To the ending of the ending of the ending of the ending of the ending of ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending ending
Thank you.
CONGREGATIONS
Let me tell a story.
Thank you.
He's got meetings coming up where he'll be able to address people that we wouldn't normally
be able to address.
He'll be speaking in the Parliament, Scottish Parliament in just over a week's time.
So remember him in that role as well and pray for him.
We'll hear maybe a little bit more about what that role entails in the fellowship afterwards.
Thanks too to all who have supported the communion weekend in many different ways
and opening up your homes for fellowship and attending the services and supporting in the months as well
in so many different ways.
Very thankful to all who have provided in any way over the weekend.
We're also delighted to welcome into membership nine new members,
four by certificate and five by profession.
We do pray for them that they will settle into the congregation here and be a blessing to us.
We have Murdo and Maddie Morrison and Angus and Isbell MacDonald joining by certificate.
And we also have by profession Chrissy Murray, Levi Morrison, Aaron Smith, Fraser and Amy Lipock.
So please do continue to remember them in prayer.
We give thanks to God.
And I know that there are many others who would desire that as well.
And our desire for you is that you will come and put your trust in the Lord.
And we give thanks to God for his continual reminders to us that he is a gracious God,
a generous God, a faithful God.
And we look to him in these days.
So I'm going to ask Alistair now to lead us in our worship.
Again, to have our eyes fixed on Jesus and the wonder of all that he has done for us.
Again, thank you, Calamurto, for your kind welcome and introduction this evening.
We're going to cast our eyes heavenwards as we take to our lips the words of Psalm 36.
Psalm 36 on page 44.
We're going to begin our worship with the words,
Your steadfast love is great, O Lord.
It reaches heaven high.
Your faithfulness is wonderful, extending to the sky.
Singing on to the end of the verse, Mark 10.
To those who know you as their God, your steadfast love impart.
Maintain your righteousness to those of pure and upright heart.
Psalm 36 from verse 5 to the verse Mark 10, five stanzas.
And we'll stand to praise God.
Amen.
CHOIR SINGS
to those
of good
and of
right heart.
We're going to bow our heads
and we're going to join our hearts together
as we approach our Heavenly Father
in prayer.
Lord our God,
Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, we bow
before you as we seek
to offer this evening sacrifice
of worship to you,
conscious that you are God
and we are not.
We pray that it would be with
a sense of deep reverence
that we would approach
your holy throne this evening
and yet simultaneously
with a holy boldness,
recognising that you have
given to us this great
invitation to draw near to you.
And not simply have you given
to us that invitation,
you've given to us a promise
that those who draw near to you,
you will in turn
draw near to us.
And we recognise that
the fulfilment of that promise
transforms our gathering
this evening.
because it means that we're not
simply here in the presence
of family and friends,
perhaps regulars and visitors
to this congregation.
But as we seek to draw near to you
and you in turn have promised
to draw near to us,
then we are in the presence
of the living, almighty God.
We pray therefore that we would have
that stillness that comes
from recognising that you are here
watching,
that you are here listening,
that you are the one who walks
among the golden candlesticks,
you walk among the congregations
that bear your name,
you know all the different
matters that are unfolding,
all the different undercurrents
that may be present,
you know everything.
And so we pray that this evening
we would have that sense
of humility
and yet boldness,
that sense of recognition
of our unworthiness
to have this privilege
and yet simultaneously
a genuine sense of joy
that we can come before
the living and true God
and offer this sacrifice
of worship to you.
We pray, Heavenly Father,
that you would grant to us
the very real leading
of your own Holy Spirit
this evening
through all the different
component parts of our service.
As we sing your praises,
we ask that we would be kept
from merely articulating words,
but that our focus would be
on the one whose name
we are praising.
As we have thought
of your steadfast love,
your covenant commitment
to your people,
the fact that you are the God
who keeps your word,
that we can absolutely
depend upon you.
We thank you
that we can praise you
in such a way
for your steadfast love
and we pray that
as we praise this evening,
we would do so
with our eyes fixed upon you
as the one who is worthy
of our praise
and of our adoration.
We pray that your Holy Spirit
would enable us
as we pray,
as we seek to know
how to approach
the living and true God
and how we seek
to ask from you
what we do not deserve,
but yet what you are
so willing to give,
that you would do us good
this evening,
that we would know
a sense of your favour,
of your smile
resting over us
as we seek you
above all else.
We thank you
for your word
and we pray,
Father,
that as we read
and study
and submit ourselves
to the teaching
of your word
this evening,
we pray that we would
do so with an eagerness
to hear what you have
to say to us
and that we would do so
recognising that
your word
is the food
for our souls,
it is the direction
for our lives,
it is the way
in which we hear
what you have to say
to us
and we pray,
therefore,
that we would be
eagerly anticipating
what we may learn
of our Saviour
as we open
your word tonight.
We thank you
that your word
reminds us
that all of Scripture
points to our Saviour
and so we pray
that we may be
able to see
and to savour again
our precious dear Lord.
As we have thought
much of him
in these days,
we pray that that would be
what we will do
for the rest of our days,
that we will think
much of our Saviour.
Thank you for the opportunity
to be able to focus in
through word and sacrament
on that great cost
of our salvation
this morning
and we pray,
Father,
that it would be
even now
still
our souls
being fed
from the privileges
that have been ours.
Father,
we confess
before you
that
as we
see our Saviour,
we realise
that
in comparison
to him,
we are flawed
and we are
individuals
who are polluted
in every different way.
As we think
of what your word says
when Isaiah recognised
that he was a man
of unclean lips
as Peter recognised
before
the Lord himself
that he was
a sinful man
that he didn't deserve
to be there,
we realise
that that is us,
we do not deserve
your goodness
your mercy,
your grace
toward us.
We do not deserve it
because not simply
of the sins
that we committed
before we came
to a living knowledge
of Jesus Christ
but even the sins
that we have committed
since.
And Father,
we cannot help
but be grieved
by them
because we know
that it is possible
for us to grieve
your spirit
by the way
in which we live.
And so we pray,
that we would know
real,
true confession
again this evening
and we pray
that again
we would know
the delight
that you are faithful,
you are just,
you will forgive
and cleanse
from all of our
unrighteousness
when we come
confessing our sins.
Father,
thank you
that your knowledge
of each person
in here
is encyclopedic.
There is nothing
about any one of us
that you don't know.
You know those
who have been eagerly
anticipating gathering
tonight
and you know those
Father who have come
to this place
and they don't want
to be here
and yet
you have brought us
here
for this divine
appointment tonight
and we pray
that for each one
of us
it would be
to do us good
that we might
see the wonder
of who the Saviour is
and that we might
all be irresistibly
drawn to him
as we bow
before him
in humble worship
and adoration.
Please guide us,
please lead us
and please accept us
for we come
through that name
which is most precious
to you than any other
in the name of your Son
and our Saviour.
Amen.
We're going to further
praise God.
This time we're going to
sing in Psalm number 27
singing from the
sing Psalms version
Psalm 27
on page 31
Psalm 27
page 31
we're singing
from the beginning
down to the end
of the verse
marked 5
that's 6 stanzas
Psalm 27
page 31
the Lord's my Saviour
and my light
who will make me dismayed
the Lord's the stronghold
of my life
why should I
be afraid
and so on
down to the end
of the verse
marked 5
6 stanzas
and again we'll stand
to praise God.
the Lord's my Saviour
and my light
who will make me dismayed
the Lord's the stronghold of my life
why should I be afraid
of sin
You are set to be to take my life away.
My love, my son, is not my foes, will stumble in my day.
Although I'm not the end, my heart will feel no pain.
Oh, what against me is true, the lies I will lift up my hand.
What against me is true, the lies I will lift up my hand.
I'll flee before the Lord, and this I'll seek always.
As I may come within God's house, I'll dwell there all my years.
Back on the beauty of the Lord, I constantly may gaze.
I'll flee before the Lord, and this I'll flee before the Lord.
In His wings
For in His square
May He will keep me
Safe in troubled days
Within His tent
He'll shelter me
And on the Lord
Me raised
Our scripture reading this evening
is taken from the Gospel of John and chapter 12.
John chapter 12, we're going to take up a reading at verse 20.
John chapter 12 at verse 20.
John chapter 12, verse 20.
Now among those who went up to worship at the feast
were some Greeks.
So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee
and asked him,
Sir, we wish to see Jesus.
Philip went and told Andrew.
Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
And Jesus answered them,
The hour has come
for the Son of Man
to be glorified.
Truly, truly, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat
falls into the earth and dies,
it remains alone.
But if it dies,
it bears much fruit.
Whoever loves his life
loses it.
And whoever hates his life
in this world
will keep it for eternal life.
If anyone serves me,
he must follow me.
And where I am,
there will my servant be also.
If anyone serves me,
the Father
will honour him.
Now
is my soul
troubled.
And what shall I say?
Father,
save me from this hour?
But for this purpose
I have come
to this hour.
Father,
glorify your name.
Then a voice
came from heaven.
I have glorified it
and I will glorify it
again.
The crowd that had stood there
and heard it
said that it thundered.
Others said,
An angel
has spoken to him.
Jesus answered,
This voice
has come
for your sake,
not mine.
Now is the judgment
of this world.
Now will the ruler
of this world
be cast out.
And I,
when I am lifted up
from the earth,
will draw all people
to myself.
He said this
to show
by what kind of death
he was going to die.
So the crowd
answered him,
We've heard from the law
that the Christ
remains forever.
How can you say
that the Son of Man
must be lifted up?
Who is this
Son of Man?
So Jesus said to them,
The light
is among you
for a little while longer.
Walk
while you have the light,
lest darkness
overtake you.
The one
who walks
in the darkness
does not know
what he is going.
While you have the light,
believe in the light,
so that you may become
sons
of light.
The grass withers
and the flowers fade,
but the word of our God
stands
forever.
Let's once more
bow our heads
as we approach
our Heavenly Father
in prayer.
We pray, Heavenly Father,
that your
blessing
might rest upon
this congregation
and its witness
in the months
and years
and decades
to come.
We thank you
for the witness
of this congregation
over many, many years.
We thank you
for the way
in which it has
been used
by you
to draw
many people
to the Lord Jesus Christ.
And we pray, Father,
that what has been done
in the past
would be merely
the beginning
of what will yet happen
with more and more people
coming to hear
of the Lord Jesus Christ
and being drawn
by the Holy Spirit
into a living relationship
with him.
We do thank you
for Calamurto
and all who serve
alongside him
in either official
or unofficial capacities,
all who are willing
to give
of their time
and of the gifts
that you've provided
them with.
To serve
in whatever capacity
within the congregation.
We pray, Father,
that you would encourage
all who serve
in whatever way
that might be.
We pray especially, Father,
for any who may feel
that at times
their service
is overlooked.
Father,
we pray that you would
make it very real
to them
that there is no service
for you
that is ever overlooked.
You are the one
who sees
and you are the one
who will reward.
We pray, Father,
that as the people
of God
in this congregation
mingle
mingle within
the people
of this town
and beyond,
whether that is
with their neighbours
or with their work colleagues
or in whatever other
front line they may have,
we pray
that what might be seen
from your people
is more and more
a reflection
of the Lord Jesus Christ
whom your people
here love.
We pray that that
would be what will draw
men and women,
boys and girls.
We pray that that's
what the people of God
would be known for
in this place,
known for their
similarity
and the resemblance
that they have
to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Father,
we long that that
would be the case
not simply here
but throughout
every Christian
congregation
up and down
this land
who holds
your word
to be true
and who seeks
to portray
Jesus Christ
as the crucified
yet risen
exalted
and returning
Saviour.
We pray that we
would see days
in our country
once again
whereby young and old
would be drawn
by the power of the Spirit
to the Lord Jesus Christ.
We thank you
for what we are hearing
of our renewed interest
with different age groups
and different demographics
within the country
and we pray,
that as people
seem to be stirring
to the sense
of hopelessness
that a secular
humanist outlook
actually brings,
we ask Father
that you would bring
those who are seeking
into contact
with those
who have a living
relationship with you
so that they may seek
and that they may find
and that they may bow
before the Lord Jesus
as Lord and Saviour.
Father,
we've already mentioned
the fact that you know
each one of us
in here tonight
and so that means
you know everything
that's going on
in our lives
this evening.
You know those
who've come into this place
tonight with many burdens,
perhaps burdens
that are crushing
in their weight,
perhaps burdens
that are so,
so desperately heavy
that they wonder
if they're going
to survive them.
Father,
we thank you
that you have told us
that there is
a great burden bearer
and that there is
an invitation to know
that we can have
the rest
that Jesus alone
can give.
We thank Father
of those who perhaps
have come to this place
tonight with many
different fears,
perhaps those who've come
with unanswered questions,
perhaps those who've come
with doubts and difficulties
that are causing
real problems
in their lives.
Father,
we realise that
we live in a broken world
and the brokenness
caused by sin
manifests itself
in many different ways
and yet,
Father,
we thank you
that there is a remedy
for that brokenness
and that is found
in the Lord Jesus Christ
and so,
please help me
this evening
to communicate
your truth
in the power
of your own Holy Spirit
and help us all
to receive
your word
as it is,
not the word
of any preacher
but the word
of the living God
spoken to us.
Please enable us
to be freed
from all manner
of distraction
of things
that may have happened
or are happening
or may yet happen
in the future.
Help us
for the time
that you have gathered
us together
to have our eyes
focused
on the Lord Jesus Christ,
the one in his name
we pray.
Amen.
Well,
before we study
some of these words
we're going to sing
in Psalm 43
singing from the
Scottish Psalter
Psalm 43
this is on page
number 264
Psalm 43
O send thy light
forth
and thy truth
let them be guides
to me
and bring me
to thine holy hill
even where
thy dwellings be
and so on
to the end of the psalm
Psalm 43
page 246
and verse 3
O send thy light
forth
and thy truth
O send thy light
forth
and thy truth
let them be guides
to me
and bring me
to thy holy hill
in where
thy dwelling's
be
and where
I took
a softer
road
to God
my chief
and choice
in God
my God
thy name
to praise
my heart
my will
and why
why
are
the
and why
will
sing
thoughts
are
now
disquieted
in me
still
trust
in God
for him
to praise
good
cause
thy
yet
shall
have
he
of
my
counten
sister
held
my
God
that
doth
me
save
let me invite you to take your Bibles and to have them open at John chapter 12 this evening to words that we read earlier on John chapter 12
and I want us to read again the words of verse 32 John chapter 12 and the words of verse 32 where Jesus amongst other things says and I when I am lifted up from the earth will draw all people to myself
you may
you may not know that the scientists in China and in America are having a bit of a competition at present to try and develop the world's strongest magnet
currently China is a magnet that is 800,000 times stronger than the earth's magnetic field
so the earth's magnetic field compass always points north
it's a magnetic field that does that
China has developed a magnet that's 800,000 times stronger than the earth's magnetic field
we're assured by both the Chinese and American scientists that these developments are going to help with our understanding of chemistry and physics and materials
but human nature being what human nature is whatever good discoveries we end up having it tends to be used for things that are less than helpful
but what we find in these words of verse 32 here is actually something that's got an even stronger pulling power than this magnet that the Chinese have been able to develop
that's 800,000 times stronger than the earth's magnetic field
because what we find here in verse 32 is that we've got a drawing power that can draw from thousands of miles away
that can draw from thousands of years ago
right back to a particular location where a particular event took place
whereby outside of Jerusalem the Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory
the one present at the very beginning of time calling into existence all that we see
the giver of life is about to die
the light of the world is about to be extinguished
Jesus says that when he is when he is lifted up from the earth
that he is going to draw all people to himself
and that's what we see
we see people of all ages drawn to Jesus
we see people from all cultures drawn to Jesus
we see people from all generations drawn to Jesus
drawn so that they look to the events of this cross at Calvary
and not just merely with a casual glance at something that's happened and then they move on
but drawn in such a way that when they look and see what Jesus has done
then their lives are transformed
and so the pulling, drawing, captivating appeal of Jesus Christ
when he is declared in all of his glory
it will draw to himself all those whom the Father will call
and tonight we're going to be thinking about this drawing magnetic power
of Jesus
that transforms men, women, boys and girls
that has the power to transform you this evening
if you entered this building without a living relationship with Jesus
as we encounter the power of the gospel
it is that power that can change your life
that can change anyone of our lives
and so this evening we're going to be thinking about this drawing power of Jesus
let's put this into its context
however we need to always make sure we do so
and what we saw on Friday evening
when we looked at the first part of this section of John chapter 12
we saw that there was a great request
those folks had come from far away
and they had come with a particular desire
we want to see Jesus
and when Jesus was given this message
he took their arrival as the sign that the hour that had always been in the future
throughout John's gospel as a drum beat
every so often the hour has not yet come
the hour has not yet come
with these Greek visitors
with their request to see Jesus
he now says that the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified
glorified
the hour has come now for the plan of salvation
developed in eternity
enacted in time to move on to its next phase
and this next phase is going to mean that
the people from all the nations of the earth
are going to be
are going to be welcomed
and blessed as they look to Jesus
up until this point Jesus had only been going to the lost sheep of Israel
but now there's this wider perspective
because now the plan of salvation has moved on to a new phase
a critical phase for Jesus
and so the first thing I want us to point out from this passage this evening
is the internal impact of this next phase if you like
of the plan of salvation
and the impact that that has on Jesus
and we have that for us described in verse 27 to verse 29
where it says
now is my soul troubled
and what shall I say
Father save me from this hour
but for this purpose I've come to this hour
Father glorify your name
then a voice came from heaven
I have glorified it
and I will glorify it again
the crowd that stood there and heard it said
that it had thundered
others said
an angel has spoken to him
the eternal impact of this hour coming upon Jesus
there was a sequel last year I think it was
Gladiators 2 movie
some of you may have seen the original Gladiators film
in that film the main character played by an actor called Russell Crowe
in his, in the death scene of the main character
what stood out in that movie was that over about five minutes
you saw this main character dying
and it would go, revert images from him to images of what he's thinking about
and he's walking through fields and there's all this beautiful sunset
and it's all so calm and it's so peaceful
and bit by bit this carries on until eventually death comes
and you know the movies like to portray what death is going to be like
and not necessarily particularly accurately
but that's them
so there you have the main character
in that great, that action adventure as it were
and his death was so calm and so peaceful
and so pleasant and filled with wonderful images
and you think what a contrast to the Lord of Glory
because as the main character of all scripture
we have recorded for us in all four Gospels
that when Jesus was approaching his death
it wasn't nice, calm, relaxing images
there wasn't warm, soothing music in the background
to create just the right atmosphere
there was in the sense of our Saviour
the horror of what was about to unfold
that for our Saviour, when he says here
now is my soul troubled
he's not exaggerating
he is communicating the agitation
that he now experiences
conscious that the hour has now come
this is the same terminology that's used in different occasions
it's used as Jesus saw the impact of death
and what it's done in the household of Lazarus
he's going to use similar words
agitation, trauma as he thinks of the betrayal
in chapter 13
the words are going to be used there as well
but for Jesus, he is now deeply troubled
words that are associated in the original with trauma
why is he so troubled?
because with the hour coming
the time where he is going to become a curse for sin
and be before the holy justice of a sin hating God
well that, instead of being an event well in the future
is now an event that's right up close
and the prospect of standing before a sin hating God
carrying this sin of the world on him
is something that shook him right to his very core
this is a different perspective to what we see of Jesus, isn't it?
because we think of Jesus and the impact of his teaching
and we think of the impact of his ministry
people being made whole again
we think of the control that he's had
and yet now as he comes to a point
where this hour is arriving
for him the full weight of what's about to be unleashed upon him
is coming into focus
and it's not something he's shrugging off
it's something that's leaving him really, really troubled
because he knows he's going to be in a position
where he's never been in before
because not simply the one who had no sin
is now going to become sin as we thought about
but the one who has lived that life of intimate connection with his father
even through his ministry
reflecting the father's words and will
and telling people the father's always with him
he's going to experience
as he stands before this sin hating God
bearing your sin and bearing my sin
he's going to experience a break in that connection
a break in that communion
he's going to sense as if that's no longer there
he's going to cry out
and he's going to say
well my God why have you forsaken me?
he's not even going to have that sense
as we thought of earlier on today
of that fatherly presence
that accompanied him all the way through
so for Jesus here
he's conscious of the time
that he is going to be in a situation
that he's never been in before
and the reason he's going to be in that position
is because of the brokenness of your life
and the brokenness of my life
brokenness caused by sin
caused by our own sin
caused by other people's sin
but nonetheless the brokenness
the sinfulness of our life
he's going to be in that place
to deal with our sin once and for all
he's going to be in that place
so that he can deal with the worst of our secrets
the things that we hope people never find out about
he's going to be in that place
bearing our sin
conscious of the attitudes that we have shown
and the selfishness that's been there
and the way in which we perhaps have used others
and the way in which we perhaps have manipulated
or the way in which we've cruelly dealt with other people
and the way in which we've had excesses in different ways
and all of these things that have evidenced
how we were no longer
or how we were not living in a right relationship with God
all of that was going to be condensed
all of it was going to be concentrated
and all of it was going to be taken by our Saviour
and so the very prospect of this unfolding
was leaving him troubled
little wonder it left him troubled
and so his trouble as this hour is approaching
is a trouble that only he as this infinite being
who could offer this and pay this infinite price
was a trouble that only he could take
and he could deal with for us
and so he makes it clear that his soul is troubled
and into that context he speaks and says
well should I ask the Father to somehow save me from this hour
and of course there is the recognition that he knew
that it was for this hour
he's coming from verse 27
and then he has this prayer
Father glorify your name
and just as Jesus had at the very start of his ministry
this voice from heaven
to encourage and to
and to give to him what he needed at that moment
as he rose from the river Jordan
having been baptized
the Holy Spirit descending upon him
and this voice thundering from heaven
this is my beloved son
in whom I am well pleased
and just as Jesus in
in John 17
as he as he set his face towards Jerusalem
and all that was about to unfold
it was now coming closer
and still there is this word from heaven
and now here
as the hour has now struck
we have this third word from heaven
when the voice from heaven says
I have glorified your name
and I will glorify it again
and so what we're learning here
is that the Father is being glorified
through the ministry of the Son
and so we learned that at the birth of Jesus didn't we?
the very arrival of the Creator God into his creation
to be limited in a time and in a space
for the first time in his existence
to be helpless, to be dependent
well what was the anthem that the angels would sing?
well glory to God in the highest
so there was glory given to the Father
through the very arrival of Jesus into this broken world
and there was glory given to the Father
through the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ
as he taught, as he healed, as he showed back
as he showed by example how to live
as he protected, as he rescued
as he stood up for those who were being mistreated
all of that was bringing glory to the Heavenly Father
and yet there is a sense in which
the ultimate glory to the Father
is going to be the glory that's going to be
expressed at the cross at Calvary
because there at the cross at Calvary
the Father is going to be glorified
because there at the cross at Calvary
we're going to see something about
of the absolute holiness of God
we're going to see something of the absolute justice of God
we're going to see something of the absolute faithfulness of God
we're going to see something of the depth of the very love of God
all of these are on display at Calvary's cross
the holy God who cannot just ignore sin
the just God who has to ensure that justice is done
the God who is faithful, the God who has promised
that someday there would be somebody who would come
who would undo the damage done and brought into this world by Satan
and undo the damage caused by sin once and for all
and on display would be the very love of God
that how God can simultaneously be the one who punishes
and the one who saves at the same time
and so the cross is going to be this great glorification of God the Father
and here we have the Son being very conscious of that
and so on the cross what is unfolding?
well the eternal Son is bringing glory to the Father
and the Father is being glorified through this work
we tend to think of glory
when people are given a platform or put on some podium
or given some spotlight or whatever
and somehow they are exalted in one way or another
whereas here the glory is going to be given
as Jesus is lifted up
but lifted up in an entirely different way
as he's lifted up to die the death that we deserve
and so this hour has come
the internal impact of this hour upon Jesus
is that he's troubled by it
the external impact of this hour
is what Jesus goes on to speak about next
from verse 30 to verse 36
because Jesus speaks that a number of things
are now going to happen
because this hour has come
and a number of things are going to be learned
that now that this hour has come
first of all that judgment is coming
and Jesus sees
now is the judgment of this world
verse 31
now is the judgment of this world
because what's going to unfold at Calvary
is going to make people aware
that actually the biggest problems in humanity
they're not external
and they're not time bound
but they're actually eternal issues
that the big problems of humanity
are not going to be solved by economics
they're not going to be solved by education
it's not going to be solved by environmental improvements
all of which have their place in a particular realm
but not in this realm
because the biggest problems that humanity has
that society has
that if we take it personally
the biggest problems that we have by nature
it's not the problems that are out there
it's the problems that are in here
and this is telling us that
on the cross itself
judgment for this world is going to be there
because what's going to happen on this cross
well the only person who ever walked on this earth
the only person who perfectly loved God
with all of his heart, soul, strength and mind
the only person who perfectly loved his neighbour as himself
the only one who lived a truly perfect life
what did we do to him?
well we killed him didn't we?
what did we do to the Saviour of the world?
well we put him to death
we hung him on a cross
we nailed him to a cross
and we left him there to die
and Jesus is saying that there is no judgment
judgment is coming
and judgment is
it culminates on that work on the cross
the second thing that Jesus sees
by way of an external impact of this hour
now verse 31
will the ruler of this world be cast out?
that what's going to happen on this cross at Calvary
as the Father is glorified
is that this work will simultaneously be fatal to Satan
will be fatal to Satan
that Satan as he thinks
he finally has the eternal Son of God
what he wants him to be
upon a cross
with the weapon that he thinks
is the most suitable weapon
in his arsenal
to destroy Jesus Christ once and for all
is going to find out
that what he thinks is his greatest moment of triumph
is actually the moment of his ultimate defeat
because Jesus has told us
didn't he in John's Gospel a couple of chapters back
he said no one is going to take my life from me
I will lay it down
and I will take it back up again
so Satan thinking
this weapon of death
that is going to somehow extinguish
the light of the world
he thinks that this is his moment
that this is where he is ruling
and he doesn't seem to appreciate
that the work that's about to unfold
will mean that the ruler of this world
his power broken
never to be restored again
and so the defeat of Satan
is going to be
so clearly in view in that sense
Satan is so foolish
as he sees Jesus
as he sees him breathe his last
he's so foolish
he thinks he's now got his empire established
and yet his empire is as strong as a sandcastle
with the tide coming in
because you know what it's like
and the tide's coming in
and slowly but surely
you know that sandcastle is going to fall over
and as he sees
as he sees the Lord of Glory breathe his last
no doubt he rejoices
only to realise
three days later
that the very Lord of Glory is back
death defeated
so the external impact
of the our coming
is that there is judgement
that Satan's power
once and for all
that there is a new king in town
that there is a new king
who has dealt with the old king
Revelation tells us
in chapter 11
verse 15
the kingdom of the world
has become the kingdom
of our Lord
and of his Christ
and he shall reign
the third
external impact
is that Jesus
will draw all people
and so now we get back
to where we started
this is where Jesus
will draw all people
to himself
this is what he said here
verse 32
when I am lifted up
I will draw all people
and so we are thinking now
of outstretched arms
entreating
may see
of this Jesus
of his identity
and of his willingness
to be found
in such a position
upon a cross
to secure our freedom
that all who will
who will hear
and all who will see
will be welcomed
that they will be
something about Jesus
that will draw them
to him
it's not that they are
that they are driven
to Jesus
it's that they will be
drawn to Jesus
because as we
as we think of
what we are like
and the gap
that exists in our lives
between the people
that we want to be
that we really are
we realize that we are
not the way we should be
and that deep down
that's going to come back
to haunt us
and it's going to haunt us
when we actually stand
before our maker
and give an account
for how we have lived
and loved in this world
and so we actually need
to have somebody
who's going to stand
with us
when we are in that court setting
and there is nobody better
to stand with us
in fact there's nobody
qualified to stand with us
other than
the very Lord of glory himself
because anybody else
that we may think of
our closest friends
our most loved family
well they too
have got this gap
and they too
are going to have to stand
before almighty God
and answer for themselves
they can't advocate
on our behalf
but there is somebody
who can
there's somebody
who can
somebody who was
willing to put himself
into that place
of horror
somebody who was willing
to put himself
into that place
where beforehand
the very prospect
almost broke him
whether we think here
of his trouble
or whether we think
specifically of Gethsemane
as the sweat pores
are now tinged with blood
such was the weight
the pressure
upon him
and he's willing
to do that
he's willing to go
into that place
for us
and he's willing
to go there
and he says
listen I have paid
the penalty for you
so come to me
follow me
know my rest
and know the fulfillment
that I can give to you
and know the love
that I have for you
the love I've shown you
learn of that love
and keep learning
of that love
and whoever will hear
of that love
will be drawn
will be captivated
because the pulling power
of the crucified
yet risen saviour
is a power
that can transform
from whatever
starting position
from a starting position
of hardened atheism
from a starting position
of agnosticism
or humanism
or whatever else
it might want to be
it doesn't matter
how firm a starting position
somebody can be
when the pulling power
of the gospel
through the Holy Spirit
starts drawing people
it doesn't matter
how fixed
their position was
become more and more
obsessed
with who is this Jesus
he lived a life
I couldn't live
he cared for people
that other people
were just quite happy
to ignore
he wouldn't walk on by
he would see things
that other people
didn't see
and this Bible
tells us
that he's not changed
and so that he sees me
other people may not see me
other people may not know
what's going on in my life
but this Jesus does
he knows
and he really does care
and he's inviting me
he's inviting me
and saying
whoever you are
I'll never turn you away
you see the drawing power
of Jesus Christ
there is nothing
nothing
that can rival it
and so that's why
the message of the cross
is the message
that we need to keep
communicating
because it's
it's the message
where hope is to be found
isn't it
that all of the mess
that we've made
can be undone
that all of the guilt
that we carry
can be lifted away
and that all of the
all of the wandering
and rejection
that we've had of God
can be transformed
and we can be accepted
and it's all focused
on the cross at Calvary
the cross that is
the message
that we share
is the message
that we give
it's the message
that we don't graduate from
it's a message
we need to keep
coming back to
it is the message
that is the hope
of sinners
it is the message
that is the joy
of saints
it's the message
that is the study
of angels
it is the message
of Christ
and his willingness
to receive all
who will come
to him
who will look
to what he has done
for them
and who will welcome
all who will look
to him
to know his salvation
to know his power
because when he is
lifted up
he will draw
all people
to himself
remember the context
the Greek people
came and want to
see Jesus
and what they're
learning is that
what they're going
to see of Jesus
is not what they
necessarily expect
to see of Jesus
because what
they need to see
of Jesus
is a Jesus
who is crucified
and yet who is
risen
and who is exalted
and so therefore
with these truths
in mind
what applications
do we have
for ourselves
this evening
two or three
and then we're done
first of all
for any of you
who tonight
are troubled
deeply troubled
maybe for different
reasons
but troubled
nonetheless
let me remind you
of a saviour
who can empathise
with you being
troubled
maybe some of you
are carrying
traumas
that are very deep
and very sore
let me remind you
of a saviour
who can empathise
with your traumas
and who can come
to a people
who are troubled
and who are traumatised
and who can say
to them
as he said
to his disciples
in a couple of chapters
he said
don't let your hearts
be troubled
why?
because of who he is
because he is God
and he is the one
who understands
and he is the one
who can help us
and he is the one
who can deliver us
from our troubles
whatever they may be
he is the one
who can deliver us
from our troubles
as we look to him
and for his people
who find themselves
in troubled days
he is the one
who is going to enable us
in these troubles
to follow his pattern
his pattern
of bringing glory
to God
in these troubles
in the difficulties
perhaps with health
in the difficulties
perhaps with relationships
in the difficulties
perhaps at work
in the difficulties
perhaps in community
in congregation
whatever it might be
he is the one
who is going to enable us
to bring glory
to our God
through the troubles
that we face
you know one of the
greatest ways
that people see
the reality of faith
is when they know
somebody has a faith
and they see them
going through
really difficult times
and they see them
holding on to that faith
that gives a credibility
to the gospel
in a way that
few other things do
and so
you may be troubled
this evening
there is one
who understands
and there is one
who cares
and there is one
who helps
and there is one
who can enable you
to follow his example
of bringing glory
to God
through these troubles
as you rest
in him
that only
can happen
however
as our eyes
are fixed
on Jesus
that can only happen
as he has that place
in our perspective
that he really
ought to have
that can only happen
as we look
to the exalted Jesus
and so we do so
ourselves
to remind ourselves
if we want to know
what God is like
we look to Jesus
if we want to know
what it is
to be human
we look to Jesus
if we want to know
what genuine love is
we look to Jesus
and we keep
looking to Jesus
because looking
to the crucified
yet risen
ascended
saviour
who is returning
that is what's
going to enable us
to live the life
that we ought to
to live as his people
but for some of us
I know
it's time to actually
start looking
at this Jesus
isn't it
it's time to
to stop looking
elsewhere
and to start
looking to him
it's time to
stop delaying
any longer
because as Jesus
goes on in this passage
the people
as is frequently
the case
in John's gospel
as he studied
the people
as they hear
what Jesus says
don't quite understand it
and Jesus
brings it round
to the point of fact
that actually
there's a sense
of urgency
to listen to
what he has to say
there's a sense
of urgency
because they have light
but they're only
going to have it
a little bit longer
and then after that
it's going to be darkness
and then that's going
to be major difficulty
and so what Jesus
is saying to them
is that there's an
there's an urgency
to listen to what he says
and what he's saying
to you
is that there's an urgency
to listen
to his invitation
to live
because today
you have that invitation
you're here
however you're here
whether you're
this is your normal
whether you've been invited
whether you've never been here
in your life before
you're here
and he's brought you here
you have this light
but this light
is not guaranteed
to last any longer
because this is a light
that needs to be
responded to now
as you look to Jesus
and as you think
why was he on that cross
well he went to that cross
for me
well how can I possibly
how can I possibly
live ignoring the fact
he went to that cross
for me
but would he want
someone like me
would he want
someone like me
with all of my messed up thinking
and all of my past
with all of my present
would he want
someone like me
and again we go back
to the words of
John chapter 6
that whoever comes to me
he says
I will never
turn you away
you see we started off
talking about magnets
and the strongest magnet
in the world
and how Jesus
has greater
drawing power
but the thing about
Jesus is
like
every
magnet
there are those
who are drawn
and there are those
who are repelled
and the sad reality
is that
some of you
in here tonight
might be being
repelled
by Jesus
let me warn you
as lovingly
and as solemnly
as I can
that that is
the most dangerous
place
you can possibly
be in
because this is
the saviour
the only one
you need him
and he's come
for you
and he's offering
you tonight
life
life lived
to the full
here and now
and life
forevermore
with him
as you bow
the knee
before
King Jesus
why
because Jesus
said
that when I am
lifted from the earth
I will draw
all people
to myself
the invitation
is open
right now
to come to him
let's pray
Father we thank you
for
all that our saviour
was willing to do
for all that our saviour
is currently doing
and for all that our saviour
will yet do
for us
we pray that tonight
you would draw
to yourself
those who
do not have
a living trust
in Jesus
we pray that such
a connection
would be established
and we pray this
for your glory
we pray that you
would be glorified
in the saving of sinners
we pray that there
would be rejoicing
among the angels
in heaven
even this evening
with sinners
repenting
and believing
and turning
and trusting
in the Lord Jesus Christ
bless us we pray
for we ask this all
in his name
Amen
we're going to
conclude
by singing
in Psalm
number 24
Psalm 24
on page
number 28
Psalm 24
on page 28
we're going to sing
from verse 7
down to
the end
of this
psalm
we are singing
of the king
of glory
we're singing
of our saviour
you ancient gates
lift up your heads
you doors
be opened wide
so may the king
of glory come
forever
to abide
and down to
verse 10
but who is this
exalted king
who can this
sovereign be
the Lord almighty
he is king
of glory
none but he
we're going to stand
as we praise God
you ancient gates
lift up your heads
your doors be open wide
so may the king
of glory come
forever
to the
mine
but who
is this
exalted
king
what
glorious
king
is he
it is
the Lord
of strength
and might
the Lord
of victory
it is
the Lord
of strength
and might
the Lord
of victory
you
ancient gates
lift up
your heads
your doors be open wide
so may the king
of glory
come
forever
to the
light
but who
is this
exalted
king
who
can this
sovereign
be
the Lord
almighty
he is king
!
of glory
and might
be
the Lord
almighty
he is king
of glory
and might
be
alleluia
amen
until the
Lord returns
calls us
home
now to him
is able to
keep you
from falling
and to
present you
blameless
before the
presence of
his glory
with great
joy
to the
only God
our saviour
through Jesus Christ our Lord
be glory, majesty, dominion and authority
before all time, now and forevermore.
And the people of God said, Amen.
Amen.