WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.099 So, Psalm 118 was one of the Psalms that was quoted on the arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem. 00:00:11.099 --> 00:00:16.920 ! We could read of the account in any one of the Gospels, but we're going to read from Mark chapter 00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:25.760 ! 11. Mark 11, and this is page 1015, and if you're looking from one of the Red Pew Bibles, 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:34.160 I'm going to read the first 11 verses. As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethpage 00:00:34.160 --> 00:00:40.679 and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:46.780 go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, 00:00:47.120 --> 00:00:54.939 which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, why are you doing this? 00:00:54.939 --> 00:01:01.899 Say, the Lord needs it, and we'll send it back here shortly. They went and found a colt outside 00:01:01.899 --> 00:01:09.459 in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, what are you 00:01:09.459 --> 00:01:16.000 doing untying that colt? They answered it Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 00:01:16.939 --> 00:01:22.620 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread 00:01:22.620 --> 00:01:29.000 their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who 00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:36.400 went ahead and those who followed shouted, Hosanna. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 00:01:37.020 --> 00:01:44.900 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David. Hosanna in the highest. Jesus entered Jerusalem and 00:01:44.900 --> 00:01:51.120 went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything. But since it was already late, 00:01:51.580 --> 00:02:00.740 he went out to Bethany with the twelve. Amen. Now I'm going to focus our attention today 00:02:00.740 --> 00:02:09.140 on those words that occur at the end of verse 9, Hosanna, or save. Blessed is he who comes in the name 00:02:09.139 --> 00:02:16.559 of the Lord. And to focus on them, I'd like us just to turn back to the original setting, back to Psalm 118, 00:02:17.079 --> 00:02:27.219 page 616 in the Red Pew Bibles. Because this verse is key to understanding not just what occurred on that 00:02:27.219 --> 00:02:35.639 day, those many years ago, but this verse is key to understanding and really unlocking, you know, 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:42.719 the central theme of the whole of Scripture. You know, and as we look at Psalm 118, Psalm 118 is a big 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:48.000 psalm, so we're not going to be looking at it in exhaustive detail by any means. But just a few 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:55.539 observations before we look at it. I just want to say, first of all, the song fits the context. There's a 00:02:55.539 --> 00:03:03.879 section of Psalms 113 to 118, which is known as the Hallel or the Egyptian Hallel, the praise songs, 00:03:03.879 --> 00:03:12.219 reminding the people of God that their God rescued them, rescued them from Egypt, set them free from 00:03:12.219 --> 00:03:19.879 captivity. And these were songs that were often sung at festival times. You see, Passover was approaching, and 00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:26.879 it's not surprising that people were singing that song. It's just like at the end of a wedding. At the end of the 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:32.879 wedding, you know it's approaching midnight or 1 a.m. whenever the venue is about to close. And the strains of all the 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:40.879 strains of Auld Lang Syne are sounded. So you know this is the last song. The wedding has come to an end. The song 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:48.879 and the occasion fit perfectly. Another thing to notice, and this is helpful when you're reading the New Testament, is 00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:59.340 that when a Old Testament passage is quoted, it's not just the portion that's quoted, but it's the whole passage that's 00:03:59.340 --> 00:04:08.340 referenced. So for example, if I were to say four score and seven years ago, I'm not just quoting the opening line of the 00:04:08.340 --> 00:04:19.340 Gettysburg Address, but I'm referencing the whole of the address, the whole speech. The fragment reminds you of a whole. If you're more 00:04:19.339 --> 00:04:41.339 contemporary than that, you know, if I said hello, it's me, you might be reminded of a song, of an anthem recently by a famous female singer. The fragment reminds you of the whole. And the fragment of 1-1-8 reminds us of the whole psalm. And I'd like to just make a few, as we turn to Psalm 1-1-18, I'd just like to notice three things. Three things that are actually, I think, quite a few. 00:04:41.339 --> 00:05:10.339 But sometimes obvious things need to be emphasized. And sometimes obvious things are there for a reason. God wants us to see certain things. And sometimes, as a teacher, I know that there's a value to repetition. I'm sure parents repeat things to children. 00:05:10.339 --> 00:05:28.339 And I know for a fact that spouses often repeat things one to another. Sometimes repetition is very valuable. So the first thing we want to notice in Psalm 1-18 is the repetition that occurs at the beginning and at the end. 00:05:28.339 --> 00:05:40.339 We see this a lot in Scripture. When you have a repeated phrase or a repeated verse. And particularly when you start and finish on the same note. 00:05:40.339 --> 00:05:54.339 Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever. Verse 1. Verse 29. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever. 00:05:54.339 --> 00:06:09.339 The Psalm begins with thanksgiving. The Psalm concludes with thanksgiving. And the reason why we are so thankful is that our God is good and our God does good. 00:06:09.339 --> 00:06:21.339 He's a good God who demonstrates His goodness time and time and time again. And these two verses, as it were, provide a frame to capture the whole of the Psalm. 00:06:21.339 --> 00:06:41.339 Now, again, language is an interesting thing. It's difficult to capture certain words from one language to another. You know, some words translate quite easily. You know, a lot of languages have the same adjectives. Tall and short, young and old. 00:06:41.339 --> 00:06:53.339 And you can kind of use them one for one. You know, you kind of know what's going on here. But this word love is hard to capture in just one word. 00:06:53.339 --> 00:07:07.039 You see, because what's spoken of here is a love that is consistent. A love that is persistent. A love that is promised. A love that is delivered. A love that is personal. A love that is powerful. 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:15.040 And it's hard to capture that in one word. But that one word that's being used here is a powerful word. 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:24.040 And it's repeated in verse 2. His love, same word, endures forever. It's repeated in verse 3. His love endures forever. 00:07:24.040 --> 00:07:36.040 It's repeated in case you missed it in verse 4. His love endures forever. And when the Psalmist comes to an end, he said, let me just tell you again. His love endures forever. 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:57.040 You see, our God has presented himself in a remarkable way. He has given to us the Bible. He's given to us the story of creation. Begins with creation. It ends with recreation. And the thread that unites the whole of the story is love. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:08.580 It's a love that's personal. It's a love that's powerful. It's a love that's persistent. It's a love that never lets you go. It's a love that never lets you down. 00:08:09.580 --> 00:08:18.480 Yesterday, when I was conducting Kirstie Ann and Tom's wedding, I was trying to convey something of the love that God has for them. 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:25.980 And something of the love that they were going to profess to each other. You see, this love is not conditional. 00:08:25.980 --> 00:08:37.580 God doesn't love you when you're doing the right thing. God doesn't love you when you're having your best days. God doesn't have you if, when, with certain circumstances. 00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:48.680 It seems to me that God is saying that he loves us, not because of who we are. He loves us because of who he is. 00:08:48.679 --> 00:08:50.779 God doesn't love you when you're doing the right thing. He loves us. 00:08:50.779 --> 00:08:58.339 Now, recently, I got a new front door. And the new front door came with a new lock, maybe not surprisingly. 00:08:58.919 --> 00:09:04.539 But it was a lot, one of these locks that's quite complicated. You know, so this key, I needed an extra key. 00:09:04.539 --> 00:09:13.459 And you can't go to Timson's, or other vendors I'm sure are available, but you can't go to Timson's with this lock, because it's quite an intricate lock. 00:09:13.959 --> 00:09:19.259 You actually have to order it, you have to give them certain codes. It's a unique code, it's a unique key. 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:28.500 And you see, there's a unique key in the Bible that explains to us what this love looks like. 00:09:28.500 --> 00:09:36.440 This love, this persistent, personal commitment, love that never lets you go, love that never lets you down. 00:09:36.960 --> 00:09:43.840 And if you just keep Psalm 18, you know, with your finger, if you turn into the New Testament to John's Gospel, 00:09:44.740 --> 00:09:48.639 John gives us a key to unlock this particular message. 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:55.559 In verse 14 of chapter 1, the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 00:09:55.559 --> 00:10:05.299 We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 00:10:05.799 --> 00:10:12.239 The word translated love in Psalm 118 is the same word that's translated grace here. 00:10:13.219 --> 00:10:19.339 Covenantal love, dependable, reliable, persistent, consistent love. 00:10:20.539 --> 00:10:22.539 John testified concerning him. 00:10:22.539 --> 00:10:25.719 And he cried out saying, this is the one I spoke about. 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:30.500 When I said, he who comes after me has surpassed me, because he was before me. 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:36.120 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 00:10:36.959 --> 00:10:39.179 That word again, repeated and repeated. 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:41.039 Grace, love. 00:10:41.719 --> 00:10:45.679 For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:52.379 So when the psalmist says, give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever, it's a signpost to Jesus Christ. 00:10:52.959 --> 00:10:53.739 You've heard it. 00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:54.879 You've read it. 00:10:55.239 --> 00:10:57.059 The Old Testament promised. 00:10:57.739 --> 00:11:00.099 The New Testament says you've now seen it. 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:01.879 You've now experienced it. 00:11:02.099 --> 00:11:04.639 You've now seen this love in a person. 00:11:05.379 --> 00:11:08.059 And you see this complicated key. 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:10.000 You see this unique key. 00:11:10.479 --> 00:11:14.139 Because the key here is one who is God and human. 00:11:14.139 --> 00:11:15.639 That's quite complicated. 00:11:16.220 --> 00:11:18.439 One who has no beginning and yet was born. 00:11:18.819 --> 00:11:21.299 One who cannot die and yet did die. 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:26.240 You see this complicated key unlocks the whole message. 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:30.500 So love is not just an abstract quality or quantity. 00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:32.559 It's not just a flutter of the heart. 00:11:32.659 --> 00:11:33.240 It is that. 00:11:33.319 --> 00:11:34.000 That's important. 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:35.340 The heart flutters. 00:11:35.460 --> 00:11:36.120 That's good. 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:39.700 But the love of the Bible is persistent. 00:11:40.340 --> 00:11:41.580 Is consistent. 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:43.240 Is unconditional. 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:47.600 But the love of God is found one place. 00:11:48.139 --> 00:11:49.519 And it's found in a person. 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:51.919 The words that Jesus spoke. 00:11:52.060 --> 00:11:53.460 The life that Jesus lived. 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:55.620 The death that Jesus died. 00:11:55.620 --> 00:12:00.340 So this frame that captures the whole of the psalm. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:03.120 But this frame which captures the whole of scripture. 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:04.759 Begins with Jesus. 00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:06.080 Ends with Jesus. 00:12:06.340 --> 00:12:09.120 And it's filled with Jesus from start to finish. 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:11.060 So it's a love story. 00:12:11.320 --> 00:12:14.580 Where God is professing his love to a people. 00:12:15.340 --> 00:12:17.320 And he's continually saying it. 00:12:17.560 --> 00:12:19.600 And he's continually showing it. 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:25.000 And his desire is that we respond to him personally. 00:12:25.560 --> 00:12:26.480 To his love. 00:12:27.019 --> 00:12:27.920 To his grace. 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:31.080 So whenever you see a repetition. 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:34.620 Particularly at the beginning and at the end of a passage. 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:38.340 It's there to highlight the whole of the passage. 00:12:39.860 --> 00:12:41.460 Second thing to notice. 00:12:42.040 --> 00:12:44.980 Is that the theme of this whole psalm. 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:47.920 Is consistent from beginning to end. 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:50.939 The theme is a theme of redemption. 00:12:52.079 --> 00:12:55.079 God is setting his people free. 00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:58.679 This was sung to remind the people of Egypt. 00:12:59.199 --> 00:13:00.479 The land of slavery. 00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:02.240 The land of persecution. 00:13:02.479 --> 00:13:03.599 The land of oppression. 00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:06.979 The land where they were misused and abused. 00:13:08.079 --> 00:13:10.839 But it was a land from which they were rescued. 00:13:11.439 --> 00:13:14.419 It was a slavery from which they were set free. 00:13:14.419 --> 00:13:18.299 And the imagery is consistent here. 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:21.379 Verse 5 says that they were hard pressed. 00:13:22.219 --> 00:13:24.559 And they were brought into a spacious place. 00:13:25.199 --> 00:13:26.899 They were slaves in Egypt. 00:13:27.079 --> 00:13:29.099 They were making bricks without straw. 00:13:29.579 --> 00:13:32.000 And God says I've got something better for you. 00:13:32.439 --> 00:13:34.199 I've got a promised land. 00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:36.319 And this promised land. 00:13:36.699 --> 00:13:39.519 Is a land that's flowing with milk and with honey. 00:13:40.059 --> 00:13:41.839 It's a spacious place. 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:43.879 Verse 7 the imagery. 00:13:44.300 --> 00:13:45.139 The Lord is with me. 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:46.160 He is my helper. 00:13:46.680 --> 00:13:48.740 I look in triumph on my enemies. 00:13:49.800 --> 00:13:52.560 You see in Egypt the people of God were hard pressed. 00:13:52.680 --> 00:13:53.340 And they were weak. 00:13:53.420 --> 00:13:54.220 And they were vulnerable. 00:13:55.100 --> 00:13:56.800 But the great message of the Bible. 00:13:57.440 --> 00:14:00.360 Is that even if you are a minority of one. 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:03.240 A minority of one with God. 00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:05.200 Is on the victorious side. 00:14:05.700 --> 00:14:07.080 Because he is mighty. 00:14:07.280 --> 00:14:08.200 He is powerful. 00:14:08.540 --> 00:14:08.840 He triumphs. 00:14:08.840 --> 00:14:10.160 He delivers. 00:14:10.300 --> 00:14:13.660 The might of the Egyptian army was nothing. 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:16.240 Nothing compared to God. 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:19.680 The world and the flesh and the devil seem great. 00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:20.920 And seem powerful. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:23.680 But the world, the flesh and the devil. 00:14:24.280 --> 00:14:25.600 Compared to our God. 00:14:25.980 --> 00:14:26.660 His might. 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:27.660 His power. 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:29.600 They are as nothing. 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:31.600 Verse 10. 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:33.480 Then the nations surrounded me. 00:14:33.920 --> 00:14:36.560 But in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:37.720 Surrounded. 00:14:38.180 --> 00:14:38.940 Nowhere to go. 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:40.200 Nowhere to turn. 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:41.920 You think of the Israelites. 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:45.360 They had the Red Sea to one side. 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:47.159 And they had the Egyptian army to another. 00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:48.500 Nowhere to go. 00:14:49.560 --> 00:14:50.759 Either they were going to get wet. 00:14:51.259 --> 00:14:52.019 They're going to drown. 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.779 Or they're going to be overwhelmed. 00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:55.459 They're not an army. 00:14:55.959 --> 00:14:57.279 They're a dispossessed people. 00:14:58.120 --> 00:14:59.319 They're a group of slaves. 00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:01.220 The water and the army. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:04.240 And God made a way where there was no way. 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:07.639 And God destroyed the enemies of the people of God. 00:15:08.059 --> 00:15:11.039 To demonstrate his grace and his power. 00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:13.059 Verse 14. 00:15:13.539 --> 00:15:15.220 The Lord is my strength and my defense. 00:15:15.339 --> 00:15:17.059 He has become my salvation. 00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:19.139 The theme of victory. 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:20.839 The theme of triumph. 00:15:21.059 --> 00:15:22.279 The theme of delivery. 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:23.839 The theme of rescue. 00:15:24.339 --> 00:15:27.740 The theme of hopeless circumstances transformed. 00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:31.579 So maybe this morning you're saying to yourself. 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:34.959 My situation is not filled with hope. 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:37.339 My situation is not filled with joy. 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:40.159 My situation is not particularly positive. 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:43.459 You read this psalm and you are reminded. 00:15:44.079 --> 00:15:45.659 That the God that we worship. 00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:48.899 Delights in doing the impossible. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:51.179 The God that we praise. 00:15:51.179 --> 00:15:54.079 Is characterized by victory. 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:55.079 By rescue. 00:15:55.239 --> 00:15:55.939 By redemption. 00:15:56.439 --> 00:15:57.339 By restoration. 00:15:57.719 --> 00:15:59.159 And by renewal. 00:16:00.359 --> 00:16:01.959 Verse 15 just sums it up. 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:03.699 Shouts of joy. 00:16:04.199 --> 00:16:05.239 And victory. 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:07.599 Resound in the tents of the righteous. 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:10.299 There may be times of crying. 00:16:10.959 --> 00:16:12.459 There may be times of sorrow. 00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:15.740 There may be times where the tears are flowing. 00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:20.480 But the overall picture is not a picture of tears and sorrow and suffering. 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:26.279 But the overall picture is a picture of joy and victory and celebration. 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:30.459 So as the Passover was approaching. 00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:33.920 And as Jerusalem was all astir. 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:39.439 The New Testament writers tell us that there was a crowd that followed Jesus. 00:16:39.599 --> 00:16:41.620 And there was a crowd that came out to Jesus. 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:44.360 You see the city was growing. 00:16:44.599 --> 00:16:46.740 Was overflowing in population. 00:16:47.179 --> 00:16:48.879 Just like August in Edinburgh. 00:16:49.059 --> 00:16:49.299 Right? 00:16:49.719 --> 00:16:51.819 August in Edinburgh you can't turn anywhere. 00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:54.000 Because the city is filled with people. 00:16:54.580 --> 00:16:55.680 Filled with performers. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:57.000 Filled with tourists. 00:16:57.180 --> 00:17:02.660 Filled with people that want to see and hear and experience this great city firsthand. 00:17:03.400 --> 00:17:06.680 And the city of Jerusalem was filled with people. 00:17:07.100 --> 00:17:09.480 And filled with expectation. 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:15.079 Now the application is quite obvious throughout the psalm. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:19.740 We're told in verse 17 that we proclaim what the Lord has done. 00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:24.880 We are told in verse 19 that we enter and we give thanks to the Lord. 00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:26.640 We respond. 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:29.500 We are not the victorious ones. 00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:31.319 We are not the victors. 00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:33.000 We are not the triumphant ones. 00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:35.599 We are the ones that enter into the victory. 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:38.740 We are the ones that join in the shouts of triumph. 00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:40.779 Because God has won the victory. 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:43.200 God has made a way where there is no way. 00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:44.579 We give him thanks. 00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:46.519 We enter and we praise. 00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:49.500 We heard a moment ago. 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:52.039 That clanging note. 00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:54.880 That Kellen made when he hit the keyboard. 00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:57.500 It just didn't sound right did it? 00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.599 And in the midst of this psalm. 00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:02.940 There's just a note that doesn't sound right. 00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:05.099 It doesn't seem to fit. 00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:07.059 And you see this. 00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:09.019 In verse 22. 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:14.000 The stone the builders has rejected has become the cornerstone. 00:18:15.159 --> 00:18:18.240 Verse 21 says, I will give you thanks for you answered me. 00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:19.559 You have become my salvation. 00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:22.599 So using musical terminology. 00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:24.700 You've got a major chord here. 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:26.700 This is an uplifted chord. 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:29.139 This is a triumphant note that sounded. 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:31.559 And then all of a sudden we're in the minor key. 00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:34.559 The stone the builders has rejected has become the cornerstone. 00:18:35.299 --> 00:18:37.059 How could such a thing be possible? 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.259 I don't know about you. 00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:40.919 But I sometimes do DIY. 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:42.200 I try to avoid it. 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.599 But sometimes it's unavoidable. 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:49.059 The problem that I usually have with DIY is I have too many parts at the end. 00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:53.679 You know, I've got too many screws or too many nuts or too many bolts. 00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:57.679 And I kind of hope to myself, maybe those were just extra. 00:18:58.619 --> 00:19:03.319 But the problem here is not too many, but one too few. 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:06.240 One piece too few. 00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:12.279 And it just so happens to be the piece that holds everything together. 00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:20.439 I'm reminded of a friend who, as a gesture of goodwill, he was a trainee electrician. 00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:23.220 And he said, but I'm pretty good at joinery. 00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:25.379 And I said, well, could you put up a set of shelves? 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:28.039 And he did put up a set of shelves. 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:33.480 And as he left and he went back, I think he was living in Skye at the time, 00:19:33.899 --> 00:19:39.779 I remember phoning him later in the day and just letting him know that the shelves came down. 00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:41.819 And he said, yeah, I was afraid they would. 00:19:44.220 --> 00:19:48.240 And, you know, sometimes we look at our lives and we think, our lives are collapsing. 00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:49.940 They're not holding together. 00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:54.579 There seems to be a significant piece that's missing here. 00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:57.879 And the shelves and the life are in danger. 00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:59.200 Of coming down. 00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:07.599 And this note that sounded is saying that it's possible for everything to be in place. 00:20:08.139 --> 00:20:09.879 And yet one thing to be missing. 00:20:10.659 --> 00:20:12.220 I'm reminded of the Lord Jesus. 00:20:12.579 --> 00:20:13.960 Remember the rich young ruler. 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:17.759 The rich young ruler, he looked at him and loved him. 00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:21.279 The rich young ruler had a desire to go to heaven. 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:26.940 The rich young ruler had a level of awareness and understanding of the law of God. 00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:28.500 And he obeyed the law of God. 00:20:29.120 --> 00:20:31.920 And Jesus said those striking words. 00:20:32.860 --> 00:20:34.039 One thing you lack. 00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:36.019 One thing you lack. 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:43.940 You see, the people were in danger of missing the one thing that was absolutely essential. 00:20:43.940 --> 00:20:48.799 And as you read verse 22, you think, the stone the builders has rejected has become the cornerstone. 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:50.059 The Lord has done this. 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:52.120 It is marvelous in our eyes. 00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:56.120 And you think to yourself, that just sounds like Jesus. 00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:59.180 The essential one was rejected. 00:21:00.080 --> 00:21:04.840 And yet he did prove to be essential and is now a cause for great celebration. 00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:09.679 And what we feel and what we think, we don't need to guess. 00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:13.199 Because the Lord Jesus himself in Matthew chapter 21 said, 00:21:14.139 --> 00:21:18.799 Have you never read in the scriptures, the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone? 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:22.139 The Lord has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes. 00:21:22.659 --> 00:21:24.399 The apostle Peter put it this way. 00:21:24.859 --> 00:21:27.139 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. 00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:29.579 Remember the word I was saying to the children? 00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:30.339 Precious? 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.639 Infinitely valuable? 00:21:31.640 --> 00:21:34.220 This stone is precious. 00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:39.200 But to those who do not believe, the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:41.640 So you see, Jesus is the cornerstone. 00:21:42.320 --> 00:21:43.420 He's the capstone. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:45.820 He holds everything together. 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:48.940 Without him, there is no joy. 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:52.400 Without him, there is no cause for thanksgiving. 00:21:52.780 --> 00:21:54.880 Without him, there is no victory. 00:21:55.080 --> 00:21:56.060 There is no triumph. 00:21:56.280 --> 00:21:57.240 There is no redemption. 00:21:57.740 --> 00:21:58.680 There is no restoration. 00:21:59.060 --> 00:21:59.880 There is no renewal. 00:21:59.880 --> 00:22:03.880 But with him, he holds it all together. 00:22:04.760 --> 00:22:07.800 We look at our lives and we see instability. 00:22:08.260 --> 00:22:11.140 We look at our situations and we see insecurity. 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.900 We look at our world. 00:22:14.560 --> 00:22:15.220 I don't know about you. 00:22:16.320 --> 00:22:18.240 I'm reluctant to watch the news. 00:22:18.360 --> 00:22:19.700 I'm reluctant to listen to the news. 00:22:19.820 --> 00:22:22.640 Because I just can't cope with it. 00:22:22.780 --> 00:22:26.820 It's just, the stories just seem to get worse and worse. 00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:31.099 But you see, where Jesus is present, there's stability. 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:32.399 There's security. 00:22:32.819 --> 00:22:33.679 There's completeness. 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:34.599 There's wholeness. 00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:36.939 And there is fullness. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:40.039 So you have the frame. 00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:42.559 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. 00:22:42.639 --> 00:22:43.939 His love endures forever. 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:50.539 The repeated refrain of redemption, victory, triumph, praise, thanksgiving. 00:22:50.539 --> 00:23:00.500 This discordant note that sounded, the builders have rejected the one stone that is absolutely essential. 00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:08.079 And now we come, at the end of our sermon, we come to the text that we started with. 00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:15.799 We come to those words in Mark chapter 11, verse 9, which is verses 25 and 26. 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:21.539 Hosanna, save, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:26.220 Now, we're told in the Bible that we are not to misuse the name of God. 00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:29.220 Now, the name of God is not just a descriptor. 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:32.359 Just like Robert is my first name. 00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:34.379 That's my name. 00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:36.179 My last name is Akroyd. 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:38.720 But the name of God is more than that. 00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:40.320 The name of God is everything. 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:42.680 The name of God captures his nature. 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:44.840 The name of God captures his character. 00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:47.000 The name of God captures his history. 00:23:47.360 --> 00:23:50.160 The name of God captures him in all of his fullness. 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:53.980 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 00:23:54.580 --> 00:23:55.100 Save. 00:23:55.560 --> 00:23:56.039 Hosanna. 00:23:56.680 --> 00:24:00.820 Now, this crowd was saying the right things. 00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:04.259 This crowd was quoting the right psalm. 00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:10.879 But in just a few days, the chorus of praise becomes a chorus of derision. 00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:16.519 The chorus of praise and salvation becomes a chorus of crucify. 00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:18.200 Away with this man. 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:20.220 Give us Barabbas. 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:22.920 So, what do we conclude here? 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:26.400 We conclude that what they actually said was right. 00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:28.579 Even if they didn't know it was right. 00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:30.759 They said more than they realized. 00:24:30.899 --> 00:24:33.519 They identified more than they understood. 00:24:34.359 --> 00:24:42.639 Because what this verse is saying, because when you read the context of the psalm, salvation has already been accomplished. 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:44.879 Salvation has already been received. 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:54.980 This ongoing save us is a recognition that salvation is a necessary, permanent situation for the people of God. 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:58.520 I was saved when I became a Christian in 1993. 00:24:59.080 --> 00:25:02.540 But I need God's gracious intervention today. 00:25:03.080 --> 00:25:05.740 I need his gracious salvation now. 00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:13.339 So, you see, the message of the Bible is love, is redemption, is salvation. 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:17.620 The best way of putting that together is the gospel. 00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:25.920 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life. 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:31.640 If you're not yet a Christian, you need to know that salvation is found in Jesus. 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:38.140 If you've been a Christian for many years, you need to know that salvation is found in Jesus. 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:40.080 We need his help. 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.500 We need his comfort. 00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:42.880 We need his strength. 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:48.000 And when we cry out to Jesus, we are crying out to God himself. 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:49.599 With all power. 00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.940 With all majesty. 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:52.240 With all authority. 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:53.380 With all grace. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.220 With all love. 00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:54.960 With all mercy. 00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:56.039 And with all grace. 00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:58.980 And we cry out to the one who is able. 00:25:59.339 --> 00:26:01.500 And we cry out to the one who is willing. 00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:07.000 And we cry out to the one who has accomplished all for us. 00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:15.720 May it never be said for any of us that this essential capstone, cornerstone is rejected. 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:21.559 Rather, may we see in Jesus the one who fits all things together. 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:24.380 The missing piece of my life. 00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:26.420 The missing piece of our lives. 00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:32.700 The missing piece of this world who somehow brings unity and harmony and wholeness and completeness. 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:36.019 Is found in none other than Jesus Christ. 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:38.180 God in the flesh. 00:26:38.620 --> 00:26:40.299 The law given through Moses. 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:43.360 Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.480 You've heard it. 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:45.900 Now see it. 00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:47.200 You've heard it. 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.360 Now believe it. 00:26:48.620 --> 00:26:49.460 You've heard it. 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:50.799 Now experience it. 00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:55.880 If not for the first time, continue to experience again and again and again. 00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:57.900 The God who rescues. 00:26:58.620 --> 00:26:59.900 The God who saves. 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.620 The God who loves. 00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.440 Jesus Christ. 00:27:03.860 --> 00:27:07.539 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:08.539 We celebrate. 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:08.859 We rejoice. 00:27:08.859 --> 00:27:09.940 We rejoice. 00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:11.819 His victory. 00:27:12.379 --> 00:27:13.220 His grace. 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.480 His love. 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:16.299 Give thanks to the Lord. 00:27:16.839 --> 00:27:17.859 For he is good. 00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:20.839 His love endures forever. 00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:22.279 Amen. 00:27:22.899 --> 00:27:23.639 And amen. 00:27:24.139 --> 00:27:24.819 Let's pray. 00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:26.740 Father in heaven. 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:26.759 Father in heaven. 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.419 We thank you. 00:27:27.859 --> 00:27:30.639 We thank you for this scene which is so vivid. 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:35.899 And we thank you that even though many might not have known what they were saying. 00:27:36.099 --> 00:27:38.700 Or the implications of what they were saying. 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:42.519 We now see that what they said was 100% true. 00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:48.240 They recognized that salvation was found in the one who was riding on the colt. 00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:52.240 The one for whom palm branches were strewn. 00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:56.579 The one who was welcomed with shouts of joy and salvation. 00:27:57.400 --> 00:28:01.879 So Lord, I pray that each one of us would welcome Jesus into our lives. 00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:06.420 That we would see that he, the capstone, the cornerstone, holds all things together. 00:28:07.139 --> 00:28:10.460 And for those who might not yet have done so, may they do so now. 00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:14.440 And for those of us who have and may have done so a long, long time ago. 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:17.360 May we renew our vows. 00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:18.460 May we renew our thanksgiving. 00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:21.440 May we renew our recognition. 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:25.900 And may we see in him the source of all light. 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.660 The source of all joy. 00:28:28.180 --> 00:28:29.380 The source of all victory. 00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:31.460 The source of all love. 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:34.799 And we give thanks to you, our God. 00:28:35.220 --> 00:28:36.799 Through Jesus, our Lord. 00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:39.579 Because your love endures forever. 00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:42.639 Because you are both great and good. 00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:43.720 Amen.