There is a great deal in the reading this morning that one could sit back and reflect upon: from Babel to Abram’s call to the situation with Lot and Sodom to Melchizedek (this rather strange figure to whom Abram pays a tithe). Where I was drawn to reflect though was early with Babel and what it tells us about God and humanity.

If you go back to 9:1 you read: And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (ESV). Then look at 11:3,4: They began saying to each other, “Let’s make bricks and harden them with fire.” (In this region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar.) Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world” (NLT).

• What do you already notice (or notice again) about humanity?

• What was their motivation?

• What does this tell us about our nature? (Pride, etc…)

But let’s keep reading (verses 5-9): But the LORD came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. “Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.”

In that way, the LORD scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city. That is why the city was called Babel, because that is where the LORD confused the people with different languages. In this way he scattered them all over the world (NLT).

• Look at verse 6 (and perhaps look in other translations) - what is the issue with this? Why is God concerned with the people being united? What are they united for? What ought they be united in?

• What does this tell us about God and his involvement with mankind?

• How does the call of God to Abram in Genesis 12 add to and address this incident at Babel?

The Westminster Larger Catechism question and answer 20 states:

Q. What was the providence of God toward man in the estate in which he was created?

A. The providence of God toward man in the estate in which he was created, was the placing him in paradise, appointing him to dress it, giving him liberty to eat of the fruit of the earth; putting the creatures under his dominion, and ordaining marriage for his help; affording him communion with himself; instituting the Sabbath; entering into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience, of which the tree of life was a pledge; and forbidding to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death.

In our reading of Genesis 4-6 this morning we read of the first murder. It did not take mankind long to fall into an estate of sin and misery (see WLC 23). And in chapter 6 we come to the familiar start of the recounting of Noah and his life and work and the favor he found with the Lord. But in between there is chapter 5 - the one we are all tempted to skip because, quite honestly, genealogies aren’t all that fun to read. But it’s included for a reason. So then, what can we learn from a listing of names?

Well, that’s my question this morning for us - what can we learn? Maybe take a moment and reread this chapter.

• What do you notice that is repeated (at least 8 times)?

• What is that repetition telling us?

• To what does this point?

  • Where in Scripture does the repeated phrase get dealt with? (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Revelation 21:4)

• How does this fuel your worship of our God?

The letter of 1 John is one that many people are familiar with. There is a focus on multiple themes; from the truth of Jesus as the Son of God and as our advocate, to obedience as evidence of our love and of our faith that is manifested in love for others. But what I want to meditate on this morning is 5 verses found in chapter 4.

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Here we hear the call to love one another. This is not an unfamiliar call (cf. John 13:34,35; 15:12, Romans 12:10; 1 Thess. 4:9, 1 Peter 1:22; 4:8). This is something we all believe and hopefully we strive to do. And how vitally important this is in the time in which we find ourselves. Not only to help care for others in the midst of our ‘shelter in place’ order, but also to be loving and gracious toward others who hold different persuasions in regard to what should be done next as we move out of this season of sheltering. Love is an amazing attribute that we all hope and pray grows more fully in us.

Yet as great as the display of love between humans can be truly beautiful, there is a much greater love - that is the love of God. And John makes clear that his love is most plainly and undeniably seen in Jesus Christ. God sent Christ so that we could live. Ponder that for a moment! And he didn’t just send Jesus to give us some steps to follow in order to know how to live. He sent Jesus to be the propitiation for our sins. Now there is a million dollar word: propitiation. What does that mean?

To propitiate is to turn away wrath. It is the satisfaction of God’s demand for justice. God is holy and righteous - and that cannot be ignored. Our sins cannot merely be swept aside (cf. Romans 3:21-26). They must be dealt with. They must be atoned for. That is what Jesus did for his children. He took the penalty that our sins deserved. He died in our place. This is unquestionably the greatest love ever witnessed.

In the Heidelberg Catechism Question 37 asks (this in reference to a line in the Apostles’ Creed): “What do you understand by the word ‘suffered’?”

Answer: “That during his whole life on earth, but especially at the end, Christ sustained in body and soul the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race*. This he did in order that, by his suffering as the only atoning sacrifice he might deliver us, body and soul, from eternal condemnation, and gain for us God’s grace, righteousness, and eternal life.”

Jesus took the blame and bore the wrath - and because of him - through our faith in him - we stand forgiven at the cross. Take time to meditate on this glorious truth…this wonderful manifestation of the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

"The Power of the Cross" Official Lyric Video As performed by Keith & Kristyn Getty Stream this song and others on our official Spotify channel: https://open...

* For those who read this and wonder if it goes against the “L” in the TULIP - it does not. This, according to Ursinus (the primary author of the catechism), refers to the sufficiency of Christ’s death. It is absolutely sufficient for all, but it is efficient only for those who are God’s sheep (cf. John 10:11, also John 6:37, Matthew 1:21, Acts 20:28, Ephesians 5:25).

This will likely be the last post for a little while. I am taking this next week off and I’m not sure whether I will be posting anything. If I do, I don’t know what time of day it will be posted, and I seriously doubt it will be daily.

But for today, I turn back to the Psalms. In particular Psalm 130.

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! 

2 O Lord, hear my voice! 

Let your ears be attentive 

to the voice of my pleas for mercy! 

3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, 

O Lord, who could stand? 

4 But with you there is forgiveness, 

that you may be feared. 

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, 

and in his word I hope; 

6 my soul waits for the Lord 

more than watchmen for the morning, 

more than watchmen for the morning. 

7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! 

For with the LORD there is steadfast love, 

and with him is plentiful redemption. 

8 And he will redeem Israel 

from all his iniquities. 

Here is a lament over sin. The language and tone that the psalmist uses expressions desperation. This is a cry for mercy. These are the words of someone who understands the weight of sin. Sin is rebellion against God and it is an affront to his character.

On top of that the psalmist knows that if the Lord kept account of our sins and held them over or before us - none of us could stand. If he held us accountable with strict justice…we would be lost. And then we come to the great conjunction - “But.” God is not one who holds sins over those who are penitent. With God there is forgiveness (cf. Psalm 103:3; Nehemiah 9:17; Ephesians 2:4-10). That forgiveness that God gives restores our relationship to him. It allows us to walk in proper fear (cf. Psalm 128:1). We are forgiven to be free to obey, not to continue to walk in disobedience.

The psalmist then waits in hope. He waits with eager anticipation - more than the watchmen (the sentry or night guard) waits for the morning. And he closes the psalm with encouragement. It is a call to all of God’s people to hope in the Lord. His soul had been refreshed and now he calls on others to find that refreshment - the blessing of forgiveness. Because - with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. What an amazing description!! What an amazing God! And we see that so fully displayed in Christ Jesus - the one who died so that we might be declared righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Romans 5:6-8: 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Here’s a song I love (though I wish it were played a bit faster).

11 Has a nation changed its gods, 

even though they are no gods? 

But my people have changed their glory 

for that which does not profit. 

12 Be appalled, O heavens, at this; 

be shocked, be utterly desolate, 

declares the LORD, 

13 for my people have committed two evils: 

they have forsaken me, 

the fountain of living waters, 

and hewed out cisterns for themselves, 

broken cisterns that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:11-13)

This reference is probably well-known, at least the gist of it. What it points out is the folly of going to something for supply that cannot produce what is needed. I would not go to some quick oil-change place for a good dinner (or probably even an oil change). I would not go to a hardware store to find a good pair of running shoes. It’s not that hard to figure out, but yet we so often turn to something other than God to deal with our sin and our guilt and our shame. We turn to something other than God for our identity and worth. It is all as futile as seeking water from a broken cistern…and especially a cistern we made ourselves that’s still broken.

I’m reminded of this quote from John Calvin in his seminal work. Take the time and read it slowly.

“We see that our whole salvation and all its parts are comprehended in Christ [Acts 4:12]. We should therefore take care not to derive the least portion of it from anywhere else. If we seek salvation, we are taught by the very name of Jesus that it is “of him” [1 Cor. 1:30]. If we seek any other gifts of the Spirit, they will be found in his anointing. If we seek strength, it lies in his dominion; if purity, in his conception; if gentleness, it appears in his birth. For by his birth he was made like us in all respects [Heb. 2:17] that he might learn to feel our pain [cf. Heb. 5:2]. If we seek redemption, it lies in his passion; if acquittal, in his condemnation; if remission of the curse, in his cross [Gal. 3:13]; if satisfaction, in his sacrifice; if purification, in his blood; if reconciliation, in his descent into hell; if mortification of the flesh, in his tomb; if newness of life, in his resurrection; if immortality, in the same; if inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom, in his entrance into heaven; if protection, if security, if abundant supply of all blessings, in his Kingdom; if untroubled expectation of judgment, in the power given to him to judge. In short, since rich store of every kind of good abounds in him, let us drink our fill from this fountain, and from no other. Some men, not content with him alone, are borne hither and thither from one hope to another; even if they concern themselves chiefly with him, they nevertheless stray from the right way in turning some part of their thinking in another direction. Yet such distrust cannot creep in where men have once for all truly known the abundance of his blessings.”*

Here is one of the better songs I could find to speak to what we have in Christ - the vast fountain (treasure) that we ought not turn away from to seek out broken idols that cannot save or serve. “How Rich a Treasure We Possess” by Matt Boswell.

How rich a treasure we possess, in Jesus Christ our Lord
His blood our ransom and defense His glory our reward
The sum of all created things are worthless in compare
For our inheritance is Him whose praise angels declare

How free and costly was the love, displayed upon the cross
While we were dead in untold sin the Sovereign purchased us
The will of God the Father demonstrated through the Son
The Spirit seals the greatest work the work which Christ has done

How vast and measureless the flood of mercy unrestrained
The penalty was paid in full the spotless Lamb was slain
Salvation, what a priceless gift received by grace through faith
We stand in robes of righteousness we stand in Jesus' name

For Yours' is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory
Yours' is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory
Yours' is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory
Yours' is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory;
Amen, amen, amen

Provided to YouTube by Catapult Reservatory, LLC How Rich a Treasure We Possess · Matt Boswell Messenger Hymns, Vol. 1 - EP ℗ 2012 Doxology & Theology Releas...

*Calvin, J. (2011). Institutes of the Christian Religion & 2. (J. T. McNeill, Ed., F. L. Battles, Trans.) (Vol. 1, pp. 527–528). Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.

This morning part of my reading was James 3. Most of us are familiar with this as the famous “tongue” chapter. Here James draws out the power of the tongue. He starts the chapter with a warning; that not many should aspire to become teachers because the teacher will be judged more strictly, and we all know the tongue is not able to be restrained. The picture is a bit foreboding. For to describe the tongue as a restless evil, full of deadly poison (verse 8) is not really all that encouraging. And the words that follow are very pointed.

9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

The contradiction that spouts forth from between our lips is not good. But there is another way that this incongruity is seen - in what we type/write. The times that we are living in seem to grow more and more vitriolic by the day. The way people “speak” on social media can be appalling. And whether I have typed it myself; I certainly have thought it and that brings culpability as well. It is disheartening to see Christians who have become so tribal and narrow in their views that anyone who does not think or say exactly what they want is fair game to be attacked. How can we curse those made in the likeness of God? This does not mean we cannot disagree, but there has to be a better way.  

Not surprisingly, James goes on to show us that better way.

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

We must turn to the wisdom that is from above. It is wisdom that is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere. Wow!!! Imagine conversation (spoken or typed) that displayed that wisdom! Where do we get that?

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; 

all those who practice it have a good understanding. 

His praise endures forever! (Psalm 111:10; cf. Proverbs 15:33) 

The fear of the Lord - the knowledge of God - that is our wisdom. But it is more than that. The wisdom of God was, and is, most fully displayed in the One who came to be our wisdom and our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). The one who sprang from the stump of Jesse whom Isaiah described like this;

2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, 

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, 

the Spirit of counsel and might, 

the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 

3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. 

He shall not judge by what his eyes see, 

or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 

4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, 

and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; 

and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, 

and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 

5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, 

and faithfulness the belt of his loins. (Isaiah 11:2-5)

And here’s what should blow every person who is “in Christ” - it should blow your mind. You are commanded to have that mindset within you (that way of acting), and - here is the amazing part - it is yours because you are in Christ Jesus - you are united to him by grace through faith (cf. Philippians 2:1-11, especially verse 5). Ponder that. Pray for that to be more visible. And praise God for that!

Two songs this morning. The first is by Wes King (“Sticks and Stones”) and the second is by Keith and Kristyn Getty (“The Perfect Wisdom of Our God”). Enjoy.

Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment Sticks And Stones · Wes King Sticks And Stones ℗ 1991 Reunion Records Inc. Producer: Gary Chapman Producer: J...

The official video for Keith and Kristyn Getty's song "The Perfect Wisdom Of Our God" off their album "Hymns For The Christian Life." Hymns For The Christian...

This morning my Bible reading had a bit of a theme running through them - sin and guilt…and thankfully, grace. Beginning with Numbers 15. At the end of that chapter the Lord spoke to Moses:

38 “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. 39 And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. 40 So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. 41 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord your God.” 

The people were to have a reminder with them so that they would not follow after their own deceitful hearts (cf. Jeremiah 17:9). And then I came to Isaiah 5. In that chapter Isaiah has the task of pronouncing judgment to the people of Israel. They have been those who call evil good and good evil. They have oppressed the poor. They have clearly turned aside from the ways of the Lord and they are in danger, grave danger.

But I also read Psalm 51. It is David’s great psalm of confession. He is certainly guilty. He has committed adultery. He has committed murder. He has lied. And he has been confronted by Nathan and he is brought low (2 Samuel 12:1-15). He confesses his sin and guilt before the Lord. He pleads to be washed from his iniquity and to be cleansed. He longs for the joy of his salvation to return (because living in contradiction of the ways of God will never bring true joy). David knows that what is required is humility, contrition, brokenness (Psalm 51:17). The Lord will not despise that heart…in fact it is the heart he looks upon (Isaiah 66:1,2). What a glorious promise! The Lord looks to and saves the brokenhearted…the contrite…the humble. He saves those who know they are sinners and have only one plea…God’s mercy and grace.

This is the greatness of the God we worship. He saves sinners. He saves people like you and me. He saves us through Jesus Christ our Lord who gave himself to take the wrath, the punishment, that you and I deserve. What love! What grace! What a Savior!

For your musical selection today - two that might be a bit different than what you would think - and quite possibly different than your normal tastes. But I figured I’d expand your repertoire.

The first is by Charlie Peacock.

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group Psalm 51 · Charlie Peacock West Coast Diaries ℗ 1991 Sparrow Records Released on: 1991-01-01 Composer: Charlie P...

The second is by Timothy Brindle. And yes, it’s hip hop/rap. Brindle has an M.Div. from Westminster in Philadelphia and even if you don’t like rap, his lyrics are powerful.

LYRICS LYRICS LYRICS ((below)) Dear LORD, hear my repentance supplication I've behaved like a condemned and lustful pagan I deceived your Word-I admit I did ...

Because you will need the lyrics for the second one - here they are:

Dear LORD, hear my repentance supplication
I've behaved like a condemned and lustful pagan
I deceived your Word-I admit I did it again
Please return-I'm sick of living in sin
My breath, it groans, as my flesh erodes
Transgressions are startin' to stretch my clothes
The infection grows, this sickness is visible

This Christian's despicable, my addiction is pitiful
Lust is a poison, it plagues the soul
Makes it cold, breaks and reshapes its mold
Then it fades and rusts, I didn't live the commandments
I obeyed my lusts and took forgiveness for granted
This sin is implanted: this kid was conceived in it
I'm Mr. Deviant and disobedient
My flesh literally loves filthiness
O God, deliver me from blood guiltiness

I cheat on You daily, but You take me back
To celebrate Your Love, we made this track
I defiled Your sanctuary, abused Your Grace
This vessel's useless, Lord renew this place

This sheep has gone astray on an evil rotten way
The grief has brought dismay, I need to stop and pray
My sweetness is sour, I'm weak in my power
I'm doubting Thomas combined with Peter the coward

If saints were tried, to see if we're sanctified
I'd of disgracefully walked the plank and died
And if Your standard was the Sears Tower
I fell short of Your Glory by the 40th story

Your Law convicts me
But You have awesome pity
I'm forgiven, even when my paws are sticky
Everyone's sauced and tipsy, it's awful risky
Living in this modern Sodom it's Gotham City
I don't deserve to be blessed, I squirm to wrestle
This earthly vessel, determined to murder my flesh
I've forsaken You, I lie and say it's true
But You're faithful to forgive so this praise is due

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
I'm adoring Thee for forgiving me
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
I'm adoring Thee for forgiving me!

I've been subtle and hush that I struggle with lust
It makes me smuggle disgust, when I huddle and fuss
I'm just a puddle of slush, my bubble will bust
I should be smothered and crushed to rubble and dust
But Your Love is a must, there's no other to trust

Jesus you cuddle with us when we're covered in puss
I disobeyed, but You patiently amazingly
Took my punishment and felt the pain for me
You suffered for my own misbehaving
I so wish to praise Him for propitation
I should be fried and burned for my lies and slurs
But Jesus took the wrath that I deserve
I praise You gleefully for your leniency
And for inconceivably redeeming me
My verse will tell of how I cursed and fell
You give me Grace, but all I deserve is Hell

But Lord I praise you, because it says in your word
First John one nine that if we confess our sins, you are faithful and just to forgive us our sins
And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
Because Jesus Christ took the punishmnent for our sins
On the cross
Thank you Lord
We asked in Jesus name, amen

One of my favorite hymns is “Rock of Ages.” It was written by Augustus Toplady to conclude a magazine article in which he emphasized that humans can never repay, through their own efforts, the debt which they owe to God. And it’s interesting he correlated that to the national debt of England at the time. There is nothing we can do on our own to satisfy the justice of God in regard to our rebellion against him.

Two passages from Paul’s letter to Titus highlight this. First I’ll go with 3:4-7:

4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This may be the second largest “but” in Scripture (behind Ephesians 2:4). Paul reminded Titus right before this of how we were all foolish, disobedient, led astray, etc…BUT then the goodness and kindness of God appeared. And we have been saved not by our works, but only by his mercy.  

And then let’s jump back to 2:11-14:

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Here we see that "double-cure” that comes through the work of Christ on the cross. By his blood we are not only redeemed (saved from wrath), but we are also made pure (sanctified). It is all from the grace of God. The grace does not merely saves us, but thankfully, God’s grace makes us more and more like him. God’s grace conforms us to the image of Christ.  

I got to know a band called Vigilantes of Love when I was on a summer project with CRU in 1993. One of their songs is called “Double Cure” (here is a rare solo performance of it - and here is another version with lyrics) and there is a line in it that I have loved for years: “I wanna drink out of that fountain, on a hill called Double Cure…” I want the grace of God to keep me from the things that masquerade as fountains and I want to drink solely from the fountain of his grace. The hill of Calvary, because of Christ, is a fountain of life for sinners. Let us run to that fountain daily and draw from all that he has for us. The things of this world pale in comparison to all that we have in Christ

Music Rock of Ages (lyrics) Artist: Chris Rice Place: Namibia South Africa July 2017

Today I am providing another guest post by Tristan. I so wish we could be together this evening for a service. I pray that today you meditate on this most important of days in the ministry of Jesus. Without this suffering, we would have no hope.

On Good Friday, the Church remembers Jesus’ death on the cross. And while it can be a bit off-putting to call something so terrible as death “good”, in this case, that label seems to be the most appropriate term at our disposal if we understand it properly. 

There are a number of places where the word “good” is used in Scripture, but it is perhaps most familiar to us in the creation account found in Genesis 1. As God knits together heaven and earth, fills the sky and the sea, allows the dry land to flourish, and, at last, creates man in his own image, there is this refrain: And God saw that it was good. The creation account finds its culmination in verse 31 where the text tells us, And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. In the beginning, God creates, and his creation is good. But this “good” isn’t the same “good” that I might use to describe freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies or an evening spent with friends. It is not the bottom tier of the “good, better, best” spectrum. No, this “good” is as good as it gets. In fact, the Hebrew word tov, which we translate “good,” actually has connotations of perfection or wholeness. It is as though God has said about his creation: “My work is complete; it simply cannot be improved upon.” 

And this is the same understanding of good warranted by its usage to describe the Friday on which our Savior was crucified. When God declared his creation good, it was in perfect relationship with him. But our sin destroyed this relationship. By violating God’s commandments, we made ourselves unfit to stand in his presence. That is why we need Jesus. Our only hope of returning to the goodness of Eden was through the death of a sinless Savior. 

In the account of the crucifixion we learn that, as Jesus breathed his last, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom (Mt. 27:51). In the Old Testament, the veil existed to keep the people of Israel from the direct presence of God. It’s not as though God didn’t want to have a relationship with his people. In fact, he created us for loving relationship with him. But, because God is also just, he must respond to sin by punishing it. He knew that, as a sinful people, Israel could not avoid his wrath with their sin unatoned for. The veil was a reminder that there was no way for them to be in right relationship with God on their own. But with Jesus’ death, all of that changed. Jesus is the way to the Father. 

In many ways, Jesus’s final words echo those of his Father at creation. As Jesus cries It is finished, he declares once and for all that his work is complete. It is perfect. It cannot be improved upon. Jesus’s death for our sins means that, by believing in him, we are on our way back to Eden, to the new heavens and the new earth, to perfect union with God. And that is good news indeed!

And then let me add another song choice - this one by Andrew Peterson. It is a meditative song that goes through the last words of Christ from the cross, appropriately called “Last Words (Tenebrae).” And because of the large repertoire of songs for this season, here is a great hymn: “There is a Fountain Filled with Blood.”

Holy Week, Day 6: Friday Friday, April 3, AD 33. To continue through the week, follow the link below for Saturday: https://vimeo.com/89436644 The link for Palm Sunday: vimeo.com/89013208 The link for Monday: vimeo.com/89117797 The link for Tuesday: vimeo.com/89651201 The link for Wednesday: vimeo.com/89420035 The link for Thursday: https://vimeo.com/89420081