WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.379 Well, thank you, Pete and Adaisy, for bringing us our readings tonight. 00:00:04.900 --> 00:00:06.780 It's lovely to be together tonight. 00:00:07.360 --> 00:00:10.179 My name's Graeme. I'm the pastor here of the church. 00:00:10.859 --> 00:00:15.839 And let's just allow our souls tonight to be greatly strengthened 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:22.000 as we gaze at the glory of who our self-giving King is tonight. 00:00:22.559 --> 00:00:24.719 So whatever's going on in your life right now, 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:26.420 whoever you've come here today, 00:00:27.219 --> 00:00:29.199 whatever struggles that you're facing, 00:00:30.199 --> 00:00:34.280 let's be in awe tonight of the King who gave it all for us. 00:00:35.019 --> 00:00:37.359 And so as we step into John 19, 00:00:38.740 --> 00:00:41.519 as you've got the passage there, have a look at it. 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:50.840 Know that you are looking at the most beautiful marriage proposal ever. 00:00:52.299 --> 00:00:54.820 I've had many friends down the years who've proposed. 00:00:54.820 --> 00:00:59.960 And as far as I can tell, all of them have one thing in common. 00:01:01.240 --> 00:01:02.240 And it's this. 00:01:03.480 --> 00:01:07.719 None of them woke up the morning that they got engaged and thought to themselves, 00:01:07.819 --> 00:01:09.079 do you know what I fancy doing today? 00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:12.000 I really feel like asking a girl to marry me. 00:01:13.859 --> 00:01:15.799 And so down they went to Claire's Accessories. 00:01:15.939 --> 00:01:17.900 They bought the cheapest ring that they could find. 00:01:18.019 --> 00:01:21.859 Before they hit the high street, they stopped the first girl that they happened to see. 00:01:21.980 --> 00:01:23.079 And they said to her, 00:01:23.079 --> 00:01:24.799 Will you marry me? 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:27.679 It's not really how it works, is it? 00:01:28.039 --> 00:01:30.620 Or certainly I hope it's not how it works. 00:01:31.620 --> 00:01:39.359 Every single one of those men told me for months and months about this girl who they were crazy for. 00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:44.859 And about how they knew from the moment that they first clocked her, 00:01:45.379 --> 00:01:49.859 that they wanted to marry her and win her. 00:01:50.299 --> 00:01:55.640 And so they set about scraping together every last penny that they had 00:01:55.640 --> 00:02:03.900 to buy the perfect ring and to present it to her in the perfect way that communicated to her 00:02:03.900 --> 00:02:08.760 that I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to win you and make you mine. 00:02:09.939 --> 00:02:12.580 And I've heard some of them tell me stories about how they did it. 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:15.000 And I'm blushing just hearing the story, thinking to myself, 00:02:15.099 --> 00:02:17.780 I would have even said yes to something like that. 00:02:20.460 --> 00:02:21.900 John chapter 19. 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:29.620 Welcome to the most beautiful marriage proposal ever. 00:02:29.620 --> 00:02:33.759 One that whatever is going on in your life right now, 00:02:34.039 --> 00:02:35.879 if your faith is in this Jesus, 00:02:36.860 --> 00:02:40.240 you have been so wonderfully swept up into. 00:02:41.580 --> 00:02:44.140 And at this point, you're likely nudging your neighbor and you're saying, 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:45.580 Have we got the right passage? 00:02:46.980 --> 00:02:49.700 And I don't blame you for maybe thinking that, 00:02:49.780 --> 00:02:53.700 because I suspect that this was the last thing that you were picturing in your mind 00:02:53.700 --> 00:02:57.700 as we read these verses in John 19 together. 00:02:57.699 --> 00:03:04.239 Because the first few verses from verse 31 of chapter 19, 00:03:04.859 --> 00:03:07.819 this is just business as usual in Rome. 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:12.359 Nothing out of the ordinary to see. 00:03:13.739 --> 00:03:16.539 I mean, I take it hundreds of people get crucified 00:03:16.539 --> 00:03:19.919 in the several places throughout the Roman Empire 00:03:19.919 --> 00:03:22.620 where these crucifixion stations are located. 00:03:22.620 --> 00:03:26.099 And it just so happens that in this particular day, 00:03:26.200 --> 00:03:28.159 these three men are being crucified, 00:03:28.500 --> 00:03:31.520 and they're being crucified just outside Jerusalem. 00:03:32.920 --> 00:03:34.780 But with day drawing in, 00:03:36.340 --> 00:03:40.460 the Jews want to get the bodies killed and taken down from the cross 00:03:40.460 --> 00:03:43.560 before the clock strikes Sabbath. 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:50.099 And I take it that's just because to have someone visibly hanging there on the Sabbath, 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:54.740 not only was it a visible sign of God's curse, 00:03:55.379 --> 00:03:59.539 but it was just a really unpleasant and ugly thing to look at. 00:04:01.319 --> 00:04:03.159 Didn't want that kind of thing on display, 00:04:03.340 --> 00:04:05.259 particularly during the Passover. 00:04:05.259 --> 00:04:06.340 And so the Romans, 00:04:07.060 --> 00:04:09.079 to speed up the dying process, 00:04:09.340 --> 00:04:12.060 because these things we've got to understand could last for days, 00:04:13.419 --> 00:04:15.159 they would break the legs of their victims 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:19.159 so that they could not push themselves up anymore to get breath. 00:04:19.539 --> 00:04:23.019 So to break their legs is effectively to suffocate them. 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:26.279 They do it to the man on the right, 00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:29.659 and they do it to the man on the left, 00:04:30.239 --> 00:04:33.819 and then they come to the man in the middle. 00:04:34.059 --> 00:04:36.419 And they realize when they come to the man in the middle 00:04:36.419 --> 00:04:38.739 that the guy's already dead. 00:04:40.259 --> 00:04:42.799 Now, whether it's a random act of violence 00:04:42.799 --> 00:04:44.399 to kind of flex their muscles, 00:04:45.059 --> 00:04:46.859 or as a way of maybe double checking 00:04:46.859 --> 00:04:51.259 that the guy in the middle cross was in fact actually dead, 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:52.679 one of the soldiers takes a spear 00:04:52.679 --> 00:04:55.759 and he pierces Jesus' side with it just to make sure. 00:04:57.059 --> 00:04:58.739 And yes, indeed, this guy's dead. 00:05:00.239 --> 00:05:04.319 So here is another grim day at the office in Rome. 00:05:05.159 --> 00:05:06.199 You're a Roman soldier. 00:05:06.379 --> 00:05:08.339 This is another day, another dollar. 00:05:09.299 --> 00:05:10.619 Nothing to see here. 00:05:12.779 --> 00:05:14.459 And yet John the Gospel writer, 00:05:14.599 --> 00:05:15.219 remember himself, 00:05:15.299 --> 00:05:17.599 he's an eyewitness to all of this as it goes on. 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:22.279 He seems to get really animated at this scene. 00:05:23.119 --> 00:05:24.419 Have a look at verse 35. 00:05:24.619 --> 00:05:25.259 What does he say? 00:05:25.259 --> 00:05:27.399 The man who saw it has given testimony, 00:05:27.879 --> 00:05:29.599 and his testimony is true. 00:05:30.180 --> 00:05:32.180 He knows that he tells the truth, 00:05:32.699 --> 00:05:33.860 and he testifies. 00:05:34.019 --> 00:05:34.899 And then what he sees, 00:05:35.399 --> 00:05:38.399 then see what he says next. 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:39.000 What does he say? 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:40.040 Why am I telling you this, 00:05:40.040 --> 00:05:40.579 says John? 00:05:40.920 --> 00:05:44.180 So that you may also believe. 00:05:45.579 --> 00:05:47.379 So in this scene, 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:48.980 where the world looks at this scene, 00:05:49.240 --> 00:05:50.579 this man on the cross, 00:05:50.980 --> 00:05:52.819 where the world sees death, 00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:55.819 where it sees power and politics 00:05:55.819 --> 00:05:59.139 claiming yet another victim on another day, 00:05:59.660 --> 00:06:00.899 John, somehow, 00:06:01.220 --> 00:06:03.160 he looks at the same scene, 00:06:03.160 --> 00:06:04.939 and he doesn't see death. 00:06:04.939 --> 00:06:06.380 He sees life. 00:06:07.380 --> 00:06:10.920 And it's not because he's just a sunny, optimist kind of guy. 00:06:10.920 --> 00:06:15.340 It's not because he's an optimist he sees it. 00:06:15.540 --> 00:06:18.080 It's because he's an evangelist that he sees it. 00:06:19.160 --> 00:06:20.340 And in particular, 00:06:20.560 --> 00:06:24.420 John sees life in this horrendous of scenes, 00:06:24.640 --> 00:06:27.160 and he sees it in three places. 00:06:27.259 --> 00:06:27.939 Do you see them there? 00:06:28.300 --> 00:06:30.819 He sees it in Jesus' unbroken bones. 00:06:31.339 --> 00:06:34.219 He sees it in Jesus' pierced side. 00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:36.939 And he sees it in the blood and the water 00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:38.899 which flows from his pierced side. 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:42.879 Now, just for a little bit, 00:06:42.939 --> 00:06:44.180 let's think about those three things 00:06:44.180 --> 00:06:46.980 and how on earth John can see life in those three things. 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:49.959 Take the unbroken bones. 00:06:51.560 --> 00:06:53.980 Two contexts to that in the Old Testament 00:06:53.980 --> 00:06:57.060 where unbroken bones are spoken of. 00:06:57.120 --> 00:06:58.860 The first one is Passover. 00:06:58.860 --> 00:07:02.520 The Passover lamb in Exodus 12. 00:07:02.720 --> 00:07:03.680 God had told his people 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:07.680 that when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, 00:07:08.780 --> 00:07:11.840 that they weren't allowed to break the bones. 00:07:12.080 --> 00:07:14.639 And I take it that's a way of saying 00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:17.000 and of helping God's people understand 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:18.520 that the lamb that you offer 00:07:18.520 --> 00:07:22.080 has got to be a perfect, flawless sacrifice. 00:07:23.280 --> 00:07:24.780 What is it commemorating? 00:07:24.980 --> 00:07:26.520 What is it helping them remember? 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:30.599 It's that the lamb whose blood was over the door 00:07:30.599 --> 00:07:33.379 when they lived in Egypt, 00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:37.019 it was only the blood that would keep you safe 00:07:37.019 --> 00:07:39.039 from the destroyer who God would send. 00:07:40.159 --> 00:07:41.659 In that Exodus scene, 00:07:41.719 --> 00:07:44.000 remember the Israelites are just as guilty 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:45.099 as the Egyptians. 00:07:45.100 --> 00:07:50.260 But the one thing that stopped the firstborn son being killed 00:07:50.260 --> 00:07:52.340 was the blood of the perfect lamb 00:07:52.340 --> 00:07:53.439 that was over the door. 00:07:54.700 --> 00:07:57.540 Not to do with the quality of their faith 00:07:57.540 --> 00:08:00.260 or the intensity of their faith. 00:08:00.260 --> 00:08:03.260 It was all to do with the blood of the lamb. 00:08:04.939 --> 00:08:07.700 The second context, you get it in Psalm 34. 00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:09.800 David there is writing 00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:12.340 and he says, 00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:14.620 God protect the righteous from our enemies. 00:08:15.980 --> 00:08:17.079 And there you get it as well. 00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:19.660 Not one of his bones will be broken. 00:08:19.860 --> 00:08:21.420 I take it as David's way of saying 00:08:21.420 --> 00:08:23.500 the righteous person who dies, 00:08:25.379 --> 00:08:28.040 trusting God is like a perfect sacrifice. 00:08:29.800 --> 00:08:31.600 Almost symbolically signifying 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:33.200 that the body of this person 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:34.779 will be ready for resurrection. 00:08:34.779 --> 00:08:38.439 So the unbroken bones, 00:08:38.620 --> 00:08:40.000 John sees life in that. 00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:42.539 When the world sees random, 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:43.779 when the world sees insignificant, 00:08:45.220 --> 00:08:46.319 footnote detail, 00:08:46.839 --> 00:08:47.919 John sees life. 00:08:48.139 --> 00:08:50.439 He sees it in the pierced side as well. 00:08:50.919 --> 00:08:53.919 And that's where we got a reading from Pete earlier 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:55.720 from Zechariah chapter 12. 00:08:55.980 --> 00:08:56.980 If you remember that line, 00:08:59.000 --> 00:08:59.899 John quotes from it, 00:09:00.139 --> 00:09:01.079 John chapter 19, 00:09:01.080 --> 00:09:05.100 they will look on the one who they pierced. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:08.020 And that's God saying there 00:09:08.020 --> 00:09:10.639 that he's going to pour out on his rebellious people 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:11.879 a spirit of grace. 00:09:13.160 --> 00:09:15.040 There's going to come a time 00:09:15.040 --> 00:09:19.920 when sinners will look on the one that they pierced 00:09:19.920 --> 00:09:21.300 and their thoughts will be, 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:22.080 did you get it in the reading? 00:09:22.160 --> 00:09:23.040 It will be mourning. 00:09:23.220 --> 00:09:24.080 They'll look at it and think, 00:09:24.300 --> 00:09:26.100 what did we do to put him there? 00:09:28.060 --> 00:09:29.160 What have we done? 00:09:29.300 --> 00:09:30.400 What did we do? 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:35.800 And there'll be a mixture of a spirit of conviction. 00:09:36.139 --> 00:09:37.440 What did we do to put him there? 00:09:37.520 --> 00:09:40.139 And there'll also be a mixture of the spirit of grace. 00:09:42.379 --> 00:09:44.259 And that's what the cross is, isn't it? 00:09:44.280 --> 00:09:45.120 In one sense, 00:09:45.180 --> 00:09:48.120 it is the ultimate criticism of us. 00:09:49.280 --> 00:09:52.280 Our real sin put the real son of God 00:09:52.280 --> 00:09:53.900 on a real cross. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:56.960 I remember going to the cinema 00:09:56.960 --> 00:09:59.160 to watch Mel Gibson's film, 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:00.240 The Passion of the Christ, 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:01.000 when it came out, 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:02.519 Donkeys years ago. 00:10:03.680 --> 00:10:06.060 It's the only film I can ever remember being in 00:10:06.060 --> 00:10:07.060 where the film finished 00:10:07.060 --> 00:10:08.620 and not a soul moved 00:10:08.620 --> 00:10:10.379 for about 20 minutes after the film 00:10:10.379 --> 00:10:13.200 in a packed Odeon cinema in Glasgow. 00:10:13.460 --> 00:10:14.700 The weirdest thing ever. 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:16.560 But in that film, 00:10:16.620 --> 00:10:18.180 maybe you know that Mel Gibson 00:10:18.180 --> 00:10:19.960 is in one scene in that film. 00:10:20.680 --> 00:10:22.860 It's his hand that's on the hammer 00:10:22.860 --> 00:10:26.000 that drives the nails into Jesus on the cross 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:27.659 as he is crucified. 00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:29.519 And it was Gibson's way of saying, 00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:30.639 of publicly saying, 00:10:30.820 --> 00:10:32.659 that he took some responsibility 00:10:32.659 --> 00:10:34.759 for what happened to Jesus on the cross 00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:35.960 that Friday. 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:40.899 The cross is the ultimate criticism of us. 00:10:41.460 --> 00:10:42.539 And yet, 00:10:42.679 --> 00:10:46.019 it is also the ultimate liberation for us. 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:47.460 You've got to hear this tonight. 00:10:47.460 --> 00:10:50.700 that Jesus took it all. 00:10:52.220 --> 00:10:53.379 He took it all. 00:10:53.540 --> 00:10:55.120 He paid it all. 00:10:57.280 --> 00:10:57.660 You know, 00:10:57.720 --> 00:11:00.060 I renewed our home insurance recently. 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:02.660 Have you ever had this experience? 00:11:02.860 --> 00:11:04.300 They send you the renewal letter. 00:11:04.299 --> 00:11:07.519 And I saw the cost at the top. 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:09.659 And just growing up in this country, 00:11:09.779 --> 00:11:11.839 you're told never to pay full price for something. 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:13.120 Or if you do pay full price, 00:11:13.219 --> 00:11:14.519 it's spelled F-O-O-L. 00:11:15.219 --> 00:11:15.379 Right? 00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:17.479 Not paying that price. 00:11:17.559 --> 00:11:18.139 I've phoned them up 00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:19.039 and they get me a good deal. 00:11:19.139 --> 00:11:19.359 Great. 00:11:19.500 --> 00:11:21.719 So they send me the stuff in the post the next day 00:11:21.719 --> 00:11:22.479 and I look at it. 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:23.399 And if you've ever done that, 00:11:23.459 --> 00:11:26.019 you scan down your insurance documents 00:11:26.019 --> 00:11:28.159 and right at the bottom is just two columns. 00:11:28.359 --> 00:11:29.719 Do you know the two columns I'm talking about? 00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:31.359 Two columns. 00:11:31.359 --> 00:11:32.359 One says, 00:11:33.059 --> 00:11:34.120 what's covered? 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:36.399 And the other one says, 00:11:36.919 --> 00:11:37.939 what's not covered? 00:11:39.559 --> 00:11:41.599 And what we've got to understand tonight 00:11:41.599 --> 00:11:43.219 is that what Jesus has done 00:11:43.219 --> 00:11:45.419 as far as our sin is concerned, 00:11:46.219 --> 00:11:49.019 there's nothing in that second box. 00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:52.120 Nothing in that second box. 00:11:52.299 --> 00:11:53.919 Jesus has paid it all. 00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:57.479 There is nothing that's not covered. 00:11:57.479 --> 00:12:00.959 We cannot out-sin the cross. 00:12:01.659 --> 00:12:03.539 We cannot out-sin the cross. 00:12:03.539 --> 00:12:05.839 It is the ultimate criticism of us. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:07.860 It was our sin that put him there. 00:12:08.439 --> 00:12:10.779 But it is the ultimate liberation for us 00:12:10.779 --> 00:12:11.919 because nowhere else 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:14.879 so climactically do we see the love of God 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:16.059 and the justice of God 00:12:16.059 --> 00:12:18.379 on full display for the world to see. 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:19.919 It is the criticism 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:21.480 and it's our liberation. 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:24.860 And then we come to the blood 00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:26.379 and the water. 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:28.000 And if you're an Old Testament Jew, 00:12:28.340 --> 00:12:30.000 you're schooled in the fact 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:31.920 that the life is in the blood. 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:35.399 Without the shedding of blood, 00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:37.879 there can be no sacrifice for sin. 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:40.539 And in John's gospel, 00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:44.259 water is associated with the Spirit. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:48.679 And it speaks of cleansing and life. 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:51.580 In Jesus' death, 00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:54.500 he releases for us both the cleansing power 00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:56.820 and the life-giving power that we need. 00:12:56.820 --> 00:13:00.900 And John brings all of these three things together 00:13:00.900 --> 00:13:03.420 and he presents it to us 00:13:03.420 --> 00:13:04.720 and to his original readers. 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:05.360 And he says, 00:13:05.560 --> 00:13:09.879 this is where life is found. 00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:14.060 In the one who gave himself for us. 00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:16.379 You know that old hymn 00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:18.040 that the church have sang down the ages? 00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:20.480 There is a fountain that's filled with blood 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:22.260 drawn from Emmanuel's veins. 00:13:22.259 --> 00:13:25.740 And sinners plunge beneath that flood. 00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:27.899 They lose all their guilty stains. 00:13:30.299 --> 00:13:32.279 Friends, welcome to the most beautiful 00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:35.259 marriage proposal ever. 00:13:37.179 --> 00:13:40.200 Here is the lengths that Jesus the bridegroom, 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:42.220 and that's how he's been portrayed 00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:44.200 all the way up to this point in John's gospel. 00:13:44.419 --> 00:13:46.799 Here are the lengths that Jesus the bridegroom 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:48.460 is willing to go to 00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:50.439 to win his bride. 00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:53.440 And I love how Stuart Townend, 00:13:53.520 --> 00:13:55.340 in his modern day song, 00:13:55.380 --> 00:13:56.540 he captures it so well. 00:13:56.660 --> 00:13:56.920 He says, 00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:58.200 Oh, to see my name 00:13:58.200 --> 00:14:00.240 written in his wounds, 00:14:00.520 --> 00:14:02.500 for through his suffering I am free. 00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:05.500 And John says to his readers, 00:14:05.640 --> 00:14:06.440 Will you see 00:14:06.440 --> 00:14:08.720 and will you live? 00:14:10.420 --> 00:14:11.680 And it's interesting, isn't it, 00:14:11.680 --> 00:14:12.580 off the back of that, 00:14:13.920 --> 00:14:16.300 two individuals come onto the scene. 00:14:17.780 --> 00:14:19.200 Two individuals come forward 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:20.360 from verse 28. 00:14:20.520 --> 00:14:22.460 You get Joseph of Arimathea. 00:14:22.640 --> 00:14:23.879 Check him out, verse 28. 00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:27.820 The man who was a disciple of Jesus, 00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:30.720 but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. 00:14:30.800 --> 00:14:32.040 So he's on the scene here. 00:14:32.220 --> 00:14:34.120 And you get Nicodemus as well, 00:14:34.580 --> 00:14:37.259 who we've met before twice in John's gospel. 00:14:38.220 --> 00:14:41.940 This man who was the top of the religious class. 00:14:42.140 --> 00:14:45.020 This man with a CV to die for. 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:47.639 This man who had put us to shame. 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:52.879 This man for whom religion would be his round in mastermind. 00:14:53.199 --> 00:14:56.360 This man who came to Jesus at night in chapter 3. 00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:59.620 And Jesus told him that you must be born again. 00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:02.539 You must be born again. 00:15:03.139 --> 00:15:04.860 It's not about what you do. 00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:07.480 It's about what God has done. 00:15:09.820 --> 00:15:11.759 And then we meet him again in chapter 7. 00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:12.379 And he's there. 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:15.539 He's kind of cautiously speaking up for Jesus. 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.720 He goes for that. 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:20.680 Is it right to try a man on lack of evidence? 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:23.539 And yet what happens to him in that moment? 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:24.480 He's mocked. 00:15:24.560 --> 00:15:26.820 And we're left wondering since that point, 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:28.980 what happened to Nicodemus? 00:15:30.420 --> 00:15:31.539 What's going on in his mind? 00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:32.839 What does he make of it all? 00:15:34.959 --> 00:15:36.980 What did both these men have in common? 00:15:38.439 --> 00:15:40.759 They're both in the circles of religious power. 00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:44.059 They both know precisely that Jesus is the Christ. 00:15:44.659 --> 00:15:47.319 But neither want to say so publicly 00:15:47.319 --> 00:15:49.879 because they are frightened about being excluded. 00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:53.679 And yet, isn't it fascinating then 00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:56.779 that this is the moment 00:15:56.779 --> 00:16:01.000 when both Joseph of Arimathea 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:03.839 and Nicodemus choose 00:16:03.839 --> 00:16:07.159 as the moment that they come out in the open 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:08.599 about their faith in Jesus. 00:16:10.579 --> 00:16:12.479 It's not the miracles of Jesus 00:16:12.479 --> 00:16:14.179 that are the thing that provoke them 00:16:14.179 --> 00:16:15.579 to come out into the open. 00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:17.599 It's not the teaching of Jesus 00:16:17.599 --> 00:16:19.740 that prompts them to do that. 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:21.279 Nor is it in John's Gospel, 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:23.459 nor is it the raising of Lazarus 00:16:23.460 --> 00:16:26.100 that prompts them to do it. 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.620 It's this moment 00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:30.340 when they see the death of Jesus, 00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:32.320 when they finally decide 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:34.900 to nail their colours to the mast 00:16:34.900 --> 00:16:36.980 as they gaze upon the man 00:16:36.980 --> 00:16:38.759 who is nailed to a Roman cross. 00:16:40.280 --> 00:16:42.379 And remember that John's writing this Gospel. 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:44.379 It was alluded to in the video, wasn't it? 00:16:44.400 --> 00:16:46.280 That he's probably an older statesman 00:16:46.280 --> 00:16:46.940 at this point. 00:16:46.940 --> 00:16:50.740 And it means he probably knows about 00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:53.320 and his world know about 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:54.940 the rise and the impact 00:16:54.940 --> 00:16:57.080 that God made on the world 00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:58.620 through the early church. 00:16:59.380 --> 00:17:00.940 And he's trying to explain 00:17:00.940 --> 00:17:03.160 who Jesus is for his contemporaries 00:17:03.160 --> 00:17:03.700 who are wondering, 00:17:03.860 --> 00:17:05.299 what on earth is going on out there 00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:06.740 with these Christians? 00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:10.980 But as John considers the early church, 00:17:11.120 --> 00:17:12.620 what is it that's their song? 00:17:12.619 --> 00:17:16.639 What is the subject of their songs? 00:17:17.399 --> 00:17:19.759 What is the centre of their preaching? 00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:22.619 What is the heart of the discipleship 00:17:23.439 --> 00:17:24.639 that they're trying to get into 00:17:24.639 --> 00:17:25.919 the lives of the believers? 00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:27.099 What's the heart of it? 00:17:27.379 --> 00:17:29.259 The heart of it is the cross. 00:17:30.379 --> 00:17:31.559 You read Revelation 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:35.039 and you see that the Lamb who was slain 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:37.039 is beauty enough 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:39.859 to fill every single one 00:17:39.859 --> 00:17:41.740 of heaven's hymn books. 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:44.740 And it's enough to forever loosen 00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:47.960 the tongues of every single person 00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:50.059 that gathers there to worship 00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:51.399 the three-in-one God. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:53.619 The Lamb who was slain. 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:55.319 What is the subject? 00:17:56.419 --> 00:17:58.659 What is the great object of worship? 00:17:58.819 --> 00:18:00.379 It is the Lamb who was slain. 00:18:00.380 --> 00:18:01.920 As Paul would say, 00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:04.180 it's the Son of God who loved us 00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:07.600 and who gave himself for us. 00:18:11.360 --> 00:18:12.420 And it's interesting, 00:18:12.540 --> 00:18:13.120 on Good Friday, 00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:14.700 we close at verse 41. 00:18:16.680 --> 00:18:17.940 And do you see where we are 00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:18.460 in the narrative? 00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:22.360 As Good Friday draws to a close, 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:25.240 we're back in a garden. 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:28.180 And of course, 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:30.519 humanity's story starts 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:32.559 in a garden. 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:36.240 God creates Adam 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:37.440 and he puts him in Eden. 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:40.259 And with everything before that 00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:40.819 in creation, 00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:41.859 God declared it good. 00:18:41.940 --> 00:18:42.799 It's really striking 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:45.000 in the Genesis creation narrative 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.319 that for the first time, 00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:47.920 you see God declaring 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:49.299 that something is not good. 00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:51.019 What is it that's not good? 00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:52.839 It's not good that Adam 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:55.480 is alone. 00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:58.799 And so God causes Adam 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:00.839 to fall into this deep, 00:19:01.419 --> 00:19:02.200 strange, 00:19:02.859 --> 00:19:04.220 death-like sleep. 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:05.519 That's what the Hebrew word 00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:06.619 there conveys. 00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.859 And God in this moment, 00:19:09.659 --> 00:19:12.419 he reaches into Adam's side. 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:13.579 He takes a rib 00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:15.579 and presumably 00:19:15.579 --> 00:19:17.059 in a similar way 00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:18.379 to that which he did 00:19:18.379 --> 00:19:18.980 with Adam, 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:21.179 God breathes the breath of life 00:19:21.179 --> 00:19:22.899 into her nostrils 00:19:22.899 --> 00:19:25.279 and there is woman. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:28.259 This one whom Adam 00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:30.159 was designed to be one with. 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:31.539 This one whom Adam 00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:34.399 is absolutely besotted with. 00:19:34.399 --> 00:19:36.519 This one whom Adam 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:39.059 cannot stop singing over. 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:42.579 This one who is Adam's bride. 00:19:43.579 --> 00:19:46.559 And she's come from his side. 00:19:48.659 --> 00:19:51.240 And so here is the greater Adam 00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:52.659 in John chapter 19 00:19:52.659 --> 00:19:55.259 who's put to death 00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:58.279 and from his side 00:19:58.279 --> 00:20:01.019 comes his bride. 00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:03.500 In Adam, 00:20:03.659 --> 00:20:06.720 we see Christ's glorious intention 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:08.519 to give life to his bride 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:13.359 and to be one with her. 00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:16.199 And whatever's going on 00:20:16.199 --> 00:20:17.019 in your life tonight, 00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:20.240 that is your greatest identity. 00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:23.559 That is who you are. 00:20:24.339 --> 00:20:27.460 One who has been so greatly pursued 00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.899 and chosen 00:20:28.899 --> 00:20:30.319 and loved 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:31.859 by the Son. 00:20:31.859 --> 00:20:37.139 we find our deepest meaning 00:20:37.139 --> 00:20:38.759 as believers 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:40.740 here. 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:43.699 You know, 00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:44.479 just as we close, 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:45.779 I remember hearing 00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:46.819 from a friend recently 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.939 about how he proposed. 00:20:49.939 --> 00:20:51.619 And his fiancée was in the room 00:20:51.619 --> 00:20:52.699 and in front of her 00:20:52.699 --> 00:20:53.279 he told me 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:54.919 how he spent ages researching 00:20:54.919 --> 00:20:56.099 and saving up for 00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:56.899 what he thought 00:20:56.899 --> 00:20:58.219 was the perfect ring 00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:59.799 with the perfect backstory 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:01.900 that was perfect for her. 00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:04.480 And she responded 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.240 and she said, 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:07.160 you could have given me 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:08.100 a Harry Bullring 00:21:08.100 --> 00:21:09.259 and I wouldn't have cared. 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:12.140 And I thought, 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:12.839 that is great. 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:16.200 That is beautiful. 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:19.339 And yet, 00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:19.920 here's what we need 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:20.500 to understand 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.500 about what the Bible says 00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:22.200 about humanity. 00:21:23.799 --> 00:21:25.299 Is that we were not like that. 00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:28.339 Until 00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:30.460 the gospel 00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:31.700 is a scandal, 00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:34.480 it will not be a wonder. 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:37.559 The scandal 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:38.400 of the gospel, 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.440 the scandal 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:40.420 of this proposal 00:21:40.420 --> 00:21:41.680 is that God 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:43.259 loved us, 00:21:43.360 --> 00:21:43.940 says Scripture, 00:21:44.360 --> 00:21:45.960 even when we were 00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:47.420 his enemies. 00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:49.440 When we were not 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:50.319 looking for God, 00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:51.700 when God was not 00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:52.500 on our radar, 00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:53.400 when we were not 00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:54.420 interested in turning 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:55.079 from the darkness 00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:55.779 to the light. 00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:56.740 No, 00:21:56.860 --> 00:21:57.779 this God 00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:59.720 came looking 00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:01.079 for us. 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:03.279 As we were facing 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.920 eternity 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.980 under his judgment, 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:05.900 this God 00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:07.080 came looking 00:22:07.080 --> 00:22:08.500 for us. 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.259 When we were 00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:10.019 wallowing in 00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:11.000 and happily stuck 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.820 in our sin, 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:12.720 this God 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:13.820 came looking 00:22:13.820 --> 00:22:15.000 for us. 00:22:15.340 --> 00:22:15.640 And so, 00:22:15.800 --> 00:22:16.740 all glory 00:22:16.740 --> 00:22:18.120 goes to the pursuing 00:22:18.120 --> 00:22:19.279 and the holy 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.660 God of love. 00:22:21.300 --> 00:22:22.259 That the Spirit 00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:23.740 opened our minds 00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:24.660 and he transformed 00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:26.220 our hearts of stone 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:28.039 and he opened us up 00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:29.539 to receive this love 00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:31.420 seen in the atoning 00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:32.779 work of Jesus 00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:34.339 for us. 00:22:34.420 --> 00:22:34.839 Dear friends, 00:22:34.899 --> 00:22:35.700 until the gospel 00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:36.519 is scandalous 00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.000 to us, 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:37.720 it will not be 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.779 marvelous to us. 00:22:40.379 --> 00:22:41.160 In the words 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:42.839 of pastor, 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:43.559 German pastor, 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.680 Frederick Leahy, 00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:46.740 he says, 00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:47.319 as we stand 00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:47.720 and thought 00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:48.779 before that cross, 00:22:48.859 --> 00:22:49.440 our emotions 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.200 are mixed. 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:52.920 How dreadful 00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:54.480 and yet, 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.720 how wondrous 00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:57.600 is this place. 00:22:59.880 --> 00:23:00.759 John 19, 00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:01.200 welcome 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:03.320 to the most 00:23:03.320 --> 00:23:04.019 beautiful 00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:05.340 marriage proposal 00:23:05.340 --> 00:23:06.560 ever. 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:08.220 God, 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:08.339 why don't we 00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:08.940 just be silent 00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:09.500 for a moment 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:11.319 just before we 00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:12.480 move on 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.359 with our service. 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:16.960 And we don't need 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.919 to rush on tonight. 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.299 Why don't we take time 00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:20.039 just to think about 00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:21.099 some of these things 00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:23.500 as we prepare our hearts 00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.099 to come before 00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:24.839 the Lord's table. 00:23:24.919 --> 00:23:25.639 Let's just gaze 00:23:25.639 --> 00:23:26.599 upon him tonight 00:23:26.599 --> 00:23:27.619 and rejoice 00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:29.679 in who our Savior is 00:23:29.679 --> 00:23:30.539 and then I'll pray. 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:30.679 Amen. 00:23:30.679 --> 00:23:30.740 Amen. 00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:30.779 Amen. 00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:30.859 Amen. 00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:31.019 Amen. 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:41.079 But he was pierced 00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:43.000 for our transgressions. 00:23:43.879 --> 00:23:45.399 He was crushed 00:23:45.399 --> 00:23:46.799 for our iniquities. 00:23:47.659 --> 00:23:48.659 The punishment 00:23:48.659 --> 00:23:49.859 that brought us 00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:50.599 peace 00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:52.799 was on him 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:55.759 and by his wounds 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:57.899 we are healed. 00:23:59.419 --> 00:24:00.500 So Father, 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.399 thank you 00:24:01.399 --> 00:24:03.639 for who you are 00:24:03.639 --> 00:24:04.099 tonight. 00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:06.179 Jesus Christ, 00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:07.440 the same yesterday, 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.080 today, 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:08.980 and forever. 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:11.039 And as we look 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:12.080 at the cross tonight, 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.259 I pray, Lord, 00:24:13.880 --> 00:24:15.039 that it would come 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:16.680 with a fresh 00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:19.019 conviction 00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:20.779 of our sin 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:21.660 that put him there 00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:22.820 and yet with a fresh 00:24:22.820 --> 00:24:24.019 knowledge of the love 00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:24.420 of God, 00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:25.740 the pursuing love 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.299 of God 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:28.360 that went to the cross 00:24:28.360 --> 00:24:28.900 for us. 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:29.880 Father, 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.779 we thank you so much 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.420 for your goodness. 00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:33.460 We thank you 00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:34.240 for your grace 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:35.500 and we pray 00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:36.259 that you'd be with us 00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:37.339 for the rest of this evening. 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.640 In Jesus' name we ask. 00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:39.420 Amen.