Easter Sunday 2018: Jesus is God’s solution to our real problem.

Mark 15:1-16:8

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Everyone knows that there’s a problem with the world.

Sportspeople cheat. Politicians lie and cheat their way into power. Bureaucrats misuse their power for dishonest gain, or just because they like power. Lovers, “Samboer” argue and fight and hate the ones they’re with. Marriages end in divorce. I see lots of men spending so much time “working” or fixing their garden or tinkering in the garage – avoiding the woman inside the house. People don’t love the one they’re with. Why?
An older brother sexually abuses his younger sister. Children are neglected and not loved the way they should. Children are used as pawns in a power game between two divorced parents, bounced between houses like ping pong balls. A terrorist kills 77 people, mostly teenagers. A man chops the head off another man in Maxbo. Many suffer from depression. Many are addicted to drugs, to alcohol. Anything to dull the pain.
All this just in Norway, one of the best, safest, most moral, most wealthy, most educated, technologically advanced, with some of the best labour laws and the longest holidays in the world.

Never mind the horrors that go on in the rest of the world! War. Terror. Brutality. No freedom. No peace. Fear. Slavery. Abuse. Poverty. Horrible working conditions.

If we stop and think for a moment, open our eyes and look around, really look at what is going on. We cannot help but admit that there is a problem. Why can’t we all just get along. Especially here in Norway? We have every advantage under the sun and yet we still fail to love each other like we should. In my daughter’s class nearly all the parents have split up. Unable to love each other even for 10 years. Why?

There is a problem. And our problem is not lack of education. Education just makes us cleverer at making weapons to kill each other like machine guns mowing down kids at school. Or at manipulating people to subvert democracy – like the Facebook scandal. Or making nuclear bombs or chemical weapons.
Or using psychology to designing adverts to create needs in us and make websites and apps to distract us as much as possible because when they have our eyeballs they can suck the most money out of us.
Education can be used for great good. Or terrible evil.
Technology likewise.

Lack of education is not our problem.

Maybe it’s morals that we need. A moral teacher. If we just TELL people what is right and wrong and force them to obey… well that doesn’t work.
Because who watches the watchmen? Whose morals are the right morals. What if the enforces become corrupt. Because that’s happened every time we’ve tried moral enforcement.
And if you’re thinking “put the church in charge, then there will be peace.” Sorry, but church leaders become corrupt and people then join the church for power, not to serve Jesus, and history shows us the terrible consequences of church and government being too close. That’s why the US has separation of church and state. Not to protect the state from “religion” because that’s just dumb. No. It was to protect the church. To ensure there was no state religion where the church becomes just a wing of the state.

You know if the problem was lack of education, wealth, democracy, morality, or any of these other things then Norway would be a paradise. A problem-free haven filled with the happiest people on earth.

But we’re not. Something eats away at us and destroys us from the inside out. Like a cancer it rots our best efforts makes them fail.

And the Bible calls that sin. Sin is ignoring God. Rejecting him. Disobeying him. That’s sin. And it’s the root cause for all our problems. Sin is what causes us to self-destruct. Because we reject God we can’t work right, and we end up turning on each other.

And that’s why Jesus came.

If God had perceived that our greatest need was economic, he would have sent an economist. If he had perceived that our greatest need was entertainment, he would have sent us a comedian or an artist. If God had perceived that our greatest need was political stability, he would have sent us a politician. If he had perceived that our greatest need was health, he would have sent us a doctor. But he perceived that our greatest need involved our sin, our alienation from him, our profound rebellion, our death; and he sent us a Saviour. – Don Carson.

I want to make just two points today.

1. Jesus died on the cross to solve the world’s greatest problem.

2. Jesus died and then rose from the dead - for you.

1. Jesus died on the cross to solve the world’s greatest problem.

Mk 15:22–24 And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). 23 They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it. 24 Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dice to decide who would get each piece.

The cross.

Why a cross?

Have you ever wondered about that. Crucifixion was the worst form of punishment the Romans could devise – perhaps the worst in all of history. So why did God choose that? Jesus could have died any way. Why such a brutal, horrible, cruel and degrading way?

I’m not sure of the answer. But I can think of two possible reasons.
One is that it reflects our nature as human beings. Our worst selves are there put on display. Our cruellest method of torture, where we nail someone to a cross of wood so that they eventually suffocate to death because they can’t lift themselves up. Strip them naked and watch them die over days, jeering and mocking them, until their strength finally gives out and they sink down to die. That is what we use our brilliant minds for. Cruelty. It is the worst part of us on display.

Mk 15:17–20 [The soldiers] dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head. 18 Then they saluted him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 19 And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship. 20 When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.

The cross is the worst part of humanity on display.

And it is the best part of God on display. Because he takes the worst part of us, our brutality, our violence, and turns it to good!
The cross cries out that there is hope even for the worst of us, hope of redemption.
And the cross shines out in glory for those of us who have suffered, those locked in the darkness – we are not beyond God’s reach. Even our suffering can be redeemed, turned to good, in God’s hand.
Look to the cross! Rampant hatred and cruelty which God turned to the greatest act of love the world has ever seen. The cross is emptied of its hatred and cruelty and is now a beacon of hope. That’s power. That’s love. That’s what we celebrate at Easter.

Mk 15:37–39 Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

The Temple was were you went as a Jew to get forgiveness for your sins. You had to bring an animal as a sacrifice. That animal was killed in your place, a substitute. Its blood was splashed on you to symbolise that you were covered by its blood – it died in your place. It was a powerful picture of the seriousness of sin – rebellion against God, saying no to God, ignoring God. Sin means death!
But also a powerful picture of redemption and forgiveness. There was way out. You could come to God through the sacrifice.

And all that only pointed the way to Jesus. That’s why Mark tells us about what’s going on in the Temple at the moment of Jesus’ death. The camera suddenly zooms from the Cross on Golgotha, outside Jerusalem, and into the city centre, right into the Temple – and then back again. Because the “curtain” in v38 And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. was a massive, thick piece of cloth 20m high, 20m wide, and 10cm thick that blocked off the “Most Holy Place” where God symbolically “lived”.

Torn down when Jesus died.

Why? Because God is no longer found at the Temple. Sacrificing an animal there is no longer needed. That just pointed to Jesus. He is where we find forgiveness of sins now.

It also means that the way to God is now open. And open for everyone. Not just the Jews, or the priests, or the High Priest – but everyone. The way to God is open. No barriers.

And we see that immediately. Camera zooms back and
39 When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

The statement in verse 39 is utterly incredible: “This man truly was the Son of God!” What is it that turned this man around – from abusing Jesus to worshipping Jesus? V39 says when he “saw how [Jesus] died”. I wonder what he saw? Perhaps he saw in Jesus’ eyes, through the spiritual and physical pain, the love that drove him to the cross? Perhaps Jesus looked at him with eyes so filled with forgiveness it pierced even this rough Roman soldier’s heart? Perhaps it was something else. We don’t know – but it was the death of Jesus that brought him new life, as it has been for every Christian since.

Our world can be dark and brutal. Our lives can be filled with pain. But in that dark the light of God’s love displayed on the cross shines all the brighter. And in our pain we hear him say “I am with you”. He knows our pain. He has been through it. He is with us. And he will bind up our wounds and heal us – partially now, and completely on the great day when he returns.

And we know this because of today. Easter Sunday. Resurrection Sunday. The day in history when a dead man rose again to life, just as he had predicted, and blew the minds of everybody involved.

2. Jesus died and then rose from the dead – for you

Mk 16:6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!”

He is risen. Amen. He is risen indeed!

But this was not what the women going to the tomb expected. We do. We know the story. Perhaps so much that it loses its impact. But what did they expect? A corpse. Probably starting to smell. It wasn’t -10!
Because what were they carrying to the tomb? 16:1 tells us they went with burial spices! Not party balloons, whistles, streamers and a banner saying “Welcome back Jesus!”. There was no band coming with them to say tadaa! as Jesus came out.
You know, Jesus’ closest followers did not believe that he would rise from the dead – even though he’d told them. They probably thought he meant in some kind of spiritual way. “I will live on in your heart”. Not actually die in front of their eyes and then physically come back to life. Who does that.

So the women are going to anoint the corpse. The men are so depressed and defeated they can’t even bring themselves to see the body. After all, they thought Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, the Great Rescuer – and then he DIED!

So their discussion on the way to the tomb wasn’t A Great Discussion of Faith and Belief “oh won’t it be good to see the risen Lord Jesus again. How wonderful”. 3 On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”

Some people foolishly claim that “it wasn’t Jesus on the cross” or “he didn’t die, he just fainted”. But that’s nonsense. The religious leaders hated Jesus so much they got him crucified. The Roman soldiers were experts in crucifixion. They wouldn’t be fooled by someone fainting, and they wouldn’t crucify the wrong person because if Jesus had escaped their own life would be forfeit. Jesus really died. Everyone knew he was dead. Pilate even double-checked his death because people normally took days to die on a cross – Jesus gave up his own life after a few hours. So he double-checks with the Roman officer in charge – is he really dead? Yes, says the officer.

That’s why when Jesus rose from the dead it shook the world. The ripples of that one event spread around the world like a shockwave. This year we call 2018 because of Jesus. Because of his resurrection we claim his birth as year zero. That is a massive shockwave.

We are here because something enormous happened 1986 years ago, something so big that it totally transformed the Roman world and continues to affect the whole world. Like ripples in water, we see that something happened in Jerusalem in 33AD and within 30 years it had spread through the entire known world, even to the Emperor. With no internet. No phones. No army. No political power.

Just a testimony: I saw and listened and touched and knew Jesus. He did amazing miracles, he spoke truths that we had never heard before - and then he died. And we all thought it was the end. And then he rose from the dead!

A likely story! But history revealed that something happened Easter AD33 in Jerusalem. Something massive. Something so incredible that it sent shockwaves throughout the world.
And if it wasn’t the resurrection of Jesus – what was it?

Because it must have been just as amazing, just as astounding, just as incredible. And for that we have NO EVIDENCE.

History forces us to consider the unthinkable: that Jesus of Nazareth, wise man, ethical teacher, miracle-worker, guru, a man of love and peace, was really something much more. Saviour. Lord. God Almighty, creator of Heaven and Earth, with power over all things, including death.

The ripples in the water call out to us. The tomb is empty. Jesus rose from the dead.

Difficult to accept? The disciples would agree with you. His closest followers didn’t believe it. How do the women react in today’s passage when confronted by the empty tomb? Happy? Overjoyed? Vindicated? No. Shocked v5. Frightened v8. Trembling v8. Bewildered v8. And every meeting with Jesus went the same way. “I don’t believe it!” until they saw him. And they believed. And gave their lives so that we might believe.

Now, maybe you’re a believer today, maybe you’re not. If you’re not, make a decision right now, between you and God, to find out the truth. Not to say “yes I believe” but “I want to fin the truth”. And keep coming, keep asking questions.

And if you are a believer? Keep looking to the cross. Because too many who call themselves Christians these days are anything but. The media likes to paint Christians as prejudiced, hateful people without joy and bound by rules – and that’s all too true of Christians who don’t know Christ. But Jesus said, “Come to me, as you are, anyone - the way is open. The price is paid.”
We celebrate today that Jesus' death has set us free from rules and given us an eternal joy that bubbles up inside us because we know God!

Of course, there are other choices you can make.
Perhaps you’d like to take a dip in the river Ganges during an eclipse? “Taking a holy dip during the solar eclipse is a very pious act. It is very auspicious, it is very fruitful and it can get one salvation,” the words of Hindu priest Babu Ram Sashtri to Reuters television.
Or maybe you think that’s nonsense and you’d prefer cold hard science. Then make sure you know what you’re in for. Alex Rosenberg in “The Atheist's Guide to Reality” makes it clear what you’re signing up for.
- Is there a God? No.
- What is the nature of reality? What physics says it is.
- What is the purpose of the universe? There is none.
- What is the meaning of life? There is none.
- Why am I here? Just dumb luck.
- Is there a soul? Is it immortal? Are you kidding?
- Is there free will? Not a chance!
- What is the difference between right and wrong, good and bad? There is no moral difference between them.
- Why should I be moral? Because it makes you feel better than being immoral.
- Is abortion, euthanasia, suicide, paying taxes, foreign aid, or anything else you don’t like forbidden, permissible, or sometimes obligatory? Anything goes.
- Does history have any meaning or purpose? It’s full of sound and fury, but signifies nothing.

Or perhaps you could look at the evidence for the resurrection. A powerful statement of God’s redemptive power and his love for… yes, even you. Like ripples in the water, the cross echoes through history and calls on you to respond. Will you stand and say “Truly this man is the Son of God”?

May this Easter Sunday be the start of a new life for each one of us as we accept afresh, or perhaps for the first time, the power of the resurrection life of Jesus to wipe away our past sins, to fill us with joy even in the darkness and difficulties of life, and lead us safely to the Glorious Day when we will see him face to face.

He is risen. Amen. He is risen indeed!

Revelation 21 We keep going for the joy set before us

Revelation 21

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Have you ever waited for something you're looking forward to?

Life is full of delayed gratification: doing something we don’t want to do in order to get something we do. Whether it's a sweetie because we read a book at age 10 or the salary we get to go to work, we all know about enduring in order to get something better. We are even willing to suffer because we see the goal, the reward, in front of us. Just ask the guys in the gym. Or athletes. Or my wife when she’s excercising. The momentary suffering is nothing compared to the joy that awaits.

And that’s how we as Christians should live. In this life, we keep going, we endure, because we have our eyes fixed on what is to come. We follow Jesus and obey his words not because we get everything we want now, but because we see the prize in front of us. We are willing to suffer now because joy – pure joy - is just a moment away. In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, we will be with him.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honour beside God’s throne.

1. God is almighty and he is good v1-5

2. God is full of mercy v6-8

3. The Holy City is made up of God's people and contains only the best of this world.

1. God is almighty and he is good v1-5

In the movie Batman v Superman, Luthor raised this familiar issue: “if God is all-powerful, He cannot be all good. And if He is all good, then He cannot be all-powerful.” Because if God is good, he would not allow what we see around us. He would not allow sin. And because he does, he is either not good or does not have the power to stop it.

This was very real to those John was writing to in year 90. For they were persecuted. In Smyrna they lost jobs, houses, business – they were poor and hungry because they were Christians. In Pergamon they were killed. In Philadelphia they were under such pressure that they nearly collapsed. In Ephesus, they forgot love, Thyatira just compromised and conformed to the society around them (State church?), Laodicea was lukewarm, and Sardes was nearly dead. So why keep on going? Why believe in Jesus? Is it worth it? Can God really fulfill his promises? Can we really believe in a God of love in the midst of suffering?

And the answer is yes. For we have already seen God's answer to Luthor's problem. On the cross we see both God's love and His might. He is good because he dies for us. And he is almighty, even over evil, because on the cross we see how evil is transformed by God to serve His good purposes. Jesus' crucifixion was at the same time the worst thing that ever happened - because we murdered God! - and the best thing that ever happened - because through His death Jesus set us free and laid the foundation for the new creation.

Because of Jesus' death on the cross, all evil will be erased, and we who are in Christ will live forever in an eternal paradise together with our God. Satan and sin and death and pain and all evil was dealt a death blow on the Cross.

3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”

God is good and he will destroy all evil. Soon. Until then evil is permitted a narrow and limited role in God's plan. Evil is forced to obey God’s will and achieve his purposes: to either lead us to salvation, or to judge those who do not repent. But soon all these things will be gone forever. Soon, Jesus will return, not as a servant, not to die, not to open the way to heaven for evil people like us through His death on the cross. No, he will return as the Holy Warrior, the White Knight who will destroy evil forever.

For this world will be washed clean: all evil, suffering, pain, gone! Because God will live here with us. God's home will be with his people, with us. He will live with us, and we will be his people.

We see this illustrated in the Exodus with Moses, where God saved his people with great power from suffering and slavery in Egypt, and lived with his people. The word “home” in v3 is “tabernacle”, which was God’s tent in the desert - a physical picture that God was with them. Here I lived in my tent - and God lived in his tent. God is with us! Later King Solomon built a new permanent symbol: the Temple in Jerusalem. Here was God’s house. God lived with his people. He was their God, and they were His people.

But those were shadows of the reality. Here is the reality. Here is the fulfilment of that promise. God with his people - but without any barrier. Jesus has removed sin from us and given us white robes so that we can stand as his bride in the new creation. Our name is written in the Book of Life! And this is what we are looking forward to. The day when God himself will wipe away every tear and where death and sorrow and crying and pain are no more. Amen and Amen!

So why should we endure, keep going? Because this is our future.

Why doesn’t God do anything about evil? Well, he has already. He smashed it on the cross, and showed us his power and his love. And he will wipe evil out completely on the Last Day.

But why doesn’t he do it now? Why, for example, is Robert Mugabe, dictator of Zimbabwe, still alive? Justice now!
But are you really sure you want instant justice? To be struck dumb (unable to speak) because cruel and hurtful words were about to come out of your mouth? Or your hand to rot off before you could sign the shady fiannaical deal? Deaf because you listened to gossip? See we don’t think about ourselves when we cry out for justice! Just because our sins aren’t as public and don’t affect as many people doesn’t mean they’re any better.
If we really got immediate and rigorous justice, this world would be a literal hell. It would be impossible for us to live. In his mercy God has delayed judgement day, and he has limited how much of the consequences of sin we experience. Just enough for us to realize we are sinners - but not enough to crush us with hell.
But that Day will comes when everything is put right and justice will rule - but thank God it is not today, because it means that we and those around us still have the opportunity to find mercy in Jesus. And that's point number two.

God is almighty and he is good, but he delays the day of justice - judgment day - because

2. God is full of mercy v6-8

6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

Everything will be renewed, re-created, transformed. That has always been the plan. We, too, will be transformed, re-created. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

We are made new – re-created - when we receive Christ. We are re-created every day as the Holy Spirit works in us and transforms us, changes us, renews from the inside out. Today, I'm far from perfect, but I'm much more like Jesus than I was when I was saved at age 19. The Holy Spirit is at work in me. I was re-created that moment I received Jesus. I died, and a new me, me in Christ, was created. The child of wrath died, and the child of God was born. I was re-created. I am being re-created. And I will be re-created when Jesus calls me from the grave and into the New Creation.
And this transformation, this growth from grace to grace, is sure because it is guaranteed by Jesus. He who is Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. He says he is A to Z (or Å), the beginning and the end. He created everything in the beginning, and he will re-create everything in the end. And he says to us, “Come! Whoever is thirsty, come! He who desires, let him come and he will receive the water of life as a gift.” Amen and Amen!

God is full of mercy. Anyone who wants to can receive the water of life. Those in the Bible groups will recognize this from John 7:37 where Jesus says, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ ” He was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him.

This is a gift from Jesus. An gift bought at great price. For I do not think it's a coincidence that the words in v6 “It is finished” echo what Jesus said on the Cross in John 19:30: “It is finished”

For this was the goal of the cross. A huge multitude! A massive crowd of people from all nations, tongues, and cultures - the gift of grace! Saved by Jesus' blood on the cross.

What amazing mercy. Because when we read v8 we realise what we deserve. This is us. 8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

The word “cowards” caught my eye. Is it really sinful to be a coward? But how true that is. How often do we not do what we know is right because we are afraid. We do not want to lose status, risk our reputation. We don’t want people thinking we’re weird. So we remain silent or we do what we know we should not do. Have another beer and get drunk. Be greedy and eat another piece of cake. Take that pill. Punch him. Steal that. Sign the dodgy contract. Then lie about it. Cover it up. Because we are cowards! The biggest coward in history was Pontius Pilate! So in Christ let be men of courage. Men of convction who do what is right. Men and women who stand for Christ no matter what.

Because by nature we are cowardly, unbelieving, corrupt - we don’t want to believe God’s word, we don’t want to obey Him – we want to do what WE want. And so we are murderers. We strike people down with words, and if looks could kill... of that we are all guilty. Some of us have blood on our hands because we have been misled and pressured into abortion and killed a baby person. And there are even some in Christ who have killed or tried to kill others. Perhaps in this very church. I had a murderer in my bible study a few years ago. We are murderers all of us. And we are immoral. Sexual sinners. Unfaithful in our thoughts, and for many of us, our thoughts have become actions and we have been unfaithful. We are trapped by pornography and are unfaithful to God and to those we love. We live together (samboere) and refuse to commit to being one and so turn our back on God's commandment “the two shall become one” in marriage. Or we are married but we live parallel lives as two instead of united as one - and too many of us who ignore what God says about sex in marriage - which is “be united often!”

Witchcraft? Well that doesn’t apply to us, does it? (knock on wood).... Actually, every time we look to something other than God to secure our future, we play with witchcraft, sorcery, magic. When we read horoscopes or visit a medium, talk to the dead, ask them for help, pray to our ancestors, pray to Mary or the saints instead of God. When we play with occultism, Charlie Charlie, Ouja board, and such things. Witchcraft. We seek power from things other than God – and that is idolatry. We worship the god "me" - I'll decide, I'll say what's right and what's wrong.

And if we’ve managed to dodge the previous words, the last one gets us all. Liars. We are all liars. All it takes is putting us under a little bit of pressre, and out the lies slip, as easy as breathing. Debby says she told her first lie almost as soon as she could talk. She had some porridge that she didn’t like and when her mother’s back was turned, she emptied the bowl on the floor. When she was asked, “where is the porridge, Debby?”, she answered “gone!” and pretended that she had eaten it! It is deep within us, part of our nature. We are all liars.

And that’s why here in this church there is no judgment! For here we are all sinners who stand before the throne of God. Here is no rubbish that God likes us because we are better people than the “sinners” out there. No. We are sinners, and God likes us because God likes to save sinners. Maybe because we are worse than those “out there”?
Here there are no judgments. In this church there is mercy. Amen.

Not one of us deserves a place in Heaven. But because of Jesus' death on the cross and his resurrection, we can receive his salvation. All we have done has been written down and blocks us from God, from the waters of life. But Jesus took our sins and went through death and hell for us so that we could drink the water of life instead of being thrown into the lake of fire.

Do you thirst for the water of life? The water of life's that can wash you clean? The water of life that re-creates you so that the old sinful life dies and you rise again to everlasting life? If you thirst for Jesus, receive him!

And if you have received Jesus, drink deep of the water of life. Fill your mind with him so that you no longer want to be sexually immoral, or a liar, or a murderer. Live for Christ! Do not be a coward, but stand firm no matter the cost - for we know how this all ends. We have read the final chapter.

Just like Jesus, who for the joy set before him, the joy of this day, the day we are reading about, the day when everything is put right and we are joined with him – because of the joy of this day he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.

Let's follow in his footsteps, for we are children of grace. And because he is a God of grace, just look at the joy he has prepared for us:

3. The Holy City is the people of God and contains only the best of this world.

9 Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal.

What a vision! Here we, the church, all the people of God, pictured as a city, the city of God. Jerusalem was the capital of Israel from the time of King David. The king reigned from Israel, and the Temple was built in Jerusalem by King Solomon built the temple. But now we see the heavenly Jerusalem! The earthly Jerusalem was just the shadow. Here we see the reality. And it is the bride of Christ. Yes, men, we are the sons of God, but we are also the bride of Christ! And we should be happy about that. Because a bride is one with her husband, united. And we are one with Jesus, united on the cross. And as a bride inherits all that the bridegroom has, we inherit all that Jesus has. No wonder we shine with the glory of God.

Look around now. This is the shadow. One day we will see each other - Rock Church - as we really are. And we shall shine with the glory of God.

16 When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles (since numbers in Revelation are symbolic, converting stadia to miles was a rather silly. 1400 miles it tells you on the bottom of the page, is 12000 stadia. 12000 – 12 x 1000. 17 Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick, look down: 144 alen that is 12x12.

The number 12 represent the people of God in Revelation, and the number 12 is found all over the city. 12 tribes and 12 apostles - all the people of God are included. Both Israel and the Church, Old and New Testament. Israel before Christ, where all those who thirsted for living water received grace from God because he held back the punishment for the sins committed and poured them out on Jesus on the cross. And we in the church, the new Israel, after Christ, our sins he bore on the cross. Like a huge funnel, the sins of all the people of God were gathered and poured out on Jesus on the cross.

The whole city is a cube - as tall as broad and wide. And there is no temple. Because in the temple there was a room, the Most Holy Place. That was where God “lived”, symbolically. And nobody could enter that room without dying. The Most Holy Place. And that room was... a perfect cube. And now the whole city is that cube. The whole city is the Most Holy Place. God’s home is with us!
When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain in the temple was torn in two. It was that curtain that separated the Most Holy Place from the rest of the Temple. The message was clear: the way to God is now open. And here we see the fulfillment! We will live in the Most Hoy Place, together with our God.

It’s a return to Eden. In the garden of Eden Adam and Eve walked with God. But this is better. Not a garden, but a great city, 12,000 times 12,000 times 12,000 - all the people of God.

21 The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. John is almost at a loss for words trying to describe the beauty of the Heavenly City. Nidaros Cathedral, Notre Dame, St Pauls, St Peters are ugly 70's concrete blocks compared to the new Jerusalem!
22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The whole city is the Most Holy Place - we will live with God. We are His people, and He is our God, our Father!

23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25 Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city.

The new creation is a “Greatest Hits” of this life - only the very best of this world is good enough for the next. All that we love and hold most dear in this will be in the next. And never again will anything be corrupted or ruined, but it will shine with unparalleled glory and beauty, reflecting our Lord.
27 Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

An eternal paradise is what awaits those of us in Christ.

So, how does that change how we live now? Three examples to end off.

“If I give money to the gospel, I'll might not have enough for a summer holiday to “Syden””... travel in the new creation. Becuase then there’s no litter, travelling doesn’t exhaust you, and you’ll see everything as it was created to be, not as a shadow as it is today. I’m sure Greece is beautiful now - but imagine how it will look in eternity! You’re not missing out by not travelling now.

“If I obey God's word and don’t drink or don’t have illicit sex, then I'll miss out, I’ll be a square, a prude, and I'll never have that experience.” Really? When has sinning ever been a good experience? Sin only harms us, hurts us. Hold out for what’s best. Why play in the mud in the slum when the bus to paradise beach is waiting outside?

“If I make a stand as a Christian, I’ll get criticised, or teased, or I’ll lose out on that promotion, or I'll be killed!” Here we need perspective. Do we live for ourselves, or do we live for Christ? What matter this light and momentary suffering compared to eternal glory!

In all that we do, we follow in Jesus' footsteps.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honour beside God’s throne.

Why we won’t sing the Blues in Heaven!

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What if I told you you could guarantee a glorious future? What if there was a way to choose good health, immense wealth, and happiness?

What if I told you that your choice is between that: an eternal future of health, wealth and happiness – or eternal suffering?

Sounds like a no brainer doesn’t it? Tough decision!

Because that’s what Jesus tells us. That’s the clear message of the Bible. We have a decision to make: health wealth and happiness – or suffering and pain. Heaven. Or Hell.

So, what’s the catch? What’s the cost? I’ll get to that in a moment. But now let’s just get clear what is on offer. We won’t sing the Blues in Heaven because we will be perfectly happy, healthy and wealthy. Although we might jam to some blues tunes! But we won’t be singing the blues. And we won’t sing the Blues in Hell because there will be no music in Hell. There is nothing good in Hell. Hell is by definition the absence of all good things.

That’s why Jesus says these words: “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands. 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’” Mark 9:43-48.

Jesus, the Man of Love, the Man of Forgiveness, the Man who brought Mercy to the world. Those are his words. Do whatever you can to avoid hell. Hell is not a place you want to be.

That’s the reason that Jesus came, and that’s the reason that we are here. He came to warn us about hell. And he came to open the door to heaven. He came to say don’t miss this! Don’t miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime- a glorious eternal future. Whatever objections you might have about Christianity – put them aside for the moment, and just listen to what’s on offer. And then we’ll have time for questions and objections afterwards.

Just two points tonight:

1. Heaven is glorious

2. We get to Heaven through Jesus

1. Heaven is glorious.

Now when I say “heaven” that might not thrill you. In fact, it doesn’t really thrill me. It seems rather boring. I typed “heaven” into google. Every image was of blue sky with clouds and a bit of sunshine. Sometimes a few angels sitting about strumming harps. Is that a place you want to go? Well not me! Heaven seems absolutely boring.

But the Bible’s picture of Heaven is completely different. When the Bible talks about the future it talks not about Heaven but about the New Creation – really Heaven come down to Earth, and transformed this world.

It will be this world, but better. Sitting on clouds strumming harps. God forbid. No! Unless you really like harp music, in which case I’m sure there will be a special section for you. The Bible tells us that all the best and only the best of this world will be in the next. There will be great music in Heaven, the best music! Whatever you think in this life is amazing or wonderful or incredible – the Blues – that will be in heaven. The glory of this world will not be lost. So don’t miss out! But we won’t be singing the Blues. It’ll be happy Blues, Blues as it was meant to be sung from the creation of the world, sung in praise of Almighty God!

I’m going to read from the book of Revelation, the book that we’ve been reading through as a church as we hear described the glory and wonder of the new Creation.

Re 21:10 [I saw] the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal…. 21 The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. 22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25 Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honour into the city. 27 Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Imagine that. A huge city, perfect, filled with people from all over the world, all equal in Christ, all colours, shapes, sizes, ages, nationalities, complete diversity, all praising God. The glory and honour of all the world is brought in. And we will recognise this world as it should have been.
The best things of this world are just a shadow, a pale reflection of the reality of then new creation. This beauty we are surrounded by here in Norway is incredible – but it is just a faint echo of the true beauty we will see on the Day Jesus returns and everything is transformed in an instant. Everything that is ugly and evil and dirty and broken will be gone, and only that which is perfect will remain. And we will see it with our own eyes. Don’t you want to be there?

You know, we recognise beauty now because it is an echo of that heavenly beauty, that purity. We feel it tugging at our soul saying “this is how things should be”.

We were created in perfection. In Genesis, the first book of the Bible, we read about Adam and Eve, the first two people that God created. He created them equal, he created them in his image, he created them male and female. And it was very good. They lived in perfection. And then they screwed it up. They decided to ignore what God had told them would hurt them. They decided that his word was dumb and their words were better. They would decide for themselves what is right and wrong. And everything fell apart.

They completely ignored God – and it messed up their relationship with each other. They immediately blamed each other for their problems and started arguing. It broke intimacy – before they were blissfully naked, perfectly open with each other. Now we hide from each other, and struggle to trust because we know we can be hurt.

It messed up their relationship with the world. Work became hard. The land resisted giving food. Natural disaster became normal.

And it messed up their relationship with God. No longer would he walk and talk with them in the cool of the day – now he was far and distant and sitting in judgement.

Everything was messed up.

And that’s where we are. Everything is messed up. The world is broken. People are broken. And we can’t reach God.

We long for perfect peace. We long for harmony even in our own lives. Our home. We long for someone to love us perfectly and where we don’t need to fear the ones we love hurting us and letting us down. We long to be back in the Paradise of Genesis, before we decided that God was dumb and we are oh so clever – and proceeded to mess everything up.

That’s what the Bible calls sin. Now sin isn’t naughtiness, or something like the adverts like to use it “it sinfully delicious”. Sin is more like poison. It is the poisonous self-interest at the centre of every human heart. We filter everything through “is this good for me”? We as people are utterly self-absorbed. Selfish. Egocentric. If you don’t believe me, just look at kids. The younger the better.

ILLUSTRATE: my niece - Angry with Mom for being sick in hospital! She took it personally. Irrational. But that’s how we feel. She’s a human. Kids need to be told with divorce that it’s not their fault. Always think we cause it. So egocentric. The universe revolves around us. And as adults we just hide it better, or life has let us down so much that we know that we’re not in control. But we’d still like to be. The poison is still there.

Poison needs to be rooted out.

Now the poison of sin doesn’t mean that we can’t be nice people, or be unselfish, or love! We’re not always self-absorbed narcissists going around shoving people out of our way!
But it’s like this glass of water. If I put a drop of poison in it it doesn’t mean that all the water has turned to poison. But it does mean that all the water is poisoned.
So people still do wonderful things – but even the best things we do are tainted by sin, by that poison of self-interest.

It is no surprise to Christians that the only economic system that works is capitalism, because capitalism assumes that people are selfish and will act in their own self-interest. Communism assumed that people would act for the good of the community. That it failed horribly tells us a lot about ourselves as a human race.

Everything we do, say and think is affected by sin. Not everything we do and say is poison, but all is poisoned.

And the problem is that that poison, our sin, bars us from Heaven. We’re going to miss out. Instead we will be given what we have chosen. We will experience the consequences of our choice to ignore God and do our own thing. And that is hell. Hell is not God being mean. Hell is God letting us do what we want! The problem is when you let selfish people do what they want – what they really want – that’s not very pleasant. The Blues understands that. When the powerful and the rich do what they want they oppress the workers, they oppress the poor. The Blues teaches us that sin is real! And that sin left unchecked is hell.

So, if we don’t want to experience hell – how do we get to Heaven. How do we ensure that we don’t miss out on the greatest experience ever: the New Creation!

Heaven is glorious. And

2. Jesus is the way to Heaven.

Jesus warned us, pleaded with us, to do whatever we can to get out of hell. Because the reason he came was to make it possible for us to get out of hell, and experience heaven instead.

In Mark 9:31 [Jesus] said to [his disciples], “The Son of Man (this is what Jesus called himself) is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.”

The reason Jesus came was in order to die. Because dying and being reborn is the only way to get to heaven. In heaven, the new Creation, there will be nothing evil, nothing sinful, nothing imperfect. Only the best. So we can’t get there. We’re sinners, poisoned, not perfect. There’s no way back. Except by dying and being reborn… perfect.

It’s like pottery – if the clay starts going wonky – you’ve got to squash it down and start again. I watched a glass blower and a smithy at the Sølvgruvene here – and it’s the same with them. Any imperfection and it’s back into the fire, melted down and you start again, blowing, or banging it into the perfect shape.

To now miss out on heaven we need to be remade, reborn. But how can you do that? Because if we die – we just go straight to hell. No rebirth. The only way we can die and be reborn is if someone does it for us. Someone needs to step in as our representative, die in our place, and give us new life. And that is what Jesus does.

That’s why the gospel means good news for everyone. It doesn’t matter what your life is like. You past does not matter. It makes no difference where you’ve come from or what you’ve done- Because all that will die. Your life dies with Christ on the Cross. He carries it with him in his death. And you are reborn with his life.

It is a swap. We get his perfect life. We are reborn. And he takes our imperfect life.

Isn’t that fantastic news.

However, I said there was catch. And here it is: you actually have to die to your old life and be reborn. Jesus put it like this: Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. Mk 8:34–35

It costs everything, and it costs nothing. Everything because we die to our old life and now live for Christ. He is our new manager, his words are what matters. And that’s great because it’s the best way to live. A taste of heaven. He knows how life works because he made us. We are no longer slaves to sin, but now FREE! No need to sing the Blues, but we can sing joyful blues, if that’s possible!

Let me just speak for a moment to those of us who have been reborn. We belong to Jesus. Everything we do and say should be done and said to his honour. In the new creation everything we do will be perfect. What are you doing or saying now that you wouldn’t be doing or saying in the new Creation? What am I doing or saying now what Jesus would not be doing or saying. Or what am I not doing and saying that I know I should be?

What is amazing is that the rebirth we get isn’t just once off. The rebirth we get is permanent. It isn’t well here you go, good luck now I’ve given you a start. No. We get not just Jesus’ birth, but his life. So we are already seated in heaven. Let’s act like it. And when we fail, which we will, we simply ask for forgiveness. Then we repent, stop doing the wrong thing, and start doing the right thing!

But is it worth it? It’s a big ask. I know my generation is paralysed by fear of choosing something, committing to something – because what if something better comes along. Well, nothing better will. This is the best of the best. Jesus proved it by healing people, casting out demons, walking on water, quieting a storm, forgiving sins, and, oh yes, rising from the dead. He shown us good credentials. We can trust what he says. And this is what he says. I’m going to end by reading his vision of heaven given to John. Revelation 22:1 Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 It flowed down the centre of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. 3 No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. 4 And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever. 6 Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon.” 7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.”

Be blessed. Choose Christ. Don’t miss out. We don’t need to sing the Blues in heaven, because heaven is glorious. Don’t miss out – ask Jesus for his new life, because Jesus is the way to Heaven.

I hope we are all together singing the not Blues in the new Creation. Let’s rock! Amen.

Mark 15:16-41 The Cross of the Christ

Mark 15:16-41

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1. Welcome to Rock International Church! Church is a family: we are the family of God gathered to hear our Father’s word. Tonight we will be walking in the footsteps of the disciples, as they experienced what it cost for us to be God’s family. They saw how much our salvation cost as they saw Jesus being beaten and then crucified, as they heard Jesus’ cry, as they saw him die.

2. We will open together in prayer. Prayer is simply talking to our Heavenly Father. Let us pray, saying together…
ALL: Almighty God to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and no secrets are hidden from you. Please forgive us for ignoring you, for being selfish, for thinking that we are greater than you.
Thank you that, in your mercy, you accept us just as we are.
Prepare our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit, that we may listen to and understand what you have to say to us today; through Christ our Lord. Amen

The reason Jesus died was so that he could accept us as we are. We are all sinners. As Jesus said in Mark 7:15,20-23 15 It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.” “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

And that is why Jesus came. He came in order to die in our place. The perfect, righteous one, for us the unrighteous. So let’s confess our sin together.

3. Confession:. Sin is rebellion against God, saying “no” to Him, letting something or someone else take His place. Let’s pray together

ALL: (5) Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we have sinned against you in what we have done, said, thought, and left undone.
We repent of our sin. Have mercy on us, most merciful Father. Amen.

Mk 14:12–17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go to prepare the Passover meal for you?” 13 So Jesus sent two of them into Jerusalem with these instructions: “As you go into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 At the house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ 15 He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.” 16 So the two disciples went into the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there. 17 In the evening Jesus arrived with the Twelve.

4. Communion is a visual reminder of the grace at the heart of Christianity.
Jesus died for us: his body, symbolised by the bread, broken; his blood, symbolised by the juice (wine), poured out, for his glory and our salvation.
And as we eat and drink together we are united in the communion of Christ, his body, his church, together, equal in Christ.

Mk 14:22–25 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many. 25 I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”

Communion is for those who trust Christ for the salvation of their sins, and obey him as Lord. If you are not a Christian, or if you do not want to take communion for any other reason, just let it pass by.

We dip the bread, symbolising Jesus’ body, into the juice (wine) symbolising Jesus’ blood.
Minister: The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, broken for you. Feed on him in your heart by faith with thanksgiving.
Minister: The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for you. Drink this in remembrance that Christ's blood was shed for you, and be thankful.

14:26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

So let’s sing a hymn of thanksgiving to our wonderful saviour! Beautiful Saviour
The Wonderful Cross

After singing a hymn, Jesus went up to pray for strength to face the coming day. Filled with the Holy Spirit’s strength, Jesus did not falter, did not stumble: he went out to meet those who came to arrest him. He did not run, did not hide, but went to meet them. At his trials he was seen to be innocent – the religious leaders wanted him killed because he said who he is: the Son of the Living God, the Messiah, the Son of Man given all authority in heaven and earth. Blasphemy! They said, because they did not want to believe it, did not want to bow the knee to this, this prophet from the North, a ragged preacher. God’s way of humility and service did not match up to their religion of power and prestige and performance. So they missed it!
Then the Roman governor Pilate sentences Jesus to death even though Pilate knew he was innocent! But this is what Jesus said would happen – remember he told his disciples three times that he would be arrested by the religious leaders, he would be put to death, and he would rise again. Because after sharing the communion meal that night he had been praying for strength to go to the cross. To drink the cup that makes men stagger – the cup of God’s judgment. He drank that in our place!
That is why he came. He came to show us what God is like. He came to tell us that we are sinners and need a Saviour. And he came to be that Saviour. He dies for his enemies, like you and me, to make us into his friends. Whatever the cost, he will pay it – and the cost for rescuing us is high, very high indeed. It started with a false arrest, then fake trials, and continues with beating, mockery, and ultimately, death by crucifixion

1. Mocking the suffering servant King

15:16–20 The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment. 17 They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head. 18 Then they saluted him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 19 And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship. 20 When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.

Why would the soldiers mock him so? Were they just cruel, bloodthirsty men? Is this how they treated all their prisoners? Well, maybe. We do know that Israel was not the best place to be sent. There were continual uprisings and rebellions, soldiers faced danger all the time. It wasn’t a posting people wanted. So maybe these soldiers were a bit rougher than the others.

But the mock worship goes deeper. Jesus’ claim to be the king made a mockery of their Emperor, Caesar. And their treatment of him is to put him back in his place. Notice in verse 16 how the entire regiment is called out (that’s around 600 men!). “Insult our Emperor would you? Raise yourself up would you? How dare you? King! Ha! Hail O King.” they shout as they push thorns into his head, and beat him and spit on him as they bow and laugh at him in mock worship.

Isn’t that ironic? Jesus is the true King, and deserves all worship. It is the Emperor, Caesar, who is the false king, trying to claim worship and authority that is not his. It is he who should be mocked, should be brought low.

But instead Jesus goes to the cross in our place.

21 A passerby named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the countryside just then, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus.)

Look again at v21. Because Simon, who carried Jesus’ cross, is well known to the church. Mark points out this is Alexander and Rufus’ father. Simon carried Jesus cross – but Jesus carried Simon’s sins!

22 And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). 23 They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it.

Remember he said 14:25 I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.” He is still fully in control. Beaten, battered, he goes willingly to the cross. The Passover Lamb. Our Passover Lamb,

24 Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross.

Pick up the nails there in the centre of the table. Feel them. Imagine those going through your hands or wrists. Imagine the pain as your ankles are crossed together and the nail driven through. Incredible pain. No wonder Jesus prayed for strength. He went willingly. At any moment he could have said “enough”. It was love, love for us, love for his father, his own glory, that kept him there. It is the character of our God that kept him there.

But as we will see in a few moments, the physical pain was not the worst of it.

24 They divided his clothes and threw dice to decide who would get each piece. 25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 A sign announced the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

He died for who he is: the King of the Jews. The promised Messiah.
And we hated him for it. It’s not just the Roman soldiers who mock Jesus. v29 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. 30 Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!” 31 The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed him.

Everyone, laughing and hollering and pointing as Jesus is hammered naked onto the cross, beaten, bloodied, humiliated, exposed. The soldiers laughing as they beat him and pretend to worship him. 600 men spitting and hitting and making fun. Passersby mocking and jeering. Religious leaders, priests who represent the Almighty, gleefully slapping each others backs at their own cleverness, and laughing at this Jesus who hangs naked before them. “We showed him”, they would have been thinking.

Now it’s easy for us to see how wrong these people for mocking and abusing Jesus, especially because we know who he is- the God who created all people everywhere. But then point the finger back to ourselves, because we treat God the same way! How?

Maybe we ignore his words when we want to sin sexually – perhaps pornography in front of the computer, perhaps an adulterous affair, perhaps sexual intercourse with our girlfriend – but it’s ok because we “love” each other. Really? We mock the living God and his claim over our lives, and raise ourselves up as king in that situation. I will decide what is right for me. I want to sin sexually. I will do it.

Or maybe it’s not sex, but gossip, saying horrible things about other people, allowing bitterness to rise. Or perhaps its jealousy – thanklessness lies at the heart of jealousy. It’s when I’m not grateful to God for what he HAS given me, and all I can see is what he hasn’t! And we mock him and spit on him with our attitude, saying “I can be a better God than you. I can make better decisions than you about my life and my needs.”

How often are our thoughts about me, me, me. Who’s the King there? Instead of being filled with the glory of God, wanting to worship him and see his name exalted, we want to exalt ourselves. Ugh.

But he died, for us! He has done the unthinkable, and swapped places with us. He has taken the punishment and shame that our sins deserve, and taken it upon himself. We mock the King, but he is responds by being the suffering servant King

2. Jesus takes our place as a sinner

33 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 34 Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

Darkness. In the Bible darkness means judgement. Divine judgement. Remember the Exodus: when Moses led the great rescue of people of Israel out of Egypt? The people of Israel, cowering in slavery to the evil Pharaoh, king of Egypt. God raises up a rescuer: Moses. Moses the miracle-worker, Moses who brought the word of God! See any similarities? Moses pointed to Jesus, the greater miracle worker, the true Word of God. But Moses brought judgement 10 plagues, each worse than the last, fell upon Pharaoh and all those who refused to obey the Living God. And the final two were the worst: darkness covered the whole land of Egypt; and the death of the first-born son of each Egyptian family.

But this time the darkness is not for the wicked. This time the judgement is not falling on those who deserve it, but on Jesus. Because Jesus is carrying our sins – all of our sins. He is taking our place to be beaten by the Roman soldiers like the Israelites were once beaten by the Egyptians. He is taking our place as a slave to experience the full extent of sin. Only sinners can treat other people the way we do. Only sinners can order babies to be taken from their mothers’ arms and slaughtered. Only sinners can beat another human being and feel pleased about it. Only sinners can enjoy another person’s suffering and humiliation.

Because to be a sinner means to have a broken relationship with our Creator. And when that relationship is broken, all our relationships break.

And so we have divorce and abuse and slavery and abortion and murder and theft and genocide and fraud and corruption and greed and deceit and so on. Watch the news: it’s a massive message saying we have abandoned God and we can’t fix our broken relationship.

But Jesus steps into this gap. His relationship is perfect. Ours is broken. So he becomes our representative – born as a human being, fully human, fully God; starts his ministry by being baptised as a sinner; experiences hurt and pain and frustration and joy and gladness and friendship as we do; and all the time with his goal in mind: the cross, where he would pay the ultimate sacrifice of death, a sinners death, and a sinners experience of the wrath of God, of the broken relationship, of being abandoned by God.
34 Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

He who knew no sin became sin for us. Jesus took on our sin. He goes into the darkness for us. He takes the judgement we deserve, and gives up his life, the Son of God, in order to rescue all of us in slavery to sin. He’s leading the great Exodus from slavery to sin, to freedom in Heaven. He is carrying our sins – all of our sins. He has taken our place.

If you are a Christian this is the moment when all your sins were dealt with. God is not bound by time, he stands over it, he commands it, and he looked down at your life and all the wrong things you have done, all your regrets, all your dark secrets, those things nobody knows about, your darkest private thoughts which fill you with shame – all that is poured out on Jesus in this moment. And all the sins you will do! All our sin is upon his shoulders – not just half of it until now then, good luck on your own! No, Jesus’ sacrifice was not half-way there – he carries us through to the gates of Heaven. It’s the true Exodus, the Big Rescue, from the gates of Hell to the gates of Heaven and inside. It’s guaranteed, underwritten by the blood of Jesus. If you trust in Jesus as your Saviour, and follow him as your King, you can be sure of your salvation.

Hallelujah! A shout of Thank you Jesus! Hooray for Jesus!

Jesus takes our place as a sinner.

I just want to make one more comment on verse 34 because some people have spread misunderstandings about this verse. God abandoned Jesus because Jesus is not God, he’s just an angel or a good man, and now he’s failed, so God has left him.

Well, we already know it’s exactly in line with what Jesus has been saying – he was going to take our place. But Jesus also isn’t just crying out something random: it’s a direct quote from Psalm 22, the Psalm of the suffering King. In Psalm 22 King David, the King of Israel, God’s King, is under an attack so fierce he describes it like crucifixion – hundreds of years before crucifixion even existed! And Jesus, the true King, God’s King who is enduring the ultimate suffering, quotes that Psalm with his last breaths, declaring to the world “I am the King”.

35–36 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 36 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. “Wait!” he said. “Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down!”

Of course Elijah would not come. This is Jesus’ whole mission. Through the darkness, through hell, through abandonment, our King opens the way to God!

3. Jesus opens the way to God

37 Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

Crucifixion normally took days – but Jesus dies within a few hours. He gave up his own life, breathing his last. He was totally in control. This was a deliberate act of love, planned from before the creation of the world. And what his death achieves is immediately clear: 38 And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

The curtain in the Temple was a massive, thick piece of cloth 20m high, 20m wide, and 10cm thick. It was more like a wall than a curtain. Behind the curtain was the Most Holy Place, and that was where God “lived” as a symbol of living with his people. If anyone went behind the curtain without going through a lot of rituals to cleanse them of their sin, they died instantly! God is holy, we are not – and unholy meets holy is like darkness meets light: it is destroyed. The curtain in the Temple separated God and man.

Until now. Now Jesus gives up his life to open the way to God, to make the unholy holy, and the Temple curtain is torn from TOP to bottom. God Himself has torn down the barrier between us! He has done the impossible, and made a way for unholy people to live with a holy God. And it’s not through a Temple, some special building, some special rituals – but through a person, his Son, the Lord Jesus. Christians don’t have Temple, we don’t have holy places. There is one holy place, and that is Jesus himself.

Jesus has opened the way to God, torn down the barrier. It’s his work, his action, his power which holds the door open. So do not be afraid. You are secure in Christ.

Jesus has opened the way to God. Immediately, IMMEDIATELY, we see the effects of Jesus’ opening the way.

39 When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

The statement in verse 39 is utterly incredible: “This man truly was the Son of God!” What is it that turned this man around – from abusing Jesus to worshipping Jesus? V39 says when he “saw how [Jesus] died”. I wonder what he saw? Perhaps he saw in Jesus’ eyes, through the spiritual and physical pain, the love that drove him to the cross? Perhaps Jesus looked at him with eyes so filled with forgiveness it pierced even this rough Roman soldier’s heart? Perhaps it was something else. We don’t know – but it was the death of Jesus that brought him new life, as it has been for every Christian since.

I love how God does things. He chooses this man to be the first one to declare the truth about Jesus! Isn’t that amazing? Here’s the man who nailed Jesus to the cross! He is a Gentile, he is an enemy of the Jews, a soldier of the oppressors – and he’s the first one who declares the truth about Jesus. Not Peter, not John, not the priests, none of the crowd – but an enemy Roman soldier. There is no-one beyond the reach of Jesus, not even you. Not even me. If he can save a man like that, a man who moments before was spitting at him and hitting him and mocking him and nailing his hands to the cross – well, he can save anybody.

The Roman soldier. Simon from Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus, most probably a black man, a North African (Cyrene is now Libya). And in v40-41 we read Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph), and Salome. 41 They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem were also there.

In those days women were second-class citizens, unimportant, not to be taken seriously – a woman could not be a witness in a court case as her testimony was considered unreliable! But Jesus accepts even women(!), takes them seriously, loves them even to death on a cross.

Even there at the cross: the church. The Roman soldier, the oppressor at the top of society; the black tourist or trader, a foreigner; the women, unimportant, nothings in society; and, finally, even a religious leader of Israel! 42–43 This all happened on Friday, the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath. As evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honoured member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.) Here is the church! Even at this dark moment, like little glimmers of light, we see a group of people around Jesus from different nationalities, different social status, different political backgrounds, different genders, different religions, just like here – all welcome at the cross, all being given new life as Jesus gives up his life.

This is the hope for the non-Christian: that Jesus has opened the way to God for them. So pray for your friends and family and colleagues and tell them about Jesus. And if you’re not a Christian here today, today turn to him and give up your life to receive his.

This is the hope for the Christian. The cross is just as much for the Christian as the non-Christian, if not more so. Remember you are secure. This is where your sins are carried, taken, dealt with. No guilt in life, no fear in death – this is the power of Christ in me! You are safe. Remember the cross! Let’s live like it! Amen.

Let’s pray our prayer of absolution together:

Absolution: ALL: Our Lord Jesus, thank you that through your death on the cross you swapped places with us. Thank you that you took the punishment of death that our sins deserved.
Thank you that you absorbed the righteous anger of God. You offered yourself once for all, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice.
Thank you that you have forgiven us, set us free, made us your sons and daughters, and given us a place in your eternal Kingdom. Amen

Mark 10:32-52 Serving the servant King means dying to live

Mark 10:32-52

MP3 link

Previously on “Mark: the Gospel”….

Jesus of Nazareth has burst onto the scene and created quite a stir. He’s been doing massive miracles left, right and centre, healing people, casting out demons, walking on water, making food appear from thin air – enough to feed over 5000 people, and then again 4000 people, and even raising people from the dead! He is no fake. Even his critics cannot deny his power! They accuse him of being from the devil instead. (Dirty politics 101: If you can’t beat them, throw mud at them and hope it sticks!).

And these stories really happened. People were there with Jesus. They SAW him do these things. And these weren’t primitives! We are often so arrogant assuming that people who lived long ago were somehow stupider than we are. That they would be fooled by simple magic tricks. Have a look at this sculpture. Made of marble. In 45BC. The society Jesus lived in was complex and sophisticated. They were part of the Roman empire. There was trade, business, long distance travel, courts of law, police, large cities, running water, roads, schools, reading, writing, in fact university-level mathematics, and philosophies that are still in use today (and being heralded as “new”! It was an advanced civilisation! )

So if Jesus had been just a magician (and there were magicians in those days, just like now, it wasn’t something they’d never seen before) he would quite quickly have been exposed for his trickery. Or people would have been entertained, like now, but any claims to divinity would have been met with mocking laughs, just as if a TV magician today suddenly claimed to be God.

But what if the disciples added to what Jesus did to make it more dramatic? The miracles were added in later.

Problem is, people were still alive then. If I went on NRK today and said that during the 1970’s fuel crisis when King Olav took the tram, after he got out of the tram he launched himself into the air and flew to the top of the mountain, melted some snow with his laser eyes, and then skiied down so fast he broke the sound barrier, I’d be laughed at. No-one would believe me. People remember what happened. That didn’t happen.

But maybe they did it later? No can do, since the church had already spread around the world within about 30 years! But even if we suppose that they did, no-one know how to write like that. Myths were written as myths and history as history. The genre of historical fiction was only invented 1800 years later. Before that time it was never even conceived of to write fiction as if it were history, fact. Again, there is no evidence for this, just wild guessing.

We’re driven to this because what happened was so fantsastic, so remarkable. But that’s what we find in the gospels. No-one just believes it. People would be reluctant to say it happened, because it’s so fantastical. They only agree that it happened because they cannot explain it away by any other means.

The disciples saw Jesus do his miracles with their own eyes – and it still took them over two years before they were able to believe the evidence before their eyes and say “You are the Christ”. And were still getting it all wrong as we see in tonight’s passage. They didn’t understand fully, didn’t understand that he was God in the flesh, in person, until his resurrection. That blew away all doubts! Jesus could do the impossible! But they didn’t believe it when he first said it.

1. The Servant King will die and then rise from the dead.

Mk 10:33 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. 34 They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.”

The disciples just nodded. They didn’t understand. Look at verse 32 They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear.

Why is he going to Jerusalem? Doesn’t he know what they will do to him? Yes he does, he who is the first, the top, the best, the good - will become last, a sinner. He will pay the punishment our sins deserve – all of our sins, even those we haven’t committed yet – by being betrayed, by suffering and then dying on a cross. His death will cover our sins.

See, Jesus came to serve. He came to serve because if he did not, no-one could be saved. There would be no church, no testimonies of changed lives, no joyous forgiveness, no mercy, no grace. It would be impossible for anyone to be saved. That’s what Jesus says in v27. Mk 10:26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible.”

You see, he’d just spoken to two groups of people: one, a small child, helpless, dependent – and Jesus says “be like this”. The other a powerful, rich, morally upright man, who relies on his self-righteousness, his own goodness – and when challenged by Jesus, he turns away. The disciples were astonished because they thought that good people get saved.

No, says Jesus, people who recognise their need for salvation, people who come like children get saved. Why? For salvation cannot be earned, it must be given.

V 27 it is impossible for man to be saved. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. Have we got that? We cannot save ourselves! No amount of religion or good works or sacrifice can ever bridge the gap between us and God. Because God has said the only way to me is through Jesus, when we try any other way we are saying “ Hey God, I’m ignoring your word, disobeying you by trying my own way – are you impressed yet?” We’re just like Israel, told to only worship at the Temple, and never to make an image of God – what do they do? Set up two statues of God, not at Jerusalem, and worship those. Was God impressed, do you think?

Humanly speaking, it is impossible.

But not with God. Everything is possible with God.

How is it possible. Only through Jesus. Jesus is about to achieve the impossible. He, the only good man, is walking towards Jerusalem, towards his death.

On Mount Longdon on the 11^th June 1982, during the Falklands War, a Sergeant Ian McKay was pinned down with his platoon. They were suffering heavy casualties, and were in significant danger of being wiped out.
Sergeant Ian Mackay then made a momentous decision to save his men. With complete disregard for his safety he broke cover and charged the enemy position into a hail of fire. Alone, he ran up the hill toward the enemy machine gun nest firing at his men. He primed his grenades and jumped into the enemy machine gun nest. The grenades exploded, the guns fell silent, and Sergeant McKay saved his men.
Sergeant McKay, however, was killed at the moment of victory.

In that platoon there were probably some people who disliked Ian McKay. Many probably didn’t even know him. Some may have been his friends. Either way, after that night in 1982 their view of him was forever changed. He had saved them. He gave his life so they could live. They knew his name. They honoured him. They were grateful to him.

Jesus faced our undefeatable enemy – and won. We don’t need to face sin and death – Jesus has already paid the price. He gave his life to save you. So what do you think about Jesus? Perhaps you’re like the men in Ian McKay’s platoon – you don’t know him, or you don’t like him, or maybe you do like him. How does knowing that he saved your life change your response to Jesus?

He is the Servant King who died to save us – and we are called to follow him.

2. We are servants too, called to die to self, and life for Christ.

43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

What kind of boss would you like to have? What do you think makes a great leader? Most of you are probably thinking along the lines of someone who cares for you as a person, not just a cog in a machine. Someone approachable, not distant. Someone who listens to other people’s ideas, not who rules with an iron fist. Something like that? I doubt many of us thought of an autocratic dictator as good leaders. Most people in history, and many people in the world today, however, would disagree with you.

In a survey of leadership throughout world history an interesting pattern emerged. Most societies viewed compassion in a leader as weakness. Leaders were strong, exercising authority over people, and lording it over them. People were there to serve the leaders. This was across the board, even to the level of fatherhood. Many fathers believe that their authority was given them in order to please them instead of to serve others. But as Christianity started to spread, there was suddenly a totally different model of leadership on display: compassionate, servant-hearted, looking out for the interests of others. Now Jesus wasn’t the first (or the last) to proclaim such ways of leading, but he was the only one who truly embodied it, washing his disciples’ feet, dying on the cross for his followers, and commanding us to do the same.

This is God’s way of leading. Leading through service. And he’s demonstrating it at this very moment, walking to Jerusalem, walking to his death, explaining along the way.

And the disciples get it completely wrong!

You’ve really got to feel sorry for the disciples here – getting it wrong AGAIN! This is a repeat of 9:33-37 isn’t it? Jesus predicts his death, the ultimate act of service from the greatest person in the universe, and the disciples? Well, they were v34 “arguing about who was the greatest”!
And it’s a repeat of 8:31-33 where Peter, who has just declared Jesus as the Christ, then gets it completely wrong and rebukes Jesus for suggesting he should die – but that’s exactly why Jesus came! This is a rescue mission.

Doh! But thank God for the disciples. Because they really screw up – and Jesus sticks with them. He doesn’t leave us when we mess up. That’s why he came. We are spiritually small children, not rich young rulers. He will not leave us. He sticks with us like he sticks with his disciples.

It must have been so frustrating. After Jesus’ third proclamation of his death, his ultimate service… they completely ignore what he’s said “There, there Jesus, that’s very nice and all, but you’re not really going through with this – when we’re in Jerusalem you’ll flex your muscles and show them who’s boss, and we, well we want to be right beside you telling people what’s what and who’s who.” 37 They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honour next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

Why do we all want to be rich and famous? It’s not because we want to run around serving people is it? No! It’s so we can get people to serve us. At our heart we want to be God, we want to be the one calling the shots, shaping our life to be the way we want it to be.

We want to be important. And Jesus warns them: 38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?”

Are you willing to suffer like I will, to drink the cup of God’s judgement, to die to save a sinful world?
And they answer Oh yes, we are able.
Not a clue!

And the other disciples are no better, all indignant because they didn’t think to ask Jesus first, like children arguing over who gets to sit where.

No says Jesus, But among you it will be different (v43). You disciples, and all who follow me, are called to pick up your cross, deny yourself, and follow me. Put your pride and ego and arrogance to death. In humility to almighty God, go where you are sent and do what you are sent to do.

Let me tell some of the story of Asif, a Muslim in Pakistan. But one day Asif had a motorbike accident and broke his leg – and a Christian lady prayed for him and his leg was healed!
This made Asif angry – how dare she pray to Jesus – but also set Asif to thinking. This thinking lead to investigating, lead to reading the Bible, and to him asking questions of the local mulvi (the Muslim religious leader). Who saw the danger signs so tried to poison him before Asif could accept Jesus! So Asif accepted Jesus. He was thrown out of home. Beaten. Arrested. And carries on preaching the gospel to anyone who will listen. Asif’s story is not unique. He serves, no matter the cost. He follows Jesus on the path to Jerusalem.

We are servants too, called to die to self, and live for Christ.

But after reading something like that I just feel guilty. Who can live like that? If you’re anything like me your heart is always loudly demanding its rights and sulking and being put out when it doesn’t get its way. I get angry when I’m put out. I’m so selfish!

Jesus, the way of loving service is impossible! I can’t do it!

Exactly. Doing this – following Jesus - requires Jesus’ miraculous power at work in us.

3. We need to be served by our King so we can serve him

51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.

The man was healed, then he FOLLOWED Jesus.

I’m so happy that this miracle is placed right here. Because I can’t do this! I need Jesus’ power to live for Jesus.

The first in blind man miracle in 8:22-26 showed us that we cannot recognise God without God’s power to open our eyes. So pray for those who don’t know Jesus as Lord and Saviour – that’s the most important thing you can do for them. And then tell them, invite them to church or Bible study, and keep praying.

But this miracle is for Christians. Because this section is all about how do you follow Jesus. And just when the disciples are getting it all wrong, again, Jesus opens the eyes of a blind man. We need God to open our eyes to see Jesus. And we need God to open our eyes to keep following Jesus.

Just like the disciples, this blind man knows who Jesus is. And just like the disciples, this man cannot follow Jesus because of his blindness. 47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Son of David – the rightful King. The one who fulfils God’s promise to David in 2 Sam 7 of an everlasting descendant who will rule over all Israel in righteousness and justice and peace forever. It is this blind man who first acknowledges Jesus as King of Israel. And he cries out for mercy.

Jesus hears his cry and opens his eyes, and the man immediately follows Jesus. He leaves behind his coat, probably his only possession, and instantly takes off after Jesus. He sees Jesus, and follows him. This beggar, this lowest of the low, sitting in the dust, a nothing. Suddenly is lifted up by the King. He stands face to face with Jesus, and he serves him by hgealing him. The first thing he sees is his saviour’s face. What a sight. His whole life is transformed. No longer a beggar in the dust, but a servant of the servant king. A new identity and a new destination.

Jesus gives us a new identity. See, Jesus could be humble, could serve willingly, even to death, because he was secure in the knowledge of who he is. He knew he was the King, so he had no need to prove it.
But when you are trying to boost yourself, stroke your ego, constantly aware of who’s looking at me, what do they think – you cannot serve. What would people think?
Bit when you are secure in who you are, a child of God, seated in Christ at the very throne of God, declared innocent, with a perfect record of obedience already proclaimed from now until the day you die – wow. Then your sensitive ego can be shut up while you throw yourself into whatever task God has given you, however small or difficult or demeaning (low) it is. Because then you are following in the footsteps of Christ, secure in his love.

Isn’t the gospel amazing? Isn’t it just the most wonderful news you’ve ever heard? Isn’t this something we just want to run out and tell people? New life! New life! And given as a free gift! Jesus can save. He is the Servant King, and he calls us now: “Follow me”.

We live to serve, because that’s what Jesus does. He is the Servant King who dies, and then rises from the dead.

So come to the King, he is gentle and kind, powerful to save, a servant King. Come to him you who are rebels against him and find forgiveness. Come to him you who belong to him and find strength to follow in his footsteps. We do NOT do this alone, for He is with us. He must open our eyes to see him, and then we will follow him.

Isaiah 59:1-60:22 Rambo is a weakling compared to Jesus

Isaiah 59:1-60:22

Who is Rambo? This is Rambo.

He’s a one-man army, a trained killing machine. In the last film, Rambo goes into Myanmar to rescue some Christian missionaries and help the Karen people. He takes down a whole army of baddies with a bow and arrow, a knife, and the enemy’s weapons.

And he’s a wimp compared to Jesus.

In today’s passage we see a description of ourselves and the world we live in. We are in a world that’s at war. At war with itself and at war with God.

And God has a rescue plan. He himself will come to rescue his people. God the warrior.

And if we are rescued by him, he, the warrior God, comes to live in us, to empower us to wage war against sin, against the darkness in us and in the world.

1. A terrible picture of humanity: lost, alone, corrupt – in darkness

9 So there is no justice among us, and we know nothing about right living. We look for light but find only darkness. We look for bright skies but walk in gloom. 10 We grope like the blind along a wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. Even at brightest noontime, we stumble as though it were dark. Among the living, we are like the dead.

Isn’t this how life sometimes feels? Stumbling in the dark? Isn’t that why many of struggle with depression? We know the darkness within. We are crushed by the darkness in the world.

Why are we in darkness? What is the problem?

Well, the fundamental problem, the problem behind everything, is sin. Sin is what makes murderers murder, liars lie, and robbers rob. Sin is behind our drunkenness, adultery, unfaithfulness. Sin is why our relationships fall apart. Sin is why we abort babies. Sin is why we feel so lost and alone – because we are.

2 It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

We are cut off from God. Oh, why do we suffer, why is the world like it is? God is too weak? God can’t? God’s limited?
Nonsense. He spoke the world into being! With a word. And when Jesus walked the earth, do you ever get the impression that he couldn’t do something? There was such power in him.

59:1 Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. 2 It’s your sins that have cut you off from God.

There is a massive chasm, a hole, between us and God. We are cut off. We are in darkness. We are people filled with darkness who live in a world filled with darkness.
Because we are sinners – cut off from God – we sin, that is do evil things. Sinners sin. Verses 3-9 are pretty harsh, aren’t they? Do you know they apply to us? That amongst us in this little group are murderers, liars, violent and corrupt people. “Misery and destruction follow them” could very well describe us – without Christ. Even with Christ sometimes as we choose to disobey him and follow our own way.

3 Your hands are the hands of murderers, and your fingers are filthy with sin. Well, murderers doesn’t apply to us, does it? Really? We’re messed up people, all of us. I’ve had guys in my Bible study, in my house, who are murderers. And I call them brothers. Would you be shocked if I said in this church there are murderers? Would you start to look around?
Should we be shocked? Do we think the church is only for good people? The church is a place for sinners. Before the cross, none of us are worthy.
Jesus said in Matt 5:21-22 “You have heard … ‘Do not murder, for you will be judged’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be judged…anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Murder is a heart issue. We all have murderous hearts. Some of us have just had what was already in our hearts exposed. Do not judge, brothers and sisters. We are all here by God’s grace, not our own efforts. V1-15 applies to us all.

After all, look how v3 continues Your lips are full of lies, and your mouth spews corruption. 4 No one cares about being fair and honest. The people’s lawsuits are based on lies. They conceive evil deeds and then give birth to sin.

You may not have thought you’re a murderer, but now after Jesus’ words you’re feeling a bit uncomfortable – but you are liar. And so am I. We lie so easily, so quickly, we don’t even notice. “Little white lies”. And if we lie in the everyday, we’ll probably lie under pressure in the courts as well.
I remember going to the court as a witness in the Kahindo’s case – and I was utterly shocked at the corruption in the court. Here in Norway! The court wasn’t interested in the truth. They didn’t even call us as witnesses. All they wanted to do was protect themselves. They’d already decided they were guilty. The court was just there to say “yes they are guilty”. It was shocking. V14 Our courts oppose the righteous and justice is nowhere to be found.

We live in darkness. And darkness is within us. We lie. We murder people in our hearts. “You bitch!” we say. We get drunk. We say horrible things to people to wound them because they deserve it. We hurt those we love – often just by being selfish. We just neglect them. Our relationships fall apart. We wake up next to another woman and think oh, not again. We ignore our kids. We use all our money on ourselves before someone else can get to it. We fight with the neighbour. Whatever it is. We are all sinners. And we have all experienced the results of sin.

Paul quotes these verses, particularly v7-8, in Romans 3:10-20, where he describes humanity. There is no-one righteous, no, not one. No-one who seeks God.
We stumble in darkness. And we all try to cope in some way. Some flee to alcohol or drugs. Some run to sex. Some run to money. Some to power. Some just don’t think. Ignorance is bliss. But soon the darkness will overwhelm us.

It is a terrible picture of humanity: we are lost, alone, corrupt – in darkness. BUT!

2. God the warrior comes to rescue us himself

16 He [the LORD] was amazed to see that no one intervened to help the oppressed. So he himself stepped in to save them with his strong arm, and his justice sustained him. 17 He put on righteousness as his body armour and placed the helmet of salvation on his head. He clothed himself with a robe of vengeance and wrapped himself in a cloak of divine passion.

Armed and ready, he is coming. It’s the preparation scene in Rambo, when he arms himself to the teeth, knife in the sheath, bow over his shoulder, explosive tipped arrows, pistol, maybe a machine gun or two, and a scowl which says “I mean business”. This is what God is doing here.

18 He will repay his enemies for their evil deeds. His fury will fall on his foes. He will pay them back even to the ends of the earth. 19 In the west, people will respect the name of the Lord; in the east, they will glorify him. For he will come like a raging flood tide driven by the breath of the Lord.

It is not a good thing to be the enemy of God, is it? It’s like being an extra in a Rambo movie – urgh – that’s your part of the movie over. Standing against God is standing against an unstoppable force.

Actually, if this was a movie, it would be rather boring. Because there would be no tension – can he do it? When God the warrior is on the move, there is no moment when he is beaten and bloodied and must find the strength in himself and keep on fighting. When God moves, he moves with a terrifying swiftness. His enemies have no chance. If we are his enemies it’s like guys throwing rocks against a tank. A tank with lasers and force fields. A tank that’s 50 meters high and 50 metres wide. It’s a joke to stand against God. For he will come like a raging flood tide driven by the breath of the Lord.

I remember once body boarding in the sea. The waves were quite big and it was great fun catching wave and riding it in to the beach. And then one wave caught me. I tried to get over it but it crested and the wave slammed down on to me. The force broke the board underneath me. I went one way, the two pieces of the board another. And I was in the washing machine as they call it – swirled around and around and around. I didn’t know which way was up. I was running out of breath. I was still spinning. The POWER of the wave was unbelievable. There was nothing I could do. It felt like I was going to die. Obviously, I didn’t. My feet suddenly, gloriously, touched the ground – and I pushed with all my strength, and shot out of the water, taking a great gulp of air.

That is the awesome power of God in judgement. But thousands of times more powerful. And with no hope of escape.

Why stand against him?

Because if you cry out to him – if you repent, that is turn away from yourself, your sinful lifestyle – if you cry out to him for help – that awesome power is on display not to judge you and crush you, but to rescue you. When we cry out to him, our feet suddenly hit the bottom in this tumbled-around crazy life we lead. And a powerful arm reaches down and pulls us out and we are embraced by strong powerful arms. We are safe.

20 “The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem to buy back those in Israel who have turned from their sins,” says the Lord.

The redeemer. The word redeem means to buy back. It means to pay the price. So God himself will pay the price to buy back those who have turned from their sins.

How?

Well, if we’ve been paying attention, through the suffering servant we’ve read about in chapters 42, 49, 50 and 53! Here is the great King who will give his life. By his stripes we are healed. By his death we are given life. Isaiah did not know who this servant was. The people of Israel did not know how God would pay the price to buy them back. They knew very well that the price of sin was death. They had the Law of Moses. To break the law meant punishment, exclusion, and in many cases, death. And every day there were animals being sacrificed at the Temple for sins. The constant flow of blood was a real reminder of the price of sin. The price of sin is death.

But how was God going to pay for their sins?

Those animal sacrifices were pointing on to a greater sacrifice: the servant. And we know who that servant is. Because he met the description that Isaiah and many other prophets gave. It was Jesus. Jesus who fulfilled all the prophecies about him. Jesus who was mighty. Jesus who simply walked through crowds that wanted to kill him – they couldn’t touch him. Jesus who commanded the wind and the waves to be still – and they listened. Jesus who called a dead man – dead three days – back to life again.

Serious power. And he used that power… to die. What? Because this was a rescue mission like no other. This was not Rambo flying in grabbing everyone, then flying out shooting at all the baddies. This is Rambo coming in and taking the prisoner’s place. This is Rambo staying behind while the rest of the prisoners go free.

Jesus takes our place. Jesus says you deserve death. That is right. Someone must pay for your sins (and my sins).
If you pay for your sins, says Jesus, you will be cut off forever, forever dead. Instead, I will take your place. Because only I can face death and defeat it. Only I can come through the other side.

Jesus is victorious because he exposed himself to death – come get me! – and then beat it. Because on the third day the tomb filled with light and Jesus rose from the dead. Death could not hold him because he was innocent, one without sin. He rose from the dead and destroyed the power of death over all those who belong to him.

If you belong to Jesus, then know that Jesus went to war for you with everything he had. He was unstoppable. Luke says Jesus headed towards Jerusalem – towards his death – with a face like stone. He was unstoppable. His rescue mission could not be stopped, and was not stopped.

Do you think your sin could stop him? Sin is no problem to God. We are all sinners. Every one of us has fallen short. If sin was a problem, there would be no gospel, no Bible! Read the Bible – every one of the “heroes” of the Bible is a sinner. King David, the greatest King, was a murderer and an adulterer. Yet God’s grace is enough. He is strong enough.

Now I want you to do something.
Picture your sin. Picture that deepest, darkest secret you keep hidden. Picture that sin which you keep beating yourself up about. The one you can’t beat. The one you think is too terrible for God to forgive. Picture it now as a huge castle. A fortress.

And then see God the warrior. See Christ on the cross, all the power of the Universe at his fingertips – and see him go through death – for you. Hear his cry “It is finished” and that cry echoing, echoing, louder and stronger until it hits your castle of sin. And the walls start cracking, and they crumble down. Dear brothers and sister, our sins are dealt with at the cross. There is nothing we still need to pay for. There is nothing left. Like a raging flood he has washed us clean. All evil and sin has been swept out, dealt with.

And we have new heart – we’re under new management. The old stench of sin has gone, and the Spirit of God has come to live in us.

3. The warrior God now lives in us

21 “And this is my covenant (a covenant is a special, unbreakable promise) with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever. I, the Lord, have spoken!

If we belong to Christ, then his Spirit is with us. His words guarantee it. Look at the end of v21 “I, the LORD, have spoken.”
And if his Spirit is with us, then we will start to live a different way. For the first time in our lives, it is possible for us not to sin. We don’t have to wander around in darkness anymore.

60:1 “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. 2 Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. 3 All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.

In Christ we are the new Jerusalem, the new Israel. And our light is to shine for all to see. Here in Notodden our light needs to shine in the darkness. We all see darkness around us. We know so many who need the light of Christ. Brothers, let’s obey him so that those around us see the light of Christ in us.

It’s so easy to be lazy, to give up. So often we listen to ourselves instead of talk to ourselves. We listen to ourselves telling us “you can’t do this. It’s too hard to obey. You’re worthless. You don’t deserve forgiveness.

No we don’t deserve it. That’s why it’s by grace. And yes it is too hard to obey. That’s why we have the Holy Spirit.

So talk to yourself. Tell yourself that you are a beloved child of God. Even when you sin. Tell yourself that your sins have been blasted away. Jesus fought and won. Tell yourself that you have his warrior Spirit to fight against sin and win. If you don’t believe me, go and read Ephesians 6 (note it down for later) where WE are called to put on the same armour that God puts on here: the helmet of salvation and the body armour of God’s righteousness. Suit up!
And fight your sin – in his strength.

Oh, there is so much more that can be said. This passage is full of joy and hope. The security in knowing that God will bring us home. We will be with him. This is not a rescue mission where the rescue helicopter gets shot down halfway. God protects us all the way home until we see him face to face.
And the glory of all the nations - everything amazing and fantastic in this world - will be in the new Creation, the Heavenly Jerusalem. And there we will be face to face with our God.
And our sin that fills our mind here and makes us despondent and depressed – will be gone. Our days of mourning will come to an end. V21 says all of us will be righteous. Because he has done it, and at the right time, he will bring us home. I, the Lord, will make it happen.

Amen, Lord Jesus. Come!