WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:11.839 Tonight we're reading through what are called the seven last words of Christ, the seven recorded statements Jesus made while he was hanging on the cross. 00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:28.480 As we slow down and we stand with Mary, Jesus' mother, and John, the disciple that Jesus loved, we get one more glimpse of our Lord who was and is and is to come. 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:39.039 Just hours before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed in sweat drops of blood in the garden of Gethsemane as his disciples slept. 00:00:40.159 --> 00:00:47.920 At some point in the night, Judas came with a great crowd armed with swords and clubs to seize Jesus. 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:53.200 As they drew near, he asked them, Whom do you seek? 00:00:54.399 --> 00:00:57.759 And they answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:00.719 Jesus said to them, I am he. 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:08.640 And immediately all those who had come to arrest him drew back and fell to the ground. 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:24.560 When they had finally taken hold of him, Peter, in an act of sheer desperation, took out his own sword and lunged at one of the men and struck off his ear. 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:36.000 And Jesus said to him, Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:39.439 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my father? 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:46.400 And he will at once send more than twelve legions of angels. 00:01:48.239 --> 00:02:07.680 This is Jesus, the Son of God, Messiah, King of the Jews, who had in himself the power to stop what was about to happen, and who had at his disposal more than twelve legions of angels he could call to his aid. 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:18.639 Our Lord told his disciples, greater love is no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:27.120 Jesus was embarking on the greatest act of love that history has ever known on Good Friday. 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:35.520 He willingly went to the cross and laid down his life for his friends, for us. 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:41.520 But what do we see as Jesus hangs on the cross? 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:54.080 The same man that we have known throughout his ministry, one who serves, one who loves, one who forgives. 00:02:55.280 --> 00:03:01.840 As the Roman soldiers are nailing him to the cross, he prays, Father, forgive them. 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:05.120 For they know not what they do. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:11.039 You see, there is no distance between Jesus' teaching and his life. 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:17.280 In an age that longs for authenticity, Jesus stands alone. 00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:27.039 We see him endure mockery and offer comfort to the two criminals crucified alongside him. 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:36.719 Here, not only do we get to see Jesus' compassion, but we also get to see one of the criminals express incredible faith. 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:43.520 In what way did he think that Jesus would usher in God's kingdom from the cross? 00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:54.639 Here I hear echoes of Abraham's own faith when he was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac, the child of promise. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:04:10.080 The author of the book of Hebrews tells us that Abraham must have believed that God was going to raise Isaac from the dead, because the Lord had not yet fulfilled his promise to make him into a great nation. 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:28.319 Somehow this criminal knew something about Jesus, enough about Jesus to believe that God would still bring his kingdom through Messiah, through this greater child of promise, even if it meant resurrection. 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:38.720 Beloved, the faith that honors God doesn't know how he will keep his promises, just that he will. 00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:56.240 Mary was there with Jesus, watching her son die before her eyes. 00:04:56.959 --> 00:05:02.079 In this moment, the words of Simeon the prophet were fulfilled. 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:16.720 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed. 00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:26.800 And a sword will pierce through your own soul also, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 00:05:27.839 --> 00:05:34.720 As Mary's soul is being pierced, Jesus is caring for her. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:38.079 Jesus is providing for her. 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:40.879 Jesus is loving her. 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:48.399 And we see here Jesus' heart for all who suffer loss in this life. 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:52.319 He knows and meets us in our grief. 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:57.920 On the cross, Jesus shows us something astonishing. 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:02.160 Something to take note of today. 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:06.160 He shows us how to love and our losing. 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:11.279 There was never a point where Jesus failed to love. 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:14.560 And he loves us to the end. 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:22.480 And he shows us the way, the way to take up our cross and to follow him in love. 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:36.079 In the world that is still filled with so much evil and suffering, our Lord Jesus was not overcome with evil, but he overcame evil with good. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:41.839 Finally, Jesus says, it is finished. 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:44.959 And he breathes his last. 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:49.839 He had accomplished all that he was sent to do. 00:06:50.720 --> 00:06:55.120 Like a rag fully wrung dry, there was nothing left. 00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:59.279 He was fully spent in love. 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:03.279 And then what happened? 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:13.680 A centurion, a Roman soldier, who had seen perhaps countless crucifixions. 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:25.680 After seeing Jesus' death on the cross, he says out loud, truly, this was the Son of God. 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:32.079 Even in his death, there is no denying who Jesus is. 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:45.759 Reflecting on Jesus' death, John Stott, the great theologian and pastor, said, What meaning can there be in a love which is not costly to the lover? 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:57.519 If love is self-giving, then it is inevitably vulnerable to pain, since it exposes itself to the possibility of rejection and insult. 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:04.319 Were God incapable of suffering, then he would also be incapable of love. 00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:09.439 Whereas the one who is capable of love is also capable of suffering. 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:15.279 For he also opens himself to the suffering which is involved in love. 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:25.439 That is surely why Bonhoeffer wrote from prison to his friend, nine months before his execution, only the suffering God can help. 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:34.559 Beloved, tonight we worship the suffering God because he meets us in our suffering. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:50.480 Contrary to what we often think, Good Friday is not meant to lead us into sadness, but rather to a profound sense of wonder and gratitude for a God who loves us enough to die. 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:55.919 And more than that, to rise for our blessing and benediction. 00:08:57.200 --> 00:09:03.600 Beloved, may this Easter season be full of wonder and gratitude for all of us. 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:04.720 Amen. 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:08.720 Our Father and our God, we thank you. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:18.159 We thank you for what you were willing to go through, for what you gave, and for what we have. 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:21.200 We love you. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:23.840 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:24.799 Amen.