WEBVTT 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:02.240 Well, church, good morning. 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:04.400 I was away for a week. 00:00:04.480 --> 00:00:05.519 I was able to tune in. 00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:07.120 Our flight was actually delayed. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 We were stuck in North Carolina. 00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:15.279 And uh Pastor Mike did a great job preaching Jesus, pointing us to Jesus in Obadiah. 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:18.480 And today I'm excited to be back in Luke chapter 23. 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:34.479 If you have a Bible, open it to Luke chapter 23, and we're going to cover the darkest day in history, such that heaven grieved by putting darkness over the whole land in a supernatural way. 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:43.840 This is a miraculous affirmation that the Father is looking at the Son with the weight of what's happening at the crucifixion. 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:46.880 I'm excited to focus here on the cross. 00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:52.880 As we do that, we've prayed for Pastor Zach Crook from Tabernacle Baptist Church in Innes a few months back. 00:00:52.960 --> 00:01:00.880 I let you know he's walking through some very serious cancer, very aggressive treatments, but God has shown his goodness even through it all. 00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:05.359 He's back to a place where he's preaching about once or twice a month. 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:09.439 He is loving his church, leading his church, even in weakness. 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:12.480 He's showing that God's power is perfect in weakness. 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:15.359 He continues to give updates to a handful of pastors. 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:24.079 And I just want to say thank you for praying for Pastor Zach, because God is sustaining him even through this aggressive, ugly cancer. 00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:25.599 Would you continue to pray for him? 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:29.120 You can look up his church, Tabernacle Baptist Church in Innes, Texas. 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:33.439 I'm sure there's all kinds of ways that you can get to know how to pray for him and his family there. 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:37.120 Let's pray for him now, and then we'll continue this morning. 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:39.200 Father, we do thank you for the blood. 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:40.640 We thank you for the gospel. 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:46.239 And we are a people celebrating what you have given us as a free gift. 00:01:47.120 --> 00:02:03.599 And so as we do that, and even now, as we sit under the scripture, Lord, help us to really incline our ear and ask what we would need to learn as we meditate and consider the weight of the cross and the cost of forgiveness. 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:14.000 We do pray for Pastor Zach, and I'm so grateful, God, that you continue to sustain him, that he's able to be with family, he's able to preach, he's able to shepher the people. 00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:18.639 I thank you, God, that there's a whole team around him that are helping to lead the church as well. 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:21.599 We just continue to ask your grace in that situation. 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:24.719 We pray in Jesus' name that you would just touch him and heal him. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:28.560 That the doctors would be shocked and say, no more chemo treatments. 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:31.280 No, you didn't have to have that transfusion. 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:35.120 Would you do a miracle in his life? 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:44.879 And Lord, as we wait for you to prove your faithfulness in that situation, would you just give him the grace that's required each day to go the next day? 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:55.840 God, as we want to be the people here, a lighthouse to this community, magnifying Christ all the way through the Wimberley Valley, we just ask your grace in that assignment as well. 00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:57.360 And we ask that in Jesus' name. 00:02:57.599 --> 00:02:58.240 Amen. 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:02.800 You may or may not agree with me in this statement, but that's okay. 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:04.879 I want you to just think of this. 00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:10.080 What determines value for you in your life? 00:03:11.199 --> 00:03:18.240 Oftentimes I think we value things besides material money or possessions or mammon as Jesus calls it. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:22.879 But but my mind just immediately goes to, well, if it costs a lot, then I should value it. 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:38.240 My kids, maybe maybe you would tell us that we're weird parents, but uh, we really wanted to teach our kids something as they're transitioning into adulthood and thinking about their first vehicle, that they would have a little bit of ownership, they'd have a little bit of skin in the game. 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:41.759 And so they're looking and researching, used cars. 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:43.360 What's our price range? 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:44.639 How much can I afford? 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:50.400 And then we dropped the bomb on them and said, You have to earn one-third of what we purchase as your first car. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:55.280 I'm just I'm wow, we live in Wimberley, people have all kinds of opinions, all right? 00:03:55.360 --> 00:03:56.240 No judgment. 00:03:56.479 --> 00:04:08.479 I just want our kids to value this car that they're taking to school and taking to activities and taking here and taking there, and not realize it was just, you know, something that didn't cost anything, so you don't have to value it. 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:12.560 I think when we understand the cost of things, we value them more. 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:20.079 Well, can I tell you that even though salvation is a free gift that costs you nothing, it costs Jesus everything. 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:27.040 And as we consider what does it mean that we can be forgiven, the thief on the cross looks at Jesus and says, Would you remember me? 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:29.040 And he's immediately forgiven. 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:30.639 What did that cost? 00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:35.199 It cost the precious blood of Jesus. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:37.839 That's what forgiveness costs. 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:44.000 And in our text, I wonder as I read it here in a moment, if you can see what the Bible would call inclusio. 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:48.720 You have something off the front and the same thing off the back, and in the middle is the good stuff. 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:50.079 Like an Oreo, you know. 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:51.600 I don't know if you like the icing the most. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:52.399 I do. 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:54.079 In the middle is the good stuff. 00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:55.439 That's what's happening in this passage. 00:04:55.519 --> 00:05:14.399 And what what this what sandwiches this Jesus purchasing our forgiveness on the cross is a mourning and a grief, a lament and a sorrow that's so heavy that these women are yelling out, screaming, beating their chests. 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:15.040 Why? 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:17.120 Why did Jesus have to die? 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:26.879 That should clue us into the weight of what's happening in this climax of history at the cross, and what we'll see in a couple weeks, the resurrection. 00:05:27.040 --> 00:05:28.399 Let me read it for us. 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:32.560 We're in Luke 23, verse 26 through 49. 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:35.120 Verse 26. 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:43.519 And as I led him away, they seized one, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross to carry it behind Jesus. 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:51.600 And they followed him, and a great multitude of people and of women were mourning and lamenting for him. 00:05:52.560 --> 00:06:00.000 But turning to them, Jesus said, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:06.959 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore, and the breast that never nursed. 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:12.480 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us, and to the hills, cover us. 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:19.040 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry? 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:24.079 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:34.480 And when they came to the place that is called the Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on his left. 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:42.800 And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:53.199 And they cast lots to divide his garments, and the people stood by watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, He saved others, let him save himself. 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:58.319 If he is the Christ of God, his chosen one. 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:06.800 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself. 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:12.879 There was also an inscription over him, This is the king of the Jews. 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:19.199 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, Are you not the Christ? 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:20.879 Save yourself and us. 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:24.240 But the other rebuked him, saying, Do you not fear God? 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:33.759 Since you are under the same sentence of condemnation, and we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds. 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:36.879 But this man has done nothing wrong. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:43.519 And he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:52.399 And he said to him, Truly I say to you today, you will be with me in paradise. 00:07:53.439 --> 00:08:05.199 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed, and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:14.560 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:18.160 Having said this, he breathed his last. 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:36.480 Now, when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, Certainly this man was innocent, and all the crowds that had assembled for the spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home, beating their breast. 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:45.840 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him into Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:54.000 I think the good stuff in the middle is this conversation about forgiveness. 00:08:54.320 --> 00:09:06.399 And Jesus shows us on this day at the cross and crucifixion that he has purchased the cost of the forgiveness that we can have when we have the same attitude as this criminal. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:11.200 I want to show you just briefly seven ways to be changed. 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:13.039 Because of the cost of forgiveness. 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:15.840 Seven ways to be changed. 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:22.879 First of all, because of the cost of forgiveness, respond to Jesus' gracious lament. 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:29.360 Now, at first sight, verse 28 through 31 sounds like another fire and brimstone sermon. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:32.320 No, you should be weeping. 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:37.279 There's going to be a time that you say, mountains fall on us, cover us. 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:39.919 It seems extremely judgmental. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:45.759 And by the way, Jesus does preach on judgment, especially when addressing the religious leaders. 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:48.559 Woe to you, Pharisee! Judgment's coming. 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:53.279 As he was prepping for the Passion Week, get ready, because there's going to be a judgment. 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:56.879 The Son of Man's gonna go away, but when he returns, he's gonna separate the sheep and the goats. 00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:57.519 Be ready. 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:03.039 Jesus has preached on judgment, and it's very real, and we very much so should be ready. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:14.480 But I would I would take the side of the context setting this up to be less of a fire and brimstone, one last gotcha moment, and more of a gracious lament. 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:22.879 Think with me how Jesus steps into Jerusalem in Luke chapter 19 when he weeps over the city. 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:32.240 Verse 41, he drew near to the city, he wept over it, saying, Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace? 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:38.559 He goes on to say, but they've been hidden, and they did not know that the Savior was coming to visit them. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:43.600 Or even the way that Jesus interacts with Judas when he's instituting the Lord's Supper. 00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:47.919 He already knows Judas has betrayed him, but he speaks to him graciously. 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:50.399 But what about the way Jesus speaks to Peter? 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:52.320 Peter, you're gonna deny me. 00:10:53.279 --> 00:10:55.279 And I'm praying for you, Peter. 00:10:55.519 --> 00:11:01.200 Because when you turn, you're gonna have a lot of responsibility to help your other brothers understand what's happened. 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:05.679 See, I would say the context sets this up as a gracious lament. 00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:13.600 Jesus one last time saying, Oh, oh, daughters of Jerusalem, if you would have only known. 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:27.039 And if we have that kind of message, less about a vengeful judgment and more about Jesus saying, I grieve that there's so many that did not choose the path of forgiveness. 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:29.840 Would we see that and not make the same mistake? 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:38.879 Would we actually respond with repentance and not say, oh yeah, Jesus, he's just he's some guy, right? 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:42.799 Let's respond to that gracious lament. 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:48.159 I I would never say that hell is not real, that judgment is not real. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:50.639 There are times to preach hell is real. 00:11:51.360 --> 00:12:00.080 But I think what I'm preaching in this moment is Jesus again grieving at the fact that people did not have a change of heart. 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:07.679 When we take Jesus at his word, we repent and we make sure that we're changed by the cross and resurrection. 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:11.039 Respond to Jesus' gracious lament. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:14.240 Next, direct your attention to verse 34. 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:17.120 I love what's happening here. 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:20.559 If you write in your Bible, put a whole box around this verse. 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:23.279 It's what I have right here in my preaching Bible. 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:29.200 We should relish in Christ's request for the Father to forgive. 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:34.399 Can you imagine the kind of compassion it takes as you're being literally nailed to the cross? 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:40.240 You've been beaten and whipped, mocked, shamefully treated. 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:43.360 These soldiers again will mock him in just a moment. 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:55.360 And he's right here at the brink of suffering, at the brink of being choked to death by the weight of his body and the arms and the crucifix. 00:12:58.240 --> 00:12:59.600 Father, forgive them. 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:04.080 They're blind, their eyes have been blinded to the truth. 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:06.639 Father, forgive them. 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:11.519 What a request from the Savior. 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:21.919 And if you can identify with the soldier, if you feel like you've mocked Jesus or rebelled against Christ, wouldn't you hear this plea? 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:33.120 And almost imagine that Jesus stands ready to forgive as your intercessor, looking to the Father, saying, Father, forgive them. 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:34.480 They're blind. 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:37.120 Relish in that. 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:50.159 If you're a Christian and you understand the cost of forgiveness, the blood of Jesus, the precious blood of Christ and the cross, relish in this gracious compassion that Jesus shows in his suffering. 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:59.120 I also want to address Galgotha here in verse 33, the skull or the place of the dead. 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:00.320 Some of you have seen this. 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:01.279 I've got a picture here. 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:02.320 This is an older picture. 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:03.600 There's been some erosion. 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:06.000 It's always debated when you visit the Holy Lands. 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:07.600 You know, is this really the place? 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:10.559 Some people think this is it, some people think another place is it. 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:14.000 But can you kind of see in that rock formation a skull? 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:14.960 Right. 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:17.200 And this is right outside the garden tomb. 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:21.120 And many people believe that Jesus was crucified near the roadside. 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:22.559 That's what the Romans would do, right? 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:24.080 This torture, punishment. 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:28.159 To make an example out of these criminals and Jesus, this revolutionary. 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:34.639 It's so interesting that this place is known as the place of the dead, the place of the skull. 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:42.399 And yet, in a heavenly irony, Jesus is taking care of sin and death on the cross so that we don't have to walk in death anymore. 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:42.879 Amen? 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:46.720 Man, what a gracious thing. 00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:50.080 Relish in this kind of request. 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:57.440 It just proves the heart of God from the Old Testament and the New Testament's always been true, always been steady, always been constant. 00:14:57.600 --> 00:15:00.320 Exodus 34, this is what God says to Moses. 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:14.320 We're preparing for Easter here in a couple weeks. 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:22.080 How can we find these truths of the gospel sweet, sweet to our ears, our minds, our hearts? 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:27.120 Relish that Jesus would request forgiveness. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:34.000 Thank Jesus for paying the cross, the at the cross, paying the cost of our forgiveness. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:42.159 As we walk through verse 35 through 39, recognize your part in the threefold mocking. 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:44.960 It's interesting if you see it here in your Bible. 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:53.120 And all of them know something true about Jesus. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:54.799 These are the words they use. 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:56.720 Aren't you the Christ? 00:15:57.039 --> 00:15:58.320 Aren't you his chosen one? 00:15:58.399 --> 00:15:59.840 Aren't you the king of the Jews? 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:02.559 There's an inscription in the king of the Jews. 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:04.879 That other criminal says, Aren't you the Christ? 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:06.159 You can save us. 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:10.080 They actually were saying true things. 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:13.440 The problem is they did not believe them to be true. 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:18.720 They were saying true things, but they didn't actually believe them. 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:22.240 They used those things to mock Jesus. 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:30.639 I would assume that these religious leaders they've shown their cards earlier in the text when they continue to question Jesus. 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:33.360 They're operating from a spiritual pride. 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:35.360 So they mock Christ. 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:38.480 And then these soldiers. 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:40.799 I didn't know this until I studied this text. 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:45.279 So it says sour wine was not meant to relieve Jesus' pain. 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:46.080 Right? 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:48.320 It was known to be a weak kind of drink. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:51.519 Sour wine, wine, and vinegar mixed together makes it a little bit weaker. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:58.000 But they offered it to Jesus, thinking he might sip it and it would just give him a little boost, and then he could suffer longer. 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:01.360 How mean. 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:03.279 How mean. 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:04.720 Mocking. 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:06.319 Mocking Jesus. 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:12.240 And then this criminal selfishly doesn't say, Aren't you the Christ? 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.200 Aren't you the Savior? 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:13.839 Save yourself. 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:15.839 He says, No, no, save, save us. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:16.960 We're in trouble too. 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:18.720 Jesus, if you really have that power, save us. 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:22.079 It's a selfish request, not a humble plea. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:27.839 And so remember what Jesus said earlier in Luke chapter 12. 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:33.119 I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God. 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:37.920 The one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:42.960 Which one of those three groups do you identify with more? 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:56.480 The prideful religious leader, the soldiers who think they have some power, but it's all about to be stripped away, the criminal who actually knows that he's in trouble, but selfishly wants to get off scot-free. 00:17:57.759 --> 00:18:00.400 Can you ask the Holy Spirit to show you right now? 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:04.240 Am I one of those mocking Jesus? 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:09.279 If you were there at that scene, would you be mocking Jesus? 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:13.039 And then just to remember that's the very reason Jesus died. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:20.880 The scoffers and mockers like me and you could experience forgiveness at the cost of forgiveness. 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:26.559 Number four, and I love this, the other criminal makes a humble plea. 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:31.359 So because of the cost of forgiveness, remember the criminal's humble plea. 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:33.839 He sticks up for Jesus. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.880 No, no, no, no. 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:40.400 You should fear God, you should fear this is the Savior. 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:46.480 And then he looks at Jesus and says, Would you remember me when you come into your kingdom? 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:50.400 He defends Jesus from the mocking and then he makes his humble plea. 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:51.759 I don't deserve it. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.839 We deserve to be punished. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:54.960 You're innocent. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:56.319 I think you're innocent. 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:58.799 I actually think you have power to forgive. 00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:01.119 Would you please remember me? 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:05.039 Now again, something I've never seen in the scriptures before. 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:06.880 I've read this passage many, many times. 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:13.279 How in the world does this criminal know that Jesus has the power to forgive? 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:16.000 It is possible that he would have heard rumors. 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:24.559 It is possible that before he committed his crime and was thrown in jail, he might have seen Jesus' public ministry, but it's also probable none of that happened. 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:27.039 He's a criminal. 00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:29.759 He wasn't chasing after Jesus. 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:31.920 He might have been in jail the whole time. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:41.119 The one thing that we do know for sure is he heard what Jesus said about the soldiers as they're nailing him to the cross. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:51.279 He knows that this is a man while he's in pain and agony, looks up to heaven and says, Father, forgive them. 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:56.480 And that may be the only thing that he knew about Jesus. 00:19:56.799 --> 00:20:04.400 The only interaction he had ever had with Christ is in this moment, he's a witness to the compassion of Christ saying, Forgive them. 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:09.440 And so he looks at Jesus and says, Would you remember me? 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:10.640 Please. 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:15.359 One preacher has said it like this. 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:16.480 His name is Aleister Beg. 00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:17.599 Maybe you've seen this clip. 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:20.559 He's talking about the crucifixion. 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:21.839 He's talking about the cross. 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:27.279 He's talking about how often we get so distracted, and you have to know the right things and believe the right things. 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:30.079 He says, This criminal had no theology. 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:34.960 He didn't know about justification by grace alone. 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:39.200 He he didn't ever go to Sunday school or ever go to worship. 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:41.920 He wasn't a part of a small group. 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:50.880 And so he makes this scene in the narrative where the criminal today, that day, goes in to heaven among angels. 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:52.240 And they say, How'd you get up here? 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:52.799 What's going on? 00:20:52.880 --> 00:20:53.759 He says, I don't know. 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:56.240 I have no idea how I got here. 00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:58.079 Well, what do you know about the blood of Jesus? 00:20:58.240 --> 00:21:00.960 What do you know about the promise in the Old Testament that Savior was coming? 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:02.720 Do you really think Jesus was who he said? 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:03.839 I don't, I don't know. 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:04.880 I'm just here. 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:07.039 And confused. 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:08.960 They're like, Well, how did he get here? 00:21:09.920 --> 00:21:16.079 And he says in humility, All I can tell you is that the man on the middle cross told me that I could come. 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:20.319 But today I could be in paradise. 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:24.400 And I love that word paradise. 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:30.640 Maybe it makes you think of the Garden of Eden, which is paradise. 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:38.240 Great poets have talked about paradise lost and written great works. 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:44.160 We know if we read Genesis chapter 3 that Adam and Eve fell to their pride. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:47.599 They ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and they were kicked out. 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:48.319 Let me read it. 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:49.839 Genesis 3. 00:21:50.799 --> 00:22:08.000 It says this therefore the Lord God sent him out from the Garden of Eden to work the ground which he had taken, and he drove out man east of the Garden of Eden and place a cherubim and a flaming sword that turn in every way to guard the way of the tree of life. 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:14.079 So what is happening at the cross and crucifixion of Jesus? 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:19.119 This criminal has a humble plea of repentance, says, Remember me, Jesus. 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:22.240 Today, today, you'll be with me in paradise. 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:25.359 Jesus is reversing the curse of Adam. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:27.599 See, Adam's kicked out of the garden. 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:29.359 We don't have access to the garden. 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:33.519 There is someone that's going to make a way back, and that name, his name is Jesus. 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:34.799 That's who makes a way back. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:37.839 He is the door, he is the curtain torn in two. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:40.079 We have an access into paradise. 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:45.759 What Jesus is doing on this great day in history is he is reversing the curse. 00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:50.240 And praise God, Jesus has the power to reverse that curse. 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:55.200 Have you made a humble plea to Jesus? 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:58.000 Have you asked for forgiveness? 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:00.000 I hope you have. 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:09.119 And I hope just dwelling on this message at the cross just gives us such a sense of gratitude welling up in us. 00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:13.200 But if you've never asked Jesus for forgiveness, take the example of this criminal. 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:15.839 Respond to him today. 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:23.519 Because of the cost of forgiveness, number five, recognize the two signs from heaven as miraculous. 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:27.200 Now I could probably preach a whole sermon here, but I'm gonna try not to. 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:30.000 I'm gonna breeze over this and you can ask me later. 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:33.519 We learn in Ephesians God can do more than all we ask or imagine. 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:37.519 Here are two miracles that prove the significance of the cross and crucifixion. 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.319 Right here. 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:42.640 First of all, heaven weeps, darkness covers the whole land. 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:47.119 You can read in the Old Testament where God supernaturally kept things light longer. 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:51.519 Well, here Jesus on the cross and God supernaturally covers the land with darkness. 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:54.720 That's an affirmation from heaven of what is happening. 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:59.200 The next one is that the curtain rips from top to bottom. 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:01.680 You can read that in Matthew 27. 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.880 It's from top to bottom. 00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:06.960 This is a long curtain you can read about the temple and the regulations. 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:10.640 A man cannot just go up there and rip it from top to bottom. 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:13.279 No, this was a divine interaction. 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:16.480 The curtain is torn from top to bottom. 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:26.960 Many make a huge deal about how the holy of holies was separated, and only one man once a year could experience the power and presence of God. 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:30.400 And lament, excuse me, Leviticus chapter 16. 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:33.119 We have that description, verse 30 through 33. 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:34.319 But I want to read verse 2. 00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:44.079 The Lord said to Moses, Tell Aaron your brother not to come in at any time into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:49.440 You can't go into the presence of God in the temple like that. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.400 You'll die. 00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:51.440 You can't handle it. 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:55.920 And so God institutes in the law one man once a year is chosen. 00:24:56.079 --> 00:25:00.559 A high priest should go in on the day of atonement and make atonement for the sins of the nation. 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:02.720 In Hebrews, it talks about it like this. 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:18.880 Preparations having thus been made, a priest go regularly into the first section, performing ritual duties, but into the second only the high priest goes, and only once a year, but not without first taking blood, he offers it for himself and then the unintentional sins of the people. 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:24.799 That passage goes on to talk about how that old law is never going to clean our conscience. 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:29.759 But then it talks about Jesus in Hebrews chapter 9, verse 11. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:53.200 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent, not made with hands, that is, not of the creation, he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own blood, thus securing eternal redemption. 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:59.440 What is happening when this curtain is torn in two is Jesus provides access for us into the presence of God. 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:01.519 The cross has made a way. 00:26:02.160 --> 00:26:05.359 The question is, has the cross made a way for you? 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:12.319 Number six, because of the cost of forgiveness, we respond with a change of heart. 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:17.599 Verse 47, this centurion, he was a Roman soldier, the one that was casting lots. 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:23.519 How ironic that right as Jesus says, Father, forgive them, they don't know what they do, that they're casting lots for his garments. 00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:40.240 Whether he was actually rolling the die or whether he was just overseeing because he's a centurion, he is there, part of the mocking, part of saying, Jesus, if you really are who you say you are, and something happens after Jesus surrenders his spirit to the Father. 00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:42.400 Says, I into your hands I commit my spirit. 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:44.559 Something happened to this man, he has a change of heart. 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:46.240 Verse 47, it says this. 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:54.559 The centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, Certainly this man was innocent. 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:57.279 What a change. 00:26:57.920 --> 00:27:00.559 From mocking to praising. 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:03.519 And I wonder if you've had that same change of heart. 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:05.920 From mocking to praising. 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:13.519 And it's really Jesus, because if it's one act of righteousness that can flip the whole script, it says this in Romans 5, verse 18. 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:21.039 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:28.799 For as by the one man's disobedience, the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience, many will be made righteous. 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:36.160 You would come to Christ with repentance and humility and say, Jesus, forgive me. 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:41.279 If you have that kind of change of heart, you can be made righteous by the blood of Jesus. 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:44.559 What would it take for you to see Jesus today? 00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:53.759 Number seven, because of the cost of forgiveness, let's realize the weight of this mourning crowd. 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:58.000 The grief and the sorrow and the loss. 00:27:58.160 --> 00:28:01.599 You can just imagine the screams of these women looking at a distance. 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:03.759 I don't even want to be up close. 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:06.559 They're crucifying my Lord. 00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:15.599 I heard one preacher say it like this, beating their chest, ripping out their hair, screams of wailing and mourning. 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:17.279 No, not Jesus. 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:19.519 You feel the weight of that? 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:25.680 And as we feel the weight of that, does that increase in us a gratitude? 00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:28.559 Jesus, thank you for your blood. 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:32.880 We're gonna have a Maundi Thursday service. 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:40.880 This is a time to take the Lord's Supper again, to read through the Lord's Supper account, the crucifixion account. 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:45.519 Feel the weight, to consider the weight. 00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:49.519 My Jesus, my Savior, he died for me, and then I'm gonna challenge everyone. 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.319 You're ready for this. 00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:59.200 If you come on Thursday, and I hope you do in a week and a half, as you go home, turn off your cell phone, don't turn on the tablet, don't turn on the TV. 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:01.519 If you've got little kids, of course, you're gonna have to talk. 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:03.920 Go brush your teeth, I'll pray for you, I'll tuck you in. 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:11.759 If you don't have little kids, do do your best to take a vow of silence between Thursday night and Friday morning. 00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:22.480 So when you wake up on good Friday morning, you can say with an expression of gratefulness, Jesus, thank you for dying for me. 00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:26.480 That would be the first words you spoke over that 12-hour span. 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:37.920 It's gonna be a great time to remember and feel the weight of the grief and sorrow, but then as we feel the weight of that, it pushes us on to celebration and gratitude. 00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:40.960 Jesus, thank you for your blood. 00:29:41.119 --> 00:29:44.960 Thank you that you paid my cost at the cross. 00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:47.680 Do you realize the weight of that? 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:51.359 Look, we've walked through Calvary's narrative. 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:54.720 I hope that you better understand the cost of forgiveness. 00:29:54.880 --> 00:30:03.839 The question you have to ask yourself as we come to a moment of response is what changes today, or what changes this week, or what changes over the next two weeks as we prepare for Easter? 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:08.319 What changes as we consider the cost of forgiveness? 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:17.039 And I want to invite you, we're gonna we're gonna watch a short clip here in a moment, and right when that's done, our our music ministry is gonna play a song of response. 00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:21.359 And if you want to come, these steps are open just for you to bow your knee and say, Jesus, thank you. 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:24.079 You want to talk to a pastor or minister, we're here. 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:30.799 If you want to pray with one of us, if you want to ask someone from from church that came to church with you today, your friends or family, come pray with me. 00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:32.960 I'm challenging you. 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:37.039 Find a response that this text would change you. 00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:41.200 And maybe you noticed I skipped something. 00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:42.880 Verse 46. 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:44.640 I never really talked much about it. 00:30:44.880 --> 00:30:51.839 Jesus is quoting Psalm 31 when he says, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. 00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:56.960 I wanted to close with that thought before we watch this, and we're gonna watch this. 00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:59.039 A very passionate preacher named John Piper. 00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:00.720 He's just more passionate than me. 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:05.039 So instead of trying to recreate that, I think we should watch it for about four minutes. 00:31:07.440 --> 00:31:09.039 But just consider what Jesus said. 00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:12.480 Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. 00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:15.839 And would you follow the example of our Savior? 00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:25.680 That you could say the same thing, whether you've been a Christian for years and years, or you or you're right now today getting new eyes to see and new ears to hear. 00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:27.359 I need to give my life to Jesus. 00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:31.920 What you would do is just say the same thing that Jesus says to the Father here. 00:31:32.319 --> 00:31:35.519