WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.980 Lord, we ask that you would, by your Holy Spirit, 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:12.400 in a very deep way, touch our minds and our hearts 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:15.080 and also our mouths this morning 00:00:15.080 --> 00:00:17.039 as we encounter your word, 00:00:17.160 --> 00:00:19.260 that we would think differently, 00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:20.719 we would speak differently, 00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:22.679 and we would feel differently, 00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:25.780 Lord, that we would grow closer and closer to you, 00:00:26.420 --> 00:00:31.800 that we would behold your Son in a new way this morning, 00:00:31.940 --> 00:00:33.960 a deeper way, a more loving way, 00:00:34.060 --> 00:00:40.260 but more than that, Lord, I pray that we would know 00:00:40.260 --> 00:00:43.640 the deep love that you have towards us 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:46.380 and that you show in such an incredible way 00:00:46.380 --> 00:00:47.700 through your blessed Son. 00:00:47.700 --> 00:00:50.100 So, Lord, we ask that by your Spirit, 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:54.980 you would move in such a deep way among us this morning, 00:00:54.979 --> 00:00:56.099 we pray in Christ's name. 00:00:58.140 --> 00:01:01.919 The past few days, I'll turn this off, 00:01:02.479 --> 00:01:07.979 the past few days have seen a lot of evil things happen 00:01:07.979 --> 00:01:13.120 here in Canada, in the States, abroad. 00:01:13.579 --> 00:01:14.979 Just a few examples. 00:01:14.979 --> 00:01:18.900 In the news, there's been a rash of attacks 00:01:18.900 --> 00:01:21.659 on Toronto Transit. 00:01:21.659 --> 00:01:25.679 It's been completely, it seems, unprovoked. 00:01:26.239 --> 00:01:27.239 People have died. 00:01:27.759 --> 00:01:28.519 People have been hurt. 00:01:29.459 --> 00:01:31.799 We see a situation in the South 00:01:31.799 --> 00:01:34.939 where an innocent black man, 00:01:35.379 --> 00:01:37.420 I mean, it seems completely innocent, 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:41.699 he was beaten to death by five police officers 00:01:41.699 --> 00:01:45.719 that were there to uphold the law and to protect. 00:01:45.719 --> 00:01:49.459 We see in Jerusalem, two gunmen, 00:01:49.579 --> 00:01:51.840 one, 13 years old, 00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:58.420 opened fire on people on their way to Sabbath prayers. 00:02:01.620 --> 00:02:05.599 There, I'm sure, is scores of other tragedies 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:07.920 that have gone on in this time frame, 00:02:08.419 --> 00:02:10.060 unreported, maybe even worse, 00:02:10.060 --> 00:02:13.599 than those that we have read about. 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:16.199 Scores and scores of tragedies, 00:02:16.420 --> 00:02:17.920 both at home and abroad. 00:02:18.900 --> 00:02:23.719 Evil, clearly, on full display. 00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:26.219 How about in our own lives? 00:02:26.920 --> 00:02:28.860 The tragedies that may be, 00:02:29.080 --> 00:02:31.520 the difficulties, the lows that we have gone through. 00:02:32.280 --> 00:02:36.120 Some of the heartache that we have felt in the past, 00:02:36.120 --> 00:02:39.560 maybe have been in the present, 00:02:40.340 --> 00:02:43.520 maybe has continued on from our earliest memories 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:47.840 to today, the pain, the lows, 00:02:48.200 --> 00:02:50.000 the heartache that we have felt. 00:02:51.180 --> 00:02:54.280 And it's a good thing to consider, 00:02:54.420 --> 00:02:55.620 a very hard thing to consider. 00:02:56.360 --> 00:03:01.540 How can we hope to make sense of injustice and evil 00:03:01.539 --> 00:03:05.259 done to others and to us? 00:03:06.539 --> 00:03:10.000 Especially if the hurt comes from those we ought to trust 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:13.479 or situations completely, completely out of our control. 00:03:14.120 --> 00:03:15.500 How do we make sense of this? 00:03:15.899 --> 00:03:17.799 Trials and temptations. 00:03:18.599 --> 00:03:21.099 So today, we're going to look at 00:03:21.099 --> 00:03:24.000 Jesus giving instructions to his disciples 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:25.759 to prepare the Passover meal for him. 00:03:26.579 --> 00:03:29.539 And although we read verses 12 to 21, 00:03:29.539 --> 00:03:33.859 really, we're going to focus on verses 12 to 16. 00:03:34.539 --> 00:03:38.299 The other part where Jesus, 17 to 21, 00:03:38.399 --> 00:03:41.519 we're going to do a bit more of a deep dive next week. 00:03:42.139 --> 00:03:45.639 There's some minefields in that text. 00:03:46.079 --> 00:03:47.359 And I think in some ways, 00:03:47.719 --> 00:03:50.579 it would be better to have more of a devoted time to that. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:53.500 But in verses 12 to 16, in this short little section, 00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:58.319 Jesus, through the instructions given to his disciples, 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:01.840 will help us to answer some of the important questions 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:04.379 about how we are to make sense of evil and suffering. 00:04:05.639 --> 00:04:07.919 So we'll consider two items from our texts. 00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:12.239 That first, Jesus is in complete control 00:04:12.239 --> 00:04:15.240 and knowledge of what is about to happen to him, 00:04:15.319 --> 00:04:16.459 his passion and his death. 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:19.819 He is in complete control and knowledge of it. 00:04:19.819 --> 00:04:25.019 And the second thing is that Jesus is the true host of the Passover meal. 00:04:25.740 --> 00:04:28.439 That the Passover meal that he is about to partake in, 00:04:28.860 --> 00:04:31.279 that he sends his disciples to prepare for him, 00:04:31.980 --> 00:04:34.139 that it is all about him. 00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:38.079 So first part, Jesus is in complete control 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:40.019 and knowledge about his passion and death. 00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:40.959 And the second thing is that 00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:45.039 Jesus is the true host of the Passover meal. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:46.660 So a bit of a background. 00:04:46.780 --> 00:04:48.500 But first, it is warm. 00:04:48.840 --> 00:04:49.980 And I'm going to take off my sweater. 00:04:53.580 --> 00:04:54.700 A bit of a background. 00:04:57.260 --> 00:05:05.020 Mark has detailed the account of Jesus' ministry in the Galilee 00:05:05.020 --> 00:05:08.939 for two-thirds of the gospel account. 00:05:08.939 --> 00:05:11.699 And then the last third, he slows it right down 00:05:11.699 --> 00:05:15.959 to the last week of Jesus' ministry in Jerusalem. 00:05:16.660 --> 00:05:19.180 And now in chapter 14, 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:22.000 the longest chapter in Mark's account, 00:05:22.699 --> 00:05:24.100 he will slow it down even further 00:05:24.100 --> 00:05:28.159 to the last, more or less, 24 hours of Jesus' life 00:05:28.159 --> 00:05:30.180 before he is crucified. 00:05:31.639 --> 00:05:33.300 He slows it right down 00:05:33.300 --> 00:05:35.959 because he wants his readers, us, 00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:40.439 to understand the importance of the last 24 hours of Jesus. 00:05:40.579 --> 00:05:43.139 The Passover meal, what's happening in our text today, 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:46.719 leading into Gethsemane, 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:48.519 where Jesus prays, 00:05:48.779 --> 00:05:51.620 where he's handed over to the religious leaders 00:05:51.620 --> 00:05:52.979 and then handed over to Pilate, 00:05:53.259 --> 00:05:54.719 where he stands trial, where he's tortured 00:05:54.719 --> 00:05:56.060 and where he's ultimately crucified. 00:05:56.060 --> 00:05:58.139 So we're at the beginning, in a sense, 00:05:58.519 --> 00:06:01.120 of this last 24 hours. 00:06:02.479 --> 00:06:04.159 Jesus' whole, and that's a bit of a background. 00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:05.639 We'll get into the first point. 00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:06.680 Jesus' whole, 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:11.639 it seems like this whole ordeal, 00:06:11.800 --> 00:06:12.879 this last 24 hours, 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:15.360 it reads like a tragic story. 00:06:17.800 --> 00:06:20.300 There's this huge affront to justice. 00:06:21.240 --> 00:06:22.719 It's a great disaster. 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:26.300 Jesus is simply at the whims of the ruling elites 00:06:26.300 --> 00:06:28.379 who are trying to consolidate their power 00:06:28.379 --> 00:06:31.279 to snuff out this wonderful light 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:32.959 that is opposing them, Jesus. 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:36.159 And Jesus here is without agency whatsoever. 00:06:37.039 --> 00:06:42.339 He is clearly at the whims of the religious establishment. 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:44.459 And although a lot of that is true, 00:06:44.599 --> 00:06:46.180 Jesus' story is certainly, 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:48.039 it's unjust. 00:06:48.479 --> 00:06:49.399 He was innocent. 00:06:49.679 --> 00:06:52.620 He did have a conspiracy against him by the religious elites. 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:54.279 He will be handed over. 00:06:54.279 --> 00:06:59.299 The big and defining difference between this tragic story 00:06:59.299 --> 00:07:01.559 that seems to be Jesus' story 00:07:01.559 --> 00:07:04.079 and the actual reality of Jesus' story 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:08.839 is simply that Jesus is in complete control 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:11.919 and knowledge of everything that is happening to him. 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:13.199 Everything. 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:17.379 Not one detail is new to Jesus. 00:07:17.699 --> 00:07:19.139 It doesn't take him by surprise. 00:07:20.279 --> 00:07:21.599 Throughout Mark's Gospel, 00:07:22.740 --> 00:07:24.159 and especially since chapter 8, 00:07:24.259 --> 00:07:26.680 Jesus has made it clear in no uncertain terms 00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:27.920 that he is heading to the cross. 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:29.599 He is going to die. 00:07:30.159 --> 00:07:31.599 And that he will rise again, 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:33.199 but that he will be handed over 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:34.800 to be crucified. 00:07:34.980 --> 00:07:36.060 And time and time again, 00:07:36.060 --> 00:07:37.019 Jesus, 00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:41.199 he validates his ability 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:43.100 to have foreknowledge, 00:07:43.139 --> 00:07:44.439 to prophesy what's going to happen 00:07:44.439 --> 00:07:48.639 by supernatural means. 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:50.560 He peers, in a sense, 00:07:50.660 --> 00:07:52.439 into the inner life of people, 00:07:52.540 --> 00:07:53.379 knowing what they think. 00:07:53.819 --> 00:07:56.079 What's happening in Jesus' ministry, 00:07:56.180 --> 00:07:57.060 what Mark shows us, 00:07:57.699 --> 00:07:59.399 is Jesus is a man like no other. 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:01.840 He is not like a regular woman 00:08:01.840 --> 00:08:04.120 or man like you or I. 00:08:04.120 --> 00:08:06.699 He is fully God. 00:08:06.819 --> 00:08:08.420 There's something divine about him, 00:08:08.519 --> 00:08:10.560 something supernatural about him. 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:11.740 And Jesus, 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:15.660 from the earliest bits of chapter 1 00:08:15.660 --> 00:08:17.340 to right now, 00:08:17.780 --> 00:08:19.060 he is not surprised. 00:08:19.220 --> 00:08:20.079 He knows what is happening. 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:22.699 He has full knowledge of his crucifixion. 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:26.319 The disciples obviously struggle with this 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:27.340 time and time again. 00:08:27.480 --> 00:08:29.680 We'll see more of that next week. 00:08:30.500 --> 00:08:31.680 But in this scene, 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:33.680 Jesus once again gives extremely detailed, 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:35.000 detailed instructions 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:37.759 for preparation to his disciples. 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:38.720 And if you have your Bible, 00:08:38.840 --> 00:08:39.659 you can turn with me. 00:08:40.019 --> 00:08:40.580 And at any time, 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:41.399 you can grab a Bible. 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:42.860 I think they're at the back 00:08:42.860 --> 00:08:43.799 or in a box. 00:08:44.200 --> 00:08:45.200 You can follow along. 00:08:45.960 --> 00:08:47.879 But look with me in verses 12 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:48.799 and following. 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:52.899 And on the first day of unleavened bread, 00:08:53.579 --> 00:08:56.339 that's another way of talking about the Passover, 00:08:58.079 --> 00:09:00.159 when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, 00:09:00.299 --> 00:09:01.859 his disciples said to him, 00:09:02.419 --> 00:09:03.879 where will you have us go 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:06.539 and prepare for you to eat the Passover? 00:09:08.439 --> 00:09:10.699 We'll just pause really quickly right there. 00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:12.759 What's coming up 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:15.259 is something that we have seen before. 00:09:15.259 --> 00:09:16.419 Back in chapter 11, 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:18.259 when Jesus is entering into Jerusalem, 00:09:18.899 --> 00:09:20.700 he sends two disciples ahead of him 00:09:20.700 --> 00:09:22.620 with very detailed instructions. 00:09:23.399 --> 00:09:24.919 And in chapter 11 00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:26.439 and chapter 14, 00:09:26.819 --> 00:09:31.019 we see a string of 12 identical words 00:09:31.019 --> 00:09:32.039 in consecutive order. 00:09:32.700 --> 00:09:34.039 And Jesus, once again, 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:35.700 is giving detailed instructions 00:09:35.700 --> 00:09:37.059 that will completely come to pass. 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:38.220 And here they are in verse 13. 00:09:38.220 --> 00:09:42.519 And Jesus sent two of his disciples, 00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:44.680 and this is where the consecutive wording 00:09:44.680 --> 00:09:46.139 is the same with chapter 11. 00:09:47.180 --> 00:09:48.320 He sent two of his disciples 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:49.200 and said to them, 00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:50.060 go into the city 00:09:50.060 --> 00:09:52.560 and a man carrying a jar of water 00:09:52.560 --> 00:09:53.200 will meet you. 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:53.960 Follow him 00:09:53.960 --> 00:09:55.420 and wherever he enters, 00:09:55.700 --> 00:09:56.899 say to the master of the house, 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:57.800 the teacher says, 00:09:58.279 --> 00:09:59.259 where is my guest room 00:09:59.259 --> 00:10:00.519 where I may eat the Passover 00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:01.580 with my disciples? 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:03.500 And he will show you 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:04.480 a large upper room 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:05.560 furnished and ready 00:10:05.560 --> 00:10:07.240 and there prepare for us. 00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:09.399 And the disciples set out 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:10.399 and went to the city 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:13.419 and found it just as he had told them 00:10:13.419 --> 00:10:15.159 and they prepared the Passover. 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:18.919 So the consecutive wording here is, 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:20.879 and he, Jesus, 00:10:21.080 --> 00:10:22.440 sent two of his disciples 00:10:22.440 --> 00:10:23.200 and said to them, 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:23.960 go into the city. 00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:26.180 And just like in chapter 11, 00:10:27.580 --> 00:10:29.000 the disciples, those two, 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:32.440 find exactly what Jesus instructed them. 00:10:32.500 --> 00:10:33.580 And what's interesting is that 00:10:33.580 --> 00:10:35.340 a man carrying a jar of water 00:10:35.340 --> 00:10:36.519 was a woman's job. 00:10:37.240 --> 00:10:38.779 take it up with 00:10:38.779 --> 00:10:41.180 first century Jerusalemites, 00:10:41.680 --> 00:10:42.460 if you don't like that, 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:43.759 but a woman would carry water. 00:10:44.379 --> 00:10:45.799 So to see a man carrying water 00:10:45.799 --> 00:10:47.180 would be a bit of a bizarre thing. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:49.980 And to know the exact house, 00:10:50.580 --> 00:10:53.159 to ask the specific person, 00:10:53.820 --> 00:10:57.000 to reserve an upper room 00:10:57.000 --> 00:10:58.000 that is furnished 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:00.259 for a big enough gathering 00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:01.419 that's at least Jesus 00:11:01.419 --> 00:11:02.399 and his 12 disciples, 00:11:02.899 --> 00:11:04.319 it's something that you can't, 00:11:05.100 --> 00:11:09.039 you can't just think 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:10.019 that I'm going to say, 00:11:10.779 --> 00:11:12.200 I'm going to predict the future, 00:11:12.340 --> 00:11:13.240 there's going to be a coincidence 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:14.519 or something like it. 00:11:15.059 --> 00:11:16.039 And Jesus clearly 00:11:16.039 --> 00:11:17.220 is not going into the city 00:11:17.220 --> 00:11:19.120 and setting all of this stuff up 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:20.679 so he could go back to Bethany 00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:23.080 and pretend as though 00:11:23.080 --> 00:11:24.200 he has foresight. 00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:25.860 Jesus, at this point, 00:11:25.960 --> 00:11:27.340 knows that Judas is 00:11:27.340 --> 00:11:29.540 looking for ways to betray him. 00:11:29.640 --> 00:11:30.580 The city, in a sense, 00:11:30.860 --> 00:11:33.480 is looking to identify Jesus 00:11:33.480 --> 00:11:34.440 and the religious elites 00:11:34.440 --> 00:11:35.400 are trying to arrest him. 00:11:35.940 --> 00:11:36.580 So what Jesus, 00:11:36.800 --> 00:11:37.520 what we see here, 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:38.379 is Jesus, 00:11:39.280 --> 00:11:41.379 he is prophesying the future. 00:11:42.040 --> 00:11:42.960 He knows exactly 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:44.680 what is happening. 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:46.020 And it also tells us 00:11:46.020 --> 00:11:48.300 that Jesus does not suffer 00:11:48.300 --> 00:11:50.580 a tragic and avoidable death, 00:11:50.580 --> 00:11:51.840 but deliberately 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:53.080 and unflinchingly 00:11:53.080 --> 00:11:54.840 walks towards the cross. 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:56.700 He goes to Jerusalem 00:11:56.700 --> 00:11:57.780 knowing what's going to happen. 00:11:58.700 --> 00:12:01.980 He partakes in this Passover meal, 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:02.700 this Last Supper, 00:12:02.900 --> 00:12:04.759 knowing that right after 00:12:04.759 --> 00:12:06.920 a few events 00:12:06.920 --> 00:12:09.020 that will come after it, 00:12:09.220 --> 00:12:10.180 he will be arrested 00:12:10.180 --> 00:12:11.280 and beaten and tortured. 00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:13.220 He knows what's going to happen. 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:15.759 And he does it 00:12:15.759 --> 00:12:18.300 without a hint of desperation 00:12:18.300 --> 00:12:19.720 in his demeanor. 00:12:21.139 --> 00:12:22.840 Apart from his time of prayer 00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:24.800 to the Father in Gethsemane, 00:12:24.920 --> 00:12:26.379 Jesus does not show anguish. 00:12:26.920 --> 00:12:27.940 He's not double-minded 00:12:27.940 --> 00:12:29.379 about his impending death. 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:31.300 What we see is that 00:12:31.300 --> 00:12:32.800 Jesus is freely following 00:12:32.800 --> 00:12:33.980 the Father's plan 00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:35.300 in full submission 00:12:35.300 --> 00:12:36.440 as the Son of God. 00:12:37.100 --> 00:12:38.600 He says as much in verse 21. 00:12:39.280 --> 00:12:39.879 We see this. 00:12:39.920 --> 00:12:40.520 If you want to go down 00:12:40.520 --> 00:12:41.259 to verse 21. 00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:43.759 For the Son of Man goes, 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:46.720 and that's a very loaded goes, 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:47.879 he's going to the cross, 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:50.340 as it is written of him. 00:12:51.280 --> 00:12:52.460 It's always God's will. 00:12:52.860 --> 00:12:53.980 Always God's will 00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:55.180 for God, the Son of God, 00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:56.360 to take on human flesh, 00:12:56.860 --> 00:12:58.780 to die for the sins of many 00:12:58.780 --> 00:12:59.639 and to rise again. 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:02.560 Illusions and inferences 00:13:02.560 --> 00:13:04.420 and prophecies and Scripture, 00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:06.759 it is of Jesus, 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:07.680 what he will do, 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:08.879 is peppered throughout 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:09.639 the Hebrew Scriptures, 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:10.320 the Old Testament. 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:11.480 It's everywhere. 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:14.240 Jesus isn't surprised 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:16.060 or taken aback. 00:13:16.700 --> 00:13:19.480 He goes on his own accord, 00:13:21.580 --> 00:13:22.460 submitting himself 00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:23.539 to the will of God. 00:13:24.420 --> 00:13:25.259 And what's interesting 00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:26.519 is that no one has power 00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:28.200 over him to upend 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:29.700 God's plan in any kind of way. 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:31.340 And this is what is the difference 00:13:31.340 --> 00:13:32.899 between a tragic story 00:13:32.899 --> 00:13:34.300 and Jesus' story. 00:13:34.299 --> 00:13:36.979 If it was a tragic story, 00:13:38.019 --> 00:13:38.419 Jesus, 00:13:38.819 --> 00:13:39.879 the great liberator, 00:13:40.019 --> 00:13:41.379 is being snuffed out. 00:13:41.939 --> 00:13:43.539 His flame is being quenched. 00:13:44.439 --> 00:13:45.120 But instead, 00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:46.859 the conspirators 00:13:46.859 --> 00:13:49.199 are actually playing a part 00:13:49.199 --> 00:13:51.179 in this grand plan. 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:53.139 Remember that last week, 00:13:53.219 --> 00:13:54.120 the conspirators, 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:56.339 they were trying to capture Jesus 00:13:56.339 --> 00:13:57.559 after the Passover 00:13:57.559 --> 00:13:59.000 because they wanted to avoid 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:00.619 all the messianic fervor. 00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:02.199 And then Judas comes up to them 00:14:02.199 --> 00:14:03.419 and says, 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:03.599 listen, 00:14:03.659 --> 00:14:04.579 I'm going to betray Jesus. 00:14:05.119 --> 00:14:07.359 And they're excited. 00:14:07.739 --> 00:14:08.639 And then they shelf 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:09.559 all of their plans 00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:11.579 and totally get on board 00:14:11.579 --> 00:14:12.459 to God's plan. 00:14:12.619 --> 00:14:13.239 And we'll see 00:14:13.239 --> 00:14:15.239 in next week, 00:14:15.339 --> 00:14:15.799 especially, 00:14:16.359 --> 00:14:18.019 that Jesus will end up 00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:20.219 being slain on this, 00:14:20.359 --> 00:14:20.759 in a sense, 00:14:20.839 --> 00:14:22.199 the same day of the Passover. 00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:25.359 Even the enemies of God 00:14:25.359 --> 00:14:26.519 can't upend 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:28.519 the plans of God. 00:14:28.679 --> 00:14:30.079 They are participants in it 00:14:30.079 --> 00:14:31.740 in an unwilling way. 00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:35.100 Jesus does not suffer 00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:37.139 a tragic and avoidable death, 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:38.399 but deliberately 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.559 and unflinchingly 00:14:39.559 --> 00:14:41.019 walks towards the cross. 00:14:42.319 --> 00:14:43.379 He does it. 00:14:45.059 --> 00:14:46.039 Unflinchingly walks 00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:46.899 towards the cross. 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:48.939 And this can be a very 00:14:48.939 --> 00:14:51.039 deeply comforting thing to us 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:52.460 because we can trust 00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:54.659 that Jesus is in complete control 00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:56.460 and has full knowledge 00:14:56.460 --> 00:14:57.460 of what will happen 00:14:57.460 --> 00:14:59.620 to us in the future 00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:00.420 because he knew 00:15:00.420 --> 00:15:01.440 what was happening to him 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:02.080 in the future. 00:15:03.820 --> 00:15:04.840 Including the highs 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:05.980 and the lows of life. 00:15:06.139 --> 00:15:06.920 And our difficulties 00:15:06.920 --> 00:15:08.080 and even our tragedies 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:09.360 are not wasted with him. 00:15:10.060 --> 00:15:12.620 But like his unjust 00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:15.019 murder 00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:16.759 hung up on the cross 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:18.500 that resulted in redemption 00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:19.259 and healing, 00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:21.180 so too can he take 00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:22.419 our difficulties 00:15:22.419 --> 00:15:24.219 and use them for 00:15:24.219 --> 00:15:25.059 redemption 00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:25.979 and healing 00:15:25.979 --> 00:15:27.699 and refining us 00:15:27.699 --> 00:15:29.019 precisely because 00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:30.079 of the example 00:15:30.079 --> 00:15:30.899 of his suffering. 00:15:32.179 --> 00:15:33.279 We become, 00:15:33.439 --> 00:15:33.819 in a sense, 00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:35.559 conduits of God's plan 00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:36.139 of redemption. 00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:37.639 The evil that was 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:39.000 intended for us 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:40.299 is used by God 00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:40.739 for good. 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:42.899 And that sounds 00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:43.879 nice and hopeful, 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:44.759 but 00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:48.799 life is full 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:49.720 of tragic events 00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:51.519 and talking about things 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:52.460 in an abstract way 00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:52.939 is great, 00:15:53.659 --> 00:15:54.600 but when you're in 00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:55.860 the midst of heartache 00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:56.539 and tragedy, 00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.559 it is hard, 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:00.139 it's hard to say, 00:16:00.299 --> 00:16:00.419 oh, 00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:01.319 it's deeply comforting 00:16:01.319 --> 00:16:02.159 that Jesus goes 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:02.799 to the cross. 00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:04.439 It can be very hard. 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:06.799 It sounds very nice. 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:09.599 However, 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:10.839 an injustice 00:16:10.839 --> 00:16:12.059 that is deeply 00:16:12.059 --> 00:16:13.839 grievously done 00:16:13.839 --> 00:16:14.659 or a loss 00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:16.199 that is felt 00:16:16.199 --> 00:16:17.199 in a deep way, 00:16:17.939 --> 00:16:18.939 they are tragedies 00:16:18.939 --> 00:16:19.740 and they are hard 00:16:19.740 --> 00:16:20.799 to overcome. 00:16:22.439 --> 00:16:23.199 How are 00:16:23.199 --> 00:16:25.359 the people 00:16:25.359 --> 00:16:26.399 that have lost 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:27.039 loved ones 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:27.719 in Jerusalem, 00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:28.319 how are they 00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:28.959 supposed to cope? 00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:32.199 How about the parents 00:16:32.199 --> 00:16:33.519 of the young man, 00:16:33.579 --> 00:16:34.620 the 29-year-old man 00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:35.599 who was beaten to death 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:37.920 or the countless 00:16:37.920 --> 00:16:38.700 family members 00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:39.440 of those that have 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:40.019 been assaulted 00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:40.600 or killed 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:41.700 in the metro 00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:42.200 in Toronto? 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:43.379 How are they 00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:43.980 supposed to 00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:46.019 deal with this tragedy 00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:46.800 in a very kind 00:16:46.800 --> 00:16:47.560 of real way, 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:48.040 you know? 00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:49.940 Instead of these 00:16:49.940 --> 00:16:50.659 kind of cliche 00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:51.340 niceties, 00:16:51.700 --> 00:16:51.899 these, 00:16:52.779 --> 00:16:53.480 they can be kind 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:53.700 of, 00:16:54.700 --> 00:16:55.860 I don't know, 00:16:55.960 --> 00:16:56.800 they can make us 00:16:56.800 --> 00:16:57.840 gag sometimes. 00:16:58.320 --> 00:16:59.100 They seem fake. 00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:00.600 It's okay. 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:01.720 God has you. 00:17:02.300 --> 00:17:03.300 How does he have me? 00:17:03.680 --> 00:17:04.759 How on earth 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:05.579 am I supposed 00:17:05.579 --> 00:17:07.079 to see this 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:07.960 as a potential 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:09.279 thing that God 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:09.819 will use 00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:10.759 for my good? 00:17:11.339 --> 00:17:11.920 The fact is, 00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:13.160 evil truly exists. 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:15.299 No one can deny 00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:15.960 the morality, 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.859 can deny that 00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:19.859 morality and truth 00:17:19.859 --> 00:17:21.079 are relative concepts. 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:22.420 Real evil exists. 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:23.500 How are we then 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:24.940 to make sense of them? 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:26.119 Our tragedies, 00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:26.879 the tragedies 00:17:26.879 --> 00:17:27.619 in the world. 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:29.599 In the case 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:30.480 of Jesus' death, 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:31.539 we can see how 00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:33.779 this unjust 00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:34.359 death, 00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:35.680 it achieved 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:36.799 a great redemption 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:38.299 for the world. 00:17:38.599 --> 00:17:40.500 And the reality is, 00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:41.359 I do not know 00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:42.319 how God will use 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:43.180 such tragedies 00:17:43.180 --> 00:17:43.680 and evils 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:44.659 to achieve his ends. 00:17:44.859 --> 00:17:45.579 We just don't know. 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.059 I'm not sure. 00:17:47.879 --> 00:17:49.019 He has ultimate purposes 00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:49.879 that are at play. 00:17:50.139 --> 00:17:51.180 We think of the story 00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:52.859 of Joseph, 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:54.200 where he is 00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:55.480 getting the, 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:59.299 he's getting done dirty 00:17:59.299 --> 00:18:00.680 on, it seems like, 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.720 every turn. 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:03.079 And yet, at the end, 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:04.240 God uses it for his glory. 00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:05.000 But we don't always 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:06.099 get to see that, do we? 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.940 We don't always get to see 00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:08.720 how it is, 00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:10.779 things are redeemed, 00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:11.460 our difficulties 00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:12.920 are redeemed. 00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:18.019 God clearly allows us 00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:19.440 to make evil 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:20.480 and sinful decisions 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:21.660 that affect other people. 00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:23.740 And yet, 00:18:23.820 --> 00:18:24.800 he uses such things 00:18:24.800 --> 00:18:25.680 to achieve his 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:27.019 four ordained purposes. 00:18:28.420 --> 00:18:29.300 And we're going to get 00:18:29.300 --> 00:18:30.100 into the weeds 00:18:30.100 --> 00:18:30.759 later on 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:31.700 because there's this bit 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.500 in verse 21 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.900 that's really kind of, 00:18:34.320 --> 00:18:35.340 it's difficult for us 00:18:35.340 --> 00:18:37.040 to really grapple with. 00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:38.519 It's the second part 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:39.320 of what I read 00:18:39.320 --> 00:18:40.240 in verse 21. 00:18:41.380 --> 00:18:42.519 But woe to that man 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.800 by whom the Son of Man 00:18:43.800 --> 00:18:44.300 is betrayed. 00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:45.120 It would be better 00:18:45.120 --> 00:18:46.940 for that man 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:48.279 if he had not been born. 00:18:48.320 --> 00:18:49.040 We're going to jump 00:18:49.040 --> 00:18:50.080 into that next week. 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:51.640 But here's the thing. 00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:53.820 God does not owe us 00:18:53.820 --> 00:18:55.140 a look at his playbook. 00:18:56.360 --> 00:18:57.900 He has not promised us 00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:59.460 that we will get to peek 00:18:59.460 --> 00:19:00.200 behind the curtain 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:02.380 and see how he is going 00:19:02.380 --> 00:19:04.980 to unravel history 00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:06.759 and our difficulties, 00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:07.820 how they're going to be used 00:19:07.820 --> 00:19:10.000 to achieve his ultimate ends. 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:11.640 He doesn't promise that at all. 00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:14.560 It is very difficult for us 00:19:14.560 --> 00:19:15.120 in a sense 00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:16.680 to come to grips 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:17.580 with that reality 00:19:17.580 --> 00:19:19.100 because we want to know. 00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:19.500 Instead, 00:19:21.899 --> 00:19:22.439 what does he do? 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:23.379 He beckons us 00:19:23.379 --> 00:19:24.379 to have faith in him 00:19:24.379 --> 00:19:25.339 and to trust in him 00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:26.879 and to look to him 00:19:26.879 --> 00:19:27.539 for comfort 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.579 in our afflictions 00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:30.219 whether or not 00:19:30.219 --> 00:19:31.139 we get to understand 00:19:31.139 --> 00:19:31.719 the why. 00:19:33.339 --> 00:19:34.059 And the reason? 00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:35.139 Because our king 00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:35.879 and elder brother, 00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:36.779 Christ Jesus, 00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:37.959 did just that. 00:19:38.059 --> 00:19:38.719 He's our example. 00:19:39.719 --> 00:19:40.480 And we can trust 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:41.419 if God can take 00:19:41.419 --> 00:19:42.639 the most unjust act 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:44.720 done in human history 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:46.800 taking the perfect, 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:48.020 the only perfect 00:19:48.020 --> 00:19:49.640 human being ever to walk 00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:51.520 and to string him up 00:19:51.520 --> 00:19:53.560 naked upon a cross 00:19:53.560 --> 00:19:55.100 for crimes he did not do 00:19:55.100 --> 00:19:57.740 and he uses that 00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:58.520 for redemption. 00:19:58.759 --> 00:19:59.480 We can trust that 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:02.759 God makes bad things good 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:04.660 and we just have to have 00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:07.080 a faith and a trust in him 00:20:07.080 --> 00:20:08.660 that he will do that 00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:09.740 and that is not easy 00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:10.500 and it's hard 00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:11.960 and it might not be satisfying 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:13.839 but this is what 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:15.119 he is calling us to do. 00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:17.299 And here's the thing, 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:18.380 we can trust that 00:20:18.380 --> 00:20:19.619 whether we see it 00:20:19.619 --> 00:20:20.740 play out frame by frame 00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:22.339 or we are ignorant of it, 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:23.920 the triune God 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:25.079 will use tragedies 00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:25.880 and lows, 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:27.799 also victories 00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:28.640 and highs 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:31.140 to achieve his will. 00:20:32.180 --> 00:20:33.039 So like Christ, 00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:34.400 we too are to pray, 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:35.500 not my will 00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:36.440 but yours be done. 00:20:37.619 --> 00:20:38.700 And if God's ways 00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:39.819 are always the best ways, 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:40.799 we have to trust 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:42.200 that in the end, 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:44.539 in the end, 00:20:44.659 --> 00:20:45.679 it will be okay. 00:20:47.139 --> 00:20:48.639 Even if it's a season 00:20:48.639 --> 00:20:49.399 of grief, 00:20:49.439 --> 00:20:50.200 it will be okay. 00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:51.039 And I'll give an example 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:52.379 of how God 00:20:52.379 --> 00:20:54.359 can use incredible things, 00:20:55.159 --> 00:20:56.779 incredibly tragic things 00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:58.919 for incredibly wonderful things. 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:00.179 I remember, 00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:01.659 I think I was like 11 00:21:01.659 --> 00:21:04.500 and my mom came home crying 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:07.019 and it was a friend 00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:07.660 from church, 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.819 one of her friends 00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:09.259 from church 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:12.619 and her friend's little boy 00:21:12.619 --> 00:21:14.460 died in a really tragic way 00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:14.839 at home. 00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:16.480 And my, 00:21:16.599 --> 00:21:17.559 like the whole church, 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:18.640 everybody was just 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:20.839 absolutely gutted 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:22.819 by it. 00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:24.139 and of course they would be, 00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:25.819 little boy named Isaiah. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:30.599 And they grappled with it, 00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:31.980 asking questions why, 00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:32.839 but in the meantime, 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:34.000 what they ended up doing 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:35.079 was they started 00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:36.379 a grief group. 00:21:37.399 --> 00:21:38.139 There's other people 00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:39.319 in the town we grew up at 00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:40.659 that struggled 00:21:40.659 --> 00:21:42.279 through loss, 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.700 whether it was, 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:44.019 you know, 00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:44.919 an elderly parent 00:21:44.919 --> 00:21:45.460 or, 00:21:45.679 --> 00:21:46.159 you know, 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:47.439 an untimely 00:21:47.439 --> 00:21:49.059 death of a child 00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:50.359 or a brother, 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:50.859 a sister, 00:21:50.980 --> 00:21:51.399 or husband. 00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:53.339 And out of this grief group 00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:54.319 developed a ministry 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:55.700 where people, 00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:57.179 in a sense, 00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:58.980 were able to 00:21:58.980 --> 00:22:00.480 process loss 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.179 in a way 00:22:01.179 --> 00:22:02.639 that, 00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:03.879 that had God 00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:04.240 in a, 00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:05.339 I mean, 00:22:05.379 --> 00:22:06.480 they weren't overtly 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:08.099 pressing God onto people, 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:09.460 but just the hope 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.000 of the gospel 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.940 was clearly there. 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:12.819 And a big ministry 00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:13.779 developed out of this 00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.339 and many people 00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.039 came to faith 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:16.339 and had a network 00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:17.240 of people to, 00:22:17.419 --> 00:22:19.039 to share their births 00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:20.819 and maybe 00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.879 it would not have happened 00:22:21.879 --> 00:22:22.720 if little Isaiah 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:24.460 didn't pass away. 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:25.579 And that's not to say 00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:26.819 that, 00:22:26.919 --> 00:22:27.200 you know, 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:28.359 their parents 00:22:28.359 --> 00:22:29.419 would have, 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:29.899 you know, 00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:31.379 traded it all 00:22:31.379 --> 00:22:32.859 for that little boy 00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:33.500 to come back. 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:35.159 But look how God 00:22:35.159 --> 00:22:36.700 can use a tragedy 00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:38.480 to achieve blessing. 00:22:39.579 --> 00:22:40.460 And oftentimes 00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:41.859 that's how the deep 00:22:41.859 --> 00:22:43.319 blessing happens 00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:45.159 through deep tragedy. 00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:46.359 It's a case with Christ. 00:22:47.379 --> 00:22:47.919 There's a case 00:22:47.919 --> 00:22:48.679 with this little boy. 00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:51.220 And if we 00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:52.299 choose 00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:53.859 by God's strength, 00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:54.759 by the encouragement 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.559 of each other, 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:56.700 to have faith 00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.359 in this God, 00:22:58.159 --> 00:22:59.679 because faith 00:22:59.679 --> 00:23:00.399 many times 00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:01.059 is a choice. 00:23:02.679 --> 00:23:03.720 If we choose 00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:04.339 to have faith 00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:04.960 in this God, 00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.500 we will become 00:23:06.500 --> 00:23:07.559 glass half full, 00:23:07.639 --> 00:23:08.679 maybe all the way full, 00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:10.399 people 00:23:10.399 --> 00:23:13.079 in a non-superficial, 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:14.299 fully authentic way. 00:23:14.299 --> 00:23:17.799 And that is 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:19.619 an incredible thing 00:23:19.619 --> 00:23:20.799 to consider. 00:23:22.139 --> 00:23:24.039 Romans 8, 28 to 30 00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:24.819 says this, 00:23:24.879 --> 00:23:26.019 I'll just read verse 28, 00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:27.400 And we know that 00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:28.700 for those who love God, 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.859 all things work together 00:23:29.859 --> 00:23:30.299 for good, 00:23:30.379 --> 00:23:31.559 for those who are called 00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:33.480 according to his purpose. 00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:34.559 Even the bad stuff. 00:23:35.460 --> 00:23:37.200 That all right here, 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:41.000 it's without exception. 00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.099 All. 00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:45.220 Even the most terrible tragedies 00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:45.980 we have gone through. 00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:48.579 And the Apostle Paul 00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:50.079 in 2 Corinthians, 00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:52.240 he talks about 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.019 this good, 00:23:54.199 --> 00:23:55.419 and he gets 00:23:55.419 --> 00:23:56.460 even more specific, 00:23:56.579 --> 00:23:57.279 and he talks about it 00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:58.079 being an eternal 00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:59.039 weight of glory 00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:00.159 beyond all comparison. 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.220 Oftentimes, 00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:04.339 the tragedies 00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:05.699 and the brokenness 00:24:05.699 --> 00:24:06.500 of this life, 00:24:06.699 --> 00:24:08.119 if we are trusting 00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:08.500 the Lord, 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.079 and that doesn't mean 00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:10.199 we paint on a smile, 00:24:10.639 --> 00:24:11.720 but we trust in the Lord, 00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:13.379 he will use it 00:24:13.379 --> 00:24:15.419 for incredible blessings, 00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:18.399 whether we see it or not. 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:20.160 And we know this, 00:24:20.280 --> 00:24:21.480 why Christ, 00:24:21.600 --> 00:24:22.360 the innocent one, 00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:23.820 will die 00:24:23.820 --> 00:24:25.620 like the Passover lamb, 00:24:25.800 --> 00:24:27.320 spotless and without blemish, 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.980 and through his death, 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:30.080 through his suffering, 00:24:30.220 --> 00:24:31.420 will bring eternal life 00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:32.480 that will be 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:34.060 beyond all comparison. 00:24:35.560 --> 00:24:36.460 The Apostle Paul 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:38.340 in 2 Corinthians 4, 00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:39.120 he talks about 00:24:39.120 --> 00:24:40.620 the difficulties of life 00:24:40.620 --> 00:24:41.100 aren't worthy 00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:41.780 to be compared. 00:24:42.860 --> 00:24:44.000 And Paul went through stuff. 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.420 He went through 00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:45.960 the ringer. 00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:47.880 And I don't think 00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:48.660 it's Paul downplaying 00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:49.240 the difficulties 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:50.660 that he went through, 00:24:51.020 --> 00:24:52.420 but he is keeping 00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:53.600 an eye on eternity. 00:24:53.800 --> 00:24:54.640 And this is what Christ 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:56.400 is giving to us 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:57.960 as he will die 00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:59.080 in our stead 00:24:59.080 --> 00:25:00.440 as the Passover lamb. 00:25:01.380 --> 00:25:02.040 So Jesus 00:25:02.040 --> 00:25:04.140 does not suffer 00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:05.640 a tragic and avoidable death, 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.940 but deliberately 00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:08.300 and unflinchingly 00:25:08.300 --> 00:25:10.060 walks towards the cross 00:25:10.060 --> 00:25:11.900 as the true Passover lamb. 00:25:12.760 --> 00:25:14.080 And this means 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:15.139 for us 00:25:15.139 --> 00:25:17.319 that we can trust him 00:25:17.319 --> 00:25:19.599 even with our tragedies 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:20.879 and our difficulties. 00:25:22.339 --> 00:25:23.679 Who else can you trust 00:25:23.679 --> 00:25:24.460 with your tragedies 00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:25.139 and your difficulties? 00:25:26.179 --> 00:25:27.639 Who else can bear that weight? 00:25:29.339 --> 00:25:30.579 It is only Christ. 00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:33.059 So what does it mean then 00:25:33.059 --> 00:25:34.319 for Christ to be the true 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:36.079 and greater Passover lamb? 00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:36.980 What does this mean? 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:37.519 And this goes into 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:38.199 our second point. 00:25:38.919 --> 00:25:40.179 As I mentioned earlier, 00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:41.420 Jesus sends out 00:25:41.420 --> 00:25:43.080 two disciples ahead of him 00:25:43.080 --> 00:25:44.700 with very specific instructions 00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:46.140 of which no one 00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:47.299 could have predicted. 00:25:47.560 --> 00:25:48.299 And we saw this 00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:49.060 in chapter 11. 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:52.140 The same pattern. 00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.500 And what ends up happening 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.400 in chapter 11, 00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:55.779 chapter 12, 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:58.180 and into chapter 13, 00:25:59.259 --> 00:26:00.500 but really chapter 11 and 12, 00:26:00.580 --> 00:26:01.279 is that Jesus, 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:05.100 he teaches 00:26:05.099 --> 00:26:08.199 and condemns 00:26:08.199 --> 00:26:09.339 the false worship 00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:10.480 at the temple. 00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:12.459 And by doing so, 00:26:12.659 --> 00:26:14.219 he makes it very clear 00:26:14.219 --> 00:26:15.539 that he is the true temple. 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:18.000 He is that place, 00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:19.059 the temple was the place 00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:19.419 where, 00:26:19.959 --> 00:26:20.859 in the ancient world, 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:23.199 where the divine 00:26:23.199 --> 00:26:24.299 would meet the human, 00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:26.019 God would meet man, 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:28.379 and that the temple 00:26:28.379 --> 00:26:29.399 in Jerusalem, 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:31.559 as grand as it was, 00:26:31.639 --> 00:26:32.279 no longer 00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:34.720 had that purpose. 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:36.200 But that the new temple, 00:26:36.299 --> 00:26:37.059 the ultimate temple, 00:26:37.160 --> 00:26:37.740 the true temple, 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:40.220 was Jesus himself. 00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:41.799 Likewise, 00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:43.759 here in chapter 14, 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:45.619 this pattern that we see 00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:47.139 is not just Jesus 00:26:47.139 --> 00:26:48.160 predicting 00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:49.180 what's going to happen 00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:49.819 once again, 00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:51.500 but it should tip us off 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.700 that Jesus is going to, 00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:53.119 in a sense, 00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:55.119 appropriate something else 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:56.519 that is dear 00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:58.339 to the Jewish religious mind. 00:26:59.379 --> 00:27:00.339 Before it was a temple, 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.160 now it's going to be 00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:01.720 the Passover. 00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:03.819 So let's take a look 00:27:03.819 --> 00:27:05.460 at what all this means, 00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:06.660 and let's take a look again 00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:08.519 at the text. 00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:16.859 We'll start in verse 13. 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:18.720 And he sent the two disciples 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.259 and said to them, 00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:20.160 Go into the city, 00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:22.019 and a man carrying a jar of water 00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:22.460 will meet you. 00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:22.940 Follow him. 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.819 And wherever he enters, 00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:25.099 say to the master of the house, 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:26.279 The teacher 00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:29.059 says, 00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:30.960 Where is my guest room 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:32.600 where I may eat the Passover 00:27:32.600 --> 00:27:33.600 with my disciples? 00:27:34.100 --> 00:27:34.900 We'll actually go back 00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:35.519 to verse 12. 00:27:35.620 --> 00:27:36.200 The disciples, 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.960 whether they know it or not, 00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:38.480 they say, 00:27:39.100 --> 00:27:40.140 in a sense, 00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:40.980 they're tipping their hand 00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:41.900 at what is happening 00:27:41.900 --> 00:27:43.880 with Jesus. 00:27:44.120 --> 00:27:44.420 They say, 00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:45.660 Where will you have us to go 00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:47.059 and prepare for you 00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:48.100 to eat the Passover? 00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:49.380 We'll continue on 00:27:49.380 --> 00:27:50.079 in verse 15. 00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:51.399 And this man 00:27:51.399 --> 00:27:52.379 who owns the house 00:27:52.379 --> 00:27:53.199 will show you 00:27:53.199 --> 00:27:54.240 a large upper room 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:55.399 furnished and ready 00:27:55.399 --> 00:27:56.379 there prepared for us. 00:27:56.419 --> 00:27:56.960 And the disciples 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:58.539 went out to the city 00:27:58.539 --> 00:27:59.819 and found it 00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:00.859 just as he told them, 00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:02.059 and they prepared 00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:02.740 the Passover. 00:28:03.579 --> 00:28:04.759 The Passover meal 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.899 was a commemoration 00:28:05.899 --> 00:28:07.039 of God's, 00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:08.319 a yearly commemoration 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:09.259 of God's deliverance 00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:10.220 of the nation of Israel 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:11.240 from Egyptian slavery. 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:12.879 The meal itself 00:28:12.879 --> 00:28:14.500 remembered the specific event 00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:15.159 of the tenth 00:28:15.159 --> 00:28:16.579 and last plague. 00:28:17.639 --> 00:28:18.519 It would be the death 00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.259 of the firstborn. 00:28:20.220 --> 00:28:21.339 And if you have time, 00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:22.059 we're not going to do it 00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:22.799 this morning, 00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:23.759 but Exodus 12 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.839 recounts all of this. 00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:27.460 So that Israel, 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:28.059 the Israelites, 00:28:28.299 --> 00:28:29.099 would be safe 00:28:29.099 --> 00:28:30.259 from the tenth plague. 00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:32.299 A lamb without blemish, 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:33.160 one year old, 00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:34.339 would have to be slaughtered 00:28:34.339 --> 00:28:35.819 and the blood 00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:37.799 would have to be smeared 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:39.319 on the doorposts 00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:40.019 of the home 00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:41.799 of the Israelite family. 00:28:42.879 --> 00:28:46.059 And when the angel of death, 00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:47.000 the destroyer, 00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:47.599 the plague, 00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:48.899 would come 00:28:48.899 --> 00:28:50.319 looking for the firstborn 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:52.000 and would see the blood 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:53.659 smeared on the doorposts 00:28:53.659 --> 00:28:55.059 and would pass over 00:28:55.059 --> 00:28:56.399 that house. 00:28:57.459 --> 00:28:59.439 This is what commemorates, 00:29:00.179 --> 00:29:00.719 or this is what 00:29:00.719 --> 00:29:01.899 the Passover commemorates. 00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:03.659 It's more than just 00:29:03.659 --> 00:29:08.079 the Passover of death 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:09.599 of the firstborn. 00:29:09.719 --> 00:29:11.240 It really is God's deliverance 00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:13.319 from Egyptian slavery 00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:14.719 for the Israelite people. 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:16.339 But what we see here 00:29:16.339 --> 00:29:18.920 is that a lamb without blemish 00:29:18.920 --> 00:29:21.059 is slaughtered 00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:23.019 and its blood is spread 00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:23.839 on the vertical 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:25.720 and the horizontal doorposts. 00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:27.900 This communal meal 00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:29.720 was supposed to be celebrated 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:30.400 in such a way 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:31.900 as if you were actually there. 00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.600 You're supposed to do this 00:29:33.600 --> 00:29:34.440 every day. 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:35.720 Now, it's not the case now 00:29:36.339 --> 00:29:38.160 where there's slaughterings 00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:39.420 of animals all over the world 00:29:39.420 --> 00:29:40.240 at Passover. 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:42.319 But even today 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:43.039 at Passover, 00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:44.980 you wear your shoes 00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:45.759 at the meal 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:47.420 because you had to eat in haste. 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.380 You had to wear your belt. 00:29:48.579 --> 00:29:49.559 You had to act 00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:50.900 as if you were present 00:29:50.900 --> 00:29:52.140 at the first Passover 00:29:52.140 --> 00:29:53.420 because if God 00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:54.460 didn't deliver your people, 00:29:55.079 --> 00:29:55.819 your forefathers, 00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:56.940 you'd still be in 00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:57.680 Egyptian slavery. 00:29:57.819 --> 00:29:59.180 That's kind of the idea 00:29:59.180 --> 00:29:59.859 behind it. 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:01.519 So it's a communal meal, 00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:02.440 a family meal, 00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:03.720 young and old, 00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:05.200 remembered what would happen 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:05.819 in the past, 00:30:05.900 --> 00:30:07.039 how God had delivered them 00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:07.680 from slavery 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:09.079 and made them 00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:10.720 into a nation. 00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:11.619 And this was, 00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:12.659 at the time of Jesus, 00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:13.859 the most important 00:30:13.859 --> 00:30:15.000 holy holiday 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:16.379 of the calendar. 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:17.920 Three pilgrimage 00:30:17.920 --> 00:30:19.480 fests, 00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:20.940 feasts, 00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:24.200 people of Israel 00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:25.019 would come to Jerusalem 00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:26.139 and the Passover 00:30:26.139 --> 00:30:26.839 among them 00:30:26.839 --> 00:30:28.500 was the most important. 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:30.059 And on that day, 00:30:30.379 --> 00:30:30.940 there was hope 00:30:30.940 --> 00:30:32.220 that God would restore 00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:33.440 what was lost 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:35.000 like he did in the past. 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:36.259 It was a meal 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:37.140 of thankfulness 00:30:37.140 --> 00:30:37.779 for the past 00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:39.019 but also a meal 00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:39.640 of great hope 00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:40.539 for the future. 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.660 So it's interesting 00:30:41.660 --> 00:30:42.359 that Jesus takes 00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:43.259 this communal meal 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:45.779 and both him 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.440 and the disciples 00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:47.619 speak of the Passover 00:30:47.619 --> 00:30:48.900 not as the feast 00:30:48.900 --> 00:30:49.799 that God 00:30:49.799 --> 00:30:50.960 or even Moses 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:53.099 commanded them to keep 00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:55.500 but with a suggestive language 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.339 that the Passover 00:30:56.339 --> 00:30:58.259 was all about Jesus, 00:30:58.579 --> 00:30:59.700 that he was the host, 00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:00.960 that it was about him, 00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:02.400 that this meal 00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:03.619 was his meal. 00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:07.299 It is seemingly subtle 00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:09.539 in verses 12 to 16 00:31:09.539 --> 00:31:10.679 but the emphasis 00:31:10.679 --> 00:31:11.519 is there 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.179 and especially 00:31:12.179 --> 00:31:15.879 if a Jewish reader 00:31:15.879 --> 00:31:16.639 in the first century 00:31:16.639 --> 00:31:17.339 would read this 00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:19.039 and something would be off. 00:31:19.479 --> 00:31:20.039 Why is Jesus 00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:21.159 talking about this meal 00:31:21.159 --> 00:31:23.359 as if it was his? 00:31:25.399 --> 00:31:27.139 And it is Jesus' meal 00:31:27.139 --> 00:31:28.279 not simply because 00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:29.000 he is a leader 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:30.139 of the disciples 00:31:30.139 --> 00:31:31.279 and a small but growing 00:31:31.279 --> 00:31:32.740 group of Messianic followers 00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:34.339 but because this meal 00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:35.559 is about him. 00:31:36.039 --> 00:31:36.660 That the hope 00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:37.980 that the meal communicated 00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:39.960 would only be a thin hope 00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:41.420 if it did not point to him. 00:31:42.299 --> 00:31:43.720 So the original Passover 00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:45.779 saved the firstborn 00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:46.819 of Israel from death 00:31:46.819 --> 00:31:48.480 by the lamb 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:49.200 that was slain 00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:50.559 but this ultimate Passover, 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:51.740 this new Passover, 00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:54.759 this new and true 00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:56.099 and ultimate Passover 00:31:56.099 --> 00:31:57.359 that is the life 00:31:57.359 --> 00:31:58.259 and death 00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:58.759 and resurrection 00:31:58.759 --> 00:31:59.680 of Jesus 00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:01.779 sees the Son of God, 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:03.160 the firstborn of all creation 00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:04.299 being slain as 00:32:04.299 --> 00:32:06.500 the Lamb of God 00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:08.180 that would take away 00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:09.099 the sins of the world 00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:10.200 but instead of 00:32:10.200 --> 00:32:12.119 his blood smeared 00:32:12.119 --> 00:32:13.759 on the doorposts, 00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:15.099 his blood would be smeared 00:32:15.099 --> 00:32:15.720 on the vertical 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:17.039 and horizontal beams 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:18.000 of a cross. 00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:20.039 We see the same imagery 00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:20.799 and symbolism 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:22.220 taking place 00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:23.440 at the cross 00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:25.160 as with the Passover. 00:32:25.160 --> 00:32:27.279 His death 00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:29.340 would be the ultimate death 00:32:29.340 --> 00:32:31.279 where the ultimate enemy 00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:32.140 of God's people, 00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:34.040 eternal death 00:32:34.040 --> 00:32:35.240 would pass over 00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:36.460 all those who have trusted 00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:37.400 in him. 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:38.980 So you see, 00:32:39.620 --> 00:32:40.660 Jesus does not suffer 00:32:40.660 --> 00:32:41.320 a tragic 00:32:41.320 --> 00:32:43.300 and avoidable death 00:32:43.300 --> 00:32:44.380 but deliberately 00:32:44.380 --> 00:32:45.600 and unflinchingly 00:32:45.600 --> 00:32:46.960 walks towards the cross 00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:49.000 but as the Passover Lamb 00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:49.620 who was slain 00:32:49.620 --> 00:32:50.620 for the sins of the world 00:32:50.620 --> 00:32:52.040 as the embodiment 00:32:52.040 --> 00:32:52.720 of the Passover. 00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:54.800 So once again, 00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:56.340 just like with the temple, 00:32:56.519 --> 00:32:57.460 Jesus interprets 00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:58.560 a key pillar 00:32:58.560 --> 00:32:59.420 of the Scriptures 00:32:59.420 --> 00:33:02.840 to show how he is 00:33:02.840 --> 00:33:07.259 what the Passover 00:33:07.259 --> 00:33:08.120 is truly about. 00:33:08.620 --> 00:33:09.519 That he is 00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:11.980 the ultimate Passover 00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:13.180 that all of Scripture 00:33:13.180 --> 00:33:14.140 points to him. 00:33:14.900 --> 00:33:15.640 He is the head 00:33:15.640 --> 00:33:16.800 over the Passover meal 00:33:16.800 --> 00:33:19.000 and he is the meal himself. 00:33:19.660 --> 00:33:20.500 Very interestingly, 00:33:21.060 --> 00:33:21.900 next week we're going to 00:33:21.900 --> 00:33:22.340 take a look at 00:33:22.340 --> 00:33:22.960 the Last Supper 00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:23.680 and we're going to 00:33:23.680 --> 00:33:24.460 take a look at 00:33:24.460 --> 00:33:25.500 again, 00:33:25.700 --> 00:33:26.900 what it means for Jesus 00:33:26.900 --> 00:33:28.259 to be that Passover meal. 00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:30.819 So to wrap things up, 00:33:31.380 --> 00:33:33.019 the Bible is clear 00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:34.019 that evil exists. 00:33:35.059 --> 00:33:36.319 It makes no mistake 00:33:36.319 --> 00:33:36.779 about it. 00:33:37.340 --> 00:33:38.100 Evil exists. 00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:40.539 And if we are 00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:41.920 just to have a shred 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:42.440 of honesty, 00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:43.220 we can see it 00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:43.980 everywhere we go. 00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:45.660 In the news, 00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:46.880 in the lives 00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:48.000 of those around us, 00:33:48.180 --> 00:33:48.940 evil exists. 00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:50.259 And it exists 00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:51.080 because humanity 00:33:51.080 --> 00:33:52.460 is bent on making 00:33:52.460 --> 00:33:54.880 themselves God, 00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:56.100 glorifying ourselves, 00:33:56.340 --> 00:33:56.900 putting ourselves 00:33:56.900 --> 00:33:58.100 in the place of God, 00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.820 treating all others 00:33:59.820 --> 00:34:01.059 with varying degrees 00:34:01.059 --> 00:34:01.720 of contempt 00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:02.799 and shame. 00:34:04.140 --> 00:34:05.299 And the fact is 00:34:05.299 --> 00:34:07.220 that the brokenness 00:34:07.220 --> 00:34:07.759 has seeped 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:08.659 into the very fabric 00:34:08.659 --> 00:34:09.619 of this existence. 00:34:10.740 --> 00:34:11.639 An evil that needs 00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:12.380 to be dealt with 00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:14.920 in its fullness, 00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:15.940 in its fullest way. 00:34:16.059 --> 00:34:16.920 So what does God do? 00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:18.380 Instead of hitting 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:20.019 a cosmic reset button, 00:34:21.059 --> 00:34:22.200 compelled by love, 00:34:22.579 --> 00:34:23.619 God, the Son of God, 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:24.760 condescends, 00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:25.519 comes down, 00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:26.920 takes on human flesh 00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:28.460 and bears the punishment 00:34:28.460 --> 00:34:29.280 for us all, 00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:31.420 willingly and lovingly 00:34:31.420 --> 00:34:33.440 as the ultimate 00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:34.440 Passover lamb. 00:34:36.420 --> 00:34:37.920 Not in any way 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:39.340 getting tripped up, 00:34:39.480 --> 00:34:40.200 not in any way 00:34:40.200 --> 00:34:41.039 getting upended, 00:34:41.460 --> 00:34:42.220 but completely 00:34:42.220 --> 00:34:44.800 by his own desire 00:34:44.800 --> 00:34:45.700 and his love, 00:34:45.699 --> 00:34:47.419 compelled by love, 00:34:47.819 --> 00:34:48.899 his own agency, 00:34:49.159 --> 00:34:50.359 he goes to the cross 00:34:50.359 --> 00:34:51.519 as the Passover lamb. 00:34:52.679 --> 00:34:53.379 And us, 00:34:53.519 --> 00:34:54.139 finding ourselves 00:34:54.139 --> 00:34:55.059 united to him, 00:34:55.199 --> 00:34:56.000 we will enjoy 00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:56.980 an eternal glory 00:34:56.980 --> 00:34:59.439 that will be 00:34:59.439 --> 00:35:01.639 far exceeding 00:35:01.639 --> 00:35:03.879 anything we could hope for. 00:35:04.739 --> 00:35:05.000 And that, 00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:05.659 in a sense, 00:35:05.699 --> 00:35:06.659 when you're feeling low 00:35:06.659 --> 00:35:07.519 and broken, 00:35:07.639 --> 00:35:08.559 that can be a hard thing 00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:09.139 to see. 00:35:09.460 --> 00:35:10.279 And when you're feeling 00:35:10.279 --> 00:35:10.819 elated, 00:35:10.939 --> 00:35:11.839 you can't really imagine 00:35:11.839 --> 00:35:12.779 things being better 00:35:12.779 --> 00:35:13.579 than they are. 00:35:13.579 --> 00:35:15.799 But the scriptures 00:35:15.799 --> 00:35:16.599 tell us 00:35:16.599 --> 00:35:17.420 that it will be better 00:35:17.420 --> 00:35:18.059 than anything 00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:19.199 we could imagine 00:35:19.199 --> 00:35:19.880 or hope for. 00:35:21.159 --> 00:35:22.139 But we have to have 00:35:22.139 --> 00:35:23.159 this eternal perspective 00:35:23.159 --> 00:35:24.639 like Christ did. 00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:25.920 And it helps us 00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:26.420 to understand 00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:27.199 that even our most 00:35:27.199 --> 00:35:28.639 difficult earthly 00:35:28.639 --> 00:35:29.840 trials and pains 00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:31.099 can have meaning 00:35:31.099 --> 00:35:32.420 that go beyond 00:35:32.420 --> 00:35:33.059 this life 00:35:33.059 --> 00:35:34.119 into the life 00:35:34.119 --> 00:35:34.539 to come 00:35:34.539 --> 00:35:35.659 and are used 00:35:35.659 --> 00:35:36.380 by God 00:35:36.380 --> 00:35:38.880 as Christ's trials 00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:39.739 were used 00:35:39.739 --> 00:35:40.360 to redeem 00:35:40.360 --> 00:35:41.000 and heal 00:35:41.000 --> 00:35:41.739 and restore. 00:35:41.739 --> 00:35:43.419 and all of a sudden 00:35:43.419 --> 00:35:44.099 when we can have 00:35:44.099 --> 00:35:44.539 meaning 00:35:44.539 --> 00:35:45.799 on our suffering, 00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:47.459 that takes, 00:35:47.959 --> 00:35:48.819 in a sense, 00:35:48.959 --> 00:35:49.899 the edge off 00:35:49.899 --> 00:35:51.519 of hopelessness. 00:35:51.799 --> 00:35:52.579 That can give us hope. 00:35:54.779 --> 00:35:55.259 Friends, 00:35:55.419 --> 00:35:56.699 let us have faith 00:35:56.699 --> 00:35:57.159 and trust 00:35:57.159 --> 00:35:57.559 and hope 00:35:57.559 --> 00:35:58.179 that Jesus, 00:35:58.500 --> 00:35:59.619 who is in complete control, 00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:01.539 he will not leave us 00:36:01.539 --> 00:36:02.579 or forsake us, 00:36:02.919 --> 00:36:04.699 but instead 00:36:04.699 --> 00:36:05.479 give us strength 00:36:05.479 --> 00:36:05.919 and grace 00:36:05.919 --> 00:36:06.559 to endure 00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:07.739 and to be conduits 00:36:07.739 --> 00:36:09.179 of his blessing 00:36:09.179 --> 00:36:10.279 to a broken 00:36:10.279 --> 00:36:11.719 and broken 00:36:11.719 --> 00:36:12.759 and broken 00:36:12.759 --> 00:36:13.659 and bent 00:36:13.659 --> 00:36:14.199 and bent 00:36:14.199 --> 00:36:14.639 and bent 00:36:14.639 --> 00:36:15.179 and evil 00:36:15.179 --> 00:36:15.779 and evil 00:36:15.779 --> 00:36:16.819 and evil world. 00:36:17.799 --> 00:36:18.379 He can redeem, 00:36:18.859 --> 00:36:19.440 he can restore, 00:36:19.539 --> 00:36:19.940 he can heal. 00:36:20.019 --> 00:36:20.379 Let's pray. 00:36:22.279 --> 00:36:22.679 Lord, 00:36:22.739 --> 00:36:23.239 we thank you 00:36:23.239 --> 00:36:24.599 that your son, 00:36:25.779 --> 00:36:27.739 he did not suffer 00:36:27.739 --> 00:36:28.339 a tragic 00:36:28.339 --> 00:36:29.399 and avoidable death, 00:36:30.219 --> 00:36:31.079 but deliberately 00:36:31.079 --> 00:36:34.259 and unflinchingly 00:36:34.259 --> 00:36:35.399 walked towards the cross 00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:37.160 and that he suffered 00:36:37.160 --> 00:36:37.680 something 00:36:37.680 --> 00:36:38.980 that was not due to him. 00:36:39.820 --> 00:36:40.740 This was not justice 00:36:40.740 --> 00:36:41.460 being fulfilled, 00:36:41.599 --> 00:36:43.240 it was a complete 00:36:43.240 --> 00:36:44.840 abdication of justice 00:36:44.840 --> 00:36:45.480 and yet 00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:46.380 you use it 00:36:46.380 --> 00:36:48.539 to pour grace 00:36:48.539 --> 00:36:49.200 upon grace 00:36:49.200 --> 00:36:49.780 on us. 00:36:50.599 --> 00:36:51.519 You do not deserve 00:36:51.519 --> 00:36:52.180 this kindness 00:36:52.180 --> 00:36:53.320 and yet you give it to us 00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:53.980 because you, 00:36:54.760 --> 00:36:55.720 compelled by love, 00:36:56.320 --> 00:36:57.000 sacrificed 00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:59.160 your son on the cross 00:36:59.160 --> 00:36:59.960 for our sins. 00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:00.200 Lord, 00:37:00.260 --> 00:37:00.840 help us 00:37:00.840 --> 00:37:02.000 as we consider 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:03.440 our own sufferings, 00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:04.740 our own trials, 00:37:05.400 --> 00:37:06.300 whether we are 00:37:06.300 --> 00:37:07.099 in the midst of them, 00:37:07.180 --> 00:37:07.760 whether we have gone 00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:08.619 through them in the past 00:37:08.619 --> 00:37:09.840 or whether they are 00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:10.900 coming up in the future, 00:37:11.420 --> 00:37:12.599 that we will look to Christ 00:37:12.599 --> 00:37:13.860 and how he suffered well 00:37:13.860 --> 00:37:15.660 and how he entrusted 00:37:15.660 --> 00:37:18.539 his very person to you 00:37:18.539 --> 00:37:20.660 and that you used him 00:37:20.660 --> 00:37:21.200 to redeem 00:37:21.200 --> 00:37:21.960 and to heal 00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:22.720 and to restore. 00:37:23.079 --> 00:37:23.300 And Lord, 00:37:23.360 --> 00:37:24.019 that is our prayer 00:37:24.019 --> 00:37:25.180 in our lives, 00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:26.880 that not only will you 00:37:26.880 --> 00:37:27.539 comfort us 00:37:27.539 --> 00:37:28.519 when the difficulties 00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:30.380 and the hardships come, 00:37:30.460 --> 00:37:30.780 but Lord, 00:37:30.840 --> 00:37:31.920 whether we see it or not, 00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:32.720 we ask that you would 00:37:32.720 --> 00:37:34.480 use our trials 00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:35.760 and our brokenness 00:37:35.760 --> 00:37:36.820 and our pain 00:37:36.820 --> 00:37:37.579 for your glory, 00:37:38.099 --> 00:37:38.679 for the blessing 00:37:38.679 --> 00:37:39.420 of others, 00:37:40.179 --> 00:37:41.099 for the restoration 00:37:41.099 --> 00:37:41.940 and the healing 00:37:41.940 --> 00:37:42.559 and the redemption 00:37:42.559 --> 00:37:43.880 that only you can bring. 00:37:44.980 --> 00:37:45.380 Lord, 00:37:45.420 --> 00:37:46.400 we thank you for the cross 00:37:46.400 --> 00:37:47.800 and we thank you 00:37:47.800 --> 00:37:49.500 that we, 00:37:49.820 --> 00:37:50.579 week after week, 00:37:50.860 --> 00:37:53.440 can behold your son afresh 00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:54.679 and be thankful 00:37:54.679 --> 00:37:56.019 in deeper measures 00:37:56.019 --> 00:37:57.240 for what he has done for us. 00:37:57.980 --> 00:37:58.719 We pray these things 00:37:58.719 --> 00:37:59.980 in Christ's mighty name. 00:37:59.980 --> 00:38:01.500 Amen.