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good morning everyone welcome to free grace Baptist Church visitors and everyone else it's a joy to have you with us this morning free grace Baptist Church if you are a visitor here we welcome you to our church it's a always nice to have you with us any questions afterwards feel free to ask away one announcement before we begin worship this morning that is that the fellowship luncheon is next Lord's Day October 22nd again that's the fellowship luncheon next Lord's Day next Sunday there will be an email that will go out on Wednesday announcing that and doing the the normal announcement with regards to food and and everything else so look forward to that on Wednesday and again the luncheon is next Sunday well let's turn to our Bibles then and now begin the worship of our great God Father Son and Holy Spirit the psalm 32 will be our call to worship this morning psalm 32 psalm 32 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 say law 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 say law 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 well let's stand as a church and sing you can turn with me and your larger hymn books excuse me to him 89 that's him 89 let's stand and sing together [Music] we'll now have a time of Prayer just a reminder that every second Lord's Day we have a prayer meeting prior to morning worship at 9:30 we have the the children's Sunday School during that hour as well but we have a time for extended periods of prayer where we pray for many things those who are sick those who are traveling many other things as well for not just our own church but churches outside of our own in the persecuted church so sometimes during the Lord's Day worship prayer we might not be able to touch on everything that doesn't mean that we don't love you or we're not concerned for your prayers but it's just that we don't have time to cover everything but we do have extended periods of prayer again on Lord's Day in the Lord's Day mornings every second Lord's Day and then as well on Wednesday evenings for the Bible study prior to the study proper beginning so with that said let's now go to our great triune God in prayer let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you for this year Lord's Day we rejoice that we can gather together in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior to worship Father Son and Holy Spirit we thank you for the glory that we can cast our eyes upon in creation we know that you have spoken through your creation that you have revealed yourself that the heavens declare the glory of God the firmament shows your handiwork Lord we know that day after day under speech and night after night reveals knowledge and we thank you for this and we thank you that you have given us though your word that you have given us your revelation to the sons of men in the 66 books of the old and new testaments we thank you for this we thank you that we can in freedom and in Liberty hold full Bibles in our hands and we know that many of our brothers and sisters in Christ and persecuted nations and in in many foreign nations do not have this privilege and we thank you for this we thank you that we can know your will as it has been revealed by you in the scriptures and we do pray and that you would help us to hold that as a high honor we pray Lord God that you'd help us now have being able to gather in freedom in this church that we would count that as a high honor as well is a blessed privilege we pray Lord that you would be hallowed in this place this morning your name would be honored that you would be praised that Thanksgiving would mount up to high heaven and that you would be the recipient of of much honor and praise we do pray that that would be not only the case here in this church Lord but in each and every one of your churches around the world that you're gathered assemblies would sing your praises they would reflect upon the the glories and the excellencies of Jesus Christ their Lord and they would sing the praises of father son and spirit we do pray Lord that you would forgive us of our sins we know that we have perfect forgiveness by virtue of the shed blood of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ and the perfection of his saving work and we do pray that you would forgive us afresh knowing that we do have that forgiveness in Jesus Christ our Lord we thank you for that advocate with you Jesus Christ the righteous who is alone the one who can forgive sins who is alone the one who has rendered that perfect sacrifice upon Calvary's cross that one who alone fulfilled your law perfectly in the stead of all who believe we rejoice in our blessed Savior we thank you for that gospel we rejoice in the truth that Jesus Christ came into this world sinners to say we thank you that you did send forth your son born of a woman and born under the law to redeem those who were under the law that we might receive receive adoption as sons we thank you for that truth we pray Lord that you would help us to glory with worshipful Christian hearts in the fact that salvation is not by deeds of righteousness which we have done but much rather according to your mercy you saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit you've saved us solely and alone by virtue of the perfect work of Jesus Christ in our stead we thank you for His perfect life for his glorious death upon Calvary's cross for his resurrection and power and in victory we thank you for the fact that he has ascended to your right hand where he does live to intercede for his people ever and always interceding for the Saints thank you Lord that he rules and he reigns over his enemies and that he subdues the hearts of his elect we do pray that you'd cause us to rejoice in Jesus Christ our Savior we would sing the praises of father son and spirit reflecting on so great a salvation we do pray Lord that you'd be with those who need prayer for many physical things as we prayed this morning for many we do pray that you'd strengthen your weary saints that you'd strengthen those who are suffering physically with illness and disease and injury I do bless them and strengthen them and heal them Lord we do pray that they would know those seasons of reprieves from pain and discomfort we do pray though Lord in the midst of affliction that you would lift them up and that caused them to rejoice in their God that caused them to be resigned holy unto your will and to your a good pleasure in all things we do pray Lord that you'd be with those who are with child that you'd strengthen them that you'd be with mother that you'd be with babies and in the wombs we do pray that you would nourish that you would strengthen and Lord God that in due time these gifts to your people would be brought forth with with health and with great rejoicing we do pray Lord that you'd be with those struggling spiritually that you'd help them that you would nourish them by your spirit that you would return them unto the joy of their salvation that they might know in a greater way that they are such who have been brought forth from darkness to light in Christ and that by your spirit you would grow them in the grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Savior we do pray Lord for those who govern over us as the Apostle Paul commands that we ought to pray for those who are in positions of authority Lord we do pray for them those who rule over us that you would be with them that you would cause them to rule in righteousness and in justice we pray Lord God that those who rule over the nation's would not do so in perversion would not do so it's a sanction wickedness but would rather do so according even unto your will Lord God that they would rule in righteousness and inequity and not seek to cast down virtue in the land we do pray that you would cause those who would seek to perpetrate wickedness in the ranks of government that you would take them out of the way that you would cause them to stumble like drunken men and we do pray that you would put those in positions of power who would seek to uphold true justice and we know Lord that this is that we ought to pray that your name would be vindicated throughout the earth that change unto good does not come by virtue of laws imposed but rather it comes by the gospel of Jesus Christ our Savior the power of Amazing Grace and we do pray that not only in our own land but throughout the world that the gospel would go forth victoriously that many would be brought from the the deadness in the darkness of sin and transgression to life and light in Christ Jesus our Savior we do pray for those persecuted throughout the world Lord that you'd help them that you'd be near to them that you would be their God of all comfort that you would strengthen them in the midst of such opposition Lord that you would cause them to lay hold of the hope of their calling without wavering and give them that grace to endure in the face of their enemies and we do pray that you would deal with their enemies that you would save many who are now persecuting your church like the Apostle Paul so many years ago we do pray Lord God that you would conquer the hearts of many who are in opposition you'd cause them to know our Christ and to rejoice in the risen king we do pray for those who would remain in opposition even unto their dying breath that you would God take them out of the way that you would protect and defend your people and vindicate your name throughout the earth be with us now than in worship we would ask God that you'd be with pastor Butler as he preaches your word this morning again strengthen him in this pulpit help him to know divine aid as he opens his Bible and as he proclaims the things of your truth to us give him much and we do pray for each and every one of us here this morning Lord that you would strengthen those who are yours that by these hymns sung by scriptures read by prayers prayed and in all of these aspects and elements of worship Lord that you would help us and strengthen us and encourage our hearts and we do pray God that by word and spirit this morning you would bring forth dead sinners to life in Christ do save Lord God this day and might you be here by Amazing Grace that those who entered in these two doors outside of Christ would Eve by your grace and for your glory singing the praises of so great a Christ we pray in his precious name Amen let's stand and sing again this time we're going to sing 219 if you'll stand with me 219 [Music] you can turn in your Bibles with me to the Gospel of Mark so we finish off this gospel verse chapter 16 is the last chapter in Mark's Gospel that's where we've arrived at now as we read consecutively through the New Testament in our Lord's Day morning worship services so mark 16 beginning in verse 1 this is the word of God now when the sabbath was passed Mary Magdalene Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices that they might come and anoint him very early in the morning on the first day of the week they came to the tomb when the Sun had risen and they said among themselves who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us but when they looked up they saw that the stone had been rolled away for it was very large and entering the tomb they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side and they were alarmed but he said to them do not be alarmed you seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified He is risen he is not here see the place where they laid him but go tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you into Galilee there you will see him as he said to you so they went out quickly and fled from the tomb for they trembled and were amazed and they said nothing to anyone for they were afraid now when he rose early on the first day of the week he appeared first to Mary Magdalene out of whom he had cast seven demons she went and told those who had been with him as they mourned and wept and when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her they did not believe after that he appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country and they went and told it to the rest but they did not believe them either later he appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table and he rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen and he said to them go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature he who believes and is baptized will be saved but he who does not believe will be condemned and these signs will follow those who believe in my name they will cast out demons they will speak with new tongues they will take up serpents and if they drink anything deadly it will by no means hurt them they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover so then after the Lord had spoken to them he was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God and they went out and preached everywhere the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs Amen well just very briefly it's wonderful news that we have here spoken by the angel in this particular account we see these wonderful words in verse 6 but he said to them do not be alarmed you seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified He is risen you see they they go to find the body of their Lord in the tomb in which he was placed but instead they don't find one dead but they find news from this angel that their Lord is risen and the language said at the language at the end of verse 7 is as he said to you you know that we we see here the joy of Christians everywhere and the fact that the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ is risen he is not dead the grave does not contain him but much rather he is risen and we see here as well that this is according to biblical promise and even of course the promise of Christ Himself the Risen one it is as he said to you the the beautiful part of the gospel found here and the fact that he has risen just as he himself has said we see here as well something that is no doubt the the subject of much debate and discussion in our own era not only in our own era but in previous ones we see this a command given by the risen Christ in verse 17 and these signs will follow those who believe in my name they will cast out demons that they will speak with new tongues they will take up serpents and if they drink anything deadly it will by no means hurt them they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover we see you know many arguing that this is to be going on in our own day we would give advice not to take up serpents nor to drink anything deadly these are things that were spoken to those who were commissioned to proclaim the gospel and we see that in verse 20 and they went out and preached everywhere the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs those former ways and means by which God made his will known to his church have now ceased with the giving of the New Testament Scriptures and we have now a body of divine revelation that gives to us the truth concerning God so we are not to seek out new tongues the casting out of demons the taking out of serpents and all of these things but rather those were things that the Lord worked with those he commissioned to confirm the word through those accompanying signs we have now the Blessed and normative means of the gathered assembly the proclamation of a preacher the glorious gospel being set forth by one commissioned in that capacity and here we are today the the blessed recipients of God speaking to us through his word and through his man in the pulpit and through the these elements of worship that we have given by our great God Father Son and spirit and let's as a as a body of believers here this morning a veil of those means sing the praises of our God and rejoice in this Christ who is risen just as he said let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you for these words we thank you for your revelation to us we thank you for this account of our risen Christ and we rejoice that He is risen just as he said and we rejoice that he has ascended to your right hand and we do pray that the risen Christ and ascended Christ would now bless us by the sending forth of the Spirit that we might be nourished by the proclamation of the word that we might be strengthened in worship Lord God that sinners might be saved and that this might be yet another occasion to rejoice in father son and holy spirit and in the excellencies of our Savior Jesus Christ we remember the South Surrey Bible study Lord that you bless that work that ongoing work we pray that you'd be with Mike as he continues to lead those studies and we pray that you'd be with Mike as he continues to preach here as he continues to minister here and as we look forward to Anna and eldership installation in November Lord we do pray that you bless our brother that you give him much we pray Lord that you'd be with that work in Surrey that you'd watch it over everyone who attends that you would grow that work that you would bless it and that we would as as intended see a church planted therein in South Surrey we do pray Lord then that you would now be with us help us to be unified and rallying around the gospel of Jesus Christ to be attentive in worship that you might receive all honor and glory might everything that is done be done unto your glory unto your praise and unto solemn and joyful reflections upon the doing the dying and the rising again of the Son of God we pray in his precious name Amen let's stand and sing together our last him before the preaching which will be 186 if you'll stand with me in the larger hymnal 186 [Music] please turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 27 Matthew chapter 27 our focus this morning will be verses 32 to 38 Matthew 27 i'll read verses 32 to 54 here now the word of the Living God now as they came out they found a man of Cyrene Simon by name him they compelled to bear his cross and when they had come to a place called Golgotha that is to say place of a skull they gave him sour wine mingled with gall to drink but when he had tasted it he would not drink then they crucified him and divided his garments casting Lots that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet they divided my garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots sitting down they kept watch over him there and they put up over his head the accusation written against him this is Jesus the King of the Jews then two robbers were crucified with him one on the right and another on the left and those who passed by blaspheme him wagging their heads and saying you who destroy the temple and build it in three days save yourself if you are the son of God come down from the cross likewise the chief priests also mocking with the scribes and elders said he saved others himself he cannot save if he is the king of Israel let him now come down from the cross and we will believe him he trusted in God let him deliver him now if he will have him for he said I am the son of God even the robbers who were crucified with them reviled him with the same thing now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land and about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying Eli Eli lama sabachthani that is my God my God why have you forsaken me some of those who stood there when they heard that said this man is calling for Elijah immediately one of them ran and took a sponge filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed and offered it to him to drank the rest said let him alone let us see if Elijah will come to save him and Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit then behold the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom and the earth quaked and the rocks were split and the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised and coming out of the graves after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many so when the Centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and the things that had happened they feared greatly saying truly this was the son of God amen let us pray our Father in Heaven we thank you for the word of God we thank you that it is given by inspiration of God that it's profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction and righteousness we would pray this morning that as we survey our Lord's death upon the cross that word would have a good effect upon our hearts as believers may our hearts be drawn out to more love to worship to adoration to gratitude to a great Thanksgiving for such a great act on behalf of sinners for unbelievers god we pray that today would be the day of salvation to that end we pray for the ministry of the holy spirit may he come and do that which is impossible with men may he come and affectionately call unto unto Christ Jesus those who are dead in their trespasses and sins may you receive glory and honor and praise from from everyone in this place today young and old and again do forgive us for our sins and our transgressions wash us in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and cause us now to reflect upon the glory and the majesty and the excellence of the Lord Jesus Christ the sauna God who loved us and who gave himself for us and we pray in Jesus name Amen one man has said with reference to the Gospel of Mark and probably true with reference to the Gospel of Matthew that it's a passion narrative with a long introduction in other words we see that the main emphasis with reference to the gospel narratives is this scene that we are going to start our survey on this morning we are entering into the Holy of Holies and certainly this would be a fitting time for us to remove our shoes in the presence of one who is altogether lovely in chief among 10,000 well the section I read deals specifically with the crucifixion of Jesus verses 32 to 54 this morning we'll look at the crucifixion proper in verses 32 to 38 but as well we need to notice that the mockery of Jesus wolly is on the cross as recorded in verses 39 to 44 and then the death of Jesus specifically in verses 45 to 54 now the Apostle tells us in the book of Hebrews that we are to look unto Jesus and then he says that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame now the shame of the Cross is obvious in this particular passage and in the section we'll look at this morning we see the visible shame demonstrated the visible shame of our Lord as he suffers on the cross and then that next section deals with the verbal shame when all the persons the passers-by the religious leaders they mocked the Son of God as he is upon the cross so let's look at this visible shame in verses 32 to 38 there's two particulars I want to look at first the way to the crucifixion in verses 32 to 34 and then secondly the act of crucifixion in verses 35 to 38 there'll be several sub points beneath each of those in the first place let us look at the way to the crucifixion in verses 3234 with reference to the bearing of the cross notice in verse 32 it says now as they came out that's not a reference to the pretoria it's not a reference that they came out of the governor's headquarters but rather they came out of the city because it was essential that the Son of God go outside the city of Jerusalem to be executed to suffer to die we see this in the Old Testament Scriptures the blasphemer is to be taken outside the camp and there he is to be stoned we see this in other places in our Bibles as well but the representation or rather the significance probably harkens to those animals that were sacrificed at the temple but then their bodies were taken outside the camp in order to be burned I think this is the significance that the Apostle draws out in Hebrews chapter 13 in verse 11 he says for the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priests for sin are burned outside the camp therefore Jesus also that he might sanctify the people with his own blood suffered outside the gate so it was requisite that the Son of God be taken outside the city if you go back to Matthew 21 in our Lord's parable there concerning Christ in the vineyard and their rejection of him notice in Matthew 21 at verse 39 so they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him again I think the significance is not only the specific means by which criminals were put to death in Israel but that sacrificial element the body of the animal was taken outside the camp and it was disposed of or it was burned what the Apostles are doing is highlighting that sacrificial element involved in the suffering and the death of our Lord Jesus now John tells us that the Lord carried the crossbeam in John 1917 probably what we are to understand is that Christ bore it for a bit and then they employ it or then they compelled Cyrene our Simon the Cyrenian to take up that cross beam now this accords with the historian Plutarch he said each criminal as part of his punishment carries his own or carries his cross on his back now what he is actually carrying is just a beam the cross he bore refers to the cross member the horizontal beam the condemned criminal bore it on his shoulders to the place of execution where the upright beam or what's called the jib 't that's already in place the vertical beam so when the condemned criminal bore it on his shoulders to the place of execution he was the the the vertical beam was already fastened in the ground the victim was then made to lie on his back on the ground where his arms were stretched out and either tied or nailed to the cross member the cross member was then hoisted up along with the victim and fastened to the vertical beam so it was a very horrific manner of executing criminals and as we see in our passage they found a man of Cyrene Simon Barr named him they compelled to bear his cross now this shows us that what had happened to the Lord Jesus up to this point had taken at all according to his humanity he needed help he'd already been sleep deprived with the nights free of previous night's events he'd already been scourge he'd already been beaten by the Roman soldiers and so he was physically humanly speaking unable to bear the cross beam to the site of execution so they compelled this Simon this Cyrenian mark tells us the names of his sons alexander and rufus which may indicate that this family was known within christian circles I'm not arguing that Simon was a Christian when they compelled him to do this but perhaps he was converted after this particular reality but France makes this observation concerning cross bearing he says Jesus known disciples whom he had earlier told to be ready to carry their own cross after him in chapters 10 and 16 were nowhere to be seen now that the moment for literal obedience to the demand had come the reader might especially notice the need for a new Simon to take the place of the Simon who had so loudly protested his loyalty now when we study scripture in an expository manner we do tend to forget things that have preceded I mean we can't remember what happened yesterday if I were to ask you what'd you have for lunch yesterday you might not be able to recall if I ask what was a sermon on about two or three months ago if you were to say God I'd be very impressed remember Peter Simon Peter I will die with you if I have to I think Francis observation here is appropriate the disciples whom Jesus told to take up their cross daily and follow him are nowhere to be found and now Christ in the moment of great need is suffering for them will ultimately die on their behalf and this Simon the Cyrenian from from a city in North Africa Libya is compelled to carry the cross to assist Jesus Christ we have a new assignment bearing the cross because the previous Simon the truth the true disciple Simon would not follow Christ unto death notice as well the location of the crucifixion in verse 33 when they had come to a place called Golgotha that is to say a place of a skull basically what we have is a word translated that means skull in Luke 23 33 it simply says skull now the Latin for skull is Calva this is where we get the word Calvary so that's why it's oftentimes referred to as Calvary or here specifically is as Golgotha but it simply means place of a skull or skull place now it could be named this for one of two reasons the text doesn't tell us the text doesn't describe for us why it's called school place they could have been topography the place could have looked like a skull or it could have been function it was the place of execution so it was skull plays a past reporter has reminded us recently if something that I will dwell on in a little bit more detail at the end of the sermon this morning but this idea of school lot to suggest to us the Skull Crushing seed of the woman in Genesis chapter 3 at verse 15 we are given the first promise concerning the gospel and God the Lord says I will put enmity between you and the woman in between your seed and her seed he shall bruise your head your skull and you shall bruise his heel this is the place where the skull-crushing work of the redeemer takes place at this skull place this Golgotha this Calvary this site of execution outside the camp where the Son of God is bearing the wrath of God for the sins of God's people the Lord Christ is doing what was commanded those things that were commissioned of him according to the Covenant of redemption he is executing it to the fullest in this particular passage notice on the way to the crucifixion thirdly the offer of a drink in verse 34 notice they gave him sour wine mingled with gall to drink but when he had tasted it he would not drink now this was actually a practice that was a ministry of compassion or kindness in other scenarios fact the ancient writing says when one is led out to the execution he is given a goblet this is a Midrash given a goblet of wine containing a grain of frankincense in order to be numb his senses for it is written give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish and wine under the bitter of salt my problem is there's no compassionate people here the subject of the verb and giving this drink to the Lord are offering this drink to the Lord isn't compassionate women it isn't sort of a kind pearl amnesty group that that is anti-death-penalty it's the Roman soldiers now the emphasis seems to be upon the bitterness of this cop that they hand to him notice that he does taste it but then he refuses to drink again it's not drawn out for us in detail Matthew doesn't explain this for us so there are one of two options that we ought to assume here in the first place it was mockery it was taunting they had perverted a compassionate custom to spite the Son of God in his suffering they fill this cup not with frankincense added to the to the wine in order to make it pleasant to the sufferer but they spiked it with something sour vinegary something that that is offensive something that is going and they put it into his mouth so instead of an act of compassion rather it is an act of spiteful mockery that the Roman soldiers continue to inflict upon the Lord however if it is the sense that the cup did contain something that would dull the senses of the suffering one Christ's refusal here taken in the broader context ought to cause us to reflect upon his glory and his resolve determination to drink the cup that the father had given him if there was anything to dull the senses if there was anything to numb him if there was anything to take the to take away the tinge of the of the cup of God's wrath he refused it he rejected it he did not undergo it he was fully resigned to serve the father in the salvation of our wretched souls but all of this is done in fulfillment of the scripture we need to appreciate that there's no fulfillment reference given he's not saying here thus or as spoken by the Prophet but behind the scene is Psalm 69 verse 21 in Psalm 69 you have Jesus as the righteous sufferer who is opposed by the enemies of God for his loyalty to God it's a most appropriate song it is most fitting at this crucifixion scene but here we see they also gave me all for my food and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drain so the way to the crucifixion brethren so we marked with more suffering more sorrow more hardship more rejection more times more spite more mockery we need to appreciate the great lengths with which our Savior went in order to save us you know that statement and John first John John first John 3:1 behold what manner of love the father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God and we are that's because of this son of God because of what he went through on our behalf according to us humanity he needed physical assistance to bury to bear the cross beam to the site of execution where he would be nailed to that cross beam he would be lifted up on that vertical beam and he would be crucified and died for our sins so that's the way to crucifixion notice secondly the act of crucifixion again few things we ought to observe here first the act of crucifixion notice verse 35 a then they crucified Him then they crucified Him France again makes the observation the over-enthusiastic attempts to draw out the physical horror of crucifixion which disfigure some Christian preaching and at least one recent movie find no echo in the Gospels in other words there's not a long detailed description of the physical torture remember last week when when we looked at the this section where the soldiers mock and and abused the Lord Jesus I said that's uncharacteristic of Matthew he adds a lot of details in that section where they spit upon Christ and they slap or beat Christ with their fists or with the rod rather here he passes over the horror of crucifixion not passes over it in the sense that it's unimportant or that he's not going to deal with it because everything subsequent to this is the crucifixion but he doesn't get into this description of the physical horror and France says perhaps the original readers were too Miller with both the torture and the shame of crucifixion to need any help in envisaging what it really meant in other words they already knew what it was like and so therefore the Gospel writers don't get into this long sort of passion mysticism that has been part and parcel of Roman Catholicism they don't do that that Ritter boss makes the observation in his commentary on John the New Testament has no trace of any passion mysticism oriented to the physical torture of Jesus those Stations of the Cross know let's beat ourselves on the back while we ponder this and consider this but there are several details that we can surmise from the gospel records in the first place the cross was the traditionally shaped cross that is sort of attached itself to Christian art there was an ex type of cross that was used there was a just vertical portion the Jehovah's Witnesses are big on that torture state and then there was sort of like a t cross well the fact that they raised or the fact that they put the charge above his head at least suggests that it was that traditional cross no I said that when they put the person the the the one that was going to suffer crucifixion when they put him on the cross beam it was typically by tying it or it was by nailing him now tying him would have been the more common procedure but the New Testament indicates to us that that wasn't the procedure utilized with Christ John chapter 20 when Jesus lifts his hands to show to Thomas and he tells him to reach and put your finger here he was nailed to the cross the Apostle highlights this as well in Colossians 2:14 but as well they would raise persons on the cross sometimes just a little bit off of the ground the fact that in verse 48 they take this sponge soaked with wine or sort of a venturi vinegary wine and they use a reed to put it into the mouths of the Lord Jesus suggests that he is elevated more than perhaps was the norm or the common practice now France mentions that over in the enthusiastic attempts to draw out the physical horror of crucifixion disfigures some Christian preaching he surmises that perhaps the Gospel writers didn't elucidate on this because their audiences were already familiar with it but we're not we're not familiar with it and a Barriss reminder this isn't to disfigure Christian preaching by drawing out or engaging in some passion mysticism but rather we do need to know what's happening with reference to the Savior here this is from da Carson he says in the ancient world this most terrible of punishments is always associated with shame and horror it was so brutal that no Roman citizen could be crucified without the sanction of the Emperor stripped naked and beaten to pulp II weakness we've already seen that remember Pilate releases Barabbas and he delivers Jesus over to be scourge so Jesus has already been scourge Jesus has already been sleep-deprived Jesus is already then beaten Jesus has already had this crown of thorns in his head and now he is on the cross he goes on to say stripped naked and beaten to pulp II weakness the victim could hang in the hot Sun for hours even days imagine that to breathe it was necessary to push with the legs and pull with the arms to keep the chest cavity open and functioning that was the point and they put a little block of wood either for the person by their feet so they could push up on that that wasn't to alleviate the suffering it was to prolong and elongate the suffering in other words the more that person pushed and was able to collect some air into his chest cavity the longer he would suffer ultimately it wasn't a mercy putting this little placement of wood at the bottom so that the person could push against it Karson again says terrible muscles muscle spasms wracked the entire body but since collapse meant asphyxiation the strain went on and on this is also why the said Aquila that's that little stool or that little piece of wood pro-life a prolonged life in agony it partially supported the body's weight and therefore encourage the victim to fight on again I'm not bringing that out so we can set up our own sort of Protestant Stations of the Cross we need to understand what these few words entail then they crucified him means this this is what the Savior went through for us this is what the Savior undertook on behalf of all those whom the father had given em this is a great display of inestimable love and brethren it ought to melt our hardened hearts now add to this the Jewish statement in Deuteronomy chapter 21 for he who is hanged is accursed of God Deuteronomy 21:23 he who is hanged is a curse of God see their shame every step of the way and our Savior is drinking in this cop to the fullest notice secondly under the act of crucifixion the division of garments notice in verse 35 then they crucified Him and divided his garments casting Lots that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet they divided my garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots now that fulfillment formula is in the Textus Receptus that's the Greek sort of foundation for the King James tradition now it's not one ting it's not absent it wasn't inserted in the TR without warrant or or whatever but rather it is in John's Gospel John 19 he makes the same reference to these soldiers who divided the garments of Christ John also tells us that there were four soldiers involved in this particular act it's almost as if they were the death squad these four soldiers would be appointed to carry out the actual act of execution now why would they divide the garments of our Lord Jesus it was a perk it was a benefit it was something you got for being part of the death squad you got the garments as something that you could sell or use it wasn't like today you know get three t-shirts at old baby for 10 baht it wasn't like that in those days your clothing was something that was valuable clothing was something that mattered and so for a percocet or percocet for those guards they would get the clothing so they divided or they cast lots in order to divide up the garments but what does this suggest at a more foundational level suggest Tsar Christ is hanging there naked again Christian art has put you know a loin cloth on those private parts of the Savior that's probably not accurate the Jews had a revulsion against public nudity but at this particular point curse it is he who is hanged on a tree the Lord Christ is naked in this particular setting the Lord Jesus is naked as he hangs upon this particular tree now as Matthew tells us here again in the King James tradition as it says in John 19 this is a fulfillment of Psalm 22 so on 22 is going to become conspicuous at this are from this point on with reference to the crucifixion it's the only thing that Jesus says when he's on the cross my God my God why hast thou forsaken me here specifically in Psalm 22 18 he says they divide my garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots again every step of the way we are seeing the fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures notice thirdly under the act of crucifixion the observation of the guards verse 36 sitting down they kept watch over him there that's a cruel isn't it sitting down there's a contrast isn't there the guards sit out after they cast lots or you know roll dice is what we might say today for the garments of the suffering son of God who's naked on the cross they shet down quite the contrast their comfort their ease in Jesus agony Jesus suffering Jesus shamed Jesus doing all this for us but I think there's some apologetic material that we ought to appreciate here these guards are guarding the cross this was for all intents and appearances are nothing out of the ordinary crucifixion there was no swap there was no change Jesus wasn't mostly dead and then he was taken down from the cross and perhaps a dead body put in its place no the guards are watching the guards who had been appointed to this death squad which probably suggests this wasn't their first rodeo knew how to kill people this was their job would you do it work today honey oh we crucified this man from Nazarene who suggested that he was the son of God or the King of the Jews oh that's nice would you like another bowl of soup that was their job you see when persons say there was monkey business that occurred when person say oh no he was mostly dad his disciples got him off the cross and they put him in the tomb but he wasn't fully dead so the resurrection isn't something you know glowingly glorious no he was dead these guards saw to it but as I've already suggested Psalm 22 is in the background and Psalm 22 17 indicates this says very specifically I can count all my bones they look and scare at me now whether this is specifically what's in mind here I think the application of it within the context and Matthew's frequent appeal to Old Testament Scriptures he wants us to think of this he wants us to understand Psalm 22 isn't about David Psalm 22 is about David's greater son so on twenty-two concerns a man who was broken bruised and battered and the guards they stared and they they looked up at me now notice fourthly under the act of crucifixion the charge above his head in verse 37 and they put up over his head the accusation written against him now this was common this was ordinary this was normal and it was done for a deterrent effect you hear that today well the death penalty doesn't deter anybody I guarantee you in this particular context it probably would have deterred and he would be claiming to being the King of the Jews to make that claim publicly in a Roman audience it had a deterrent effect you put the charge above the criminal so that everybody else can take heed and not do that sort of a thing makes sense right you publicize you declare you testify you let people know why this man met his aunt and this is the charge that was written this is Jesus the King of the Jews now Pilate does this most likely to taunt both Jesus and the Jews France again makes the observation this placard of this title placed over a man dying in agony and disgrace it was both a cruel joke and a powerful deterrent Matthew pull points out how this might have been a dagger a taunt at the Jews Poole says there was nothing more pleasing to Pilate than this as he thought to derive the Jews as having such a despicable percent as he judges him their king you get that this is Jesus the King of the Jews the mockery to Christ and it's a mockery to the Jews you Jews claim you're special you Jews claim you're something you Jews claim that you have a king well well this is your king suffering cursed racked with pain not beaten abused pilots disks upon the Jewish people by hanging this particular charge but I want to suggest another thing that we ought to appreciate with reference to this charge I believe that pilot here is speaking better than he knew pilot here is speaking better than he knew leave your finger in Matthew 27 and turn to John chapter 11 to see another illustration of this sort of effect notice in John 11 when they are plotting to kill Jesus in John 11 49 it says in one of them Caiaphas being high priest that year said to them you know nothing at all nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people and not that the whole nation should perish now this he did not say on his own but baby high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation and not for that nation only but also that he would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad you see Caiaphas spoke better than he knew Caiaphas said something that under God communicated truth another instance of such a thing is in say for instance Luke 15 to all the sinners and the tax collectors draw near to Jesus to hear him and one of the scribes and the Pharisees do at that particular point they grumble they complain they whine they say this man receives sinners and eats with them they didn't say that as a declaration or as a testimony they didn't say this as well he's different from us it was degradation it was insulting it was spiteful it was this man this wretch of a man this crumb of a man this man receives sinners and each with that you see in saying that though aren't they declare the gospel psalmist says that even the wrath of man shall praise thee and that is precisely what they do this man receives sinners and eats with that he said that the hope of the gospel isn't that the hope of our eternal life isn't that the ground of our confidence that this man this Jesus received sinners and eats with them absolutely I love that scene as it continues to unfold and Luke 15 imagine if you were the sinners imagine if you were the tax collectors imagine a few of the dregs of society in that situation and you heard the Pharisees complained us and they say this man receives sinners and eats with them you want to hear how he responds don't you I would what's he gonna say is he gonna be like them and say get away from me filthy sinner seem to be like them who who parade themselves before us as these righteous holy men see to be like them Jesus wasn't like them at all he says you're absolutely right I do receive sinners and I received them this way I received them like a shepherd who loses one of his sheep he leaves the 99 he goes out he finds the want he puts it on his shoulders and he comes home and he rejoices I receive sinners to myself the way a woman who when she loses one of her ten coins doesn't say well you know that's just the way things go no she gets out the broom she moves the furniture and she finds the coin and I receive sinners the way a man who has two sons one of which is a prodigal who goes out and lives it up or lives it sinfully by squandering his money when that prodigal comes back what happens the father runs to him the father kisses him and the father puts a ring on his finger Christ answers affirmatively three times to their charge this man receives sinners and eats with that you see they spoke better than they knew and so does Pilate it is a universal testimony this is Jesus the King of the Jews you know what Luke and John both tell us it was written in Hebrew Greek and Latin it got as much exposure as it could get this is Jesus the the Jews it was insisted upon by Pilate remember the Jews according to John say don't write this is but rather he said he is Pilate says what I have written I have written it was was insisted upon but as well it was accurate this is Jesus the King of the Jews matthew henry says so pilate instead of accusing christ as a criminal proclaims him a king and that three times in three inscriptions thus god makes men to serve his purposes quite beyond their own it's beautiful isn't it what's this indicate to us oh yeah these men are all consolidated in their opposition to Christ I mean we've seen it haven't we the Jewish leaders wretched don't call the ADL because everybody else involved was wretched too and I'm gonna go on to say that the Jewish leaders were wretched they stirred up the crowds to ask the Christ be destroyed certainly the crowds all the people according to 2725 said his blood be on us and our children in other words we accept responsibility for the travesty of the cross then roll a Pilate Pilate with his show of you know I'm gonna wash my hands before you to declare my innocence and that I'm not guilty of the blood of this man and then he releases Barabbas and he delivers Jesus to be scourge and ultimately crucified pilots hands are filthy with blood these Roman soldiers I mean he's incarcerated he's under arrest he's been sentenced to die at the cross he's already been scourge and engage in this mock enthronement of the Son of God they put the attire on him they put the the purple robe they put the crown of thorns they they put a reed in his hand and then they mock him and then they spit on him and they beat him with the rod why would they do all that sir vile wretched man so everybody involved in this is sinful everybody involved in this is wretched everybody involved in this is absolutely wicked but it's all happening according to the plan of the Father you see brethren the Apostle Peter makes this observation in the book of Acts he was delivered up by the determined purpose and plan of God you crucified Him you took him by lawless hands and you crucified him a couple of ways we ought to observe this particular scene yes we ought to see the misery and the wretchedness that has attached itself to our humanity we ought to be ashamed that some of our fellows would engage in this kind of Cruelty to a man that was wholly harmless and undefiled to a man who had never done any evil to a man that had never gossiped a man who had never slandered a man who had never done anything but show love and affection and kindness we ought to hang our heads in shame that were part of the same human race as well brethren we ought to hang our heads and worship and praise to God because he ordained this because the wrath of man does praise God because Pilate though guilty of that blood of the Lord Jesus when he has commissioned this is Jesus the King of the Jews in Hebrew and Greek and Latin he is testifying to the world that christ almighty is king that what is going on here is in some sense ironic because we know and are convinced that this is the means by which our king assumes his reign it wasn't some you know gay a uh earthly enthronement see it wasn't some let's put a real crown upon him in a real robe of of purple and let's give him a real scepter so that he can wield it from Jerusalem from the cedar from the throne specifically that's not the means by which our Christ assumes authority at the right hand of the Father because he didn't this me he's enthroned on a cross he is crowned with thorns he is mocked he spat upon but we the reader know that what Pilate has written what he insisted upon writing what he says to the Jews will stand written is our hope isn't it he is our King and not just of the Jews what was the promise to Abraham that in you all the nations of the earth shall be blessed it's Israel's Messiah that becomes the conduit of the world's blessing it is Israel's Messiah that becomes the means by which Gentiles flock to Zion so that they can be taught the law of the Lord it is the means by which God most high as amassing a great church made up from every tribe and tongue and people and nation this is in fact the hope of Israel and when he pounds the nail into this charge declaring that this is Jesus the King of the Jews all of God's people said amen didn't they because that is precisely what happens now note finally with reference to the act of crucifixion the company of criminals this underscores further indignity just when you think it can't get worse it gets worse they mock him they taunt him with this wine they divide his garments while he's hung they're naked they speak ill of him they they engage in all manner of wretchedness at the base of the cross or at the foot of the cross and here hanging in between these two robbers then two robbers were crucified with him one on the right and another on the left don't miss the significance here what does it suggest that he's in the center he's the worst of them I've argued previously that Barabbas was probably going to be on that cross Barabbas was not alone in his insurrection Barabbas was not a in his revolutionary activity or as a terrorist probably these two fellows that were his comrades-in-arms remember the word translated here robber means robber or highwayman or or or bandit but it also means insurrectionist terrorist revolutionary didn't execute criminals for theft they executed criminals for murder for insurrection for some sort of an attack on the Roman authority so Christ is hung between these two which suggests to us that he's the Prince that Calvin reads it this way he says for they assigned him the most prominent place as if he had been the Prince of robbers but as well Matthew's gonna bring Psalm 22 to play a lot in the rest of the passion but what have we seen and what passage has always relentlessly fastened itself to Jesus life and ministry Isaiah 53 Isaiah 53 is the suffering servant of Yahweh the man of sorrows acquainted with grief born whom the Lord Yahweh was pleased to crush a bruise and here specifically in Isaiah 53 at verse 12 says because he poured out his soul unto death and he was numbered with the transgressors and he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors he was numbered with the transgressors as the Prince of robbers as the Prince of terrorists as the Prince of revolutionaries as the Prince of insurrectionists again we ought to appreciate before we close our exposition the irony of the situation the irony of the situation from the vantage point of disciples remember back again all the way back in Matthew chapter 20 James and John come to Jesus and they're jockeying for position lord grant that when you come into your kingdom or when you come in you Kingdom grant that we may sit on your right and on your left Jesus says you don't know what you're asking are you able to undergo the baptism that I'm gonna undergo you're able to drink the cup that I'm gonna drink they said we are he says you will they didn't know what that meant for James that would mean him having his head lopped off by Herod in Acts chapter 12 for John it would mean being boiled alive in a vat of oil somehow surviving and ending up in exile on Patmos they would rate the cop that the Lord Jesus drank not to the same degree or with a vicarious referent and they would go through a baptism and overwhelming suffering in terms of a physical pain and trial they wanted to be on his right on his left look who's on his right and on his left one commentary I don't have the fellow I saw it in Davies and Allison he says the two brigands that's a British way I think to say robber thief so brigand you've learned anything today you've learned a a good word a helpful word the two brigands on left and right constitute the Kings retinue so our King is attended by common revolution and well I don't have common they were revolutionaries he goes on to say they are perhaps presented as caricatures of James and John who requested these positions of honor assuring Jesus of their willingness to share his cup but who instead of dying within forsook him and fled the disciples don't look well in the passion narrative the disciples are not helpers with Christ to save his people from their sins the road to the cross the act of the cross is solitary it is sole it is alone Mary didn't help Jesus Peter didn't help Jesus Paul didn't help no one helped Jesus because it was written in Matthew 1:21 you shall call his name Jesus for he he will save his people from their sins I think in light of Matthew 1:21 in light of the solitariness of our Lord throughout the passion narrative the suggestion that you or I contribute at least a little bit to our salvation is an offense to the Son of God it is an affront to the gospel of free and sovereign grace and it underscores Galatians 2:20 1 where Paul says I don't set aside the grace of God for if righteousness comes through the law even in the minutest form then Christ died in vain he went there for us we didn't help him we don't help him and it can never be the case that we could help him the way of salvation has been secured it is finished Christ calls from the cross meaning that he has finished what the father had given him to save his people from their sins Christ doesn't say show me your works and I'll show you a place at my banquet show me your efforts and I'll let you into my kingdom know Christ says look Christ says believe Christ says you can't do it that's why I went through this was solitary was alone the so-called gospel of contribution visa vie Arminianism or Pelagianism or Romanism or any other sort of ism that sees man's participation positively in his salvation is an affront to the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ it is to say no Paul you're wrong in Galatians 2:20 1 because my righteousness at least in part has come apart from him you see that's a bad way to live we need he is a whole savior for whole sinners he is a full savior for full sinners he is the alone way unto God it must be through him and that by faith alone this year we're gonna celebrate I don't know if I'm gonna celebrate it but it's the five hundredth year of what's been called the Protestant Reformation 1517 and Martin Luther banging those ninety-five theses on the on the castle door at Wittenberg brethren this is the doctrine the foundation upon which our souls hey why anybody since that time well since the days of the Apostles would want to try and think that that somehow we contribute we help well I have faith in Jesus plus my good works I have justification plus my sanctification do any of you I don't want you to raise your hands not and have one of those moments every head bowed every eye closed should you not think about it have you ever felt that your good works are really good have you ever felt that yeah yeah God owes me for that one if you have thought that you've got big problems but my suspicion is if you're a genuine Christian you haven't thought that you have thought what the Apostle Paul the good that I should do I don't do the wicked I shouldn't do I do who will deliver me from this body of death praise be to God for our Lord Jesus Christ so I think any believer who has come to the cross who actually appreciates the gospel as it's not only presented in terms of the facts Jesus lived Jesus died Jesus was raised but the way those facts are interpreted by by st. Paul the Apostle or by Jesus Christ the Son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many that give his life a ransom for many so that they can now complement his work and somehow present themselves unto God or he will save his people from their sins then doing their best to contribute what he accomplished brethren anybody who appreciates the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord is going to be a person that doesn't say for a moment oh lord please value and prise my good works how good works are those Isaiah 63 types all our righteousnesses are like filthy rides in your sight it's disgusting I don't know why anybody would want to try to hang their hat on Jesus Plus what possible allurement is there in that what possible safety or comfort or security can there be in thinking that somehow you contribute positively to your salvation now you do contribute negatively you contribute the sin you need to be saved from that's what you contribute a brethren in conclusion I mentioned the triumph or the skull-crushing seed of the woman the eyes of faith see the mockery they see the suffering they see the shame they see the ignominy which is simply an old-fashioned word that means bad stuff they see all that but that connection between scull place and genesis 3:15 genesis 3:15 again i will put enmity between you and the woman in between your seed and her seed he shall bruise your head god says to the devil the seed of the woman is gonna bruise crush your head now kids if you haven't made the connection or adults had his skull right I know we're getting close to 12:30 but don't shut off your thinking caps just yet and you shall bruise his heel several things we ought to appreciate the identity of the seed here is Jesus now there's a collective element but the primary referent is on the singular Jesus is the seed promised by god in genesis 3:15 as well the nature of that seed when God comes to condemn the devil in the garden on the case madam and he said he promises a deliverer he promises a redeemer and that Redeemer is not an angelic being that Redeemer will be born of a woman he will be a man and Galatians 4:4 tells us in the fullness of the time God sent forth his son born of a woman born under the law to redeem those under the law as well the promise highlights the victory of the seed he crushes the head of the serpent isn't that wonderful see it doesn't look like it if you had physical eyes and you happen to be one of those four guards sitting there in verse 36 gazing upon Jesus not knowing genesis 3:15 not knowing all the typological promises in the Old Testament not knowing all of that you wouldn't have seen victory you wouldn't have seen triumph but what should our eyes of faith see this is where Christ is rendering null and void the devil this is where Christ is bringing forgiveness for us this is where Christ is bringing the satisfaction for divine justice and the text in genesis 3:15 also highlights the means of achievement how does he crush the Serpent's skull bye-bye bruising his own heel that means death what's a serpent known for especially in this Hebrew work a serpent is known for biting you where on the heel typically cuz you know they don't have legs is that the normal place that a serpent would bite you unless you know he's up high and you happen to walk under the tree and he gets you a minute he can bite you on the heel and this particular Hebrew word refers to one that is lethal so already in genesis 3:15 we have the promise of a deliverer we have the promise of a deliverer who would be born of a woman we have the promise of a deliverer who would conquer a conqueror the the seed of the surra the serpent rather and we see that he will do this to his own suffer and through his own death this skull place demonstrates to us the beauty and the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord the lamb has rendered victory at Calvary for his people a second thing we ought to appreciate in the passage is the immeasurable love of the Savior he was stripped naked so that you and I might be clothed not great we need a righteousness that veils with God don't we yes we do again it's almost 12:30 and we're not going along but we need that how do we stand in the presence have only got do we stand in the presence of only God like we are no we need to be forgiven and we need to receive a righteousness that avails with God and we receive that because he was naked thought Calvin makes this observation here for the evangelists exhibit to us the Son of God stripped of his garments in order to inform us that by this nakedness we have obtained those riches which make us honorable in the presence of God highlights his love doesn't it but so does the fact that he is numbered with the transgressors what's the significance of that he's numbered with the transgressors so that will be numbered with the Blessed on high he's numbered with these men that were guilty of horrific crimes so that we can stand in the presence of God Most High that's in immeasurable love he was crucified he died he went through this so that you and I might have everlasting life matthew henry's comment here is appropriate he says and when we behold what manner of death he died led us in that behold with what manner of love he loved us I think that's beautiful and then finally with reference to the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ we see specifically the doctrine of substitutionary atonement don't we he was not led out to school all place he was not mocked with this wine he was not stripped naked he was not crucified for his crimes against the Roman state for his crimes against the Jewish people he was not taken to this place and stripped of his you know earthly comforts and and well-being for anything that he had done but he is there for us he is there for a substitutionary curse bearing curse it is he who is hanged on the tree and this is precisely what we find so this what Paul says in Galatians 3:13 Christ became a curse for us it's substitutionary a second thing we ought to appreciate here is the doctrine of justification by faith alone already mention it 500 years Protestant Reformation should be you know 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 all the way back to Genesis 15:6 that's where in we know that the just shall live by faith abraham believed god what it's kind of doing for righteousness wasn't Luther was Abraham the foot of the cross demolishes any thought whatsoever that we've contributed the foot of the cross ought to demolish any thought whatsoever that we've contributed if you stand beneath this cross and think for a moment that your goodness your law keeping your merit your help to the Savior somehow has found your way into heaven you're wrong you're wrong like the Romanist you're wrong like the Armenians you're wrong like the blades you're wrong like anyone who thinks for a moment that by their efforts they have contributed to their acceptance with God the best things you and I do are tainted with sin the best efforts that we launched for God are tainted with sin we get about a millisecond in to love the Lord your God with all our heart soul mind and strength and then we watch a youtube video with a cat we don't do what God says no I'm not saying therefore go out and don't do good works no good works are the lively evidences of a genuine faith do good works love God love man but don't bank on your good works to secure your place and favor with God the foot of the cross is the great leveler that way and then finally the practical implications of being at the foot of the cross the foot of the cross demonstrates what is most important doesn't it I mean isn't this everything the central event in history the central event in the universe this is it right here brethren there's a hesitancy on my part to even preach it because I don't want to mess it up you know we talk about sometimes at our Saturday morning study and it's a tradition I'm not sure if it's accurate I've not found it in my Bible but on that day of atonement they wrapped a rope around the high priest as he went into the Holy of Holies why so if he dropped dead in there they could drag his carcass out because they were forbidden from entering into the Holy of Holies so the guys in there he dies what do you do you got the rope and you drag him out what do you think that was like for the high priest to go into on that day of atonement do you ever stop and think about the Leviticus 16 reality this fellow takes off all his regal or not regal but his priestly garments all he is is clothed in linen and he goes into the holy of Olie's to have dealings with God on behalf of Israel he knows the margin for error is slim he's heard of native and of ihu he knows of the fury and the wrath and the holiness of God I'm sure that on Leviticus 16 day when that I priests woke up he wasn't in some frivolous way he had dealings to engage in that may demand his life it's a tough place to be brethren it is the Holy of Holies it is to consider our Savior in this suffering practically the foot of the cross and straights what is most important as I just thought through what is most important for us personal fulfillment right I don't think we all want to fail I don't think we all want to be miserable I don't know that that's necessary God made us in His image we want to succeed we want to do well we want to work hard we want to perform what I do good in school we want to be personally fulfilled the Cross teaches us that that's not most important but rather divine forgiveness that's what's most important the foot of the Cross highlights as well that it's not earthly success that should shape and define and describe and characterize us but heavenly security divine forgiveness heavenly security this is what we need when we come to the foot of the cross as well the foot of the cross teaches us that no this is probably going to trouble you trigger warning your happiness isn't most important your happiness my happiness maybe I'll say me because I don't want to make you feel bad send you into your safe space screaming to the blog estat pastor Butler said I'm not the most important thing in the universe I can't handle that unhappy man still go to heaven clothed in the righteousness of Christ we don't need more happiness we need righteousness and that righteousness is a gift from God through his son that righteousness is second Corinthians 5:21 God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him it's not your personal fulfillment but divine forgiveness it's not Jerry success but heavenly security and it's certainly not your happiness but your righteousness that the foot of the cross communicates is most important to all of us if you have not believed the gospel if you are still living in sin if you are still not looking unto Christ I will finish the way I always finish look unto Him and be ye saved all the ends of the earth for God said I am God and there is no other she's not just a New Testament teaching that as Moses lifted up the serpent so must the Son of Man be lifted up that everyone who looks will live God says this Yahweh the father says this and in the prophet Isaiah look to me he says and be he say all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is no other read the conversion account if Charles Haddon Spurgeon sometimes it was that text in the mouth of a stupid preacher Spurgeon's words that God used to save him he was a fifteen year old or fourteen year old it was a snowy day so he ducks into a Chapel Methodist chapel I believe and the pastor was gone so they asked some guy who's purged and does not describe in glowing terms other than to say that he quoted the prophet Isaiah look to me and be you saved all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is no other he says that stupid preacher looked him in the eyes and said young man have you looked young man have you come young man have you believed well maybe we need that from a stupid preacher today to tell you to look to live to start playing games or stop hiding behind some form of doctrine that that messed you up in the past the scriptures are clear look and live brethren the foot of the cross teaches us this the foot of the cross highlights that Philip bliss was absolutely right that the sum and substance of Christianity at least according to him is guilty vile helpless we spotless Lamb of God was he full atonement can it be hallelujah what a savior that's everything don't resist don't reject don't fight don't argue don't say no but look to this Christ and he'll save you he is shown he is demonstrated he has proved what it is to save sinners and that he is committed to doing it well let us pray my father in heaven we thank you for your word certainly this is holy ground it is the Holy of Holies that we find in the gospel narratives that our Savior went through such lengths to save us from our sin God may we worship may we praise may we honor may we love may we adore and may we seek by your grace to love you and to love one another and our Father in Heaven for any at all here that have not come to Christ we pray that today would be the day of salvation that the Holy Spirit would work in hearts and that you would effectually draw men women boys and girls to the cross we asked that you would go with us now we ask that you would grant us help and grace to make much of Jesus Christ both in the church and outside the church and we pray in his most blessed name amen you