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Communion Sermon - Father Forgive Them · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Please turn in your Bibles to Luke chapter 23 this morning and to words that we find in verse 34.
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! Luke chapter 23 verse 34.
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A few years ago there was an 18 year old young man called Brant Jean who was in the witness box at the trial of the individual who murdered his brother.
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The woman was a lady called Amber Geigor. She was an ex-police woman and she found Brant's brother in what she thought was her flat and she shot him dead.
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He was actually in his own flat and for whatever reason that they couldn't quite ascertain she had been so disorientated she thought that he was in her flat and she shot him dead.
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It was what Brant Jean did during his time on the witness stand that means we have heard about his actions.
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So in the witness books he addressed directly this young woman whose life was now forever going to be changed for what she did.
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And he addressed her with regard to wanting the very best for her.
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And knowing that his murdered brother would want the very best for her.
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He explained to her that the very best for her would be to know Jesus Christ as her own personal saviour.
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Now this was highly unusual as he explained what was taking place but he then turned to the judge and he asked the judge for permission to come out of the witness box and to go and hug the accused to show that he really had forgiven her for murdering his brother.
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And the judge agreed and so Brant Jean went and he hugged this accused young woman and it was the image of him hugging her as a sign of his forgiveness toward her that was being around the US and actually around the world.
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And so when we live in a culture where we have this clamour to cancel people.
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Where we want people punished.
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We want people sidelined.
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We want people to pay the penalty for the wrongs that they've done.
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Because in our generation there always has to be somebody who has to pay the price isn't there.
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But in such a culture it's quite remarkable just how genuine forgiveness shines out.
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Now I don't know how you react to hearing a story about that.
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In one sense it's lovely to hear.
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It's remarkable.
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But if you try and put yourself as I try and put myself into the shoes of this young man Brant Jean.
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I wonder how we would react if somebody had done something barbaric to our family.
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Humanly speaking there's absolutely no chance that I would behave in the way he had behaved.
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Because if it's one of my loved ones then every instinct is to somehow seek revenge.
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Humanly speaking there's no chance.
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But spiritually speaking there is.
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Because spiritually speaking when we have a living connection with Jesus Christ.
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Then the way in which our lives are transformed by that means that we have a very different relationship with wrongdoing.
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And a very different relationship with forgiveness.
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So when this young 18 year old man was talking about her deepest need and her need to connect with Jesus.
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And how he wanted to show his forgiveness offer.
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Perhaps he had in mind the words of Jesus in Luke chapter 6.
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When Jesus says but love your enemies and to good to them and lend from them.
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Maybe he had in mind the teaching of Jesus.
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Maybe he had in mind however the example of Jesus that we find here.
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Because the example of Jesus in this episode is that Jesus himself is on the receiving end of barbaric treatment.
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By this stage of verse 34.
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Jesus is his body is processing the impact of these large iron nails being hammered through his wrists and his feet.
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Severing the nerves and all of the pain signals that are going from different parts of his body.
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And flooding to his brain so that his brain realizes what's taking place.
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He's in the middle of beginning to endure some of the physical torture that crucifixion involves.
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Not simply is it that his nerves will have been torn to shreds through these nails that were used.
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But then he's now feeling the impact of gravity.
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Gravity that he himself called into existence.
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As it pulls down upon his joints and muscles.
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Potentially dislocating some of them as he tries to push himself up and push himself out to somehow be able to breathe.
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Jesus is here.
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The one who was present at the very dawn of time.
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The one who's the power of whose word actually put into existence all that we can see and hear and feel and touch and smell.
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He is the one on the end of this horrendous treatment.
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If there was ever in one sense an injustice perpetrated in this world it was on this occasion.
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And so what does Jesus do?
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He asks his heavenly father to forgive those soldiers who are doing their job and the others implicated.
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Because they don't appreciate what they've done.
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Father forgive them.
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And so this morning I want us to pause over these words.
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And to hopefully have our own souls warmed as we think of the forgiveness that is available for us through Jesus Christ and all that he has done.
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Those of you who enjoy novels or drama series or whatever movies will know that there is one.
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There's a standard technique amongst many techniques that the scriptwriters have.
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About placing characters in circumstances that really doesn't fit for them.
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So it tends to go in one of two ways.
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Either you have the spoiled rich kid who is put into a situation where they have to slum it with the underclass.
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Or the opposite.
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You've got the hardened tough nut who is now mixing it with the rich and the powerful and influential.
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And at some point within the plot, usually reasonably near the start, the words,
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You don't belong here, are communicated.
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Now Jesus was in neither of these categories.
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But there was a very real sense in which he did not belong in this scene that we have just read about here at Calvary.
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The scene that was unfolding at Golgotha.
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He, in that one sense, he didn't belong in that environment.
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Now I see this because we have possibly sanitized what Golgotha, what Calvary was actually like.
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But if we actually were on the ground in that era, then it would be the type of place that we really would have to prepare to enter.
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It would be the type of place that we would have to get ready for the sights and the sounds and the smells of what was going to be evident.
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Because it genuinely was grotesque.
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If this had been made into a movie, the British Board of Film Control would be struggling to get a proper rating for this movie.
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Because an 18 rating wouldn't be enough because some of the sights that would be seen.
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The sights of the brutality of the crucifixion process.
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The sights of nakedness.
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The sights of shame.
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But more than that, it wouldn't simply be the sights that would be placing the events that would unfold at Calvary into a category all of its own.
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It would even be the sounds.
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The sounds of what was taking place.
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The sounds of screams.
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Of sobbing.
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Of groaning.
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Of the abuse that would be thrown at those being crucified by passers-by.
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The sights were graphic.
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The sounds would be haunting.
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And the smells.
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Well, the smells would be just catching in your throat.
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It would be the type of place that you would be holding your breath.
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You'd be breathing out your mouth rather than out your nose.
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Because you don't want to inhale the noxious smell.
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It's a place where there's constant burning taking place.
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Where the refuge of the city is being burnt.
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But on top of that, you've got human remains that are being burnt within that also.
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Because frequently those who had been crucified, once parts of them had been eaten by vultures, the rest is just thrown into gaps.
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And then eventually it's going to be burned.
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And so you think if there is ever a location that the Lord of glory ought not to be in, it is in that location.
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We could turn around and say to Jesus, you really don't belong here.
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And I want to contrast that image as it is portrayed for us in our minds with how very different it was at the start of the world.
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I want to contrast just the grotesque brutality and awful horror of what takes place at Calvary.
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With what we imagine from what the Bible teaches us, the Garden of Eden to be.
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A place that would be so lush.
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A place that would be so beautiful.
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The variety of colour.
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The aroma coming from the various different flowers and fauna, whatever else would be there.
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The place where the Lord God would walk in the cool of the day with the pinnacle of his creative work.
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The place that is ultimately the place that we've been longing for ever since.
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But that place of beauty, that place of delight, that place of rest.
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That place of being in the very near, close presence of God.
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And can you contrast anything greater than the place of the skull?
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The very mention.
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The place of the skull.
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It implies that connection, does it not, with the curse that sin has brought into this very world.
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And the place of the skull is contrasted with the place of beauty that God created for humanity to inhabit.
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And to enjoy.
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And to enjoy him.
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And so where the Lord God once walked in the cool of the day.
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Here you have the Lord of glory.
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And he's now barely able to walk.
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Isn't that what the passage says to us in verse 29?
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That they compelled Simon to help carry the cross behind Jesus.
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It had been an evening whereby Jesus would have had little, if any, sleep.
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It would have been an evening whereby he would have had little, if any, food.
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Following the first Lord's Supper that he inaugurated, instituted with his disciples that evening.
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It had been, in the intervening hours, he had been beaten.
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He had been flogged.
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And sometimes we read that and we forget just how brutal even that was.
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Flogging used to have leather ropes.
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And it used to have bits of bone.
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And other sharp objects in it.
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And it would go diagonally across the back of the person being flogged.
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And the bits would dig into their skin.
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And then it would be yanked.
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So that the skin would be ripped.
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And it would go over one side and then diagonally the other side.
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And it would keep going.
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And it's recorded in Roman history that many, many people died from being flogged alone.
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So here you have the Savior.
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He's had no sleep.
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He's had minimal nourishment.
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He has had abuse.
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He has been flogged.
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And now he's been asked to carry this piece of wood upon which he himself is going to be impaled.
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And his strength is almost non-existent.
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And so he is the Lord of Glory.
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The one who would have walked in the cool of the day.
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As the Lord God walked in the cool of the day with Adam and Eve.
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Here you have the Lord of Glory now stumbling.
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But his alertness is not in question, however.
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We note that from the intervening section from verse 27 onwards.
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As he turns and he addresses those almost professional mourners who had gathered.
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And who were expressing their sorrow over what was unfolding.
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Realizing these men were being led off to their graves.
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And Jesus turns and he speaks to them and he tells them not to weep for him.
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He speaks to them that if this can happen to somebody who's innocent like him, what may happen in a day for those who are not so innocent.
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And so he is very aware of the people who are there.
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And then even as his hands are held down and his feet are held down and as he is then manhandled and hoisted vertical.
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He is alert enough to utter these words.
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Father, forgive them.
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For they don't know what they do.
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Well, let's press in a little deeper.
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And think about this prayer itself.
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And I want us to notice two or three things.
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I want to notice first of all to whom he prays.
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The Lord Jesus says, Father.
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Here at the start of his time upon the cross.
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Our Savior is very much aware of that father-son relationship.
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That bond.
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That presence.
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That has accompanied him through his ministry.
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On multiple occasions he spoke about his father being with him.
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And him seeking to do his father's will.
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And him saying the words that the father has given him to say.
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And him reminding people that he's not alone.
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That the father is with him.
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Here he is at the start of his time on the cross.
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And he is aware that the father-son relationship.
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That he has so prized and has been so precious to him.
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That that is still in existence.
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There's going to come a point.
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In a number of hours time.
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And even that itself.
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As we see a number of hours.
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I think there's only been once or twice in my life.
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That have known you know real acute horrendous pain.
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And if you've been in such a situation.
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That every second.
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As you wait for pain relief to kick in.
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Every second.
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Seems far far longer.
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And here we have.
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In a number of hours time.
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Jesus is going to reach that place.
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Where he's not going to be alert.
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To the comforting presence.
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Of the father who has accompanied him.
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Through his ministry.
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He's going to cry out.
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My God.
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My God.
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Why have you forsaken me?
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Because it's almost as if this cloud has enveloped his soul.
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In a similar way to the darkness that has enveloped his body at Calvary.
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Where that darkness.
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Wrapped that scene.
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For these three hours.
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It's almost as if there is this cloud that has enveloped the Lord's soul.
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Because he's calling out.
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Because he doesn't sense the felt presence of his father with him.
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And he cries out.
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And he cries out.
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My God.
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My God.
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Why have you forsaken me?
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The one individual who has never experienced a distance.
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From his father.
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Is now sensing that there is a distance.
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You see.
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For you and I.
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Being at a distance from God.
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Is almost our default natural position.
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It's not something that we had to necessarily work at.
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It's what we are as humans.
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We're at a distance.
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Through our sin.
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By nature and by practice.
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But not the Lord.
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Not the Lord at all.
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And so if there was anybody less prepared.
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To be.
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To sense himself at a distance from his father.
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It was the Lord Jesus Christ.
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And of course by the time he.
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He's coming towards the end of his time on the cross.
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We see that once again.
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He's back.
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Thinking in terms of his father.
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So at the start of his.
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Of the time on the cross.
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And at the end of his time on the cross.
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At the start.
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He says father forgive.
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And at the end he's saying father receive.
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And so at the start.
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And at the end he's conscious of his father's presence.
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But as he plumbed the very depths.
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He's not.
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And so we remind ourselves.
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That that sense of utter forsakenness.
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Was not constant.
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Through the time.
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That our savior was on the cross.
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But that there was that.
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That.
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That time of.
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Of where this cry of dereliction.
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This cry of abandonment.
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Articulates that sense.
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Of being.
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That sense of being cut off.
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And then we look at that.
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And we.
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And we.
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We.
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We realize that actually we're connected.
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To what's taking place there.
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And we realize that.
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That I.
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That we.
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Caused.
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That.
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And so he is.
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At the start.
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Of.
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This.
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Time in the cross.
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He is conscious of his father.
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And.
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And he's coming to the father.
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With a prayer that.
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That in many ways.
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Would meet.
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A warm reception.
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In the heart of the father.
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Because.
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Jesus has.
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Has told us.
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We.
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We have it recorded for us.
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In John chapter 3.
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That.
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That God so loved the world.
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And the world.
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In John.
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Is.
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Is.
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The.
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The.
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The.
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The.
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The.
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The.
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Created order.
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And rebellion.
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And rejection of God.
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God so loved this.
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Rebellious.
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Rejecting world.
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That he.
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That he gave his one and only son.
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That whoever believes in him.
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And will not perish.
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But will have everlasting life.
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And so here you have.
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The son.
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Reflecting the heart of the father.
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Praying for those.
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Rebel.
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Those rebellious.
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Those rejecting.
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Those who are.
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Actually.
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Putting the Lord of glory himself.
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To death.
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And so the first.
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The first component.
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That we.
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That we.
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We highlight.
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With regard to this prayer.
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Is.
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To whom.
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He prays.
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He prays to the father.
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And then we notice.
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What he prays for.
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We notice what he prays for.
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He doesn't pray for rescue.
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He had mentioned to Peter.
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When Peter thought that it was time to.
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To somehow.
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Resort to.
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To physical violence.
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To secure Jesus's release.
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We learn that.
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That he is.
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That there were legions of angels.
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That he could have called on.
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To come and rescue him.
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That's.
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But he's not going to come.
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It's not going to call for rescue.
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It's not going to call for those to come to his aid.
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To help him.
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In his current plight.
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he's also not crying out for justice
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we're very quick to communicate to friends and families
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when we've been unfairly treated
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when things have been said about us that are not accurate
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when things are done to us that are grossly unfair
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we don't just sit back and absorb that
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we very much plead our case
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we very much try and make the injustice known
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we very much try and take control of the situation
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that's not what Jesus is doing
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he's not praying for rescue
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he is not praying for justice
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he is not praying for retribution
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you need to make them pay for what they're doing here
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you need to intervene
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this has to stop
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he doesn't pray for that
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instead he prays
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Father forgive them
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Father forgive them
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for they don't know what they're doing
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now Jesus' prayer
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for these soldiers to be forgiven
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we need to contrast his prayer for their forgiveness
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as we pray when we're seeking to forgive others
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because when we are struggling with forgiveness
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one of the things that gives a degree of clarity to us
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is the fact that we ourselves have sinned
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that we ourselves have not behaved in the way that we ought to have done
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that we ourselves have said and done and thought and acted in ways
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that have needed us to be forgiven by God
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and so it's on the basis that we have been forgiven
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that we then forgive others
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and so we forgive other people's debts
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as we have our own debts forgiven
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as Jesus makes that clear in the prayer he taught his disciples
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and so when we are seeking to forgive somebody else
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we're doing so
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and in fact we can probably only do so
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from the basis that we ourselves have been forgiven
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and been forgiven much worse
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but Jesus has never been forgiven has he
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he's never had to come before his heavenly father
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and acknowledge a word spoken inappropriately
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or an act done with the wrong motives
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or anything like that
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he's never had to come with any word of repentance
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there's never been a single stray sinful thought
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in the mind of our master
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not even for a nanosecond
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so when Jesus is coming and he's asking for their forgiveness
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he's coming in a different way
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in which we come and ask for forgiveness for others
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and ask for forgiveness for ourselves
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because he's never himself been forgiven
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there was never a moment of rebellion
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or rejection
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or going off on his own timeline or timetable
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because everything was lived in accordance
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with the will and purposes of his heavenly father
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and it's also worth noting
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when we think of what Jesus is praying for here
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that when he's praying for forgiveness
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he's asking the father to forgive
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and you may be correct in concluding
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but didn't Jesus himself declare people forgiven
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in other episodes within the gospel
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and if you're thinking along these lines
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you'd be correct
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you remember when the guy's mates took him to meet Jesus
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best thing you can do as a mate
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is to take your mates to meet Jesus
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well they carried this mate
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they carried him
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there's four of them carrying him
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they can't get in
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and so they're beginning to take the ceiling off this roof
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and they're going to lower this guy down
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and he's in front of Jesus
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and it's you know
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the commotion must have been quite something
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but he's in front of Jesus
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they're waiting
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what's Jesus going to say
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and Jesus says
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son your sins are forgiven
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he doesn't say father forgive his sins
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he says son your sins are forgiven
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and then there was another occasion
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when this woman is coming
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and she's wiping Jesus' feet
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with her tears and with her hair
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and Jesus is declaring her
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that her sins are forgiven
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and Jesus has said
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it's recorded for us in Matthew chapter 9
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that the son of man has power to forgive sins
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so why is he not forgiving the soldiers
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directly at this point
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why is he asking the father to forgive
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because by this stage
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we have the saviour
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he has been lifted up
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from the earth
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he is now the one
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who is absorbing sin himself
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he is the one who has been designated
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as a sinner
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not because of anything he has by nature
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or by practice
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but for everything that we have
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by nature and by practice
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and so here he is upon the cross
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and so he is not declaring
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forgiveness for these soldiers
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because he as the one who has become sin
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is needing the father to forgive
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rather than him to forgive
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so we note to whom he prays
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he prays to the father
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at this point
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whose presence he is aware of
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and we note that what he prays for
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that it is not for rescue
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and it's not for justice
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or it's not for retribution
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but it is forgiveness
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and we notice that
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who it is that he is praying for
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forgive them
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for they know not what they are doing
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forgive them
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well the immediate context there
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is there's people who have crucified him
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and who have placed him
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in a particular position
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at Calvary's cross
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and those for whom that task
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has been delegated
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were these Roman soldiers
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they were experts in crucifixion
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you would have to be
27:57
because if someone was sentenced
27:58
to be crucified
27:59
and they didn't die
28:00
well you would die in their place
28:02
and so it's in their self-interest
28:03
to ensure that they know
28:05
exactly what they are doing
28:06
and so these soldiers
28:07
are the immediate beneficiaries
28:09
of this prayer in that sense
28:11
because these soldiers
28:13
who are going about
28:14
their day's work
28:14
these soldiers who woke up
28:16
that morning
28:16
and went on shift
28:17
not quite knowing
28:18
what was about to happen
28:19
and then they turn up
28:20
to the barracks
28:21
and they're told
28:21
well there's three guys
28:22
you're going to go and crucify
28:23
and there may be a bit more
28:24
of a crowd this time
28:25
so keep an eye out
28:26
for any unrest
28:28
that may happen
28:28
we've been given a tip off
28:30
by some of these religious guys
28:31
some of these leaders
28:32
in that temple place over there
28:34
that they may be a bit of trouble today
28:35
so all eyes on what you're doing
28:38
make sure you know
28:39
what you're up to
28:40
and these soldiers
28:40
they're doing their job aren't they
28:42
and they're holding them down
28:43
and they're putting the nails
28:44
through his hands and his feet
28:45
and they're hoisting them upwards
28:46
and no doubt
28:47
they've been splattered
28:48
a little bit by blood
28:49
and they're conscious
28:51
of quite a number of eyes
28:52
upon them
28:52
but these are people
28:54
who it's highly unlikely
28:56
have heard a word
28:57
that's come from Jesus' mouth
28:58
it's possible
29:01
they may have been on duty
29:02
in different places
29:02
when Jesus has spoken
29:03
but it's also highly unlikely
29:06
it's even more unlikely
29:07
that they've seen
29:08
any of his miracles
29:08
they may have heard
29:11
a little rumour or two
29:13
as to who exactly
29:14
this person might be
29:15
but it didn't really
29:16
didn't really compute
29:17
it didn't really connect
29:18
for them
29:19
and so largely
29:20
largely
29:21
in a position of
29:23
of ignorance
29:24
they are taking
29:26
into their hands
29:27
the Lord of Glory
29:27
and they are crucifying him
29:30
and as such
29:32
they are then
29:33
being prayed for
29:33
just as Isaiah said
29:35
would happen
29:36
Isaiah some 700 years
29:38
beforehand said
29:39
that he would make
29:40
intercession
29:40
for the transgressors
29:42
and there's multiple levels
29:43
in which we can
29:43
apply that
29:44
these words
29:45
but here we have
29:46
Jesus making intercession
29:48
he is praying
29:49
for those
29:50
who have done wrong
29:53
in that sense
29:53
and he's praying
29:55
for these soldiers
29:55
but what about others
29:58
what about others
30:01
who acted
30:02
in a way
30:04
that they didn't
30:04
quite understand
30:06
because
30:07
is it not what
30:09
we learn
30:10
in Acts chapter 3
30:11
in verse 17
30:12
when Peter
30:14
is communicating
30:15
the gospel message
30:16
he says
30:17
now brothers
30:18
I know that you
30:19
acted in ignorance
30:20
as did also
30:21
your rulers
30:22
but what God
30:24
had foretold
30:24
by the prophet
30:25
actually went
30:27
and was unfolded
30:29
exactly as was predicted
30:30
that there is
30:32
a level of ignorance
30:33
that took place here
30:34
because certainly
30:35
the Roman authorities
30:36
and even the Jewish authorities
30:38
they didn't realise
30:39
the enormity
30:40
of the sin
30:40
that they were perpetrating
30:42
at this point
30:43
they didn't realise
30:45
the enormity of it
30:46
and yet
30:48
they were directly involved
30:49
in the very crucifixion
30:50
of the Lord Jesus Christ
30:52
and we can take it
30:55
a step further
30:55
that actually
30:57
you and I
30:58
many of us in here
30:59
now realise
31:00
that there is actually
31:01
a direct relation
31:02
between what took place here
31:03
and what happens
31:04
in our lives
31:05
for long enough
31:06
we didn't recognise
31:06
that there was
31:07
a direct relationship
31:08
for long enough
31:09
this is just
31:09
this is something
31:11
that just took place
31:11
and it's not
31:12
particularly pleasant
31:13
and you know
31:14
I don't quite know
31:16
how to feel
31:16
about the whole thing
31:17
but it's nothing to do
31:18
with me
31:18
but it actually does
31:19
it does have to do
31:21
with us
31:21
because it's our sin
31:23
that was laid
31:24
upon the Saviour
31:26
and so we
31:27
were in a position
31:28
of ignorance
31:29
with our connection
31:30
to what's taking place
31:31
here
31:31
but actually
31:32
we've come to a position
31:34
where our eyes
31:35
have been opened
31:35
and our ears
31:36
have been unblocked
31:36
and we've heard
31:37
and we've seen
31:38
what our sin has caused
31:39
and we've bowed
31:40
our knee gladly
31:41
before Jesus
31:41
the Saviour
31:42
who has died
31:43
in our place
31:44
and so here
31:47
we are learning
31:47
that sins of ignorance
31:50
need to be paid for
31:52
just as well as
31:54
sins that are committed
31:56
from a position
31:57
of knowledge
31:58
sins of ignorance
32:00
need to be forgiven
32:02
just as sins
32:04
of knowledge
32:05
sinning against the light
32:08
need to be forgiven
32:09
and how wonderful
32:11
it is
32:12
that there is
32:13
a Saviour
32:14
who is very conscious
32:16
of the sin
32:18
that needs to be
32:20
paid for
32:20
the sin that is
32:22
willfully
32:23
by rejecting
32:24
and ignoring God
32:25
in the world
32:25
he's created
32:26
not being or doing
32:27
what he asks
32:28
in his law
32:28
in his word
32:29
that the actual sin
32:31
willfully
32:32
in rejection of God
32:33
as well as the sins
32:34
committed in ignorance
32:35
that there is a Saviour
32:37
who is willing
32:38
to ensure
32:40
that all sin
32:42
all sin
32:45
the
32:47
the
32:47
particular sin
32:49
that is an issue
32:50
for me
32:50
and the particular sin
32:51
that is an issue
32:52
for you
32:53
maybe
32:53
maybe more than one
32:55
but there tends to be one
32:56
that
32:57
that each one of us
32:58
struggles with
32:58
in particular
32:59
all
33:00
sin
33:01
sin of
33:03
willful
33:04
disobedience
33:05
as well
33:07
as sins
33:08
of
33:08
committed
33:10
in ignorance
33:11
that they have
33:12
to be
33:13
dealt with
33:14
and they are
33:15
being dealt with
33:16
on the cross
33:17
by the Saviour
33:19
who knows all
33:21
about them
33:21
and so
33:22
we take these words
33:24
to ourselves
33:24
and we remind
33:25
ourselves that
33:26
that sins of
33:27
ignorance
33:27
they are still sins
33:28
and they have to be
33:29
paid for
33:30
praise God
33:31
that there is a Saviour
33:32
who can deal with it
33:33
we remind ourselves
33:34
that actually
33:35
what's more uncomfortable
33:36
to us
33:36
is not our sins
33:37
of ignorance
33:38
but our sins
33:39
in knowledge
33:40
because there are
33:41
many things
33:42
that we know
33:43
many directives
33:45
that we're given
33:46
in scripture
33:46
that we do not
33:48
live out
33:49
many
33:50
some perhaps
33:51
even here
33:52
today
33:52
who don't have
33:53
a living relationship
33:54
with Jesus yet
33:55
you know who Jesus
33:56
is though
33:57
and you know
33:58
what Jesus has done
33:59
and you know
34:00
the invitation
34:01
that Jesus has given
34:02
to you
34:03
to follow
34:03
and so you cannot
34:05
claim ignorance
34:06
in that sense
34:06
you too
34:09
have got light
34:10
and you too
34:11
need to respond
34:12
to the light
34:13
and to the invitation
34:14
of this
34:15
most remarkable
34:16
this precious Saviour
34:18
who is willing
34:19
to go through this
34:20
for you
34:20
but for those of us
34:22
who are the people
34:23
of God
34:23
I mean how often
34:24
how often do we gossip
34:26
when we know
34:28
that gossip
34:29
is listed
34:30
very highly
34:32
among the sins
34:33
in the New Testament
34:34
how often do we
34:36
harbour resentment
34:36
towards
34:38
brothers and sisters
34:39
in Christ
34:40
when we ought not to
34:41
how often do we
34:43
let pride
34:44
take a position
34:45
and twist
34:46
the impression
34:47
that we have
34:47
of ourselves
34:48
and so often
34:49
there are sins
34:51
of ignorance
34:53
and there's also
34:55
sins that are
34:56
willfully sinning
34:56
against the light
34:57
and our sin
34:59
all of it
35:00
led to this
35:01
particular place
35:02
and so we remind
35:04
ourselves of that
35:04
and we are so thankful
35:06
we are so thankful
35:08
today
35:08
that it is here
35:11
at this place
35:12
in this person
35:14
of the eternal son
35:15
that our sin
35:16
is being dealt with
35:18
we also learn
35:19
from a passage
35:20
like this
35:20
that when we are
35:22
opposed
35:23
for being
35:25
the people of God
35:26
and living a life
35:27
seeking to please God
35:29
with folks
35:30
not understanding
35:31
and folks
35:32
mistreating us
35:33
perhaps
35:34
let's not be surprised
35:35
because if there was
35:37
blindness
35:38
in the way in which
35:40
our saviour was treated
35:41
that spiritual blindness
35:42
continues today
35:44
and let's recognise
35:46
that if Jesus
35:47
was dealt with
35:49
in the way he was
35:50
well what right
35:51
do we have
35:51
to always be understood
35:52
what right do we have
35:54
to always be treated
35:55
in the right way
35:56
we're very big
35:59
on our rights
36:00
and our generation
36:00
aren't we
36:01
but then we look
36:02
at the one
36:03
who put his rights
36:03
to one side
36:04
and then we
36:05
therefore finish off
36:06
by just asking
36:07
ourselves
36:08
where
36:08
where does
36:10
your level
36:13
of forgiveness
36:14
reach
36:15
today
36:16
if we have
36:19
been forgiven
36:19
then our level
36:22
of forgiveness
36:23
forgiveness
36:23
for the things
36:24
that have been
36:25
said and done
36:26
or not said
36:27
or not done
36:28
then our level
36:29
of forgiveness
36:29
needs to be
36:30
as high as it
36:32
possibly can be
36:33
because we
36:35
have received
36:36
forgiveness
36:37
for all that we
36:38
have done
36:39
through the saviour
36:40
on the cross
36:41
who was able to pray
36:42
at this moment
36:44
father forgive them
36:45
for they know
36:47
not
36:47
what they do
36:48
amen
36:51
let's pray
36:53
father we thank you
36:55
for these words
36:56
they are precious
36:58
and we pray
37:01
that they would
37:02
sink
37:02
deeply
37:04
into our
37:05
hearts
37:06
and souls
37:07
that our lives
37:08
would be shaped
37:09
by the
37:10
person and work
37:11
the example
37:12
the teaching
37:13
of your son
37:14
and our saviour
37:16
forgive us
37:16
for our
37:18
sins
37:19
against you
37:21
against the
37:22
truth you've
37:23
given to us
37:23
forgive us
37:25
even for the
37:25
many sins
37:26
that we've
37:26
committed in
37:27
ignorance
37:27
thank you
37:28
that there is
37:29
a full
37:30
and free
37:31
and total
37:32
forgiveness
37:32
available in
37:34
Christ
37:34
keep our eyes
37:35
fixed on him
37:36
then we pray
37:36
we ask it in
37:38
his name
37:38
amen
37:39
well we
37:42
focus on
37:43
our saviour
37:44
through the
37:45
word that's
37:45
preached but
37:46
also through
37:46
the sacrament
37:47
that we're
37:47
going to
37:48
partake of
37:49
today and
37:49
it is
37:50
helpful
37:51
it is useful
37:52
it is biblical
37:54
for us to
37:54
pause and to
37:55
ask ourselves
37:56
who is it
37:58
that ought to
37:59
be remembering
38:00
the Lord's
38:01
death by
38:02
taking bread
38:03
and wine
38:04
today
38:04
and
38:06
very simply
38:08
I want to
38:09
enlist for you
38:10
three things
38:10
that first of
38:12
all it is
38:12
for those
38:13
who love
38:13
the Lord
38:14
Jesus
38:14
Christ
38:15
those who
38:17
love the
38:18
Lord Jesus
38:18
Christ
38:19
that is
38:20
for whom
38:22
this table
38:23
has been
38:24
prepared
38:24
it's not
38:26
those who
38:26
feel that
38:27
our love
38:27
could not
38:28
be better
38:28
because we
38:30
know it
38:30
could
38:31
our hearts
38:32
as well as
38:33
our minds
38:34
are so very
38:35
divided
38:35
but we
38:37
know
38:37
even in
38:39
our most
38:40
fragile
38:41
condition
38:42
even when
38:44
we have
38:45
placed
38:45
ourselves
38:45
through our
38:46
wanderings
38:47
away from
38:48
our saviour
38:49
and we've
38:50
placed ourselves
38:50
and we've
38:51
wandered away
38:52
he's never
38:52
wandered from
38:53
us we
38:53
wander from
38:54
him
38:54
but even
38:55
when we're
38:55
in the
38:56
messiest
38:57
mess we
38:57
can be
38:58
we know
39:00
deep down
39:01
that we
39:03
love the
39:03
Lord Jesus
39:03
Christ
39:04
and we
39:05
love him
39:06
because he
39:06
first loved
39:07
us
39:07
and when
39:09
we turn
39:10
around and
39:11
we echo
39:11
Peter's words
39:12
and we say
39:12
Lord you know
39:12
all things
39:13
you know
39:14
that I love
39:14
you
39:15
in our
39:16
right
39:16
spiritual
39:17
mind
39:18
we love
39:19
the Lord
39:20
Jesus
39:20
and so if
39:22
you love
39:22
the Lord
39:22
Jesus
39:23
today
39:23
your place
39:25
is at
39:26
his table
39:26
those who
39:28
love the
39:29
Lord Jesus
39:29
also want
39:30
to live
39:31
for the
39:31
Lord Jesus
39:32
don't we
39:32
and the
39:34
Lord's
39:34
table is
39:35
for those
39:35
who are
39:35
living for
39:36
the Lord
39:36
Jesus
39:36
and we're
39:38
living for
39:38
the Lord
39:38
Jesus
39:39
knowing that
39:39
we're not
39:40
living a
39:40
perfect life
39:41
knowing that
39:42
there are
39:42
gaps
39:43
knowing that
39:43
we wish
39:44
that our
39:45
prayer life
39:45
was more
39:46
vibrant
39:47
and we
39:48
wish that
39:49
our absorption
39:50
of God's
39:51
truth was
39:51
more steady
39:53
and flowing
39:54
we wish
39:55
our witness
39:55
was brighter
39:57
we wish
39:59
these things
40:00
would be
40:01
on a
40:01
different
40:02
level
40:02
perhaps
40:02
most of
40:03
the time
40:03
but we
40:05
are seeking
40:06
to live
40:07
for the
40:07
Lord Jesus
40:07
Christ
40:08
we're no
40:09
longer
40:09
living for
40:10
ourselves
40:10
we're no
40:12
longer
40:12
living for
40:12
our reputation
40:13
we're no
40:13
longer
40:13
living for
40:14
our careers
40:15
we're no
40:15
longer
40:15
living for
40:16
other things
40:17
that can be
40:17
perfectly
40:18
legitimate
40:18
but we
40:20
are seeking
40:20
to live
40:20
for the
40:21
Lord Jesus
40:21
Christ
40:21
he could
40:22
have taken
40:22
us
40:23
home to
40:24
glory
40:24
the very
40:25
instant we
40:26
came to a
40:26
living faith
40:27
but he
40:28
hasn't
40:28
he has
40:28
left us
40:29
here
40:29
to serve
40:30
him
40:30
to live
40:31
for him
40:31
and so
40:32
this table
40:33
is for
40:33
those who
40:33
love the
40:34
Lord Jesus
40:34
Christ
40:35
and are
40:35
seeking to
40:35
live for
40:36
him
40:36
and then
40:37
thirdly
40:37
it's those
40:38
who are
40:38
longing for
40:39
him too
40:40
that we
40:41
love him
40:42
that we're
40:43
living for
40:44
him
40:44
and that
40:45
we're longing
40:45
for him
40:45
that we're
40:47
longing to
40:47
know more
40:48
of him
40:48
here
40:49
now
40:49
we're longing
40:51
to have
40:52
more of
40:52
the seasons
40:53
that we
40:53
perhaps had
40:54
perhaps recently
40:55
perhaps way
40:56
way back
40:57
when we
40:57
had that
40:58
felt sense
40:59
of his
41:00
very near
41:01
presence
41:01
with us
41:02
and it
41:02
was so
41:03
precious
41:04
and we
41:05
longed to
41:06
have that
41:06
sense
41:07
of his
41:07
presence
41:08
with us
41:08
again
41:09
and we
41:10
longed to
41:10
know his
41:10
nearness
41:11
and the
41:12
whisper of
41:13
his peace
41:14
to our
41:14
souls
41:15
and we
41:16
longed to
41:17
know more
41:17
of what
41:17
he said
41:18
and when
41:19
he said
41:19
it
41:20
and why
41:20
he said
41:20
it
41:21
and how
41:21
he said
41:21
it
41:22
and what
41:22
he did
41:23
and when
41:23
and why
41:24
and how
41:24
we longed
41:25
to know
41:25
more of
41:26
him
41:26
because we
41:28
actually long
41:29
to be
41:29
with him
41:30
and that's
41:33
not to say
41:33
that we
41:34
don't love
41:34
our families
41:35
and it's
41:35
not to say
41:36
that we're
41:36
not thankful
41:36
for all
41:37
that we
41:37
have
41:37
we do
41:38
but there
41:39
is something
41:39
about Jesus
41:40
that we
41:41
want to
41:42
know more
41:42
about
41:42
a friend
41:43
of mine
41:44
died a
41:45
number of
41:45
years ago
41:45
he was a
41:46
pastor
41:46
in Aberdeen
41:47
and latterly
41:49
he was
41:50
doing different
41:50
things
41:50
helping younger
41:52
pastors like
41:52
me
41:52
and he
41:53
helped me
41:53
hugely
41:54
and I
41:54
remember
41:55
listening
41:55
to
41:55
the last
41:56
time I
41:56
heard him
41:56
speak
41:56
was
41:56
actually
41:57
down in
41:57
Keswick
41:57
at the
41:58
convention
41:58
and he
41:59
was asked
42:00
a question
42:00
what is it
42:01
that you're
42:02
what is it
42:03
that you most
42:03
want just now
42:04
and by this
42:04
point he'd had
42:05
cancer for a
42:05
number of
42:05
years
42:06
and he said
42:06
I just
42:07
I just
42:08
want to
42:09
see Jesus
42:10
and I want
42:11
to be with
42:12
him
42:12
because he's
42:14
the Lord's
42:14
table
42:15
it's not
42:15
it's not
42:15
the free church
42:16
table
42:16
it's not
42:16
the Storname
42:17
free church
42:19
denominations
42:19
none of that
42:21
this is
42:21
the Lord's
42:22
table
42:22
for the
42:24
Lord's
42:24
people
42:24
who love
42:25
him
42:25
who live
42:26
for him
42:27
and who
42:28
long for
42:28
him
42:28
and how
42:29
that
42:29
describes
42:30
you
42:30
and as
42:31
we sing
42:31
now
42:31
Psalm 118
42:33
then if
42:34
you haven't
42:34
already taken
42:34
your place
42:35
at his
42:35
table
42:36
then please
42:37
do so
42:37
we're going
42:38
to sing
42:38
in Psalm
42:38
118
42:39
singing
42:40
from the
42:41
sing
42:41
Psalms
42:42
verse
42:42
in Psalm
42:43
118
42:43
we're singing
42:44
from verse
42:45
15 to
42:46
verse 24
42:47
page 1
42:49
5
42:49
6
42:50
triumphant
42:51
shouts
42:51
of joy
42:52
resound
42:52
in places
42:53
where the
42:54
righteous dwell
42:54
the Lord's
42:55
right hand
42:56
is lifted
42:56
high
42:57
his mighty
42:57
hand
42:58
does all
42:59
things
42:59
well
43:00
we're going
43:00
to stand
43:01
as we
43:01
praise God
43:02
triumphant
43:10
triumphant
43:10
shouts
43:11
of joy
43:13
resound
43:16
in places
43:19
where the
43:21
righteous
43:22
dwell
43:25
the Lord's
43:28
right
43:28
is lifted
43:31
high
43:34
his mighty
43:36
and does
43:39
all
43:40
things
43:41
well
43:43
I
43:45
shall
43:46
not
43:47
die
43:47
but
43:48
I
43:49
shall
43:50
live
43:52
!
43:53
the
43:54
Lord's
43:55
great
43:56
works
43:57
I
43:57
will
43:59
proclaim
44:00
the
44:03
Lord
44:05
so
44:05
dearly
44:07
chastened
44:08
me
44:11
but
44:12
rescued
44:14
me
44:15
from
44:16
death's
44:17
domain
44:19
through
44:22
wide
44:23
the
44:24
gates
44:25
of
44:26
righteousness
44:28
I
44:31
enter
44:33
and
44:34
give
44:35
thanks
44:36
to
44:37
God
44:39
this
44:41
is
44:42
the
44:43
gate
44:44
of
44:44
God
44:45
through
44:47
which
44:49
the
44:50
righteous
44:52
come
44:53
before
44:54
the
44:56
Lord
44:58
you
45:00
answered
45:02
me
45:03
I
45:03
will
45:04
give
45:06
thanks
45:08
salvation
45:10
comes
45:12
from
45:13
you
45:14
alone
45:16
the
45:18
soul
45:19
the
45:20
builder
45:21
shall
45:22
reduce
45:23
!
45:24
As
45:26
thou
45:27
become
45:29
the
45:30
the
45:31
Lord
45:32
himself
45:33
all
45:34
this
45:35
this
45:36
the
45:37
Lord
45:38
himself
45:39
has
45:40
done
45:41
this
45:42
this
45:43
is
45:45
this
45:46
is
45:47
the
45:48
heart
45:49
of
45:50
the
45:51
inner
45:52
sky
45:53
this
45:56
is
45:57
the
45:58
kingdom
45:59
Lord
46:00
has
46:01
made
46:03
let
46:05
us
46:07
take
46:08
way
46:09
delight
46:11
!
46:13
Let
46:14
us
46:15
take
46:16
the
46:17
light
46:18
to
46:19
us
46:20
take
46:21
the
46:22
to
46:23
us
46:24
to
46:25
us
46:26
to
46:27
us
46:28
to
46:29
us