WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.460 And continuing our look through the book of Hebrews and Christ's suffering, 00:00:08.980 --> 00:00:11.419 the theme of Christ's suffering in it, we'll turn to chapter 9. 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:15.780 It's on page 1206 in the Pew Bible. 00:00:17.059 --> 00:00:21.600 And we'll read from verse 11 through to the end of the chapter. 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:30.920 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, 00:00:31.500 --> 00:00:36.960 he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, 00:00:38.180 --> 00:00:41.040 that is to say, not a part of this creation. 00:00:42.180 --> 00:00:46.460 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves, 00:00:46.460 --> 00:00:52.259 but he entered the most holy place once for all by his own blood, 00:00:53.039 --> 00:00:55.420 having obtained eternal redemption. 00:00:56.560 --> 00:01:03.540 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean 00:01:03.540 --> 00:01:07.400 sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 00:01:08.420 --> 00:01:11.079 How much more then will the blood of Christ, 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:16.340 who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, 00:01:17.060 --> 00:01:20.780 cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, 00:01:21.039 --> 00:01:23.739 so that we may serve the living God. 00:01:25.640 --> 00:01:29.379 For this reason, Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, 00:01:30.099 --> 00:01:35.019 that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. 00:01:35.019 --> 00:01:41.699 Now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. 00:01:43.479 --> 00:01:48.579 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 00:01:49.140 --> 00:01:52.859 because a will is in force only when somebody has died. 00:01:53.479 --> 00:01:56.679 It never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 00:01:58.140 --> 00:02:02.859 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 00:02:02.859 --> 00:02:08.659 When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, 00:02:09.300 --> 00:02:15.460 he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool, and branches of hyssop, 00:02:15.900 --> 00:02:18.860 and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 00:02:20.079 --> 00:02:20.680 He said, 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:25.060 This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you to keep. 00:02:26.099 --> 00:02:30.360 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle 00:02:30.360 --> 00:02:32.840 and everything used in its ceremonies. 00:02:34.280 --> 00:02:38.320 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, 00:02:38.720 --> 00:02:42.180 and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. 00:02:44.700 --> 00:02:50.840 It was necessary then for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, 00:02:51.600 --> 00:02:56.200 but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 00:02:56.199 --> 00:03:02.659 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one. 00:03:03.479 --> 00:03:08.500 He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 00:03:10.119 --> 00:03:13.799 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, 00:03:14.859 --> 00:03:19.439 the way the high priest enters the most holy place every year with blood that is not his own. 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:25.340 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. 00:03:26.659 --> 00:03:30.340 But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages 00:03:30.340 --> 00:03:34.340 to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 00:03:36.219 --> 00:03:41.199 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 00:03:42.419 --> 00:03:47.340 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people. 00:03:47.340 --> 00:03:52.500 And he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:57.860 but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. 00:03:59.860 --> 00:04:04.060 As we were preparing ourselves for the coming of Easter, 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:06.920 now as we come to Easter Sunday, 00:04:08.020 --> 00:04:11.259 let's continue one last time to think about 00:04:11.259 --> 00:04:15.419 why Jesus came to suffer and die and to rise. 00:04:16.219 --> 00:04:20.079 This evening we'll see that he came to bear our sin 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:23.459 and to secure our salvation. 00:04:24.980 --> 00:04:27.480 Let's put the resurrection of Jesus 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:31.920 into the context of the two big realities 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:35.480 that the author of Hebrews presents to us 00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:39.780 in Hebrews chapter 9 and verse 27. 00:04:40.140 --> 00:04:42.759 Two great certainties in life. 00:04:43.819 --> 00:04:48.379 We will die and we will stand before God's judgment seat 00:04:48.379 --> 00:04:49.720 for our final assessment. 00:04:51.720 --> 00:04:52.939 Sobering reality. 00:04:54.020 --> 00:04:57.460 Maybe we're wondering why on Easter Sunday 00:04:57.460 --> 00:05:01.340 are we thinking about death and judgment? 00:05:01.520 --> 00:05:04.400 Don't we come on Easter Sunday to feel a sense of joy 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:06.299 and we'll get there. 00:05:07.419 --> 00:05:11.019 But we are very aware that when we watch the news, 00:05:11.639 --> 00:05:13.019 when we live in community, 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:15.659 when we're conscious of the persecuted church, 00:05:16.039 --> 00:05:21.079 that the great enemy of death is ever present. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:22.719 And so it's important for us 00:05:22.719 --> 00:05:27.539 to put the resurrection in the context of our reality. 00:05:27.539 --> 00:05:29.339 What does the resurrection of Jesus 00:05:29.339 --> 00:05:32.879 have to do with my death, my judgment? 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:34.100 And the author of the Hebrews 00:05:34.100 --> 00:05:36.040 and the story of Jesus in the gospel 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:41.480 tells us that it has everything to do with those realities. 00:05:42.040 --> 00:05:45.779 That in uncertain times, in fearful times, 00:05:46.180 --> 00:05:51.719 we need to know how the resurrection fits in this context. 00:05:51.719 --> 00:05:52.420 Because it does. 00:05:52.500 --> 00:05:55.159 It speaks a word of promise to us. 00:05:55.719 --> 00:05:57.600 A word of promise beyond fear, 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:00.459 beyond despair, beyond death, 00:06:00.459 --> 00:06:03.859 if we're able to hear it and respond to it in faith. 00:06:04.419 --> 00:06:06.219 So I want us to think about two things 00:06:06.219 --> 00:06:07.759 that the resurrection promises 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:10.239 from this little section, 00:06:10.719 --> 00:06:12.579 Hebrews 9, 27 and 28. 00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:14.299 First of all, the resurrection promises 00:06:14.299 --> 00:06:18.560 that your sin can be forgiven. 00:06:19.699 --> 00:06:23.039 Verse 27 begins with the idea of destiny. 00:06:23.779 --> 00:06:25.159 It's my destiny. 00:06:25.160 --> 00:06:28.380 Destiny is often used of great and exciting things. 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:30.220 My destiny to be the hero, 00:06:30.340 --> 00:06:31.020 to save the day, 00:06:31.100 --> 00:06:31.900 to take the throne, 00:06:32.080 --> 00:06:34.300 to achieve some ambition. 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:36.920 Often destiny in our minds 00:06:36.920 --> 00:06:38.340 connected with pleasant thoughts. 00:06:38.440 --> 00:06:42.580 But Hebrews gives us a sense of reality 00:06:42.580 --> 00:06:46.140 that we are destined for something, 00:06:46.220 --> 00:06:49.520 that God has appointed something for all of us. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:51.599 And it's these realities, 00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:53.579 death and judgment. 00:06:53.699 --> 00:06:55.479 Now, why is that? 00:06:56.479 --> 00:06:58.759 If we go back to the very beginning of the Bible, 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:01.199 if we go back to the Garden of Eden, 00:07:01.919 --> 00:07:05.399 you may remember that God said to Adam, 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:07.259 you're free to eat from any tree in the garden, 00:07:07.339 --> 00:07:09.579 but not the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 00:07:09.919 --> 00:07:11.379 When you eat of it, 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:13.299 you shall surely die. 00:07:13.299 --> 00:07:16.919 If, Adam, you turn away from me and my word, 00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:19.319 if you turn away from my good and loving rules, 00:07:19.460 --> 00:07:22.400 sin will come and death will come. 00:07:22.840 --> 00:07:23.920 That's exactly what happened. 00:07:24.740 --> 00:07:27.420 Then we find in Romans 6, verse 23, 00:07:27.520 --> 00:07:28.699 a very similar message. 00:07:28.840 --> 00:07:32.540 For the wages of sin is death. 00:07:33.300 --> 00:07:36.139 So when we read of this destiny of death and judgment, 00:07:36.259 --> 00:07:39.560 we need to recognize this is the effect of sin. 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:42.480 This is the curse of sin. 00:07:42.620 --> 00:07:45.100 This is not how God made us at first. 00:07:45.100 --> 00:07:48.260 Death is that enemy intruder, 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:52.680 that destroyer that came in 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:57.540 because we as people turn from the God of light and life. 00:07:58.540 --> 00:07:59.980 So just as we were thinking this morning, 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:01.439 spiritually without Jesus, 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:05.439 we find ourselves walking in darkness. 00:08:06.340 --> 00:08:08.980 And so following death, the Bible says, 00:08:09.060 --> 00:08:09.920 the author of Hebrews says, 00:08:10.040 --> 00:08:13.400 following death, there is also judgment. 00:08:13.399 --> 00:08:17.339 And again, this reminds us that we're not here by accident. 00:08:17.859 --> 00:08:20.839 And we're here by the design of God, our creator, 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:23.279 who's also our king, who's also our judge. 00:08:23.319 --> 00:08:25.299 And we're reminded that we will all one day 00:08:25.299 --> 00:08:28.219 stand before him to give account, 00:08:28.799 --> 00:08:32.240 give an account of our lives. 00:08:33.439 --> 00:08:36.159 So that while we and people that we know 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:38.519 may choose to reject or ignore God, 00:08:39.179 --> 00:08:41.299 to say that to me, God does not exist, 00:08:41.299 --> 00:08:43.259 it's fine for you to believe, but it's not for me, 00:08:43.319 --> 00:08:45.579 that doesn't change the fact that we all 00:08:45.579 --> 00:08:49.740 are subject to our creator God. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:52.879 God has ultimate authority in our lives, 00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:55.699 not you and not me. 00:08:57.479 --> 00:09:00.659 And so we're told here that man is destined to die once 00:09:00.659 --> 00:09:02.139 and after that to face judgment. 00:09:02.279 --> 00:09:03.759 And this is something that we need to know. 00:09:03.859 --> 00:09:05.699 This is something that people need to know 00:09:05.700 --> 00:09:09.120 so that we can do something about it. 00:09:10.379 --> 00:09:13.520 This week, we were taking a short trip 00:09:13.520 --> 00:09:15.360 and I went to Marks and Spencer's 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:16.700 and picked up a packet of sushi. 00:09:17.640 --> 00:09:20.420 And three quarters of the way through eating my sushi, 00:09:20.660 --> 00:09:25.080 I noticed that it was filled with crab and shellfish. 00:09:25.140 --> 00:09:26.200 And I discovered in the summer 00:09:26.200 --> 00:09:28.580 that I have an allergy to crayfish. 00:09:28.980 --> 00:09:30.280 So I had a few anxious minutes 00:09:30.280 --> 00:09:31.400 wondering what was going to happen. 00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:32.360 Because last summer, 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:35.159 after having a lovely crayfish sandwich, 00:09:35.620 --> 00:09:38.100 I find myself on a beach in Devon 00:09:38.100 --> 00:09:39.899 coming out in this rash 00:09:39.899 --> 00:09:40.980 and my lips getting thick 00:09:40.980 --> 00:09:42.620 and my tongue beginning to go like that. 00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:44.459 And I had to move really quickly 00:09:44.459 --> 00:09:46.699 to the pharmacist 00:09:46.699 --> 00:09:49.259 in order to get anti-allergy pills 00:09:49.259 --> 00:09:50.860 to sort me out. 00:09:51.399 --> 00:09:54.159 And that crayfish had done something, 00:09:54.220 --> 00:09:56.960 it was like poison in my body. 00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:03.180 Sin is like a poison within us, 00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:07.139 distorting the image of God in us 00:10:07.139 --> 00:10:09.580 so that we fail to love God as we should, 00:10:09.639 --> 00:10:12.400 we fail to love others as we should. 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:16.400 Sin is like a poison that attacks our heart, 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:19.160 it causes our heart to shrivel up, 00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:20.780 to turn in on ourselves 00:10:20.780 --> 00:10:25.980 rather than going out in love to God, our creator. 00:10:25.980 --> 00:10:30.100 Sin is the poison that ultimately will kill us. 00:10:30.539 --> 00:10:32.019 And so we need to know that 00:10:32.019 --> 00:10:34.300 so that we know what to do about it. 00:10:34.340 --> 00:10:36.480 We need to know where to go for the antidote. 00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:41.279 And the answer is the story of Easter. 00:10:42.279 --> 00:10:44.240 Because just as God appoints death, 00:10:44.740 --> 00:10:45.940 God appoints judgment, 00:10:46.940 --> 00:10:49.000 also in mercy and grace, 00:10:49.680 --> 00:10:52.960 God has appointed a means of rescue. 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:55.960 Just as man is destined to die 00:10:55.960 --> 00:10:57.139 and after that to face judgment, 00:10:57.379 --> 00:10:59.960 so Christ was sacrificed. 00:11:00.820 --> 00:11:03.040 There is grace, there is mercy 00:11:03.040 --> 00:11:05.400 in Jesus' unique death. 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:08.780 Jesus dies as God's Christ, 00:11:08.940 --> 00:11:10.500 as God's sent one, 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:13.780 as God's promised and chosen king. 00:11:13.779 --> 00:11:19.860 Jesus dies as a perfect and voluntary sacrifice 00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:21.899 on behalf of his people. 00:11:22.679 --> 00:11:24.539 As John the Baptist described him, 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:26.459 Jesus comes as the Lamb of God 00:11:26.459 --> 00:11:31.579 who bears away the sin of the world. 00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:35.199 The author of the Hebrews keeps reminding us 00:11:35.199 --> 00:11:38.100 that Jesus is our great high priest. 00:11:38.539 --> 00:11:41.379 So he represents us before a holy God 00:11:41.379 --> 00:11:43.179 and he also brings an offering. 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:44.360 He brings a sacrifice 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:47.720 and that sacrifice is himself. 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:50.200 He is the perfect, 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:52.340 the once for all sacrifice 00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:56.100 to take away the sins of many people. 00:11:57.659 --> 00:12:01.639 Verse 28, we're reminded Christ was sacrificed. 00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:05.159 Some people look at the cross and they say, 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:07.860 well, Jesus was put to death by Roman soldiers 00:12:07.860 --> 00:12:10.840 with the help of the Jewish religious leaders 00:12:10.840 --> 00:12:11.480 and that's true, 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:12.740 but behind that, 00:12:13.539 --> 00:12:14.860 there is the plan, 00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:16.740 the eternal plan of God, 00:12:16.820 --> 00:12:18.659 there is the sacrifice of God the Father 00:12:18.659 --> 00:12:21.720 of his own son, Jesus. 00:12:21.980 --> 00:12:23.279 This wasn't an accident. 00:12:23.460 --> 00:12:25.100 Jesus was no helpless victim. 00:12:25.779 --> 00:12:27.539 Jesus was going to fulfill 00:12:27.539 --> 00:12:31.340 the eternal plan of God. 00:12:32.060 --> 00:12:35.420 And Jesus willingly sacrificed himself, 00:12:35.419 --> 00:12:39.259 submitting himself to the Father's plan, 00:12:39.459 --> 00:12:43.879 giving himself for the salvation of his church. 00:12:45.319 --> 00:12:46.959 In Jesus' judgment, 00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:49.240 he bears away, 00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:51.679 he takes away sin. 00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:54.539 Nowadays, 00:12:54.740 --> 00:12:57.339 and we've seen this just in the last couple of days, 00:12:57.459 --> 00:12:58.879 there are more and more cases 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:02.139 of crimes and errors of judgment 00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:04.699 that are being caught on camera. 00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:08.399 That it's now possible to see 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:12.439 where people's crimes are being committed. 00:13:12.620 --> 00:13:15.099 They can be recorded for posterity. 00:13:16.319 --> 00:13:18.159 Now imagine for a moment, 00:13:18.939 --> 00:13:20.719 our worst moment, 00:13:21.819 --> 00:13:23.579 even our darkest thoughts, 00:13:24.339 --> 00:13:26.659 recorded for posterity, 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:28.319 caught on camera, 00:13:28.719 --> 00:13:31.399 and then revealed to the world. 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:36.139 That strikes me as the most awful prospect 00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:39.240 that could ever be imagined. 00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:42.319 Those things that we are so ashamed of, 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:45.959 those things in our past that haunt us, 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:48.340 if our faith is in Jesus, 00:13:48.539 --> 00:13:51.500 Jesus becomes those sins for us. 00:13:51.500 --> 00:13:54.159 Jesus, 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:59.240 the judge is judged in our place for those things, 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:03.360 so that we can be set free of guilt and shame 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:06.460 and fear of death and condemnation. 00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:11.700 Jesus took our sin and our sorrow. 00:14:11.920 --> 00:14:14.080 He made them his very own. 00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:17.580 He bore the burden to Calvary 00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:20.400 and he suffered and died alone. 00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:22.780 Now we have an important question to ask. 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:28.660 Why does the resurrection of Jesus matter in all of this? 00:14:28.700 --> 00:14:31.000 We're thinking again about Jesus' sacrifice, 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:31.840 his death on the cross. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:34.180 Why does the resurrection of Jesus matter? 00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:36.879 Well, let's think about Paul's words 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:39.139 in 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 17, 00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:39.820 where he says, 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:42.440 if Christ is not raised, 00:14:43.300 --> 00:14:45.200 you are still in your sin. 00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:47.460 Or to put it positively, 00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:51.160 because Christ has been raised, 00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:54.120 you are no longer in your sin. 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:57.300 So now we can see why the resurrection of Jesus 00:14:57.300 --> 00:14:59.740 matters to forgiveness. 00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:03.460 Jesus' resurrection is the proof 00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:07.659 that God has accepted his perfect sacrifice. 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:10.899 And because that sacrifice has been accepted, 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:14.080 our forgiveness is therefore secured. 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:16.700 So we come to Easter Sunday, 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:18.120 we come to the resurrection, 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:21.060 and we discover here is the promise of salvation 00:15:21.060 --> 00:15:22.720 that has been kept. 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:26.800 God has accepted his own son, 00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:31.379 Jesus' sacrifice on behalf of sinners. 00:15:32.899 --> 00:15:35.279 C.S. Lewis captures it so well 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:37.220 in the Chronicles of Narnia, 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:38.899 in the line, The Witch and the Wardrobe. 00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:41.620 If you don't know the story, 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:45.160 it's the story of two brothers and two sisters, 00:15:45.160 --> 00:15:48.600 and they come into the kingdom of Narnia, 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:50.800 and one of them becomes a traitor, 00:15:51.180 --> 00:15:55.700 Edmund joins the White Witch. 00:15:56.600 --> 00:16:00.000 And Edmund, as a traitor, is facing death. 00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:03.800 And then Aslan, the lion, the hero, the Jesus figure, 00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:08.500 he agrees to take the place of Edmund. 00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:16.480 And we discover Aslan dying on a stone table. 00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:21.720 And there is weeping from Edmund's sisters 00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:25.600 as they watch Aslan, this brave and beautiful lion, die. 00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:28.460 But then the stone table cracks. 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:30.120 There's no sign of Aslan. 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:32.500 It turns out he's alive. 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:35.500 And when they meet Aslan, 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:37.179 they have the question, 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:40.039 how has this thing happened? 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:43.480 And Aslan talks about a deeper magic. 00:16:43.700 --> 00:16:43.980 And he says, 00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:47.740 when a willing victim who had committed no treachery 00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:50.279 was killed in a traitor's stead, 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:52.120 the table would crack, 00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:56.100 and death itself would start working backward. 00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:59.360 There's Lewis' way of talking about 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:02.679 the significance of the resurrection. 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:08.359 It's a sign that Jesus was a sinless sacrifice 00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:09.519 who was accepted, 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:13.139 bringing new life in the place of death. 00:17:14.099 --> 00:17:15.779 Jesus has faced death. 00:17:15.899 --> 00:17:18.419 He has faced judgment for us. 00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:20.599 And he has come through it. 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:23.940 And therefore, because of that, 00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:25.879 we are invited to trust him, 00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:30.980 to ask him to bear our sin for us. 00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:35.599 Somebody has to stand and give account 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:37.740 and pay the price for our sin. 00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:41.319 The gospel says Jesus is willing 00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:45.759 to be the one who bears sin for us 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:47.400 if we will trust him. 00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:50.279 Therefore, Jesus is the one 00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:52.579 who can turn shame to honor for us. 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:57.279 He can turn despair and failure to hope for us. 00:17:57.279 --> 00:18:00.779 He can turn death to life for us. 00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:04.480 And that's the great news of Easter Sunday. 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:07.059 I wonder who we can share 00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:10.240 the amazing news of Easter with this week 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:12.700 when we talk about what we've been doing 00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:14.059 with our weekend. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:16.839 Can we turn conversation to Easter 00:18:16.839 --> 00:18:19.399 and the significance of it? 00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:21.779 But the resurrection doesn't just promise 00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:24.019 that our sins are forgiven. 00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:26.740 The resurrection also promises 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:32.960 that your salvation will one day be complete. 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:38.319 Look at verse 28 and see how the author 00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:41.700 introduces the second coming of Jesus. 00:18:41.700 --> 00:18:45.420 So just as man is destined to die once 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:46.880 and after that to face judgment, 00:18:47.580 --> 00:18:50.200 so Christ was sacrificed once 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:52.920 to take away the sins of many people 00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:56.140 and he will appear a second time. 00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:57.860 Not to bear sin, 00:18:58.360 --> 00:18:59.660 but to bring salvation 00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:02.460 to those who are waiting for him. 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:04.220 So here's the second coming of Jesus 00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:06.100 being introduced by the author. 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:07.319 And this is something 00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:09.980 that Jesus himself taught. 00:19:10.419 --> 00:19:12.960 You can read in Matthew 24, 00:19:13.399 --> 00:19:15.259 this week, a series of parables 00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:16.299 that Jesus taught. 00:19:16.679 --> 00:19:17.899 The king or the master 00:19:17.899 --> 00:19:19.359 who goes to a far country 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:21.079 and leaves his servants 00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:22.740 with work to do 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:24.059 and with money to invest 00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:25.939 or the bridegroom who's coming 00:19:25.939 --> 00:19:27.839 for the wedding celebration 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:28.899 and there's the virgins 00:19:28.899 --> 00:19:30.339 who are called to be ready. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:32.419 The emphasis in the second coming 00:19:32.419 --> 00:19:33.259 is not be working, 00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:34.579 be serving, be ready 00:19:34.579 --> 00:19:35.879 because Jesus the king 00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:38.260 is one day coming back. 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:41.500 Notice that it says 00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:43.260 that Jesus will appear. 00:19:43.520 --> 00:19:45.360 It's just a wee reminder to us 00:19:45.360 --> 00:19:47.060 that Jesus is going to appear 00:19:47.060 --> 00:19:48.620 in a physical body. 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:51.760 Jesus is not simply spirit. 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:53.960 He is also physical. 00:19:55.300 --> 00:19:57.460 In Acts chapter 1 and verse 11, 00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:59.060 the disciples are watching 00:19:59.060 --> 00:20:01.520 Jesus return to the glory of heaven 00:20:01.520 --> 00:20:03.940 and an angel comes to speak to them, 00:20:04.340 --> 00:20:05.240 reminding them, 00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:06.299 this same Jesus 00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:07.859 you saw go up into the clouds, 00:20:08.140 --> 00:20:09.160 he'll come back 00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:10.359 in the same way 00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:11.859 you've seen him go into heaven. 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:12.420 In other words, 00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:13.559 we have this promise 00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:14.880 that Jesus is going to come back 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:16.420 on the clouds with glory 00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:19.120 and everyone will see him. 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:21.779 Easter Sunday, 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:22.859 you read in the Gospels, 00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:25.359 here is our Savior, 00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:26.000 the Lord Jesus. 00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:26.859 He could be touched, 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:27.720 he ate, 00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:29.220 and he drank with his followers. 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:31.019 Jesus, our Savior, 00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:33.120 Jesus, our great high priest, 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:34.799 he took on himself 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:38.119 a resurrected physical body 00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:41.500 for now and for all eternity. 00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:45.219 So the resurrected Lord Jesus 00:20:45.219 --> 00:20:46.099 will come back 00:20:46.099 --> 00:20:48.039 and the author of the Hebrews 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:49.779 invites us to think about why. 00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:51.919 He says not to bear sin, 00:20:52.419 --> 00:20:53.500 he's not going to come again 00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:54.199 a second time 00:20:54.199 --> 00:20:55.419 to make atonement for sin 00:20:55.419 --> 00:20:56.599 because he's already done that 00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:57.279 on the cross. 00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:58.879 At the second coming, 00:20:58.980 --> 00:20:59.519 we are told, 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:02.220 he will bring salvation. 00:21:03.339 --> 00:21:05.259 He will bring to completion 00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:06.519 what he started 00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:08.039 in his first coming, 00:21:08.339 --> 00:21:09.139 in his death 00:21:09.139 --> 00:21:10.599 and in his resurrection. 00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:12.279 His return will complete 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:16.460 the great plan of salvation. 00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:20.579 So we enjoy salvation now, 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.279 but it's not finished 00:21:21.899 --> 00:21:23.279 until Jesus returns 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:25.000 and we are with him. 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:27.839 Now we are children of God. 00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:30.859 But then when Jesus comes back, 00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:34.180 we will have perfect resurrected bodies 00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:35.380 and we'll live with God 00:21:35.380 --> 00:21:37.039 and we'll see Jesus face to face 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:39.980 in the glory of heaven forever, 00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:42.700 enjoying the new heaven 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:44.339 and the new earth. 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:48.400 Now we are forgiven as Christians. 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:49.900 We are not slaves to sin. 00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:52.160 Sin has no power, 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:53.359 no hold on us. 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:55.240 But then when Jesus returns, 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:57.079 sin will be totally destroyed 00:21:57.079 --> 00:21:58.839 once and for all. 00:22:00.139 --> 00:22:02.419 Now we have eternal life, 00:22:02.479 --> 00:22:03.779 which is knowing God, 00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:05.019 which is knowing Jesus, 00:22:05.179 --> 00:22:05.719 his son. 00:22:05.979 --> 00:22:09.179 But then we'll have eternal life, 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:10.699 knowing and enjoying God, 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:12.559 seeing him face to face 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:16.559 in that feast that will never end. 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:18.740 Next week, 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:20.460 as a church in the evening, 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:22.220 we'll share the Lord's Supper together. 00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:23.500 The Lord's Supper, 00:22:23.659 --> 00:22:24.940 which is a foretaste. 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:27.119 It's like a starter preparing us 00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:30.179 for the salvation that is still to come. 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:32.460 When we gather at the Lord's table, 00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:34.339 Jesus is present spiritually 00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:35.419 to meet us, 00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:37.039 to bless us, 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:38.000 to give us grace, 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:39.079 to strengthen us. 00:22:39.379 --> 00:22:40.879 But our future hope 00:22:40.879 --> 00:22:43.799 is of a wedding feast 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:46.180 where we'll be in the presence of Jesus, 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:47.779 where we'll have the joy 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:49.519 of living in the love of God, 00:22:49.859 --> 00:22:53.180 enjoying rich fellowship with God forever. 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:54.960 And again, 00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:57.139 why does the resurrection of Jesus 00:22:57.139 --> 00:22:59.879 matter when we think about 00:22:59.879 --> 00:23:02.299 our promise of salvation? 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:03.480 Again, 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:04.619 to use Paul's word 00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:05.799 in 1 Corinthians 15, 00:23:06.659 --> 00:23:07.519 at verse 49, 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.139 he said, 00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:10.099 just as we have born 00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:12.099 the likeness of the earthly man, 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:15.139 so we shall bear the likeness 00:23:15.139 --> 00:23:17.400 of the man from heaven. 00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:20.079 Jesus' reality 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:22.839 will be our reality. 00:23:23.379 --> 00:23:24.160 Jesus' home 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:25.980 will be our home. 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.420 Jesus' joy 00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:29.059 will be our joy 00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:30.279 if our faith 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:31.420 is in him. 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:34.000 The resurrection of Jesus 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:35.460 is the promise 00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:37.140 of the world 00:23:37.140 --> 00:23:38.120 our hearts long for, 00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:38.500 really, 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:40.680 because it's the promise 00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:42.100 of a world beyond 00:23:42.100 --> 00:23:43.860 tears and pain 00:23:43.860 --> 00:23:45.259 and suffering and death. 00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:46.900 It's a world 00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:47.500 where we share 00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:49.059 in the greatest love of all, 00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:51.019 the love of God. 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.120 And we enjoy it 00:23:52.120 --> 00:23:53.039 not just for a while, 00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:55.319 but for all eternity 00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:57.400 if we trust in Jesus 00:23:57.400 --> 00:23:59.360 to forgive our sins 00:23:59.360 --> 00:24:01.180 and to bring us to God. 00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:03.220 There is this promise 00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:04.079 in the resurrection 00:24:04.079 --> 00:24:04.980 that our salvation 00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:06.460 will one day be complete. 00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:07.960 At the very end 00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:08.859 of verse 28, 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:11.059 it talks about those 00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:12.259 who are waiting 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:14.279 for Jesus. 00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:17.279 It seems like 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:17.879 the author 00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:19.039 of the Hebrews 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:20.480 is drawing on 00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:23.139 the Old Testament 00:24:23.139 --> 00:24:24.500 and drawing in particular 00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:26.039 on the Day of Atonement. 00:24:26.139 --> 00:24:26.659 What would happen 00:24:26.659 --> 00:24:27.839 on the Day of Atonement 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:28.740 would be that 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.579 the high priest 00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:31.579 would wash himself, 00:24:32.199 --> 00:24:33.079 would offer sacrifices 00:24:33.079 --> 00:24:34.399 for himself, 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.639 and then would go 00:24:35.639 --> 00:24:37.559 into the most holy place, 00:24:37.899 --> 00:24:39.359 into God's presence, 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:42.039 bringing a sacrifice 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:44.599 in order to secure 00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:46.199 the forgiveness of sin 00:24:46.199 --> 00:24:48.099 for the people. 00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:50.039 And on the Day of Atonement, 00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:50.740 as the high priest 00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:52.039 went into the most holy place, 00:24:52.399 --> 00:24:53.339 the worshipers 00:24:53.339 --> 00:24:54.079 would gather around 00:24:54.679 --> 00:24:56.399 anxiously waiting 00:24:56.399 --> 00:24:57.579 to find out, 00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:59.000 will the sacrifice 00:24:59.000 --> 00:24:59.939 of the high priest 00:24:59.939 --> 00:25:00.599 be accepted? 00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:03.059 will our sins 00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:03.779 be forgiven? 00:25:04.719 --> 00:25:05.699 Can we continue 00:25:05.699 --> 00:25:06.679 to enjoy life 00:25:06.679 --> 00:25:07.539 as the people of God? 00:25:07.659 --> 00:25:08.379 How did they get 00:25:08.379 --> 00:25:09.359 the positive answer? 00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:10.459 The high priest 00:25:10.459 --> 00:25:11.419 would come out again. 00:25:12.119 --> 00:25:12.899 The high priest 00:25:12.899 --> 00:25:14.879 would return to them. 00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:16.799 And this is what 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:18.319 the author of the Hebrews 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:19.619 is saying to us. 00:25:19.679 --> 00:25:20.480 The resurrection 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:21.579 is Jesus, 00:25:21.719 --> 00:25:22.339 the high priest, 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:24.079 returning to show 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:26.339 that that sacrifice 00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:27.879 to secure forgiveness 00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:29.460 has been accepted. 00:25:30.300 --> 00:25:31.780 To show that God 00:25:31.780 --> 00:25:34.040 has forgiven our sins. 00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:35.120 To show that 00:25:35.120 --> 00:25:36.340 if we trust in Jesus, 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.840 we can enjoy 00:25:37.840 --> 00:25:40.820 life with God. 00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:43.740 And so the question 00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:44.720 for us then is, 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:47.240 are we waiting for him? 00:25:47.840 --> 00:25:48.820 Is he the one 00:25:48.820 --> 00:25:49.640 that we are placing 00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:51.120 our trust in? 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:51.860 Is he the one 00:25:51.860 --> 00:25:54.020 who we hope in? 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:57.619 Is our trust 00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:58.980 for final acceptance 00:25:58.980 --> 00:26:00.119 from God 00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:01.960 rooted in 00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:03.299 who Jesus is 00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:04.599 and what Jesus 00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:06.900 has done for us?