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here with us to join us for worship so we welcome you to free grace Baptist Church just a couple of announcements before we begin this morning first the surrey Bible study will be this upcoming Tuesday night for anyone who would like to attend that's at the the Pacific something rather the the big pink hotel there off of eight and the pink palace as they call it or the salmon palace alternatively so that's this upcoming Tuesday night 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Surrey Bible study as well at the Wednesday night Bible studies just for everyone to know there will be finishing pastor Butler will be finishing first Kings at our Wednesday night Bible study then moving on to second kings so we can keep both of those Bible studies in our prayers as we gather for worship and throughout throughout the week in your own prayer well let's begin our worship and by turning in our Bibles if you can turn with me to Psalm 32 psalm 32 psalm 32 beginning in verse 1 this is the Word of God a psalm of David a contemplation blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit when I kept silent my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long for day and night your hand was heavy upon me my vitality was turned into the drought of summer Sayla I acknowledged my sin to you and my iniquity I have not hidden I said I will confess my transgressions to the Lord and you forgave the iniquity of my sin Sayla for this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to you in a time when you may be found surely in a flood of Great Waters they shall not come near him you are my hiding place you shall preserve me from trouble you shall surround me with songs of deliverance say law I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go I will guide you with my I do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding which must be harnessed with bit and bridle else they will not come near you many sorrows shall be to the wicked but he who trusts in the Lord mercy shall surround him be glad in the Lord and rejoice you righteous and shout for joy all you upright in heart amen we're gonna stand and sing together now you can turn in your red Trinity Salter that's the thinner book in front of you to Psalm 89 we'll sing Psalm 89 verses 1 to 16 [Music] let us go to our God in prayer let us pray a Heavenly Father we come to you now in prayer as this gathered assembly we come to you now and ask that you would help us to hallow your name we do pray once again God having gathered together for the worship of Father Son and Holy Spirit you would help us to in spirit and in truth give you that right in proper worship that is the most do your name and we do pray that we would hallow your name that we would honor you that we would give you praise we pray Lord God that you would just help us in the inner man help us in our spirits to rise up to that proper praise and appreciation that reverential awe of the triune majesty we do pray that you would help us now and we thank you Lord God that we can gather together in the name of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ on this year Lord's Day Sabbath and we rejoice that you've given us this day this one day in seven to come in from out of the world to rest in your in your presence to rest from our works and to gather together here as the people of Christ to worship you to honor you and to give you praise and we do pray that you'd help us we pray that you give us now that a measure of appreciation for the fact that we can gather in freedom and in Liberty here in this place we can gather with full Bibles in our hands and we thank you Lord God for this and we do pray that you'd help us to count that a high and heavy honor knowing that many others throughout the world I cannot so gather and do not even have a full Bibles to read from and we do pray that we would rejoice in you we would rejoice in this privilege and that we would give you praise we thank you for the gospel of Jesus Christ our Savior we know Lord God that we have not been saved by deeds of righteousness which we have done but according to your mercy you saved us we rejoice in that truth that Christ Jesus came into this world sinners to save that in the fullness of the times you did send forth your son born of a woman born under the law that he might redeem those who were under the law we thank you for the gospel of free and sovereign grace and we rejoice in the perfection of the work of our Lord Jesus Christ we know that he lived a life of perfect obedience in the stead of all who believe we know that he died upon Calvary's cross to bear in his own body the sins of all who believe we thank you that on that tree he died so as to take upon himself the curse that was due us and we rejoiced that by his shed blood we do have the forgiveness of sins and we thank you Lord God for the resurrection on the third day and we rejoice that he rose victoriously and in great power on that third day that he has ascended to your right hand where he does live ever to make intercession for his Saints and where he rules and where he reigns over his enemies and where he subdues the hearts of his elect we thank you for the glorious gospel of you are blessed God and we do pray that this would inform our praise that this would fuel our praise on this year Lord's Day we would ask Lord God that you would be with those who need prayer for and many things physical things those who are struggling with disease and illness and an injury and all these things God as we pray each and every Lord's Day we pray for Bev Lord we pray for Bev Rogers mother that you would just strengthen her with her failing body Lord God we pray that you would encourage her in her heart we pray that you would stir her up in spirit and cause her in the midst of this affliction nevertheless to rejoice in you our God and that she would find much comfort in you and do tend to her body give her seasons of strength Lord God but we do pray that in the midst of a failing body in the midst of physical affliction she would be lifted up by you our God to rejoice in the things of gospel truth we do pray for many others afflicted Lord God with disease and injury the list is long we do just pray that you attend to each and every one that you would strengthen them in body Lord that you heal them that that you would help them that God they would know seasons of reprieve from pains discomforts and all of these things associated with with their injuries and we would ask Lord God that along with Bev those struggling in afflicted they would rejoice in you we thank you again Lord God for recent births we thank you for the birth of the twins we pray that you would bless Priscilla as she heals and struggles and recovers we thank you that they can be with us this morning we do pray as well that you would heal Katie and just help her to recover from birth we thank you for the birth of this this girl and we do just pray Lord that you would strengthen these babies that you would grow them that you would nourish them we pray Lord God in due time that they would be brought forth from the darkness of sin to life in light in Christ Jesus the Lord we do just pray that you'd continue to watch over them and watch over their parents I help them Lord God to do what they ought for your sake and for your glory and for their children's good and we do just pray that in Lord God that you would just refresh them restore them help them to put their faith and you help them to be resigned to you for strength as they seek to raise these children in the fear and in the admonition of the Lord we do pray God that you would be with those who are presently with child we thank you that we continually have these gifts that you're giving to your people and we do pray that you'd watch over babies in the wounds we pray that you would strengthen mothers Lord and we pray that you would cause father's to breathe to be of encouragement and aid and help to their wives and we do just ask Lord that you would bring these ones forth in due time without without issue without problem that they would breathe your air well and Lord God that in due time these as well would come to a knowledge of the Savior we would ask Lord that you'd be with those who are traveling unable to join us watch over them and strengthen them and return them home safely we think again Lord God of the persecuted Church around the world we know that there are many in Chains and many who suffer under the oppressive hands of their own countrymen and those tyrannical governments that are over them we do pray that you would watch over our brothers and sisters in Christ that you would encourage their hearts daily in the face of of the madness of persecution and we do just pray that you would uplift them and give them much comfort and courage and help them Lord God by your grace and for your glory to lay hold of the hope of their calling without wavering knowing that you are faithful we do pray that you would deal with those who persecute them that you would save many you would be powerful to save by your amazing brace those who presently persecute your people we pray that they would hear the gospel of saving grace and that by your spirit they would be brought forth from the darkness of sin to life and light in Christ Jesus the Lord we do pray though that those who remain in opposition that you would judge them that you would bring temporal punishment upon them that they may no longer bring violence and danger upon your children we do pray Lord God that you would be with those who rule over us as we look upon the landscape of the the political realm were very often briefed our daily grieved by what goes on in the the rank-and-file of those who rule over us we do just pray God that you would help them that you would cause them to rule not in wickedness not by sanctioning evils but rather Lord God that you would turn their hearts and cause them to rule in justice and righteousness and improper equity and we do pray that you would cast those down to walk like drunken men who would seek to pervert the nation's we do pray Lord God that righteousness would reign that your name would be vindicated throughout all the earth and Lord God that the gospel would be proclaimed victoriously unto that end then we pray before we pray for this church we pray for the churches of the world those near to us and those abroad Lord we do pray that you would cause your people to be edify to be strengthened to be equipped we pray that you would save sinners and that you would cause those ministers of yours to proclaim richly the things of Christ Jesus our Lord we do pray now then for us that you be with Pastor Butler as he preaches in a few moments time give him strength as he grips this pulpit as he opens his Bible to preach we do pray Lord that you would help him we know that men your ministers do not rely upon their own strength their own intelligence their own ingenuity but they rest upon those things afforded from the triune God by the triune God and so we do pray that you would give much to Pastor Butler that he might open up the word and speak rightly concerning your blessed truth we do pray then for those who will hear the preaching of the word and those here at Lord God that continue in the act of worship we pray that your Saints would be edified lifted up strengthened encouraged equipped Lord and we do just pray that those who entered in these two doors outside of Christ in damning unbelief we pray that by your grace and for your glory they would leave this place singing the praises of the Most High God so on to that end Lord God do save the do be here upon the wings of sovereign grace and might you save those presently in darkness we pray that all that is done this morning would be done unto the praise a Father Son and Holy Spirit and we pray in the name of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ amen let's stand and sing again this time in the larger hymnal will sing 324 let's stand as a church and sing three twenty-four [Music] you can turn your Bibles to mark nine Gospel of Mark chapter nine so we continue to read through the New Testament we read to verse 29 last Lord's Day morning so we'll pick up in mark 9 at chapter excuse me mark at 9 at verse 30 mark 9 verse 30 once again the word of God then they departed from there and passed through Galilee and he did not want anyone to know it for he taught his disciples and said to them the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men and they will kill him and after he is killed he will rise the third day but they did not understand this saying and were afraid to ask him then he came to Capernaum and when he was in the house he asked them what was it you disputed among yourselves on the road but they kept silent for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest and he sat down called the twelve and said to them if anyone desires to be first he shall be last of all and servant of all then he took a little child and set him in the midst of them and when he had taken him in his arms he said to them whoever receives one of these little children in my name receives me and whoever receives me receives not me but him who sent me now John answered him saying teacher we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in your name and we forbade him because he does not follow us but jesus said do not forbid him for no one who works a miracle in my name can soon afterwards speak evil of me for he who is not against us is on our side for whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name because you belong to Christ assuredly I say to you he will by no means lose his reward but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea if your hand causes you to sin cut it off it is better for you to enter into life maimed rather than having two hands to go to hell into the fire that she'll never be quenched where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched and if your foot causes you to sin cut it off it is better for you to enter life lame rather than having two feet to be cast into hell into the fire that shall never be quenched where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched and if your eye causes you to sin pluck it out it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched for everyone will be seasoned with fire and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt salt is good but if the salt loses its flavor how will you season it have salt in yourselves and have peace with one another amen well let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you for the word of God and we rejoice in what we read here regarding the instruction of our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ to his disciples we thank you Lord God that he anticipated with great diligence his coming death we rejoice in the fact that he marched with a resolute determination to Calvary's cross though there was that season in the garden nevertheless he was resigned holy unto your will in all things and we rejoice in his death and in his resurrection knowing that therein is the gospel that he died for our sins according to the scriptures that he rose again on the third day according to the scriptures and we thank you Lord God for the truth of the gospel and for the determination of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ to march unto that end that he might take away the sins of the world we thank you Lord God for this exhortation as well we would pray that you would help us not to seek to be first but we pray that you would help us to put the interests of others before those of our own that we would not seek to be first in the kingdom but rather that we would humble ourselves that we would put pride to death and seek to be humble one to each other we pray Lord God in a special way for those affected by the fires throughout BC and elsewhere we do pray that you'd watch over your people that you would watch over people generally speaking Lord God that you would protect those who are affected by this fire watch over them guard them we pray that this would be an occasion for many to cry out to you Lord God for forgiveness and for everlasting life and for the for the remission of sins and we pray Lord God but you would watch over those with property with with houses and we do pray that you would watch over those fighting these fires we do pray that you'd bring a swift end to them Lord God that people might recover well and we do pray that you now be with us and worship help us Lord God to give you honor help us to give honor and praise to Father Son and Holy Spirit and might our Lord Jesus Christ be exalted upon the praises of this gathered assembly we pray in his name amen our last him then before the preaching if you'll stand with me again is 599 that's 599 in the larger hymnal [Music] well please turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 26 Matthew chapter 26 we have spent several weeks in the Garden of Gethsemane specifically our Lord's Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane last week we saw his betrayal in that self-same garden and this morning we'll note his arrest in Gethsemane but I want to begin reading in chapter 26 at verse 31 then jesus said to them all of you will be made to stumble because of me this night for it is written I will strike the Shepherd and the Sheep of the flock will be scattered but after I have been raised I will go before you to Galilee Peter answered and said to him even if all are made to stumble because of you I will never be made to stumble jesus said to him assuredly I say to you that this night before the rooster crows you will deny me three times Peter said to him even if I have to die with you I will not deny you and so said all the disciples then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane and said to the disciples sit here while I go and pray over there and he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and he began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed then he said to them my soul is exceedingly sorrowful even to death stay here and watch with me he went a little farther and fell on his face and prayed saying O my father if it is possible let this cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will but as you will then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping and said to Peter what could you not watch with me one hour watch and pray lest you enter into temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak again a second time he went away and prayed saying O my father if this cup cannot pass away from me unless I drink it your will be done and he came and found them asleep again for their eyes were heavy so he left that went away again and prayed the third time saying the same words then he came to his disciples and said to them are you still sleeping and resting behold the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners rise let us be going see my betrayer is at hand and while he was still speaking behold Judas one of the twelve with a great multitude with swords and clubs came from the chief priests and elders of the people now his betrayer had given them a sign saying whomever I kiss he is the one seized him immediately he went up to Jesus and said greetings rabbi and kissed him but jesus said to him friend why have you come then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took in and suddenly one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear but jesus said to him put your sword in its place for all who take the sword will perish by the sword or do you think that I cannot now pray to my father and he will provide me with more than twelve legions of angels how then could the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen thus in that hour jesus said to the multitudes have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to take me i sat daily with you teaching in the temple and you did not seize me but all this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled then all the disciples forsook him and fled amen well let us pray our Father in heaven we thank you for the word of God and we pray now for the Ministry of the Holy Spirit the God who has given us the word is the god we call upon now asking that you would guide us and help us to understand this word we thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ we thank you for his life his death his resurrection we see his complete resignation to the divine will he submits to this arrest as he is led away as a sheep without like a sheep who doesn't utter anything to the slaughter how we praise you lord for such a gracious and such a glorious and such an obedient Savior who certainly got apart from Christ we would all perish in hell forever how we thank you for the gospel how we pray that today would be the day of salvation for any and all who have yet to believe the gospel we pray father that you would move through the preached word by the spirit to bring that conviction of sin and to show and demonstrate before all of us the sufficiency in the excellency of our Lord Jesus Christ to save so fill us now with your Holy Spirit forgive us now for all of our sins and our transgressions and guide us by your Holy Spirit and we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well as I mentioned last week if we look specifically at verses 47 to 56 structurally there are four sections or four parts first we have the betrayal of Jesus in verses 47 to 50 we saw that last week this morning we'll take up the defense of Jesus in verses 50b to 54 thirdly the assertion by Jesus in verses 55 and 56 and then finally the desertion of Jesus in verse 56 be so there is a lot going on here facing our Lord there is a lot going on here that does indeed fulfill or demonstrate or highlight what the Prophet said concerning Christ he was indeed a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief we see that in his arrest we see that in obviously the betrayal will see that as he stands before the various political leaders of his day and we'll see that ultimately as he is enthroned not upon a throne but upon the cross for the salvation of his people but let's look specifically now at the defense of Jesus in verses 50 B to 54 notice after the betrayal in verse 50 B it says they came and laid hands on Jesus and took him away now the language here connotes hostility they didn't do this in a friendly manner they didn't say come on with us rather they seized upon him they stayed they put their unholy hands upon the one who was wholly harmed and undefiled and we see the obvious contrast between the two parties Christ comes into this world sinners to save by identifying with us he takes on all the essential properties of manhood and the common infirmities of manhood yet without sin when it comes time to deal with him it is physical violence it is coercive it is that that infliction of punishment upon one who has absolutely guilt less it is a travesty of justice that we see in this passage but we also notice in the hostile action of their having laid hands on Jesus and taking him we note his voluntary surrender if as we saw last week when we looked at John 18 when Christ says to the Roman soldiers he says to Judas he says to this mob when he says I am the text says they drew back and fell to the ground certainly if Christ has that authority and that power and that majesty he could have avoided arrest he could have certainly subdued these persons he could have as he goes on to suggest called upon the father who would have supplied him with twelve legions of angels note here the voluntary resignation of our Lord to the Father's will according to the scriptures in order to save us from our sins again we're not to identify in terms of example with Christ in this passage we'll certainly identify with the disciples but what Christ is doing here is unique his betrayal is not like our betrayal his arrest is not like our arrest his crucifixion would not be like our crucifixion because he was the guiltless one he was the holy one he was indeed the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and so we ought to observe this in a spirit of thankfulness and gratitude respecting what the Geneva but Geneva Bible says he was taken that we might be delivered the fact that this and transpires means the salvation of our souls now note the action by in verse 51 certainly verse 51 reads in a very dramatic in a in a very vivid sort of a way Matthew the Evangelist sort of piles up the verbs and he and he gives us this this bird's-eye view of what transpired here in verse 51 and it's truly incredible it's truly an amazing scene on the one hand we certainly sympathize or enter into the plight of Peter it's a blessed thing to want to defend to defend our Lord but on the other hand we need to defend our Lord the way that our Lord commands us to defend it but note the text in verse 51 and suddenly one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear now the Apostle John identifies the swordsman as Peter Matthew doesn't Mark doesn't nor does Luke tell us specifically that it's Peter but John tells us that specifically it was Peter who held the sword also John identifies that it was a man by the name of Malka that was struck by Peter but if you look with me quickly at Luke chapter 22 we do see something interesting in the parallel passage there in Luke chapter 22 at verse 49 after the betrayal after Christ's words to Judas we see in verse 49 when those around him saw what was going to happen they said to him Lord shall we strike with the sword so it was collective all the disciples all of them asked should we strike with the sword now note there is no response given by our Lord Jesus but Peter takes out his sword and goes for the head of Malchus so it was something that wasn't unique to Peter in terms of desire but it was unique to Peter in terms of execution da Carson says obviously Peter does not share Jesus resolution thy will be done Kalvin makes this observation we are much more courageous and ready for fighting than for bearing the cross and also when we see the denial of Jesus by Peter in John's Gospel I Peter is identified because of this particular incident it's because he struck the servant's ear that he's identified in the courtyard which then ultimately leads to his denial of Jesus in the parallel account in John's Gospel now as I said last week make no mistake about it Peter was going for the kill Peter wasn't just trying to cut off malthus's ear some suggest that that was indeed the case because of ceremonial reasons no Peter missed Peter swung that sword he was swinging for the for the for the fences he was not simply trying to maim or wound the servant he was trying to lop off his head now he misses obviously and he lopped off his ear now the parallel in Luke tells us that jesus healed malthus's ear Jesus before this crowd before this mob before the betrayer before the disciples he heals Malgus from this particular wound I think there's a few things we ought to appreciate in this whole scenario first the absolute sovereignty of God remember that this mob has swords and clubs Peter withdraws his sword he's not a trained soldier he's not a military sort of a of an individual he was a fisherman he doesn't have the sort of savvy and ability as a trained soldier Woollett but none of those men raised their swords to counteract what Peter has done also the fact that our lord jesus heals malgus underscores something Christ is not a criminal Christ is not a revolutionary Christ is not a terrorist Christ is not here or had not come to destroy so he heals that that validates his claim but additionally the fact that he heals malgus keeps Peter from being arrested remember in John 18 one of Jesus purposes in that Garden of Gethsemane and throughout the entirety of his ministry that none of whom the father had given him would be lost so if he doesn't he'll Malchus there is evidence to indeed indict Peter and take him away and throw him in prison so Christ's healing of Malka certainly functions in a wonderful way to show that he is not a criminal he's not a revolutionary but as well as he as is the case peter is not arrested for this situation so Peter takes out this sword he strikes the servant of the high priest and then he cuts off as here now notice in verses 52 to 54 this is the rebuke by Christ's Lord's Christ doesn't say good shot Peter if you had a good a few more inches over you know got him you know cut his head off he would have died that's not why he rebukes him he rebukes him for putting into practice the sword and we need to spend a bit of time here because there's a lot of abuse with reference to this passage on the one hand we're not too advanced Christianity by the carnal sword but in the other hand we're not to suggest that there's no place for swords or guns in the lives of God's people this is a misunderstood passage while I think Carson is right when we come to it and ask things concerning gun control or pacifism that's really not what the text is addressing but we need to understand because sometimes texts are wrest it out of their context and they are applied in ways that God never intended that so let's look at this rebuke by Christ notice in verse 52 Jesus said to him put your sword in its place in other words Peter we're not going to advance the kingdom by physical might we're not going to going to advance the kingdom by the physical sword so I would suggest that in the first place the concern for Peters life is pupper most in the mind and heart of Christ because he goes on to say as a reason put up your sword or put your sword in its place for all who take the sword will perish by the sword the concern for Peters life is obvious the use of the sword invites the reciprocal use of the sword in other words if you don't want to kill by the sword don't go wielding the sword I realize in our own day and age that doesn't always hold true there's madmen with swords that just like to go out and shoot people but for the most part brethren the principle is true those who take the sort will die by the sword and Jesus is concerned about Peters life Peters got work to do Peters got a mission to engage it Peters got preaching to do Peters got books of the Bible to write Peter cannot die in death cemani and some Christ's rebuke includes explanation on the function of the sword I suggested earlier that another thing I think this shows us is the reminder concerning the Messianic Kingdom it is not advanced by the sword brethren we're not Muslims we don't cut off heads to make converts JC rile said the sword is not to be used in the propagation of the gospel Christianity is not to be enforced by bloodshed and belief in it extorted by force we're not supposed to export conversions were not supposed to coerce persons coming to Jesus Christ we preach the gospel under the power and the sovereignty of God hoping and praying the spirit attends and then he brings sinners forth by that power he effectually calls them out of darkness into marvelous light and delivers them from their transgressions and gives them that righteousness that avails with the father that's the way we do it we don't employ the physical sword we don't lock people's heads off in the name of it of advancing the kingdom you see that in 2nd Corinthians chapter 10 the Apostle Paul says the weapons of our warfare are not carnal in other words we don't we don't evangelize by means of tank we don't evangelize by means of shotgun we don't evangelize by means of a of a Glock 9-millimeter we evangelize by preaching the gospel so the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but they're mighty for the pulling down of strongholds notice Jesus own words in John 18 with reference to the advancement of his messianic kingdom it doesn't come through physical force notice in John 18 specifically his place before Pilate Verne thirty-six My Kingdom is not of this world if my kingdom were of this world My servants would fight so that I should not be delivered to the Jews but now my kingdom is not from here now I think we ought to just stop for a moment and see something here My Kingdom is not of this world that means it doesn't originate from this world it certainly includes the world the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof Christ does not occupy the right hand of the Father and have universal and comprehensive sovereignty except for the world no it isn't from this world but it certainly includes this world notice as well he says if my kingdom were of this world My servants would fight what does that indicate contra pacifism that in this world at times servants must fight in this world at some times persons go to war in this world at some times because of them the reality of the sinful condition that we're in when a violent group of people invades another God does not call us to pacifism Jesus implies Jesus words mean that if my kingdom were of this world if I was an earthly king akin to pilot or Herod or one of these others and it was just a matter of dealing with you on a one-to-one basis my servants would fight and they would decimate you so never underestimate what that not only says but what it also implies notice that in verse 37 Pilate therefore said to him are you a king jesus answered you say rightly that I am a king for this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world that I should bear witness to the truth everyone who is of the truth hears my voice what's Christ underscoring in this particular section the advancement of the Messianic Kingdom comes via truth be easier to line people up and threaten them with a gunshot to the head if they don't convert wouldn't it I mean if you're so inclined I don't know that I think that was Eddie but obviously somebody out there does brethren it is the truth that advances Christ's Kingdom that's why we oftentimes in this very place several times during the you know the course of our preaching during the Wednesday night Bible study emphasize that blessed word truth if truth is as important as Jesus says in John 18:37 then what should the church be about not guns and swords to advance the kingdom not puppets and ponies to advance the kingdom but the truth the proclamation of God's holy word this is why when Paul comes to write the very last corporate command to the church he says preach the word he doesn't say cut off heads he doesn't say entertain the masses he says preach the word why because that's the means by which the kingdom of God is propagated notice with reference to our text in verse 52 put your sword in its place for all who take the sword will perish by the sword as I mentioned earlier it's important to qualify this Christ says put your sword in its place I think that implies or we can infer from that that there is a place for the sword this absolutely perplexes some of the commentators Peter withdrew his sword we don't know why he had a sword really why wouldn't we know why he had a sword it was probably to defend himself why is that so outlandish why have we been beaten into submission to somehow think that turn-the-other-cheek means leave your front door open so that a rapist can come in and not only attack your wife but your children that's not what the Bible means brethren by turn the other cheek the bible does not envisage you just lying down for violent criminals to overrun you and take everything that's a stained your life this passage is abused if we end up as pacifists with reference to it put your or in its place they also go nuts at Luke 22 when Jesus says to buy a sword and then he the disciples say we have two swords and then Jesus says it is enough I mean the lengths that we'll go to to try and explain away the obvious well he's talking about spiritual sword no he's not if you're walking the streets of Galilee and a robber jumped upon you to take all that was good and near and dear to your heart you wouldn't have withdrawn your spiritual sword or he would have taken your physical money and your physical life or they say well there were two swords for the eleven and that was enough if there's one sword that advocates self-defense I don't know that the number of swords the number of guns the number of whatever is somehow the issue the issue is as if you don't break the law with something your right to defend yourself so when Jesus says put your sword in its place for all who take the sword will perish by the sword again it's a truism there's a reciprocal use of the sword involved when we advocate with sword revelation 13 10 Jesus is keen to protect the life a Peter put it away I don't want you to get your head cut off because the servants of these men are the soldiers in their employ they're going to be more accurate Peter you took that shot and swung a haymaker and God is here they're not gonna miss your neck they will behead you or behead you I guess is the correct terminology but notice there is a legitimate use for the sword I think as he often does John Gill gets this absolutely correct he says this is not to be understood of magistrates who bear not the sword in vain are ministers of God for good and revenge errs of evil works but of private persons that use the sword and that not in self-defense but for private revenge or engage in a quarrel to which they are not called the Bible does authorize the use of the sword now we cannot suggest that sword there doesn't mean what it obviously means it means the power to inflict death certainly punishment doesn't necessarily mean the taking of a life but it certainly includes that if we say that the sword cannot or does not mean that we are reading our liberal view of either theology or politics back into sacred texts there are three instances authorized in the Bible for the proper use of the sword in the first place we have self-defense again I think that this just blows the modern mind away because Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek in the context where Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek it is that whole idea of a vendetta of vindictiveness a Pharisee ik like attitude a private revenge I do not believe for a moment that when Jesus said turn the other cheek he said he meant you know open your front door to make it easier for rapists to find your daughters you know don't put any locks on your windows you see if we take that interpretation we ought to reduce it to absurdity and say away with all locks don't set your car alarm because Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek and if somebody wants to take our car let them that's not what Jesus was teaching self-defence is authorized Exodus chapter 22 it's assumed that if somebody breaks into our house we're gonna use that force necessary to neutralize the threat and if it's in the hours of darkness and the homeowner in puts lethal force upon the person that that broke into his hosts house there's no guilt no guilt whatsoever for the homeowner if the day is shining or if it's daylight hours then there may be guilt because you can better assess what the particular person's intentions were but then as well in the teaching of our Lord think about what Jesus says and wonder does this jive with a no self defense view notice in the Luke chapter 11 Luke chapter 11 again just so everybody knows when Jesus says put your sword in its place I don't think that the particular purpose for him saying that was to vindicate and authorize self-defense nor do I think it was the place where he and what was advocating pacifism as I said because there's a lot of debate concerning this particular issue it makes sense at least in my head to get some proper perspective on this whole use of the sword notice in Luke 11 at verse 21 when a strong man fully armed guards his own palace his Goods are in peace now I realized that this is a spiritual analogy and I realized that Jesus is talking about the devil being bound but in order for the analogy to work it has to have some factual basis in reality Jesus says when a strong man fully armed guards his own palace his goods are in peace how does a strong man typically guard his palace with blocks or guns or dogs or fences or barbed wire or some sort of thing see brethren it's modern liberal politics that has beat us into this idea that how we can't ever defend ourselves Jesus assumes that we'll defend ourselves again with exodus 20:2 probably in his head certainly in his heart notice in Luke 12 at verse 39 Luke 12 at verse 39 but know this again spiritual situation but for the analogy to ring true we ought to appreciate what Jesus assumes but know this that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into you see self defense property defense is legit it's a common category and the in biblical ethics so self defense is one of the right.we means by which or one of the lawful areas where we employ the sword but as well legitimate war I've always wondered how pacifist could be pacifist in light of an open Bible typically it goes a kid with a dispensational vo that was the Old Testament that's just how they they functioned back that they just killed people for God you know they did kill people for God God commanded them to kill people for God for the purity of the land and as the promise to Abraham in terms of land gift Deuteronomy 7 and the mandate for holy war go in and utterly dispossessed the land of all the Canaanites know for us we go horror of Horrors that's a terrible thing we can't believe that was ever the case are we more holy than God have we ascended to a position where we're higher and more righteous than not God God commands that it's right our job is simply to obey it now in the new covenant situation we're not under the mandate for holy war don't go home today or say I'm gonna go to dart and tackle tomorrow and buy me an Arsenal because Jim Butler said we're in a holy war if you do that I will say don't do that we're not in a holy war situation but notice in Luke 3 Christ's words or our John the Baptist's words two men who are repenting now John the Baptist is consistent with the message of our Lord Jesus Christ we're not to posit some distinction between the two of them but when there is repentant soldiers asking John what fruits of repentance are going to look like notice in Luke 3:14 likewise the soldiers asked him saying and what shall we do so he said to them do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely and be content with your wages you see it seems to me that a pacifism was right the council would be get out of your military service turn in your sword turn in your gun go to the armory you shouldn't be in such a terrible position that you should ever have to inflict physical violence on another human being that's not what John the Baptist says and then think about the role of the civil magistrate who bears the sword he doesn't bear it in vain he is a minister of God to have an Avenger of God a minister of God to execute wrath upon those who violate the civil order now I certainly will apply that in just a moment to capital punishment in terms of criminal behavior within a society but that self same magistrate takes up the sword to defend the body politic against foreign invaders you see war again it's a tough question what's adjust what's a legitimate war deuteronomy 7 is clear but in our situation the wars in the Middle East this war that that's a tougher issue I'm not suggesting I have all the answers in terms of what is adjust and what is a legitimate war but if we ask the Bible is war always condemned no it's not so the magistrate uses the sword in such conditions and then of course capital punishment for those of you who have been around for any time you'll have heard the arguments Pro capital punishment in this pulpit Genesis 9 the theological sort of contacts for it romans 13 1 to 4 again i'm not advocating the state cut off heads of everybody that ever moves i realized there's abuse I realize there's misuse I realize there are those sorts of things but if we ask the question in what three categories is the sword authorized it is for self-defense it is for legitimate war and it is for capital punishment Peter was in none of these situations Peter took his sword out which demonstrates zeal but it's a zeal without knowledge a zeal without knowledge calvin says in order that our obedience may be acceptable to the lord we must depend on his will so that no man shall move a finger except so far as God commands now think about your own life as a believer think about your own experience in your Christian testimony and witness have you ever just brutalized somebody with a zeal without knowledge again I think we have a low ebb in terms of zeal I'd love to see more zeal it's always got to be a zeal tempered with knowledge you know we get a B in our bonnet about a particular doctrine and boy we just go run everybody down we sometimes do a lot more damage than we do good don't wait so we got a zeal that's not tampered with knowledge we take that sword out we find Malka sand we seek the lop is a doff now you can sit down with Malchus and have a cup I have a cup of coffee and tell them about the gospel you see brethren zeal without knowledge is an abuse we were to operate strictly in obedience to God's holy word we do this don't we maybe you don't I'm looking at puzzled looks like I want to stop me we got to be in our bonnet about some preferential matter Oh for my family this is everything and for yours it ought to be - you can't do that with preferences you can't make your preferences God's law I'm glad it works for you I'm glad it helps promote your holiness and advance your godliness but unless it's a thus saith the Lord you have no rights to bind the consciences of others there is a zeal without knowledge that operates right before our very eyes we love these Blue Trinity handles if churches don't use these Blue Trinity hymnals it's because they're godless they don't know what it is to sing praises to the Lord no 11th commandment saying that we have to use the blue trinity hymnal now that's an outlandish sort of an observation not actually too outlandish but fill in the blanks with your preference fill in the blanks with those things that the Lord has led you to do in you know preferential manners and again I don't know if we can even say the Lord led me to do this obviously the Lord leads us to everything but but when we want to make that somebody else's marching orders just see yourself as Peter taking out that sword taking a lot at Melissa's ear it's not your job it's not your role it's not your function this is to suggest that Peter has it more under control than Jesus it's that Matthew 16 thing again when Jesus says I must go to Jerusalem I must be tried I must be killed I must be raised the third day what does Peter say oh what a wonderful thing to hear the plan of God rahat rehearsed and recounted he says no way I am NOT gonna let you go to Jerusalem and undergo these things in fact look there in Matthew said 16 again I think there's a sense where we appreciate Peter on the one hand because he does have this zeal and while it seems to be misguided it does seem to be genuine verse 21 from that time Jesus began to show to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and he raised the third day and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him saying far be it from you Lord for this or this shall not excuse me happen to you what does Jesus say oh yeah Peter that's right you're in charge here you're the man with a plan they ever heard that that that rehearsal of the second Samuel incident when aza tried to study the Ark's arca the Covenant of the of the Ark of the Covenant rather when the ox started to shake Sproles version you see there were particular prohibitions against who touched that Ark and aza wasn't one of them so the Ark is going the oxen have it they're shaken looks like it's going to fall into the mud so aza in his zeal sticks his hand out to study the ark good thing right he tried to keep the ark from falling into the mud that's admirable what did God do he killed us up now persons probably are gonna go home and cry and say that seems so unfair it's not God said says don't touch the arch so sprawl says what did us expect to happen did he expect to hear a loud voice from heaven say faith you aza you see brethren when we operate with zeal apart from the word we are in dangerous waters and the Lord Christ here rebukes Peter get behind me Satan you are an offense to me for your not mindful of the things of God but the things of men so when Jesus rebukes Peter the function of the sword is the first means by which he offers that rebuke the second is is that the assistance to be had by the father notice in verse 53 in chapter 26 or do you think that I cannot now pray to my father and he will provide me with more than twelve legions of angels the statement doesn't contradict his resolve in verse 39 when he says not my will but yours it's not that Jesus will not ask for this angelic intervention it's not that he can't ask it's not that God doesn't have legions of angels but Christ says do you not think that if I needed to mow down some troops I could do you not realize Peter that this is happening according to scripture have you yet to appreciate what is unfolding right before your eyes Peter twelve legions of angels you know a legion was about six thousand troops in the Roman - a Roman military what's Christ saying not only do I not need twelve legions of angels I certainly don't need one of the twelve to deliver me from this particular situation why because it is the will of the Father it is according to the written word everything that is transpiring Christ is submitting to everything that takes place Christ has solved in self to one man says twelve sword-wielding disciples or twelve legions of angels are equally unacceptable if they hinder Jesus obedience to the command of the Father and the fulfillment of the scripture that's the third aspect of his response Peter put the sword away put it in its place why because all who take the sword will perish by the sword function of the sword to the the assistance that can be proffered by the father and three the fulfillment of Scripture notice in verse 54 how then could the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen thus what did the scriptures say concerning the Messiah that he would come in regal power and glory and establish an earthly Kingdom and reign with military might no it would be a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief he'd be Isaiah's suffering servant and if you are not a believer here this morning you need to understand why that is the case because I think that sometimes we miss this we think why in the world did Jesus go through what he went through because that is the means by which he saves his people from their sins if he just established this earthly Kingdom just established this geopolitical rule just established this sort of subjugation of the Roman government and every other Empire out there we would be dead in our trespasses and sins Christ had to be one of us without sin the Christ had to be one of us he comes he lives he dies he's raised on the third day why to save his people from their sins you and I made a mess out of our lives we'll obey a disobeyed God we've rejected God we have done lawless things in God's sight probably up until this very moment in fact even now our minds may be elsewhere our minds may be on a whole host of other things the Mandate of Scripture is that we love the Lord our God with all our heart soul mind and strength 24 hours seven days a week we don't do that but Christ always did what was pleasing to the Father Christ always obeyed the father and Christ on the cross satisfied divine justice he didn't go to that cross simply as an example he didn't go to that cross simply to communicate to us how we ought to love one another he went to that cross to take the wrath and fury and judgment of God you see there's a greater sort involved in all of this it's not Peters going against Malka it's the sword of God's judgment that is going to fall on the sword on on the head of the Son of God it pleased Yahweh according to the prophet Isaiah to bruise him to bruise the Lord Jesus Christ that's why it must take place that's why it must happen verse 54 how then can the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen thus in other words Peter when you tell me no in chapter 16 Peter when you cut off Malthus is here in an attempt to stop and and to thwart this particular unfolding of Providence what you are essentially saying is that we don't want the Scriptures to be fulfilled Peter if you land that sword on malthus's neck and if they derail this whole situation and they they gunned down Jesus in the garden well if that's still what it benefi Cassius I think but you see you cannot derail the plan of God Peter just by way of the example we are not to derail God's plan through our zeal without knowledge I don't want to psychologize everybody but go home today and think about how in your zeal you repel people from the kingdom of God instead of inviting them brethren were not supposed to be obnoxious that doesn't somehow translate into zeal boy that guy's obnoxious that's really zealous no he's obnoxious what's Peter say in 1st Peter chapter 4 but none of you suffer as a murderer as a busybody or as a thief this happens to people and being persecuted for my faith in Jesus no people don't like you because you're obnoxious I know this is not something we ever want to look at in the mayor and say man I am just obnoxious and I need to calm down but boy that can be helpful that's the first Peter or thrust notice for Christ's obedience to his father fulfillment of the written word is paramount Jesus said our Spurgeon said neither Jewish bands nor Roman ropes could have held him captive if he had not been under the bond of a mightier force even the eternal covenant into which he had entered on behalf of his people so there's the defense of Jesus the sword of Peter let's look thirdly at the assertion by Jesus in verses 55 to 56 notice question there he says in that hour Jesus said to the multitudes have you come out again as against a robber with swords and clubs to take me i I sat daily with you teaching in the temple and you did not seize me now this is certainly a rhetorical question that Jesus is going to answer for the purpose of making a particular point now the word here translated robber has other connotations it is intriguing it's used in chapter 21 at verse 13 pulled from the Book of Jeremiah what had the house of God become it had become a house of thieves it gets ironic here the thieves the true criminals are treating Christ the innocent one as a criminal but the word does knut something other than just a robber or a thief it can connote terrorism or revolutionary fact Josephus uses the word to refer to the zealots these were sort of political insurrectionists with that word that sort of identifier and I think that's probably more akin to the particular context we would all agree that a criminal is not only one who steals candy bar from Walmart but is also one who bombs Walmart it's criminal but the one who bombs Walmart we'd see him as a terrorist or a revolutionary maybe not a a Walmart but let's say some governmental building you know to do bomb it would be an act of terrorism what's Christ accused of doing in the very next section he's accused of cleaning to destroy the temple why do you think they've come out in such force certainly they may have anticipated a response like Peters in verse 51 but I mean if Jesus is the sort of fellow that's going to destroy the temple we need to treat him as a terrorist we need to treat him as a revolutionary we need to subdue him we need to put him down we need to take his ilk out but here's Christ's counter to that whole thing says have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to take me I sat daily with you teaching in the temple and you did not seize me the idea being is that if I was the threat that you have heard that I am you could have got me at any time you could have picked me up right in the temple complex I was sitting there I was teaching among you Christ says this to once again evidence to the civil authority that he is not the man they've claimed him to be which put your guns and swords and clubs and knives and all that sort of thing away I am going to go with you willingly because again note the emphasis of verse 56 a but all this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be full filled for our Christ everything that is written in the Divine Word is his marching orders everything that is written concerning him will be carried out everything that the father has designed will indeed be fleshed out through Christ but just before we leave this to see the desertion and the disciples notice this feel the way to verse 56 in light of the present circumstances that Jesus is facing what's happening to Jesus wicked men have betrayed him wicked men are arresting him and yet Jesus says that these acts are written of in Scripture what's it tell us that God is absolutely sovereign over all things God is absolutely sovereign over even the evil acts of men that God is in the heavens and he does whatever he pleases that God has sovereignly intervened over these things to cause them to work out for good ultimately see see we don't live in a world where these sorts of things happen apart from a sovereign God even the betrayal and even the arrest was written about by a written up in the scriptures Calvin says he was not dragged to death by external violence except so far as wicked men carried into execution the secret purpose of God we all need that perspective and then finally notice the desertion of Jesus in verse 56 be then all the disciples forsook him and fled you don't want to get psychological in your Bible study or Bible reading but sometimes it just happens doesn't it how did Matthew feel writing 56b I can't imagine he felt proud I can't imagine he felt like a hero you see here's what the Holy Spirit does he communicates the truth even if it causes others to say wow that doesn't reflect well on those disciples you see the purpose of the narrative isn't to reflect well on the disciples the purpose of the narrative is to set forth Christ in His glory Christ and His Excellency Christ in His beauty it is to set forth the reality that Christ is occupying the place of the scapegoat in the Leviticus 16 situation remember on that Day of Atonement there were two goats the the priests sacrificed the one took the blood into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled that blood on the mercy seat there was another goat and that priest laid his hands upon that goats ad and he confessed the transgressions of Israel and then they drove that goat out into the wilderness all alone solitaire bearing the sins of Israel that's Christ he's going to go it alone you see Matthew 1:21 does not tell us and he along with his disciples along with his mother will save his people from their sins no it's he and he alone you see Matthew writes the truth here after having just told us that in in their discussion with Christ they all affirm that they wouldn't desert they all affirm that they would stand by him Peter said I'll die with you no Peter you may kill for him but you're not willing to die for him at this particular point what we find in this section is that the the spotlight as it were shining upon Jesus Brethren disciples will always let you down disciples will always desert you disciples will always be sluggish disciples will always have their challenges and issues and trials but Jesus Christ is faithful and that's the solitary one upon whom the emphasis now shines listen to Spurgeon he says human nature is such poor stuff even at the best that we cannot hope that any of us would have been braver or more faithful than the apostles were you might read this and say oh boy that's terrible that they deserted him I would never desert him they just said that Peter upped the ante even if everyone else does I will and if I have to die with you I will not brethren pride arrogance and a brash confidence ought not to be our place watch and pray learn the language of the Savior as he bids the sluggish disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane watch and pray well in conclusion I think the text does a few things for us and the first place there is a warning there is a warning we covered this briefly last week we'll cover it briefly again Judas is a warning to us Judas was a man who possessed external privilege Judas was a man who was in close proximity to the Lord Jesus Christ Judas was a man according to Matthew 10 one who had received blessings from Christ in terms of power and authority to exercise in the kingdom so external position internal privilege does not necessarily translate into saving grace you must be born again you must be looking to Christ you mustn't ever say well I I go to church so I must be okay I said a prayer at Tim Hortons so I must be okay people rest on these sorts of things people Bank on these sorts of things I was raised in the church I I went to Sunday School Don don't have a lot of time for it now in my busy life but but that's sort of what they're they're leaning there they're their souls on so before the throne of God God's gonna why I know you went to Sunday school as a child you know Bravo for you welcome welcome welcome you cannot bank on external sort of position or even internal privilege you may be gifted you may do things I believe that Judas was one of the ones that went out on the preaching and teaching tour that we read of in Luke chapter 10 they come back they say Lord the demons you know we cast out demons in your name we did these you know miraculous things in your name I says don't rejoice in this but rather rejoice that your name is written in heaven you see brethren that's most important that is most crucial the disciples serve is a bit of a warning to us the Apostle Peter takes up the sword and is reviewed by Christ arguably Peter had not heard anything that Jesus had said I mean I know he did he certainly did his epistles reflect that is preaching in the book of Acts reflect that but in terms of Christ's mission in terms of Matthew 16 Matthew 17 Matthew 20 Matthew 26 all that Jesus had said concerning the fact mas died and here Peter takes up the sword to cut off a servant see here Peter don't do that as well the disciples depart from Christ according to verse 56 be but let this sink in for just a moment who were the disciples they were the apostles those very close associates to Christ so they were arguably the most hot by Jesus they were arguably the most sharpest theologically they had the most privilege and what happens they desert Jesus see I think there is at least a lesson here for all of us that if the disciples forsook Jesus they may forsake us from time to time that's why it's good to find your blessing and Christ Spurgeon again human nature is such poor stuff even at the best that we cannot hope that any of us would have been been braver or more faithful than the Apostles were I think we've dealt on zeal based on knowledge let us conclude with two thoughts on Christ he's everything isn't he she loved reading these passages and say wow he went through that on my behalf he doesn't invoke Peters assistance he doesn't invoke the father's assistance knowing good and well that he could he willingly submits to these unholy hands laid upon him to take him away to face the Jewish Sanhedrin the Roman polity and then ultimately but be delivered up to the cross he did that for sinners for us men and for our salvation the glory of Christ is displayed in his willing obedience to the Father and his absolute obedience to the written word every step of the way this was paramount this was everything this was the means by which Matthew 1:21 comes to fruition he will save his people from their sins Davy's and Allison make this observation the narrative conveys sorrow through irony Judas is no stranger but one of the twelve the crowd has swords and clubs while the man they seek resist not evil and Jesus own disciples instead of standing by him forsake him and flee at the same time the sorrow is balanced by Jesus Authority and the motif of fulfillment the Messiah's fate is his own will he decides not to ask for legions of angels moreover his resolution is determined by the voice of the prophets which is to say Jesus will is God's will that's a beautiful way to describe this situation in Gethsemane and as I said I had two thoughts the last is this what does the thought of Judas kissing Jesus suggest it suggested to me the kiss of song 2:12 and just how diametrically opposed these two kisses are you see this this idea of kissing used in Scripture as a as a sign between friends perhaps as a means of reconciliation but it's also applying to those who submit and obey it was said concerning bail God says I have reserved 7,000 knees that have not bowed the knee to Bale nor kissed him nor kissed him it's the idea there they didn't just ascend the statue and plant one on his cheek the idea is submission the idea is obeying and Psalm 212 tells us kiss the son lest he be angry and you perish in the way when his wrath is kindled but a little blessed are all those who put their trust in him Judas's kiss was a kiss of treachery it was a kiss of betrayal it was a kiss which evidenced his unbelief we see the parallel usage of the synonymous parallelism that is used in this kiss the son and blessed her all those who trust in him the means by which we gain access to the father is through the son kiss the son Spurgeon says the command is kiss the son the argument is lest he be angry and you perish in his way and the promise so the benediction is blessed are all those who put their trust in him so let Judas's kiss remind you of the psalm 212 kiss and may you by the grace of God kiss the Sun today may you believe may you look may you live may you know the joy of being found in him who went like that skate though into the wilderness bearing our sin and our shame isn't that going to be a great thing when we stand before God Most High and glory to be devoid of sin and shame doesn't sin bring shame isn't that one of the most crippling things in the Christian life the good that I wish to do I don't do and the evil I don't want to do I find myself doing and there's this shame that floods the heart well that day when we stand in his presence gazing upon the face of the Son of God because of that kiss our sins are forgiven the shame is gone and we are in the presence of the one who is altogether lovely and chief among 10,000 kiss him believe on him and you will be saved well let us pray our Father we thank you for the word of God we thank you for the passage in in Matthew 26 here there are many things for us to learn many lessons for us to take home but first and foremost may we gaze at the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and his willing submission to the Father even evidenced in his willing voluntary surrender to this wretched mop as well god help us to see and appreciate the fulfillment of the scriptures and how important they were for Jesus Christ how important they are for the likes of us we ask that you would open hearts today cause believers or cause sinners rather to believe to kiss the Sun to know the joy of being found in him go with us now and watch over us and grant us grace to bring glory to you and we pray through Christ our Lord amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation and then be dismissed you