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Preparatory Service - Carrying Christ's Cross · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

• 0:00
  Any who wish to come to take communion for the first time are warmly encouraged and invited to do so.
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  The session has already been opened earlier this week and will be ready to meet with any in the congregation who wish to do this for the first time.
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  After the service tonight, anybody who wishes to do that are asked please to come forward and just either come back in or stay in.
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  But if they take their place at the front here, we'll then meet with them in the session room afterwards.
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  And I do hope that there are some and that they'll be encouraged to come and do this.
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  So let's worship God. We're going to sing in Psalm 118.
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  Psalm 118. That's on page 155. Sing Psalm's version to the tune of Old 100.
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  O thank the Lord for he is good. His steadfast love endures always.
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  Now let the house of Israel say his love will last through endless days.
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  And let the house of Aaron say his love forever will endure.
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  Let those who fear the Lord declare his love will stand forever sure.
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  Down to verse 9. It's better far to trust the Lord than look for help to man's defense.
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  It's better far to trust the Lord than in a prince have confidence.
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  So Psalm 118. These verses to God's praise.
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  O thank the Lord for he is good.
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  His steadfast love endures always.
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  His steadfast love endures always.
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  Now let the house of Israel see.
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  His love will last through endless days.
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  And let the house of Israel see.
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  And let the house of Israel see.
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  His love forever will endure.
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  Let those who fear the Lord declare.
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  His love will stand forever sure.
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  I cried in a wish to the Lord.
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  He answered me and set me free.
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  The Lord is with me.
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  The Lord is with me.
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  I'll know near.
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  All time can be but due to me.
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  The Lord is with me.
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  The Lord is with me constantly.
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  He is the one who is me.
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  I'll look Israel upon my foes.
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  I will love me to be a place.
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  God.
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  It's better.
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  It's better part to trust the Lord.
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  who called him to man's deep pains,
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  they paid their part to trust the Lord,
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  and in a print of confidence.
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  Let's now engage in prayer.
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  We'll call upon the Lord in prayer.
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  Amen.
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  Gracious and eternal God,
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  we draw near to you this evening,
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  knowing that these words we have sung
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  are words that we speak from the heart,
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  that we come before you as we seek to do at all times,
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  believing that you are,
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  and that you are the rewarder of those
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  who diligently seek you.
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  We thank you, Lord, tonight for your word
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  that has spoken to us already,
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  and as it brings before us the greatness of God,
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  so also we are encouraged to live by trust
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  and in the fear of the Lord.
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  Lord, we pray tonight for your blessing.
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  We pray that your Holy Spirit will take your word
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  and make it effective in our experience.
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  We pray that each of us may look back upon these moments
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  and realize that we have indeed met with God,
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  that you have been pleased to draw near to us.
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  We thank you for every privilege
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  that attends our worship,
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  and we know that our worship itself
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  is our highest privilege in this life,
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  and to come to be engaged wholeheartedly
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  in the worship of the living God,
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  to have been given that desire from yourself,
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  from your Holy Spirit,
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  to draw near to God
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  in such a way that will exalt
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  and praise his holy name.
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  Lord, we thank you for every blessing we receive from you,
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  and we know that we receive blessings
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  each day of our lives.
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  We confess, O Lord, we receive blessings
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  that we fail to realize at the time are blessings,
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  but looking back upon them,
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  we see that they are indeed blessings from your hand.
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  We give thanks for the blessings
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  even that cause us at times
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  to question and to be dismayed,
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  the blessings that attend
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  the sufferings and the anxieties of your people.
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  And we ask that we may draw our encouragement
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  from your word at such times also.
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  We have many instances, Lord,
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  in the words we sing in the Psalms
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  of people who were downcast,
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  people who searched for answers
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  in different ways to the issues of life,
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  and who came nevertheless to express
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  their questions and their thoughts to God,
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  and came especially into a spirit of worship
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  and of adoration,
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  realizing that God alone is great
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  and that he doesn't actually owe us any answers,
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  and yet he is pleased so often to give them.
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  We thank you, O Lord,
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  for all that we anticipate tomorrow on the Lord's Day.
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  And we thank you for the continuing remembrance
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  of the death of the Lord
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  in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper,
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  not only here but throughout the world,
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  wherever it is administered,
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  wherever your people gather together
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  to remember the Lord's death
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  in partaking of the bread and of the cup.
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  Lord, we pray that this may be a blessing to us
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  this time as a congregation,
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  and we pray that all who partake of it
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  will know that blessing attending
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  the action of doing so.
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  We pray that you would strengthen
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  the faith of your people.
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  We pray that they may look forward
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  in greater hope,
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  having their vision expanded
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  even beyond what it is at present,
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  so as to look into those wonderful things
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  of eternity,
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  and looking towards the marriage supper
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  of the Lamb,
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  which will replace forevermore
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  this Lord's Supper here on earth.
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  We thank you for all who come
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  to profess their faith,
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  who come to partake of the supper
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  from time to time.
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  We pray for any tonight, Lord,
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  who may be contemplating
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  coming to do this for the first time.
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  We pray that you would encourage them.
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  Help them, Lord.
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  We pray to have confidence in you
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  and not in themselves.
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  Help them even in the midst of many questions
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  and maybe even doubts.
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  Help them, Lord,
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  never to doubt in yourself
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  and to bring all their doubts
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  to be pacified
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  under the assurance
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  that you give us in your word
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  that when we do this
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  in remembrance of you,
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  so you bless that to your people.
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  We pray that you would grant to us,
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  Lord, as a congregation,
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  that we may continue to know
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  your blessing in the gospel.
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  And we ask that you would come
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  to bless us in such a way
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  that we will be a blessing to others,
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  that others will be drawn
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  to the Lord himself
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  through the testimony
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  and witness of the church.
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  We ask tonight for those
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  who are unwell,
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  for those who can't be with us here,
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  who have not been able to come
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  to take communion for some time.
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  We thank you, Lord,
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  for the way in which you promised
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  to be with them.
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  We thank you that they're able
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  to partake through the vehicle
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  of online services,
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  that they are able to hear your word
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  and have broadcast live
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  the worship of your people.
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  We pray that you bless them.
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  Bless especially, Lord,
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  those who may be downcast in mind,
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  those who may have mental health issues
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  to contend with,
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  those who are seriously ill,
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  those recovering from surgery.
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  All those, Lord,
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  we commend to you
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  that we know
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  belong to us as a people.
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  We pray that you bless them tonight.
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  And we ask that we may constantly
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  bear in mind those
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  of lesser privileges
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  than we have ourselves.
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  Remember those who have
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  disablement of various kinds
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  in body or mind.
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  We ask, Lord,
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  that they too will be blessed,
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  for you are able to
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  reach with your blessing
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  into the furthest,
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  inmost recesses of our souls.
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  Remember,
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  to those who mourn
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  the passing of loved ones,
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  Lord,
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  we have had another funeral today
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  and some recently,
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  and most weeks we know of
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  those who have lost loved ones.
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  We pray, Lord,
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  that you'd bless them.
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  We pray that you would comfort them.
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  We pray that your own presence
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  may be given to them.
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  We pray that any of them
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  who have not yet come
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  to embrace you
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  and live by faith in you
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  will be persuaded
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  even through these
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  as means towards
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  enlightening their soul
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  and giving them
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  that inner desire after you.
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  Gracious one,
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  we pray that you would bless
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  even such difficulties
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  and trials
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  in our lives
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  as human beings.
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  And now we ask your blessing
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  to be with us here
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  as we further wait upon you.
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  And as we turn to your word,
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  we pray especially
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  that your Holy Spirit
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  will take it
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  and enlighten our minds
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  through it.
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  and give us, Lord,
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  we pray,
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  that reception to your word
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  so that we may
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  indeed grow by it.
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  And help us
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  as we interact
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  with your word tonight
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  and at all times
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  that we may give it
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  that due attention
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  that it requires.
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  Help us now then,
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  we pray,
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  and pardon our many sins
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  and receive us graciously
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  for Jesus' sake.
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  Amen.
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  We're going to sing once again
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  to God's praise
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  and this time
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  our psalm of praise
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  is Psalm 130,
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  the prayer of Psalm 130
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  on page 421.
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  We're singing to the tune
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  Martyrdom,
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  words in which
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  the wonder of the psalmist
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  is expressed
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  as he takes issue
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  with the way
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  that God,
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  if he were to mark iniquity,
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  neither he nor anyone else
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  could stand,
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  but there is yet
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  forgiveness with God
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  so that he may be feared.
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  So we'll sing these verses
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  to the tune Martyrdom.
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  Lord, from the depths
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  to thee I cried,
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  my voice, Lord,
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  do thou hear.
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  The whole psalm.
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  Lord, from the depths
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  to thee I cry,
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  my voice, Lord,
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  have lest in you.
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  I'm here unto my salvation, holy,
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  I'm not yet to hear.
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  Lord, who shalt thou in thine, O Lord,
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  Sure smart iniquity,
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  But yet with thee,
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  For in places,
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  The fear thou mayest be.
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  I wait for long, my soul doth lay,
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  My hope is in this word.
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  More than they have,
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  For morning watch,
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  My soul waits for the Lord.
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  I say, Lord, may thou to watch,
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  The morning light to see,
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  Let Israel open the door,
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  For within mercy be.
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  On plentious redemption,
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  Is ever found with him,
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  And from all his equities,
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  The Israel shall redeem.
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  Let's turn now to read God's word,
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  And there's two passages tonight
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  From the gospel according to Mark.
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  First of all, Mark chapter 8,
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  And at verse 27,
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  And then we'll turn to Mark chapter 15,
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  From verse 16.
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  First of all, Mark chapter 8,
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  Beginning at verse 27,
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  And Jesus went on with his disciples
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  To the villages of Caesarea Philippi,
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  And on the way he asked his disciples,
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  Who do people say that I am?
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  And they told him,
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  John the Baptist,
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  And others say Elijah,
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  And one of the prophets.
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  And he asked them,
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  But who do you say that I am?
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  Peter answered him,
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  You are the Christ.
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  And he charged them strictly
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  To tell no one about him.
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  And he began to teach them
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  That the Son of Man
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  Must suffer many things,
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  And be rejected by the elders,
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  And the chief priests,
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  And the scribes,
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  And be killed,
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  And after three days rise again.
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  And he said this plainly.
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  And Peter took him aside,
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  And began to rebuke him.
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  But turning and seeing his disciples,
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  He rebuked Peter and said,
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  Get behind me, Satan,
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  For you are not setting your mind
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  On the things of God,
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  But on the things of man.
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  And he called to him,
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  The crowd with his disciples,
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  And said to them,
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  If anyone would come after me,
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  Let him deny himself,
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  And take up his cross,
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  And follow me.
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  For whoever would save his life,
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  Will lose it.
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  But whoever loses his life,
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  For my sake and the gospels,
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  Will save it.
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  For what does it profit a man,
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  To gain the whole world,
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  And forfeit his life?
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  For what can a man give,
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  In return for his life?
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  For whoever is ashamed of me,
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  And of my words,
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  In this adulterous,
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  And sinful generation,
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  Of him will the Son of Man,
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  Also be ashamed,
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  When he comes in the glory of his Father,
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  With the holy angels.
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  And if we turn to chapter 15,
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  We'll read from verse 16.
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  Verses 16 to 32.
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  And the soldiers led Jesus away,
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  Inside the palace,
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  That is,
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  The governor's headquarters,
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  And they called together,
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  The whole battalion,
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  And they clothed him,
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  In a purple cloak,
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  And twisting together,
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  A crown of thorns,
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  They put it on him,
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  And they began to salute him,
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  Hail,
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  King of the Jews.
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  And they were striking his head,
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  With a reed,
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  And spitting on him,
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  And kneeling down,
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  In homage to him.
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  And when they had mocked him,
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  They stripped him,
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  Of the purple cloak,
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  And put his own clothes on him,
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  And they led him out,
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  To crucify him.
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  And they compelled,
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  A passerby,
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  Simon of Cyrene,
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  Who was coming in,
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  From the country,
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  The father of Alexander,
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  And Rufus,
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  To carry his cross.
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  And they brought him,
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  To the place called Golgotha,
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  Which means,
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  Place of a skull.
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  And they offered him,
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  Wine mixed with myrrh,
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  But he did not take it.
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  And they crucified him,
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  And divided his garments among them,
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  Casting lots for them,
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  To decide what each should take.
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  And it was the third hour,
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  When they crucified him,
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  And the inscription of the charge against him,
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  Read,
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  The King of the Jews.
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  And with him they crucified two robbers,
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  One on his right,
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  And one on his left.
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  And those who passed by,
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  Derided him,
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  Wagging their heads,
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  And saying,
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  Aha,
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  You who would destroy the temple,
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  And rebuild it in three days,
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  Save yourself,
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  And come down from the cross.
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  So also the chief priests,
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  With the scribes,
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  Mocked him to one another,
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  Saying,
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  He saved others,
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  He cannot save himself.
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  Let the Christ,
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  The King of Israel,
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  Come down now from the cross,
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  That we may see,
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  And believe.
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  Those who were crucified with him,
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  Also reviled him.
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  Amen.
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  May God add his blessing,
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  Now to the reading of his word.
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  When we turn to these passages,
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  We'll sing once more,
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  This time in Psalm 48a,
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  On page 63 of the psalm books,
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  Psalm 48a,
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  Singing to the Tune Free Church,
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  And we're singing verses 9 to 14,
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  From verse 9,
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  To the end of the psalm,
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  Page 63.
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  We contemplate your steadfast love,
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  Within your house,
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  O God,
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  For like your name,
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  Your praise extends,
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  Through all the earth abroad,
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  All that you do is righteous,
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  Lord,
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  Mount Zion's joy is great,
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  And Judah's towns rejoice,
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  As they your judgments celebrate,
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  Round Zion walk,
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  And count her towers,
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  View every citadel,
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  So that to children yet unborn,
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  Her story you may tell,
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  For God the Lord,
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  Who is our God,
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  Forever will abide,
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  He is our God forevermore,
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  And to the end,
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  Our guide.
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  So these verses from verse 9,
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  We contemplate your steadfast love.
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  We contemplate your steadfast love,
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  Within your house,
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  O God,
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  For like your name,
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  Your praise extends,
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  Through all the earth abroad,
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  All that you do is righteous,
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  Lord,
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  And Zion's joy is great,
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  And Judah's town rejoice,
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  As they your judgments celebrate,
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  Round Zion walk,
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  And count her towers,
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  View every citadel,
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  So that to children yet unborn,
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  Yet unborn,
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  Hearts only you may tell,
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  For God the Lord who is,
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  Our God forever will abide,
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  He is our God forevermore,
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  And to thee our guide.
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  Please turn with me now to Mark chapter 15,
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  Mark chapter 15,
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  And reading at verse 21,
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  And they compelled a passerby,
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  Simon of Cyrene,
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  Who was coming in from the country,
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  The father of Alexander and Rufus,
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  To carry his cross,
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  The cross of Jesus,
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  That is.
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  We're going to focus tonight,
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  And in the two services tomorrow,
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  On certain references to,
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  And aspects of the cross.
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  We'll look at it tonight,
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  In terms of Simon,
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  Carrying Christ's cross.
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  Tomorrow,
• 23:40
  We'll look at Matthew's account of the crucifixion,
• 23:42
  Where we read that soldier sat down,
• 23:45
  And watched,
• 23:47
  Or kept watch,
• 23:48
  At the cross,
• 23:49
  So observing the cross.
• 23:52
  And then God willing,
• 23:53
  Tomorrow evening,
• 23:54
  We'll look at John's gospel,
• 23:56
  Where he tells us about,
• 23:57
  Nicodemus,
• 23:59
  And Joseph of Arimathea,
• 24:00
  Who dealt so lovingly,
• 24:03
  With the body of Jesus,
• 24:05
  Taking it down from the cross,
• 24:08
  And placing it in the sepulcher.
• 24:11
  So the cross,
• 24:12
  Will feature largely,
• 24:14
  In our services,
• 24:15
  As you might indeed expect,
• 24:17
  Given that it's a communion time.
• 24:20
  And of course by the cross,
• 24:21
  The Bible does give us,
• 24:23
  As here,
• 24:25
  The word cross,
• 24:26
  Just referring to the wooden cross,
• 24:28
  That Jesus was crucified,
• 24:30
  On.
• 24:31
  So there's that cross,
• 24:32
  Literally,
• 24:33
  That wooden cross.
• 24:34
  But of course,
• 24:34
  Most of the time,
• 24:36
  Especially in the epistles,
• 24:37
  You'll find the cross mentioned,
• 24:39
  In terms of referring,
• 24:41
  As a reference to the death of Jesus.
• 24:44
  For example,
• 24:45
  Paul in Ephesians 2,
• 24:46
  And verse 16,
• 24:47
  Speaks of the blood of his cross.
• 24:50
  That by which we are reconciled,
• 24:52
  By which we are come to know peace with God,
• 24:55
  The blood of his cross.
• 24:57
  In other words,
• 24:58
  The cross in that context,
• 24:59
  Obviously means,
• 25:01
  Far more than just,
• 25:02
  The wooden cross,
• 25:03
  On which Jesus,
• 25:04
  Was actually crucified.
• 25:06
  As you know very well yourselves,
• 25:07
  It means,
• 25:08
  The death that Jesus actually died,
• 25:10
  On that literal wooden cross.
• 25:13
  So it refers,
• 25:14
  Especially to,
• 25:15
  His death,
• 25:16
  And the kind of death,
• 25:17
  That he died.
• 25:19
  So our relationship,
• 25:21
  With the cross,
• 25:22
  Really effectively means,
• 25:24
  Our connection,
• 25:25
  With the death of Jesus.
• 25:27
  Whenever you find,
• 25:28
  The cross mentioned,
• 25:29
  As something that features,
• 25:31
  In relation to the faith,
• 25:32
  Of God's people,
• 25:34
  Their hopes,
• 25:34
  Whatever else,
• 25:35
  You find in reference,
• 25:36
  To their relationship,
• 25:38
  With the cross,
• 25:40
  It always is,
• 25:41
  The relationship,
• 25:41
  With Jesus himself,
• 25:42
  That's actually set down there.
• 25:45
  Not being ashamed,
• 25:46
  Of the cross,
• 25:48
  Means,
• 25:48
  Not being ashamed of Christ,
• 25:50
  Or of the death,
• 25:50
  That he died,
• 25:51
  On the cross.
• 25:52
  And of course,
• 25:54
  It's also used,
• 25:55
  As we've read,
• 25:56
  And we'll go back to,
• 25:57
  This passage in chapter 8,
• 25:58
  Near the end of our study this evening,
• 26:00
  It also means,
• 26:02
  Used figuratively,
• 26:04
  In the way in which it does,
• 26:06
  Feature in chapter 8 there,
• 26:08
  Where Jesus says,
• 26:10
  If anyone would come after me,
• 26:12
  Let him deny himself,
• 26:14
  Take up his cross,
• 26:16
  And follow me.
• 26:17
  So there's a reference,
• 26:18
  To something,
• 26:19
  That's at the heart,
• 26:20
  Of discipleship,
• 26:21
  It involves,
• 26:23
  Taking up our cross,
• 26:26
  We'll take a look at that,
• 26:27
  Because obviously,
• 26:28
  It's related to,
• 26:29
  What you find here in Simon,
• 26:31
  Taking the cross of Jesus,
• 26:33
  And carrying the cross of Jesus,
• 26:36
  From this moment,
• 26:37
  That he was compelled,
• 26:39
  To do so.
• 26:41
  And now,
• 26:42
  As you look at this passage,
• 26:43
  Let's take,
• 26:44
  All of that with us,
• 26:46
  That we've mentioned,
• 26:47
  And see what this is actually,
• 26:49
  Saying to us.
• 26:50
  What did this mean,
• 26:52
  For Jesus,
• 26:53
  First of all,
• 26:54
  That this man,
• 26:55
  Simon of Cyrene,
• 26:57
  Was compelled,
• 26:59
  To carry the cross,
• 27:01
  Of Jesus.
• 27:01
  What would that have meant,
• 27:03
  For Jesus himself?
• 27:05
  And secondly,
• 27:07
  We'll have a,
• 27:08
  We'll look at the reference here,
• 27:09
  To the sons,
• 27:11
  Of this man,
• 27:12
  Simon,
• 27:13
  He's known as the father,
• 27:14
  Of Alexander,
• 27:16
  And Rufus.
• 27:17
  Wonder why that,
• 27:18
  Is actually mentioned.
• 27:20
  Thirdly,
• 27:21
  We'll go back to chapter 8,
• 27:22
  And see,
• 27:23
  The image of discipleship,
• 27:26
  As it's set out,
• 27:27
  By way of,
• 27:27
  Referring to carrying,
• 27:29
  Or taking up,
• 27:30
  Our cross as well.
• 27:32
  So there's an interaction,
• 27:33
  An interrelation,
• 27:34
  Between these passages.
• 27:36
  What did this mean then,
• 27:37
  For Jesus?
• 27:38
  They compelled,
• 27:39
  A passerby,
• 27:40
  Simon of Cyrene,
• 27:41
  To carry his cross.
• 27:44
  It was,
• 27:44
  Almost always the case,
• 27:46
  That a person,
• 27:46
  Going out to be crucified,
• 27:48
  Having been tried,
• 27:49
  And condemned,
• 27:50
  Would actually carry,
• 27:52
  The cross,
• 27:53
  On which he,
• 27:53
  Was going to be crucified.
• 27:55
  Sometimes it was just the,
• 27:56
  The bar,
• 27:58
  To which his hands,
• 27:59
  Would be tied,
• 28:00
  But most often,
• 28:00
  It would be the whole,
• 28:01
  Of the cross.
• 28:02
  That was then fixed,
• 28:03
  In the ground,
• 28:04
  And the person,
• 28:05
  Crucified to it.
• 28:06
  So they were,
• 28:07
  They were always,
• 28:08
  Expected,
• 28:09
  Or made,
• 28:10
  To carry,
• 28:11
  Their own cross,
• 28:12
  Most of the time.
• 28:13
  And this is what happened,
• 28:14
  With Jesus at first.
• 28:16
  You go to John's gospel,
• 28:18
  Chapter 19 and verse 17,
• 28:20
  You'll see that Jesus there,
• 28:22
  Began the journey,
• 28:23
  Carrying his cross.
• 28:26
  But here,
• 28:27
  They compelled this man,
• 28:28
  Simon,
• 28:29
  To carry the cross,
• 28:30
  Instead of leaving it,
• 28:32
  With Jesus himself.
• 28:34
  Now why was that?
• 28:35
  Well they compelled him,
• 28:37
  The word compelled,
• 28:38
  Means he was forced into it,
• 28:39
  He didn't necessarily,
• 28:40
  Want to do it,
• 28:42
  But they forced him into it,
• 28:43
  They compelled him,
• 28:45
  They took him,
• 28:46
  They took hold of him,
• 28:47
  They grabbed him,
• 28:48
  And just said,
• 28:48
  This is what you're doing,
• 28:50
  You're going to carry,
• 28:51
  This cross,
• 28:52
  Of this man,
• 28:53
  You're going to take it,
• 28:55
  Until we reach the place,
• 28:56
  Where it is going to be crucified.
• 28:59
  And you might think that,
• 29:00
  The main reason they would do that,
• 29:03
  Is that Jesus by this time,
• 29:05
  Was feeling the effects,
• 29:07
  Of his flogging,
• 29:08
  Of the abuse,
• 29:09
  That was meted out to him,
• 29:11
  And that he was beginning to flag,
• 29:14
  Maybe even,
• 29:15
  On the point of collapse,
• 29:17
  Some people think,
• 29:18
  That that's the reason,
• 29:19
  Why Simon was compelled,
• 29:22
  And taken,
• 29:23
  As a substitute,
• 29:24
  For Jesus himself,
• 29:25
  To carry,
• 29:26
  The cross of Christ,
• 29:28
  From this time onwards,
• 29:29
  To the place of crucifixion,
• 29:31
  And indeed,
• 29:32
  That's a very,
• 29:33
  Very understandable way,
• 29:35
  Of looking at it,
• 29:35
  Because by this time,
• 29:37
  The abuse that Jesus,
• 29:38
  Had been through,
• 29:40
  Was tremendous,
• 29:42
  He had been flogged,
• 29:43
  He had been abused,
• 29:45
  There was so much,
• 29:46
  As you read through the gospel accounts,
• 29:48
  Of his trial onwards,
• 29:50
  And of course,
• 29:51
  Before that too,
• 29:52
  There was a lot of suffering,
• 29:53
  In the life of Jesus,
• 29:55
  So by this point,
• 29:57
  It's understandable,
• 29:59
  That he would be tired,
• 30:00
  That he would be almost,
• 30:01
  Giving way under the weight,
• 30:03
  Of the cross,
• 30:04
  It wasn't a light thing,
• 30:05
  It was substantially heavy,
• 30:08
  And so,
• 30:09
  You can see,
• 30:10
  That there's a,
• 30:11
  In that point of view,
• 30:13
  That he was just too weak now,
• 30:14
  To carry it further,
• 30:16
  That that's the reason,
• 30:17
  That they compelled Simon,
• 30:18
  To carry the cross for him,
• 30:21
  But there's another view,
• 30:23
  And that's the view,
• 30:24
  We're going to tease out tonight,
• 30:26
  For a little time,
• 30:28
  And this other line of thought,
• 30:31
  Actually has to do with,
• 30:33
  Christ's humiliation,
• 30:34
  That this was,
• 30:36
  That this was,
• 30:36
  In fact,
• 30:37
  A humiliation for Jesus,
• 30:40
  That somebody had to carry the cross,
• 30:41
  For him,
• 30:42
  Instead of himself,
• 30:44
  That he was deprived,
• 30:45
  Of the opportunity,
• 30:46
  Of taking that cross,
• 30:48
  On which he was to be crucified,
• 30:49
  All the way through,
• 30:51
  To Calvary,
• 30:51
  The place of crucifixion,
• 30:54
  There's a line of thought,
• 30:57
  Always in the gospels,
• 30:58
  An underlying message,
• 31:00
  That actually sets out,
• 31:04
  What you understand,
• 31:06
  As you read the gospel,
• 31:08
  By actually showing us,
• 31:10
  The lack of understanding,
• 31:11
  Of those that are spoken about,
• 31:13
  In the gospel,
• 31:14
  Such as here,
• 31:15
  Let me give you,
• 31:15
  An example of that,
• 31:17
  Chapter 15 here,
• 31:18
  Verses 16 to 19,
• 31:21
  You'll find the,
• 31:22
  Account there,
• 31:23
  Of the way in which,
• 31:25
  A crown of thorns,
• 31:26
  Was twisted,
• 31:27
  And put on him,
• 31:28
  And they began to,
• 31:29
  Salute Jesus,
• 31:30
  Hail,
• 31:31
  King of the Jews,
• 31:32
  Striking him with a reed,
• 31:34
  Mocking him,
• 31:34
  Stripping him of the purple cloak,
• 31:36
  Putting on his own clothes again,
• 31:37
  Leading him out,
• 31:38
  To crucify him,
• 31:39
  Hail,
• 31:40
  King of the Jews,
• 31:41
  Now as you read that,
• 31:42
  As a reader,
• 31:43
  Who knows the gospel,
• 31:45
  As someone who knows,
• 31:46
  Who Jesus was,
• 31:47
  And is,
• 31:48
  You're saying to yourself,
• 31:49
  As you read that,
• 31:49
  But he was the king,
• 31:51
  They were mocking him,
• 31:52
  As if he wasn't the king,
• 31:54
  They were using that title,
• 31:55
  And the opportunity,
• 31:57
  To mock him with it,
• 31:58
  Although you know,
• 31:59
  At the same time,
• 32:00
  As you read that,
• 32:01
  That they were wrong,
• 32:02
  That they were actually using,
• 32:03
  A truth about Jesus,
• 32:05
  In their way,
• 32:06
  Mocking him,
• 32:07
  But you know,
• 32:08
  That that is actually,
• 32:09
  The truth about Christ,
• 32:10
  As you read that,
• 32:12
  The same in verse 26,
• 32:14
  As you go forward there,
• 32:15
  You'll see,
• 32:15
  The same sort of idea,
• 32:17
  Coming across to you,
• 32:19
  The inscription of the charge,
• 32:20
  Against him read,
• 32:21
  The king of the Jews,
• 32:24
  And then verse 32,
• 32:25
  You find a similar thing there,
• 32:27
  Let Christ,
• 32:28
  The king of Israel,
• 32:29
  Come down now from the cross,
• 32:31
  That we may see and believe,
• 32:34
  In other words,
• 32:35
  The passage is presenting us,
• 32:37
  With the fact that Jesus was the king,
• 32:39
  Not recognized here,
• 32:41
  Crucified,
• 32:42
  But nevertheless crucified,
• 32:44
  As the king that he was,
• 32:46
  But unrecognized,
• 32:49
  What are we saying by that?
• 32:50
  Well,
• 32:52
  The fact that he was,
• 32:52
  Actually the king,
• 32:54
  Meant that he could,
• 32:56
  Requisition anything,
• 32:57
  For his own needs,
• 32:59
  Out of the whole creation,
• 33:02
  You go back to chapter,
• 33:03
  14 for example,
• 33:05
  And the way in which,
• 33:07
  The upper room,
• 33:08
  The room in which,
• 33:10
  The Passover was to be,
• 33:12
  Prepared,
• 33:13
  On the first day,
• 33:14
  Of the unleavened bread,
• 33:15
  When they were sacrificing,
• 33:17
  When they sacrificed the lamb,
• 33:18
  His disciples said,
• 33:20
  Where will you have us go,
• 33:21
  And prepare for you,
• 33:22
  To eat the Passover?
• 33:23
  And he sent two of his disciples,
• 33:25
  And said to them,
• 33:26
  Go into the city,
• 33:27
  And a man carrying a jar of water,
• 33:29
  Will meet you,
• 33:30
  Follow him,
• 33:30
  And wherever he enters,
• 33:32
  Say to the master of the house,
• 33:34
  The teacher says,
• 33:36
  Where is my guest room,
• 33:38
  Where I may eat the Passover,
• 33:40
  With my disciple?
• 33:41
  And he will show you,
• 33:42
  A large upper room,
• 33:43
  Furnished and ready,
• 33:45
  There,
• 33:45
  Prepare for us.
• 33:46
  Now notice,
• 33:47
  What they were to say was,
• 33:49
  The teacher is saying,
• 33:51
  Where is my guest room?
• 33:55
  He wasn't going to say,
• 33:56
  They weren't going to say,
• 33:57
  To the owner of this house,
• 33:58
  Where is your guest room?
• 34:00
  Where is the room,
• 34:01
  In which you entertain guests,
• 34:02
  At dinner?
• 34:03
  It is the master who sent us,
• 34:05
  And he is saying,
• 34:06
  Where is my guest room?
• 34:08
  He's requisitioning,
• 34:10
  That guest room,
• 34:11
  For himself,
• 34:12
  Because ultimately,
• 34:13
  He owns it,
• 34:13
  As he owns the whole creation,
• 34:15
  He is in the world,
• 34:17
  As the king of the creation,
• 34:18
  Unrecognized,
• 34:20
  In the state that he's come,
• 34:21
  In the state of a servant,
• 34:22
  But underneath it all,
• 34:24
  He is the king,
• 34:25
  And he is the one,
• 34:26
  Who actually owns everything,
• 34:29
  Into which he's come,
• 34:31
  And he has rights to it,
• 34:36
  And what this is leading up to,
• 34:40
  Is this,
• 34:41
  You cannot,
• 34:43
  Bestow more humiliation,
• 34:46
  On a king,
• 34:48
  Than to deprive him,
• 34:49
  Of what is his right,
• 34:51
  Of what he owns,
• 34:53
  Of what belongs to him,
• 34:55
  And what they're doing,
• 34:57
  In taking the cross,
• 34:59
  Away from Jesus,
• 35:01
  Is depriving him,
• 35:02
  Of the right to carry,
• 35:03
  That cross,
• 35:04
  To the place of crucifixion,
• 35:06
  He will not be able,
• 35:08
  To say,
• 35:08
  Even as criminals,
• 35:10
  Did say,
• 35:11
  At least I was able,
• 35:12
  To carry my cross,
• 35:14
  Until I reached the place,
• 35:15
  Where they crucified me,
• 35:17
  They took that away from him,
• 35:20
  They took that privilege,
• 35:22
  If you like,
• 35:22
  Away from him,
• 35:24
  And so they,
• 35:27
  Grabbed this man,
• 35:29
  Simon of Cyrene,
• 35:31
  And the message of Mark,
• 35:33
  Really is,
• 35:33
  As we're taking it,
• 35:35
  In this line of thought,
• 35:36
  That the king,
• 35:37
  Is being deprived,
• 35:39
  Of something,
• 35:40
  That he had every right,
• 35:41
  To requisition,
• 35:42
  That he had every right,
• 35:43
  To himself,
• 35:45
  The privilege,
• 35:46
  Of carrying,
• 35:47
  This cross,
• 35:48
  Solemn,
• 35:49
  Course though that was,
• 35:52
  And so,
• 35:53
  To deprive a king,
• 35:55
  Of anything,
• 35:56
  That belongs to him,
• 35:58
  Rightly,
• 35:59
  Is to,
• 36:00
  Give him,
• 36:01
  The greatest,
• 36:03
  The greatest,
• 36:03
  Humiliation,
• 36:03
  To,
• 36:04
  The greatest,
• 36:04
  Humiliation,
• 36:05
  After the,
• 36:08
  First world war,
• 36:10
  Tsar,
• 36:11
  Nicholas,
• 36:12
  The second,
• 36:12
  Of Russia,
• 36:14
  Who was,
• 36:14
  At that time,
• 36:15
  The most powerful,
• 36:16
  Man on earth,
• 36:18
  And probably,
• 36:19
  The richest man,
• 36:20
  On earth,
• 36:21
  He had fabulous,
• 36:22
  Wealth,
• 36:23
  He had fabulous,
• 36:24
  Power,
• 36:25
  Or at least,
• 36:26
  Almost total power,
• 36:27
  He was an autocrat,
• 36:29
  He could requisition,
• 36:30
  Anything in Russia,
• 36:31
  For his own use,
• 36:32
  That's who he was,
• 36:34
  That's the status he had,
• 36:36
  And to actually deprive him,
• 36:38
  Of any of that,
• 36:39
  Would be to say,
• 36:40
  This is not rightly you,
• 36:41
  So you can't have it,
• 36:43
  And when you see,
• 36:44
  What happened to him,
• 36:47
  When,
• 36:48
  He abdicated,
• 36:50
  When the Bolsheviks,
• 36:51
  Took over,
• 36:53
  And another,
• 36:53
  A government,
• 36:55
  Was placed,
• 36:56
  Instead of,
• 36:57
  The Tsar,
• 36:58
  Ruling over the country,
• 37:00
  He went,
• 37:00
  You might say,
• 37:01
  Literally,
• 37:02
  From,
• 37:03
  His grand palace,
• 37:06
  To,
• 37:07
  A railway carriage,
• 37:10
  To other places,
• 37:11
  Of residence,
• 37:11
  Before he was shot,
• 37:13
  Along with his family,
• 37:15
  Now you can see,
• 37:15
  How that is from,
• 37:17
  One level,
• 37:18
  To a much lower level,
• 37:20
  And you can see,
• 37:21
  That depriving,
• 37:22
  The Tsar,
• 37:23
  Of his possessions,
• 37:25
  That belonged to him,
• 37:26
  Have,
• 37:26
  Whatever you might say,
• 37:27
  About how he got them,
• 37:29
  We're not going into that,
• 37:30
  But,
• 37:30
  They were his,
• 37:32
  They belonged to him,
• 37:33
  They belonged to his family,
• 37:34
  And to deprive him,
• 37:35
  Of the right to have them,
• 37:37
  And even of the right,
• 37:38
  For his,
• 37:38
  To his life,
• 37:40
  Was to actually,
• 37:41
  Bestow the greatest,
• 37:42
  Humiliation,
• 37:43
  On that,
• 37:46
  On that,
• 37:46
  Tsar of Russia,
• 37:48
  But that's nothing,
• 37:51
  Or very little,
• 37:52
  Compared to,
• 37:53
  Taking from Jesus,
• 37:56
  The rights that were his,
• 37:58
  As the king of creation,
• 38:00
  Now bear in mind,
• 38:02
  They weren't doing this,
• 38:03
  In a way that Jesus himself,
• 38:05
  Had nothing to do with it,
• 38:07
  He gave himself over,
• 38:08
  To the abuse,
• 38:10
  That he suffered,
• 38:10
  He gave himself over,
• 38:11
  To the deprivations,
• 38:13
  That he needed to go through,
• 38:14
  As the savior of his people,
• 38:16
  He gave himself over,
• 38:17
  To everything that happened to him,
• 38:18
  And was done to him,
• 38:19
  And he did so willingly,
• 38:21
  It was part of his will,
• 38:22
  It was part of his suffering,
• 38:24
  For his people,
• 38:26
  Everything that he did,
• 38:27
  He did willingly,
• 38:28
  For his people,
• 38:30
  And nevertheless,
• 38:32
  To deprive him of this,
• 38:35
  Is depriving him of something,
• 38:37
  That he had a right,
• 38:38
  To himself,
• 38:39
  And you know that,
• 38:40
  That carries on,
• 38:41
  All the way through,
• 38:42
  To the cross,
• 38:43
  He was deprived,
• 38:45
  Of all vestiges,
• 38:46
  Of status,
• 38:48
  Nothing was left him,
• 38:50
  Really outwardly,
• 38:51
  That showed his kingship,
• 38:54
  He was deprived,
• 38:55
  Of status,
• 38:56
  He was deprived,
• 38:57
  Of comfort,
• 38:58
  He was deprived,
• 38:59
  Of everything,
• 39:00
  That he had a right to,
• 39:02
  And when it came,
• 39:02
  To the cross itself,
• 39:04
  He was deprived,
• 39:05
  Even of his clothes,
• 39:07
  They stripped him,
• 39:08
  And you mustn't think,
• 39:10
  That they left him,
• 39:11
  Something,
• 39:13
  Of the clothes,
• 39:13
  That he was wearing,
• 39:14
  They didn't,
• 39:15
  Even the inner tunic,
• 39:18
  Which was one piece,
• 39:20
  Worn next to the skin,
• 39:23
  That too,
• 39:23
  Was removed from him,
• 39:25
  Because,
• 39:27
  He was put,
• 39:28
  To an open shame,
• 39:30
  The shame,
• 39:33
  Of the cross,
• 39:34
  The shame,
• 39:34
  That he despised,
• 39:37
  The shame,
• 39:37
  That he took,
• 39:39
  Willingly to himself,
• 39:41
  As the writer,
• 39:42
  To the Hebrews,
• 39:42
  Puts it,
• 39:43
  That's the shame,
• 39:48
  That we remember,
• 39:49
  When we remember,
• 39:49
  The Lord's death,
• 39:51
  In the Lord's supper,
• 39:53
  The shame,
• 39:55
  That Jesus,
• 39:56
  Experienced,
• 39:57
  And suffered,
• 39:58
  So that you and I,
• 40:00
  Would not be put,
• 40:01
  To an everlasting shame,
• 40:04
  Now you compare that,
• 40:06
  With the first Adam,
• 40:07
  And Eve,
• 40:10
  Having been created,
• 40:11
  By God,
• 40:12
  Placed amongst,
• 40:13
  The garden of Eden,
• 40:14
  With all its plenty,
• 40:16
  You contrast that,
• 40:17
  With Jesus,
• 40:18
  The son of God,
• 40:18
  The creator,
• 40:19
  Who came into this world,
• 40:21
  He wasn't placed,
• 40:22
  In the midst of plenty,
• 40:23
  He willingly gave himself,
• 40:24
  To be,
• 40:25
  In the midst of poverty,
• 40:27
  In the midst of want,
• 40:28
  In the midst of suffering,
• 40:29
  In the agonies,
• 40:30
  That he suffered,
• 40:31
  Right through to the cross itself,
• 40:34
  And look at this,
• 40:35
  What does Genesis tell you,
• 40:37
  About the man,
• 40:38
  And the woman,
• 40:39
  When you look at the final part,
• 40:41
  Of Genesis chapter 2,
• 40:42
  Verse 25,
• 40:45
  The man and the woman,
• 40:47
  They were naked,
• 40:49
  And were not ashamed,
• 40:53
  There was no shame,
• 40:55
  Because there was no sin,
• 40:58
  And whenever you find,
• 41:01
  Jesus,
• 41:02
  And his cross mentioned,
• 41:04
  Think of the shame,
• 41:06
  Think tomorrow,
• 41:08
  As you remember him,
• 41:09
  In his death,
• 41:09
  In the Lord's supper,
• 41:11
  Think of the shame,
• 41:12
  That he put himself to,
• 41:14
  Willingly,
• 41:16
  For you,
• 41:17
  And for me,
• 41:18
  Think of how,
• 41:22
  It reached to the extent,
• 41:23
  Even,
• 41:25
  Of being completely,
• 41:26
  And utterly deprived,
• 41:28
  Of everything,
• 41:29
  That was his,
• 41:31
  Outwardly,
• 41:32
  That's what it meant,
• 41:36
  Compelling,
• 41:36
  This man,
• 41:37
  Simon of Cyrene,
• 41:38
  To carry his cross,
• 41:41
  And look at,
• 41:43
  Secondly,
• 41:44
  The sons of Simon,
• 41:46
  That are mentioned here,
• 41:47
  The father of Alexander,
• 41:50
  And Rufus,
• 41:50
  They compelled,
• 41:51
  Simon,
• 41:53
  Their father,
• 41:53
  To carry the cross,
• 41:54
  Now why are they,
• 41:55
  Mentioned there,
• 41:56
  Well we,
• 41:57
  Don't want to speculate,
• 41:58
  But when you go to,
• 41:59
  Paul's letter to the Romans,
• 42:01
  And chapter 16,
• 42:03
  And verse 13,
• 42:04
  You'll find,
• 42:05
  A mention there,
• 42:07
  Of such a name,
• 42:08
  As Rufus,
• 42:10
  And,
• 42:11
  At verse,
• 42:12
  Verse 13,
• 42:14
  Of Romans 16,
• 42:15
  Where you find,
• 42:18
  This name appearing,
• 42:20
  Rufus,
• 42:22
  And greet,
• 42:23
  Rufus,
• 42:24
  Chosen in the Lord,
• 42:26
  Also his mother,
• 42:28
  Who has been a mother,
• 42:29
  To me,
• 42:29
  As well,
• 42:30
  This is Paul writing,
• 42:31
  To the Romans,
• 42:32
  Now there's a very early tradition,
• 42:34
  That Mark actually,
• 42:35
  Wrote his gospel,
• 42:37
  To Christians in Rome,
• 42:39
  And it could very well be,
• 42:41
  That the Rufus,
• 42:43
  Who is the son of Simon,
• 42:45
  Who carried the cross of Jesus,
• 42:47
  Is the same Rufus,
• 42:48
  As you find mentioned,
• 42:50
  In that last chapter,
• 42:51
  Of Romans,
• 42:53
  Whether that's the case,
• 42:55
  Or not,
• 42:55
  It's an interesting observation,
• 42:57
  We can't say,
• 42:58
  It is definitely,
• 42:59
  The same person,
• 43:00
  But it's a very interesting link,
• 43:02
  It's an intriguing link,
• 43:04
  It could very well,
• 43:06
  Be the case,
• 43:07
  Especially,
• 43:08
  If Mark indeed wrote,
• 43:10
  To Christians in Rome,
• 43:12
  And you can carry that forward,
• 43:14
  Into how intriguing,
• 43:15
  A thing it is,
• 43:16
  That this man,
• 43:17
  Simon of Cyrene,
• 43:18
  Would have been influenced,
• 43:20
  Positively,
• 43:21
  By being forced,
• 43:22
  To carry the cross of Christ,
• 43:24
  And that his two sons,
• 43:25
  Then became followers,
• 43:26
  Of Jesus as well,
• 43:27
  Or at least one of them,
• 43:28
  Rufus,
• 43:30
  Well be that as it may,
• 43:31
  It raises interesting,
• 43:33
  Points and suggestions,
• 43:35
  But it does actually remind us,
• 43:37
  Of the importance,
• 43:39
  Of family,
• 43:40
  Of family,
• 43:41
  Christianity,
• 43:42
  Because for one reason,
• 43:44
  Or another,
• 43:45
  These people are mentioned here,
• 43:46
  Along with their father,
• 43:48
  Alexander and Rufus,
• 43:49
  They were known to Mark,
• 43:51
  Obviously,
• 43:51
  They were known to,
• 43:52
  Those that Mark was reading,
• 43:53
  Was writing to,
• 43:55
  And that's especially interesting,
• 43:57
  If he indeed was writing,
• 43:59
  To those in Rome,
• 44:01
  And reminds us of,
• 44:02
  How important it is,
• 44:04
  To actually pass on,
• 44:05
  To our family,
• 44:06
  And through family life,
• 44:08
  The truth about the cross,
• 44:10
  The truth about Christ,
• 44:12
  The reality of the cross,
• 44:13
  The importance of the cross,
• 44:15
  The significance of the cross,
• 44:17
  The significance,
• 44:18
  As we'll see now,
• 44:18
  Of carrying the cross,
• 44:20
  Ourselves,
• 44:21
  In a moral,
• 44:22
  Spiritual way,
• 44:23
  So what it meant for Jesus,
• 44:25
  And this intriguing reference,
• 44:28
  To the sons,
• 44:29
  Of Simon,
• 44:31
  Alexander,
• 44:31
  And Rufus,
• 44:33
  But let's turn back to,
• 44:34
  Mark chapter 8 now,
• 44:35
  For a final point,
• 44:37
  Which is the image,
• 44:38
  Of discipleship,
• 44:39
  That you find there,
• 44:40
  In references to carrying,
• 44:42
  Or taking up the cross,
• 44:45
  Mark chapter 8,
• 44:46
  And at verse 34,
• 44:48
  He called to him,
• 44:49
  The crowd with his disciples,
• 44:51
  And said to them,
• 44:52
  If anyone would come after me,
• 44:54
  Let him deny himself,
• 44:56
  And take up his cross,
• 44:58
  And follow me,
• 45:00
  And you can see,
• 45:01
  The three elements,
• 45:02
  That are so closely,
• 45:03
  Joined together there,
• 45:05
  That each of them,
• 45:06
  Really amounts to the same thing,
• 45:07
  As the rest,
• 45:08
  In other words,
• 45:09
  To deny yourself,
• 45:11
  Essentially,
• 45:12
  Is the same as,
• 45:12
  Taking up your cross,
• 45:14
  And that's the same,
• 45:15
  As following Jesus,
• 45:16
  If we're following Jesus,
• 45:18
  It involves,
• 45:19
  Self-denial,
• 45:21
  And self-denial,
• 45:22
  Involves,
• 45:23
  In a spiritual way,
• 45:25
  Taking up the cross,
• 45:27
  Now think of what it meant,
• 45:28
  As you saw,
• 45:29
  Simon of Cyrene,
• 45:31
  Carrying the cross of Jesus,
• 45:33
  Jesus himself,
• 45:34
  Carrying his cross before that,
• 45:36
  When you saw,
• 45:37
  Anybody carrying a cross,
• 45:38
  To a place of crucifixion,
• 45:40
  You undoubtedly,
• 45:41
  Were able to say then,
• 45:43
  That person is going to die,
• 45:45
  That person is going to their death,
• 45:48
  They're carrying the instrument,
• 45:50
  Of their death on their shoulders,
• 45:51
  There's no other conclusion,
• 45:55
  It means,
• 45:56
  Certain death,
• 45:59
  And when you take that with you,
• 46:01
  To what it means,
• 46:02
  To carry the cross,
• 46:03
  As a disciple of Jesus,
• 46:05
  To deny yourself,
• 46:06
  If you would follow him,
• 46:08
  He must deny himself,
• 46:10
  Take up his cross,
• 46:11
  And follow me,
• 46:12
  It does mean,
• 46:13
  That there's a death involved,
• 46:15
  In coming to follow Jesus,
• 46:18
  That there's a death,
• 46:19
  To self,
• 46:20
  You deny yourself,
• 46:23
  You take up your cross,
• 46:25
  In other words,
• 46:26
  You're determined,
• 46:27
  As you begin to follow Jesus,
• 46:29
  And continue to follow Jesus,
• 46:32
  You actually,
• 46:32
  Are expressing your desire,
• 46:35
  To die,
• 46:36
  To every form of self,
• 46:39
  Self-righteousness,
• 46:41
  Self-confidence,
• 46:43
  Self-pleasing,
• 46:44
  However many times,
• 46:46
  Other references to self,
• 46:48
  You can find,
• 46:49
  As part of our,
• 46:51
  Sinful condition,
• 46:52
  Our sinful way of life,
• 46:55
  Self is always,
• 46:56
  At the heart of it,
• 46:57
  That's why we need to deny it,
• 46:59
  By the grace of God,
• 47:00
  By the power of God's spirit,
• 47:02
  But when you see somebody,
• 47:04
  Coming to say,
• 47:05
  I am now a Christian,
• 47:06
  You expect that person,
• 47:07
  To be putting,
• 47:08
  Self to death,
• 47:10
  To be dealing with sin,
• 47:13
  In such a way,
• 47:15
  That once rid of it,
• 47:17
  Finally,
• 47:18
  Once and for all,
• 47:19
  But all the way through this life,
• 47:21
  Struggling with it many times,
• 47:23
  As we all,
• 47:23
  I'm sure,
• 47:24
  Do,
• 47:25
  And nevertheless,
• 47:25
  In the struggles that you have,
• 47:27
  With sin,
• 47:28
  As you're conscious,
• 47:29
  Of sin,
• 47:29
  As you're conscious,
• 47:30
  Of needing daily,
• 47:31
  To express,
• 47:33
  Your sin to God,
• 47:34
  And your sorrow to Jesus,
• 47:36
  That you are still,
• 47:37
  Finding yourself,
• 47:38
  Sinning against him,
• 47:40
  Even same sins,
• 47:41
  Perhaps as you've done many times,
• 47:44
  But as you do so,
• 47:45
  You do so,
• 47:46
  And I do so,
• 47:47
  Hopefully,
• 47:48
  With this desire,
• 47:49
  With this mindset,
• 47:51
  That says,
• 47:51
  Lord,
• 47:52
  I want to put this self to death,
• 47:55
  I don't want anymore,
• 47:56
  To live for myself,
• 47:58
  To live for my own righteousness,
• 48:01
  To live as if I could look after my own life,
• 48:04
  To live as if I could by myself,
• 48:07
  Prepare for eternity,
• 48:08
  Let him deny himself,
• 48:14
  But you notice,
• 48:15
  The context there,
• 48:16
  In Mark chapter 8,
• 48:18
  And especially verses 31 to 33,
• 48:22
  Here is Jesus teaching,
• 48:24
  Disciples,
• 48:25
  That the son of man,
• 48:26
  That's himself,
• 48:27
  Must suffer many things,
• 48:28
  And be rejected by the elders,
• 48:30
  And the chief priests,
• 48:31
  And the scribes,
• 48:32
  And be killed,
• 48:33
  And after three days rise again,
• 48:35
  He said this plainly,
• 48:38
  And Peter took him aside,
• 48:41
  And began to rebuke him,
• 48:44
  Peter took him aside,
• 48:45
  And said,
• 48:46
  As we find in other gospels,
• 48:48
  The record of the other gospels,
• 48:50
  Peter said,
• 48:51
  This is not going to happen to you,
• 48:53
  Put that out of your mind,
• 48:55
  This is not why you're here,
• 48:56
  You're not going to die,
• 48:58
  That's not what's going to happen,
• 48:59
  We won't allow that to happen,
• 49:01
  All of that was built into his thinking,
• 49:03
  Into his words,
• 49:05
  But turning and seeing his disciples,
• 49:07
  Jesus rebuked Peter,
• 49:09
  And said,
• 49:09
  Get behind me,
• 49:10
  Satan,
• 49:11
  For you are not setting your mind,
• 49:13
  On the things of God,
• 49:14
  But on the things of man,
• 49:16
  What's happening there?
• 49:17
  What's happening there,
• 49:18
  Is that Satan,
• 49:20
  Is trying to divert Jesus,
• 49:22
  From the whole purpose,
• 49:24
  Of his being in this world,
• 49:26
  That's why,
• 49:28
  When Jesus replied,
• 49:30
  He said,
• 49:31
  Get behind me,
• 49:32
  Satan,
• 49:33
  He didn't say,
• 49:33
  Get behind me,
• 49:34
  Peter,
• 49:34
  Get behind me,
• 49:35
  Satan,
• 49:36
  Satan operating through Peter,
• 49:38
  Through Peter's thoughts,
• 49:39
  Through Peter's words,
• 49:41
  Trying to divert Jesus,
• 49:42
  From the path,
• 49:43
  That led to the cross,
• 49:46
  And when you go back to,
• 49:47
  The temptation in the wilderness,
• 49:50
  That you find,
• 49:51
  Recorded in the gospels,
• 49:53
  Of Matthew and of Luke,
• 49:55
  You'll actually find,
• 49:56
  That this is precisely,
• 49:58
  The same thing,
• 49:59
  That Satan is aiming at,
• 50:01
  Where he says,
• 50:02
  He shows them,
• 50:03
  The whole,
• 50:03
  All the kingdoms of the world,
• 50:05
  And the glory of them,
• 50:06
  And says,
• 50:06
  All this I will give you,
• 50:09
  If you fall down,
• 50:10
  And worship me,
• 50:12
  What is that saying essentially,
• 50:13
  It's saying to Jesus,
• 50:15
  You don't need to go through,
• 50:16
  With the cross,
• 50:17
  You don't need,
• 50:18
  In order to gain,
• 50:19
  These kingdoms,
• 50:21
  You don't need to actually,
• 50:22
  Go through,
• 50:23
  Finally,
• 50:23
  With the kind of death,
• 50:24
  That's ahead of you,
• 50:25
  That you're saying,
• 50:26
  Is ahead of you,
• 50:27
  In the cross,
• 50:28
  All you've got to do,
• 50:29
  Is fall down,
• 50:29
  And worship me,
• 50:31
  And of course,
• 50:32
  Jesus dismissed him,
• 50:34
  But it reminds you,
• 50:35
  Doesn't it,
• 50:35
  That the path,
• 50:37
  For Jesus,
• 50:39
  Was one of,
• 50:40
  Well we can say,
• 50:41
  Self-denial,
• 50:42
  If we say it carefully,
• 50:43
  Because of course,
• 50:44
  Jesus did not have,
• 50:45
  Any personal sins,
• 50:46
  Of his own,
• 50:48
  With which he struggled,
• 50:50
  But nevertheless,
• 50:51
  There was always,
• 50:52
  There was always,
• 50:52
  The temptation,
• 50:54
  Particularly from the evil one,
• 50:56
  And from what was,
• 50:56
  Thrown at him,
• 50:57
  By the world,
• 50:58
  Always the temptation,
• 51:00
  Not to proceed,
• 51:02
  The temptation,
• 51:03
  To go back,
• 51:04
  The temptation,
• 51:05
  Not to finish the work,
• 51:07
  And that's why,
• 51:09
  It's tied up,
• 51:10
  In Mark chapter 8,
• 51:12
  With the self-denial,
• 51:13
  That is involved,
• 51:15
  In following Christ,
• 51:16
  Because when you're,
• 51:18
  Following Christ,
• 51:20
  You're following,
• 51:21
  His example,
• 51:22
  For one thing as well,
• 51:25
  And the example he said,
• 51:26
  Was,
• 51:27
  See it through,
• 51:29
  Do God's will,
• 51:31
  Don't be diverted,
• 51:33
  Don't take a step back,
• 51:35
  Don't let Satan divert you,
• 51:37
  Don't let your mind,
• 51:38
  Actually be,
• 51:40
  Taken aside,
• 51:41
  And focus on something else,
• 51:43
  Instead of,
• 51:44
  Following him,
• 51:45
  Faithfully,
• 51:45
  If anyone will come after me,
• 51:48
  Let him deny himself,
• 51:50
  Take up his cross,
• 51:52
  And follow me,
• 51:55
  Well you might say,
• 51:56
  Jesus,
• 51:57
  Is setting the bar very high,
• 52:00
  Well of course he is,
• 52:03
  Very high indeed,
• 52:05
  And he goes on to say,
• 52:06
  For what does it profit,
• 52:08
  A man,
• 52:09
  Whoever would save his life,
• 52:10
  Will lose it,
• 52:11
  Whoever loses his life,
• 52:12
  For my sake,
• 52:13
  And the gospels,
• 52:14
  Will save it,
• 52:15
  For what does it profit,
• 52:16
  A man to gain the whole world,
• 52:18
  And forfeit his life,
• 52:19
  What can a man give,
• 52:20
  In return for his life,
• 52:21
  For whoever is ashamed,
• 52:23
  Of me,
• 52:24
  And of my words,
• 52:25
  In this adulterous,
• 52:26
  And sinful generation,
• 52:28
  Of him,
• 52:28
  Will the son of man,
• 52:29
  Be ashamed,
• 52:30
  When he comes,
• 52:31
  In the glory of his father,
• 52:32
  With the holy angels,
• 52:33
  Of course,
• 52:35
  Of course Jesus,
• 52:36
  Of course Jesus,
• 52:36
  Is setting the bar very high,
• 52:38
  But why is he doing that,
• 52:39
  It's not,
• 52:41
  So that you,
• 52:42
  And I will turn away,
• 52:44
  And say,
• 52:44
  That's just too much,
• 52:45
  That's just asking too much,
• 52:46
  That's what happened,
• 52:48
  In John's gospel,
• 52:50
  Remember in chapter 6,
• 52:51
  Many,
• 52:52
  Who are following him outwardly,
• 52:53
  Then turned away from him,
• 52:55
  And walked no more with him,
• 52:57
  When Jesus then turned,
• 52:59
  To the disciples,
• 53:00
  And asked them,
• 53:00
  Do you also want to go away,
• 53:02
  Will you also go away,
• 53:05
  And then Peter,
• 53:06
  Again spoke up,
• 53:08
  Your member,
• 53:09
  Or to whom shall we go,
• 53:12
  You have the words,
• 53:13
  Of eternal life,
• 53:16
  And we have come to believe,
• 53:18
  That you are the Christ,
• 53:20
  The holy one of God,
• 53:23
  How can we turn away,
• 53:26
  How can we,
• 53:28
  Not deny ourselves,
• 53:29
  And keep following you,
• 53:30
  No,
• 53:32
  It's not so that we'll turn away,
• 53:34
  It's not so that we'll say,
• 53:35
  That bar is set too high for me,
• 53:38
  It's not so that you'll find,
• 53:40
  In anything there at all,
• 53:42
  An encouragement,
• 53:43
  Not to follow him any longer,
• 53:45
  It's not so that you'll say,
• 53:47
  That bar is so high,
• 53:48
  I can't possibly join those,
• 53:50
  Who are going to take communion,
• 53:52
  Tomorrow,
• 53:53
  That's not why he's doing it,
• 53:56
  Why else?
• 53:58
  Well it's so that you will not be surprised,
• 54:00
  When you meet the challenges,
• 54:02
  That are involved in being a Christian,
• 54:04
  So that you'll not be surprised,
• 54:07
  When the world challenges you,
• 54:10
  When there are struggles,
• 54:11
  That you need to overcome,
• 54:14
  When there are temptations,
• 54:16
  To go back,
• 54:18
  Whatever comes our way,
• 54:20
  By way of challenges,
• 54:21
  They're part and partial,
• 54:25
  Of following him,
• 54:27
  And because they belong to following him,
• 54:31
  He himself,
• 54:33
  Is more than capable,
• 54:35
  Of upholding us through them,
• 54:38
  During them,
• 54:39
  Beyond them,
• 54:41
  Above them,
• 54:41
  If anyone will follow me,
• 54:46
  Let him deny himself,
• 54:48
  And take up his cross,
• 54:49
  And follow me,
• 54:52
  Tonight I hope,
• 54:55
  We're not in any way ashamed of Christ,
• 54:59
  You know,
• 54:59
  Because,
• 55:00
  To turn away from,
• 55:02
  What he commands,
• 55:04
  In disobedience to him,
• 55:05
  Is effectively,
• 55:06
  To be ashamed of him,
• 55:07
  Whether it's in going to the Lord's table,
• 55:11
  Or any other aspect of life,
• 55:14
  If we're turning away,
• 55:15
  From doing what we know,
• 55:17
  The Lord requires us to do,
• 55:18
  Or commands us to do,
• 55:20
  Then effectively,
• 55:21
  That is being ashamed of him,
• 55:23
  Not coming to do what he says,
• 55:26
  Knowing that he has promised,
• 55:27
  He will never leave us,
• 55:29
  And never forsake us,
• 55:31
  And so you find there,
• 55:32
  In these verses,
• 55:33
  In Mark chapter 8,
• 55:35
  The encouragement,
• 55:37
  To come and follow him,
• 55:40
  Into every avenue,
• 55:42
  Of Christian discipleship,
• 55:44
  And you will never find,
• 55:47
  There's too much in that,
• 55:48
  For Jesus,
• 55:50
  To actually cope with,
• 55:51
  And carry you through,
• 55:53
  That's his promise to you,
• 55:55
  That's the reality of it,
• 55:57
  And that's why,
• 55:59
  When we come,
• 56:00
  To the Lord's supper,
• 56:03
  As he himself said,
• 56:04
  This do,
• 56:05
  In remembrance,
• 56:07
  In remembrance,
• 56:07
  Of me,
• 56:09
  In remembrance,
• 56:10
  Of his suffering,
• 56:13
  In remembrance,
• 56:14
  Of the deprivation,
• 56:15
  That he suffered,
• 56:17
  In remembrance,
• 56:18
  Of how low,
• 56:19
  He was brought,
• 56:20
  And how willing,
• 56:21
  He was to be brought low,
• 56:23
  In remembrance,
• 56:25
  Of what he had to endure,
• 56:27
  In remembrance,
• 56:29
  In remembrance,
• 56:29
  In remembrance,
• 56:29
  Of the death he died,
• 56:32
  In remembrance,
• 56:33
  That your sin,
• 56:35
  Was placed upon him,
• 56:37
  So that you wouldn't pay,
• 56:39
  Eternally for it,
• 56:41
  Remembrance,
• 56:42
  Of Christ himself,
• 56:45
  So Simon,
• 56:47
  Carrying Christ's cross,
• 56:50
  Is a reminder to us,
• 56:51
  Of the importance,
• 56:53
  Of willingly coming,
• 56:55
  To follow him,
• 56:57
  And take the steps,
• 56:58
  That are involved,
• 57:00
  In showing,
• 57:01
  We love him,
• 57:02
  Who first,
• 57:04
  Loved us,
• 57:05
  Let's pray,
• 57:06
  Almighty God,
• 57:10
  We know,
• 57:12
  That your word,
• 57:12
  Requires us,
• 57:13
  To look beyond,
• 57:15
  Our own strength,
• 57:17
  And we thank you,
• 57:18
  For the assurance,
• 57:18
  You give us,
• 57:20
  That your strength,
• 57:21
  Is made perfect,
• 57:22
  In our weakness,
• 57:23
  That your strength,
• 57:24
  Comes into its own,
• 57:26
  When we come to acknowledge,
• 57:28
  Our weakness,
• 57:28
  And our inability,
• 57:30
  Of ourselves,
• 57:31
  Lord bless us,
• 57:32
  We pray,
• 57:33
  As once again,
• 57:34
  We come to your word,
• 57:36
  And learn,
• 57:37
  Its teaching,
• 57:37
  For ourselves,
• 57:38
  We thank you,
• 57:39
  For the many details,
• 57:40
  That are given us there,
• 57:42
  Of the sufferings,
• 57:43
  Of the Lord,
• 57:45
  Of his commitment,
• 57:45
  Even to the death,
• 57:46
  Of the cross,
• 57:48
  And of how that,
• 57:49
  Itself sets for us,
• 57:51
  A path,
• 57:51
  That we too,
• 57:52
  Must follow,
• 57:53
  So bless us now,
• 57:54
  We pray,
• 57:55
  And continue to watch over us,
• 57:56
  Into the following day,
• 57:58
  If it please you,
• 57:59
  We ask it all,
• 58:00
  For Jesus' sake,
• 58:01
  Amen.
• 58:04
  Well our final psalm of praise,
• 58:05
  Just now is Psalm 138,
• 58:08
  Psalm 138,
• 58:11
  On page 180,
• 58:15
  Singing these three verses,
• 58:17
  Six to eight,
• 58:20
  The tune,
• 58:21
  I'm told,
• 58:22
  Is O Wally Wally,
• 58:24
  Otherwise known as,
• 58:25
  When I survey the wondrous cross,
• 58:28
  So verse six,
• 58:30
  On page 180,
• 58:30
  Although the Lord God dwells on high,
• 58:33
  The lowly person he protects,
• 58:36
  Whereas the proud,
• 58:37
  And haughty one,
• 58:38
  He knows afar off,
• 58:39
  And rejects,
• 58:40
  Although I walk,
• 58:41
  A troubled path,
• 58:43
  Your tender care,
• 58:44
  Preserves my life,
• 58:45
  You raise your hand,
• 58:46
  Against my foes,
• 58:48
  Your right hand,
• 58:49
  Saves me from their strife,
• 58:51
  The Lord will certainly,
• 58:52
  Fulfill,
• 58:53
  For me,
• 58:54
  The purpose,
• 58:54
  He commands,
• 58:55
  Your love endures forever,
• 58:58
  Lord,
• 58:59
  Preserve the works,
• 59:00
  Of your own hands,
• 59:02
  Although the Lord God,
• 59:03
  Dwells on high,
• 59:04
  The lowly person,
• 59:23
  He put it,
• 59:27
  Whereas the proud,
• 59:31
  Now I hour him from your life,
• 59:39
  If it's free,
• 59:39
  And he failed to Butter,
• 59:40
  The coming to me,
• 59:41
  Aris,
• 59:44
  Although I walk,
• 59:48
  I mong with my a troubled path,
• 59:53
  Your tender care,
• 59:57
  Preserves my love,
• 1:00:00
  You'll meet your heart against my foes.
• 1:00:11
  Your right hands in me from their strife.
• 1:00:19
  The Lord will certainly fulfill.
• 1:00:29
  For me, the power holds the command.
• 1:00:37
  Your love endures forevermore.
• 1:00:45
  Please bear the word of your own hand.
• 1:00:55
  If you allow me to get to the main door, please, after the benediction.
• 1:00:59
  Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father,
• 1:01:03
  and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you now and evermore.
• 1:01:07
  Amen.
• 1:01:15
  Amen.
• 1:01:16
  Amen.