body there
although that of course
is what was happening.
but John saw fit
to say
they laid
Jesus there.
Why is that?
What makes the difference?
Why is he saying this?
Well because I think
we're led into
how
the burial
of the body
of Jesus
was something
that was
attached
so closely
so intimately
to his person.
Remember when you think
of the person
of Jesus
who is this Jesus?
You don't think
of his human nature
to answer the question
who is he?
You go to his divine nature
as the son of God.
He is
the son of God.
That's his identity.
The son of God
who has taken
human nature
to himself
but he is
the son of God
and that's what
identifies him.
And when it says here
that they laid
Jesus there
the experience
of death
the experience
of being buried
was something
that was experienced
by the son of God.
We're not saying
that God
in his divine nature
died
which could not be
but it is the son of God
the divine son of God
the second person
of the Trinity
that God is
who comes here
to experience
his being buried
bodily.
And that's so important
too for us
because
Jesus
experienced
every aspect
of death
that belongs
to death.
We saw this morning
spiritual death
the death he experienced
in his soul
which was
something
of the greatest
possible pain
separation
from God.
And if you go to
the likes of
1 Corinthians 15
and verse 4
where Paul says
I delivered to you
what I received
from the Lord.
It's so significant
that in terms
of that summary
of the gospel
what Jesus
had given to Paul
to then deliver
in the message
of the gospel
it actually
involves
also includes
that he was
buried
because the apostles
saw this
as an important
emphasis
and element
in thinking
about the death
of Jesus
and what followed.
They specifically
mentioned
that he was buried
and in our own
catechism
in our own
confession
of faith
as well
these documents
those who drew up
these
followed the scriptures
which referred
to him being
buried
that that was part
of his humiliation
he died on the cross
and he was
buried.
And
in other words
it's part of what
1 Corinthians 15
puts of first
importance
Paul says
that's what I
delivered to you
that which is of
first importance
how that Jesus
died for our sins
according to the
scripture
that he was buried
that he was raised
again the third
day.
Now there's
understandably
a fear
on our part
to some extent
at least
of the grave
when you stand
at an open
graveside
a dot
to give us
a chill
I've done that
nearly 300 times
even since I came
here to Stornoway
and every time
you stand there
which should
actually have
that impact
upon us
you're seeing
death
in that body
being laid
to rest
in the tomb
separated from
the soul
that has gone
to eternity
very solemn
sight
something that
really
in some sense
fills us
with a sense
of dread
and it's
understandable
that we would
fear the grave
but you know
as a believer
in Christ
if you're
tonight
a believer
in Christ
you need
not fear
the grave
you need
not fear
your body
being laid
into the earth
and returning
to dust
why?
because he's
been there
before you
because he
the pioneer
who has
defeated death
has actually
experienced
even that
aspect of death
so that as he
comes to be
raised from
the dead
bodily
so that says
to you
and to me
I can see
now that death
in all its
completeness
has been
completely
vanquished
that spiritually
and physically
death is
swallowed up
by him
and therefore
why should I
fear
what happens
to my body
when I know
that Jesus
in terms of
his body
was laid
in the tomb
there
they laid
Jesus
he's been
there
ahead of us
already
so love's
action
in providing
this new
tomb
love's
action
in taking
the body
of Jesus
lovingly
and carefully
and laying
Jesus
in that
tomb
and love's
action
finally
in the fact
that here
you have
a garden
and it's
interesting how
the Bible
sometimes presents
us
with certain
teachings
involving
a garden
when God
created us
in the beginning
as you find
in the opening
chapters of
Genesis
he placed
Adam
and Eve
our first
parents
in the
garden
of Eden
they were
surrounded
by plenty
they were
surrounded
by everything
that was good
to see
and good
for them
they were
surrounded
by God's
provision
they had
access
to everything
there except
the one
tree
that God
had forbidden
which of course
sadly they came
to partake of
with devastating
results
and in each
of these gardens
here's a garden
as well
verse 41
in the place
where he was
crucified
there was a
garden
and in the
garden
a new
tomb
in the
garden
of Eden
sin
led
to death
and death
always involves
a grave
or most of
the time
apart from
those who
were taken
away from
this world
without seeing
death
such as
in the
Old Testament
you find
Enoch
but here is
by and large
what happens
to every
human being
we die
our body
is then
laid
into the
dust
in our
tradition
and practice
that happened
in the
garden of
Eden
what led
to that
grave
you could
say that
the grave
for human
beings
was created
in the
garden of
Eden
in consequence
of human
sin
a rebellion
against God
in the day
in which he
said to Adam
in the day
in which you
eat of it
you shall
surely die
that's what
happened
and here is
another garden
and while it is
indeed the case
that the grave
was created
in Eden
the grave
was consecrated
in this
garden
near the
cross
Jesus
his body
laid there
went into
death
went into
the tomb
you might
say
to prepare
it for
his people
because every
Christian can
say as
they come to
lay down
their life
as their
life ebbs
away
in whatever
circumstances
as they think
of dying
in this
world
every Christian
can say
and has the
right to
say
though my
body is
going to be
laid into
the grave
though my
body maybe
for many
many years
will be
laid there
and return
to the
dust
from which
I was
created
in the
beginning
that grave
has been
prepared
by the
Lord Jesus
Christ
and I
shall arise
out of that
grave
triumphantly
because he's
done that
for me
and before
me
so why
should we
fear the
grave
here's the
wonderful
emphasis
in the
gospel
that Jesus
has been
through every
phase of
life and
even of
death
itself
and every
single
aspect
of that
process
of that
journey
has actually
been prepared
by him
for his
people
and when
you come
to
Revelation
chapter 21
let me
just read
these four
verses
as we
come towards
the end
of our
study
this
evening
Revelation
chapter 21
which really
brings us
the account
we have
there of
heaven
after all
things have
been dealt
with
the judgment
is passed
he says
I saw
a new
heaven
and a new
earth
for the
first heaven
and the
first earth
had passed
away
and the
sea was
no more
and I
saw the
holy city
the new
Jerusalem
coming down
out of heaven
from God
prepared as a
bride adorned
for her husband
and I heard
a loud voice
from the
throne
saying
behold the
dwelling place
of God
is with
man
he will
dwell with
them
and they
will be
his people
and God
himself will
be with
them as
their God
he will
wipe away
every tear
from their
eyes
and death
shall be
no more
neither
shall there
be mourning
nor crying
nor pain
anymore
for the
former things
have passed
away
and as
you describe
as you
find the
new
Jerusalem
described
in the
following
parts
of the
chapter
the one
thing
that's
prominently
noticeable
is
there is
no reference
to a
cemetery
no reference
to a
grave
there are
no graves
there is
no death
there is
no cemetery
in the city
of the
new
Jerusalem
the death
has been
overcome
death
stands
defeated
beneath
the feet
of God's
people
in Christ
they have
overcome
in him
what a
prospect
what a
glorious
outlook
you have
as a
Christian
in this
world
that this
is actually
what lies
ahead of
you
and that
even though
the grave
lies in
between
it's a
defeated
grave
it's a
prepared
grave
it's a
grave
in which
the Lord
has already
been laid
it's a
grave that
he occupied
it's a
grave that
he rose
out of
it's a
grave that
he defeated
for his
people
and it's
a grave
therefore that
you need
not fear
there is
no more
death
it's gone
forever
my friend
tonight
is your
trust in
Christ
are you
looking forward
to a life
with no
death
because
remember
the opposite
is also
true
there is
nothing in
hell but
death
there is
no prospect
of being
delivered from
death
eternal
death
lasting
death
there is
no voice
that says
come to
me and
I will
give you
rest
there is
no assurance
that will
say this
is only for
a short
time and
it will
end
just put
up with
it
and it
will be
alright
in the
end
remember
the opposite
of heaven
is hell
in every
sense
and you
don't want
to go
there
that's not
what you
want your
eternity
to be
you want
your eternity
to be
without
death
without
a grave
without
anything
associated
with death
you want
it to be
gone
how does
that come
about
comes
about
by giving
your life
to Jesus
by trusting
in the one
who has
overcome
death
if you
like
being
like
Nicodemus
and Joseph
of Arimathea
they went
and asked
Pilate
boldly
for the
body
of Jesus
what did
they then
do with
it
they took
it down
from the
cross
they treated
it respectfully
they covered
it with a
linen shroud
they then
buried
Jesus
in this
new
tomb
and
figuratively
is that
not something
for you
as well
do you
not want
tonight
to take
this
Jesus
into your
arms
to take
this
death
of Jesus
the Jesus
who now
lives
and make
that the
basis
of your
hopes
love
so that
your love
too
will come
to be
seen
as a
love
that
comes
into
the
open
and
public
a love
whose
action
towards
the
Lord
is made
known
to those
around
you
so that
you value
him
and in
valuing
him
you give
him in
your heart
the reception
that they
gave to
his body
as they
came to
treat it
with respect
after all
he said
in contrast
to the
false
shepherds
in John
chapter 10
I have
come
that they
might have
life
and have
it
the more
abundantly
that's the
life that
you want
the life
that you
need
the
spiritual
life
you have
it in
Jesus
and in
receiving
him as
your
savior
and you
cannot
have it
and you
will not
have it
any other
way
let's
pray
oh
gracious
and eternal
God
we marvel
at what
you
willingly
took to
yourself
in the
place of
your people
we marvel
that you
took even
the death
we deserved
even though
it was
something that
took you
into the
depths and
the darkness
of Calvary's
cry
in the
forsakenness
that you
experienced
we thank you
tonight
that you are
risen from
the dead
that you have
been exalted
to glory
we thank you
gracious and
glorious Lord
that you
stand over
death
triumphantly
that you
invite your
people to
share with
you in
that glorious
victory over
death
that you
call upon us
tonight through
the gospel
to come to
you and to
give ourselves
to you
to trust in
you and to
realize oh
Lord that
this indeed is
the way the
truth and
the life
and we ask
that you
bless your
word to us
once again
be pleased to
bless us in
the fellowship
bless to us
the food
prepared also
for us there
in all of
these ways oh
Lord we pray
your blessing
for Jesus
sake amen
our final
singing tonight
is Psalm
22
Psalm 22
we associate
the first part
of the psalm
very often
with what we
do in
remembering
the Lord's
death and
the Lord's
supper
indeed we
almost always
sing from
this psalm
in that
context but
tonight we're
singing verses
28 to 31
and that's on
page 229
the tune is
Bethesda
which speaks
about the
way in which
the Lord
will have a
people to
serve him
as the
result and
the fruit
of his
labor for
them because
the kingdom
to the Lord
doth appertain
as his
likewise among
the nations
the governor
he is
and verse 31
they shall
come and
they shall
declare his
truth and
righteousness
unto a
people yet
unborn
and that he
hath done
this
so these
verses then
to God's
praise and
conclusion
well
God
means
come and
he
망ed
us
in
the
trag dismissal
Writes among the nations
That gather on the is
That that one's deep
That worship shall
All who do us descend
Shall walk to them
One of them come
Restore from the end of the end
As he shall serve
This true to him
Unto the Lord
Is shall
Before a tender nation
Reckoned in ages
To the Lord
Is shall
Come out
They shall
Declare
This truth
And righteousness
And to a people
Yet am
Born
And that he
Have done
Is
Well
Colin Mordor and myself
Will take the front doors again
This evening I'll go to the door to my left
And he can go to the other side
Let's conclude now with a benediction
Now may grace and mercy and peace
From God the Father
The Son and the Holy Spirit
Rest and abide with you now and evermore
Amen
Thank you
!