WEBVTT 00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:03.820 Good evening everyone, my name's Ian, I'm one of the elders of the church. 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:09.519 For the next few minutes I want to go back to that first Good Friday in Jerusalem 00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:13.780 and to think about some of the events, some of them we've heard or we've seen in the video, 00:00:14.160 --> 00:00:17.879 to think about them and particularly think about some of the people who were there 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:19.460 and what it meant to them. 00:00:20.019 --> 00:00:25.160 And then I hope to see what it can mean to us and the relevance today of Good Friday. 00:00:27.019 --> 00:00:29.219 So 6am in Jerusalem. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.879 It's Passover Friday. 00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:36.460 It's the most important day of the Jewish religious year. 00:00:37.659 --> 00:00:42.079 The cock has crowed and the city is beginning to come to life. 00:00:43.140 --> 00:00:47.579 But over at the high priest's palace, no one has slept that night. 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:53.579 Jesus was arrested the previous evening very late, taken to the palace, 00:00:53.579 --> 00:00:59.719 and as we saw in the video, for hours they tried to find some reason to condemn him. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:07.120 And they couldn't find anything that was really justified, but in the end they decided to send him to Pilate. 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:11.300 Outside the palace is Peter. 00:01:11.300 --> 00:01:15.439 Peter is absolutely distraught. 00:01:16.439 --> 00:01:20.800 He has failed Jesus at the time when Jesus needed him most. 00:01:20.900 --> 00:01:24.140 Three times Peter has said he doesn't know Jesus, 00:01:24.140 --> 00:01:31.239 and the pride that he had before himself and the confidence that he had that he would never let Jesus down. 00:01:31.460 --> 00:01:32.799 That is totally gone. 00:01:32.900 --> 00:01:34.099 He's totally deflated. 00:01:34.659 --> 00:01:37.960 He's in agony because of his failure. 00:01:37.959 --> 00:01:43.199 And perhaps Peter is the first person we should reflect on this evening. 00:01:44.199 --> 00:01:50.119 Because I'm like Peter when I realize that I have failed before God. 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:58.379 That again and again I have let Jesus down and haven't done the things I should have or have done things that I shouldn't do. 00:01:58.379 --> 00:02:05.019 I am like Peter when I see my failure and my need before God. 00:02:07.179 --> 00:02:09.579 It's now nine o'clock in Jerusalem. 00:02:10.759 --> 00:02:15.359 And the execution party has reached the place of the scow, Golgotha. 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:19.939 And there three men are nailed to crosses. 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:23.759 Two criminals and Jesus in between them. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:31.000 And as his cross is put into the ground, Jesus prays for those who have nailed him to it. 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:35.959 Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing. 00:02:37.780 --> 00:02:45.060 And then he looks down and he sees a little group of women standing near the cross, including his mother, Mary. 00:02:45.060 --> 00:02:55.560 And he says to Mary, as he points or as he looks at one of his disciples, John, who was standing nearby, he says to Mary, here is your son. 00:02:56.039 --> 00:02:58.640 And to John, here is your mother. 00:02:58.759 --> 00:03:04.400 And John, as we listen to in the reading, John takes Mary to his own home. 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:15.319 Even in his hour of agony, when he was nailed to that cross and in such great suffering, Jesus was thinking of others. 00:03:15.860 --> 00:03:18.659 And in particular, thinking of his mother. 00:03:19.700 --> 00:03:28.300 And he wanted to show the love that he had for his mother, the concern that he had for her, by making sure that she was looked after. 00:03:29.400 --> 00:03:33.500 Mary knew that Jesus loved her personally. 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:40.860 And I'm like Mary today when I understand the love that Jesus has for me. 00:03:41.640 --> 00:03:49.939 That Jesus loves me personally and cares for me and wants me to have a relationship with him. 00:03:52.040 --> 00:03:54.340 It's now noon in Jerusalem, 12 o'clock. 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:57.840 Jesus has been on the cross for three hours. 00:03:58.740 --> 00:04:03.420 The sun has been beating down on the city and suddenly it goes. 00:04:03.419 --> 00:04:06.199 The city is plunged into darkness. 00:04:06.799 --> 00:04:12.479 It will be cold and it will be quite scary for everyone who is there. 00:04:13.719 --> 00:04:17.459 But for Jesus, something even worse is happening. 00:04:18.379 --> 00:04:23.019 Because what his agony is now is not just the pain of crucifixion. 00:04:23.019 --> 00:04:25.019 It's something much greater. 00:04:25.019 --> 00:04:25.120 It's something much greater. 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:28.939 As he takes on himself the sin of the world. 00:04:28.979 --> 00:04:33.319 As he takes on himself my sin and my failure. 00:04:33.899 --> 00:04:41.899 As he is separated from God his father and he experiences the punishment that's meant for me. 00:04:41.899 --> 00:04:49.319 But among all the people who are there and no doubt are quite scared and wondering what's happening, 00:04:50.199 --> 00:04:52.879 there is one person who has a certain peace. 00:04:53.679 --> 00:04:57.060 And it's one of the men who is nailed beside Jesus. 00:04:57.060 --> 00:05:06.819 Because one of the criminals there has recognized that Jesus is not just another person being crucified by the Romans. 00:05:07.780 --> 00:05:15.240 That he is not just someone who has fallen foul with the legal system and has been punished for that. 00:05:16.040 --> 00:05:18.340 Rather, he is someone who has done no wrong. 00:05:18.740 --> 00:05:21.660 And more than that, he is a king. 00:05:21.660 --> 00:05:28.660 And so this criminal says to Jesus, asks him to remember him when he comes in his kingdom. 00:05:29.260 --> 00:05:35.340 And Jesus gives him the assurance that today he will be with him in paradise. 00:05:36.320 --> 00:05:45.000 And I'm like that criminal on the cross when I recognize that the only hope I have is in Jesus. 00:05:45.960 --> 00:05:48.879 That there's nothing I can do to save myself. 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:54.740 But it's only through recognizing Jesus' death on the cross and what was achieved through that. 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:56.819 That I can be right with God. 00:05:57.079 --> 00:06:00.800 That I can be sure that I will be in paradise with Jesus. 00:06:01.300 --> 00:06:04.259 That my sins are forgiven. 00:06:06.839 --> 00:06:08.219 It's now three o'clock. 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:13.259 And Jesus gives that final cry of finished. 00:06:14.180 --> 00:06:16.259 And it's not a cry of defeat. 00:06:16.779 --> 00:06:18.819 It's a cry of victory. 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:24.819 Because Jesus has done everything that is needed for us to be forgiven by God. 00:06:25.100 --> 00:06:27.480 For our sins to be fully paid for. 00:06:27.800 --> 00:06:31.379 And for us to have real hope for the future. 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:36.800 And as he dies, it is having accomplished everything that he came to earth to do. 00:06:37.159 --> 00:06:39.500 Because he has taken the sins of the world. 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:41.860 He has taken my sins on himself. 00:06:41.860 --> 00:06:48.660 And he has given me the ability to be forgiven for all the wrong that I've done. 00:06:49.819 --> 00:06:53.360 And near the cross, as we saw in the video, there's a Roman soldier. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:54.360 A centurion. 00:06:54.360 --> 00:06:55.020 A centurion. 00:06:55.020 --> 00:07:01.460 And as the centurion who has presumably been there all day and has supervised the crucifixion. 00:07:01.459 --> 00:07:03.459 As he sees how Jesus dies. 00:07:03.459 --> 00:07:04.479 As he sees how Jesus dies. 00:07:04.919 --> 00:07:09.479 He too recognizes this is no ordinary man. 00:07:09.480 --> 00:07:13.180 And as he looks at Jesus dying on that cross. 00:07:13.700 --> 00:07:16.640 As the great events unfold in the days. 00:07:16.740 --> 00:07:18.460 The temple curtain is torn. 00:07:18.580 --> 00:07:19.500 As there's an earthquake. 00:07:20.080 --> 00:07:23.780 And all the things that surround the death of the Lord Jesus. 00:07:23.779 --> 00:07:30.059 The centurion says, surely this was the son of God. 00:07:30.799 --> 00:07:40.479 And I'm like that centurion when I see in Jesus the son of God who came into the world to be the savior of the world. 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:43.219 No ordinary man. 00:07:44.019 --> 00:07:45.939 But God with us. 00:07:46.799 --> 00:07:50.279 God living a life that was perfect in every way. 00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:57.859 God dying our death on the cross as Jesus took my place there. 00:07:58.479 --> 00:08:00.359 He is the son of God. 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:04.779 And when I believe that, I am like that centurion. 00:08:06.239 --> 00:08:07.859 And now it's six o'clock. 00:08:08.739 --> 00:08:10.399 The sun is beginning to set. 00:08:10.539 --> 00:08:12.519 The day is almost over. 00:08:13.219 --> 00:08:16.719 As two men walk sadly away from a tomb. 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:25.240 Joseph and Nicodemus have just completed the grisly task of taking Jesus' body from the cross. 00:08:25.840 --> 00:08:27.580 Of wrapping it in grave clothes. 00:08:28.080 --> 00:08:33.100 And of laying it in the tomb that was originally intended for Joseph. 00:08:34.580 --> 00:08:38.980 And now they are walking sadly away thinking this is the end. 00:08:39.040 --> 00:08:43.720 Not knowing at all what was going to happen on Easter Sunday. 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:49.100 But Joseph, a man who was a secret disciple of Jesus. 00:08:49.720 --> 00:08:53.720 Who wasn't known publicly before this as someone who followed Jesus. 00:08:55.060 --> 00:08:57.940 As he witnessed these events of Good Friday. 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:06.160 His love for Jesus was so great that there was nothing he could do but give him the best that he had. 00:09:06.800 --> 00:09:12.040 Given even the tomb that he had bought and that was reserved for him. 00:09:12.039 --> 00:09:16.620 And when I want to give Jesus my best. 00:09:17.159 --> 00:09:23.579 When my love for Jesus is so great that nothing I can do or say is too much for him. 00:09:24.120 --> 00:09:26.500 Then I am like Joseph. 00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:31.199 And now we're back in 2018. 00:09:32.079 --> 00:09:33.339 It's about 20 to 8. 00:09:33.340 --> 00:09:36.519 And I think all of us have to ask ourselves. 00:09:36.519 --> 00:09:43.700 What is the relevance of these events so many years ago, so far away to me today? 00:09:44.680 --> 00:09:49.120 And which of these people that we've thought about am I like? 00:09:49.879 --> 00:09:52.660 Well the answer should be all of them. 00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:58.800 If we are truly to know Jesus and to know his power and his forgiveness. 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:03.219 We need to have something of all of these people in us. 00:10:04.139 --> 00:10:07.759 We need like Peter to recognize that we've failed God. 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:12.079 That we've done things that we shouldn't do and not done things we should have done. 00:10:12.719 --> 00:10:16.479 That we are, as the Bible would describe as sinners before God. 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:21.959 And that should be something that gives us great sadness and great sorrow. 00:10:21.960 --> 00:10:29.259 That we have let God down and that by our actions we deserve to be punished by him. 00:10:30.180 --> 00:10:35.639 And that makes us like Peter when we recognize our sinfulness and our favor before God. 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:39.500 And recognize that something needs to be done about it. 00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:41.940 Then we need to be like Mary. 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:47.100 Mary who knew the love of Jesus for her personally. 00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:54.580 A part of the message of Easter is that God so loved the world that he gave his only son. 00:10:54.659 --> 00:10:56.960 And that is absolutely true. 00:10:57.740 --> 00:11:03.279 But it is also true that part of the message of Easter is that Jesus loves me. 00:11:04.259 --> 00:11:09.879 Paul talks about the son of God who loved me and who gave himself for me. 00:11:10.659 --> 00:11:13.000 And it's not just about the sin of the world. 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:20.220 It's about my sin and my forgiveness and the love that Jesus has for me. 00:11:20.840 --> 00:11:26.080 And like Mary, I need to understand and to accept that love. 00:11:28.019 --> 00:11:31.379 And then there's the criminal dying on the cross. 00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:36.639 The one who is in an absolutely helpless and hopeless situation. 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:45.360 Nothing he could do for himself but throw himself on the mercy of Jesus and ask for his help. 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:48.120 And I need to be like him as well. 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:54.500 To recognize that there's nothing I can do to make myself right with God. 00:11:55.600 --> 00:11:58.379 The criminal obviously had no time and no chance to do that. 00:11:58.379 --> 00:12:07.919 Well, we may have time, but we're not able to make up for all the wrong we've done by trying to weigh it up with good works. 00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:13.360 All the wrong we've done far outweighs anything good we might try to do. 00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:23.679 The only hope that we have is in Jesus and entrusting in him and believing that he is the one who can give us eternal life. 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:34.179 And then there's the centurion, the man who probably came that day without any thought of God or of what this might mean. 00:12:34.839 --> 00:12:42.519 But through the way he saw the Lord Jesus, the death of the Lord Jesus, the way he treated others and the way he died, 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:48.000 this man came to believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God. 00:12:48.719 --> 00:12:51.359 And for me too, that is something I need to do. 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:59.159 I need to believe that Jesus is God's Son who came into the world and who died for me. 00:13:00.180 --> 00:13:02.620 And then finally, there's Joseph. 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:07.580 And Joseph tells me what I should do once I've done all these other things. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:12.340 When I've realized my sin, when I've understood Jesus loves me, 00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:17.420 when I've realized that only through Jesus do I have any hope, 00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:22.179 when I've trusted him as the Son of God who died for me. 00:13:22.979 --> 00:13:30.419 Then I will want to love him and live for him and serve him and worship him. 00:13:31.199 --> 00:13:34.439 We're going to be doing that to some extent in a few minutes, 00:13:34.819 --> 00:13:39.799 as together we share in these elements that are before us. 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:49.939 And that is a really good reminder to us of what the Lord Jesus did as he gave his body and as he shed his blood for us. 00:13:50.719 --> 00:13:53.500 But if we know him and we love him, it needs more than that. 00:13:53.579 --> 00:13:55.979 It needs all of our lives to be devoted to him. 00:13:56.359 --> 00:14:01.759 And day to day, our lives to be a sacrifice of worship for him. 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:11.200 This evening, let's make sure, all of us, that we've understood our sin and that we've come to Jesus as our Savior. 00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:17.419 And if we've done that, let's rejoice in the forgiveness that we have in him, 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:23.139 even as we saw what it cost him to bring that forgiveness to us. 00:14:23.799 --> 00:14:24.779 Let's pray together. 00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:35.059 Lord Jesus, we thank you that you went to the cross and there you took my sin. 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:43.199 And as we reflect each one on our lives, on the way that we are before you, 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:48.399 on all the things that we've done wrong, on how little we deserve from you, 00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:54.579 we thank you that you took the price, you paid the penalty for all our sins. 00:14:54.779 --> 00:14:58.799 Lord Jesus, that you loved me and that you died for me. 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:05.139 The Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. 00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:08.639 Help us to understand more of what that means. 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:13.799 If we don't know you personally, help us to come to a real faith in you 00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:17.639 and to know you as our Savior and as our Lord. 00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:23.039 And if we do draw us out over this Easter weekend in worship for you 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:28.179 and a greater appreciation of who you are and all you've done for us. 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:32.779 We pray you'll be with us now as we enter into this time of communion 00:15:32.779 --> 00:15:36.620 and as we particularly remember together your death for us. 00:15:37.079 --> 00:15:39.419 We give you our thanks, Lord Jesus, in your name. 00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:40.360 Amen. 00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:40.800 Amen. 00:15:40.800 --> 00:15:41.419 Amen. 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.320 Amen. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:42.500 Amen. 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:43.060 Amen. 00:15:43.060 --> 00:15:43.419 Amen. 00:15:43.419 --> 00:15:43.560 Amen. 00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:44.120 Amen. 00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:44.340 Amen. 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:48.460 Amen. 00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:49.300 Amen. 00:15:49.300 --> 00:15:50.060 Amen. 00:15:50.100 --> 00:15:50.200 Amen. 00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:51.919 Amen. 00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:52.460 Amen. 00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:54.399 Amen. 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:54.759 Amen. 00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:58.120 Amen. 00:15:58.379 --> 00:15:58.460 Amen. 00:15:58.460 --> 00:15:58.620 Amen. 00:15:58.620 --> 00:15:58.800 Amen. 00:15:58.800 --> 00:15:59.240 Amen. 00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:00.379 Amen. 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:01.560 Amen. 00:16:01.560 --> 00:16:01.840 Amen. 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:02.200 Amen. 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:02.659 Amen. 00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:03.539 Amen. 00:16:03.539 --> 00:16:04.440 Amen. 00:16:04.440 --> 00:16:05.420 Amen. 00:16:05.420 --> 00:16:06.200 Amen. 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:06.580 Amen. 00:16:06.580 --> 00:16:07.039 Amen. 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:07.420 Amen. 00:16:07.420 --> 00:16:07.500 Amen. 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:08.000 Amen. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:08.820 Amen. 00:16:08.820 --> 00:16:09.259 Amen. 00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:09.460 Amen. 00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:09.800 Amen.