[0:01] Please take your copy of God's Word and turn to the Gospel according to Mark, chapter 15.! Mark, chapter 15, and I'll begin reading at verse 33.
[0:12] ! Mark 15, 33. At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.
[0:25] And at three in the afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lemma shabachthani, which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
[0:39] When some of those standing near heard this, they said, Listen, he's calling Elijah. Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink.
[0:52] Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down, he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
[1:08] And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, Surely this man was the Son of God. Last week, we considered together a strange darkness at Golgotha and a loud cry.
[1:29] It was darkness at noon. And darkness in the soul of Jesus that caused him then to loudly cry, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
[1:40] Both the strange darkness and the loud cry were shedding light on what was happening on the middle cross at Golgotha that wasn't happening on the other two crosses.
[1:53] There was a transaction being made here on the middle cross between God the Father and God the Son. Jesus was there as a representative, as the substitute for all his people.
[2:11] That is, for all that the Father had given him before the creation of the world. That is, for all who will repent of their sins and come to him. All their sins were loaded up onto Christ and he was punished in their place.
[2:28] God made him who had no sin to become sin for us. So that in him we might become the righteousness of God. So when he took our sins upon him, he became liable to our punishment for our punishment.
[2:43] God the Father then was judging his own son, punishing him for the sins of his people. God the Son was suffering the wrath and anger of God and the forsakenness we all would have suffered in hell forever.
[3:04] Now, I'm convinced that many people who know something about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and are in churches today don't understand what was happening there.
[3:15] They see clearly enough what Pilate was doing. They see what the soldiers and the religious leaders and the crowd did to Jesus. But the unseen things that God was doing to Jesus, that's missed.
[3:32] And to miss that is to miss the gospel. It's to miss salvation. Because no one is saved by believing what Jesus suffered at the hands of the Romans.
[3:43] No one is saved by believing what Jesus suffered at the hands of the Jews. No, salvation is found in what Jesus suffered from his own father.
[3:56] As he stood in for us and bore the wrath that we deserve. It's trusting in him for that that saves us and brings us from darkness to light.
[4:09] From damnation to justification in Jesus Christ. Now, the strange darkness and the loud cry both pointed then to what Jesus was suffering on the cross.
[4:21] Today in our text, we are just going to consider another loud cry. This time the loud cry is not one of forsakenness, but rather one of triumph, one of victory.
[4:36] It is finished. And that's our study for this morning. So out of the strange darkness of God's judgment upon sin, Jesus has just broken the silence with this cry of dereliction.
[4:49] And then, my God, my God, why have you abandoned me? And now we pick up the account in verse 35. When some of those standing near heard this, they said, listen, he's calling Elijah.
[5:06] Now, why did they think he was calling Elijah? When it was, my God, my God, he was calling on. Well, remember what he cried in verse 34 was actually in Aramaic.
[5:23] Eloi, Eloi. Well, I must have backed in it. Did you hear that? Eloi, Eloi. He's crying for Elijah.
[5:36] Now, it's hard to know their motive. Was it an honest mistake? Just a failure to hear it clearly or a failure even to know Aramaic and what Eloi meant.
[5:47] But it is clearly turned into a continuation of the crowd's cruel mockery of Jesus' claim to be the Savior. When then someone says in verse 36, now leave him alone.
[6:01] Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down. Now, remember what they've already said. They've said that he can't even save himself. Let him come down from the cross that we might see and believe.
[6:16] And Matthew also records them as saying he trusts in God. Well, let God rescue him if he delights in him. Because he said, I am the son of God. Do you see how they're heaping upon him wave after wave of insult and shame?
[6:31] He can't save himself. Why? Because he's not coming down from the cross. He said God is his father and he trusts in him. Okay, let God rescue him now if he delights in him.
[6:44] Oh, doesn't look like God wants him. For he's not come down to save him. Oh, so now he's crying for Elijah to come and help him. Leave him alone and let's see if Elijah wants him and will come and take him down.
[7:01] And each time nothing happens. And so they conclude nobody wants him. And nobody can save him, least of all himself. How blind men are without Christ.
[7:16] How far from reality is their idea of what Jesus was saying and what he actually was saying. But verse 36 tells us, One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink.
[7:35] Now John 19, verse 28, tells us why this drink of sour wine was offered to him.
[7:47] It says, Knowing that all was now completed and so that the scriptures would be fulfilled, Jesus said, I thirst. Indeed, it was said back in Psalm 69, verse 21, they gave me vinegar for my thirst.
[8:03] And so now knowing all is completed, Jesus cries in order to fulfill scripture, I thirst. So it's three o'clock.
[8:15] And the strange darkness is now lifted from the sky and from the soul of Jesus. He knows his suffering work is all over, knowing it had been completed, finished.
[8:31] And so to fulfill the scriptures, he says, I thirst. Now it's no pretend thirst. It's not just to fulfill scripture.
[8:41] He really is thirsty. He's been up all night, remember? Under the great duress. Beaten, back laid bare with whips. Made to carry his cross to exhaustion.
[8:53] Nailed to that cross. Hanging on nails. Pushing up and down. For six hours. And at last, it's all over.
[9:07] And he says, I thirst. I thirst. In response to Jesus' words, this man runs and fills a sponge with wine vinegar and puts it on a stick and offers it to Jesus to drink.
[9:22] But many of you know when people are very close to the end of their life as they're dying, they're often very thirsty. Perhaps it's because they're often panting with their mouth open and dehydrated with exhaustion.
[9:40] But though they're very thirsty, they're often not able to drink. Just to take a glass and to swallow even. They're so weak.
[9:52] And so a loved one takes what looks like a little popsicle stick with a little foam on the end and dips it into water and holds it and puts it into their lips.
[10:04] Where they can just suck a little bit of water to trickle down their throat and to soothe that burning thirst. Well, that's what's happening here.
[10:18] At Calvary. Psalm 22, 15 is a messianic psalm. It's the psalm that begins, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? And verse 15.
[10:30] We hear a Savior on the cross saying, my strength is dried up like a potsherd, like a shard of pottery. And my tongue sticks to my jaws.
[10:46] He's exhausted. He's spent. He's spitting cotton. His tongue is sticking to the roof of his mouth. And he says, I'm thirsty.
[10:57] This is the real man, Jesus, dying in weakness, as 2 Corinthians 13, 4 reminds us. And we learn from verse 36 that he was lifted up so high that only by putting the wet sponge on a stick could it be held up to the lips of Jesus.
[11:19] High up on the cross. Now, you remember earlier he had refused to drink, hadn't he? But here, according to John, Mark doesn't mention it full out.
[11:34] He doesn't tell us. He just says that he offered it to him. But John says he did receive it. Now, why? Why does he reject the one offer of drink and accept the second offer?
[11:47] Well, several reasons. First of all, because there's no sedative of myrrh mixed with this sour wine vinegar. Nothing to sedate him and to lessen his pain.
[12:02] Secondly, because his sufferings are now finished. I mean, he's just seconds from death here. And thirdly, because he's fixing to say some very important last words.
[12:16] And it's hard to be understood when your tongue is stuck to the roof of your mouth. I said it's hard to be understood when your tongue is stuck to the roof of your mouth.
[12:28] And so he receives the drink in order to release his tongue so that you and I might know his last words from the cross.
[12:39] And then it is, according to verse 37 here of Mark, with a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
[12:52] Now, what was that loud cry? Which he wanted to be heard and understood. We're not told by Mark. We're thankful for the four gospels, aren't we?
[13:05] Because other gospels fill in the blanks for us and help us to know. What was that loud cry? John says the soaked sponge on a stalk was lifted to Jesus' lips.
[13:20] And when he had received the drink, Jesus said, it is finished. And with that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19, 30.
[13:31] That was the loud cry. Jesus wanted everybody to hear. Lost and saved alike. This is what he wants you to hear. You to know.
[13:43] To tell us that. It's finished. What's finished, Jesus? The utter darkness and midnight of his soul.
[13:55] Being forsaken by God. His alienation and separation from God. Being cut off from God. Experiencing God's infinite wrath upon sin.
[14:06] God's revenge for sin. His strict justice. Being cursed. Being damned by God. Utterly crushed by him. As he suffers the punishment in the place of his people.
[14:19] For he was made sin for us. That he might make us righteous in him. But now is finished. The work that the father gave him to do before the creation of the world.
[14:33] When he gave to his son a chosen people. Ruined sinners. And said, son, you go and save them. That work that brought the son of God to willingly leave the splendor of heaven.
[14:46] Knowing his dark destiny. And he comes and he humbles himself and he becomes a man. And he becomes a servant. And he humbles himself and becomes obedient.
[14:58] And obedient even unto the hellish death of the cross. That's the work he's come to do. And he did it. And the suffering is over.
[15:10] Full atonement is made to redeem men for God. That's the loud cry. Finished. Finished. Now the earlier loud cry in the darkness was the suffering cry.
[15:23] The cry of being forsaken by God. This loud cry after the darkness has passed. And as we saw the sun break out today upon us. It must have been like that.
[15:34] And our savior cries out. This time a cry of triumph. It is finished. Everything necessary to save sinners. What's finished?
[15:45] To do what those mockers were so sure he couldn't do. Save others. Oh, did he ever save others. Finished all that was needed to satisfy God's justice.
[15:58] In order to save Nicodemus. That self-righteous Pharisee. In order to save that immoral Samaritan woman at the well. In order to save that cheating tax collector Zacchaeus.
[16:10] That Christian killing Saul of Tarsus. To save the unnamed thief on the cross beside him. To save you.
[16:21] To save me. Jesus. A savior? That was the joke on Golgotha that day.
[16:33] Oh, but Jesus has the last laugh. And it begins with his loud, joyful cry. It is finished. Now, repentant believers in Christ.
[16:45] We have a savior then. He does actually save. He is mighty to save. So drink it in for your daily comfort. For your encouragement. Your assurance of salvation.
[16:59] Your salvation rests upon a finished work. It's done. There's nothing left to do. He didn't do part of the saving work.
[17:09] And then ask you to do the rest. He did it all. Aren't you glad he took that sponge to his lips. And cleared his mouth.
[17:20] So that we could hear. That it is finished. The saving work is completed. It's finished.
[17:31] Oh, what pleasure. Do these precious words afford. Heavenly blessings without measure. Flow to us from Christ the Lord. It is finished. It is finished. It is finished.
[17:43] Saints the dying words record. And they've been recorded, Christian. For your comfort. Your comfort. What is your only comfort? In life and in death.
[17:53] It is that I belong. Body and soul. In life and in death. Not to myself. But to my faithful savior, Jesus Christ. Who at the cost of his own blood. Has fully paid for all my sins.
[18:09] Finished. The payment is finished. He left nothing for you to pay. Not one ounce of wrath to suffer. Not one agony of hell to pay. No punishment in some imaginary purgatory.
[18:21] No penance of good works to outweigh your bad works. Nothing more is needed to be done to merit eternal life. Jesus paid it all. Jesus paid it all at Calvary.
[18:33] All to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow. Now lost friend. Jesus claimed to be the savior.
[18:43] Jesus claimed to be the savior is no joke. It's the truth. A wonderful savior is Jesus my Lord.
[18:53] A wonderful savior to me. But he will do you no good at all. Unless he's your savior. Unless he's your savior. That is unless you receive him.
[19:07] To save you. From sin. And that means you've got to come and acknowledge that you're lost. That without him you deserve to go to hell.
[19:18] And your only hope. And your only needed hope. Is Jesus has finished the work. And you just receive him.
[19:28] And in receiving him you receive eternal life. This is not just a great salvation. The Bible refers to it as a so great salvation.
[19:40] And then it asks you. How will you escape? If you neglect so great a salvation. Hebrews 2 and verse 3.
[19:52] Well you know you will not escape. Outside of Christ. There's no salvation. God had one son. One savior to send.
[20:02] And that's who he sent to be the savior. And so you either are saved by him. Or you are lost forever. Outside of Jesus Christ. There is no salvation.
[20:14] Did you know Romans 2 and verse 5. Says. My unconverted friend. That outside of Christ.
[20:24] Every time you sin. You are treasuring up wrath. For the day of wrath. Every time you sin. In thought, word, deed.
[20:36] Done or left undone. You're making a deposit. In the bank of divine wrath. For the day of wrath. Every day.
[20:48] Making deposits. Piling up your debt. Treasuring up wrath. For the day of wrath. But why?
[21:01] Because you don't have Christ. To pay that debt. The apostle says Jesus Christ is revealed.
[21:13] Is going to be revealed from heaven. In blazing fire. With his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God. And do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ.
[21:25] They will be punished with everlasting destruction. And shut out from the presence of the Lord. I wonder if you believe that. My lost friend. Do you really believe that Jesus is coming in blazing fire.
[21:40] To punish people forever in hell? Well. I wonder if you do. If you're not fleeing to Jesus. If the weatherman set a massive F5 tornado.
[21:55] With 300 mile an hour winds. Had destroyed a neighboring town. And was headed your way. Would you take cover? Well you would if you believed him. Even so if you really believe.
[22:08] That Jesus is coming again. And blazing fire. To punish you. Would you not take cover. In Jesus. Oh you would. You see you do not believe it. You don't really believe.
[22:21] That he's going to interrupt history. And bring it all to a close. And call all men to judgment. And that only those in Christ. Will be spared. Or you would take refuge in the Savior.
[22:35] He's the one safe place to be. In the blazing fire of God's judgment. I've told this story many times.
[22:49] And I'll tell it again. Because I think it makes the point I'm trying to make. Why is Jesus the only safe place to be. When the fire of judgment falls. Well the American Indians taught the early settlers.
[23:04] How to survive a blazing prairie fire. Fires would come through the prairie. And would just sweep mile after mile. Of farmland.
[23:14] And houses. And trees. And whatever was in the way. And leave behind scorched earth. Well the Indians said. Well when you see the smoke.
[23:25] Way off in the horizon. And it's blowing your way. Here's what you do. You go outside of your settlement. And you take some fire. And you start a fire. That's right.
[23:36] You fight fire with fire. And you burn off a big area. Completely. Let it burn. And then put the fire out. And then you go back into your settlement.
[23:47] And you get your wife. And your children. And all your animals. And your belongings. And everything valuable to you. And you stand right in the middle of that burned out circle. And now you're ready.
[23:59] To face the coming fire. And what happens when the fire reaches. That circle. Well it just goes on around it. Doesn't it? Why so? Because there's nothing left to burn.
[24:10] It's already been extinguished. It's already been scorched by the fire. And so you standing in the middle are safe. It's the one safe place to be. Even so when Christ returns in blazing fire to judge the world.
[24:27] The only safe place to be is in Christ. Why? Because that's the place where the fire of God has already fallen. On Christ.
[24:38] On the middle cross of Calvary 2,000 years ago. And it extinguished sin. And it put away sin forever. And so if you're in Christ.
[24:49] You're in that area that has already been judged by God. Because he was judged for me. I cannot be judged for my sin.
[25:02] So you need to get into Christ. That's the message. You need to get into Jesus Christ. He's the one safe place to be. When the fires of judgment. Bring the whole world history.
[25:17] To a climactic end. Are you in Christ? Have you gotten into him by faith?
[25:28] You just come and throw yourself on his mercy. You don't do anything. Spurgeon said as a 15 year old. He said I was looking for 50 things to do. And I found out there was only one thing I needed to do.
[25:39] And that was just to rest upon what Christ had already done. His work. Not mine. I don't know what you've been waiting for. I don't know what you've been waiting for. You've been thinking you've got to do a hundred things to get into heaven.
[25:52] There's only one thing. You get into Jesus. And in Jesus you get into heaven. And you get into Jesus by owning that there's nothing you can do to enter heaven.
[26:04] There's nothing you can do to merit heaven. And you confess God be merciful to me a sinner. And save me for Jesus sake. And you're united to Christ. And if anybody be in Christ. He's a new creature.
[26:15] And this is the record God has given us. That he's given us eternal life. And this life is in his son. And he who has the son has life. But he who has not the son of God has not life.
[26:29] Get into Christ. Where the judgment of God for sin has already been poured out. There's no reason to perish in the fires of God's judgment.
[26:42] When God the Father sent his son into the world. To be the savior of the world. Can you see why Satan stirs people up to mock Jesus' claim to be a savior?
[27:00] I mean he's the one behind this. All the mockery that's coming at Jesus. Why would Satan be interested to make it a joke to think that Jesus is a savior?
[27:15] I'll tell you why. To keep you from being saved. To keep you from writing off the only answer. The only way. He wants you in hell with him forever. Satan does.
[27:26] And that's why he laughs and mocks that Jesus is a savior. Oh but Jesus is the savior. And he's willing to save you whoever you are.
[27:38] Come to him today. He turns none away. But believers. What is your response to Christ's finished work on your behalf? What does all this mean to you personally?
[27:51] What difference does it make in the way you live your life? Is it making a difference? Is it a big difference? Or is it a little difference? Let me ask you this.
[28:02] If it is true. That Jesus God's son came and took your place. On Calvary. And suffered eternal damnation for you.
[28:14] Is he not worthy of your all? Do you think he's done enough? Dear Christian. For you to lay yourself out upon the altar.
[28:27] And say I'm yours. You gave your life for me. Let me give my life back to you. Recognizing the price he paid to purchase you for God.
[28:40] Are you offering yourself up to him as a living sacrifice? Are you realizing on a daily basis? You are not your own. Why not? Because you were bought.
[28:52] And bought at the price of Jesus' own blood. Therefore. What is life for you? Is to glorify God in your body. Which is his. Surely that's a fitting response to his finished work.
[29:06] On your behalf. Wouldn't you say? Isaac Watts says. What should our response be? He says. Drops of grief.
[29:17] Can ne'er repay the debt of love I owe. Here Lord. I give myself away. His all that I can do. He gave his all for you. Will you give your all to him?
[29:31] Again and again. Today. Tonight. There's a moving scene in Daniel Defoe's novel. The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.
[29:43] Robinson is the only survivor of the shipwreck. And he's washed ashore on a deserted island in this novel. He's all alone.
[29:54] But from his vantage point high on the island. He can see one day. Some boats. Some canoes. Landing on shore. And as he watches more closely.
[30:08] He sees savages taking two men ashore. And they start cutting up and cooking the one. They're cannibals. And they're intending to do the same with the other man.
[30:20] Who's just standing there waiting his turn. And all of it once that man makes a break for it. And he runs for his life. And two men are chasing right on his tail.
[30:34] And Robinson gets his gun. He's got one shot. There's two men chasing him. And so he hides in the bush. And as they come by.
[30:45] He steps out. And he knocks the first one out with the butt of his rifle. And he shoots the second one. And the guy that was being chased.
[30:56] Is stunned. And he looks at Robinson. Fearfully. He slowly starts moving toward him. And every ten steps.
[31:06] He bows down to the ground. Showing his gratitude. And he keeps going closer and closer to him. And bowing down to him. And when he comes to Robinson's feet.
[31:18] He puts his head on the ground. And he reaches out. And takes the boot. Of Robinson. And he puts it on his head.
[31:30] His way of saying. I am your servant forever. I am your slave. You have saved my life. Now I'm yours forever. It happened on a Friday.
[31:48] Friday. And so he named. His slave. Friday. Well it was another Friday. A good Friday.
[32:00] Two thousand years ago. Outside of Jerusalem. But Jesus Christ. Saved you. From eternal damnation. Christian.
[32:12] Would that not be worthy. Of you coming and saying. Here I am. I am your slave. For life. I am your servant. It is not for me.
[32:22] To decide. How I am going to live. What I am going to spend my money on. What I am spending my time on. What my dreams and goals are. I am yours. It is yours to tell me. I am your servant.
[32:34] Your servant for life. And what do you find. When you do that. You find that in his service. Is perfect freedom. That lo and behold.
[32:46] This is the good life. This is the way I was meant to live. You find fellowship. With the Savior. And you find that with him. And the yoke with you. His yoke is easy.
[32:56] And his burden is light. Is that. Not a fitting response. To so great. A salvation. Then give yourself up to him.
[33:09] Over and over. And serve him. All your days. What does it mean to you. That the work for your salvation. Is finished. Surely this is something.
[33:20] Something very critical. That Jesus wants us. To get a hold of. And that's why. He clears his voice. To announce it. What is it. What does it mean to you.
[33:32] That your salvation. The work for your salvation. Is finished. Well it means when you come. Under temptation to sin. You can remember that. Your slavery. To Satan and sin. Is finished.
[33:43] It's finished. Christ has won the decisive battle. On the cross. Crushing the head of the serpent. He has set you free. From the dominion.
[33:53] Of Satan. You're now free. To go and serve. Your new master. Who is for you. In all your. All his redeeming love. And power.
[34:04] And he whom the son sets free. Is free indeed. You'll find what. Real freedom is. That's what he's done for you. Because Satan's reign over you.
[34:14] Is finished. And so is the dominion of sin. Sin shall not rule over you. That's been broken. You don't need to obey sin. When it comes calling.
[34:27] But rather. Don't let sin reign over you. Don't offer your body. To sin. To do its will.
[34:38] But rather offer your body. As instrument of righteousness. To serve your new master. That's. That's what finished. Has to do. When you're in temptation. Remember.
[34:50] Sin and Satan's power. Has been broken. Finished. At the cross. What else does it mean to you. Christian. To hear that it's finished. Well when you've fallen.
[35:00] Yet again. To that. Besetting sin. And you feel condemned. You don't have to wallow in grief. And feel terrible for days. Before you can go to Christ.
[35:12] And confess what you've done. No. You come at once to Calvary. And you hear again those words. It is finished. What is finished Jesus?
[35:23] The condemnation. The guilt. Your sin. It's been done with. So come. Come and confess it openly. And receive the forgiveness promised to you.
[35:36] Yes. Yes. Those past sins. That sometimes make you feel guilty. And condemn. It's finished.
[35:50] The condemnation for your sin. Whether it comes from Satan. Who is called the accuser of the brother. Whether it comes from others. Whether it comes from your own guilty conscience.
[36:02] There's another voice you need to hear. And it's that loud voice from Calvary. It is finished. And there is therefore now no condemnation.
[36:13] For you who are in Christ Jesus. Paul says. Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. He's declared you righteous in Christ.
[36:26] Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus who died more than that. Has risen. Is at the right hand of the Father. And is making intercession for you right now.
[36:38] It's finished. All condemnation. And what is he praying for you? Forgive him Lord. Forgive he cries. Nor let that ransomed sinner die.
[36:48] I've ransomed him with my blood. He's one of ours. Forgive him. And on what basis does he plead his forgiveness? It's that he himself has bought that for us.
[37:01] With his own blood. He was condemned that we might never be. Well live in the reality of that. Live in the freedom of being able to come before Christ.
[37:13] And to confess that wicked thought. That wicked deed. Because you have a savior. Who says there's no condemnation. Son. No condemnation daughter.
[37:24] I took that for you. But not. Here. Let me help you. With my powerful love. Come to Calvary often to hear Christ's triumphant cry.
[37:40] Because where the fire of God's punishment for sin has fallen once. It will never fall again. That would be demanding double payment. And God is not unfair.
[37:51] He will never punish sin once in your substitute at Calvary. And then punish you again in hell. That's why he says. If you confess your sin.
[38:03] He's faithful. To forgive your sin. He'll keep his promise. He said. I'll forgive your sin. And remember it no more. And he's not only faithful.
[38:14] He's just. He's just. And if Jesus paid the debt for you. Then. You don't have to pay anything. That would be double payment. And he will not do that.
[38:26] So drink in the benefits. Flowing from the finished work of Christ. For you. Receive the comforts of it. It was for you louder than any other accusing voice.
[38:38] You were meant to hear that loud cry from Calvary's middle cross. And to have it ringing in your ears every day. It's finished.
[38:50] And I finished it for you. But now that's not all there is here. Before we close. There's something more for us in.
[39:03] This victorious cry. Not just the benefits for us. It was the end of our Savior's agonizing torments and grief. On our behalf.
[39:14] Aren't you happy for him? That it's finished? That the shame and pain of the cross is finished? This had been a dark cloud that followed him all of his life.
[39:25] Casting its shadow across his path. Never far from his thoughts. That coming appointment with the hellish cross. He said in Luke 12 and verse 50.
[39:37] I have a baptism to be baptized with. And how great is my distress until it is accomplished. He wasn't talking about a water baptism.
[39:48] He'd already been baptized by John in the Jordan. He's talking about a baptism not with water but with fire. The baptism on the cross when he would be plunged into the lake of fire.
[40:05] He would suffer the wrath of God. And until that is accomplished. I am greatly distressed. I say he lived as the man of sorrow.
[40:16] Familiar with our grief. You know when you love someone. And they're suffering greatly. Whether physically or emotionally. You hurt too don't you? But when that suffering ends.
[40:30] And there's now no pain and no sorrow. You're happy too aren't you? And it's that way with our Savior. When we see him there on the cross.
[40:41] Suffering pain and shame. And knowing that it was my sin that caused his pain. I hurt because he's hurting.
[40:54] But when he shouts. It is finished. I'm happy. Because he's happy. I'm happy. That his suffering is over.
[41:05] That he has now finished the work that the Father gave him to do. And now it's no more those rude insults coming into his ears.
[41:23] No more a feeling of abandonment. But now it's the Father's smile. It's the light of his face shining on him. And making him the happiest person in the universe.
[41:37] Hebrews chapter 1 verse 9 quotes Jesus' words from Psalm 45. Of which it said of him. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
[41:52] He's more glad than anybody else in the universe. It's over. It's finished. And now instead of the rude insults. He's receiving honor and glory and praise.
[42:04] There above in heaven. Myriad of angels in joyful assembly. Worshipping him. The spirits of just men made perfect.
[42:14] Just women made perfect. Praising him. Laying their crowns at his feet. And here we on earth. Mingle with their praises.
[42:25] Worthy is the lamb that was slain. To receive honor, glory, and power. Not insult, shame, and mockery. But honor, glory, and power. Because by his blood.
[42:39] He has redeemed men for God. He has redeemed men for God. From every people and tribe and language and nation. We glory in the cross.
[42:51] The very thing that was the stumbling block to the crowd that day. You can't be a savior because you're not coming down from the cross. And we're here today singing.
[43:04] And we'll be singing for all eternity. You're worthy of honor, glory, and praise. Because you were slain on that cross. Amen. Be sure you're in Christ.
[43:16] And join us in singing that. Let's pray. Father, open our eyes to see deeper and deeper into those hours where our savior suffered and died for us.
[43:30] And give us your spirit to bring the word with power to our hearts. That we make a fitting response. Some here need to make that initial response of repenting, of going their way, and coming to you.
[43:43] Father, have mercy on them. Save them today. And we who know you, we need again afresh to lay ourselves out as yours.
[43:55] Please, help us. We thank you for being our God and Savior. And we praise you in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen.
[44:07] It is a faithful saying worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save. To save sinners. Amen. Amen.
[44:19]